@Stevenson-Price said:
Hi everyone, so I’ve been working on my own Plex client for tvOS on the new Apple TV. It’s built using all the native interface stuff, so it looks and feels great (I love the new remote!)
Just to temper expectations, am I correct in assuming that SimpleX will not include the ability to search for your local content using Siri/universal search?
The Apple search API is not public yet… Only selected partners have access at the moment. They plan on releasing a public API in the future. No time frame given…
@Lezz said:
The Apple search API is not public yet… Only selected partners have access at the moment. They plan on releasing a public API in the future. No time frame given…
Apple’s API won’t change how Siri universal search fundamentally works. Siri accepts user input and runs a query against a cloud-hosted index. Apple keeps a cloud-hosted index of their iTunes content. So do companies like HBO, Netflix, Hulu, and any other content providers who may wish to participate.
This won’t work with locally stored content because neither Apple nor Plex nor anyone else maintains a cloud-hosted index of that content. Doing so would raise technical, legal, and privacy concerns. Even if someone did keep such a cloud-hosted index, they would then have to figure out how to let Siri search only for that specific user’s content each time, which may not even be technically feasible.
What Apple should have done was to create a hook for Siri to query the user’s local content (using their Spotlight index) at the same time it queries the cloud. This would have provided the true universal search feature everyone actually wants without the need for a cloud-hosted record of everyone’s locally stored media.
As it stands, I don’t think anyone is going to be able to offer Siri/universal search for local content. And for the sake of argument, anyone who did would likely face scrutiny over the privacy implications, particularly in light of the imminent passage of CISA. Apple dropped the ball on this, perhaps intentionally as a way to persuade more people to buy/rent/store media online instead of hosting ripped or pirated content locally.
Right, the Siri search stuff. As people have said, neither Plex’s official app nor SimpleX will support this from launch as Apple is only working with “select partners” right now (unless Apple have been working with Plex!)
As for whether Plex apps will be able to support this when the public Apple API is available, I wouldn’t be so quick to assume it will work exactly how it does now. If they didn’t plan to make any changes to it (eg. to work with a wider range of app types) then they could open it up and release it now, but they haven’t.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a final API that has two paths to provide indexed content: one for online indexed services like Netflix, and one that more closely resembles the new spotlight search API in iOS 9 which works for local app content. But we’ll see, that’s all speculation!
@Stevenson-Price said:
Right, the Siri search stuff. As people have said, neither Plex’s official app nor SimpleX will support this from launch as Apple is only working with “select partners” right now (unless Apple have been working with Plex!)As for whether Plex apps will be able to support this when the public Apple API is available, I wouldn’t be so quick to assume it will work exactly how it does now. If they didn’t plan to make any changes to it (eg. to work with a wider range of app types) then they could open it up and release it now, but they haven’t.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a final API that has two paths to provide indexed content: one for online indexed services like Netflix, and one that more closely resembles the new spotlight search API in iOS 9 which works for local app content. But we’ll see, that’s all speculation!
I very much hope you’re right, but given Apple’s silence on the matter and the lack of revenue streams for locally stored content, I’m not optimistic. I do find it interesting how little this is being discussed.
I would wager that most prospective Apple TV 4 buyers are incorrectly assuming that universal search will work with local content out of the box. I would also bet that many of those who’ve realized it won’t, assume that third party services will close the gap using their upcoming API. I think everyone’s in for some disappointment.
The primary reason for me replacing my mac mini running PHT with an aTV 4 is Plex (and to a lesser degree games and apps). I assumed it would be a long wait, but Simplex just made me start looking at the order schedule to move up my purchase! Looking forward to the video of Simplex (and hoping that .srt is going to be part of it). I should also add, that simple things Simplex is including like filtering for unwatched and recently added just trumped this mistake Plex Media Player made by not including those basic filters.
@hoomanbahrani said:
I should also add, that simple things Simplex is including like filtering for unwatched and recently added just trumped this mistake Plex Media Player made by not including those basic filters.
Where can I learn more about Plex’s ATV4 app? I’m new to Plex, and I’m just beginning to learn that they aren’t exactly on the cutting edge of UI design*. I share your excitement about the SimpleX app, though, considering it’s scheduled to be released imminently and the screenshots I’ve seen so far are leaps and bounds better than Apple’s UI for Home Sharing content.
*Can’t complain about their iOS app, though. I think it’s quite good.
@freediverx said:
Where can I learn more about Plex’s ATV4 app? I’m new to Plex, and I’m just beginning to learn that they aren’t exactly on the cutting edge of UI design. I share your excitement about the SimpleX app, though, considering it’s scheduled to be released imminently and the screenshots I’ve seen so far are leaps and bounds better than Apple’s UI for Home Sharing content.
Plex has only said they’re working on an official aTV app, no other information is available…
@hoomanbahrani said:
Plex has only said they’re working on an official aTV app, no other information is available…
I thought you were referring to their upcoming ATV app when you said Plex excluded filtering for unwatched and recently added media. Those are available with their current player…
@hoomanbahrani said:
Plex has only said they’re working on an official aTV app, no other information is available…
elan posted a couple of days ago that they already submitted their tvos-app to the app store and that it is in review.
@punckt said:
elan posted a couple of days ago that they already submitted their tvos-app to the app store and that it is in review.
I take it they have’t leaked any screenshots or features list?
@freediverx said:
I take it they have’t leaked any screenshots or features list?
no, only that it is a “real” tvos-app - whatever that means …
@punckt said:
no, only that it is a “real” tvos-app - whatever that means …
Perhaps they meant “native”? Since Apple omitted any webview or keyboard support from tvOS, all apps will have to be native… no “web apps”. They might also have been referring to a sanctioned app that doesn’t require a jailbreak.
@freediverx said:
I was referring to Plex Media Player which is in a beta form, I think, or exclusive or Plex Pass - not referring to Plex Home Theater.
@punckt said:
elan posted a couple of days ago that they already submitted their tvos-app to the app store and that it is in review.
Thank you, my mistake…
@hoomanbahrani said:
I was referring to Plex Media Player which is in a beta form, I think, or exclusive or Plex Pass - not referring to Plex Home Theater.
I get a little mixed up with their product names. The ones I use (from which I got the screenshots) are the mac/web player and iOS app.
@ixion said:
I now have an Mac mini and it does all the work, so was hoping the new Apple tv 4 can do it as well now…
That why my question…
Any chances SimpleX or Plex will be able to voice search of titles once you are IN the app? I am not talking about universal search from the home screen, I know that’s not possible as of now but in particular search by voice once open the SimpleX or Plex app? Instead of typing in the screen, it would be nice if Siri can be used as for text input.
@punckt said:
elan posted a couple of days ago that they already submitted their tvos-app to the app store and that it is in review.
do you have a link?
@AFailing said:
do you have a link?
https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1045859#Comment_1045859
