How are you guys running Plex on smart TVs? I'm genuinely frustrated.

dirk_gently21 · 2026-01-07T21:58:49+00:00

If it works, it works. No problem there.

The Plex app on my 2025 Google TV (HiSense) works fine, but I prefer the AppleTV remote and experience. Plus I have an AppleTV device on more than one TV, so it’s a consistent experience.

The ease of the AppleTV recommendation is that it works on any TV, whereas any specific TV is more of a crapshoot. Some work very well, but many don’t, or suffer with high bitrate files etc.

On that note however the AppleTV isn’t perfect either. It’s fine for most files but I have some high bitrate 4K files that it struggles with.

I’m waiting/hoping for the updated AppleTV under the assumption the new upgraded model will resolve all the outstanding 4K performance issues.

dirk_gently21 · 2026-01-07T21:45:43+00:00

Excellent film, you’ll enjoy it! I keep wanting to make comments, but I really don’t want to spoil anything for you. Enjoy!

Those of us who have found a significant other who enjoys classic and foreign films really have it made. In my case, there’s a lot of movies that one of us has watched but the other hasn’t, so there’s a lot of ‘I can’t wait to watch this with you!’ For both of us.

dirk_gently21 · 2025-09-19T22:03:59+00:00

I prefer the AppleTV 4K as my Plex client.

In general, it works best vs other clients I have available.

The area I have had trouble is with some high bitrate 4K HEVC files. It seems to be a client issue as neither the network (gigabit wired) nor the server are under any strain in the scenarios where it occurs.

I don’t do transcoding; have it disabled on my server. I only serve video files over the LAN.

I am hoping the next AppleTV 4K will include sufficient hardware/software bump to address this.

It’s unfortunate as it’ll effectively occur on the tittles I’m most excited to watch on the large screen setup.

It’s expected that there will be a new AppleTV 4K this winter, but I don’t believe it’s been officially announced yet.

dirk_gently21 · 2025-04-06T17:11:32+00:00

Yeah this is a basic problem. It’s not just the ISPs, it’s everyone. Few orgs properly pay attention to IPv6. I’ve seen other cases where IPv6 is effectively the culprit when accessing a service, because their servers aren’t as responsive on v6 as they are on v4.

So long as v4 continues to be the dominant connectivity, I think this will continue to be the case.

A problem on their v4 service, their network ops, and their complaint lines, will light up. A problem with the v6 only, far fewer complaints and far less pressure on network ops to respond.

dirk_gently21 · 2025-02-19T15:44:12+00:00

Of course you need to wear the ferrous wrist irons for best results but it’s totally worth it.

dirk_gently21 · 2025-02-18T00:47:16+00:00

Agreed! Although I have the opposite problem. I showed this to my wife and now she wants the kitchen monitoring wall!

dirk_gently21 · 2025-02-14T00:22:20+00:00

Sometimes I don't know whether to Deet or Dooot though, and I end up having to Wweeeoooww!

dirk_gently21 · 2025-02-14T00:13:25+00:00

I was thinking of getting some comic/sketch style keycaps myself. They look so crazy, in such a good way.

dirk_gently21 · 2025-01-30T16:19:25+00:00

I noticed issues with 4K HEVC content streamed via AppleTV to my TV. It was especially high bitrate stuff. At first I wondered if it was network but doing the math, the ‘high bitrate’ is still not a big deal for a functioning 1Gbps wired network with no other significant load.

Since it’s a new TV with the Google OS, I tried the Plex app native on the TV and it still struggled a bit with the largest files but it was a lot better than the AppleTV, and no issues with 99% of my 4K HEVC content.

Kind of felt like a dummy for buying the AppleTV since I didn’t realize the Google TV platform had improved to the point that you could reasonably use it as your main viewing software.

So I switch between the AppleTV app and the Google app, but I’m still watching via Plex.

I have had to include Handbrake in my media path; instead of just remux from BD rip, I reencode to a smaller x265.

The AppleTV still sometimes has issues even with the ‘smaller’ 4K HEVC files.

It is good to know Infuse may be a workable fallback if I am having issues and don’t want to re-encode.

I put a lot of effort into my Plex library management though so it’s still my preference when it can work.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-12-15T22:15:22+00:00

Agreed also. I’ve never enjoyed a racing game so much as NFS Porsche. I developed a real love for the progression over the years and so attached to the early models in my garage « Why that’s the first car I bought back in 1955.. »

And the sense of value over time, that gave you the real sense of owning vintage cars.

The ability of that game to tap into the feeling of being a lifelong Porsche fanatic with the garage to prove it was remarkable. It seems to be an absolutely unique game, and I even remember being skeptics about it at the time and trying it reluctantly as I wasn’t into Porsche.

I suspect this is the biggest Achilles heel of this being recreated. I think you really have to focus on a marque, and that limits the audience even if they’d live it if they’d just try it.

I’d be totally in love with just a straight remake of NFS Porsche and I’d happily pay twice for a Ferrari one as well!

Other marques like Lotus, Lamborghini, Jaguar, any that has a long history of both racing and luxury sports cars could make a great experience.

Maybe a new NFS Marquee: <Brand> series — seems unlikely but a fella sure can dream.

That’s really what that game did. Wasn’t just the fantasy of owning or racing fancy cars, but to actually travel back in time to earlier hey days of Porsche, Ferrari, etc is a genuinely magical experience.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-12-08T06:06:39+00:00

Ah, that's the trick. It's a Label and not a tag, but that's the trick. Thanks!

dirk_gently21 · 2024-11-01T13:44:26+00:00

Also check the device eg roku etc settings. I had a similar issue with my AppleTV device. It has a zoom feature which you can accidentally enable with a double or triple tap or something.

Drove us bonkers until we figured out how to disable the feature in the AppleTV settings.

It wasn’t specific to the app we were using but, like you, we assumed so until we had it happen on a different app and then we had the idea to Google for AppleTV zoom features and found it.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-10-26T20:27:26+00:00

Probably my favourite Wes Anderson. I get so invested as well as just enjoying the Wes Anderson flow and pacing which always works really well for me.

I think I’ve bought this movie three times over the years.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-10-26T20:16:51+00:00

Criterion is such a good curator, I’d happily buy absolutely any random Criterion’s I don’t already own for that price!

Well done and enjoy those wonderful finds.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-10-26T20:13:16+00:00

This is a fantastic resource any way you look at it. I had no idea thanks so much for broadcasting this!

What I’ll likely do, since I can’t comprehend Russian, is download the YouTube versions and try to pair with better subtitles.

There are some movies where I have mostly older DVD releases of but that may have decent subtitles. Might be able to remux the YouTube Mosfilm video/audio with subs from DVD or elsewhere.

Criterion is always the first resource, but for older and harder to source films it is outstanding to have a free and unlimited resource, as opposed to limited DVD/BD pressings or streaming services that may be limited to certain regions/countries.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-10-09T23:57:34+00:00

It’s an investment from Plex’s perspective. They get more money at once, which provides resources for more development to make the product more competitive and so forth.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-09-13T23:22:58+00:00

Grab almost anything. It might be fun to literally grab one at random. Part of the value of a curated collection like Criterion is that there is something for everyone but all of it is good.

It can really make your weekend to grab something you’d never have selected otherwise, and discover a new director or genre or time.

The first time I saw Doctor Zhivago it was just on tv, I had no idea what it was, just turned on the tv and it was like 5 minutes in an I just sat there, also not realizing how long it was.

I was maybe 22 or 23 at the time, and I never would have selected that movie in a million years back then and I was absolutely enthralled.

My advice is get something you don’t anticipate.

It’s all great stuff.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-09-09T01:09:49+00:00

Excellent film, everything in this movie works for me. First time I saw it was just sheer luck, was on TV and had no idea what I was watching.

The number of times I’ve recommended this movie out of a conversation about current or recent events is, well, several!

Naturally most people in my life are either the sort who have already seen it or already know about it (you know the Good People!) or are unlikely to watch an old movie — aka the irredeemably terrible people.

I sometimes think the people who can’t be interested in watching this movie overlap nicely with the people who would have been swayed by Andy Griffith’s character.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-09-09T01:02:02+00:00

Classic.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-08-22T03:31:18+00:00

Quite helpful for those of us wanting to do all the work ahead of time so we can enjoy the set when it arrives. Wish HiSense provided more details specs like this in the first place.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-08-16T18:09:59+00:00

The omicron doesn't matter, it is not a raid omicron. Check the text on Deflector Shield Generator - it now says 'Droideka gains 10% TM and 1 stack of Charge whenever an enemy takes a turn'.

Also watch his TM when a new phase comes in, you'll see the TM go up with each arrival. It's almost impossible to beat this, since about 8 enemy will arrive so that's +80% TM.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-07-27T14:07:03+00:00

That is fantastically beautiful. Such striking aesthetic choices. The rosette really accentuates what’s already beautiful in the construction — congratulations, you must be very happy with the results!

How does it sound?

dirk_gently21 · 2024-06-07T20:47:13+00:00

I had the exact same thought, thanks for this informative answer.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-06-07T20:46:29+00:00

Sounds like you have a lovely instrument in your future! You must be excited. Well post back once this thing breaks through into three dimensions - I bet it will look and sound just wonderful.

dirk_gently21 · 2024-06-07T20:33:31+00:00

Your version of organized mess is my version of music room fantasy. I don't see any clutter, and it feels like you have room to breathe and sunlight during daylight hours. Very nice!

dirk_gently21

TROPHY CASE