Emby vs Plex

[ebr 14910]

Well one way is the way Plex handles alphabetical browsing in movies. 

In Plex when browsing you are presented with your movie library with a alphabet on the right side and you can select a letter and then scroll forward or backward but in Emby if you select a letter you can only scroll forward and you have to back out and choose a different letter to go backward in the list.

 

This makes a difference because in Plex if you have a large library and you want to go to say one of the last "S" movies you just choose "T" and move back a few movies while in Emby you must choose "S" and scroll through all the "S" movies.

 

That just makes Emby look clumsy.

 

You can do what you want here in the Android TV app too .

[VaporTrail 66]

@@chyron8472 have you considered using Kodi to browse your media on the TV? It's not entry-level easy, but a much nicer experience IMO. I'd stick with the native apps for mobile though.

[Chyron 221]

@@VaporTrail Yes, but I have a Roku, so that's not really an option. If or when I buy a Shield, I'll probably look into it, but at this point my Roku serves me just fine.

[Gilgamesh_48 943]

You can do what you want here in the Android TV app too .

 

Yes there are some things in the Android app that is superior to the Roku app. One is that in Android (also the Fire's version of Android I think) you can choose to have a brief description of what is highlighted on the screen in "Next up" but in the Roku app you cannot get such info and the last time (maybe nearly a year ago) I asked about it I was told that "we are thinking about it. I guess they are still "thinking."

 

But that does not make up for the general Android feel of the app. I really do not like any Android interface for any app. They all look and feel like they were designed by meth loaded preteens. Neither Plex nor Emby have an Android app that is worth my effort to learn how to work around all the deficiencies.

 

I'll just stick with my Rokus as they do not force unwanted things on me. Roku apps, both Plex and Emby, just work and that is all I really want. Everything else is just fluff, sometimes pleasant fluff and sometimes unpleasant fluff.

[Stokkes 9]

But that does not make up for the general Android feel of the app. I really do not like any Android interface for any app. They all look and feel like they were designed by meth loaded preteens. Neither Plex nor Emby have an Android app that is worth my effort to learn how to work around all the deficiencies.

 

I couldn't stop laughing at this. I agree, I'm not sure what it is (maybe I've been in Apple land for too long), but the Android TV apps do feel very kludgy. It seems the same across the board, no matter the app. I'm not sure if it's the underlying OS and the default UI controls or what, but here's how I would equate them:

 

Android TV apps are to web pages using frames from 2001 as Apple TV is to using modern HTML5/CSS. Pains me the Android TV app is the most advanced one .. I know they're working on making the others better, but seems like it's not moving fast enough for me

[VaporTrail 66]

I know they're working on making the others better, but seems like it's not moving fast enough for me

 

Try Kodi w/ Embuary skin if you're unhappy with Android TV apps.

[Stokkes 9]

Try Kodi w/ Embuary skin if you're unhappy with Android TV apps.

I did and it's awesome, but it doesn't have any Live TV functionality which I use quite a bit, so it's annoying having to switch back and forth.

Edited January 9, 2019 by Stokkes

[VaporTrail 66]

I did and it's awesome, but it doesn't have any Live TV functionality which I use quite a bit, so it's annoying having to switch back and forth.

 

Don't quote me on this, but I think that's been fixed with the latest release. Either that or it's imminent. 

[Perplexed 25]

I really do not like any Android interface for any app. They all look and feel like they were designed by meth loaded preteens. Neither Plex nor Emby have an Android app that is worth my effort to learn how to work around all the deficiencies.

 

Haha I had to laugh as well, too funny! That said, I actually dropped Plex because of their "new and improved" Android app, and much prefer the Emby one. At least it works well and I can manage my server right from the app... I don't care much what they look like as long as what I want is functional... Emby takes the cake there  

[CBers 6770]

But that does not make up for the general Android feel of the app. I really do not like any Android interface for any app. They all look and feel like they were designed by meth loaded preteens. Neither Plex nor Emby have an Android app that is worth my effort to learn how to work around all the deficiencies.

 

I couldn't stop laughing at this. I agree, I'm not sure what it is (maybe I've been in Apple land for too long), but the Android TV apps do feel very kludgy. It seems the same across the board, no matter the app. I'm not sure if it's the underlying OS and the default UI controls or what, but here's how I would equate them:

 

Android TV apps are to web pages using frames from 2001 as Apple TV is to using modern HTML5/CSS. Pains me the Android TV app is the most advanced one .. I know they're working on making the others better, but seems like it's not moving fast enough for me

Not sure what you guys are wanting, but I have been using the Emby ATV app since @@Redshirt released the initial version (four years ago?) and it has only got better and better.

 

The Emby ATV app is, IMO, far superior to Plex's and yes, I have both installed.

 

If you don't like the Android TV UI, then why are you using/considering it.

 

[Gilgamesh_48 943]

Not sure what you guys are wanting, but I have been using the Emby ATV app since @@Redshirt released the initial version (four years ago?) and it has only got better and better.

 

The Emby ATV app is, IMO, far superior to Plex's and yes, I have both installed.

 

If you don't like the Android TV UI, then why are you using/considering it.

 

 

I keep trying to find a better experience but Android keeps falling short. That is why I use my Rokus for 95% of my viewing. But it hurts nothing to try the different systems available from time to time if for no other reason that to see if the app has changed in some way that makes it better for me.

 

Of course the reason we have so many choices in clients is because people have different wants and needs.

[Carlo 4330]

I actually love the Emby Android app on the Shield TV.  I like that it's "plain and simple" because that allows it to fly when you navigate large libraries.

 

I'm not a fan of the Roku UI but it's ok.  It's just not a nice as Android IMHO.

 

Theater is OK looking but I can't use it for Movies as it's just to slow navigating my libs since they are big.  It needs caching or better caching like what is done on Android, then it would be fine to use.

 

I'm also a long time Plex user.  If you compare Emby apps to Plex apps on nearly any device the Emby apps are better (far better).  First they actually play back media without a lot of errors (always important) but just look better as well.  TV/DVR just really doesn't work well at all in Plex so that's a non-starter.

 

I can't stand the new UI Plex has been pushing especially the type first crap that I've been a hater of since day (even in private Ninja testing).

 

The only real edge I'de give Plex over Emby is the WEB UI.  I still prefer Plex over Emby in looks (not functionality).  I like the use of posters for series and movies and thumbs for episodes.  This blends well.  Also in the Plex web UI you can adjust the size with the slider top-right (really cool).  The Plex dashboard is also better looking and more functional, except for the additional transcoding info Emby now supplies.  But little things like the bandwidth graph, BIF file usage for movies playing so you can see where users are in the movies, being able to click on a user that is active and be taken to the web page of the movie/show, etc.  It just has an overal more refined feel to it.

 

But at the end of the day, function over form for me!

[Luke 37053]

Well we want both function and form.

[Chyron 221]

In building my (MB4) audiobook library, I find that I prefer Plex's approach to handling local posters. In Plex, I can have multiple local posters (poster-1.ext, poster-2.ext); I can specify whether they take priority over other scraped online sources; and I can switch between them from within Plex, because they all show up in the relevant images popup for an entry alongside other scraped images.

 

So, I created a feature request, hoping Emby could implement something similar. 

[Chyron 221]

Two other points in Emby's favor:

 

I haven't used Plex to watch media with Google Cardboard (VR for Android mobile) in a while, but when I did it didn't work very well. With Emby, however, it's as simple as telling Emby to use an external player and specifying the player I want is VRTV. I remember having real problems getting Google Cardboard viewers to be happy having Plex stream video (esp. unsynced video) to them. But it worked with Emby first shot out of the box with zero problems.

 

Second, finding files on my phone that Emby synced to it and then copying those files to another location (so another app can use them) is pretty straightforward with Emby. Not so with Plex. Plex gives synced files obscure names and dumps them in obscure places. So if I want to, say, use Voice Audiobook Player for Android to listen to an audiobook I synced with Emby, it's as simple as finding the synced folder and copying it into the folder Voice is monitoring... or maybe even just pointing Voice to the sync folder Emby uses for music files (which I haven't tried yet).

Edited January 18, 2019 by chyron8472

[VaporTrail 66]

Are you saying you're able to stream VR videos from your Emby library to your cell phone @@chyron8472?

[Luke 37053]

Thanks for the feedback !

[Chyron 221]

Are you saying you're able to stream VR videos from your Emby library to your cell phone @@chyron8472?

 

Yes.

 

Although I have not tried this with 360 videos (because I don't own any), I have tried it with several Star Trek TNG episodes. It's really as simple as downloading a Google Cardboard-compatible video player and telling Emby to use it as an external player.

 

I got a free Stormtrooper-themed cardboard Google Cardboard viewer back when The Force Awakens released, and I recall having serious issues getting Plex to play nicely with it. My parents gave my family a new ViewMaster (which, these days, is a fancy plastic Google Cardboard viewer that promotes ViewMaster apps) for Christmas, so I experimented with it by using Emby and had no issues whatsoever using it.

 

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by chyron8472

[Chyron 221]

https://betanews.com/2019/01/17/emby-server-4/

 

Anyone who’s got a load of digital media lying about needs a media server, and while the obvious solution is to install Kodi or Plex, you might be missing a trick.

 

Although it’s still overshadowed by its better-known rivals, Emby Server 4.0 has just been released for Windows, Mac and Linux, plus is now available for Nvidia Shield and Android devices too.

 

In truth, Emby is a direct competitor to Plex rather than Kodi, sharing the same server-client approach to storing, streaming and sharing media. Version 4.0 is a major update and existing users are warned that it involves a database upgrade, which will place the main server offline for a period. Users are also asked to check for any plugin updates in their web dashboard after updating.

 

Version 4.0 opens with a feature being removed: basically, all Telemetry and Anonymous Usage reporting has gone, in direct contrast to Plex.

 

There’s also new Emby Live TV Guide data for Premiere users -- Emby’s paid-for tier -- that covers the US, Canada and UK. Simply enter your zip or postcode into Emby, choose your channel lineup and you’re off and running.

 

The database upgrade in version 4.0 brings with it the promise of improved performance -- faster library scans and TV guide refreshes are two such examples.

 

The hardware acceleration feature has been rebuilt from scratch and comes with the promise of better hardware detection to determine what’s supported, allowing users to choose an 'easy' mode or choose their own hardware accelerator for both H.264 and H.265 streams. All major GPU platforms should see significant improvements and users are able to monitor performance from the web server dashboard.

 

Emby 4.0 also reinstates transcoding throttling after a two-year absence, adds support for fuzzy searches and allows users to store multiple-resolution versions of TV episodes. The number available filters has also grown and users can now control library access by sub-folder. For a complete list of changes, see the Emby blog post announcing the release.

 

Emby Server 4.0 is available now for Windows and Linux, with the Mac build due imminently. Emby media players are available across a variety of devices, including selected smart TVs.

[Luke 37053]

Thanks for the info !

[VaporTrail 66]

Awesome @@chyron8472, how's Trek in theater view? Does streaming also work with actual L/R stereo videos? Do you know if VRTV is the only app that works with Emby streaming? Also, free or paid version?

 

Sorry for all the questions, but that's an exciting prospect! My ancient phone has 8GB storage with no SD card, so I can only load one video at a time. 

Edited January 23, 2019 by VaporTrail

[Chyron 221]

Awesome @@chyron8472, how's Trek in theater view? Does streaming also work with actual L/R stereo videos? Do you know if VRTV is the only app that works with Emby streaming? Also, free or paid version?

 

Sorry for all the questions, but that's an exciting prospect! My ancient phone has 8GB storage with no SD card, so I can only load one video at a time. 

 

1. It's Trek, which is awesome because I love Trek. Well... everything except Discovery. The resolution does greatly suffer, however, because the reality is I'm staring very closely, through a couple biconvex lenses, at a small section of pixels on my 5.5" 1080p phone.

    

2. I haven't tried that, but VRTV (and other VR apps) has a setting to specify that a video actually is L/R stereo among other possible choices.

    

3. No, it's not the only app that works. "VR Theater for Cardboard" also works. I assume various other apps as well but have not tested them.

    

4. Both, but I don't want ads so I use Paid.

    

5. The TNG videos I played were not synced at the time, but I also tested it with synced videos which worked fine. Local device storage shouldn't be an issue if you can manage to not rely on synced files.

Now, granted it's been about two years since I've tried using Plex with Google Cardboard, but as I recall two videos I watched were streaming the wrong audio track (ie. commentary) and couldn't switch in the VR app to the correct one; it wouldn't play videos from Plex that weren't synced; and the jury-rigged method of using sideloaded files (with just the one correct audio stream) in Plex for Android didn't show proper metadata for them in Plex.

 

Oh, and since I just checked, Plex VR isn't compatible with my phone and a ton of people say it's buggy anyway.

Edited January 23, 2019 by chyron8472

[VaporTrail 66]

@@chyron8472, I'll have to add some GearVR or Ocululs videos to a VR library in Emby and give it a whirl. Most of the videos in my collection I've reduced to 720p (which makes them 1440px wide), but a few are still full-res, so would be interesting to see what my phone/wifi is capable of.

 

I think Oculus is 4K? Transcoding might be a better option than manually using Handbrake to convert to lower specs. We'll see!

 

I don't know what you mean by synced files. All the videos I've tried are already stereo w/ a single audio track. Perhaps you mean standard videos need two instances (one for each eye) to play simultaneously?

[Chyron 221]

I don't know what you mean by synced files.

You said your phone only has so much space. I said I didn't need to sync (that is, download) files from Emby to my phone to play them in an external Cardboard app.

[VaporTrail 66]

You said your phone only has so much space. I said I didn't need to sync (that is, download) files from Emby to my phone to play them in an external Cardboard app.

 

Right. I wasn't suggesting I'd do that, but perhaps transcode on the fly to my phone if my source is 4K.

 

How did you get the VRTV app to connect to your Emby server? I entered my local address in the "Open network stream" pop-up and it doesn't connect.