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

submitted 3 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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[-] Mr_fuzzy@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago

This is why we stremio

[-] Grostleton@lemm.ee 15 points 2 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 🖕

[-] Talaraine@fedia.io 2 points 1 day 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.

[-] cujo@sh.itjust.works 105 points 3 days ago

Just gonna... Drop this here...

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[-] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 97 points 3 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 3 days ago

I’m starting mine this weekend, what timing!

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[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 69 points 3 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 34 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 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

[-] Carrot@lemmy.today 22 points 3 days ago

Developers to keep things up to date and secure. Which I wouldn't mind paying for, but instead they spend it all on making Plex a social media that emails your friends a list of shows you watch? I can tell you right now that other than "watch together" no one is using the Plex social features on purpose

[-] borari@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago

Pretty sure they’re also sunsetting watch together lol

[-] Scary_le_Poo@beehaw.org 15 points 3 days ago

As long as you have Plex pass it's all good and nothing changes. That said, this was exactly my reaction. Plex expends exactly zero fucking resources for my server, so wtf is this shit supposed to mean?

[-] kieron115@startrek.website 31 points 3 days ago

I'm pretty sure that's corporate speak for "we need to drive plex pass subscriptions more so we need to lock more feature behind it."

[-] skankhunt42@lemmy.ca 11 points 3 days ago

This is 100% my opinion too.

I'm annoyed that I supported them and got a lifetime account on sale. At the same time I'm happy that I can take my time testing and moving my family and friends over to something else.

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[-] EarlGrey@discuss.tchncs.de 15 points 2 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.

[-] taiidan@slrpnk.net 36 points 3 days ago

Fuck around with proprietary software and find out.

[-] metaStatic@kbin.earth 50 points 3 days ago

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

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[-] Syun@retrolemmy.com 16 points 3 days ago

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

Yet.

[-] ilega_dh@feddit.nl 5 points 2 days ago

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

[-] Pika@sh.itjust.works 28 points 3 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 3 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.

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[-] ocean@lemmy.selfhostcat.com 30 points 3 days ago

Still don’t get why people use Plex over Jellyfin

[-] brygphilomena@lemmy.dbzer0.com 25 points 3 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.

[-] Honse@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 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.

[-] Kurroth@aussie.zone 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 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.

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[-] kratoz29@lemm.ee 13 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 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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[-] k0e3@lemmy.ca 16 points 3 days ago

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

[-] nutbutter@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 3 days ago

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

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[-] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 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.

[-] 007ace@lemm.ee 9 points 3 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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[-] Scary_le_Poo@beehaw.org 19 points 3 days ago

This headline is misleading. If the owner of the server has Plex pass than the users can use remote streaming as normal. If the owner does not have Plex pass, then the users need Plex pass to use that server remotely

Imo a stupid move by Plex, but as a lifetime Plex pass holder, no one that uses mine will have to worry so I'm relatively unbothered.

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[-] Vaggumon@lemm.ee 23 points 3 days ago

Glad I moved to JellyFin years ago.