The media managing and streaming service Plex has rolled out a new app today, and it might mean some painful adjustments for long-time users. Starting today, there’s a new Plex desktop app for both Windows and macOS — this will replace the existing Plex Media Player client. That marks the end of old-fashioned HTPC support for Plex.
For the uninitiated, Plex is a media player platform that organizes video, music, photos, and other media. You can link Plex to files stored on computers, servers, NAS boxes, and even mobile devices. Plex streams all that media on-demand, even transcoding it on the fly as necessary. Technically, you’re only supposed to be using it for media that you own and have backed up, which is already a gray area. However, it’s also popular with the torrent crowd.
The new Plex desktop app supports most of Plex’s existing features and improves a few others. As Plex users can tell you, the “Sync” option for offline downloads has been abysmally slow and buggy for a long time. With the new desktop app, that feature gets a makeover as “Downloads.” It’s faster, more reliable, and gives clearer feedback while content is being saved. The interface is also consistent with other Plex clients with one notable exception: TV mode.
Years back, the most common Plex implementation was to attach a home theater PC (HTPC) to a TV to stream media. With the proliferation of cheap streaming devices like the Chromecast, Apple TV, and Fire TV, almost no one bothers with HTPCs anymore. Thus, Plex is retiring the TV interface with the launch of its new desktop app. This will, no doubt, upset some Plex fans nonetheless.
What about the old Windows app? The version of Plex in the Windows Store will be retired, but that’s no great loss. According to Plex, developing a Windows Store client made sense in the past as Windows Phone existed in some capacity. Today, developing for the Metro/Modern UI platform is not a good use of resources, Plex says.
I have noticed this using the Plex android app and the Sonos android app that i have linked with my Plex server. Anyone else had this issue? Fix has been found. In the server there is option enabled by default 'Enable smart shuffling on artists and smart music playlists. Smart shuffling prefers highly rated, popular and less recently. The desktop app uses Plex's revamped user interface, including the navigation sidebar.It also offers the same server and library management options as in the Plex web app. Meanwhile, Plex is.
If you don’t want to give up the classic Plex Media Player client, it’ll be updated through January 30, 2020. You can keep using it, but it’ll probably break before long without updates. The new Plex desktop apps are available for free. Some features like mobile sync, live TV, and more are locked behind the “Plex Pass” premium subscription.
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If you have a large collection of locally-saved media, you need to be using Plex. It is the best way to keep your digital movies and TV shows organized.
Plex is available on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and all the major streaming platforms. You can use it to import artwork and other metadata, display subtitles, play multiple audio tracks, automatically organize your content into collections, and more. The app even has support for live TV, DVR, and personalized news.
Each version of the Plex app operates slightly differently. Today, we want to focus on the desktop app for Windows and Mac. Specifically, we’re going to introduce you to some of the most useful Plex keyboard shortcuts. After all, no one wants to be fiddling around with a mouse just to change the volume in the middle of a movie.
The shortcuts are split into three sections: Navigation, Playback, and Troubleshooting. Some shortcuts use the same hotkeys, depending on which mode you’re in.
(Note: Replace Control with Cmd if you’re using a macOS machine.)
FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download Plex Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac.
Plex Desktop App Mac Computer
Plex Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac
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| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| App Navigation | |
| Left Arrow | Navigate left |
| Right Arrow | Navigate right |
| Up Arrow | Navigate up |
| Down Arrow | Navigate down |
| Enter | Select |
| Space | Select |
| Esc | Back |
| Backspace | Back |
| Delete | Back |
| P | Start playback off highlighted item |
| W | Toggle played/unplayed status |
| Shift + F11 | Enter/exit fullscreen mode (Windows) |
| Cmd + Control + F | Enter/exit fullscreen mode (Mac) |
| Win + Down Arrow | Minimize Plex (Windows) |
| Cmd + M | Minimize Plex (Mac) |
| Alt + F4 | Quit app |
| Control + Q | Quit app |
| Playback | |
| Enter | Access menu |
| + | Volume up |
| - | Volume down |
| P | Pause/play |
| Right Arrow | Skip back 10 seconds |
| Left Arrow | Jump forward 10 seconds |
| Up Arrow | Jump forward 10 minutes |
| Down arrow | Skip back 10 minutes |
| X | Cancel playback |
| B | Back |
| H | Stop playback and return to home screen |
| Home | Play previous item in queue |
| End | Play next item in queue |
| Z | Cycle though aspect ratios |
| A | Switch to next audio stream |
| Control + A | Return to previous audio stream |
| L | Switch to next subtitles |
| Control + L | Switch to previous subtitles |
| S | Toggle subtitles on/off |
| Alt + A | Increase audio delay |
| Alt + Shift + A | Decrease audio delay |
| Alt + S | Increase subtitle delay |
| Alt + Shift + S | Decrease subtitle delay |
| Troubleshooting | |
| Control + Shift + R | Reload app |
| Control + Shift + D | Show debug information |
Plex Desktop App Mac Desktop
How to Do More With Plex
If you’re still not sure about the benefits of using Plex, check out some of our other content, like how to watch live TV on Plex and the best Plex clients.
Plex Desktop App Mac Ios
Read the full article: Plex Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac