Plex

63 'Plex' stories August 2010 - February 2014

How-to: Setup and Use Chromecast to stream your content from a Mac and iOS device

Sarah Guarino Feb 9 2014 - 12:00 pm PT

The Chromecast, Google’s streaming HDMI dongle came out last summer. It is compatible with any Android device running 2.3 or later, iOS device with iOS 6 or 7, and any Mac or PC. Initially, users were able to stream Netflix or Youtube from an iOS device and Android device, Google Play Movies and Music only on Android, or cast websites using the Chrome browser on a computer. The Chromecast works differently from Airplay in that you can multitask and do other tasks on the device or you can let it go to sleep while streaming.

Very quickly after its release, Chromecast has received support for Hulu +, Pandora, and HBO GO. Last month a major update added ten new apps including Plex, Vevo, Songza, Red Bull TV, Post TV from the Washington Post, Viki, RealPlayer Cloud, Avia, Revision3 Internet Television and BeyondPod. The most recent update the Chromecast received allowed users to stream Google Play Movies and Music directly from the Chrome browser on a computer.

In this How-to, we’ll discuss how to setup the Chromecast, use it with a Mac and iOS device and explore its gaming potential.

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Chromecast adds support for 10 new apps including Plex, Vevo, & Songza

Zac Hall Dec 10 2013 - 8:33 am PT

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(via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/apollo_zac/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>)

Google announced today a major round of app additions for its media streaming Chromecast HDMI stick including Plex, Vevo, Songza, and more.

Chromecast, which retails for $35 (currently $32.88 on Amazon Prime), can now play local files synced with your Plex media library from iOS, Android, or Chrome. Plex support is highly requested and offers a major advantage for content consumers looking to play content from a device to an HDTV.

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Plex media player for iOS updated with new design for iOS 7

Mike Beasley Dec 4 2013 - 2:12 pm PT

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Plex, the popular media player for desktop and mobile devices, has been updated to version 3.3 today. The update introduces an updated look based on Apple’s iOS 7 design along with a new media player screen for music and videos. The iOS 7 design isn’t entirely new, but a tweaked version of the existing design. The update also includes miscellaneous bug fixes.

You can get Plex for iOS now on the App Store. For new users, the app is $4.99. Existing users can update to version 3.3 for free.

Workaround restores PlexConnect after Apple TV update broke it

Ben Lovejoy Aug 28 2013 - 3:54 am PT

5 Comments

While Apple pushed out a lot of nice goodies in yesterday’s Apple TV update, not everyone was happy. Those who use the Trailers hack PlexConnect to run the Plex media server on their Apple TVs found that it no longer worked.

Fortunately, a fix didn’t take long. Developer Paul Kehrer has posted an illustrated tutorial to his cleverly-named langui.sh site which restores the functionality of the hack. It’s a little fiddly, but from the comments it seems to be a reliable fix.

The Plex iOS app was updated back in July.

Apple broke PlexConnect Apple TV hack with this morning’s update

Jordan Kahn Aug 27 2013 - 2:26 pm PT

7 Comments

UPDATE: Workaround now available to restore access

Thanks to an easy DNS hack called PlexConnect, non-jailbroken Apple TV users have been able to unofficially run the popular media server Plex on the second and third gen Apple TV since we first told you about it back in June. The hack, which required users to run an app on their Mac or PC that masquerades as the Trailers app, appears to be blocked in the latest Apple TV update pushed out this morning.

Earlier today Apple rolled out an update to the Apple TV that introduced new apps for Vevo, The Weather Channel, Smithsonian, Disney Channel, and Disney XD. The update didn’t require users to initiate a firmware update, so many users are reporting waking up to the PlexConnect app no longer working through the Trailers hack. A growing number of users on the Plex forums confirmed that PlexConnect is unable to connect following this morning’s update.

It’s unclear if Apple is intentionally blocking the popular Plex hack or whether its possibly a result of tweaks to the Trailers app delivered with the update. Plex isn’t the only app that takes advantage of the hack. We reported earlier this year that a Russian subscription TV service was using a similar method.

Hack brings Russian subscription TV service ‘UnliMovie.tv’ to Apple TV, no jailbreak required

Jordan Kahn Jun 25 2013 - 8:31 am PT

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Russian blog iGuides.ru points us to a new hack for Apple TV users that brings Russian subscription TV & movie service Unlimovie.tv to the device with no jailbreak required. The service, which is currently in beta, requires users to manually change the DNS on their device (easily accessible from within Settings) in order to access its digital TV service directly through Apple’s own Trailers app.

It isn’t the first hack of its kind: Just a couple weeks back, one of our favorite media servers, Plex, arrived on Apple TV without a jailbreak through what appeared to be a similar hack of the stock Trailers app.

The Unlimovie.tv service is currently in beta, allowing users to access a number of Russian digital TV channels for free, but the creators plan to officially launch the service in September through its paid subscriptions. That is, of course, if Apple doesn’t put an end to it in the meantime.
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Mailbox, Plex, Speedtest.net, Pinterest, Dolphin Browser, deals, more

Jordan Kahn Mar 22 2013 - 7:08 am PT

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Mailbox: After a bit of a controversy with its reservation system, followed by getting acquired by Dropbox for a reported $50 – $100 million, developers of the highly successful Mailbox app announced it has filled its 1 millionth reservation just 6 weeks after launching. The free Mailbox app also gets an update to version 1.1.0 with UI enhancements, performance optimizations, and a new “Shake to undo” feature.

Plex version 3.1: The iOS app for the popular Plex media server was updated today with a ton of new features and fixes. Some of the big new features include a Mobile Media Server mode to play synced content and view photo albums from any other Plex client, push notifications for recommendations, a new experimental universal transcoder. Also included is a new dark theme, redesigned photo viewer, and much, much more.

Pinterest version 2.3: Pinterest announced that it is adding some new features to its mobile apps today that include some of the recent updates to its web version. You’ll now be able to view a “people who pinned this also pinned” feature, edit your profile from the app, and get a close-up view of pins on the iPad.

Speedtest.net 3.0: Mobile speedtest.net app from developers Ookla gets an update today with a new UI and full iPhone 5 support, the ability to permanently remove ads, easier sharing, and more.

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Xbox SmartGlass gets iPhone 5 support, Twitterrific 5, DISH Remote Access, Plex, deals, more

Jordan Kahn Dec 5 2012 - 11:09 am PT

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Xbox SmartGlass version 2.1: Microsoft’s app for controlling your Xbox with your iPhone or iPad officially gains iPhone 5 support:

• iPhone 5 Support
• Bug Fixes

Twitterrific 5 for Twitter: Iconfactory’s Twitterrific 5 for Twitter is now rolling out to App Stores around the world. Stay tuned to 9to5Mac for a full review of the completely redesigned app shortly.

DISH Remote Access for iPhone version 3.0.2: DISH network users get access to a redesigned UI that now provides access to the guide, DVR, and search while streaming content in the background. The update also includes customizable “favorite channels” in the guide, support for the iPhone 5 display, and improved performance:

-Improved the performance, stability, and reliability of the application
-Completely redesigned user interface
-You can now use your Guide/ DVR/ Search while streaming in the background
-Added ability to set and use favorite channels in guide
-Updated in app remote/ keypad functionality
-Took full advantage of the iPhone4s/5 high retina display to show high resolution images
-Added support for the larger iPhone5 screen

Plex version 3.0.1: A ton of changes and fixes following feedback to version 3.0 of the Plex iPhone and iPad app:
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Apps: Quake 4, Plants vs Zombies, Plex, Sketch Nation Studio…

Jordan Kahn Apr 19 2012 - 11:04 am PT

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A number of notable apps received updates today in addition to Aspyr Media announcing the release of “Quake 4” for Mac as a digital download through the Mac App Store for $20. Another new release today is “Sketch Nation Studio” from Engineous Games, which is “an amazing free app where users create and play their own games or download games from other users.” You can even potentially sell your games through the App Store and make money.

Below is a list of some of our favorite apps that received updates today:

Plex: The Plex media server iOS companion app received tons of fixes today and localizations for dozens of countries.

NEW: Allowed selecting an additional video quality for cellular connections in addition to the required 64Kbps stream (requires Plex Media Server 0.9.6.1 or later).

VLC Remote for iPad: While a full re-design of the app is on the way to match the design of the iPhone counterpart, version 5.80 of VLC remote for iPad is available now with Retina graphics for the new third-genration iPad.

Dragon Dictation: Localization updates in version 2.0.20

Plants vs Zombies: All of the Plants vs Zombies iOS apps received huge updates today to version 1.9.2. The biggest is for the HD iPad version. Here’s what you will get:

New fun-dead action on iPad! Zen Garden, Vasebreaker, new mini-games and much more to munch on:

-ZEN GARDEN: Relax and start a plant collection in your Zen Garden. Find new plants in the game, or get Marigolds and Mystery Sprouts from Crazy Dave. Treat your plants well, and they’ll reward you nicely.

-VASEBREAKER ENDLESS: It’s not just a mini-game anymore! Try to survive all 9 unique levels as you battle zombies hiding in vases. It’s smashing fun!

-I, ZOMBIE ENDLESS: Change sides for a while and give your fun-dead friends a hand through this 9-level game mode. Help zombies get past the plants to their brainy rewards.

-FOUR NEW MINI-GAMES: Try your hand at Slot Machine, Zombiquarium, Portal Combat, and Beghouled Twist — a fun new set of mini-game challenges!

More awesome fun:

-28 NEW ACHIEVEMENTS: Earn even more ways to prove your zombie-zapping prowess.

-LEADERBOARDS: Check out the 5 unique Game Center leaderboards and see where you rank.

-COIN PACKS: Want great new stuff? Check out the brand-new coin packs for purchase on the Main Menu.

And now, the zombies are speaking your language! We’ve added language support for French, Italian, German and Spanish!

Apple TV OS 5.0 Jailbroken (tethered), fireCore ready for Last.fm, web/media browsing, NitoTV, weather, more…

Seth Weintraub Mar 30 2012 - 2:54 pm PT

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[slideshow]

FireCore announced today that it successfully jailbroke the Apple TV 2 (not the new Apple TV 1080P that released earlier this month). The jailbreak is tethered, which requires the Apple TV to be connected to a Mac/PC when first powering it on (only once). You also have to pay fireCore $30, but it has been plenty good about updating.

What’s new in the 5.0 AppleTV software? Should I update?

New interface: – Fast, visual access to all content choices
Movie purchases in iCloud: Support for buying movies on Apple TV and playing back purchased movies from iCloud
Genius Recommendations: Recommendations for content on the iTunes Store based on previous rentals and purchases
Screensaver photos: New National Geographic photos built-in for screensaver
On-device sign-up: On-device sign up for content partners on Apple TV using your Apple ID

Not all plugins are currently working. The full list is below:

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Play it again: Siri hacked to play piano

Jake Smith Dec 20 2011 - 10:46 am PT

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[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dLKUcUlutRk’]

Siri has seen many cool hacks, from using it to control watching videos on Plex to starting a car. Today, another clever mind shows Siri controlling a piano to play tracks on an iPhone. Yamaha specifically develops the hack for the Disklavier piano, and it uses a special MIDI version of the music file to stream to an AirPort Express. The hack even uses the foot pedals and the piano’s keys.

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Using the Siri Proxy to watch videos on Plex

Seth Weintraub Nov 26 2011 - 1:49 pm PT

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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eChSxAxcxUE]

Not only can Siri and a Proxy Server start or lock you car, it can help you watch TV. This is, of course, using the Siri Proxy we’ve talked about before with a Plex command line interface allows the developer, above, to start movies almost immediately.

But, this works so quickly and effortlessly that we wonder if this is the “finally cracked it” interface that Steve Jobs was talking about in the bio.

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Oh snap! AirPlay runs on Linux. Windows coming

Seth Weintraub Dec 20 2010 - 4:05 pm PT

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oBfC8Lqumo&w=100&h=100]

The Airplay boundaries just keep falling today and now it looks like the XBMC project has Airplay running as a service on their product.

That is interesting news because services like Plex which will be the back end into LG televisions are based on AirPly. Long story short, AirPlay will probably be on every TV made in a year. Oh and Windows boxes too.
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Plex now available for download on iOS and Mac

Seth Weintraub Aug 31 2010 - 1:44 am PT

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As was demonstrated earlier, Plex is now available for iOS devices and the Mac.

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Plex 9 and new Plex iOS app detailed

Seth Weintraub Aug 30 2010 - 4:01 am PT

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That September 1st surprise from Plex is a new iOS app that allows iPod touch, iPhone and iPad to be both media devices as well as remotes for the TV. CrunchGear got a hands on look before launch. For those who use a Mac as their mediacenter, this news may be as exciting as a $99 iTV.

Plex, if you aren’t aware, is a mediacenter built off of the original XBox MediaCenter Open Source code.
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