Regardless of the possibilities I agree with FamilyMedia1. Most of these changes affect the DVR feature, short of course going to the very inconvenient way it currently is, trying to mimic a MS or Samsung/ android skin. Currently the only platform I am aware of that is still in the original style is plex web on the server machine, and even that for some reason had to be messed with.
It was bad enough that someone chose to move all icons around and call it an improvement, but to force update all platforms for viewing to a completely unusable style? I mean really!?!? The old adage of "If it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ comes to mind. Easier navigation and groupings as in the previous versions was definitely preferable.
Furthermore the previous layout was more in tune with the user. For example, any libraries I personally named were easily visible on the left side of the screen on most platforms, Now you have to figure out what icon does what and then scroll through sub headings (icons) to find the right library. How was that an improvement? It doesn’t even work properly on a Samsung TV to this day!
Changing things on the back end for bug fixes, trans-coding, compatibility and over all performance is a must. But forcing unwanted and frivolous skin changes that only confuse allot of end users is not a smart thing to do at the best of times.
If I wanted a complex user interaction I would never have chosen Plex in the beginning, Seeing how it is going, possibly a MS or Linux variant. Especially using a Roku, which is known for simplicity. If I had known that someone would make the interface quite un-usable I would have re thought the entire choice. Not to mention that most of the updates I have noticed create more problems than solve of late. On the server alone there is multiple issues after each supposed update. This started when Plex announced that they were bringing on somebody to help improve the service.
Honestly…as a PM user…not a coder…PLEASE, PLEASE…PLEASE…Stop messing/ changing an already great service/ interface in the name of supposed progress, MS did that and they proved it a bad choice before they actually did it, be smarter and wiser, see what can actually happen before it becomes reality, the many, many plex users will thank you, as I know I will.
A roll back option, on the server/ web client and on the connected platforms to an older style, to reflect ease of use would be a great option to add. Regardless of the back end the interface needs to be user friendly, hence a vote for style layout choices I make here. If you really want to be sure create a poll and I think if you ask the right question, based upon the above, you will see there would most likely be a majority. Be sure to email all users and not just in the forums for a poll either, otherwise it starts slanted and ends slanted.
