I hate to say it, but it might even be a way to monetize Plex. Non-paid accounts could get forced pre-rolls that are controlled on Plex's side, while Plex Pass members can control the pre-roll for their own servers. I think the concept in its most general form should at least be reconsidered. Having a framework for server side setting controls could be very valuable in more ways than one.
I think this is a terrible idea, myself.
Kind of on the same topic, server side QUALITY controls could be beneficial. Things like maximum/minimum playback quality and maximum concurrent streams. It would really help those of us that use Plex for more than one family. It would cut down on the troubleshooting of the "buffering" or "choppy" complaints because the administrator of the server could just auto set the quality settings from the server itself.
But this, this is a great idea. Even with one family we have so many devices (and not always local) that being able to control the bandwidth on the server side would be great.
1. Plex does not have any plans to allow a server owner to force a pre-roll video on a user.
Yes, I think we all understand that, we just want that decision to be reconsidered. There are many reasons why having the server force a pre-roll and/or trailers would be good. Or, at the very least, having the server default to having them on unless the user explicitly sets them off.
For example, having to go configure a dozen devices is a maintenance nightmare, especially when some devices are (like my Mom's iPad) 45 miles away and there is no way I can talk her through changing settings in Plex.
2. If you want your users to see them, then set up the feature and inform your users how to enable Cinema Trailers in their (compatible) Plex app.
Do you have an 80yo mom who uses your server to watch Downton Abbey and 1940s and 50s movies? Being able to force a pre-roll would be great for me (and for her).
Do you have an 80yo mom who uses your server to watch Downton Abbey and 1940s and 50s movies? Being able to force a pre-roll would be great for me (and for her).
I have a little trouble believing that someone able to use the Plex app on iOS can't also follow easy instructions like:
1. Tap the settings icon, which is the very bottom right one on the home screen that looks like a gear
2. Tap Video
3. On the `Play Before Movies` setting, tap where it says `None` and select
4. Exit out of the settings by tapping outside of the settings window
I have a little trouble believing that someone able to use the Plex app on iOS can't also follow easy instructions like:
1. Tap the settings icon, which is the very bottom right one on the home screen that looks like a gear
2. Tap Video
3. On the `Play Before Movies` setting, tap where it says `None` and select
4. Exit out of the settings by tapping outside of the settings window
You're missing the point. I think we're just asking for some consideration on a framework to allow pushed server-side settings.
Sure we can walk (some) people through these steps on the phone or do it for them. But it would be nice to be able to have the user login and, boom, everything is all set.
Wow this must be one of the two thorniest topics right now.
As soon as the Plex Devs add something new it seems like it's never enough for some. They want changes and they want them now. This is nothing personal against any one who has posted but purely my thoughts.
1. If an 80+ year old ( my mum is) wants to watch Downton Abbey they want to watch Downton Abbey.. Im pretty sure they dont want to first watch a trailer for The fast and the furious 21 or the latest gore movie (thats just like the one released the month before). But you never know.
2.For everyone else. If one of many many clients want the feature, as mentioned it's a few button presses. If its too much trouble to do that on their particular client then they dont actually want it.
3. In a scenario where all this is forced on the client by the server. What now? A post from a distraught user because their 80 year old mum or 6 year old daughter sat down to watch Barbie or Downton and got trailers for a violent crime thriller or gore fest. (Dont go down the red band setting because anything above PG isnt suitable for a child.) Until full parental controls happen this whole thread is wholy pointless.
4. So in light of point 3 will the replies be that "oh well they will simply need to configure their client" AFTER their child has been traumatised? Sorry but for every person having a total nightmare having to click a few buttons on a few clients there will be 20 people removing Plex from their eco system forever.
If better parental controls come along (Pin number for sections or content perhaps or easy account switching ) then maybe this thread will have merit. Until then I will just see it as a thread by people who cannot be bothered who want everything done for THEIR personal circumstances and who do do notcare about the effect on others.
This really was not meant to become a rant. However the more I typed the more furious I have become.
Plex Devs you have it exactly right.. Everything off by default. Thank god you do not cater to half a dozen at the expense of the majority who have never thought about it or actually thought about the consequences of what the half dozen ask for and could actually achieve themselves IF IT'S REALLY THAT IMPORTANT TO THEM.
Here's the crux of the issue as I see it. Plex seems to want to put the control for nearly everything in the hands of the Client Software. Those of us who actually run the servers that those Clients connect to want to have more control over the server, and how that server is used by the Clients. Doesn't seem like a wild request to me coming from a 30 year IT background where server process nearly always control what a client can do. Seems like the way Plex should should have always been designed to work to begin with, to be perfectly honest.
Here's the crux of the issue as I see it. Plex seems to want to put the control for nearly everything in the hands of the Client Software. Those of us who actually run the servers that those Clients connect to want to have more control over the server, and how that server is used by the Clients. Doesn't seem like a wild request to me coming from a 30 year IT background where server process nearly always control what a client can do. Seems like the way Plex should should have always been designed to work to begin with, to be perfectly honest.
I understand what you are saying. My servers are shared with many friends and family of mixed ages. Maybe I am missing something because I may run servers nowadays but do not have an IT background. I just do not see how anyone can think that forcing things that can have a devastating effect by default onto a client is a good idea, at least until there are better parental controls.
As for the way Plex is designed, well i guess we see that differently too.
I don't expect Plex to be perfect and i see it as what it is, basically a Work In Progress. I do not care if it takes another couple of years to get to Plex 1.0
Until that point I expect to have to think about and find workarounds for my usage scenario. But most importantly I will go back over and over again. Until better parental controls within Plex exist then this whole thread should not even exist.
Those of us who actually run the servers that those Clients connect to want to have more control over the server, and how that server is used by the Clients.
Wrong - SOME of us (you) who run the servers want to have more control over the server and how that server is used by the Clients.
A number of us don't care, we offer the server to the clients purely as a free offering and couldn't care less whether they take advantage of things like trailers and pre-roll clips.
(I'm thinking more don't than do.)
And as far as living 45 miles away form mom, I have an 83 year old mother in law that lives 35 miles away, I drive down all the time to take care of things for her. Forty-five miles is less than an hour away - drive down, fix it for her and have dinner with her. She would probably love it.
As for the way Plex is designed, well i guess we see that differently too.
I don't expect Plex to be perfect and i see it as what it is, basically a Work In Progress. I do not care if it takes another couple of years to get to Plex 1.0
I'm going to go ahead and lock this thread before it gets out of hand (because that's where it's about to head based on past experience). A response with Plex's current stance has already been made.
This is probably one of the most frustrating arguments. I lost count of how many times I’ve walked people through something over the phone and it took so long it would have been quicker for me to get in my car and do it myself.
You guys made a mistake, obviously this feature is important to enough users. It’s my server, not my users.
I don’t really understand why Plex employees are taking such a negative response to this. There is literally no harm, at all, in giving us the “option” to enable forced pre-roll. It literally has no impact on Plex itself at all, the users who connect to our servers are obviously people we know…
I assume you were “trying” to be sarcastic. That doesn’t really work in a text based format unless you are writing a book etc and add “He said sarcastically”
I myself use a /S with friends, as in the sarcasm tag.
I for one think making this on by default would be very strange. How do you make something default when you would also need to point Plex to your Pre Roll folder for it to work at all? That Pre Roll folder would be empty by default as well. Unless you are now suggesting that Plex by default installs Pre Roll videos on users machines? I am going to go out on a ledge and say that the % of people using Plex in a Commercial/Hospitality type environment is not as large as you assume.
Just my opinion and not trying to say you don’t have a valid point. I for one would rather see the ability to manage the Plex apps via something akin to a config file or group policy before changing defaults. Then you would be able to make those changes without having to interact with your users if they are subscribing to your server. Or perhaps make that setting forceable via a library setting so if you share a library with someone you can have pre roll and or custom Trailers etc.
I agree with allowing plex server operators to force a pre roll only (not trailers - as they are 2 completely different things). A 10 sec pre-roll to relay a message or brand would be amazing and not interfere with anyone’s enjoyment of the movie. It could also be used for professional purposes or advertising. If I’m running a server for people, the least they can do is watch a 10 sec video. The point is, there are multiple reasons and uses for this feature (again, for pre-roll only - NOT trailers) and this feature should be considered by the Plex devs to allow the server operators to provide a nice professional experience for their users.
