I was just forwarded this someone in my household who watches our server. That’s it folks. I’ve been a hold out for a long time, but this is honestly it.

They want me to pay to stream content that I bought from my hardware transcoded also on my hardware.

I’ll say it. As of today, I say Plex is dead. Luckily I’ve been setting up Jellyfin, I guess it’s time to make it production ready.

Edit I have a Plex Pass. More comments saying “Just buy a plex pass” are seriously not getting it. I have a Plex Pass and my users are still getting this.

  • hydrashok@sh.itjust.works
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    4 days ago

    Just buy a Plex Pass, damn. If you really like the software and it does everything you want, but you just want all the features for free then move to Emby or Jellyfin or whatever. I do hear Emby and Jellyfin have some good qualities but I haven’t tried them myself.

    Personally, the lifetime Plex Pass was one of my best purchases ever, but if you’re against paying for it, then you do you.

    • blackbirdbiryani@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      It’s all great until they eventually revoke your lifetime pass too and make it a subscription. If you think corporations won’t do something scummy like that I have a bridge to sell to you.

      • hydrashok@sh.itjust.works
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        4 days ago

        Call me when it happens. Until then, that’s just speculation masquerading as a justification.

        My lifetime pass from 2017 for $100 still works just the same as the day I bought it. I’m almost down to $1 per month for my overall costs. It’s ludicrously cheap compared to other entertainment options.

          • hydrashok@sh.itjust.works
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            4 days ago

            So? How does that change my perceived value of the product I’m using today?

            “They could change your license tomorrow!!!111!1”.

            Ok. And then at that point I look for alternatives. I guess I don’t understand the rage at whatever future possibility you are sure is going to happen any second now.

            • macniel@feddit.org
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              4 days ago

              Then your so called lifetime license of 150 bucks is worthless, all your efforts you will no longer be able to enjoy.

              You are enabling this enshitification!

              • hydrashok@sh.itjust.works
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                4 days ago

                “If you buy this product that might potentially change at some point in the future in a specific way that I can’t definitively say will occur but will absolutely be BAD™, you’re enabling the very change I totally said would occur and you’re out your money!”

                I bought in 2017. How exactly is my continued use of a purchased product enabling anything? As a Plex Pass user, this does not impact me, or anyone I share with, in any way.

    • deegeese@sopuli.xyz
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      4 days ago

      Plex requiring a centralized accounts for self hosting was the bullshit I needed to move to Jellyfin and I never looked back.

      Charging to share your own content? Hah!

      • hydrashok@sh.itjust.works
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        4 days ago

        If you don’t want the centralized auth, then yes, find a solution that works for your needs. Glad you were able to.

        I didn’t like that auth change, but stuck with it and long-term overall it’s been a non-issue for me and my users. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a deal-breaker for others.

      • hydrashok@sh.itjust.works
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        4 days ago

        So then all the users of your server are fine, as the email states.

        EDIT: Downvote if you want but that’s literally the fourth paragraph of the email you posted.

        • Scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.techOP
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          4 days ago

          Even if I wasn’t a Plex pass holder, they’re removing functionality. How do you not see that that is unacceptable? If they need income they can add new functionality that’s paid but this is something that was free before, and is now no longer free. Worse yet, it’s my server, I don’t know how they need 7 dollars a month for any infrastructure they have to support it when I do the heavy compute and streaming myself.

          It’s absolutely just greedy. They could have charged for that new UI they released. Or any new feature. They’re charging for things that either cost them pennies, or worse yet probably nothing.

          And we’re not even talking about how with my Plex pass they’re still getting emails pushing them to join and how scummy that is

          • hydrashok@sh.itjust.works
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            4 days ago

            I could see how you could see that, but previously if you weren’t a Plex Pass holder, you had to pay a one time fee to activate the Plex app to steam for more than 60 seconds (IIRC) remotely. How is this any different? If anything, it makes it cheaper because of the server owner is a Plex Pass holder, none of their users need to pay anything, versus today where it’s $5 per device unless you’re in a Plex Home covered by a Plex Pass.

            • Scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.techOP
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              4 days ago

              what’s cheaper is leaving the platform that’s trying to shakedown my users for $7 a month for a service that has been free for them for years. If they couldn’t tell the difference, then they shouldn’t have sent the email.

            • Scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.techOP
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              4 days ago

              what’s cheaper is leaving the platform that’s trying to shakedown my users for $7 a month for a service that has been free for them for years. If they couldn’t tell the difference, then they shouldn’t have sent the email.

    • webghost0101@sopuli.xyz
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      4 days ago

      “Just hand over your money because otherwise you don’t deserve these features”

      If you really like the software, find a way to contribute however you can.

      Walled gardens and greed are value destroying.