欧博Download Plex (free) for Windows, macOS, Android
Plex is an application that can organize and play personal media collections efficiently. That’s right, all your movies, shows, music, not to mention your own videos and photos. This makes your computer or any compatible device a media server, and you can watch or listen to it anywhere you want.
From movies saved to an external hard disk to all the songs gathered through the years, all can be arranged on Plex into one neatly organized interface. It can be watched on your television, through a mobile device, tablet, or in any browser.
What sets Plex apart is that, unlike most applications that simply launch the media files, Plex comprehends the files, too. It downloads additional info, including the covers, summaries of movies, movie casts, and even trailers on movies, once in a while. The concept is to give the owners the impression that they are using the pipeline of a proper streaming service, but all the material is personal.
You are not confined by subscriptions or licenses. It is all about maintaining and appreciating, and being able to use the possession according to your wish. It is efficient, you get it once, then you just select this and that and press play.
Why Should I Download Plex?
If you’ve got a lot of media files lying around, Plex was created to help you categorize all of them. Perhaps you have DVDs of televised programs, movies you have collected for some time, or backup copies of music albums. In the past, if there was any structure put in place, it used to be only directories.
Thanks to Plex, you now have a media server that works just like Netflix or Spotify but contains your own media. And, on the plus side, you don’t even have to worry about file or folder names. Plex knows the details for you and even configures all the fields for some of your files.
Plex allows you to watch anything in one place, from live programs to films and even video clips. Install Plex Media Server on your computer, and then use your TV/plays, phone, or tablet to watch this content even when you are not at home. This is nice if you regularly use your device when you go travelling, or you simply want to watch a movie from the comfort of your couch without necessarily having to add other peripherals. This also means that you do not necessarily have to physically carry around your USB sticks, plus transfer files from one device to another. It’s worth stating that Plex deals with access to smart products.
The other advantage is the appearance and aesthetics of the interface. The Plex app is simple and easy to understand. It allows you to resume from where you left off in the video, use subtitles, create more than one account, and control who can see what. Parental controls are available in case you need them, and the media playback is good anyway.
As a no-frills, down-to-earth DVD player, it plays most home videos filmed in the past as well as most high-quality films that are now available in full high definition format and at full 1920 x 1080 resolution (HD).
Is Plex Free?
Yes, Plex is free. It is thus possible to set up a media server and stream your content without having to pay for an account. However, some features are only accessible to users who have a Plex Pass, but standard elements and capabilities are fully functional even without it.
What Operating Systems Are Compatible with Plex?
Plex Media Server is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It can also be run on NAS devices from Synology or QNAP, for example. For streaming, Plex has its application for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and gaming consoles, smart TVs, web browsers, etc. If you have the latest version of Windows, you should not have any problems running Plex. Online streaming can be done within the network of your home as well as across the internet.
What Are the Alternatives to Plex?
Other media centers or media players are available out there for those mere enthusiasts of streaming and organizing media. They may function differently from Plex in terms of the task at hand.
Kodi is one option. Linux is free, open-source, and excellent for those who like to set up their own preferences and start at the basic level. Unlike a regular home theater PC that requires its own server to store and manage its content, Kodi is an application that is run on the device that you intend to use to watch your content on. It can be installed on a smart box, a PC, and even a Raspberry Pi. On the one hand, it may be more fun to tinker with the interface, add features, and install, but it will also take more time. Kodi is somewhat like a do-it-yourself home theater solution.
Universal Media Server is derived from the PS3 Media Server project of the older platform and works to stream media over the home network on DLNA-compatible devices, including smart TVs or consoles. This doesn't have elegance as well as Plex; however, to use it effectively once it is installed, it is quite efficient. This works under various operating systems, and the good news is that it is Freeware and fully open source. If you just plan on streaming videos from this device to other devices connected to the same network, then you can use UMS, which does not require any type of subscription, as well as any specialized application.
Another free media player is Media Player Classic Home Cinema (MPC-HC). This one is for playback and hence is not designated for streaming. It is a program for Windows that offers several audio formats to play local files without putting much of a load on the system. The sixth is missing the artwork and media organizational features of Plex; however, if you simply wish to open a file once and start the playback, then it gets the job done in the fastest manner possible. MPUI Video Player can decode almost all kinds of videos and has a simple interface, thus maximizing usability. If you do not require streaming capabilities and do not plan on using the app on a mobile device, MPC-HC is sufficient.