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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[–] cujo@sh.itjust.works 105 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Just gonna... Drop this here...

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[–] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 96 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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 4 days ago (1 children)

I’m starting mine this weekend, what timing!

[–] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 days ago

Right on!

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 69 points 4 days ago (15 children)

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 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

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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 4 days ago (3 children)

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

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[–] Scary_le_Poo@beehaw.org 15 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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 4 days ago (1 children)

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 4 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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[–] metaStatic@kbin.earth 50 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] kratoz29@lemm.ee 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

.... A fee for adding content to each media, capped libraries? What is next?

Let's brainstorm guys ;D

[–] metaStatic@kbin.earth 10 points 4 days ago

nice try Plex

[–] taiidan@slrpnk.net 36 points 4 days ago

Fuck around with proprietary software and find out.

[–] ocean@lemmy.selfhostcat.com 30 points 4 days ago (26 children)

Still don’t get why people use Plex over Jellyfin

[–] brygphilomena@lemmy.dbzer0.com 25 points 4 days ago (3 children)

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.

[–] Pika@sh.itjust.works 8 points 4 days ago

TIL that jellyfin doesn't support an actual password reset. I've never had to actually try. That's somewhat disappointing.

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[–] kratoz29@lemm.ee 13 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

I am a lifetime Plex Pass User... I am not affected by their BS... Yet (watch together is going though).

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[–] dgriffith@aussie.zone 9 points 4 days ago

Inertia, mostly.

Of course Plex then takes advantage of that with the slow erosion of the free edition.

[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 8 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I paid Plex Pass Lifetime for peanuts (maybe $50 or $75) a decade ago, not using it would mean wasting that so yeah..

[–] Wolf314159@startrek.website 8 points 4 days ago

It's a lot easier to setup and get non-techy family to join. Setting up Jellyfin is easy until you want access outside your LAN. Setting up TLS or a VPN is a hassle I don't want unless there is no other option. Plex has features I (and my family) use that jellyfin doesn't support by default yet. Last I checked syncing of files for offline viewing in the official app wasn't very good yet. Plex has a bunch of ad supported live streams baked in that aren't too bad. There is a "How It's Made" channel, a Mythbusters channel, and Top Gear channel. PlexAmp isn't perfect, but it's better than any of the Jellyfin options I've seen.

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[–] Pika@sh.itjust.works 28 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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 4 days ago (2 children)

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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[–] Vaggumon@lemm.ee 23 points 4 days ago

Glad I moved to JellyFin years ago.

[–] Scary_le_Poo@beehaw.org 19 points 4 days ago (2 children)

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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[–] Syun@retrolemmy.com 16 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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

Yet.

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[–] k0e3@lemmy.ca 16 points 4 days ago (4 children)

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

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 4 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 4 days ago (7 children)

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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[–] nutbutter@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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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[–] EarlGrey@discuss.tchncs.de 15 points 3 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.

[–] Grostleton@lemm.ee 15 points 3 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 🖕

[–] harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 4 days ago (4 children)

I deleted Plex from my barely functional home server.

I'll give Jellyfin a try. I just want to be able to access my music away from home

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[–] ThatGuyNamedZeus@feddit.org 11 points 4 days ago

I've never paid even 1 cent to watch something online. Never paid for porn either.

I'm not about to start

[–] FoD@startrek.website 8 points 4 days ago (6 children)

I want to switch to jellyfin, I selfhost but I don't want to open a port directly to my server. I don't understand how everyone else figures this out and I'm apparently an idiot.

Also do people expect all who use my server to start a VPN each time? What if they leave it on and their other streaming services are using my bandwidth.

I don't understand and I have looked it up but I don't see a consensus.

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[–] criitz@reddthat.com 8 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

I bought a lifetime pass a decade ago. This doesn't affect me, right? Not that it makes me want to stay.

[–] Skunk@jlai.lu 12 points 4 days ago (1 children)

No it doesn’t change anything for lifetime pass.

Maybe it will in a few years, but not today.

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[–] Krusty@feddit.it 8 points 4 days ago (6 children)

I'm actually using Jellyfin but I hate the fact that there's no easy way to install a client on Samsung TVs (Tizen OS) :(

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[–] land@lemmy.ml 8 points 4 days ago (3 children)

I was about to get a Plex Pass, but I saw this news today.

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[–] kratoz29@lemm.ee 7 points 4 days ago

Charging for remote access is dumb as they are not being the one hosting the contents nor relaying them (if you have it properly set up).

If they want to charge for it they should have inbuilt tunnels to solve CGNAT (like their relay but not stupidly capped).

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