- Universal Media Server Plex Download
- Universal Media Server Service
- Universal Media Server Plugin
- Plugins For Plex Media Server
Plex is a media player system with a client–server model. Plex Media Server stores, organizes, and streams all content, while the clients are the playback applications running on myriad devices and web browsers. Plex Media Server (PMS) is the back-end component, free of charge.
Universal Media Server The Universal Media Server is also an example of an open source program, written in Java. The spin-off program from PS3 Media Server was developed in May 2012 by the developer SubJunk, who had previously played a decisive role in the media server for Sony’s game console. 360 Media Server: GPL Free No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes. Non-free: Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes. Universal Media Server: GPL Free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes. Plex is your home for free TV and movies, giving you access to 80+ live channels and thousands of on-demand titles from around the world. Stream music, podcasts, news, and more, all wrapped in a beautiful interface. No other free streaming service delivers more content to more countries, all without. Mar 30, 2020 As such, even for home theatre buffs sans a media server, the Plex app is an awesome source of free streaming video. Overall, the balance of usability, functionality, and superb device compatibility, Plex is easily the best media server software you can (and should) use. Why you should use Plex: Great for Movies, TV shows, music, photos.
A screenshot of MythTV's main menu in the default theme, Terra | |
Developer(s) | Isaac Richards |
---|---|
Initial release | April 10, 2002; 19 years ago |
Stable release | |
Repository | |
Written in | C, C++ |
Operating system | Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, Windows(playback only) |
Type | Digital video recorder |
License | GNU GPL |
Website | www.mythtv.org |
MythTV is a free and open-source home entertainment application with a simplified '10-foot user interface' design for the living room TV. It turns a computer with the necessary hardware into a networkstreaming[1]digital video recorder, a digitalmultimedia home entertainment system, or home theater personal computer.[2] It can be considered a free and open-source alternative to TiVo[3] or Windows Media Center. It runs on various operating systems, primarily Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD.[4]
History[edit]
The MythTV project was started in April 2002 by Isaac Richards,[3] who explained his motivation:[5]
I got tired of the rather low quality cable box that AT&T Broadband provides with their digital cable service. It's slow to change channels, ridden with ads, and the program guide is a joke. So, I figured it'd be fun to try and build a replacement. Yes, I could have just bought a TiVo, but I wanted to have more than just a DVR – I want a web browser built in, a mail client, maybe some games. Basically, I want the mythical convergence box that's been talked about for a few years now.
Features[edit]
- Pause, skip, and rewind live TV shows
- Completely automatic commercial detection and optional skipping
- Intelligently schedules recordings to avoid conflicts
- Interfaces with television listing sources such as XMLTV or PSIP
- Interfaces with nonprofit subscription listings service Schedules Direct in the United States and Canada. Schedules Direct delivers the same Tribune Media Services listings data that TiVo and other video recorders use.
- Supports ATSC, QAM, DMB-T/H and DVB (everything supported by LinuxTV) high-definition television
- Supports Xv, OpenGL, and VDPAU video output
- Supports H.264 codec
- Supports VP9 and H.265 codecs as of version 0.28
- A backend server and frontend client architecture, allowing multiple frontend client machines to be remotely served content from one or more backend servers. A single computer can perform as both the frontend client and the backend server.
- Plays recordings at an accelerated or decelerated rate, adjusting the audio pitch as necessary
- Schedule and administer various system functions using a web browser-based interface
- Controls a set-top box using an infrared remote (IR blaster), or Firewire
HDTV support[edit]
MythTV is capable of capturing HDTV streams from any source that will provide unencrypted video. This means broadcast ATSC and DVB content, as well as encrypted DVB content when using a tuner with an integrated CI module. Most U.S. cable and satellite providers use encrypted video only accessible through their own set-top boxes. Cable systems may provide some unencrypted QAM channels, but these will generally only be local broadcast stations, and not cable programming or premium channels.
![Plex Plex](/uploads/1/3/7/5/137556028/740947236.jpg)
OpenCable devices are available to access encrypted content on U.S. cable systems, but as this is a full DRM system, and not just CA like DVB CI, every piece of hardware and software on the playback chain must be tested and licensed by CableLabs. At current, Windows Media Center is the only DVR software to meet these requirements, and only it, and other software using its recording libraries, can use these devices. In 2010, CableLabs relaxed the DRM restrictions allowing unlicensed devices to record copy freely content using these devices,[6] however it is still entirely up to cable operators what content they provide flagged as such.
Nordvpn one month subscription. As an alternative to direct digital capture, one can use an external decoder to receive the channels, and then capture using digital-analog-digital conversion (the analog hole). A popular means of doing this conversion is to connect the component outputs of a set-top box to the Hauppauge HD PVR.[7][8]
Modules[edit]
MythTV's add-on modules (plugins) include:
- MythVideo plays various video file formats
- MythMusic a music player, jukebox, collection manager, and CD ripper
- MythGallery online photo gallery manager
- MythNews RSS feed news reader
- MythWeather fetches weather forecasts – including weather radar – from the Internet
- MythBrowser small web browser
- MythGame frontend for game console emulators
- MythWeb controls MythTV from a remote web browser
- MythArchive DVD burner
- MythNetvision streaming video player intended primarily for Flash-websites like YouTube
- MythZoneMinder frontend interface for a ZoneMinder system
- UPnP AV MediaServer v1.0 compliant server: share media files with UPnP-clients
The base system integrates with its modules. A system can be controlled with an infrared remote control using LIRC, or radio remote control using kernel modules.
Operating systems[edit]
MythTV is available for many operating systems based on Linux or Unix, including Mac OS. The MythTV website distributes only source code, which must be compiled for the desired system; executable programs can be downloaded from various third-party sources.[9] The software runs on and is officially supported by Microsoft Windows, but as of January 2013 no official executable version was available; there are detailed instructions for compiling for Windows.[10] All core frontend features work under Windows, including LiveTV, scheduling, and watching recordings, but most plugins do not work without additional patches.[11]
Bundles[edit]
Notable projects that include a Linux distribution bundled with MythTV (and associated libraries) are:
- FreeBSD has several ports to support MythTV
- LinHES is a bootCD derivative of Arch Linux. Its MythTV frontend can be run from the CD. An entire installation to the hard disk can be made in minutes.
- LinuxMCE bundles MythTV with Kubuntu as the Linux distro, along with the Pluto Home automation suite.
- Mythbuntu combines Ubuntu distributions with MythTV. The Ubuntu community has built extensive resources for installing, configuring and troubleshooting MythTV. It was discontinued in 2016.
- Ubuntu TV integrates MythTV into a television-ready interface (based on the Ubuntu Unity user interface).
- Xebian is a distribution of Debian Linux for the MicrosoftXbox game console and includes MythTV.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'Network – MythTV'.
- ^Morrison, Graham (2009), 'Build the ultimate MythTV box', Linux Format, Future Publishing (117), pp. 56–59, retrieved 4 March 2010
- ^ abBarylick, Chris (26 March 2006). 'MythTV Invades Realm of Cable and TiVo'. The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^'MythTV operating systems'. MythTV.org. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^User Manual:Introduction, mythtv.org. Retrieved 15 August 2008
- ^'CableLabs Approves Tuner Sharing and DRM Free Copy Freely Content'. The Digital Media Zone. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^'HD PVR Product Description'. Hauppauge.com. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^'Hauppauge HD-PVR – MythTV Official Wiki'. MythTV.org. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^'Download MythTV'. MythTV.org. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^'MythTV on Windows'. MythTV.org. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^'MythTV FAQ: Does MythTV run on Windows?'. MythTV.org. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to MythTV. |
Wikibooks has more on the topic of: MythTV |
- Official website
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MythTV&oldid=1002055450'
Media centers are the perfect place to store collections of images, music, and videos that people create on their computers, smartphones, or other devices. Their primary function is to store this media, such as your latest vacation photos or your favorite film. However, you may find your patience being tested if you start searching for a particular file, only to realize that nothing is organized properly.
If you’re looking for a suitable management platform for your media files, you will no doubt come across Plex eventually. Launched as a freeware project in 2007, Plex has an impressive range of features and is undoubtedly one of the best media centers of all time. Thanks to various streaming portals and services like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, or Vevo, Plex users can play online content directly through their media center interface. However, Plex does have some formidable alternatives.
What should a good alternative to Plex be able to do?
The primary function of a media center is to organize all media files (audio, video, and image) on the selected computer system in a clearly arranged format. The user interface should make it easy for you to find and play back the content you want.
Plex alternatives (as well as Plex itself) should not just allow playback on the original device, but should also be able to play through external devices. Streaming your own media content on a TV should be a standard feature, which is why most media center interfaces are also designed to be used with smart TVs.
The best Plex alternatives should also be able to stream video and information services. Of course, your personal interests are most important here: Netflix and YouTube are more widely supported than other services because of their popularity. However, if you are not interested in these mainstream platforms, streaming links will be irrelevant to you as a user. It is therefore advisable to check the additional features in advance (often available as optional add-ons) that can be used as a respectable alternative to Plex. It is also important that the selected media management option allows multiple devices to access the library at the same time. If you want to enjoy a film while a roommate or a family member is streaming music, your chosen Plex alternative must always be usable by several people at the same time.
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What are the best alternatives to Plex?
In addition to the range of functions, cost and compatibility play an important role when it comes to choosing the best media center. The latter does not just deal with which systems the media center should be created on, it is also about what platforms you can access the media center from. You should also consider how up to date the Plex alternative is when making your decision: since many media centers are interconnected with web services, timely updates to close security holes are particularly important.
To make finding a suitable Plex alternative easier, here are some interesting examples of the best media centers and a guide to their advantages and disadvantages.
Mezzmo
On December 20th 2007, the Australian-based software company Conceiva released their home entertainment product Mezzmo. The software was initially available as a paid program for Windows, but Conceiva now relies on a freemium model: you can download and use the basic model for free, while the pro edition (which includes a web interface so that you can access using standard browsers) has lots of extra features and requires a subscription fee. There is also a paid Android app which was released in 2014. The app is mainly used as a remote application to retrieve content stored on the local Mezzmo media server on Android devices. Thanks to an integrated digital media server (DMS), you can also stream files stored on the device itself with the app.
Mezzmo is very easy to set up: after installing the program, it automatically searches and organizes all the movies, video clips, music, photos, and stored subtitles saved on the system being used. These files can subsequently be played back on all devices in the network that support UPnP or DNLA, or that have the app installed (Android only) – Mezzmo transcodes the media content in real time to ensure optimal streaming quality. You can access the media collection simultaneously with multiple devices at any time, so that sharing the media center is no problem. If you are having technical problems with Mezzmo, you can contact Conceiva with a ticket or through the user forum.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Multi-user capability | Media center cannot be used on macOS/Linux systems |
Android app with its own media server | Web interface is only available in the paid pro edition |
MediaPortal
In February 2014, Erwin Becker launched the GPL-licensed open source programMediaPortal, which is now managed by the MediaPortal team. A core feature of MediaPortal is that it supports TV cards so that you can watch TV through your media center. Additionally, the free-of-charge Plex alternative combines FM and internet radio with TV stations, information services (weather, news, etc.), and all media files stored on the computer in a single user interface. It’s up to you to decide how content should be categorized: you can sort songs by artist, album, or genre, and video clips and movies by cover, actor, or genre.
MediaPortal is an open source application and therefore benefits enormously from collaborating with the community: plugins developed as a supplement that provide additional functions that can be installed and integrated just as easily as skins to give the user interface a new appearance. This Plex alternative is only available for Windows and there are no separate apps for smartphones, tablets, or smart TVs – but there are extensions that allow remote access to your MediaPortal library from these same devices. All skins and plugins are available at any time from the official download page.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Supports standard TV cards | Media center can only be used with Windows |
Customizable user interface with skins | Complex installation and setup |
Kodi
One Plex alternative, originally designed primarily as a media player solution for the Microsoft console Xbox, is Kodi. Published as ‘Xbox Media Center’ (XBMC) in 2004, the media center kept this name even when it became available for other platforms. In 2014, it decided to rename the open source application, distributed under the GNU-GPL license, to Kodi. This made it clear that it was no longer primarily aimed at consoles. However, the media software is not really an alternative to Plex: the Kodi project – or it’s Linux version, to be more precise – formed the basis for Plex. Strictly speaking, Plex is an XBMC separation code.
Kodi delivers all the central features of a good media center: you can organize all your media content easily and play it back through the user interface, which supports a variety ofaudio, video, and image formats. Implementing new formats and technologies (like video acceleration) is handled by the Kodi team in real time. The Plex alternative automatically retrieves metadata from the web to provide additional information about archived content. Kodi’s greatest strength, however, is that the software is platform independent. There are not only installation packages for Windows, Linux, and macOS, but also for Android, iOS, and Raspberry-Pi. Remote control apps for iOS and Android complete the range of options.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Platform independent | Complicated multi-user setup (focused on one device by default) |
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Experienced developer team |
Stremio
The Bulgarian startup Stremio launched an exciting alternative to Plex in 2015 with their application of the same name, which was quickly met with enthusiasm from film and TV fans. The open source media center, which is easy to use, focuses entirely on organizing video content, and integrates video-on-demand services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. in an interesting way: add-ons allow content from different providers to be combined with the Stremio interface. Video clips, shows and movies on your own device are also taken into account when creating the library. Thanks to the integrated calendar function, you can also always keep track of new episode releases or highly anticipated films.
By integrating various streaming providers, Stremio not only provides an excellent overview of when and where content is available, but also offers a good price comparison. In terms of compatibility, the open source platform is just as well set up as Kodi: desktop versions for Windows, macOS, and Linux are available, as well as free apps for Android and iOS. Additionally, the developer plans to release a web application for the Plex alternative, which will then allow them to manage and access their own library as well as the existing clients for desktop PCs and mobile devices.
Third-party add-ons that allow free streaming of paid video content are illegal and should not be used or installed.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Very easy to set up and use | No function for organizing music and image files available |
Calendar features help to keep track of new movie releases, series, or episodes | Number of official developer add-ons is very manageable |
Universal Media Server
Universal Media Server Plex Download
The Universal Media Server is also an example of an open source program, written in Java. The spin-off program from PS3 Media Server was developed in May 2012 by the developer SubJunk, who had previously played a decisive role in the media server for Sony’s game console. As an alternative to Plex, the software is particularly impressive because of its broad device compatibility: both DNLA (Digital Living Network Alliance) and UPnP (Universal Plug & Play) are supported, so that music, videos, and images can be streamed easily on all devices that work to these standards (this includes PS4, Xbox 360, iPhone, Android devices, and various smart TVs). Universal Media Server runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, thanks to its multiple versions.
The media center is regularly updated by the developer team. Recent updates are often available as a beta version for download – however, users must expect that the software may not always work properly in these pre-releases. The Plex alternative has an optional web browser interface and is expandable with plugins. This can be used, for example, to integrate a link to SoundCloud. Further information on the development status and useful links to interesting Universal Media Server websites can be found in the official directory for the project on Github Github.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Platform independent thanks to broad device support and an optional web interface | No separate client applications/apps for accessing the media server |
Time consuming, uncomfortable to start with, and not easy to connect devices |
Emby
If you’re looking for a good alternative to Plex, you will no doubt come across the Emby. The largely royalty-free application (GNU-GPL), which has been maintained by Emby LLC since 2015, provides all the features you might need for the multi-device organization of your media files, starting with a free-of-charge media server available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as NAS and docker platforms. Configuration for the Emby server takes place independently of the chosen system through the very complex web interface. The server is automatically recognized by all DNLA-capable devices – but the developers also offer various proprietary (and partly chargeable) apps for mobile devices (iOS, Android, Windows) as well as for smart TVs and consoles (Samsung, LG, PS4, Xbox One).
If you start the Emby server after installation, the web dashboard will automatically open, allowing you to configure all the necessary settings for your personal media server. This is not just about filling the library, but also about finding the perfect setup for transcoding the content. It is also possible to create different user profiles, including access authorizations. This way you can ensure that adult content is not accessible to children, for example. If you subscribe to the monthly Emby Premiere package, you can use numerous additional features like cloud and folder synchronization, a cover configurator, and a backup function. In addition, you can stream videos and music to individual devices, as well as save them when you take out a subscription so that they can be played without a network connection.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Excellent user account management | Limited extensions available |
Apps for various platforms/devices available | Some features are only available in the paid premiere subscription |
TVersity
TVersity is a proprietary Plex alternative from TVersity Inc. Their paid media server package uses DNLA/UPnP technology to enable users to stream content from their own PCs to a wide variety of devices (content can also be accessed through standard web browsers). If the format/codec on the target devices is not supported, the TVersity server will transcode the corresponding files in real time. Indexing photos, songs, and videos happens automatically in the background, ensuring that your collection is always up to date. When it comes to server operation, unfortunately this Plex alternative only runs on Windows.
There is a free version of TVersity, but it only supports a small portion of the formats and codecs. In addition, there is no real-time transcoding in the free output, which then limits streaming capabilities considerably.
TVersity combines your personal media collection with useful web content like free video streams, RSS feeds, or podcasts that can be retrieved from the client on the chosen device. If you’re looking for a specific file, you’ll benefit from the media center’s outstanding performance, which is sure to impress even large libraries with more than 100.000 entries. A large part of their fast, uncomplicated file retrieval system is the powerful search mask and integrated cache function, which caches transcoded content. The Plex alternative has a REST API that allows you to integrate the media center into other tools easily.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Platform independent web app available | Server application is only available for Windows |
A tabular comparison of the best Plex alternatives
Universal Media Server Service
Media center | Release year | Developer | License | Media library platform | Payment model |
Emby | 2015 | Emby LLC | GNU GPL, proprietary (Apps) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, NAS | Freemium |
MediaPortal | 2014 | Team MediaPortal | GNU GPL | Windows | Free |
Mezzmo | 2007 | Conceiva | GNU GPL, LGPL | Windows, Android | Freemium |
Kodi | 2004 | Kodi Team | GNU GPL | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Raspberry Pi | Free |
Stremio | 2015 | Stremio | GNU GPL | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Free |
TVersity | 2005 | TVersity Inc. | proprietary | Windows | Paid Pro edition, free basic edition |
Universal Media Server | 2012 | SubJunk and others | GNU GPL | Windows, macOS, Linux | Free |
Universal Media Server Plugin
Plex is one of the most popular applications for organizing your own multimedia collection on PCs, smartphones, and other devices, but there are a number of good alternatives that don’t have to hide behind the mainstream media centers when it comes to functionality and streaming quality. This article explains exactly what characterizes software that manages and plays back audio, video, and image files, and what Plex alternatives are available.