There is some discussion with the recent bug in the newest release that the PlexPass software (regular channel) is actually early release beta software. While I know that you get the newest feature first with PlexPass, I was always my understanding that it is stable release level software - unless you opt-in to a beta program. Is this not the case? Of course, things can come up and slip through but what some people are asserting is that as PlexPass members, we are basically beta testers who are paying for beta software without an option to choose a stable option.
I’ve never read anything about PlexPass being beta grade software. If it is, I think it would be helpful for Plex to make that more clear in the information and literature. Again, this would be a surprise to me as most of the time the updates are very stable and I’ve not had loads of problems. A simple roll back solved the current bug for me and I’m not upset about it at all. I just need to know if, going forward, I’m actually a beta tester by using the paid PlexPass channel.
Thanks so much. We dearly love Plex and I have the utmost respect for the devs.
im pretty sure the stuff in preview is just that, a preview of whats to come, once its fully stable they release to everyone. Plexpass just gets you access to those features early (and maybe some stuff is broken), as well as access to free apps and certain features which are plexpass only. Nothing is forcing you to update to the latest release on the day its released, but having plex pass lets you choose to do so if you want. So you can continue to use the majority of plexpass features without running the latest and greatest (and sometimes buggy)
Yeah, I’d say that’s a fair statement, I’d compare it to something like a closed BETA, though the only requirement is being a Plex Pass member, which of course we have to pay to be. Plex will use feedback from Plex Pass users to ultimately create the public versions, so we are “willing” testers, whether people see it or not.
A few people on the forums got way too over dramatic about 0.9.16.1 breaking their servers, to those I say:
Don’t blindly update to a PREVIEW version without checking sources on any issues/bugs reported.
Ideally evaluate and test on a staging/dev setup if you care about your media library/Plex up time
Calm down, software has bugs
Wait till the public release is out
Let’s face it, you don’t just auto update to a preview build, the user has to initiate it. Avoid all the pain of being stung by a BETA update and stay on the stable branch.
Of course there are more benefits of Plex Pass than just every access to server updates.
Where in the article in that link does It mention ‘Beta’?
How is an average user supposed to tell the difference between a Preview and ‘Early access to new features’? As far as I can tell the only thing classed by Plex Inc as a preview is PMP.
In software development, the term preview is usually associated with alpha. A small group that gets access to software with newly added features. Beta is offered to a larger group, with many preview/alpha bugs fixed, and most often the last release before the gold or general release version. Since there isn’t a group after the Plex Pass preview users, we may be an amalgam of both preview/alpha and beta.
It’s not listed on the website, but it doesn’t really need to be.
@kegobeer-plex said:
In software development, the term preview is usually associated with alpha. A small group that gets access to software with newly added features. Beta is offered to a larger group, with many preview/alpha bugs fixed, and most often the last release before the gold or general release version. Since there isn’t a group after the Plex Pass preview users, we may be an amalgam of both preview/alpha and beta.
It’s not listed on the website, but it doesn’t really need to be.
Wrong, it does,
Opinion!
For once you have actually thought about a response rather than your usual approach of repeating what’s been said earlier in any topic you respond to.
There appears to be a growing number of trolls around here!
Tip!: The Plex Pass channel may have preview releases available. These can have new functionality or fixes and be available early, but are also more prone to have unanticipated issues.
Basically, the Plex Pass channel is an early release and signing up for it means you can try out new features first, but there is a chance there may be bugs. Switch to from the Plex Pass to the Public channel if you want things to be vetted a bit more before you install.
Umm, there is no rule that just because you have Plex Pass, that you HAVE to update right away to the newest release…it’s optional, so just adjust your approach to how much risk you want to take on…
I purchased a yearly plex pass - glad I did as I just built a purpose built HTPC for Plex and when I downloaded the Plex Meda Theatre it was massively different from the plex app I’d been using via Opera TV on a smart TV /PS4. Found out that plex pass members get early access to the Plex Media Player for Windows - yes. Good news for me, as this is back to how the family knows how to use Plex. So that was worth the pass alone it seems.
Its also nice to get the extras for movies that is only for plex pass, and I do feel like I’ve contributed towards the development of Plex - it all helps and without plex my media collection would be harder to maintain.
@latweek said:
Umm, there is no rule that just because you have Plex Pass, that you HAVE to update right away to the newest release…it’s optional, so just adjust your approach to how much risk you want to take on…
Yeah, I keep telling myself that. Then my male desire for instant gratification kicks in and I upgrade usually within minutes of finding out that an update is available.
Of course that means that I sometimes get burned, like with the last windows server, and I have to roll back. But that feeds another part of my male instincts by giving me something to grumble about.
So is the software effectively a beta? Yes. Is that a problem? No.
Only on a few platforms are there only a Plex Pass versions so when I can, like on the Roku, I keep both versions of the client software loaded. But on others, like PMP on my Pi, there is only a Plex Pass version and I cannot ever resist upgrading as soon as a release is ready. I figure, “You paid your money and you take your chances.”
