Plex Media Center blows us away with App Store

Seth Weintraub
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February 23, 2009
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Media Centers on the Mac have been pretty hit or miss so far.  We've been playing with a few of them, along with Front Row and nothing has been really "sticky".  One we're a huge fan of is open source Plex. It has been improving incrementally for the past year since it branched off from XBMC and basically does everything Apple's Front Row does, but better.  You can use an Apple remote or there's built-in support for Harmony remotes.  Plus it does a bunch of other interesting stuff like play 1080P movies in formats other than MP4 and MOV, streams weather information to your media center Mac, and it is skinnable.

But then something amazing happened.

Over the weekend we hit the 0.7.8 Beta version and ..erm.. Boom!  They now have an App store!  These apps bring together a lot of what you'd want in a media center.  Obviously, you want to pick up Hulu, CNN, CBS Sports, Youtube, FFFound..the list goes on and on.  They currently have 20 apps but expect us to "be amazed by some of the ones we’re working on behind the scenes."   The good news doesn't stop there.  This is an open market so developers can create their own apps - just like the iPhone App Store.  They are being open to other app repositories as well.  It has really turned into a platform within a platform.

This is it. Download it now.

Like Bill Joy (below) said about Google, this is an application in this space that has that certain thing needed to be successful.  It actually really works.  It can replace your TV tuner and your optical disc collection.  Give it a try (download link).  Tell us what you think.  Videos and blog clipping below:

 

 

 

 

I’d like to introduce you to the new Plex Media Server:

icon-default.png
Very nice, right? Alexis did an awesome job with the icon. (It also looks a bit like the new Mac Mini, the one with 36 USB ports all around the circular case, but that’s another story.)
 
So what’s so special about the new Plex Media Server? Well, it connects with the brand new Plex App Store (built by Jon Maddox, the latest talented developer to join our group). The Plex App Store serves plug-ins which are downloaded by the Plex Media Server, and provide a huge amount of online content to Plex.
 
What content and which sites? Great question. Let’s just say that you won’t be disappointed by the 20 plug-ins that are currently available from the App Store (most of them written by Scott, and the rest by Isaac, James, and myself), and you’ll also be amazed by some of the ones we’re working on behind the scenes.
 
There is also great news for developers: writing these plug-ins is amazingly easy. James has done a simply fantastic job writing a Python framework to develop the plug-ins with, and the Plex Media Server provides an easy, XML-based method to display Flash or Silverlight content to Plex. Almost none of the plug-ins are over 100 lines of code, and many are 20-40 lines. We’ll be following this release with lots of technical discussion of the framework, and top-notch documentation.
 
The plug-ins live in the Plex Media Server’s application support area, and the App Store itself is just another plug-in. The App Store plug-in can browse and install plug-ins, as well as update itself and installed plug-ins with ease, meaning that you’ll always be up to date.
 
I’ve leave you with three screencasts that Jon Maddox was kind enough to put together, which demo some of the new functionality. Seeing as this is the initial release, expect some glitches, and there are some known issues of which you should be aware (PLEASE READ THESE):
  • There is no support for authentication yet, so certain content or features which require being logged in are not available (e.g. Hulu videos that require you being logged in).
  • You need to make sure you have the Flash plug-in installed for Safari, and you must make sure you don’t have any plug-ins like Safari Adblock installed (possibly Pith helmet as well).
  • You may want to increase your cache settings, as plug-ins like Apple Movie Trailers, TED Talks, and other, stream video in high quality HD video.
  • We have added quite a few new skin features and fixed some bugs in MediaStream, so your mileage in any other skin WILL vary greatly.
  • If a Flash video is unavailable online, Plex will not detect this, and will stall while buffering.

These items will all fixed shortly.

Without further ado, the screencasts, the download, and the source:


Comments (16)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 22, 2009 - 11:15pm

I've liked Plex more and more every release, and I think this app store is a GREAT step in the right direction. But to me, it still has one fatal flaw. It doesn't pass the idiot test. I can sit my parents down in with front row, and they can navigate around, watch movies or TV shows, etc, within a few minutes. With Plex, they can't get around at all.

Until the user interface is simple enough that pretty much anyone can figure it out, Plex, Boxee, and all these other "media centers" are going to be resigned for the computer geeks. I hope one day soon, some enterprising group can put it all together in one complete package.

9to5Mac Knob (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 11:43am

I don't think the average user will ever be tech savvy enough to be able to add sources on a network, etc. These kinds of apps will always be geared to the informed computer user.

talkingfuture.com (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 1:21am

That looks good. Will there be an iPlayer app for us brits?

tdc (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 7:10am

This all looks really good, i've recently installed Boxee and prefer the interface for that. Agree with comment above that these media centres are all still too complicated to get around for the average user.

The Plex app store is a good move, i feel its going to take some big player like apple to really unleash the full potential of media centers. I'm hoping they get it right with apple TV soon and this will change the shape of television, like they have done with both the music and mobile industries.

a (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 7:13am

I installed it, but there is no Applications menu... :( I've been trying to enable it, but I couldn't find anything.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 3:37pm

You have to go into the Use your Apps menu then press the App Store button.
If that isn't there then you have an older version.

try to think more objective! (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 7:26am

(It also looks a bit like the new Mac Mini, the one with 36 USB ports all around the circular case, but that’s another story.)

:)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 8:55am

not there. Is the app store pc only? MacBook Pro... latest everything.

chad (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 9:03am

Yea I downloaded it last night and couldn't find the App store anywhere on it. Also I really don't like how you have to navigate through folders to find what you want. Boxee is better because after the initial sources setup you don't have to go through directories which how you have to on Plex.

OR AM I DOING IT WRONG?

maddox (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 9:10am

@chad

Once you set up your source, you need to choose your content (movie,tv,music video). Once you do that, Plex will scan your content into its library. You will then be able to browse your Tv/Movies via the respectable main menu sections. Browsing via "Videos" will always just browse sources.

Isaac (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 10:42am

Come visit the plex forums, there are TONS of people there willing to help you solve any issues you have setting up.

http://forums.plexapp.com

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 1:25pm

This is an awesome system. It does a great job of navigating the world of video.

I do find the Plex "App Store" concept confusing. They don't seem to be "Apps" at all, but Media Providers. Maybe I should play with it more.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 1:35pm

Wouldn't show untill I deleted all plex prefs files and application support folder in the Library.

Restarted teh app & it works fine now. Youdah thot they cuda told us, he whined.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 6:01pm

All make sure you are downloading the Beta - not the stable version on the front page of the Plex site. http://wiki.plexapp.com/index.php/Downloads#Current_Version

Anyone know how to get Hulu in HD?

gutless (not verified) | February 23, 2009 - 8:40pm

does anyone know of a front row like interface that deals with digital tv tuners like the eyeTV for recording etc. as well as your own music/ video/ photo's?

maui (not verified) | February 25, 2009 - 3:27am

MAN!! i love this. i have been using plex for a few months now. stumbled up it complete by accident. I am a hardcore movie fan and have been looking desperately for something like this. Front row is good and all ( i guess ) but not really what i wanted. I do in fact like the few more steps and tons of options.
Upgraded to the beta, found the app store and I am blown away. I love getting hulu and sports and music videos right from plex

Mac mini 1.83mhz
1.5 TB Dlink DNS 323 NAS
46 inch Samsuncg LCD
Harmony Remote.

dont really need much more then that.
Sweet