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Plex is locking remote streaming behind a subscription in April (www.plex.tv)

submitted 6 days ago by Flatworm7591@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com

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Ahoy mateys, it's time to setup Jellyfin if you prefer not to pay for the privilege of self-hosting your own content.

cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/27204525

We are also changing how remote playback works for streaming personal media (that is, playback when not on the same local network as the server). The reality is that we need more resources to continue putting forth the best personal media experience, and as a result, we will no longer offer remote playback as a free feature. This—alongside the new Plex Pass pricing—will help provide those resources. This change will apply to the future release of our new Plex experience for mobile and other platforms.

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[-] cujo@sh.itjust.works 107 points 6 days ago

Just gonna... Drop this here...

[-] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 95 points 6 days ago

Yet again, FOSS showing why it's always the way to go vs proprietary tech. So glad I started my self-hosting journey with Jellyfin!

[-] philycheeze@sh.itjust.works 17 points 6 days ago

I’m starting mine this weekend, what timing!

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[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 71 points 6 days ago

The reality is that we need more resources to continue putting forth the best personal media experience, and as a result, we will no longer offer remote playback as a free feature.

What "resources" do you need, exactly, to allow my friends to stream from my server?

[-] Pika@sh.itjust.works 33 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

mr crabs money meme with mr crabs and an announcer outside of the krusty crab

for real though, such a dumb decision on plex's part lol

[-] metaStatic@kbin.earth 48 points 6 days ago

They would charge you to watch your own DVDs if they could

[-] kratoz29@lemm.ee 9 points 6 days ago

.... A fee for adding content to each media, capped libraries? What is next?

Let's brainstorm guys ;D

[-] metaStatic@kbin.earth 10 points 6 days ago

nice try Plex

[-] Grostleton@lemm.ee 15 points 5 days ago

Lol, OK Plex, cya.

They're honestly lucky I was willing to pay the $2.99 or whatever it was to be able to access MY server, using MY internet and cell data, to access MY media files from MY phone. Plenty fair a price for a nice app, might've paid a few bucks more but they can screw off trying to charge a monthly fee for... nothing in particular in my usage case.

Literally just set up Jellyfin w/ Tailscale which took all of 10 minutes and works just as well. GG no re 🖕

[-] taiidan@slrpnk.net 34 points 6 days ago

Fuck around with proprietary software and find out.

[-] Pika@sh.itjust.works 28 points 6 days ago

I really don't see how anyone in their hierarchy thought this was a good idea.

There are at least 3 other competitors that moreorless work better than plex already does, without even having a subscription.

I'm amazed they decided to go this route, especially when migrating is as simple as uninstall plex, install competitor of choice(like jellyfin), and then just specify media locations.

the only real annoying part is remaking user accounts and losing watch progress/history, but there is usually a migration tool for that

[-] deeply_moving_queef@lemmy.ml 25 points 6 days ago

The key difference is client app support for various platforms. Jellyfin is far behind Plex on that front, and I say this as a user and advocate for Jellyfin. That’s a huge hurdle for migrating even just family and friends users.

[-] Pika@sh.itjust.works 7 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I haven't actually experienced this. I use my JF server on my roku, my Samsung tv (ok that was a pain because you have to side load it which requires a PC for TizenOs), all my families systems, and my tablet. The only systems I've found that seem to lack support of a jellyfin app is my ps5 and my xbox. It's either been on native or been able to be side loaded on every smart tv I've used, and every mobile device has had an app in the app store allowing me to use it. I don't understand the people saying there are no clients for it.

[-] deeply_moving_queef@lemmy.ml 9 points 6 days ago

Sure, every use case is different, and I didn’t say there’s “no clients for it”, just that, objectively, there’s a gap in client support for Jellyfin in the context of migrating from Plex.

The gap also exists in maturity of available clients. In my case on tvOS/iOS, I’m using a third party client (Infuse) because Swiftfin is beta software and Jellyfin for iOS is a web view. I would have better feature coverage on Plex, if I could stomach that.

[-] ocean@lemmy.selfhostcat.com 33 points 6 days ago

Still don’t get why people use Plex over Jellyfin

[-] brygphilomena@lemmy.dbzer0.com 24 points 6 days ago

In my own house, or just myself. Jellyfin is fine. I haven't spent as much time on it though compared to Plex.

Plex has its own user auth, I don't need to manage that. My friends and family don't have to hit me up for password resets.

It has apps on pretty much every device.

Users can just log in. They don't need to know what server to type in.

[-] Kurroth@aussie.zone 7 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Yer it's clear people who go on about not understanding either have small circles of users, or don't actually support people...

You aren't getting Pop and Nan to understand how to troubleshoot or setup Jellyfin access on their old TV compared to just throwing in a Chromecast or fire stick and having Plex auto logon with an account you setup for them if the couldn't. Makes life a ton easier, even at the cost of other liberties.

They just want to watch Zulu or Are you being Served again, nothing more.

[-] Honse@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 5 days ago

Just gonna drop this link here for anyone who's interested in a 3rd party Jellyfin user management application. This fixes the issues related to inviting users and allowing them to reset their own passwords. Would obviously prefer all of this built into jellyfin, but solutions do exist for those determined enough.

[-] Pika@sh.itjust.works 8 points 6 days ago

TIL that jellyfin doesn't support an actual password reset. I've never had to actually try. That's somewhat disappointing.

[-] kratoz29@lemm.ee 14 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I am a lifetime Plex Pass User... I am not affected by their BS... Yet (watch together is going though).

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[-] Wolf314159@startrek.website 9 points 6 days ago

It's a lot easier to setup and get non-techy family to join. Setting up Jellyfin is easy until you want access outside your LAN. Setting up TLS or a VPN is a hassle I don't want unless there is no other option. Plex has features I (and my family) use that jellyfin doesn't support by default yet. Last I checked syncing of files for offline viewing in the official app wasn't very good yet. Plex has a bunch of ad supported live streams baked in that aren't too bad. There is a "How It's Made" channel, a Mythbusters channel, and Top Gear channel. PlexAmp isn't perfect, but it's better than any of the Jellyfin options I've seen.

[-] mp3@lemmy.ca 9 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I paid Plex Pass Lifetime for peanuts (maybe $50 or $75) a decade ago, not using it would mean wasting that so yeah..

[-] dgriffith@aussie.zone 9 points 6 days ago

Inertia, mostly.

Of course Plex then takes advantage of that with the slow erosion of the free edition.

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[-] EarlGrey@discuss.tchncs.de 15 points 5 days ago

Was a little worried from the headline that it was being moved to another subscription tier.

I've owned a Plex Pass Lifetime subscription since it's basically been available. I've honestly forgotten Remote Streaming was a free service at this point.

[-] Mr_fuzzy@lemm.ee 3 points 4 days ago

This is why we stremio

[-] Syun@retrolemmy.com 15 points 6 days ago

It's pleasantly surprising that they aren't deep sixing the lifetime pass.

Yet.

[-] ilega_dh@feddit.nl 5 points 5 days ago

Yeah this is definitely coming at some point. What are we gonna do? Stop paying?

[-] Vaggumon@lemm.ee 23 points 6 days ago

Glad I moved to JellyFin years ago.

[-] k0e3@lemmy.ca 16 points 6 days ago

I'm probably gonna set up Jellyfin this weekend. Any tips for a first timer?

[-] nutbutter@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 6 days ago

If setting up official docker container looks hard, check out linuxserver.io's docker container for Jellyfin. Even HWA is very easy.

[-] easily3667@lemmus.org 7 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

You can't even fucking bring yourself to write hardware acceleration for the newbie asking for help?

🤡

[-] 007ace@lemm.ee 10 points 6 days ago

Set up docker. I ran an installation on Linux and on Windows for a few years but having it running from docker using external drives for library is a game changer. Always up to date. User files and settings Safed on a seperate folder so you can transfer it to a different os any time. Fantastic.

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[-] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 6 days ago

Take it slow.
Don't ditch Plex just yet but slowly transition the move.
Test it with your usual browser. If playback doesnt work, test with another browser or the phone app.

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[-] nomugisan@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 6 days ago

Thus to all proprietary software!

[-] harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 6 days ago

I deleted Plex from my barely functional home server.

I'll give Jellyfin a try. I just want to be able to access my music away from home

[-] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 6 days ago

Use Finamp for offline Music from Jellyfin

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[-] Talaraine@fedia.io 2 points 4 days ago

I thought it was pretty commonplace for people to just set up a vpn on their router and act like they're on their own network. I guess I'm an idiot, but I'm actually surprised people were paying for this in the first place.

[-] ThatGuyNamedZeus@feddit.org 9 points 6 days ago

I've never paid even 1 cent to watch something online. Never paid for porn either.

I'm not about to start

[-] FoD@startrek.website 8 points 6 days ago

I want to switch to jellyfin, I selfhost but I don't want to open a port directly to my server. I don't understand how everyone else figures this out and I'm apparently an idiot.

Also do people expect all who use my server to start a VPN each time? What if they leave it on and their other streaming services are using my bandwidth.

I don't understand and I have looked it up but I don't see a consensus.

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[-] Krusty@feddit.it 8 points 6 days ago

I'm actually using Jellyfin but I hate the fact that there's no easy way to install a client on Samsung TVs (Tizen OS) :(

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[-] abbadon420@lemm.ee 8 points 6 days ago

That is so sad. I was just reconfigured my hone server with plex last weekend. Seems like it's time to switch to jellyfin now. Luckily didn't finish the configuration.

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