- osanna@lemmy.vgEnglish2 hours
almost a fucking grand for a media server that you host yourself, and only really rely on their login servers for. Can anyone else say “enshittification”?
1 hourThey provide the apps, metadata servers, and relay service. It’s a lifetime pass. IMO that’s worth the price it used to be, $70 or whatever. The new price is just absurd, they want you to pay periodically for life because people spend more that way.
- melfie@lemmy.zipEnglish4 hours
I think software subscriptions are a scam, but I don’t mind buying a perpetual license that is only good up to a certain version with additional fees for newer versions. It’s also fair to charge a recurring fee for something that has recurring hosting costs like a VPN, cloud storage, etc.
If they weren’t such dipshits, the “lifetime pass” should have been a perpetual license you can keep using as long as you want, but charge an optional fee for newer versions if you want to upgrade and get more features. They should also have offered a hosted service to make your instance available to others and charge a monthly fee for that. I think people would’ve been fine with all that.
- OnfireNFS@lemmy.worldEnglish2 hours
I’ve always thought the licensing for Jetbrains IDEs is a pretty fair way of licensing software. If you stop subscribing you still get access to the last version of the software you paid for but you don’t get new versions anymore. And if you stay subscribed you get a loyalty discount after your first and second years. So it provides an incentive to stay subscribed long term but if you do leave you still get access perpetually to the last version you bought
- 4 hours
Well I don’t like seeing well reasoned, thoughtful comments in my hate thread. We are supposed to be kicking them while they’re down! Not pointing out how a small change would ameliorate the issue and fix everything!
- 5 hours
I saw this email and it just read as a desperate cash grab for a company that doesnt plan to be around in 3 more years. Pathetic.
- SirMaple__@lemmy.caEnglish7 hours
Couldn’t pay me to use that software lol
Used Kodi and now using Jellyfin.
- Hakuso@scribe.disroot.orgEnglish5 hours
And they’ll likely “gorget” you are lifetime as often with them as they did with us early adopters who got it for cheap.
There’s a reason I use Jellyfin, now. Well, more than one.
Plex kept trying to charge me again, and every time I looked at it there was more clutter and spam being forced in front of my face by their “partners.”
Kodi on device, great interface especially when you are using touch, if I need remote access I swap to Jellyfin. There’s even plugins to sync between the two so your stats and history don;t get messed up by using both.
- modus@lemmy.worldEnglish3 hours
I do. It works well enough and my grandmother doesn’t have to configure Tailscale. Would I buy a lifetime pass today? Hell no. But I got in early, so why not?
- SaharaMaleikuhm@feddit.orgEnglish48 minutes
Next step will be to turn every lifetime pass into a 20 year pass or smth.
- Agent641@lemmy.worldEnglish8 hours
Apparently they are going to DOUBLE that amount every year! Outrageous!
- 9 hours
I didn’t get into self-hosting until recently, and people recommended Jellyfin, so I don’t even know what I’m missing with Plex, if anything. It feels like Jellyfin does everything I need.
- hperrin@lemmy.caEnglish9 hours
You’re missing getting to pay for it. Imagine how good it would feel to see $750 less in your bank account.
- tempest@lemmy.caEnglish8 hours
I mean Plex definitely has a value add. Around here people will scoff but Plex is far easier to work with for non technical users.
If you shared your library externally Plex was definitely easier it’s just that they have started to extract value from that which does suck.
- 6 hours
Easier sure, but it comes at the expense of all traffic (even streaming to a device on your local network) going through their servers. If you have an internet outage or their servers go down, you can’t even stream media locally with Plex. No such issues with Jellyfin.
Edit: apparently my frustrations about this were based on something I set up incorrectly, so +1 point for Plex working locally without internet, -1 point for ease of use/setup if I had this wrong for years without knowing it or finding the fix on my own.
- 8 hours
You can totally stream locally without internet, I’ve done it several times. I’m not sure where you’re getting the idea that Plex doesn’t do direct streams, especially locally?
- 8 hours
I got that idea from the times when I couldn’t stream to my TV in my home while my internet was down. Switched from Plex several years ago though
- MUGv0@sh.itjust.worksEnglish7 hours
I like shitting on Plex but you absolutely can stream entirely locally without internet.
- sesnek@lemmy.worldEnglish7 hours
There is a server side setting you need to switch off. If I remember correctly it deals with the way you sign into plex.
- 7 hours
I won’t doubt that. I’ve just had Plex for at least 6 years and never had the complete inability to stream directly when the internet is down. It has always fallen back to local streams in my experience (when I had Comcast, this was a frequent occurance and would have otherwise resulted in me returning to emby).
- 7 hours
This is incorrect, bordering on outright FUD. Plex only uses their servers for the initial server discovery. When you sign into Plex, your device basically contacts the central plex discovery server and goes “hey, which servers do I have access to? And where are they located?” Plex’s server then passes that info back to the device, so the device can reach those servers directly. No actual content hits Plex’s servers by default. Hell, Plex wouldn’t want content hitting their servers by default, because it’s a truly astronomical amount of bandwidth that would be required on their end, for no real benefit.
You can technically use their relay option to bounce the video stream off of their server, but they specifically say that it’s a last-ditch workaround for troubleshooting. Because their relay server is intentionally bandwidth-capped and will throttle your video quality. So the relay is only really meant to be used for troubleshooting and edge cases.
“Aha! But you need to contact their server to get access even on LAN! So it will stop working when your internet goes out!” You can just configure the device to use a direct connection instead. This will allow you to connect directly to a server on your LAN. No need for their handshake server.
- 123@programming.devEnglish7 hours
I tried to use it about 3 years ago on an apple tv. It tried finding the server on my LAN and never could do it reliably, so I found it more annoying.
With Jellyfin/Swiftfin I do have to punch in the hostname or IP, but it works fine for me and the people in the house. The only annoyance is getting signed out every few months, but I’m not sure of that’s a server or client issue on Apple TV and happens infrequently enough that I have not bothered to look up the reason.
Edit: should have said that I used to use Plex before ~2012-2018, and with more ease that after the updates that dumbed down the interface. Maybe its changed and better now, but no reason for me to care.
- 8 hours
No, not yet. I took forever to manually rip what I have, which was a lot, and I’m still working my way through boxes of music (which I’m also hosting on Jellyfin). I’ll figure out that step next.
- 6 hours
If you haven’t already, you may want to look into FileBot. It’s the only reason I was ever able to properly rip and rename all of my files so Plex/Jellyfin can automatically detect them.
- 6 hours
Oh my god, you mean I didn’t have to do all this manually? I’ve spent so much troubleshooting time fixing file names.
- 7 hours
Jellyfin is amazing for a lot of things, but it shouldn’t be available externally. There are a few critical security concerns that devs have openly stated will never be patched. And that makes it a non-starter for sharing with people who can’t figure out how to use a personal VPN connection. It may be fine for me and my household… But there’s no way I’m going to be able to walk my tech-illiterate grandmother through it over the phone.
In contrast, Plex makes sharing server access very easy. Since they run a centralized server to handle all of the “which servers do I have access to, and where are they located” automatic discovery traffic, sharing content is as simple as sending an invite link. That centralization flies in the face of what Jennyfin stands for, so they won’t ever implement it. I even have a burner Plex account that already has access to my server, which I can use to sign into TVs when I don’t want to bother with the whole account setup process. Handy for things like parties, because I have a few “just hit play and drunk people will enjoy it” types of playlists ready to go.
Basically, Jellyfin for yourself and your household. Plex for everyone else. Luckily, the two will happily run side-by-side without any issues.
- 6 hours
I’m not confident enough in my knowledge to ever open up my server externally, even after reading some methods that are allegedly safe (or relatively safe). I’d just rather not take the risk of me misunderstanding something or failing to keep current with vulnerabilities.
I suppose I see the appeal if Plex handles that without hassle, but man… not for $750. Lol
- kata1yst@sh.itjust.worksEnglish6 hours
This is a concern if you just port forward through a router. This isn’t a problem if you simply use a reverse proxy, which is standard and normal and expected and not difficult at all.
- 6 hours
It’s a concern even with a reverse proxy. The reverse proxy encrypts your connection from A to B, but does nothing to stop the various security concerns that have been noted. Because those concerns don’t rely on intercepting unencrypted traffic. If you can reach Jellyfin’s main log in page, you can exploit it. Full stop.
The only way a reverse proxy would stop someone from being able to exploit it is to include a separate login on your reverse proxy, meaning attackers wouldn’t even be able to hit Jellyfin’s landing page unless they know your proxy’s password. But notably, this breaks basically everything except for browsers. All of your smart TVs, mobile apps, etc would stop functioning, because they’d bounce off of that reverse proxy login page.
- kata1yst@sh.itjust.worksEnglish6 hours
I don’t proxy the port, I proxy the routes needed for auth and interface. This isn’t that hard.
EDIT: ah I see what you’re saying, you’re talking about the app surface rather than the raw admin API. The risk is small enough with the remaining attack surface that I’m not particularly worried, though obviously I’d like it to be better.
- ITGuyLevi@programming.devEnglish9 hours
I felt the same way with my Kodi installs, I had a pi in every room that used a shared library db so I could pause in one room and resume somewhere else, nfs shares for media, a config file and done.
I bought a lifetime Plex pass a decade or so ago and shifted everything except my music to Jellyfin about a year ago. Now I’m looking into dispatcharr to round everything out.
Dispatcharr is pretty neat for m3u streams.
Working great with jellyfin- ITGuyLevi@programming.devEnglish7 hours
Nice! I’m giving it a go with some dumb free m3u’s now and so far it’s been pretty great. I haven’t tied it into Jellyfin or Plex yet but one I decide on a decent iptv provider it’ll be happening.
Had some issues with streams not loading in Jellyfin.
I needed to set up a user-agent and streaming-profile like this:
User-Agent:Lavf/61.9.107
Streaming profile:
-> command:ffmpeg
-> parameters:-http_persistent 0 -extension_picky 0 -i {streamUrl} -c:v copy -c:a copy -fflags +genpts+discardcorrupt -b:v 4M -maxrate 4M -bufsize 8M -f mpegts pipe:1This is (still depending on your m3u source) to avoid most of the transcoding or double transcoding of the streams :)
The dispatcharr page is mostly self-explanatory but had some issues with the m3u and epg.
Make sure to properly align your streams with the epg guide you are pulling.
Do all (M3U and EPG XMLTV) through dispatcharr
Provide these to Jellyfin:
M3U:http://dispatcharr:9191/output/m3u/ActiveChannels
XML EPG:http://dispatcharr:9191/output/epg/ActiveChannels?tvg_id_source=tvg_id(Notice: I am using docker. I also set up a group for channels so I can de-/activate channels however I please without deleting and recreating them constantly.)
- wowashootingstar@piefed.caEnglish4 hours
I did pay 120 or something 8 years ago, I didn’t mind the price at the time but this is not worth it for ppl who don’t don’t have it.
- 4 hours
It’s just a matter of time before they convert the “Lifetime Pass” to a subscription. Absolutely nothing prevents them from following the Adobe playbook and declaring that they’ll be dropping support/updates for the “lifetime edition”. Future feature updates & security fixes will then be gated behind a $29.99 monthly subscription
- 10 hours
I thought the last couple moves were the nail in the coffin, but this might be it 🤣
- MynameisAllen@lemmy.zipEnglish10 hours
Exactly, got mine with an Nvidia shield purchase, still moved to Jellyfin like a year ago and never looked back
- 9 hours
Was the conversion easy? Could you keep your watchlist and whatnot?
I have… a lot of data.
- MynameisAllen@lemmy.zipEnglish9 hours
Um honestly I didn’t even try to port shit, I’ve only got about 12 TB of stuff anyways so it was easier to just start fresh
- 7 hours
Uhmmm so, yeah. It’s… a significant investment. Let’s say, I look for HDD sales constantly and I’m eating less these days to feed my habit.
For the curious, I run on Synology hardware. Most of the drives are 20-24TB each.
I have their 12 bay sever with two 12 expansions (36 total) and then another 8 bay server with two 5 expansions.
I started with the 8, and when I quickly hit 18 total drives with redundancy… I realized this was going to be a lot more than I had initially planned for.
These are also direct disc rips. No downloads. That’s actual discs in hand, ripping, saving, typing. It’s mostly from my amazing city library, the local video store, borrowing, and then the rest are purchases.
And I’ll answer the next question, dual income no kids… and my partner shares my interest (or at least benefits!). They always know what to get me for a present.
Option 1: Sync to trakt, then backsync to jellyfin
Option 2: Use something like yamtrack to track it externally
Yamtrack can ingest plex and jellyfin. Just no backsync :/
I thought the last couple moves were the nail in the coffin, but this might be it 🤣
I got it for 20 bucks! Good times!
- CosmoNova@lemmy.worldEnglish9 hours
I think it is. A price hike this massive can only mean they‘re banking on panic buyers who think they can save hundreds of bucks if they buy it now. Meaning Plex probably knows it‘s over and they just want to make as much money as possible before filing bankruptcy or something. At least that‘s what it looks like to me.
- 6 hours
My guess was almost this. They obviously want to cash in on the panic-buyers. But I don’t think it’s because they’re going under. I think the goal is to put the lifetime pass out of reach for most people, meaning they’ll default to the subscription instead. Because Plex wants people on subscriptions. They’re more reliable income, which the company can more accurately budget for. There’s a reason everything is moving towards SAAS, and Plex is doing the same. This is simply an attempt to push/lock everyone to the subscription model instead of the single purchase.
I have to agree with this, I think they bet on more people subscribing as a result of their external connection subscription requirement, didn’t and are panicing because they don’t want to downscale enough to be able to be maintained.
the plex lifetime pass is a solid “stop beating him he’s already dead” scenario for me because I lost any interest in it like 4 price ups ago now.
- NekoKoneko@lemmy.worldEnglish6 hours
It would be fine if Plex wasn’t hooked on VC capital and needed to make the line go up constantly. Most self-hosters like me have zero interest in what they are funding with subscriptions.
- atrielienz@lemmy.worldEnglish8 hours
I paid… $74.99 for a lifetime plex sub in 2014. Is this the same service?
- Kairos@lemmy.todayEnglish7 hours
No it’s worse. Old accounts are grandfathered in to downloads when a library is shared with another user. Otherwise the library recipient needs a plex pass too.
- 6 hours
Yes, if you bought the lifetime pass years ago, you still have it. This price increase only affects people who don’t already have a lifetime pass.
- atrielienz@lemmy.worldEnglish8 hours
Original lifetime Plex Pass for $74.99!
That’s what their email said. So my understanding is I must have been grandfathered into the pay one time and have it forever thing.
- unitedwithme@lemmy.todayEnglish10 hours
Wow… Rough! I get they’ve “added value” over time, but they’ve also enshittified it too…
If only Jellyfin were simpler to setup for the masses…
If only Jellyfin were simpler yo setup for the masses…
This.
I got in on Plex Pass at $150 so it’s a no-brainer to keep it up for my friends and family who are less tech inclined, but I’m running it concurrently with Jellyfin on my server.
- halcyoncmdr@piefed.socialEnglish8 hours
It very much is on some TVs. While there are apps in the corresponding store for Roku, WebOS, Android TV, and Xbox, that still leaves out Playstation and Samsung for instance. Samsung has more than 50% marketshare of premium TVs.
While you can install an app by jumping through hoops, it’s not an easy one click install which is what average users need. You can install a Jellyfin server by clicking next a bunch of times. You can get your media there by dragging and dropping it into the media folder. You can install the TV app on most TVs just as easily, but for Samsung you need to do all sorts of extra steps.
A quick Google does give step by step instructions on reddit for instance… but it requires users to download a specific version of Tizen Studio with the CLI (which most people are scared of, they need a GUI to use their devices). They need to connect to their TV remotely via that tool. They need to generate and install security certificates. They need to get specific versions of the Tizen Jellyfin app, that aren’t managed by the Jellyfin team, from a random Github. Then rename those files to extract them, inject their certificate, rebuild the package, and send it to the TV remotely… all in the CLI.
That is WAYYYYYY too complicated for the average person. Even with the step by step instructions, people skip steps and skim things without even thinking about it. Most people can barely click next a bunch of times to install things without messing it up somehow. Anyone who’s ever worked support can tell you that. My parents and probably half my friends would NEVER be able to follow those instructions without messing it up to connect to my server. And that even assumes they have a PC to run the software in the first place, many people no longer have a PC, they just have their phone and maybe a tablet.
On the other hand, Plex has an app in the Tizen store. Emby, which Jellyfin was forked from, also has a Tizen app in the store. Those people can just go and click install and they’re done.
Jellyfin has actually been on the Tizen store since February
It’s in the list on samsungs website
- ITGuyLevi@programming.devEnglish9 hours
Not in my experience, but I keep my Plex up for my brother. I shifted away personally a year or so ago because I couldn’t watch at work anymore (despite self hosting, login still requires a connection to Plex… Which is blocked at work). With Jellyfin, I can just auth against my Authentik server.
- unitedwithme@lemmy.todayEnglish8 hours
But how do you encrypt remote streams? That’s the issue with JF, outside the home there’s no streaming encryption, so what’s to stop you from DMCA notices? For some family, were running a Wireguard VPN through Ubiquiti but nobody else can with ease. At least not that I’m aware of.
- Jason2357@lemmy.caEnglish8 hours
Best solution is probably what those commercial pirates do -buy a bunch of cheap android boxes and pre-configure with your choice of client and VPN, then hand those out. Something goes wrong, they bring it back.
- hperrin@lemmy.caEnglish6 hours
I don’t know why you have trouble with this. Everything runs through the same SSL protected connection. Router -> Nginx Proxy Manager w/ TLS -> Jellyfin.
You all afraid like the feds are monitoring your home network between each other…
- hperrin@lemmy.caEnglish9 hours
The reason Jellyfin is harder to set up is because they don’t run TURN servers. Those cost a lot of money, hence why Plex keeps raising their prices. I wouldn’t be surprised if Plex’ “lifetime” subscriptions didn’t last for much longer.
That being said, Jellyfin is fairly easy to set up. You just have to watch some tutorials.
I’m waiting for plex to announce that lifetime subscriptions don’t cover certain features like secure connect, and that those features will require an addon if enabled. The writing is on the wall.
Does that affect me if I already use my own reverse proxy or Cloudflared? I think not.
- 9 hours
I had zip experience self hosting home lab or with linux. I messed around in ubuntu for a couple weeks then just ran the commands on the jellyfin documentation for setup.
It mostly just worked. Web ui started right up and i loaded my library. So glad i never touched plex.
- 9 hours
“Added value”: prescribed, trickled-out, tiptoed smidgens of steps forward
“Enshittification”: unscripted, greed-backed, frantic, top-speed Thomas Salto tumbles into the corner and off the mat.
Yep, sounds about right. “Progress”.
- gnuplusmatt@reddthat.comEnglish5 hours
never been a plex user, Jellyfin from the start, but if people are buying this for remote watch, tailscale is pretty easy to deploy, or wireguard is on a lot of routers these days
I’m.not walking my in-laws through setting up tailscale to route to me from their TV
Yeah, they clearly should charge for what they provide, dynamic DNS and user experience. It’s just about the cost/benefit, which is debatable
