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Emby for Amazon Fire TV 3.4.65 has been released. Here are the highlights: The download feature is back ! Improve performance Fixes for gamepad input Add playback option to disable direct play of various formats Add option to configure to login as specific user on startup Fix video rotation on Fire TV devices when direct playing Add convert unsupported audio option Play vtt subtitles directly without conversion from the server Support playback correction Add a-z picker to add to collection/playlist Fixes for closed caption rendering Fixes related to autoplay episodes options Add video screen up action option to control up button press behavior Add option to control video player long press action

Long Promised — Long Awaited — Finally Here! We are excited to announce the first release of our all-new range of Emby apps, starting today with Windows and Xbox. With a fully redeveloped native foundation, this update delivers improvements across the board: from remote control and gamepad support to background downloading (Windows), as well as refresh and HDR mode switching, and most importantly, enhanced video playback. The new app also comes with a name change from Emby Theater to simply Emby. The name is the only simplification though: On Windows it supersedes and replaces both current apps, "Emby Theater Desktop" and "Emby Theater" from the Windows store, combining the best of both in a single app. It provides enhanced video playback driven by MPV player under the hood, like and even better than "Emby Theater Desktop", and the Download features which were previously available in the Windows store app only. A primary design goal has been to ensure that users of either previous app encounter no drawbacks when moving to the new version. Video Playback (Windows) Video options in the previous ET Desktop app were not always straightforward. The new Emby app adopts a fundamentally different approach to video playback configuration, which accommodates to a range from least to most knowledgeable users by boiling quality options down to three simple and easy understandable presets alongside a custom mode which allows to control all the underlying options in detail. The main presets are: High Quality A no-compromise choice for the best possible quality, regardless of resource usage. Recommended for powerful PCs with high-end GPUs. Video decoding and filtering occur in software for optimal quality, and output scaling uses custom GPU shaders. Balanced The default and recommended choice for most users. Similar to ET Desktop and a standalone MPV player with default settings. Efficiency Mode MPV player is generally focused on quality rather than power saving, and even with the Balanced preset, you can get short of energy rather quickly when running on batteries. This mode is not built-in or available in the regular MPV player. All video operations are fully performed in hardware while scaling at the video output (no shaders/gpu kernels) gets disabled. Too simplistic for you? Enter the Customize mode where you can control all options in detail to find your perfect setup. Video Playback (Xbox) In the new Xbox app, we have a new playback implementation which is based on ffmpeg and takes place of the HTML video playbaback which which had limited codec and format support. By combining ffmpeg decoding with elements from Windows Media capabilities, it combines the best of both worlds: The rich format and codec support from ffmpeg and the built-in hardware acceleration of the Xbox for playing 4k and HDR videos in the best possible way Automatic Refresh and HDR Mode Switching (Windows & Xbox) Refresh rate switching is now as simple as enabling or disabling a single option. The new app can track its window position across multiple monitors and adapt the refresh rate accordingly. On both Windows and Xbox, it can also automatically toggle HDR mode based on the video content and the capabilities of your monitor and graphics hardware. Download Feature (Windows) With the download feature, you can transfer media from your Emby Server to your client device in a suitable format and size, so you can enjoy your media when you're on the road or without an online connection and even automatically synchronize items based on the watched status. The new Windows app implements this with a completely different approach. Instead of periodically polling and running in the background, it uses Windows Push Notifications for server-side activation and the Windows BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer) service for downloads. As a result, the app runs only briefly whenever the server notifies it about newly available items or when BITS reports a completed download. If you don't use this feature, nothing runs in the background at all. Enhanced Support for Remote Control and Gamepad Input (Windows & Xbox) Remote Control support has been extended to cover almost all functions defined in the Windows Media Center remote button schema. For game controllers, mapping has also been expanded to assign functions to all available controls. New options pages provide a reference for button assignments and allow you to test inputs to ensure everything works as intended. Windows Theme (Windows) As a visual highlight, the Windows app features a new and exclusive Windows theme with Mica material background (Win 11) and seamless integration with your Windows desktop appearance, matching theme colors and dark/light switching accordingly. High Contrast Themes (Windows) As part of the Windows theme, the new Emby app also supports the Windows High Contrast settings. Fonts adjust in size and weight for better visibility, and fewer — but thicker—lines are drawn to enhance readability for those who need it.

WELCOME TO THE HISTORY OF EMBY! A lot of our users are new to Emby and we thought it would be a good idea to share some of the backstory of how Emby came to be, where we started and where we are headed. We have grown significantly since our inception. Once a humble open-source project, Emby has evolved into a sophisticated platform that allows users to organize, stream, and enjoy their media libraries with ease. In this post, we'll take a look back at the history of Emby, explore its development journey, and highlight the key milestones that have made it what it is today. The Early Days: An Open-Source Beginning Emby started its life as Media Browser, an open-source project focused on creating a simple, user-friendly interface for accessing digital media collections. Originally, Media Browser was a plugin for Windows Media Center, and its primary goal was to offer users a better way to manage and play their media files. Back then, it was a community-driven project, with developers and enthusiasts contributing code, features, and plugins to expand its capabilities. Media Browser gained a loyal following among tech-savvy users who appreciated its customizable nature and flexibility. The Shift to Emby and the Rise of the Media Server In 2014, Media Browser underwent a major rebranding and evolved into what we now know as Emby. This change wasn’t just about a new name—it marked a shift in focus from a media center add-on to a full-fledged media server solution. Emby’s developers wanted to create a standalone server capable of managing large media libraries, transcoding content, and streaming to multiple devices. The introduction of the Emby Server brought a range of new features: Library Management: Users could organize and manage their media files with a sleek web interface. Metadata Scraping: Automatic fetching of metadata like cover art, descriptions, and ratings. Transcoding: On-the-fly transcoding for seamless streaming to any device, regardless of format. Multi-Device Support: Streaming became possible on a variety of devices, including smartphones, smart TVs, web browsers, and gaming consoles. This new direction attracted more users who were looking for a flexible media server that could handle diverse formats and provide a unified experience across different platforms. Open Source to Closed Source: In 2018, Emby made a significant decision: it moved from being an open-source project to a proprietary, closed-source model. The change allowed the development team to maintain greater control over the codebase, improve security, and introduce features more rapidly. Key Milestones in Emby’s Development As Emby transitioned to a proprietary model, the development team pushed forward with a series of updates and improvements: Emby Premier: The introduction of a paid subscription model called Emby Premier brought exclusive features like DVR support, cloud sync, offline media, and hardware-accelerated transcoding. Emby Premier gave the development team a sustainable revenue stream to fund further development. Improved Mobile and TV Apps: Over time, Emby released a series of polished apps for mobile platforms (Android, iOS) and TV devices (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire). These apps received regular updates to improve stability, user experience, and customization options. Live TV and DVR Integration: Emby expanded its offerings to include Live TV and DVR functionality, allowing users to integrate live broadcast channels, schedule recordings, and manage live content alongside their media libraries. Enhanced Transcoding and Streaming: Emby has continuously improved its transcoding capabilities to support modern formats like 4K, HDR, and Dolby Atmos. These improvements allow for a high-quality viewing experience regardless of the device being used. Security and User Management: Emby introduced advanced user management features, including user profiles, parental controls, and access restrictions. This makes it easier for families to share media without compromising on privacy or security. Emby Today: A Comprehensive Media Experience Today, Emby is a mature and feature-rich media server solution that caters to a wide range of users—from casual media consumers to serious home theater enthusiasts. It supports a broad spectrum of devices, offers robust customization options, and remains focused on providing a powerful yet easy-to-use interface. Some of Emby’s standout features today include: Unified User Interface: A sleek, modern interface that makes browsing and streaming media a joy. Customizable Libraries: Tailor your media collections with custom artwork, genres, and metadata. Cross-Platform Syncing: Keep your media in sync across multiple devices and platforms. Comprehensive Live TV Support: Access live TV, manage recordings, and watch DVR content effortlessly. Community Engagement: Emby continues to value its user base, with an active community forum, feature requests, and beta testing for new updates. The Impact of the Community and the Road Ahead Despite its shift to a closed-source model, the Emby community remains strong. Many long-time users contribute by creating plugins, themes, and offering technical support. The Emby team regularly interacts with the community, implementing feedback and adjusting features based on user needs. Looking forward, Emby is set to continue expanding its feature set while focusing on performance enhancements and cross-platform support. Emby’s development is driven by innovation and user feedback, ensuring that it remains a competitive choice in the world of media servers. Conclusion Emby’s journey from a simple open-source plugin to a leading media server solution is a testament to its adaptability and the passion of its developers. While the shift from open-source to closed-source was a turning point, Emby has continued to evolve, delivering a reliable and customizable media experience for millions of users worldwide. The history of Emby is one of growth, change, and a dedication to providing users with a comprehensive and enjoyable way to manage their digital media.