Alternative ways to run Plex?

Submitted ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨Fjor@lemm.ee⁩ to ⁨technology@lemmy.world⁩

Context; So… Just bought a brand new TV and life is good, but I should have done more research before buying it. I primarily want to use PLEX for watching media on the TV. However, due to “smart TV’s” not being smart and being rather slow because most current TV operating systems are either bloated or just riddled with ads.

Question; So Plex is there, but it runs very poorly. What are the best options out there to get this running smoothly? Are the only options AppleTV and Amazon Firestick? Anyone been in this boat before that have any tips-n-tricks to share?

Ps. I hate ads, so the Firestick is of off the charts.

Much appreciated

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JDPoZ@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
NVIDIA Shield Pro (the 2019 model is the latest version) with a couple of customizations STILL is the absolute best for avoiding ads.

It is the most powerful outside of the latest model AppleTVs, but with the added benefit of being completely customizable.

Personally, I HATE ads, so I use a combination of customizations to eliminate them completely.

A custom “launcher” - this is a little weird to wrap your head around if you’re not familiar with Android OS devices, but it basically means “replacing” what you see when the device turns on. A few years ago, Google couldn’t help themselves and started adding more and more advertisements to their “home page” for the Shield’s default launcher app, so I switched to the “Wolf” Launcher and have never changed, though I would probably recommend “FLauncher” now since you can still (at least last I checked) get that directly from the Google Play Store without any “side-loading” (which means to install things from non-Google sources)

I love YouTube, but hate ads, so I downloaded and installed a 3rd party YouTube client called “SmartTube Next” - which although DOES require a side load installation, COMPLETELY ELIMINATES ALL ADS, AND in-video sponsorships, and even intros and other annoying filler content in some more popular videos.
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- ArtificialLink@yall.theatl.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  You are the best. Never even knew bout this i hate google tv’s home page thank you
  
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- Fjor@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Think I will buy a Nvidia Shield Pro, it seems like the overall best solution. Thanks for the detailed insight!
  
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  - JDPoZ@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Absolutely! Just remember, no device is perfect. The Shield Pro just has the least crappy things that streaming boxes tend to have and the highest POTENTIAL of all the devices out there due to the availability of Android OS applications.
    
    Make sure you do those customization actions I described and I can pretty much guarantee you’ll enjoy the device. If you have any other questions that a Google / YouTube search won’t solve, don’t hesitate to comment here again.
    
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- Sanity_in_Moderation@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  I want to sincerely thank you for this post. We have the same attitude towards ads. I am getting a new TV soon and small trying to find one without the ads on the launcher screen. I didn’t realize a 3rd party launcher was possible. I an definitely going to put that to good use. And will also use Launcher Manager to replace it. My current TV has the factory install launcher with all updates disabled to stop the Google ads.
  
  I use YouTube premium to avoid ads and to give the channels I do watch more money.
  
  Right now I am leaning towards a Samsung or Sony. Do you have any input on those brands?
  
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  - JDPoZ@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    I like my LG OLED CX. Does every type of visual format (DolbyVision, HDR, etc.), has “VRR” (variable refresh rate) to allow syncing with game console frame rates / GPU screen refresh rate.
    
    If I had to choose something else from what I have now (which is 2+ years old now), I’d probably go do as much research as I can and visit sites with detailed comparisons of every major TV model like RTings.com and watch any video reviews I could of my TV of choice if available by this guy.
    
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- Fjor@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  My problem is that this is a Panasoic TV, there is no Play Store like on normal android TVs, so dont think i can side load anything?
  
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  - JDPoZ@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    No. Don’t use the TV’s built in “smart functionality.”
    
    In fact, I would recommend blocking it from the internet altogether.
    
    In my experience “TV software updates” never improve any functionality… they use them for better analytics and at worst, literally pushing ads.
    
    Buy a dedicated smart device and use that for your streaming.
    
    Specifically I recommend buying an NVIDIA Shield Pro 2019 model (the latest).
    
    You can get them at any Best Buy or Bezos store.
    
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  - brenstar@midwest.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    The Nvidia shield is the android tv with google play services. It would be your drop in replacement for the Panasonic interface you are currently using.
    
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kaitco@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Running Jellyfin through a Roku works wonderfully. Jellyfin is a FOSS alternative to Plex and ran great on Roku, but ran poorly on Firestick, so it might just a Roku vs Firestick thing there.

Something else to consider is just buying a really cheap laptop for less than $200 or something and running Plex/Jellyfin or even just use your home network and play everything through VLC via HDMI on the laptop. You could even get a Chromebook and run Ubuntu on it and find an option for close to $100. A laptop option works well because you get to bypass ads and TVs operating system.

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- yuunikki@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
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  - kaitco@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    I didn’t disregard the question. Plex and Jellyfin do the exact same thing and I described how to run them.
    
    I also mentioned overall alternatives to his issue which is streaming his own content.
    
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- CubitOom@infosec.pub ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Jellyfin is great
  
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newthrowaway20@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Google TV with Chromecast seems to work and it’s relatively cheap. I do get occasional stutters every now and then. Honestly, if you want the most flawless solution, running Plex from a computer and plugging that into your TV will outperform everything else.

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Canopyflyer@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Personally, I like having a full fledged PC connected to my TV. Currently I’m using a Beelink T4 running Ubuntu. The PC is under my direct administrative control, so no surprises with ads or other things.

Power consumption may be slightly higher than an NVIDIA Shield or Roku, but at 24w at full tilt for the Beelink it cannot be that much more.

The same Beelink machine comes with Windows 10 as well, if you’d rather have Windows.

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- axo@feddit.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  That would work for plex. But if one also wants Disney Plus, Netflix or Prime, that wont work (or with really limited quality)
  
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  - Canopyflyer@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    If you need 4k, then I can see your point. My TV is 1080P, so the browser works just fine.
    
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- LeftBoobFreckle@lemmings.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  What do you run in Ubuntu for your content display? I currently run Rokus to access my Jellyfin server but have plenty of unused PC hardware which could replace the Roku.
  
  I haven’t found any family friendly (read: idiot proof) way to make the PC as easy to use as the Roku.
  
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  - averyfalken@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Not who you asked but I rub my jellyfin server in the browser on my media box. If yiy cab click on the link saved on the desktop you cab access the server
    
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yuunikki@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I have nvidia shields in basically every room of my house

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- obinice@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Those things are incredibly expensive, I don’t think I could even afford one of them.
  
  What makes them worth the extra money compared to say, a raspberry pi? I’m assuming Nvidia shield runs some version of Linux and is just as compatible with all the various packages and services you might want to run on a media device (such as a Plex server for starters of course), but what can it do that the pi came, to justify it’s more than double the cost?
  
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  - yuunikki@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Ai upscaling, more ram, android so you can sideload apps, game streaming
    
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- korewa@reddthat.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Also has ads
  
  I run an Apple TV, but jeep tire shield got the home theater
  
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gaylord_fartmaster@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I will always recommend the Nvidia Shield. It works significantly better than any other streaming device I have or have used. You can also host your Plex server on it directly if that’s a use case you’re interested in.

Any Android TV device is going to have ads on the launcher now because Google sucks, but you can just install a third party launcher and set it as the default to get around that.

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- Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Shield fan as well, but “will always recommend” is pretty strong wording considering it’s pretty much an abandoned product from Nvidia’s perspective. I don’t know that it will be very future proof, but for now it’s great for running plex as a server or otherwise and although it hasn’t been updated in many years, the upscaling algorithm to bump 1080 to 4k remains unparalleled.
  
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  - gaylord_fartmaster@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    I mean sure, I’ll recommend them for as long as they continue to work, but I’m still using the first model I bought back in 2015 and the only issue I have with it is needing to reboot it once every few months because it’ll stop connecting over Ethernet.
    
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whynotzoidberg@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I’m a fan of the Apple TV because I’m in the ecosystem. Plex works just fine for me there. And I love that my Apple TVs don’t seem to rot out as fast as Android or Google TV boxes I’ve used in the past.

That being said, someone else mentioned the Onn box, and that thing seems to have pretty solid value. I’d start there, too, if I was trying something non-Apple.

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- gregorum@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Having been through several generations of Apple TV, I second this option. They’ve always been pretty great to me with regards to running Plex.
  
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  - whynotzoidberg@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Oh man, I just had the memory pop in of using Plex on my AppleTV 2 — had to use a side-by-side python script running on the Plex server to make it work. My, how far we’ve come!
    
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plz1@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Apple TV? No ads, works well with Plex, bypasses crappy TV “smart” features.

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- WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  This is the way. The TV is the Cadillac of Plex players, and pretty affordable for the quality of the device, especially considering it is an Apple product.
  
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  - phillaholic@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Is “the Cadillac of ____” still a relevant reference? It’s been a minute since the Cadillac brand has been known for quality.
    
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Haphazard9479@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Here is a greatbarticle on how to build your own streaming box with Kodi and a raspberry pi. You could also use a playstation or xbox.

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bigredgiraffe@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I assume you are talking about the Plex client or the server too? Client wise, the shield is still excellent as other folks have mentioned but I have been using Apple TVs lately, the client is snappy and works well. I have one of the first gen 4k ones and it plays everything I have tried to play. I got tired of the adds on the android devices and the Rokus have even gotten annoying lately so that’s what prompted me to switch.

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just_another_nsfw_acct@lemmynsfw.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
So… People are saying apple tv, but if you hate ads, and also watch YouTube, then this is not the way. If you go with something androidTV based, you can side load smarttube plus, which not only will block ads without YouTube premium, but it also has sponsor block built in, which will skip sponsored sections in videos.

I use a nvidia shield since it supports the widest range of direct play standards (h265, Dolby atmos, hdr10 / Dolby vision, support for refresh rate and output resolution switching, so on)

There’s tons of other androidTV based boxes to go with, but thats what my research ~3 years ago brought me to get, and ive been pretty happy with them. The only con is that it doesn’t like Ethernet cables that dont have a metal shielding on the rj45 connector. Not sure why, but yeah

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aspitzer@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
i love my rokus. they can run plex and jellyfin without a hitch

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- superfes@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Second this, yes advertisements, but Roku doesn’t like auto play videos and shit, solid little devices.
  
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TwinHaelix@reddthat.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I recommend a Roku streaming stick or a Roku streambar if you need a decent sound bar too. That’s what we use on our “smart” TVs and I hate ads too. Full disclosure: they do put one ad on the homescreen off to the side, but none in the actual content apps. You’ll only see it while between apps.

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- lemming741@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  I have a streaming stick in the bedroom, and it’s much slower than my LG C8. I’d say the C8 is double the performance. Acceptable, but not good.
  
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  - TwinHaelix@reddthat.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    I completely believe that, assuming it’s one of the non-4K sticks. The older generation models are rather wimpy and slow (we had one that we replaced for exactly this reason), but any of the newer 4K-capable devices have been snappy and responsive.
    
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Mythnubb@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
You could try one of these.

onn. Google TV 4K Streaming Box (New, 2023), 4K UHD resolution www.walmart.com/ip/2835618394

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- Mereo@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  No thanks: killedbygoogle.com
  
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  - Mythnubb@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    $20 for what seems to be a good streaming device ain’t bad, but I can understand where you’re coming from.
    
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- ExcursionInversion@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Have the 4k one, works great light years faster than the TV os for everything
  
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- SmashingSquid@notyour.rodeo ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  These are surprisingly decent. I have the non 4k one from a few years ago and even that is faster than smart tvs I’ve used.
  
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merthyr1831@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Rokus are cheap. So are Chromecasts. We have the same issue with our TV.

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possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Would Kofi be an option?

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- Fjor@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  I might look into Kodi instead, seriously dissapointed with plex running so poorly
  
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  - possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Kodi can run on a raspberry pi and has a Plex app. I use local media and jellyfin so I can’t testify how good it is
    
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CubitOom@infosec.pub ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I will always recommend buying or building a small home theater PC (htpc). Then you get a wireless keyboard with a connected track pad and you are set.

If you are more tech savvy, you can save money and recycle by simply installing Linux on an old laptop/pc that you are not using and plugging it into your monitor.

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meepmeep@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Same situation, got a 4k Roku and it’s been an absolute godsend for 3rd party apps!

So yeah, my vote is for a 4k Roku, I think they’re a lot cheaper than an Nvidia Shield as well.

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- Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  With a pihole you can block all ads and tracking on the Roku, too. I've got five of them and they're all in a special group to limit tracking, and they all primarily run Plex
  
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ytsedude@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I use Plex on my PS4. It runs great!

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AlphaOmega@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I stopped using Plex a few years ago. Now I just cast the video to a Chromecast. VLC or cast via browser.
It’s not going to work for remote, but if all you want to do is cast movies to a TV, it’s a simple solution

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- Freestylesno@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  How does not one bring up jellyfin? Plex but foss.
  
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- axo@feddit.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Can it do transcoding and subtitles?
  
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  - AlphaOmega@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Subtitles yes. Not sure about transcoding. VLC is a pretty robust application with decades of development.
    
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Zeroc00l@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Do you have a games console? Xbox & PlayStation have Plex apps and are able to handle lots of file formats nativity. HDMI CEC is pretty neat too, you can use your tv remote to control media and navigate Plex on the console.

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- chardphillips@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  My experience with PS4/PS5 playback wasn’t great. They don’t have as many video codes as say, a simple streaming stick like Roku.
  
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