Plex: new DVR function, Apple TV updates & app for Windows 10 phones

19 Sep 2016 | Rasmus Larsen |

Over the last few weeks, Plex has released several new updates, including Plex DVR for recording, new features on Apple TV4, Plex DVR for Nvidia Shield, and a Windows 10 app for phones.

Plex DVR for recording

The most important new feature from the maker of media center software is ‘Plex DVR’. With this feature you can (if you also own a HDHomeRun TV tuner) record TV channels and share them on your home network via your Plex apps.

Plex DVR is still in beta and requires a Plex Premium subscription but if you have that you can try it out now. On September 16, Plex added the ability to use the Nvidia Shield box as a Plex DVR server.

In this setup, the Nvidia Shield will work as a sharing server for your movies, TV series, camera recordings, and now TV recordings. Via the box all your content will be available on other TV boxes and phones/tablets at home and away.

You can learn more about Plex DVR here.

New features on Apple TV

There are also new features in the Plex app for Apple TV4. The most visible change is a new side menu from which you can access your different servers, playlists, and search for content.

If you are watching your TV series through the Plex app it can now automatically start the next episode – if you want it to. Plex calls it “post-play”.

Lastly, the updated Plex app for Apple TV now supports background music playback, even while using other apps.

Plex for Windows 10 phones

Plex released its “universal app” for Windows 10 in July 2016. Universal apps for Windows 10 are typically designed to work across phones, tablets, PCs and the Xbox One console.

However, at launch Plex’s app did not support Windows 10 phones. It does now.

The app has a new user interface as well as support for Continuum, Cortana, Mobile Sync, and ”Hubs and discovery”.

Plex is free to use in your home but you can pay for a Premium subscription plan to gain access to more features. To get started with Plex you need to set up a storage server with the ‘Plex Server’ software and share all the media files that you want your other devices to have access to. Afterwards, you gain access to these files through the Plex app.