2013-06-14, 17:19
Quote:Access to premium features: Get PlexSync, multiuser support and Now Playing, the latest Android app for free, and more.
Funny, you pay with money, then you have something "free".
Funny, you pay with money, then you have something "free".
2013-06-15, 14:11
That response was not from someone on the Plex project from what I can tell. It was just some average user mouthing off. the thing is though I gound many more posts of 'average users' that speak in line with that. One stating "For anyone complaining about ANYTHING about Plex, please tell me you’re at least a Plex Pass purchaser." Basically saying if your not paying STFU.In a way that might be true. But saying it and thinking it is the difference between being a total prick and well, a normal person.
I have been using XBMC since damned near v1. I remember when Plex broke off and honestly my view of them has been shit from the second it happened. This crap just cements that even more for me.
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the message immediately after was from the dev saying he would have phrased it like that - ie he holds the same view...
I tried plex as a replacement for xbmc for a while, there were some nice things (better library mangement, and the on-deck queue), but on the whole it wasn't as stable as xbmc (trying to talk my wife through restarting the plex server was a particular low point).
Plus, when I went back to using xbmc, I relised I'd never donated, so now the $50 a year that I would have paid to plex goes to xbmc.
I have been using XBMC since damned near v1. I remember when Plex broke off and honestly my view of them has been shit from the second it happened. This crap just cements that even more for me.
[/quote]
the message immediately after was from the dev saying he would have phrased it like that - ie he holds the same view...
I tried plex as a replacement for xbmc for a while, there were some nice things (better library mangement, and the on-deck queue), but on the whole it wasn't as stable as xbmc (trying to talk my wife through restarting the plex server was a particular low point).
Plus, when I went back to using xbmc, I relised I'd never donated, so now the $50 a year that I would have paid to plex goes to xbmc.
2013-06-15, 22:35
(2013-06-15, 14:11)harry3001 Wrote: I tried plex as a replacement for xbmc for a while, there were some nice things (better library mangement, and the on-deck queue), but on the whole it wasn't as stable as xbmc (trying to talk my wife through restarting the plex server was a particular low point).
Plus, when I went back to using xbmc, I relised I'd never donated, so now the $50 a year that I would have paid to plex goes to xbmc.
On Deck (in true XBMC style ;-) has been added to the awesome Skin.Widgets library; so several skins now offer it (it's called 'Suggested' or 'Recommended', depending on the skin) - I'd recommend Hybrid ( http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Add-on:Hybrid ) if your machine has lots of power; or Confluence Modified ( http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=145080 ) if it doesn't (or if it's a Pi!)
2013-06-16, 10:01
This should certainly give some impetus to the XBMC effort to make a transcoding headless server for XBMC. After all, that is why many people use Plex, because they want a headless server. They want transcoding so they can see their movies on their slightly smart TV, or their wireless android device, or over a slower link (like the office or the parents house).
Well I can't see any other reason to use Plex over XBMC. On a wired home network where all your clients use XBMC, there ain't a reason to use plex.
EDIT: PS not much of the plex universe is open source anyway from what I can tell. The x86 client is based on XBMC and remains open source last time I looked. The server was written by them and is closed source. The other clients were written by them and are closed source. They have always been entitled to charge in anyway they feel will be acceptable to the market.
Well I can't see any other reason to use Plex over XBMC. On a wired home network where all your clients use XBMC, there ain't a reason to use plex.
EDIT: PS not much of the plex universe is open source anyway from what I can tell. The x86 client is based on XBMC and remains open source last time I looked. The server was written by them and is closed source. The other clients were written by them and are closed source. They have always been entitled to charge in anyway they feel will be acceptable to the market.
2013-06-21, 21:41
I use Plex, they've created a really good media server that sorts meta data really well, updates automatically soon as media is added and syncs across multiple platforms. Now that Syabas have released a Plex app I'm primarily using that over XBMC because I hate the faff of having to wait for updates, having to clean library of deleted data etc.
It's up to people if they want to pay for it, I don't know why it's being portrayed as some big evil thing of luring lowly users into forcing them to use their software.
I was talking about it to a colleague yesterday, plex will work much better for what he wants to do with his ipads and Apple TV than XBMC - it is just easier and costs barely anything.
It's up to people if they want to pay for it, I don't know why it's being portrayed as some big evil thing of luring lowly users into forcing them to use their software.
I was talking about it to a colleague yesterday, plex will work much better for what he wants to do with his ipads and Apple TV than XBMC - it is just easier and costs barely anything.
2013-06-22, 07:17
because these guys started out by violating xbmc and its license? by pissing on our trust by misusing our open arms for personal glory and monetary gains while never playing with open cards? we are talking about a company where the head idiots response when he is caught violating the license is to attempt to cover his ass with a joke about goat porn? i wonder why we gloat a bit when they finally show their real face.
2013-06-22, 10:32
Didn't know the background, since money is involved can't you take legal action and ask for donations to support it?
2013-06-22, 12:53
Statute of limitations is probably a factor. If not, even then, it's likely not worth the hassle and cost, and they're currently complying with XBMC code licenses (as far as I know), money involved or not.
The bad blood between the two groups, from my perspective, is one part history (what happened back when Plex devs were a part of XBMC and got kicked out), and one part continuing attitude towards open source software. Which is not to say this applies to everyone who works for Plex today, but there are certain individuals who still don't seem to think very highly of open source values. From my own view, that's not because they have closed source code, I have no issue with that, or even that they are charging for features.
I'm probably not explaining it very well. Basically, they're standing on other people's shoulders, heavily, and not really giving anything back. At least that's one part of it.
The bad blood between the two groups, from my perspective, is one part history (what happened back when Plex devs were a part of XBMC and got kicked out), and one part continuing attitude towards open source software. Which is not to say this applies to everyone who works for Plex today, but there are certain individuals who still don't seem to think very highly of open source values. From my own view, that's not because they have closed source code, I have no issue with that, or even that they are charging for features.
I'm probably not explaining it very well. Basically, they're standing on other people's shoulders, heavily, and not really giving anything back. At least that's one part of it.
2013-06-27, 05:14
I use xbmc on all of my home htpcs
However, I also am a plexpass member. I got it specifically for plex/web and plex sync.
For local media playback xbmc wins hands down. For remote viewing or viewing on a mobile device like a tablet, plex wins hands down. So I use both for slightly different purposes.
I just want to clarify a couple of things for fairness. As far as I know, plex has always said that plex sync would be a premium function and would require plexpass. Most other functionality however is available only to plexpass members during beta testing, but then is released to the general public once deemed stable. So no false advertising there
However, I also am a plexpass member. I got it specifically for plex/web and plex sync.
For local media playback xbmc wins hands down. For remote viewing or viewing on a mobile device like a tablet, plex wins hands down. So I use both for slightly different purposes.
I just want to clarify a couple of things for fairness. As far as I know, plex has always said that plex sync would be a premium function and would require plexpass. Most other functionality however is available only to plexpass members during beta testing, but then is released to the general public once deemed stable. So no false advertising there
2013-06-29, 10:52
(2013-06-22, 07:17)spiff Wrote: because these guys started out by violating xbmc and its license?
Oh spiff, how I've missed you.
Just to clear up the usual fear, uncertainly and doubt:
1) No, we're not going to write a new OS X client, or charge for it.
2) The only piece of Plex that is XBMC-derived is the media center app, which is free for Windows and OS X. The parts that have nothing to do with XBMC are many: the Media Server itself, the DLNA server, and clients for Roku, iOS, Android, Google TV, Windows Phone, and Windows 8 (and probably a few I'm forgetting). The majority of our users use the Plex clients.
3) Yes, we wrote a metro app from scratch for Win8 and we charge for it. If you don't want to pay, feel free to use the free XBMC-derived one.
4) Many features start in PlexPass (paid) and then move on to being free for everyone (for example, our awesome web-based media client) over time. PlexSync is one that we've always said would remain a premium feature.
I think that covers most of it
2013-06-29, 16:34
can't we all get along? they are both equally awesome. i show everybody both of them. i don't think you can live one without the other if you want the true media experience (ie, media everywhere (plex) or an awesome home theater setup which leaves people in awe (xbmc)
2013-06-29, 22:34
(2013-06-29, 10:52)elan Wrote: Many features start in PlexPass (paid) and then move on to being free for everyone (for example, our awesome web-based media client) over time. PlexSync is one that we've always said would remain a premium feature.
Hey Elan,
No offense man, but this isn't true in several cases. Like this for instance:
elan Wrote:The other feature that is requested more than any other is the ability to see who is playing what from a server...
This feature is also only available to PlexPass members.
That's something that people have practically been begging you for, for years. And let's be honest: from a development point of view, it's wasn't that much work - and yet you've closed it off to PlexPass as well, permanently:
elan Wrote:@pppx ~ just to be perfectly clear, multi-user and now playing will remain PlexPass features even when the release is made to the public (a la PlexSync).
How many other begged-for, simple Plex features are going to go the same way?
Why should we trust you? When PlexPass was initially introduced, you (in self-admitted stupidity) still wanted to charge your users yet another 'premium' subscription on top of PlexPass to get access to new features once they were out of Beta - effectively rendering PlexPass (at the time) little more than a paid-for Beta program.
I'm glad you listened to all the complaints about that and recanted, but what's not to say that ever happens again? With the manner in which you started your product, I'm not sure I'd declare you all that ethical. Do I want to trust my entire media experience to you, then?
Heck in that same post, you also mentioned the possibility of "add[ing] some sort of [paid-for] premium content." What happens when you get into bed with the wrong content provider and end up with a license agreement that negatively affects your users? (Do you have any idea how fanatical Content Providers are?)
Anyone remember the April Fools Joke about that happening to XBMC and how upset it got everyone?
And as a commercial undertaking, what happens to your user-base if a company that doesn't have your users' best interests at heart buys you out?
I wouldn't chance it. So my vote goes to using Plex as a source of ideas for XBMC. And nothing more. Sorry, man.
2013-06-30, 00:31
XBMC is fantastic, I use it quite literally every day
Plex is also fantastic, and I use it quite literally every day when I'm travelling
Both have some advantages over the other, and both are better at certain types of use than the other. There are features I would love to see added to XBMC, but due to the nature of an open source project with volunteer developers they haven't happened yet, and that's perfectly fine, I understand why. Plex has filled in some of those gaps for me, so I am happy to pay for those things, i.e.headless server, transcoding/remote playback, fully shared library (please don't bother pitching me on MySQL as it is a stopgap, not a true solution).
I understand there is some history and people still have some bad feelings, but I wish the hatchet could get buried. It's been years. And XBMC users with no horse in that race coming here to bash them (often inaccurately as was the case here) does no one any good.
If you don't want to pay for PlexPass, don't. Simple as that. People seem to be shocked and offended that developers want to be paid for their time. Free open source is awesome, but everything in life is a trade-off. If someone wants to make the media experience even better but wants to get paid for it I don't see why anyone thinks that is a bad thing.
Plex is also fantastic, and I use it quite literally every day when I'm travelling
Both have some advantages over the other, and both are better at certain types of use than the other. There are features I would love to see added to XBMC, but due to the nature of an open source project with volunteer developers they haven't happened yet, and that's perfectly fine, I understand why. Plex has filled in some of those gaps for me, so I am happy to pay for those things, i.e.headless server, transcoding/remote playback, fully shared library (please don't bother pitching me on MySQL as it is a stopgap, not a true solution).
I understand there is some history and people still have some bad feelings, but I wish the hatchet could get buried. It's been years. And XBMC users with no horse in that race coming here to bash them (often inaccurately as was the case here) does no one any good.
If you don't want to pay for PlexPass, don't. Simple as that. People seem to be shocked and offended that developers want to be paid for their time. Free open source is awesome, but everything in life is a trade-off. If someone wants to make the media experience even better but wants to get paid for it I don't see why anyone thinks that is a bad thing.
2013-11-09, 21:56
Just weighing in here.
I love open source. I love the look of XBMC. I would simply use it if I could. It simply does not fit my needs. I do not want to have 3 or 4 different XBMC boxes sitting around my house when I could very easily manage everything through an application like Plex. I hate the fact that Plex is closed source as much as the next Linux geek.
However, if XBMC never implements a transcoding server, I will likely never use it since I want a shared library and transcoding-on-the-fly. The day XBMC has the ability to transcode-on-the-fly, I will switch and never go back to Plex.
For now, I just can't use XBMC.
I love open source. I love the look of XBMC. I would simply use it if I could. It simply does not fit my needs. I do not want to have 3 or 4 different XBMC boxes sitting around my house when I could very easily manage everything through an application like Plex. I hate the fact that Plex is closed source as much as the next Linux geek.
However, if XBMC never implements a transcoding server, I will likely never use it since I want a shared library and transcoding-on-the-fly. The day XBMC has the ability to transcode-on-the-fly, I will switch and never go back to Plex.For now, I just can't use XBMC.
2013-11-09, 23:00
(2013-11-09, 21:56)DaBungalow Wrote: Just weighing in here.
I love open source. I love the look of XBMC. I would simply use it if I could. It simply does not fit my needs. I do not want to have 3 or 4 different XBMC boxes sitting around my house when I could very easily manage everything through an application like Plex. I hate the fact that Plex is closed source as much as the next Linux geek.
For now, I just can't use XBMC.
Try mediabrowser 3 with xbmc. Open source.
