Thank you Plex

General Discussions
1

I dont remember ever posting before. I’m here just to say THANK YOU to the Plex team for refocusing on stability and quality-of-life stuff, and for having the courage to sunset little-used features that created disproportionate maintenance overhead, despite the predictable blowback.

I’ve felt worried about Plex’s direction since “news” was added. I don’t hate the concept but it seemed like an obvious business error - a fringe feature that would require constant, perpetual maintenance, but which could never really compete with proper news outlets nor draw new users into the product. Meanwhile I just wanted to listen to music on my morning commute. I waited years for the music player to work properly on a train. I was about to shift entirely away from Plex because of what I perceived as priority-blindness.

Until yesterday. I noticed the post about the audio player update. I can listen to a whole album now. There are other nice basic-functionality updates too. Holy ■■■■ Batman, this is what Plex is supposed to be. Fuckin’ awesome.

Please stay in this direction. There is a silent majority out there that wants solid, stable, mature functionality and doesnt get worked-up about fringe features, even when one we like is axed. Thanks for keeping your eyes the ball.

Seriously, thank you.

6 Likes
3

Most of the real world thinks Plex just hit an iceberg … and it sounds like you want to hit the beach even thought is it made of melting snow… your logic is singular…“your commute music”…

4

I wrote this because I believe that “most of the real world” doesn’t have time to post about Plex. Nobody can be sure what they think. People with strong complaints will often voice them. People happy with a product rarely reach out to provide positive feedback. The negative feedback can easily drown out the positive even when most customers are happy with the product.

So, heres my perspective as a regular happy customer. I’m most satisfied with the basic functionality of Plex. It’s a reliable, flexible, convenient, delivery system for me to watch and share my video and audio content anywhere, with anyone. It strives to keep pace with the convenience of streaming services, and largely succeeds. I’m very happy that it does.

I hope Plex keeps focus on that core mission because that is where Plex delivers the greatest value to my life.

1 Like
5

I think this is what almost all plex users want. But as you even mentioned in your OP, there have been a rash of feature updates that are counter to your quote above about core mission.

6

Wow you must not use Plex very often!

Put simply the look sucks… the function sucks… and what sucks the most is all the complaints form everyone I have spoon fed Plex to over the last 5 years…

Where have you been?

I really don’t care if Plex tries to generate more cash with new offerings… I all for that kind of thing they are dead without it … but this ready aim fire stuff has never worked… hope it has not killed the Plex we love.

7

I use it literally every day. I strongly disagree that it sucks.

Obviously the look, functionality etc. wont surpass Netflix, Hulu, Spotify etc. But I’d guess Plex has 0.01% of the staff of those companies and they still manage to bring me the core functionality in a way that stays in the same ballpark as those big guys. I am grateful to them for that.

1 Like
8

Though I have been critical of Plex in the past I have to say I have adopted a new outlook.
I’m not too worried any more about what Plex doesn’t do, rather than what it does do.
Server side I have zero issues and still think its best in class.
Client side its a different story.
There are hardly any clients that I haven’t tried in search of my perfect client. Smart TV’S, Consoles, HTPC, Nvidia Shield, Apple TV 4K, etc…

Be it missing functionality ( Apple TV 4K) that isn’t down to Plex…Or the mediocre UI (everything else.)
Oh and I’m the one who thinks that however bad the new UI is that Plex are pushing, its nowhere near as hideous as Android TV on the Shield.
So finally I found my ideal set up. As well being a kick ass play anything device its also an awesome casting device.
I dug out an old Android tablet and put the Plex mobile app on it. Which is a totally different experience to the same app on a 5-6" smart phone. The tablet runs nothing but Plex (and the harmony app for my other media devices.)
Finally now I have the client I have been looking for.
Sadly lately its out of fashion to say anything remotely positive about Plex. That’s a totally different thing than having lots of negative things to say…and yes there are plenty of those.
If it works for you just do what I do (mostly).
Forget the forums, enjoy your media.
If you really need your fix of Plex chat then reddit is a far better option.

At least there people can have different views but it doesn’t descend into chaos (and trolling) as often.

9

Not really…

PLEX had great client interface with many functions both needed and unneeded for each user. It made our media work and we curate our media to our needs following the documented naming conventions.

This forum (or any) is a Hurricane-of-Noise. PLEX management of forum is poor at best and non-existence mostly. Forums are not support centers since you have to look through many many posts to find the piece of information that is need, if ever found.

I only came in here after the PLEX destroyed my ability to use the client by myself (I have vision impairments. Even using this forum is very hard for me. I am the tech in my house. I am the one that makes it all work and manage it futures. My network has over 60+ devices, my desk alone has 8 computers connected to one big ass screen so I can see them.

I have used PLEX for years (6?) I have been able to use the client interface without issue because the color combinations worked for me. It is was also clean and crisp to me. I understood who what where when and how of the interface. A friend that showed me PLEX at work one day. Now ask me how to improve set-up.

PLEX has made commitmetns to us all. READ the Terms-of-Service. That includes improve the PLEX software, but also removing functionality. It was just update in November.

Any business, let along avatar or handle, are only as good as the last interaction. Would you go back to a bad restaurant? Or an auto dealership that dented your car? PLEX is same. IF you had a long track history them, do you help change them? Do you use another product to do the same work, until they give you back access?

The issue here will PLEX learn to treat us, the guys that are their business and their product, with respect. They expect our respect and even cut short and hide detail of posts that is not wanted to get out.

Even with PLEX giving us a method to roll the client back, that information was NOT presented upfront at the top of forum, like the “we are working on it…”, but at the bottom of thread, that I long stopped reading. Also no visual links (that I can see) to how to do it. It read as be presented on ROKU as a new channel. Finally found trying and searching for Preview client. Again hidden information.

PLEX did some wrong. They still continuing that policy silence. I hope their better selves with take control again, Give us ALL the products that we need. Meeting and excessing all users expectation.

For me an interface that is “finished” and supports my visual impairment again.

To others, restore functionality that was lost or not working. Pre there own TOS… improvement, but no loss of functionality

1.5. Plex Solution Updates. Plex may, but is not obligated to, update the Plex Solution with updates, upgrades, enhancements, improvements, additions, new or incremental features or functionality of and generally made available through the Plex Solution (as determined by Plex in its sole discretion), or modifications that are provided as part of product support and any other support or maintenance services that Plex provides as part of or otherwise in connection with the Plex Solution (collectively, “Plex Solution Updates”). In some instances, you may be required to consent to or to agree to use and implement an applicable Plex Solution Update in a timely manner, including, without limitation, as a means to protect the Plex Solution from unauthorized use, content, or data. If you decline a Plex Solution Update, you may not be able to use or access the Plex Solution (in whole or in part), and Plex shall have no responsibility or liability for any continued use. Unless otherwise indicated, references to the Plex Solution include any Plex Solution Updates.

It is this dispensary that we are all should be helping them fix. At least the first step has been made… giving us back the older client and interface I am dependant on. Now for others they live up to their TOS, and give back a method to support what we have come to expect for their great prior product.

Worse thing is business is their own success. It is hard to go up from there. I hope they have learned to be open in this last event.

10

Point proven. So thanks.

11

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.