Killing PMP

[AgentDrTran]

This is great news, thank you for taking this feedback!

[carlosvr74]

Here’s a funny thing. I’m happy with this change of mind from Plex but I think I lost trust on it. I’ve just installed Kodi with no extra addons for streaming or piracy channels. Just a simple skin for playing my media and it works great, much more stable than previous versions.

I think I’ll give it a try and let’s see what happens.

[MeatBall]

This is inaccurate. The HTPC has a lot more capabilities because it’s usually on superior hardware and the experience is superior for those that want to go that route.

[MeatBall]

You think so? I understand what you’re saying but you dont see the day when it becomes some fused, hybrid single app that’s called a “server and player in one”?

[Whitey193]

@elan

Hello, fellow forum travellers and Plex lovers

We’ve heard you, loud and clear; we’ve had a number of discussions internally over the last few days, and we come bearing three commitments to you:

1. We will keep PMP in TV mode working as it is today and will fix serious issues which impact the product for the foreseeable future.
2. We will continue to invest in our player technology on streaming devices both to increase media compatibility, as well as to bring more “HTPC” features there (e.g. video zoom modes). We will also do a better job at communicating their capabilities, as it’s pretty hard to get an accurate picture of that. Look for more information on that soon!
3. We are now actively investigating the best way to continue supporting HTPCs as a platform.

Thank you all for speaking up and sharing your views (the vast majority of you did so in a kind and constructive way), we always appreciate it! To the one guy who called me a suit, well, I’m not going to live that one down

@elan - Well I wasn’t expecting that. That’s fantastic news. I really didn’t need all the hassle of moving me and me peeps over to Emby.

The voice of the users has been heard.

Thanks once again.

[kevin_marchant]

Outstanding. Many thanks !

[natedrives]

@PilotBob42

The minimal feature set that is a must have for HTPC is not very large or complex. An ability to start full screen, basic keyboard navigation, scalable UI components. Those are the absolute basics and are features that any desktop media player should really have anyway. There are, of course the other nice to haves like HD audio passthrough, zoom/crop, deinterlace, remote support, etc, but it really doesn’t take much to keep up the basic 10’ HTPC interface.

Bolded by me. That gets a big LOL for my part. This is about the most user statement I’ve ever read. “Don’t worry, dev. It’s easy. Just do all of these various different things that take probably zero time to code. No problem at all.”

[lordabdul]

Thanks @elan! That’s a very nice surprise.

1. Since PMP in “normal” mode (non-TV) looks essentially the same as the new Plex app, I would recommend making PMP TV-mode-only and, effectively, end up with 2 apps, one for “desktop” and one for “TV/HTPC”. If you want to mess with everybody’s head, rename this TV-only-PMP to “Plex Home Theater”

2. Improving player technology in streaming devices is always welcome. I have 2 Rokus and 2 HTPCs so I like seeing both platforms supported.

3. If supporting HTPC users is a problem financially speaking, consider making it a Plex Pass exclusive, or some other form of pro/premium feature. On the money side, by the way, I actually feel bad about it: I’ve had a lifetime subscription for the past 6 years, it cost 75$ back then. Given the price of a yearly subscription, I’ve been effectively using Plex for free for at least a couple years. I’m sure this isn’t viable for your company and I wonder if you should kill lifetime subscriptions… But that’s another topic.

[maklassen]

@elan

We’ve heard you, loud and clear; we’ve had a number of discussions internally over the last few days, and we come bearing three commitments to you:

1. We will keep PMP in TV mode working as it is today and will fix serious issues which impact the product for the foreseeable future.
2. We will continue to invest in our player technology on streaming devices both to increase media compatibility, as well as to bring more “HTPC” features there (e.g. video zoom modes). We will also do a better job at communicating their capabilities, as it’s pretty hard to get an accurate picture of that. Look for more information on that soon!
3. We are now actively investigating the best way to continue supporting HTPCs as a platform.

Thank you all for speaking up and sharing your views (the vast majority of you did so in a kind and constructive way), we always appreciate it! To the one guy who called me a suit, well, I’m not going to live that one down

Thank you for seriously discussing this internally and seeing that you have a tremendous base of support and as several have said “evangelizing Plex” to many others of which count me as one that has got many to use/buy Plex. Every single one of these friends/relatives has an HTPC as well as several streaming devices. I look forward to many enjoyable years of the best Home Theater experience with Plex as it’s backbone. Tonight, Friday, is my wife’s and mine movie night with Plex, my 73" tv and my HTPC making a superior movie experience! Hats off to the Plex “suit” and its employees!!

[maklassen]

@elan

We’ve heard you, loud and clear; we’ve had a number of discussions internally over the last few days, and we come bearing three commitments to you:

1. We will keep PMP in TV mode working as it is today and will fix serious issues which impact the product for the foreseeable future.
2. We will continue to invest in our player technology on streaming devices both to increase media compatibility, as well as to bring more “HTPC” features there (e.g. video zoom modes). We will also do a better job at communicating their capabilities, as it’s pretty hard to get an accurate picture of that. Look for more information on that soon!
3. We are now actively investigating the best way to continue supporting HTPCs as a platform.

So…now to be clear. I would want PMP on my HTPC to have the following capabilities:

    1. HD audio pass through
   
    2. Logitech remote and keyboard capable

    3. TV mode: 10' view

Thank you!

[PilotBob42]

@natedrives

This is about the most user statement I’ve ever read. “Don’t worry, dev. It’s easy. Just do all of these various different things that take probably zero time to code. No problem at all.”

Yeah, well, before I moved into IT management I was a pretty good software engineer. So, it’s not like I don’t understand the effort behind what I’m talking about.

[Italia458]

@elan

We are now actively investigating the best way to continue supporting HTPCs as a platform.

That’s awesome news! I think it would be easier to just maintain one app moving forward. You can even have different executable shortcuts that pass arguments for PMP to launch the app in Tv mode or Desktop mode. Like this it will always run on the same core backed and just launch a different skin on top. No need to keep maintain a second package like you did the windows store app.

Or one simple thing you can add to PMP when people launch for the first time is have a prompt asking if they want to start in “Tv Layout” or “Desktop Mode” which will launch a windowed version with the new UNO Desktop.

Starting a new app from scratch when PMP finally reached a mature state feels like it’s going backwards, unless the goal is to refactor the code so it’s easier to maintain. Just hard to swallow when it feel like you lose core features considering the current offering works great.

[uncleungie]

Thank you for hearing everyone out! Any continued support of the HTPC platform (and its small, vocal, group of power users) is deeply appreciated.

[Osayidan]

@elan

We are now actively investigating the best way to continue supporting HTPCs as a platform

I don’t see a need to support it as a dedicated app. When I used a HTPC instead of my new nvidia shield I always used the web app. If it’s got a desktop (windows/linux/mac…) I always used the web app via browser. I never once used a dedicated app outside of android (mobile & android tv).

Maybe just make an HTPC app that’s nothing more than a browser for the web app that allows alternative input methods. The web app already looks good, is full featured, scales well. It should be leveraged more.

[axemanuk666]

@Osayidan - The web app has almost no Direct Play capability. This is the reason PMP is so good, as it can Direct Play almost everything.

[onekmilesbehind]

@Osayidan see preceding 856 posts

[axemanuk666]

Great reply

[JuiceWSA]

@Osayidan

The web app already looks good, is full featured, scales well. It should be leveraged more.

Really?

Have you read any of this thread?

Drag Plexweb to your 32" TV through an HDMI Cable, control it with your mouse, sit 15 feet away and don’t use any of these:

Use it for a week like that, then come back and we’ll let you retract your statements…
Just ask: “The Suit” - everybody gets a second chance.

[Osayidan]

@JuiceWSA

Really?

Have you read any of this thread?

Drag Plexweb to your 32" TV through an HDMI Cable, control it with your mouse, sit 15 feet away and don’t use any of these:

Use it for a week like that, then come back and we’ll let you retract your statements…
Just ask: “The Suit” - everybody gets a second chance.

I used ubuntu on an intel NUC on a 52" TV and never had an issue using just the web interface. I used it this way for a few years until I came across a free nvidia shield so I started using that instead. Between the android app version on shield and the web app, I’d personally go back to the web app if I could.

[JuiceWSA]

Ok, while you’re doing this new ‘field test’ be sure to watch a lot of HEVC and 4K material - on Plexweb on your 32" TV - unless you think I should go out a buy a big one.