Two trinities make a half-dozen
Can you tell this is going to be a great year for everything Plex? Not two weeks into 2013 and we have another three releases for you.
First up, let’s have a look at a really cool new feature in the Plex/Web release that you all should already have, thanks to the magic of auto-update. As many of you already know, PlexSync is cloud and server-based, and thanks to that, you can now queue up media to be converted for any of your devices from the convenience of a browser, no matter where in the world you are.
So you might be at work, and between designing spacecraft or performing open-heart surgery, you’re busy getting your iPad (sitting at home) ready for your upcoming vacation. Not that we at Plex condone ever doing anything other than work, at work. Really.
This also means that you can now use the advanced filters available in Plex/Web and send the results to one of your devices. So you could select “unwatched movies rated PG and released in the last three years”, for example, and this smart filter would continually watch for movies matching that criteria and convert them for your device. Pretty cool, right?
There’s also a cool new “activity” view which shows what your server is working on (yes, we will be enhancing it in the future to show more activity, which many of you have been asking for).
As you probably already know, PlexSync is a premium feature which we bundle with PlexPass.
Switching topics, there’s also a brand new release of Plex for Windows 8 in the store, with a bunch of new things including theme music! Direct play of AVI and MP4 files! PlayTo support! Support for Window Media Center remote controls! And lots more, you can read the full release notes here.
Last, but not least, there’s a new Plex Media Server release, which addresses some issues, including a reboot problem with LG TVs. We’ve spoken with LG, and they say a firmware update is coming which will fix the bug, but we have a workaround for you in the meantime. You can download the new release in the usual place.
- FIX: Workaround for LG TVs rebooting.
- FIX: (Windows) Lots of CPU, giants logs in some cases.
- FIX: An issue scanning sections where the paths had trailing slashes (e.g. W:\).
- FIX: MP4 files with DTS streams had them incorrectly identified as MP4a.
- FIX: (Sync) A few issues with sync status not being reported correctly.
- FIX: (Transcoder) An A/V sync issue affecting Windows 8 Plex app.
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Wow you guys really are cranking out the work, keep up the good work! Although it seems as if a lot of work is going into windows 8, I cant imagine why, I am sure “both” windows 8 users out there are happy but what about the rest of us
“FIX: (Transcoder) An A/V sync issue affecting Windows 8 Plex app.”
Does this mean that the Plex Server is now running without problems on Windows 8 or is this still an issue you are working on? I’ve had to make a virtual server with Windows 7 for the Plex Server to work (after playing any media for a couple of min it just stops).
@Steffen: If there are still issues, we’d like to know about them
When will sync be available for the poor ?
Oh you guys spoil us sometimes. The activity feedback is just damn neat haha. Everything else is just solid features, glad to see the focus there. Features that always make sense, and you’d think there were similar solutions for a while now, or at least begrudgingly feeling like they should be commonplace by now =P. Nevertheless you guys are doing it, keep up the great work! I still have some quibbles with the Plex clients, but I can’t say I’m not glad the focus is in adding features.
Oh…. and ‘me’ was thinking this post would mention Cloud Sync
Thanks! One small complaint, the Windows install computing free space.. I wish you guys could speed that up a little bit. Sometimes it takes a minute or two to see I have ample space
Great job! Can you see who is accessing/watching your myplex in this release?
@Elan, the issue with sub/idx subtitles on Linux is still there. They are not playing in iOS for video files containing AC3 5.1 audio. When setting the subtitle to none for the file, it plays perfectly. When will this be solved?
Is there a rough timing when a revision of the iOS app be released?
loving the windows 8 app! so fun to swipe through my collection on a big touchscreen!
@steffen
the server works fine on win 8 for me…
@Peter: sub/idx files have neer been supported for iOS devices. (They may be in the future, but there’s no timeline.)
@henk: PlexSync will remain a premium feature, as we need some way to put food on our table and keep going
Regarding Windows 8 and Plex Media Server. I know some people are not having any problems but I just tried installing the latest version on Windows 8 Pro 64bit and it fails playback after 2 min 36 secs
Really Elan,
$5 per download for the android/iOS application and over 100,000 downloads I really don’t think you guys are struggling to put food on the table!
@Tim: We have a good-sized little team, we’ve been around for 5 years. Do the math and you’ll find it doesn’t work out so well
@Tim: You realise they don’t see $5 from every sale right? regardless, that’s not much money for the amount of work they do.
Do you guys ever take R&R ?
Great work as usual!
I have noticed an issue with HD content (720p mkv files in my tests thus far) that include 2 audio tracks. If, for example, I am on my LAN, and attempt to open Plex (Plex Home Theater, IOS, Plex.app, or on Samsung Smart TV) I am able to hit “info” and change the audio track (I see 1 of 2… and can select between them). If, however I am attempting to watch the same file but via myPlex (no VPN, via WAN), I am not able to select audio and (in my case) it defaults to French… Which is fine because I am French!!! but thought I would share. I noticed the same issue when using a VPN between office and home, and attempt to view the same content (via various players)
More to come on this in proper forum!
Elan, can we get a status update on PlexSync for android? Not trying to sound entitled, just haven’t heard anything since launch for ios last November and as a PlexPass subscriber I’m very excited to use it
What about sync on android app?
@Issac Gerges: Totally understand! We’ve working hard on it, and I promise you won’t be disappointed when we launch it
@elan: Once you release PlexSync for Android, you’re going to have another Premium member.
Not trying to pressure you guys, there’d just be no point in buying it before that point for me. 
Is the sync to release supposed to already have been updated or is that later to come?
@elan
Can you add more info to the activity view like current(past) streaming sessions?
would be really nice to get some more insight off how the server is used by different people
Odd, the sync interface looks very different on my Plex/Web. Is this because I just don’t have multiple devices? It also doesn’t *seem* to support syncing an arbitrary selection of videos, just everything in a filter, or one video at a time.
Love your work guys =)
I know Google takes %30, Apple I don’t know the percentage.
Elan,
I appreciate Plex and use it daily, I was simply stating you aren’t struggling.
@diamondsw: Interesting suggestion, I’ll run it by the guys
@matthijs: That’s the sort of stuff we’ll be looking to add
Like I said on Twitter, keep up the hard work !! Well done. I don’t think people realise how much time it takes to work on such wonderful projects let alone how much it costs, the numbers soon add up.
Just need to have our own skins and a couple other adjustments, hopefully we will be able to have apps on the apple tv soon, perfect tool for a brilliant media center.
Thanks,
Gabi.
When I go to Plex/Web and try to sync a movie, it asks which device. All of my devices start with my name, so in the list, I cannot differentiate one device from another. It does not tell you which device is an iPad, iPhone, etc. In the devices section, it lists the different types of devices but doesn’t let you change the names. I can’t pick a device if I don’t know which one it is!!
Thanks guys for all the hard work – love the new Plex/Web sync feature.. however one query, there doesn’t appear to be an option to set default sync quality, like there is in IOS, so I’m changing it from medium to highest every time.
Am I missing something? If not, would it be possible to include this in the future?
Cheers!
This release seems to have fixed the problems of remote streaming/transcoding I had with some files, though I dont really know what caused it or what the fix was (PMS on OSX) Great work!
Hey Elan I haven a some problems with this update, when I try to transcode I receive this message:
transcoderError
And some subs don’t show in the moment to set with my video.
How I get that?
I’m not seeing the new sync to device icon as illustrated anywhere in plex/web.
I’m a plexpass subscriber. I’ve tried restarting plex server and using a different browser.
Hitting update in the config tells me i’m on the latest version – Plex/Web 0.9.9.3. My plex server is also up to date.
I have an iPhone and an iPad which are regularly using plexsync in my setup.
Any Ideas?
@Tim: I think what you’re implying is that mobile sales exceed burn rate. Do you know something about our finances that we don’t?
@Dan: thanks for the idea, I’ll pass it along
@Liam Make sure you’re running PMS 0.9.7.10 or newer.
@Juan Carlos AVila: We’d need to see a complete server log to diagnose it, recommend you open a topic in the PlexSync forum. Any subtitles that are enabled and compatible will be burned in the synced video.
@Daniel: The Plex/Web update has been pushed.
@Elliot Saba: No pressure
@Jon Donshik: we’ll be adding a way to name your device in the very near future.
@Jon: Actually, you should be able to go to iOS Settings > General > About > Name and change the device’s name there.
Hi,
im a plexpass member, I have logged in using my account using Plex Web, however do not see these feature.
Is there anything I need todo?
Cheers
TM
I refreshed the TV Show Manually and then fixed the problem. Thanks so much. In this moment I bought a lifetime plan. Is my best software.
Thanks Elan. I had been trusting that “check for updates’ had been keeping me up to date but my PMS was on version 0.9.7.9.375!
I only just used “check for updates’ and it said I was up to date so there is definitely a problem with that function on my setup. Any known issues with it which might get it fixed for me next time? (i’m running PMS on osx)
How can I tell what version I’m running? The plex/web page shows 0.9.9.3 which is newer than what is discussed here? Confused.
Elan- after jan 2nd plex media server update having massive crashes with plex desktop… Playing mkvs. Shall I pvt details somewhere?
Btw – thanks for all the hard work.. Been using plex since the beginning….
Hoping that the video freeze with plex sync will be resolved soon. also the air play bugs.
Just wondering when you are going to fix the Roku sync problem with 5.1 surround sound not working?
Hi,
im a plexpass member, I have logged in using my account using Plex Web, however do not see these feature.
I tried to do a manual update of my plexweb and got a response back: “Plex/Web 0.9.9.3 · Plex/Web is up to date” My plex media server version is:0.9.7.9.375
Is there anything I need todo?
Thanks,
Simon
@Simon: we haven’t enabled autoupdates yet; in the meantime, you can download from http://www.plexapp.com/getplex
@Eric: as far as I know, it’s slow going, we’re working with Roku and trying to get samples which reproduce the issue reliably.
@Dmitry: Здравствуйте! Download the latest Plex Media Server from http://www.plexapp.com/getplex and that will resolve your issue.
@chad: I know we’re trying to track down the issue, logs/samples in the forums would be super helpful.
@Joe: would love to see a crash dump, otherwise hard to say what could be the issue, and thanks for being a long-time user
@Dan: Plex/Web updates on a different schedule than the media server itself. The server version is shown on the server page in Plex/Web.
Another great update – thank you!
I understand that PlexSync needs to be a premium feature. But it should be per server! I.e. everyone that connects to my server (that is published to myPlex with my PlexPass account) via myPlex should be able to sync from that server. As it is now my family members are unable to use the feature that I’ve paid for (lifetime pass). They could pay themselves, but that would be quite an expense to get PlexPasses for everyone in my family…
Anything new regarding the house-hold account, you teased a while ago?
For some eason I need to enter plexpass user to open the new media manager ? latest update…
????
@elan: “The server version is shown on the server page in Plex/Web.” <– I think I'm to blind to find it. What do you mean by "server page"? The only version information I can find in Plex/Web is the Plex/Web version (0.9.9.3) like Dan did. Is this some kind of hidden feature only visible to plexpass subscribers?
Why do I have to sign in using a plex pass account on the latest update of PMS. ?
@plexpass ~ http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/50970-if-it-still-says-you-need-a-plexpass-subscription/
@unituser: http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/50970-if-it-still-says-you-need-a-plexpass-subscription/
@gsnerf ~ https://www.evernote.com/shard/s5/sh/2b784487-f3e1-488b-906a-944acc1c3294/c608f6f012d438d69c16752ac0ab6441
Elan : Thanks alot that worked, keep up the awsome work…
Hey Elan! Hopefully you’ll see this message.
When using the PlexSync button on Plex/Web, I’m getting different qualities/resolutions/bitrates that I’d get if I would do it directly on my iPad.
Example, an 40min episode at “Low” quality that usually ends up at around 300-350MB ended up having 1/3rd of that.
Is it not taking into acount the type of device that I’m syncing to?
Thanks!
Oh, regarding my last post… I also get no audio at all on my Ipad when the “Sync job” is started trough Plex/Web
Nice work, any fix in sight for dts AAC content playing in stereo??
@Salil: Sorry, not familiar with that issue, and actually not sure what “DTS AAC” content is? And what app?
@samukas: Hey, it’s a known issue, Plex/Web isn’t picking up on the resolution of the device quite yet
Not familiar with “no audio issues”, would need logs/sample, probably.
Any update on a possible date for the OSX client update? Really waiting on the audio sync issue being fixed.
@Rory1: It looks like you may have missed this ~ http://elan.plexapp.com/2012/12/23/mele-kalikimaka/
@Elan. Sure thing! Where can i send the links for the samples+logs?
Honestly, I am so floored by all the things Plex does that I’ve been trying to get hacked together from multiple other pieces of software. Soooo great to have it all ‘under one roof’ so to speak. So much so that even though I bought a lifetime sub and the iOS app, I may buy the Windows 8 app even though I use Plex/HT for Win8 on the big screen. Thank you so much for what you do and for what we get the price is honestly cheap cheap cheap. Thank you!
Great stuff! I got a (lifetime) plex pass the other day, but I can’t seem to get the icon for Sync available. The server is connected to MyPlex. Any magic I’m missing, here?
@lovesax: Make sure that you’re running the very latest PMS, and that both PMS and devices you want to sync to are signed into the same myPlex account.
Do I spot Merriweather Post Pavilion?
@Elan, I have a couple issues, some related to plex/sync others not:
1) I can’t log into the forums with myPlex account. myPlex works fine, the forums do not.
2) I wasn’t able to see my iPad in the list of plex/sync until I started a sync from the iPad. Launching the app on the iPad didn’t appear to add the device to the list of “known” devices automatically, as I thought would happen.
3) After starting the sync from my iPad I decided to stop it mid way through and the following happened:
i) Plex mobile crashed (I sent the report when I relaunched)
ii) Plex was now showing that there was about 10MB of synched data which I had no way of clearing
Hi Elan, just updated my LG TV with the latest firmware – what shall I say… just gorgeous. Thank you and the team.
I still cannot see the new sync feature, is there a hidden trick to activate it? Running newest server version on MacOS.
Cheers
@niltz ~ (1) send me an email, your email addresses, probably don’t match, I can fix that for you. (2) The iPad has to go talk to myPlex to update it in terms of capabilities, and then Plex/Web has to realize it changed, that might be what you’re seeing. (3) in the settings, you could be able to clear all synced data. If nothing else, you should be able to complete/continue the sync, or really if you get desperate, you can delete and reinstall the app
Great update, again. Just one thing I’d like to see (if possible). Now we can see the server’s work state for transcodes for sync’s, can we have one for streams in progress? I.E for external clients connecting into the server? just I have a few clients (Parent’s / Brothers / multiple devices at home etc) and it would be nice to be able to see what the workload of the server is.
cheers
@Ashleigh ~ it’s planned, yeah
@Elan,
When is the sleep issue fixed, a year has past and the problem is still there..
When the Mac mini goes to sleep Plex crashes
I am not receiving any of these updates that you guys are doing. I’m using Plex through my Roku XD. Please! Please. I beg. Someone help me!
And I am running Windows XP
Any estimates when PLEX will be available on Vizio VIA apps
How do you sleep at night, Elan?
@Bart: Very well, thanks! Anything I’m missing here?
Isn’t it time you start giving back to the community that made your success possible? Like opening up Plex Media Server for example? Also, I find it interesting how Plex has now grown to other platforms while the whole argument of its inception was because you wanted to focus solely on Mac.
@Bart: Not sure I follow your logic. XBMC is open source software, and we “gave back” the XBMC Mac port.
Upgraded to the lifetime Plex Pass. Plex is an incredible product and I look forward to see what the team creates in the future.
Please add the ability to track usage for the people who share your media with. I want to know which of my friends are taking up my bandwidth and when.
Have just one issue with new version, I don’t have the new drag and drop feature in Change Poster, just have enter Url (This hasn’t worked for me either when I have entered a Url I get the following message ‘There was an error uploading this artwork. Try again.’) I am using Windows Vista 32bit.
Am I doing something wrong?
Also should you be able to use the same feature for putting your own Artist Artwork in under the Music section? (This option I really would love to see along with edit Genre under Artist not just being able to change it under album. otherwise you end up with thousands of genres to trawl through most making no sense)
I Love this server its the best I have found. just these couple of issues would make it perfect for me.
Hi iam a plexpass member but i dont have the new sync to device option in my Plex/web? do i need to do something to get it?
Plex has lost it’s video out support on my iPad. Or is it just me? I don’t have the version numbers in my head but before the last versions I had no problem with my video out adapter, since the last two updates it seems to be not supported, whereas iTunes will do it correctly. No one else having problems with vidoe out?
Hi Just updated PMS (Using windows Vista 32bit) and the custom artwork function still not working, there is no drag and drop feature just enter Url option but when entered still getting ‘There was an error uploading this artwork. Try again.’ message.
Have tried naming the jpegs with fanart, folder, artist etc etc
Any advice please
I’m still waiting for the sync feature on Android. It was supposed to be just weeks away a couple of months ago, but so far no joy. Is there a release date for this?
Thanks.
@CM: we’ll have more news shortly!
You guys are doing an awesome job and I really do wish you guys the best of luck in future coding sessions!
Cheers,
Marten from Sweden