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Introducing the new Emby Theater for Windows and the Web

Luke

Entry posted by Luke

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Download for Windows: https://emby.media/emby-theater.html
Try the online web app: http://tv.emby.media and https://tv.emby.media - supports the latest versions of Chrome, Opera, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

 

This app has been a long journey and we're finally pleased to announce availability for Emby Premiere subscribers.

 

On Windows, the Same Great Video Player in a Brand New App

 

The app retains the same great Direct Show audio and video player that you're accustomed to, including all of it's bells and whistles with Madvr and other perks. Andrew Van Til from Missing Remote has been helping us and we can't thank him enough. This app has been truly a massive team effort.

 

You might be wondering what took you guys so long? This is essentially our third major design of the app. You're all familiar with the original. We then began an overhaul built with C# and WPF, and by overhaul, we mean a re-write from the ground up. Then in early 2015, I began scheming about the idea of a full-featured HTPC app built with HTML. It is my belief that Web API's have evolved to the point where they are now truly the best option, and that led to another fresh start building the app from the ground up. Make no mistake, this is not a Smart TV app ported to the HTPC, this is a new app designed to support all the bells and whistles you've come to expect.

 

So what's different about this new app? Read on!

 

A Modern App for Modern Times

 

The interface for this app has been built with HTML, but this is nothing like the web apps you're accustomed to. This has been built purely with modern features that bring a level of performance that wasn't even possible a year ago at this time. For the nerds out there, that means WebAnimations, WebComponents, Service Workers, Polymer, and on and on.

 

To run this app on Windows, we've utilized Chromium, Electron, and NodeJS. Then we replaced the web audio and video player with a player built specifically for Windows (mentioned above). With HTML and JavaScript as the basis, the possibilities are going to be endless.

 

To release the app on other platforms such as Linux, Mac or Android, we would follow the same process and provide you with the best audio and video players that the platforms have to offer.

 

Pretty soon we'll have additional announcements on how you can build skins with HTML, and we can't wait to unveil that.
561bc276520b9_1.png

 

Designed for 10ft, but Works Great With a Mouse and Touch Input

 

We've put a lot of effort into all three input mechanisms. We want this app to work well however you'd like to use it. We think the best way is a remote, but if you'd like to scroll with the mouse or swipe with your finger, that works great too.

 

Note: Although the app supports touch input, it does not currently have any mobile designs, therefore it is not ideal for small screens.

 

Sharper and Crisper Than Ever Before

 

The first thing you'll notice when playing with the new app is just how much crisper it is. How has this been achieved? Unlike the previous version of the app (and Emby for WMC), the new Emby Theater renders at resolution without any form of UI scaling. This will create more work for the theme developer to design for different resolutions (720p, 1080p, 4k, etc), but the results are worth it.

 

We love the old Emby Theater, but this is going to make it look like an old tube TV.

 

561bc399d86b6_2.png

 

Silky Smooth Animation

 

The next thing you'll notice is just how fluidly the interface navigates. Dramatic performance improvements have been made over the previous app. Almost everything on-screen is animated and it really helps make the app more pleasant to use.

 

561bc455555ea_3.png

 

Emby Theater Going Multi-Platform

 

We want to bring this app to as many platforms as we can, including Smart TV's, Android, and others. With HTML as the basis we have a foundation that will allow this app to run on just about anything.

 

6-Button Control

 

There will be no more fumbling around trying to figure out what button does what. The new app will be easy for anyone to pick up and use without any learning curve. All functions are being designed around 6 buttons - up, down, left, right, ok, and back. Your family members and guests will have no trouble controlling the new Emby Theater.

 

If You Can Do HTML and CSS, You can Build Themes for Emby Theater

 

Many of you have probably worked with HTML, JavaScript and CSS. Building themes and plugins is as simple as forking existing samples on Github and creating your own versions. We're excited to see what you come up with. We'll have more info on this coming soon.

 

Rediscover your Content with Recommendations

 

A popular feature from other Emby apps is finally making it's way to Emby Theater.

 

561bc4cbd936c_4.png

 

New Music Interface

 

The app finally has a design that makes sense for music.

 

56d75e1f53aa9_10.png

 

56d75e137cf1f_11.png

 

Live TV

 

Watch Live TV, browse the guide, and manage your recordings.

 

561bc57e1fec4_7.png

 

56d75e33030aa_Untitled.png

 

Details Gone Vertical

 

A common complaint over the detail screen of the current Emby Theater is that it's pretty but slow to navigate. We went back to the drawing board and decided to take a little inspiration from Android TV. It is now much, much faster to browse through detail screens.

 

561bc89cf3d3c_8.png

 

561bc98a1d3b0_9.png

 

Wait, if This is HTML...

 

Does that mean the built-in web app could be made to animate as smoothly as Emby Theater?

 

Yes! It can, and it will. But the built-in web app has to support older browsers such as Internet Explorer, so it will take a little longer to get there.

 

So Which Version Should I Use?

 

It really depends. For most users, we suggest that if you need HD Audio Bitsreaming, External Players, or MadVR, you'll want to use the native windows app. For everyone else, the web app with Chrome running in full-screen is a great option.

 

Download for Windows: https://emby.media/emby-theater.html
Try the online web app: http://tv.emby.media and https://tv.emby.media (supports the latest versions of Chrome, Opera, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge)

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61 Comments

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jds828

Nice, very nice!

 

I really like ETv2.0 and although it's still in development, it's fast becoming my main media player.

 

It's good to see the web app following in the design. I've not had chance to test it properly but first impressions are very good.

 

Thanks 

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vick1982

vick1982 15

Posted

im having problems logging in to server on desktop app. when adding manually it wont do anything when i click connect. just stays there ???  i

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blublub

Make this available on Linux as simply to install as Kodi via Kodibuntu and provide drivers for Control4, Crestron, AMX, Savant and you will rule Home Entertainment world in 3 years

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mmb

Nice app. Would like to use it on a Raspberry Pi. But 100$ or monthly 5$? Sorry, to expensive for me. Is Emby Premiere the future of Emby?

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alex3137

alex3137 98

Posted

Is the new web app also available to self-hosted emby servers ? Or do we need to go through tv.emby.media to benefit of the new features ?

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plessers@gmail.com

plessers@gmail.com 24

Posted

Am I doing something wrong?

If I go to https://tv.emby.media , I am redirected to

56d9988b708c4_4032016151421.png

If I login to https://emby.media/pin and enter the pin code, I'm redirected to

56d998fa6d6e8_4032016151707.png

none of my servers are listed, and if I want to add my server manually:

56d99940abf3f_4032016151807.png

I get

56d99964228a1_4032016151854.png

 

 

Server is up and running, If I use the old URL, server is listed and I can logon

http://app.emby.media/selectserver.html

56d999d2eaaa7_4032016152049.png

 

56d99a28ac055_4032016152206.png

 

 

 

So I am wondering

http://app.emby.media/index.html -> OK

http://tv.emby.media -> doesn' work

 

anybody?

 

regards,

B

 

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plessers@gmail.com

plessers@gmail.com 24

Posted

PS: small update: If I'm connecting@home and use 192.168.x.x as server adress, I can login...

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moviefan

moviefan 183

Posted

This looks really nice.  I have two questions...

 

1) Just to confirm, when I am connecting using this method from within my house, my traffic is now going out to Emby via my internet connection, then connecting back to my server, and then following that same return path correct?

 

2) How does licensing work for users who access my server remotely?  I know with the mobile app that it detects if you are on the same network and will license automatically.  Does it work the same way for this?  Or does the Emby Premiere license apply to the server as a whole?

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KarterJK

KarterJK 35

Posted

PS: small update: If I'm connecting@home and use 192.168.x.x as server adress, I can login...

This area is about the Emby Theater... did you download it and install it..

sounds like you are talking about the web browser interface

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plessers@gmail.com

plessers@gmail.com 24

Posted

@karterJK: same for Emby Theater executable.

And.... title of blog: Introducing the new Emby Theater for Windows and the Web

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f-u-t

ok, at first it is good looking BUT:

it would be really nice to have all new added content as an overview when opening the site or app.

Also it would me nice to have better mouse support when accessing the client from PC.

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Blackdixxa

Blackdixxa 0

Posted

yeah small problems I use emby server and have premium my friends used to connect via the plain simple web interface (http://ip:8096) .
this new one give them a message they need premium to see more than 1 minute.
Is that normal or is that a bug ? Should all my friend buy emby premiere to use this software.

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johnlo317

johnlo317 4

Posted

Awesome!, Love the new revised upgrade Theater Apps. Totally rock. Easy to setup. No problem finding my server at all. I even purchased lifetime premium. Woohoo! One small requested. Would love an icon that goes back to main screen. Easier then clicking the back button. ;)

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screwattackthis

screwattackthis 5

Posted

I'm incredibly excited for this.  I hope it's brought to Android and skinning information is released soon.  I'm also hoping there's an option to purchase this separate from Premiere.

 

When this is brought to Android, what does it mean for Emby's current Android and Android TV offerings?  I purchased the Android app as I found it the best for watching on Android but still use Kodi with the Emby Addon on my Nexus Player.  If the new Theater brings the performance I'm looking for, plenty of skinning options, and integrates well with Android TV then I'll have a hard time sticking with Kodi...

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Luke

I'm incredibly excited for this.  I hope it's brought to Android and skinning information is released soon.  I'm also hoping there's an option to purchase this separate from Premiere.

 

When this is brought to Android, what does it mean for Emby's current Android and Android TV offerings?  I purchased the Android app as I found it the best for watching on Android but still use Kodi with the Emby Addon on my Nexus Player.  If the new Theater brings the performance I'm looking for, plenty of skinning options, and integrates well with Android TV then I'll have a hard time sticking with Kodi...

 

The existing android tv app uses the stock interface for the fire and android tv platforms. There are always going to be some users who prefer that, so I don't see it going away.

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screwattackthis

screwattackthis 5

Posted

The existing android tv app uses the stock interface for the fire and android tv platforms. There are always going to be some users who prefer that, so I don't see it going away.

 

Ok that's good to hear.  Just wondering, would Theater be able to take advantage of Android TV features like displaying items in spotlight and the search?

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Jedi Master Rob

Jedi Master Rob 1

Posted

how does it perform with the 200?

 

Its now showing all of my channels in the guide, but when i click play on a show it just gives the spinning busy wheel, if i go and play the same channel through firefox it play fine. This is on a new windows 10 laptop that it is doing it all on my internal home network, not over the web

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glogrono

Hi, so far Emby Theater works and looks amazing, for the little that I can test. I say that because even though I am trying to play something from my local server, I keep getting the message saying I need to get Emby Premier or connect to my local server. Then the only option is to play 1 minute. I haven't been able to fix this even trying to sign out, or manual login. I also often get the following error below. Reinstalling as it suggests does not fix the issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

56dc5327dc5f2_emby.jpg

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oyvindo

The connect window has a local (NAT) IP address, indicating that it should be possible to test the WEB interface on a LAN, but it doesn't. It fails to connect.

I have a nagging feeling that there are some premium features in here somewhere, or... ?

Are there any other preparations one have to do on the server in order to make this work?

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meddaugh

One thing I really like in the WMC version (not sure if it was a plug in or not), was the "end time". Playing anything it should show on the pause or play bar what time that video part would end.  Very nice.  Missing from this.

 

Thanks, looks good, and so far all remote control work with it!  I use Windows 7 and the lack of Media Center in Windows 10 was keeping me at 7, this might allow me to go on!

 

---Eric

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Bigjohns97

Bigjohns97 2

Posted

Doesn't work at all on my machine, just comes up with a blank window, spins for a bit and that is it.

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Jobber8742

Jobber8742 9

Posted

Hi, so far Emby Theater works and looks amazing, for the little that I can test. I say that because even though I am trying to play something from my local server, I keep getting the message saying I need to get Emby Premier or connect to my local server. Then the only option is to play 1 minute. I haven't been able to fix this even trying to sign out, or manual login. I also often get the following error below. Reinstalling as it suggests does not fix the issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

56dc5327dc5f2_emby.jpg

You have to reinstall Microsoft .NET and the error will go away.

Link to comment
Eiffel

Thank you for the latest version of Emby Theater, which is a noticeable improvement ;-)

 

I would like to see some integration with external players via a plug-in or other approach as, the integrated player lacks key features such as aspect ratio control, which prevents me from using it in practice. 

 

While I'm sure AR control could be added (and most likely will), I presume that other features of, say, MPC-HC are critical to other users as well (e.g access to MadVR settings, playback of external DVDs or Blurays, etc.) 

 

No rush though! Keep up the good work!

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