Plex Refugee - UI Request

[ProshowXLV 1]

Hello to the EMBY crew.

After many years of supporting PLEX, I finally came to the realization they have entered into a CRACKER BARREL
moment of ignoring their users with a horrific UI update, and have shown no interest in users cries of distaste.
So, I began to look ay options and settled on EMBY and bought the Premium option.

So far, really loving it on my PC, but having some issues with the ROKU UI. The main disaster PLEX created,
was moving a very intuitive SIDE MENU with vertical navigation, to a terrible horizontal scrolling NAV for libraries,
which is a huge pain in the ass.

I like that EMBY has a nice vertical side menu for libraries in the PC UI, but uses a horizontal scrolling NAV for
libraries on the ROKU UI. Now, if there is a way to option for a side menu design, I haven't found it.

I realize I just got here, and don't want to start my experience with a complaint, but with a bit of a heads up in the fact that there
are A LOT of disallusioned PLEX users looking for a new home.

So call this a FEATURE REQUEST for your ROKU UI. It includes 2 options that would most certainly prompt an exodus of pissed
off PLEX users to your platform.

This has to do primarily with the UI on ROKU, and any of the other streaming platforms.

1. Vertical Side Menu for Libraries (as in your PC UI) (Attached)

2. A "grid" layout option for MAIN LIBRARY FOLDERS,
    like you have for invidual library layouts such as the
    "MOVIES" layout.

These two things are the primary options that would induce other "PLEX REFUGEES" to come running. 

Just sayin.

Have a great day!
ProshowXLV
Las Vegas, Nevada

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

The Emby interface for Roku is supposed to develop a side menu at some point. But when that will happen is anybody's guess. However I have moved all, well almost all, my viewing to an Android device and the latest android has a side menu, that I never use,  it is actually a hybrid app with the side menu and the horizontal menu.

There are two Emby apps for android and the one you want is the newer one.

So my recommendation is to get a good Android devices, I use a Shield, and go from there. You can also get the same app on a fire device, I have a Fire 4k stick, but I do not really like the fire stick so I usually use my Shield. 

I really like the Emby app on my Shield but it is not ideal. Emby is always working on improvements and it seems to get better each month although like all apps in development not every change is for the better. Emby does listen to their users and they answer every request but, like God, sometimes the answer is no. 

It takes a bit of getting used to if you switch from Roku and be aware that there are some apps that only exist on the Roku, like NWSL+, but I have found it well worth the effort and I still use my Roku on occasion like when I need to use my Roku to watch something that is not available on Android.

Emby will get the apps on all devices to be the same, eventually, but there are many many good Android devices that are pretty cheap and I suggest having both available.

Edited September 23, 2025 by Gilgamesh_48

[ProshowXLV 1]

Thanks for reply.
I only watch on my PC, and Smart TV.
So, Android is not really an option I'm interested it.
But appreciate the info.
ProshowXLV

[speechles 2055]

3 hours ago, ProshowXLV said:

So call this a FEATURE REQUEST for your ROKU UI. It includes 2 options that would most certainly prompt an exodus of pissed
off PLEX users to your platform.

This has to do primarily with the UI on ROKU, and any of the other streaming platforms.

1. Vertical Side Menu for Libraries (as in your PC UI) (Attached)

2. A "grid" layout option for MAIN LIBRARY FOLDERS,
    like you have for invidual library layouts such as the
    "MOVIES" layout.

 

For #1 A side menu is something in our future plans.

 

For #2 which main library folders? Can you explain or show a screenshot of the Emby Roku app where you wish it did what you wanted? Some of the rows will contain an entry at the very end called "show more" which will expand that row into the full grid. Perhaps we just need to expand the user of "Show more" onto more of these rows and it would allow you to do this more easily?

 

Also if you can think of anything else you would like that isn't being presented properly we would like to know. Anything that keeps you from enjoying the app? Keeping in mind that TV mode of the web app is where most of the inspiration for the Roku comes from. Cannot deviate too far from that.

[Luke 42077]

Quote

horrific UI update,

Hi, just curious, what do you find horrific about their UI update?

[ProshowXLV 1]

3 hours ago, speechles said:

For #1 A side menu is something in our future plans.

 

For #2 which main library folders? Can you explain or show a screenshot of the Emby Roku app where you wish it did what you wanted? Some of the rows will contain an entry at the very end called "show more" which will expand that row into the full grid. Perhaps we just need to expand the user of "Show more" onto more of these rows and it would allow you to do this more easily?

 

Also if you can think of anything else you would like that isn't being presented properly we would like to know. Anything that keeps you from enjoying the app? Keeping in mind that TV mode of the web app is where most of the inspiration for the Roku comes from. Cannot deviate too far from that.

Wow, thank you for such a quick reply.
1. Loved side menu plans. Will look forward to it.
2. I have attached a sample of my PC Emby version that shows My Media folders
wrapping into a grid layout. In the Roku app, all my media folders are just in one
long horizontal line. (Sorry, can't get a screen off Roku) Probably not a big deal
for a lot of people, but I'll have close to 40 folders all tolled, which makes scrolling
and scrolling to get to the folder I want quite a time consuming effort. (That's where
the vertical side menu really comes into play)

I realize UI redesigns are no small feat, and everybody has different usage "comfort zones",
not to mention the mutitude of devices you have to deal with. And me leaving PLEX wasn't
just about the removal of a side menu, but more about them being completely tone deaf after 100s
and hundreds of complaints just in community posts alone, as well as negative posts during the beta
mode when they were originally changing to the typical Netflix style navigation that very few people like.

The fact that I even got a reply from a company rep gives me great hope I made the right decision
giving Emby a try. Again, love the PC UI, with zero complaints, and again the Roku app could be
5 stars for me with a couple of small changes discussed above. But hey, I'm just one person.
Go have a look at the Plex community and look what they are saying about the latest update.
You'll see it's not just one disgruntled person.
Thanks again,
ProshowXLV
Las Vegas, Nevada

[ProshowXLV 1]

2 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, just curious, what do you find horrific about their UI update?

I explained all that in my original post. But they killed the vertical
side library menu on Roku, just to turn it into the typical terrible Netflix style
horizontal menu. If you have 5-6 media folders it wouldn't be a big deal.
But if you have 30-40 or more folders, it a huge pain in the ass.

But most importanly, after hundreds of users screamed about it
in the community forums, including many who had paid for lifetime
passes, they responded one time and basically said screw you,
were not changing anything, then went silent.

I loved Plex, until they made a completely needless change and update,
which by the way caused a lot of other problems as well. Hey, sometimes
a company can screw up. Own and fix it I say. I'd still be there if they had
just come out and said hey, we hear you, and changes are coming. But
the arrogance was astounding. As I like to call it, they are having a "CRACKER BARREL" moment.
ProshowXLV
Las Vegas, Nevada 

[Luke 42077]

OK yea one of the nice things about having the side menu is that you can remove your libraries from the top of your home screen. Then you get continue watching right that the top in the first position which I think is much better.

[ProshowXLV 1]

100% Agree!