@bjs59 But there was another who said he had elderly parents who live a significant distance away; they use a Roku; and the Roku’s new Plex UI did not honor the Online Sources settings on the web client nor could he customize their Roku client from his end. People expect the person who is tech savvy and/or running the server to be able to configure it for them.
Taking customization away from the tech savvy admin and forcing it on noobs is not wise. It would work if the default setup worked right out of the box with little to no fiddling around with, but it didn’t/doesn’t.
I tagged you in my post because you also didn’t want your children seeing content you didn’t approve of that’s been added by PLEX… Understand that you have a scenario where setting up Managed Users would not work so you went a different route…You set up accounts for each of your minor children so you could add them as Friends so now have to manage those accounts as well…
Now, you want to bring up problems others are having… I thought you were looking for answers on how to stop your children from seeing content you don’t want them to see… I was wrong and now wish I had never tried to offer any assistance!!!
I was just trying to help and provide some answers to problems users are having, not to argue about services PLEX has decided to add and how they are administered to best suit you or anyone else… It is what it is…
No need to get bent out of shape. I do know how to do that; It’s just a pain.
Yes., that’s true. I’m just venting. I really feel that Plex is making grossly false assumptions by assuming most non-admin users care about customizing their experience more than just wanting it to work, or that they would likely use Plex at all without an admin curating content.
As much as I see what you mean, I disagree. I still am a firm believer that we(server admin) should not be able to dictate how (not what) other people want/need.
Your responsibility as an admin is to provide the best content you can and not remove the ability to customize their experience. That’s up to them.
That’s a real issue. I don’t know how many times I had to instruct my friends on what setting to change to get something to work but that’s life. All most everything is like that.
You just hit it right on the nail. That’s the BIGGEST problem.
We need to examine all the defaults plex has put on us and challenge them when they make no sense in an everyday environment.
I would almost agree if the issue was black and white.
But plex has many different use cases and many different users.
Your view is of an admin with users of an equal.
What about the view of parents with users of children not of an age to either be trusted or instructed on the vagaries of plex configuration.
What about the view of a small business or other group with private content where the admin needs or wants to be able to prevent any 3rd party (ie plex news etc) content.
I did not add that to the example cause that’s an unavoidable and arbitrary. Parents can do whatever they want within their local laws. Managed uses I guess.
Not sure plex wants you to use in that environment.
I think a lot of us feel that way. Unfortunately it’s obvious plex goals are focused on the client end. I recently read an article from one of their officers stating ‘plex users want more online content available’. This is totally made up of course but fits the narraritive. The ‘your content your way’ days are behind us without a doubt.
On the plus side, it looks like Emby 4.0 now has an integrated TV guide (as opposed to third party subscription). So that’s one step closer to being a decent replacement.
Just my opinion but in many aspects I think it’s taken the lead. I’m not trying to start a pissing match as it’s been discussed a lot in this forum but it’s getting tougher to ignore (for me anyway). For some reason I’m having a tough time letting go though. Probably because I was such a plex fanboy for so many years. I even have a plex t-shirt.
Actually not everything is like that. The alternative we’re all familiar with leaves these settings with under the admin control and I’m finding it makes a world of difference as my users are finding it just works.
Not to put words in his mouth, but I suspect this is the point being made.
I agree. I tried Emby again a few months ago and came back to Plex yet again.
However after a clean OS install I decided to try the stable Emby 4.
I have a Shield an HTPC and the Plex/Emby apps on my LG TV. The latter is truly incredible in Emby. Unlike the Plex tv app pages load extremely quick. Playback start-up is faster.
More importantly, me eyes aren’t offended by the abysmal choice of Plex chosen colour scheme (let alone the UI.)
My users are more or less happy enough with Plex, so I will probably run both for now.
But I agree that in many aspects Plex has a lot of catching up to do.
I remember that. Cost them a couple dozen monthly Plex Passes as I moved some customers over to Emby.
One of the problems with the approach Plex has taken is that they enable these new “features” by default. News, web shows, etc get turned on during roll out. Never mind if the content isn’t appropriate for different end users. The users have to turn the new feature off each time something new rolls out.
I know sure as hell a solid week of my life goes out the window with any new cloud content feature that is released as it can’t be tuned off by the admin. I’ve got numerous churches, non profits, small businesses who use the servers to distribute video content from recorded church services, Bible studies, training materials, HR videos, etc They certainly don’t want web shows, news etc showing up in any client any where on the screen and I get hollowed at for “allowing it” in their server.
Plex is the only system I can think of right now that has good child safety/filtering built in but then ignores it for their own purposes. Imagine how a Church would feel having very carefully curated G rated content to suddenly have NEWS available everywhere and talk of “grabbing them by the p*ssy” or all the pro abortion talk in the news (plus all the other crap on the news). It just destroys a site like this and the optics are terrible. This type of thing leaves me little choice but to not use Plex for this type of hosted media. At least until Plex comes to it’s senses and puts control back int he hands of the admin for ALL CONTENT (local and remote).
This type of thing certainly isn’t limited to these types of setups either. The problem is the same for personal use when you can’t have all your users managed. Think about nieces/nephews, kids of friends, your boss and his kids, etc.
It’s had the lead for a while in many respects. Plex is playing catch up in things like Live TV, DVR, IPTV, supporting multiple different tuners (OTA, cable, IPTV) at the same time with different EPGs loaded. Being able to tap other DVR programs as the “recorder” like NextPVR, TVHeadEnd, etc. Being able to support Multi-Rec to record 10+ channels with a 4 tuners HDHomeRun. Being able to share tuners with other apps like HDHomeRun or LiveChannels so user in the house can access HBO and other DRM content. Being able to delegate DVR access as well as Live TV to any user the admin sees fit.
Multiple admin accounts, user administration (truly server based with no middle man), LDAP support, white list and black listed filtering, HW GPU transcoding is way ahead and gives you complete control as well as the ability to use multiple GPUs if needed, combined libraries with security at each level, collections that can have mixed content and are easy to manage, better client defaults that allow control from the server without having to talk users through setting changes to direct play (or to transcode), multi-version files that work, way faster library scanning, STRM support (content served from a different location, URL based), no need for deep analysis to play back media correctly, ability to sync to cloud which Plex removed, plugins that are easy to install, always work and allow access control, faster media playback startup, media playback that works without “network errors”, syncing that works, etc I could go on and on.
One major usability thing is that Emby will continue to work if you are without Internet (on purpose or by accident). All local clients can login in, logout, change users, etc and still fully function as the user data is on the server. Internet or cloud outages no longer take down your local viewing or ability to use your system.
It’s not perfect by any means but does a lot of things better and is pulling ahead more and more in key areas. It doesn’t support as many server OSs nor does it have as many clients but has all the majors covered in both cases.
One major distinction is that users added to an Emby server clearly are the admin’s users. All account info is stored on the Emby server itself and not in the cloud somewhere. The client talks directly to the server with no middle man. No collection of statistical data either!
That is not true and they know I do consulting for Media Servers and it’s no secret. I was a Ninja for a while, so they know me pretty well.
By “Business” the licensing agreement is talking about using Plex for purposes like a building a Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu type system, not churches, schools, small business for HR type things. They don’t want people selling access to video systems, not small groups hosting their own media. These are “easy” systems for Plex to sell because I do the sales work and the support. None of them will come to the forums asking for any help. Doesn’t get easier than that for them.
Non of the Plex Pass is in my name but in the customers name. If you think video consultant or small business IT consultant specializing in Media then you would have a good idea. From setting up and selling servers, installing software, converting their media, helping uses get setup (tech support) for monthly fees on retainer. Think like that and you’ll get what I do. I’ve still got over a hundred customers using Plex but many of them are at a tipping point due to the new UIs and lack of control over new content Plex is adding.
Because I work with so many different systems and use I’ve got a unique perspective across the board of what people like and don’t like generally speaking. It’s also why I’ve come up with so many “tips and tricks” I’ve posted along the way in the cayars thread.
I think that’s a really weak argument. To say that “Plex isn’t meant for use in business”, I’m thinking “Plex is meant to stream audio and video content from a central server. Who cares what content it is?!”
Plex doesn’t have to say they are intended for small business use in order for people to use them in small business. And to have broader application of the software is not a bad thing nor should it be scoffed at.
Really, to say “Plex isn’t meant to be used that way…” well, it worked just fine using it that way up until recently, so there’s no reason to dismiss the complaint.
Or… these 10 users are asking the Admin why I messed up the UI and they can’t find anything and “what’s all this Web, News, Podcast stuff?”.
Then the Admin (me) sets up an Emby server to keep these people, and myself, happy.
Cost them a couple dozen monthly Plex Passes as I moved some customers over to Emby.
