Plex app for Panasonic Smart Viera

I have brought this up before, I am willing to invest into this as well, I tried all the "alternatives" however they all have serious limitations.
I would like to be able to make use of my high end TV hardware and also keep the simple usability, after all this is the main idea behind Plex, it's not only computer specialists that want to use this TV at my house, so the simpler, the better!
Can we have a vote of people who would pledge San investment to get this up and going?!

+1

+1

+1

HTML5 SDK will be enhanced later this summer

 

Dear Developers,
 
Thanks for your continuous support and development for our platform. 
 
We are pleased to update you on the latest upcoming changes to our SDKs. 
 
We will enhance our HTML5 SDK by adopting the ā€œSmart TV Alliance Specification 3.0.0" later this summer. 
 
This enhancement enables the support of PlayReady DRM and Smooth Streaming giving developers the ability to create adaptive streaming and robust video applications.
 
Concurrently, we will discontinue the current AJAX-CE SDK for new apps development. However, support for AJAX-CE will continue for existing applications currently in production.
 
We will update our portal with more information once available. 
 
Please do let us know via our support page if you have any questions.
 
Best Regards,
The Panasonic IPTV Apps DEVELOPERS Team

Announcement Date: 18th-June-2015

I got this Panasonic IPTV Apps Developers newsletter today. What does this mean for the chances of PLEX on our Vieras?

I got this Panasonic IPTV Apps Developers newsletter today. What does this mean for the chances of PLEX on our Vieras?

Does this apply to old (2012) devices as well? Anyone know?

HTML5 SDK will be enhanced on 20th-August-2015
Dear Developers,

Thanks for your continuous support and developing for our platform.

As informed you earlier regarding the enhancement of our current HTML5 SDK and termination of AJAX-CE SDK for new apps development.

Please be informed that we will enhance our HTML5 SDK by adopting the ā€œSmart TV Alliance Specification 3.0.0ā€ starting from 20th-August-2015 and at the same time we will also discontinue the current AJAX-CE SDK for new apps development, however support for AJAX-CE will continue for existing applications currently in production.

Please do let us know if you have any questions.

Best Regards,
The Panasonic IPTV Apps DEVELOPERS Team
support@developer.vieraconnect.com

I asked them how this impact previous TV generations.
But obviously i’m rather sceptical.

I took a look at the Smart TV Alliance Specification, and it specifically says the use of XmlHttpRequest is supported. This was the major stumbling block when the app was first submitted (even though it was used in their example documentation), so maybe it would be accepted now. However, after my really bad experience with Panasonic’s developer program last time (and poor HTML5 performance on the TV itself), I am reluctant to spend the $129 with the risk still being there of the app being rejected.

Holy cow; 23 pages! Hot damn!

Hi everyone. My name is Matt, I’m one of the trio of Plex Smart TV app developers.

Agreed. It’s unfortunate developers need to pay Panasonic to access the dev resources. It makes sense to filter out casual developers but still, they should move the pay gate closer to app submission versus the front door.

Dumping the AJAX-CE SDK is good move. It predated many HTML5 features and required custom elements and proprietary APIs all over the place. I’m hoping the newer Panasonics A) don’t use Opera Presto and B) have multiple cores available to the browser. We see fairly good performance on LG NetCast and webOS devices. I’m hopeful Panasonic is looking to compete here. Although reading the docs it looks like MP3 audio isn’t supported; I hope that’s referring to mp3 audio streams in video vs audio files with mp3 containers and mp3 audio.

Plex’s Smart TV app runs on other Smart TV 3.0 spec devices like Toshiba and LG. One of my colleagues has a picked up a 2014 Panasonic TC50AS660. We’re anxious to play. Nothing more concrete at the moment, but wow, 23 pages! You all need an app. :wink:

This is Panasonic’s response:

Thank you for contacting the Panasonic IPTV Apps DEVELOPERS Support.

Please note that all the API/information including supported device list related to new HTML5 SDK will be updated on our developer portal on 20th-August so please visit the portal on this date for more information.

Best Regards,
The Panasonic IPTV Apps DEVELOPERS Team

http://developer.vieraconnect.com/

+1 - Can’t Wait!

++1 Can’t wait too

Wow... 23 pages and still no app. That's sad :(
I guess the new SDK is for newer models, any hope for app on Panasonic ST50 2012 plasma model? It has smart tv viera stuff.

The HTML5 SDK v2.0 only supports 2014 models & higher. I have a 2013 model (and will never buy another Panasonic TV again), so I am out. I am happy to provide the source code I developed previously if anyone is serious about trying to get it approved.

https://developer.vieraconnect.com/intro/development-guide/device-guidelines/html5TV Models Supporting HTML5 SDK
Region Year LED Series
North America 2014 AX800U, AS800U, AS650U, AS680U, AS640U, AS630U, AS530U, AS520U, AX640C, AS660C, AS690C, AS540C, AS500C
2013 WT60, DT60, ET60, E60, (LET64, EW60)
2012 WT50, DT50, ET50, E55, E50, (LE554, LE54)
Europe 2014
AX802, AX800, AX630, AS802, AS800, AS750, AS740, AS650, AS640, AS600, AS520, AS500,(AXW804, AXW634, ASW804, ASW754, ASW654, ASW604, ASW600, ASW504, ASW501, ASF757, ASF758, ASX759, AST756, ASM655, ASF657)
2013 FT60, WT60, DT60, ET60, E6, (ETW60, EW6, XW6, ETF62, ETN63, ETS61, ETX64)
2012 WT50, DT50, ET50, ET5, E5
Asia 2014 AX800, AX670, AS800, AS700, AS670, AS630, AS610
2013 WT60, DT60, ET60, E6
2012 WT50, DT50, ET5, E55, E5

If I’m not mistaken my TX55-CXC725 (pretty much the same as CX700 if I recall correctly) is from 2015. Yet it’s not on the list, how so?
The link is dead btw and I couldn’t find it on their site, didn’t look to careful though.

Which I had seen this thread two weeks ago before I bought my TV.

Well well…

@GPWebserver said:
https://developer.vieraconnect.com/intro/development-guide/device-guidelines/html5TV Models Supporting HTML5 SDK
Region Year LED Series
North America 2014 AX800U, AS800U, AS650U, AS680U, AS640U, AS630U, AS530U, AS520U, AX640C, AS660C, AS690C, AS540C, AS500C
2013 WT60, DT60, ET60, E60, (LET64, EW60)
2012 WT50, DT50, ET50, E55, E50, (LE554, LE54)
Europe 2014
AX802, AX800, AX630, AS802, AS800, AS750, AS740, AS650, AS640, AS600, AS520, AS500,(AXW804, AXW634, ASW804, ASW754, ASW654, ASW604, ASW600, ASW504, ASW501, ASF757, ASF758, ASX759, AST756, ASM655, ASF657)
2013 FT60, WT60, DT60, ET60, E6, (ETW60, EW6, XW6, ETF62, ETN63, ETS61, ETX64)
2012 WT50, DT50, ET50, ET5, E5
Asia 2014 AX800, AX670, AS800, AS700, AS670, AS630, AS610
2013 WT60, DT60, ET60, E6
2012 WT50, DT50, ET5, E55, E5

Any plans for the 2015 line of Viera? Surely the move to Firefox os is a positive thing in terms of development, both from a cost and accessibility standpoint?

Hi Matt,

I have a Panasonic CX750 (2015 Model), I’m also interested to Plex Pass… but I’d like to known if there are any plans to develop a Firefox OS Plex App…

Thanks

@mattseeley said:
Holy cow; 23 pages! Hot damn!

Hi everyone. My name is Matt, I’m one of the trio of Plex Smart TV app developers.

Agreed. It’s unfortunate developers need to pay Panasonic to access the dev resources. It makes sense to filter out casual developers but still, they should move the pay gate closer to app submission versus the front door.

Dumping the AJAX-CE SDK is good move. It predated many HTML5 features and required custom elements and proprietary APIs all over the place. I’m hoping the newer Panasonics A) don’t use Opera Presto and B) have multiple cores available to the browser. We see fairly good performance on LG NetCast and webOS devices. I’m hopeful Panasonic is looking to compete here. Although reading the docs it looks like MP3 audio isn’t supported; I hope that’s referring to mp3 audio streams in video vs audio files with mp3 containers and mp3 audio.

Plex’s Smart TV app runs on other Smart TV 3.0 spec devices like Toshiba and LG. One of my colleagues has a picked up a 2014 Panasonic TC50AS660. We’re anxious to play. Nothing more concrete at the moment, but wow, 23 pages! You all need an app. :wink:

what are the other methods of getting plex running to panasonic tv pls? i have brand new 4k model. i can use chromecast kind of screen throwing but wanted something natively from the remote…

I’d love this too ! We have native Netflix on this amazing TV. Native Plex would be really great ! I currently use PS4 plex client but limited to HD … everything on tv would really more convenient

I am considering purchasing the 65" Panasonic Viera 3D 4K Smart TV (Model no: TH-65CX700A)
I am keen to know if I will there is any chance I would ever be able to use Plex on that TV or if I need to buy a second Chromecast device to be able to do so.

Also would Plex being run in the TV’s browser (Firefox) work on this Smart TV?

@Pauljboyd77 said:
what are the other methods of getting plex running to panasonic tv pls? i have brand new 4k model. i can use chromecast kind of screen throwing but wanted something natively from the remote…

@njw1979 said:
I am considering purchasing the 65" Panasonic Viera 3D 4K Smart TV (Model no: TH-65CX700A)
I am keen to know if I will there is any chance I would ever be able to use Plex on that TV or if I need to buy a second Chromecast device to be able to do so.

Also would Plex being run in the TV’s browser (Firefox) work on this Smart TV?

I played around with media servers and client access over the weekend, I used to just have PC plugged into (old) TV via VGA and sound directly to receiver and used Kodi. I have a CX700 now in a new house and PC is not in the same room so had to look at other options (Kodi web interface is quite limited). I installed Plex MS on PC and let it scan a test media folder. I accessed it from the Firefox browser on the TV, seemed ok, obviously not as great as a full client but it was usable. Issues were: no Dolby digital (via optical out to receiver, got DD playing via built in media player accessing PMS as a DLNA device), can’t enable 3D for content, and h.265 files would not play but I’ll play with the web player settings tonight which might fix that. The other option is to access the PMS in devices (DLNA), but you don’t get a nice interface, and it’s slow to scroll through lots of folders\files, but my 3 issues above were resolved so I’ll use that as a backup option. The touch remote make it much easier to navigate the Plex web app. An app would be amazing.