With the obvious next question on everybody’s mind: will there be a PLEX app?
@mschlotz said:
With the obvious next question on everybody’s mind: will there be a PLEX app?
I honestly hope so! 
If there is indeed an app store open to dev’s, then its a give that plex inc. will start development. In fact they may have all ready and know more then we do. Bottom line is if its possible, they yes we will see plex for the apply tv. Will also most likely look and feel different then any other plex client version just as all apple tv apps do. But… that could be a good thing. “think different”
Don’t mind the concept of ‘think different’, it’s sorta the spice of life! The concern is how Apple thinks in regards to users having the ability on the aTV4 to view their own video collections vs only those purchased via itunes etc… To date they have not put a stop to it, i.e. Plexconnect, but that is far from endorsing the concept via an approved app in the upcoming store. Still, my fingers are crossed for it to happen!
@mschlotz said:
Don’t mind the concept of ‘think different’, it’s sorta the spice of life! The concern is how Apple thinks in regards to users having the ability on the aTV4 to view their own video collections vs only those purchased via itunes etc… To date they have not put a stop to it, i.e. Plexconnect, but that is far from endorsing the concept via an approved app in the upcoming store. Still, my fingers are crossed for it to happen!
Being that Apple has no problem approving the Plex client for other iOS devices (iPhone and iPad), I see no reason to suspect they would suddenly deny an ATV client.
I am really hoping for this. My move to the Fire TV and Fire stick has turned into a nightmare from a Plex point of view. Thankfully PlexBMC works fine under Kodi on the AFTV. Also, PlexConnect is excellent but a bit of a nuisance having to reinstall every time I upgrade my Synology NAS.
As far as Apple not approving Plex I seriously doubt that would happen. Amazon, Microsoft, Roku, etc … all have official clients so I doubt video providers will raise any objections and of course Plex is already on the iPad, etc … with AirPlay capabilities.
I think it is time for a new generation Apple TV to support App Development and thus an App Store. The current “Channels” are likely not that much fun for Developers to generate, plus they are limited in what they can do. I can imagine the next Apple TV running something similar to the usual iOS.
The rumours seem to point at the annual iPhone event being where the new device will be mentioned, and there is some sense in that. In addition, part of me suspects that it might not be too difficult to port iOS apps to the 4th Gen Apple TV. The mention of a touch controller does make it sound as though it could well just be an iOS device with a large screen, and I also suspect your iPhone / iPad would be able to control the GUI too.
As for the approval process and what will / won’t get through, who knows! Apple has submission “guidelines” and they are just that, guidelines, and not hard and fast rules, and this allows Apple to interpret them however it feels on an app by app basis. Example? Tell me how exactly the guideline referring to an app that sells content to use In App Purchase means the app cannot have a “create new account” option? There is nothing in the guidelines that makes this explicit.
Given my thoughts on the iOS support on the new device, and given that there is an existing Plex app for iOS, it could be that it might just run, or need a recompile for the new device, with minimal changes. If so, here’s hoping for a very quick addition.
I would also still like to see PlexConnect continue however, as being able to use an existing and usable system is a good thing, plus having a backup method of accessing media is also appreciated.
I’ve been waiting impatiently for years for an updated Apple TV !
I’m not sure if it will happen with the next hardware update but I’m sure in a few years to come it will be challenging the Xbox and Playstation as a gaming console too via streaming.
Plex would be a killer app for an ATV4, but only if it supported DTS and the lossless audio codecs. If it doesn’t, I’ll be headed for a Chromebox to run PHT. I’d like to be done with transcoding with Handbrake just so I can get surround sound.
@fishpatrol said:
Plex would be a killer app for an ATV4, but only if it supposed DTS and the lossless audio codecs. If it doesn’t, I’ll be headed for a Chromebox to run PHT. I’d like to be done with transcoding with Handbrake just so I can get surround sound.
I’m also hoping the next model will support DTS, and that it’ll also support HDMI-CEC, so I don’t have to keep changing inputs.
I run my inputs through a receiver, so switching at the TV isn’t a big deal. But I’d be happy to pitch our Fire TV Stick if the ATV4 had an Amazon Prime Video app. Amazon wants to sell its hardware, though, and it’s a reasonable guess that that’s why they don’t already have a channel on the ATV. That’s just my own guess though.
There are games available for iOS that I’d be happy to play on a big screen with a controller (and no lag). But what would really raise eyebrows is if they made content deals to turn their iTMS catalog into a subscription-based on-demand streaming service. Remember when you could rent TV episodes on iTunes? 99¢ to start, and they had LQ, SQ and HQ resolutions to choose from (LOL). I’d sure take the iTMS catalog over Netflix’s, though I don’t really think it would happen.
Don’t forget that this App Store will probably not be available for aTV 3. So I’d love to see PlexConnect keeps being developed!
Plexconnect use to exit random for me. Always when I was tired and ready to relax with a good movie after work. I dumped it and my Atv 3’s and replaced them with gaming consoles that games, all of the common streaming apps, and Plex!
I doubt that Apple could lure me back to using their TV. But it would be nice to see them try!
Tim Cook says “We believe that the future of television is apps.” We second that! Anxiously waiting for Apple Inc. to post their tvOS developer beta info! Who wants plex on Apple TV?
I for one certainly want it. Actual PLEX app, faster processor, ac WIFI should be a solid improvement in Home Movie viewing. BTW: 9To5Mac just confirmed with the Plex folks that they are going to have a Plex app for the aTV4 app store.
