I am posting this because it has been brought up on a number of discussions I have been a part of and it seems to make a lot of sense, especially with Plex’s insistence of the “kitchen-sink” mentality, with the News thing as the most recent example.
I feel if there are separate apps for Plex Video, Plex Music and Plex Photos, it can make the individual applications and experience FAR better. A good example of this is with Plex Music; you can not simply resume what you have been listening to when you get in and out of a car if you have done any video watching at any point, or quit the app. Or, if you were listening to a Playlist, and then you watch a quick video, or check the insane News section, your place in the playlist is gone, and at the very least, it is very difficult to simply start that exact song up again, if not impossible. Now, if there were separate apps, then no issue in that scenario.
This is very true with the Plex Photos as well, simply when wanting to maybe scroll through a few while watching this “News” or a video. On Android or an iPad as an example, I can split screen a Youtube and Google Photos app or do a PiP on Apple Photos and Plex or whatever. If everything is in one app, it is not convenient like it was likely thought on paper.
To further my thoughts, all major developers have been un-bloating their apps recently, and to good reviews. I clearly understand there is a counter-point to all of this, but to me separation would bring a far superior experience to each app and allow each app to further develop. None of would have freaked that funk out over News if there was a Plex News app that was free or something for Plex Pass users, and it wouldn’t be the amatuer experience it currently is as it would be optimized for it’s own content.
My biggest request has got to be Plex Music though and it is because there are so many shortcomings for it, particularly for someone like me who listens to more than 500 songs per day. A widget for control on my Android phone/tablet would be huge. Simply keeping the last song in cache is the single biggest reason I still prefer Google Music. There could be so many amazing things that could be done. On the go Playlist creation for smart playlists like 4 Star songs, or Last Added could be easily implemented if Music was the only focus of the app. Many times, I start a video on my Chromecast for my daughter or just the house to watch, but then wanna listen to music on the couch. Can’t do that! If I Chromecast something and then wanna look at Photos? Whoops! Now everyone is looking!
None of us sit here and say “gosh, I wanna pay more for stuff” but I think I can confidently say that any current Plex Pass member would see value in this stuff because we all invest time, effort and money in content collection/creation and organization. Non-Members would find so much more enjoyment if each app could excel on it’s own, especially if they use only the part they want. And then additional revenue for Plex if they wanna buy the other pieces! I would pay an additional app fee or an additional Plex Music fee of $20 for a lifetime membership or something if I got a DEDICATED app.
What does everyone think? Am I insane? I have heard and read quite a few opinions that seem to echo my thoughts. I hope I explained myself properly.
Here happened to be the most recent post I made on another thread, so I thought I would link it for some reason.
https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1533228#Comment_1533228
@hobotts said:
You are the CTO… @elan … Is it really the best thing for PLEX to be everything to everybody? Jack of all trades, master of none… Its a reason that saying exist… But hey… what do I know… Im just a guy conveying the same sentiment that soooooooo many of your ATV users have…
I agree here. Seriously, if Plex has to be doing everything, then make separate apps in order to specialize and “master” each craft. I would gladly, GLADLY, go to a Plex Video app, Plex Music App, and a Plex Photos app if they would all be amazing. It makes no sense for me to go to where I listen to music in order to look at photos. Further still, on Android and an iPad, I can’t search through photos while I watch a video (or this idiotic news) as I can do on, say, Google Photos and YouTube or Apple Photos and Apple Music.
@elan , If you want to have Plex be everything for everyone, follow all the major app developer’s excellent example of de-bloating apps and allowing the separate apps become updated and amazing on their own. You get better supported apps since they are specialized. We get a ton more features that are relevant. Hell, you could even charge $5.99 per app! Do you call your plumber for help on your internet wiring? Would you prefer to text a friend through your financial spending app? Why would I go to look at news in my Photos app?
Among a ton of negativity on this, and many other recent threads, I want to end on a positive note; Plex is the single most important app for my entire family, and that includes my extended family. It is pretty, effective, and well maintained. The problem is it appears to be losing sight (this News fiasco, change in network results in a drop of streaming music and you have to restart the app, forcing/disabling transcoding is gone, etc). Fix the problems, respond to your customer’s on your own forum, and you will continue to be the single best PERSONAL media platform in the world.
