Plex is now rolling out its revamped app on Android, iPhone, and iPad. The replace has a number of vital design modifications and a brand new codebase, however a number of options have additionally been eliminated.
Plex introduced last year that it was rewriting its cell and TV apps from the bottom up, centered on a extra useful and trendy interface, and making a shared codebase throughout all gadgets. That final level is a crucial consideration when Plex is offered on over a dozen platforms. Plex additionally determined to take music playback and media backup out of the main app to additional simplify growth—these characteristic are actually solely accessible within the Plexamp and Plex Photos apps.
New Options
This can be a vital redesign that appears to take some inspiration from trendy streaming service apps, in addition to person assessment platforms like IMDB and Letterboxd. The principle navigation bar has been reorganized into Residence, Library, Stay TV, On-Demand, and Uncover. The latter tab is a part of the better deal with social options: you’ll be able to see what your Plex buddies are watching and reviewing.
Plex particularly highlighted the “redesigned navigation for improved discoverability,” the “devoted tab for centralized private media libraries,” the “expanded use of art work by for richer experiences,” and “quite a lot of different options to attach, watch, and share smarter.”
The app has acquired quite a lot of work because it first entered preview final 12 months. The load occasions and scrolling efficiency has bene improved, private Stay TV tuners and Forged help are working once more, there are new choices for shuffling TV exhibits and playlists, OpenSubtitles subtitle search is again, and different modifications. In the event you tried out the preview and located a number of options lacking, they’re most likely again now.
What’s Lacking?
Like most rewrites and redesigns of widespread purposes, some options weren’t prepared in time for the preliminary launch. Plex says vertical episode lists, fast entry to media libraries on the house tab, downloading whole seasons, casting to extra gadgets, scheduling DVR recordings, casting OTA TV, modifying the Watch Historical past, and another choices are “coming quickly.” Plex can be engaged on extra enhancements for downloads storage, offline private media, and navigation.
Associated
Plex Pass Lifetime Memberships Double in Price Next Month, so Sign Up Now
Plex will enhance the worth of its month-to-month, yearly, and lifelong memberships on April twenty ninth. The corporate can be revoking distant entry without cost accounts, although this solely impacts server house owners, not viewers.
There are some options which are gone for good, although. Photograph and music administration has been moved to the separate Plexamp and Plex Photos apps. The power to share entry to particular person media gadgets has additionally been eliminated, however you’ll be able to nonetheless share whole libraries and see previously-shared gadgets. Plex has additionally killed the choice to manually enter a server IP tackle, which was primarily used for firewalls and different community configurations that blocked Plex’s built-in server discovery.
Plex for Android additionally not helps playback with exterior apps, like VLC Media Participant. A discussion board put up defined, “All playback might be inside the Plex app, utilizing our participant performance.” Lastly, switching the app icon on iOS is not going to be supported “for the foreseeable future.”
The Plex group additionally stated, “As you’re studying, all our groups are working onerous on enhancing our cell expertise. We’ve got taken into consideration all suggestions we have now acquired and we’ll proceed listening to your impressions. We respect your help and understanding.”
Attempt It Out
The brand new replace is slowly rolling out for Android and iOS. In the event you don’t see the replace but, you’ll get it quickly.
Supply: Plex Blog, Plex Forums