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Plex can beam Live TV broadcasts on Roku
With the launch of Live TV and DVR in June, Plex took a big step toward becoming an all-round media replacement. Since then, it's wasted no time in introducing the feature to more platforms, including Android and Apple TV. Not to be left behind, Roku devices are now getting Plex Live TV, too. But there's a catch: You can't yet schedule recordings through Plex DVR on the streaming player. Plus, the perk is still reserved for Plex Pass subscribers (who pay $5 per month, $40 per year, or $120 lifetime for a bunch of extras). To soften the blow, Roku owners will be able to watch recordings from other supported platforms, including iOS, the Plex web app, Android, Android TV, Apple TV and iOS. The release is currently in beta, and is expected to roll out to all Plex Pass subscribers next week. All you need to get set up is a compatible tuner connected to a TV antenna or cable jack, and you can leave the rest to Plex.
Plex makes its adaptive streaming tech available to all
If you own a giant personal media collection (legally or otherwise), few services are as useful as Plex. The media server and streaming apps combo makes it easy to watch your favorite movies and TV shows from anywhere, and on any device. Now, the company behind Plex is adding a few nifty features to keep your streams running smoothly. The first is Auto Quality, which had previously been limited to Plex Pass subscribers. Switch it on and Plex will automatically adjust video quality depending on your connection and how many other people are hammering your Plex server.
Plex News launches to keep cord-cutters informed for free
Plex has continued to grow beyond its simple media playback roots, and today it adds another new feature that brings something extra to your library of video, music and pictures: news. Plex News builds on the acquisition of Watchup earlier this year by using a machine learning-powered system for finding news from 190+ publisher partners (including CNN, CBS and Al Jazeera) that it presents to you -- for free. The ad-supported service is ready for you to personalize, but it can also use that AI brain to monitor what you like and get smarter about finding related content -- which may be linked to recent privacy policy changes.
Plex for Kodi is now free for everyone
If you're all about a customized media center then you'll be familiar with Plex or Kodi, but getting the best of both services meant having a Plex Plus subscription. Until now, that is, as Plex has quietly made its Kodi add-on free to everyone. Now you can run both media centers simultaneously without losing any customizations, enjoying what Plex calls "settings nirvana", without paying for the privilege.
Plex says recent policy changes don't mean it's sharing your data
Last week, the makers of media player software Plex sent an email to users informing them of a privacy policy. In effect, the new terms would remove the ability to opt-out of the software's data collection. Predictably, there was some pushback over the weekend, with subscribers worried about two things: that Plex would sell their data and also be able to see into their media libraries. That's a big deal if you've got a ton of illegally-downloaded movies or music on your media drive. On Monday, however, the company's CEO promised that Plex would update its policies for better clarity and user privacy.
Plex pushes Live TV broadcasts to Apple TV, Android
It hasn't been that long since Plex launched live TV and DVR support, but now it's officially out of beta testing. While it's still a premium feature tied to the Plex Pass subscription ($5 per month, $40 per year or $120 lifetime), it's available on a few more platforms via the Plex app. Already out for iOS and Android TV devices, now Apple TV Plex users can tune into live TV, while on Android they can do that plus create a DIY DVR to record shows just by connecting a TV tuner. Roku, Fire TV, Smart TVs, and the Plex Web App are now on deck for live TV features, and at this pace we'd expect to see them join the fold rather quickly.
Plex update brings local video playback to its Android app
Plex's last few big announcements include unveiling live TV streaming for its premium subscribers and launching Plex Cloud, which lets users pipe media stored on cloud-based services (like DropBox) to any device with Plex's app installed. But the software provider hasn't forgotten folks who like locally storing content. The newest version of Plex's Android app now lets you play any video file on the device (or SD card) without needing to route it through a media server or a third-party app.
Plex Live TV and DVR launches for subscribers
Last fall Plex started beta testing a DVR feature for its popular media server setup, and now it's making the next big step by offering live TV and DVR for all Plex Pass subscribers. They will need to bring their own tuner(s), connected to a TV antenna or cable jack, but Plex will do the rest, providing the necessary guide data as a part of the Pass subscription if you live somewhere with DVB-T or ATSC (North America) broadcasts. . As of today, it not only supports more kinds of tuners, it's also ready to stream live TV to iOS or Android TV, with Android mobile devices and Apple TV next up.
A sly Now TV update is culling sideloaded apps like Plex
Ever since the launch of the first Now TV box for just £10 in 2013, some buyers have been using the little streaming pucks in ways Sky hadn't originally intended. Cut through the branding, and Now TV boxes are just Rokus in disguise, complete with a developer mode that lets users sideload apps not available in the sparse Now TV store. But no longer, as Sky has quietly begun issuing an update to Now TV boxes that disables developer mode and purges any apps that've been installed on them using the loophole.
Plex turns any cloud folder into an instant media server
After a slightly rocky beta test, Plex's new cloud-based media server is now ready for public consumption. Rather than relying on a media server PC or a networked storage drive, Plex Cloud allows users to stream their own media libraries from Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive to any device with a decent internet connection and the Plex app.
Plex snaps up news streaming app Watchup
Plex wants to be in charge of all the videos you watch, even the news. The media player system has acquired news streaming service Watchup to make the latest reports from Fox News, CNN, CBS, Euronews, Sky News and other sources more accessible on mobile and streaming devices. Watchup gives you a way to collect news broadcasts from 150 sources in one place using its iOS, Android, Amazon or Nintendo Wii U app. Neither company has revealed the details of the acquisition, but it sounds like Watchup's features will be available on Plex.
Plex brings its streaming app to Kodi media centers
If you run your own media server, you've likely weighed up the pros and cons of Kodi and Plex. Normally, you'd run one or the other, but some enterprising developers have fused the two, creating third-party plugins that integrate Plex within the open-source software. As of today, however, there is an official add-on in town.
Plex can pull media from Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive
Plex has added support for Google Drive, OneDrive and DropBox to its Plex Cloud service. The original idea with the service, which debuted in beta this September, was to void the need for a dedicated media server or network attached storage (NAS) drives. That way, assuming you have a decently fast internet connection, you can stream your movies or songs wherever you are via files that are parked securely in the cloud.
Plex's new Kodi plugin lets you enjoy the best of both worlds
If you've dabbled with building your own media center, it's likely that you will have encountered Plex or Kodi. Both started life as offshoots of the famed XBMC software, but over time their propositions have diverged, with Plex embracing subscriptions and Kodi remaining open-source. In the past, that meant you'd pick the project that would best organize your media collection or utilize a third-party service that combined the two, but Plex has decided to embrace its streaming counterpart by launching an official Kodi plugin.
Engadget giveaway: Win an HD DVR package courtesy of Plex!
So you've cut the cord, but want to catch a few shows on major networks without adding a new paid TV subscription. If you splurge on a digital tuner (or cable card) and antenna, you're free to enjoy uncompressed HD broadcasts from most of the majors like ABC, NBC, CBS and more -- at no charge. Add to that Plex's recent DVR feature, which lets you record shows when they air and save them to your Plex server. It's the perfect pairing, allowing you access to both your own media and Plex DVR content anywhere you want using the app. To help celebrate this recent addition, Plex has given us two complete setups for pulling in free HD TV, recording shows and streaming them. That includes an HDHomeRun Connect dual digital tuner, an HD antenna and a free lifetime Plex Pass, for unmitigated access to all of Plex's best features. Just head on down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this economical HD TV package! Winners: Congratulations to Tom B. of Waterford, VA and Jonathan S. of Bellevue, WA!
Plex's machine learning tech auto-tags photos for you
Plex has made it easier for premium users to organize their photos and to unearth specific snapshots from their massive collections. The service now auto-tags photos based on what its new machine learning technology sees. If the tech detects a dog in a photo, for instance, it could tag that image with the words "dog" and "puppy." Since tags are useless if you can't sort your images with their help, Plex has also updated its web app's interface to be able to search tags. Further, the interface will now display related images based on the tags you look up.
Netgear's new Nighthawk router doubles as a Plex server
Video streaming is becoming one of the main things we do on the internet, and few things in life are more annoying than having to wait for a clip to finish buffering. To keep up with our growing appetites for speed, Netgear has unveiled the Nighthawk X10 router, which it says is the fastest in the world. It's got a 1.7GHz quad-core processor onboard that the company says is the speediest in a home router, as well as Quad Stream Wave 2 WiFi architecture that helps the device get up to 7.2 Gbps. Plus, it supports the latest 802.11ad standard. But what's really interesting about the Nighthawk X10 is its Plex Media support that lets you turn any USB 3.0 flash drive or hard disk into a server, without requiring a computer.
Plex Cloud lets you dump your home media server
Thanks to streaming, physical formats like CDs and Blu-rays aren't as popular than they once were. Some people choose to sign up for a monthly subscription like Netflix or Spotify, while others take the DIY approach. For many years, Plex has helped people build their own media collections and stream that content to (nearly) every connected device they own. However, it required either a computer or Network Attached Storage (NAS) to do so. Today, the company has opened a new avenue in its media streaming strategy with the launch of Plex Cloud. Gone is the need for the server in the cupboard, replaced with an Amazon Drive subscription and a Plex Pass.
Plex adds a DVR feature for over-the-air and CableCARD tuners
Ask any media hound about the best way to stream your your video files, and they'll probably direct you to Plex. Now, the streaming software is getting even more useful with a long-awaited feature: DVR support. Just plug an HDHomeRun tuner (with antenna) into your PC, set it up in Plex, and you can record any over-the-air (OTA) broadcast in your reception area. And, of course, you can view the videos on any device with the company's app and a Plex Pass membership ($5 a month, $40 a year or $150 lifetime).
Plex streams your music collection to Sonos speakers
If you're using Plex to store your music and video files, there's a new option for listening to those tracks around the house. The company announced today that access to your audio collection is now available inside the Sonos app. This means that you'll be able to browse and control playback of any stored music on Sonos' line of speakers. Plex says users can also expect access to their libraries away from home as well thanks to the Sonos mobile software. You know, in case your pals have one of the company's audio setups, too.