4 ms·

I just cannot express how annoyed I am by the concept of the "media browsing experience" when I just want to watch some videos I have in a folder.

by KevinMS 11y ago

hatsix 11y ago
The good news is that you've been able to do this for years. Not sure why you came here to complain about something you've (nearly) always been able to do with OS-provided media players or VLC.
- KevinMS 11y ago
  I'm not talking about opening videos on my computer, don't be ridiculous. We're talking about plex, and plex is for streaming from one thing to another. I've been able to stream from OSX to roku using plex but each version keeps getting worse. The last version was so bad it didn't even let you browse folders. I think there were so many complaints they released 'plex classic'. I'm trying out emby again right now, looks much improved and like all I need.
  - hatsix 11y ago
    Ah, I had assumed that because the plex app in the announcement is an app for opening videos on your computer (I know that Plex does other apps as well, but this SPECIFIC one is just desktop OSs), that you were talking about that. Anyways, it seems that standard DLNA is what you are looking for. I don't know the current state of support for this is, but I know my 8-year-old Thecus NAS and PS3 both supported it and worked great together. Otherwise I recommend switching to a RasPi2, and trying out the media player images, several based on kodi, which were able to play from network drives just fine in my experience. Plex has always been about libraries and metadata. Sure, it had vestigal options from it's break from XBMC, which WAS focused on that, but these were never a focus in the past 7 years. Also, according to other threads here, Plex Classic was mainly released to ensure that there was a free version on the Roku, while Plex Pass is required for the mainline app. This isn't how it works on any other platform (ios/android = pay for the app, plex pass is only for sync).
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
hecspc 11y ago
Personally I don't agree with you at all. I prefer what you call "media browsing experience" or "As a user I dont care about files and folder, I just want to watch movies.. show me that!" It is about time to get rid of the filesystem concept. But anyway in Plex you browse by folder since the beginning, and you can still do it in this new version of media player, as you could do it with a file browser + VLC solution
notatoad 11y ago
So use VLC. I cannot express how annoyed i am by the sentiment in this thread that every app must serve the needs of every person. Plex is a media library first and foremost. "I don't want a media library" is not a valid criticism of a media library app.
- 0xffff2 11y ago
  I agree with you, but the title probably shouldn't say "Media Player" either. The only reason I clicked on this post at all was because I've been using VLC for so long I thought maybe this was an alternative I've never heard of.

I just cannot express how annoyed I am by the concept of the "media browsing experience" when I just want to watch some videos I have in a folder.

by KevinMS 11y ago

I just cannot express how annoyed I am by the concept of the "media browsing experience" when I just want to watch some videos I have in a folder.

hatsix 11y ago

The good news is that you've been able to do this for years. Not sure why you came here to complain about something you've (nearly) always been able to do with OS-provided media players or VLC.

KevinMS 11y ago
I'm not talking about opening videos on my computer, don't be ridiculous. We're talking about plex, and plex is for streaming from one thing to another. I've been able to stream from OSX to roku using plex but each version keeps getting worse. The last version was so bad it didn't even let you browse folders. I think there were so many complaints they released 'plex classic'. I'm trying out emby again right now, looks much improved and like all I need.
- hatsix 11y ago
  Ah, I had assumed that because the plex app in the announcement is an app for opening videos on your computer (I know that Plex does other apps as well, but this SPECIFIC one is just desktop OSs), that you were talking about that. Anyways, it seems that standard DLNA is what you are looking for. I don't know the current state of support for this is, but I know my 8-year-old Thecus NAS and PS3 both supported it and worked great together. Otherwise I recommend switching to a RasPi2, and trying out the media player images, several based on kodi, which were able to play from network drives just fine in my experience. Plex has always been about libraries and metadata. Sure, it had vestigal options from it's break from XBMC, which WAS focused on that, but these were never a focus in the past 7 years. Also, according to other threads here, Plex Classic was mainly released to ensure that there was a free version on the Roku, while Plex Pass is required for the mainline app. This isn't how it works on any other platform (ios/android = pay for the app, plex pass is only for sync).
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]

hecspc 11y ago

Personally I don't agree with you at all. I prefer what you call "media browsing experience" or "As a user I dont care about files and folder, I just want to watch movies.. show me that!" It is about time to get rid of the filesystem concept. But anyway in Plex you browse by folder since the beginning, and you can still do it in this new version of media player, as you could do it with a file browser + VLC solution

notatoad 11y ago

So use VLC. I cannot express how annoyed i am by the sentiment in this thread that every app must serve the needs of every person. Plex is a media library first and foremost. "I don't want a media library" is not a valid criticism of a media library app.

0xffff2 11y ago
I agree with you, but the title probably shouldn't say "Media Player" either. The only reason I clicked on this post at all was because I've been using VLC for so long I thought maybe this was an alternative I've never heard of.