I had a moment like that at first too. But there is one huge difference: It actually can direct-play files that the browser can’t handle, like H265 and MPEG2.
I’m feeling way more confident about it now. This should really be made more clear in the blog post as it completely changes the news for me.
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Did I read somewhere that this will also incorporate pre-play screens and player controls?
It will definitely include preplay screens! I’m personally not sure if all the player controls will be the same, but we’re always looking for ways to improve them 
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Thank you for your continued hard work! :- )
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Dave - I’m pretty sure this is not correct. There has been a “download file” option in /web for awhile, and I just checked its available using either option for me.
I’m pretty sure that “just” downloads the file, and is only available to admins. The new app makes downloading content available to any user you wish (the same as sync), and makes sure played/unplayed status is updated.
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No worries. They are my pet hates on the Shield.
Hopefully, tvOS is more or less considered a finished product as it’s already full-blown UNO rather than preview? As bad as those things are the Shield they are already pretty perfect on the ATV 4K.
Just saying. 
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True there are differences. BTW my watch states do NOT update using the new download option. Yes, topic for another thread…
I’m just going to go ahead and quote this post from @lionel77 because it’s very on point and eloquently stated, and it needs to be repeated:
So I think the question @elan should be asking himself is whether or not it’s worth divesting in HTPC users given that decision’s more intangible costs. Companies constantly undervalue their evangelists, especially if they’re too focused on metrics. There’s a lot more to your market than that.
Also, I have a hard time believing that you really can’t spare the resources to maintain an HTPC interface to your desktop Plex client given that you have a cross-platform HTPC interface already implemented on so many different devices and you’re still maintaining the core playback engine on desktop anyway! I don’t want to trivialize what may be a large technical issue I don’t have firsthand knowledge of, but it doesn’t strike me as being that much additional work.
Assuming that’s true, from a business perspective it sounds like a slam dunk: put in a little bit work to maintain your already existing shiny new HTPC interface on desktop, and keep your core evangelists happy and converting people to your ecosystem. If need be maybe roll back some of those auxiliary features to compensate.
Just my two cents.
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Plex you have lost your way, time to switch to something else!
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Plex your new release is full of bugs, I’m ready to move on to a company that cares about there customers because plex you sure don’t!
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Ok everyone. So since PMP tv mode was basically the perfect Plex client, what is the next best alternative that will play all the same formats and work with a remote? NVIDIA shield? Emby?
Clearly this was well researched and thought out before being executed. Plex has a perfect handle on its customer base.
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Does anyone know of a hardware player that can replace HTPC for direct play of files with embedded fonts and soft subtitles? Asking because no matter how high you turn up transcoding quality, you can still see a difference on any decent sized television. I’d prefer to never burn subtitles on local playback under any circumstance.
Abandoning Windows is a bad decision. I assume the Plex executive who made this decision did so based on credible metrics of their user base. Ending support on a product feature for an operating system that dominates the PC market seems ill-advised. Yes, I have embraced the Nvidia Shield TV technology, but I still have a Windows laptop which I use for portability and remote access.
Plex support for Windows is not being abandoned, just Plex Media Player (on all platforms). You can still use the new Plex app for Windows, or the web app, if you choose. 
can you pass through audio through the Plex app for Windows?
No, it does not pass through audio.
Every time a Plex employee responds about how great the new Windows app is I can only think of one thing:
It’s in jest, I assure you, but this no audio passthrough thing has me really irritated. I’m not going to buy a shield to retain that functionality. Even if I have to buy new software to do it, I will invest in a product that works with my current configuration and doesn’t demand I change what has worked for years.
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