XBMC vs Plex

brixton tower said:
How does one "force" a library update? From the icon bar at the bottom right I choose the "update library" option but that doesn't seem to work and Plex seems to have a mind of its own. XBMC on the other hand is quite simple, you just choose to update library and it scans all the folders for new material, and within minutes you've got episode info, posters and ratings.
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Ye, I use the right click icon method. Works for me.

Funny enough, I have issues with XBMC updating the library.
I installed it on my kids notebooks last weekend to try isolate them from Plex because of my Unwatched issues mentioned above. 1 week later they have both gone back to Plex saying that XBMC does not show the new stuff (manual process?) and the UI is "clunky" compared to Plex.
Suppose I need to wait for the multi user functionality in Plex then.
 
So, xbmc seems to be quite good? Can I install some kind of xbmc on Samsung tv? (Same as plex client)
 
johndoe1983 said:
So, xbmc seems to be quite good? Can I install some kind of xbmc on Samsung tv? (Same as plex client)
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Right now, unfortunately not and that's pretty annoying because while Plex (IMHO) is not total piece of garbage, it still does not match XBMC for robustness. If I could install XBMC on the Samsung Blu Ray it would add another year to my life.
 
brixton tower said:
Right now, unfortunately not and that's pretty annoying because while Plex (IMHO) is not total piece of garbage, it still does not match XBMC for robustness. If I could install XBMC on the Samsung Blu Ray it would add another year to my life.
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Would you mind elaborating on this? I find the exact opposite to be true so just curious.

IMO, XBMC needs a lot of work to get to the same level as Plex. For us, XBMC cannot even keep its library updated when new content is added which is a deal breaker.
 
Mike Smit said:
Would you mind elaborating on this? I find the exact opposite to be true so just curious.

IMO, XBMC needs a lot of work to get to the same level as Plex. For us, XBMC cannot even keep its library updated when new content is added which is a deal breaker.
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You could install xbmc library updater, it works better than the default one.
 
I am sorry to jump into this, but I run 2 media centers (OpenElec - a scaled-down version of XBMC), a file server (OpenMediaVault * 2 - as backup to one-another 10TB/server) and a server doing T-downloads and more. I started looking at plex and would like to know if this would enable me to run GoogleTV in South Africa.
 
How is XMBC with buffering? Plex stutters with HD content at times over wifi, SD content works perfectly.

@Mike, I'm using Plex currently and it's working ok, any benefits to using XMBC over Plex?
 
Mike is a Plex fan all the way, as for the buffering of HD, it's either a slow CPU or poor wireless.
 
Soul Assassin said:
... it's either a slow CPU or poor wireless.
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This.

The machine you are running the server on is either struggling to keep up with the transcoding or your network isn't fast enough to handle the throughput.

What are the specs of the machine you are running Plex Media Server on?

What is your network setup and to which devices are you streaming?


EDIT: Btw, I can manage highest settting 1080p streams to my iPad without any issues and I don't have the fastest server side machine, but have enough network bandwidth with a 300mbps wireless n router.
 
Pho3nix said:
How is XMBC with buffering? Plex stutters with HD content at times over wifi, SD content works perfectly.

@Mike, I'm using Plex currently and it's working ok, any benefits to using XMBC over Plex?
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Only benefits if you are masochistic.
Joking aside, XBMC is great for a single view environment. For more than one, it is a fiddle fiddle environment. Plex just works.

HD does stutter over WiFi, but if going for a multi view environment you will eventually get stutter with SD and multiple streams too.
I had my entire house gigabit Ethernet wired because of this very reason.

I tried to get my kids to use XBMC on their laptops and after a week they were both on Plex again. Plex is just really simple to use.

Try them both though. Best way to figure out what you prefer.
 
PC housing the media server is a dual core machine(AMD X2 240, 4Gb Ram) , using one of those fancy Asus routers with 300mbps speeds..

Streaming works fine on my tab but on my PS3 is pretty crappy performance.

Sticking with Plex for the moment, the wireless issue is a pain so wiring up the house at the moment.
 
Pho3nix said:
PC housing the media server is a dual core machine(AMD X2 240, 4Gb Ram) , using one of those fancy Asus routers with 300mbps speeds..

Streaming works fine on my tab but on my PS3 is pretty crappy performance.

Sticking with Plex for the moment, the wireless issue is a pain so wiring up the house at the moment.
Click to expand...

Wiring is the way forward dude. Good move.
 
I was going to wire but bought a dual band black diamond asus wireless router. only thing that runs on the 5ghz network is media streaming. streams even really big movies really well...

may still wire but less of a priority now.
 
Downloaded the plex app onto my iPad and very impressed with the features on offer and performance so far.Did not know there were so many plug-ins available.
Anyone care to comment how good the plex apps are that are pre-installed on the Samsung and LG smart TV's?
 
ajules said:
Downloaded the plex app onto my iPad and very impressed with the features on offer and performance so far.Did not know there were so many plug-ins available.
Anyone care to comment how good the plex apps are that are pre-installed on the Samsung and LG smart TV's?
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LG is Media Link Powered By Plex and it is okay. Nothing like the client you are using.
Samsung however have a full blown Plex client. Its awesome.
 
Mike Smit said:
LG is Media Link Powered By Plex and it is okay. Nothing like the client you are using.
Samsung however have a full blown Plex client. Its awesome.
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Thanks,good to know because I am still trying to decide which Smart TV to get!
 
I don't have the plex client on my Samsung TV... Where do I find / download it?
I have the UA46ES6200

And set to USA region for the app choices...
 
Aquadyne said:
I don't have the plex client on my Samsung TV... Where do I find / download it?
I have the UA46ES6200

And set to USA region for the app choices...
Click to expand...

Interesting because that is the exact TV on my radar.Makro has it on special for R9,500 which seems a good price.What is it like for gaming(PS3) and watching movies,TV series downloaded?
 
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