Download Plex Media Server 0.9.7.12

Version 0.9.7.12 of Plex Media Server has been released. This program is an open source media server for Linux, OS X, Windows and various NAS devices. It can serve content to clients on the same machine, within the local network or even over the internet. Client software is available for the aforementioned operating systems, but also for iOS, Android, Windows Phone 7, Google TV and some TVs from LG and Samsung. The program includes its own App Store, where plug-ins can be exchanged. For example, these plug-ins allow instant viewing of content from Hulu, Netflix, and CNN Video. In addition, there is PlexPass, a paid service that gives early access to new versions, in addition to discounts on ‘Premium features’. Furthermore, there is now also a web client. The release notes for this release can be found below.

Plex Media Server, Plex for Win8 and Plex/Web

Ah, the inexorable march of progress. We have three more releases to talk about today, with lots of goodies. And if you’re getting bored of hearing about the media server, Win8 app, and Plex/Web, you’re in for a treat, because the next blog post is going to be about something new, and very exciting. promise.

That’s not to say that these updates themselves aren’t exciting. We’ve been doing a lot of work on the next-generation transcoder in the media server lately. Currently in use for PlexSync and the Win8 app, it’ll soon be available for iOS and Android and Plex/Web as well, as it offers many advantages over the old transcoder. For starters, the new version supports burning PGS and VOBSUB subtitle formats, which has been requested for – literally – years. Secondly, it should offer much better performance, stability, compatibility with codecs, should fix issues with A/V sync, and many other things. Last, but not least, it leverages a powerful server-side profile mechanism which will soon be used universally for DLNA, PlexSync, and “live” transcoding. We’re building the most advanced media server on the planet here, and the new transcoder is at the heart of it!

New:

• Greatly improved (Sync and Win8) transcoder subtitle burning: support SSA and SMI, fix crashes, fix subtitle sync when resuming video.
• (API) Allow converting SMI to SRT (format=srt).

Fixed:

• Scanning TV shows near the root directory of a volume didn’t work reliably.
• Send Accept-Ranges: bytes HTTP header when answering requests for media. Fixes Win8 seeking in media.
• DTS audio inside MP4 container could be incorrectly identified as mp4a during media analysis.
• Transcoding certain media files could be pathologically slow. Thanks to Rodger for helping us diagnose the issue!
• Transcoding video audio from MP3 to AAC would fail in some rare cases.
• A/V sync issues transcoding Smooth Streaming to Windows 8 Store app.
• Actor thumbnails weren’t being offered correctly to sync clients.
• Removed unnecessary logging when running transcoder.
• Add more logging when Win8 app loopback exemption can’t be added.
• When a media asset is uploaded, it becomes the default.
• Sync item status could be prematurely reported as complete.
• Added iPad mini sync profile.
• (Windows) Large log files when number of library paths exceeded 64.
• (Sync) A few issues with sync status not being reported correctly.
• (Transcoder) An A/V sync issue affecting Win8 app.

Leveraging the new transcoder, and all these other fixes, is the latest update of Plex for Windows 8. It’s taken us a few releases, but at this point media playback support on the app is really super good, and it’s able to play lots of content with remuxing, which (given our support for throttling on the server side ), means awesome quality video with minimal CPU usage. Lots of other new stuff, including more keyboard navigation and a cool media information popup, and many bug fixes.

Plex/Web also got a massive update. A giant, thundering, epic update, featuring a redesigned home screen, greatly simplified navigation, and lots of other goodies. Look at this beautiful new dashboard!