WD now has developer access for WD TV and you can make your own apps for the WDTV.
Please plex devs create an app for WDTV so the DLNA route doesn't need to be done anymore
Your better off asking the person(s) responsible for the Popcornhour Plex client to port that, it's the same hardware platform (Sigma Designs custom linux OS) the SDK's may be different but might have some commonality.
The WDTV is sporting very old hardware so even if Plex shows don't expect anything as slick as Plex on any other platform PC/Android/Roku/FireTV and so on, the WDTV has no GPU it's basically a very slow MIPS CPU with a bunch of (capable) video decoders which is the only thing going for it.
Your better off asking the person(s) responsible for the Popcornhour Plex client to port that, it's the same hardware platform (Sigma Designs custom linux OS) the SDK's may be different but might have some commonality.
The WDTV is sporting very old hardware so even if Plex shows don't expect anything as slick as Plex on any other platform PC/Android/Roku/FireTV and so on, the WDTV has no GPU it's basically a very slow MIPS CPU with a bunch of (capable) video decoders which is the only thing going for it.
I don't think I would be better off. Plex makes apps for way less capable crap like the Roku box. The WDTV has just been hardware renewed as of a few weeks ago as well. Software interface has nothing to do with the hardware capability either.
I don't think I would be better off. Plex makes apps for way less capable crap like the Roku box. The WDTV has just been hardware renewed as of a few weeks ago as well. Software interface has nothing to do with the hardware capability either.
Hate to break it to you but Plex aren't going to make a client for an obscure platform, technologically the WDTV is a Dinosaur compared to the Roku, Roku is an Arm CPU/GPU SoC so at least it's relatively current.
The WDTV on other hand the hardware hasn't really been renewed, all WD did was crap out another ancient Sigma Designs chip that had Miracast support bolted onto it then said hey we can do apps too and called it a day. The main perceived difference to you I'm guessing is that the Roku was designed as an Internet media streamer so it's codec support is very basic, the WDTV on the other hand uses a chip which was created for playing back a wide range of videos from USB/NAS.
Software interface absolutely is affected by the hardware, the WDTV has an extremely slow MIPS class CPU with no GPU (basically a bunch of video decoders and not much else), you cannot expect anything like the Plex clients on FireTV, Mac/PC or along those lines.
As I said if you look at the Popcornhour/Dune Plex clients those are what you get, it is the same hardware/software platform that powers the WDTV series, ask their devs and they might make a WDTV version.
I'd save your money though and wait for official AndroidTV boxes which will kill off the WDTV and the remainder of the legacy media players like the Popcornhour/Dune, there are loads of unofficial Android boxes that have as good if not better codec support than the WDTV but they get tablet Plex, all it takes is for one of those to do proper AndroidTV once it comes out and thats it.
Hate to break it to you but Plex aren't going to make a client for an obscure platform, technologically the WDTV is a Dinosaur compared to the Roku, Roku is an Arm CPU/GPU SoC so at least it's relatively current.
The WDTV on other hand the hardware hasn't really been renewed, all WD did was crap out another ancient Sigma Designs chip that had Miracast support bolted onto it then said hey we can do apps too and called it a day. The main perceived difference to you I'm guessing is that the Roku was designed as an Internet media streamer so it's codec support is very basic, the WDTV on the other hand uses a chip which was created for playing back a wide range of videos from USB/NAS.
Software interface absolutely is affected by the hardware, the WDTV has an extremely slow MIPS class CPU with no GPU (basically a bunch of video decoders and not much else), you cannot expect anything like the Plex clients on FireTV, Mac/PC or along those lines.
As I said if you look at the Popcornhour/Dune Plex clients those are what you get, it is the same hardware/software platform that powers the WDTV series, ask their devs and they might make a WDTV version.
I'd save your money though and wait for official AndroidTV boxes which will kill off the WDTV and the remainder of the legacy media players like the Popcornhour/Dune, there are loads of unofficial Android boxes that have as good if not better codec support than the WDTV but they get tablet Plex, all it takes is for one of those to do proper AndroidTV once it comes out and thats it.
if I had a WDTV certainly would make a Plex client for it.
I can comment on the dune (which also uses a chipset Sygma).
The cpu have no much processing power to make a plex client with a very good interface like the Plex HT, but if the interface is more simple a good client can be made.
The best qualities of these sigma processors are the very wide range of video and audio codecs supported, a large amount of containers supported and a very good video and audio quality.
particularly i have tested many android devices to use as media player and no one i have tested support natively some audio condecs like ac3 or dts.
I think the best reason to use a client for this platform is that it is able to play almost everything directly without the need to transcode or remux.
I have had all the WD media players over the years, and they are always sluggish underpowered devices.
I cringe even thinking about a full plex client running on WD hardware lol I don't think it would be time well spent for devs.
I dont believe it would be a waste as a ton of people have the WD tv live. It is a little sluggish but netflix and hulu run fine on it. It also will play any file thrown at it, so it would work great for people with slower servers. I would for one love to see life brought back to the WD tv live.
My parents just picked this up and it would be nice if they could have plex on it!
I dont believe it would be a waste as a ton of people have the WD tv live. It is a little sluggish but netflix and hulu run fine on it. It also will play any file thrown at it, so it would work great for people with slower servers. I would for one love to see life brought back to the WD tv live.
I have mine in my closet not being used, but keep it around specifically because it can play any file you throw at it. I'm keeping it for if I want to play an ISO. :)
I also have a WDTV LIve. It perfectly compliments a ROKU 3.
WD plays my media library. (Every file that I have ever downloaded. With adequate, if not outstanding speed.)
ROKU 3 handles my Internet TV streaming, but doesn't play much of my media library.
Oh! How I wish I had a combination of the two!
I've always been hoping for a plex client for my Wd Tv Live - moving over to a MinixNeox8 but the wd plays everything perfectly, excellent subtitle support - and watching the stuff is what it's about, not boasting about the specs of a processor.
Ok I have the WD Live, I honestly have no idea why you would want plex client on it. The plex UI is terrible, over complex and rarely works properly. WD apps are slow, however the DLNA is plenty fast.
Western Digital has one reason in being and it is the one reason I keep returning every other media device I buy. It will Play ANYTHING. 1080P 25mbps Vc-1 with DTS-MA 7.1 and it just plays it and goes:"What else you got"
Plex has one reason for beaing(IMHO), it will transcode ANYTHING to play on ANYTHING. If you ain't got a WD, then Plex is your answer.
Please don't bring them together, all you end up with is a slow app that crashes a lot, refuses to play playlists, remember what's been watched, and downgrades most of your video/audio quality
i hope someone develop a plex client for wd tv live, it will be awesome!
Ok I have the WD Live, I honestly have no idea why you would want plex client on it. The plex UI is terrible, over complex and rarely works properly. WD apps are slow, however the DLNA is plenty fast.
Western Digital has one reason in being and it is the one reason I keep returning every other media device I buy. It will Play ANYTHING. 1080P 25mbps Vc-1 with DTS-MA 7.1 and it just plays it and goes:"What else you got"
Plex has one reason for beaing(IMHO), it will transcode ANYTHING to play on ANYTHING. If you ain't got a WD, then Plex is your answer.
Please don't bring them together, all you end up with is a slow app that crashes a lot, refuses to play playlists, remember what's been watched, and downgrades most of your video/audio quality
I don't have a WD Live but i have have a similar product (in terms of playback capability), i have 2 Dunes and developed a client to PMS (emplexer).
About the GUI:
I think the client don't really need to use the interface like plex HT ( i like this skin ), the hoku client use a interface much similar with other apps for hoku.
The Plex Connect use same interface of any other Apple Tv app.
The emplexer use the same GUI tookit that the Dune use, and because of that the interface is simple, but functional and as fast as possible on Dune PHP Plugin.
About this afirmation: "Plex has one reason for beaing(IMHO), it will transcode ANYTHING to play on ANYTHING. If you ain't got a WD, then Plex is your answer."
I think this is a misunderstand about PMS, if the client doesn't ask for a trancoded session the pms dosen't does any transcode.
The emplexer use the videos/audio metadata, the last started position and do ZERO transcode becouse the dune able to direct play nearly to everything.
I know some people who use it with a powerless synology which have not enough power to do a transcoded session.
I think a plex client to WD Live with a ZERO transcode is perfectly possible, but like many other clients a plataform enthusiast developer is needed to do the job.
I would I’ve a plex app for my wdtv live boxes. I still use 2 of them for my kids rooms running brad firmware. I have owned many different boxes but none have played every file except the wdtv live running brad firmware. Still the best player for just playing anything. Would love a plex app so my kids could enjoy plex in their rooms too. Or an AirPlay like app so they could fling plex from their iPod to the wdtv live
I have the WDTV Live box specifically for the Slingbox client. I have an Apple TV for AirPlay. If I buy one more box for the living room, my wife is gonna have my head. Make Plex work with ONE of these devices!
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