It is exactly like Plex but without a PC or NAS running at home. All your media content is stored in the cloud on Amazon servers and you have access to it from your usual devices. It is called Plex Cloud and has launched in beta.
Plex in the cloud
Normally with Plex you would store your videos, music and photos on an always-on PC at home or a network-enabled hard drive. With Plex Cloud all your media can be moved to the cloud.
However, it is not free. First, you need a subscription to Plex Pass ($40 per year) and then you need a subscription to Amazon Drive ($60 per year for unlimited plan).
- “So what is Plex Cloud? For the first time, you get a full-featured Plex Media Server in the… er… cloud. But the important thing is that you no longer need to worry about it! Plex Cloud is always on and accessible. We take care of all the annoying stuff like software updates and power bills,” said Plex.
Once set up, it should work like your normal Plex media server. You have access to your media via streaming via other devices, including Smart TVs, media boxes, mobile devices and PCs/Macs.
However, one question remains. Will Amazon allow for example ripped DVDs and Blu-rays? That is not clear from Plex's FAQ.
Plex Cloud currently only works with Amazon’s servers but Plex is considering adding other cloud storage partners, the company said. Hopefully that includes other major players such as Dropbox and Box. If you are a Plex Pass subscriber you can apply for access to the beta program here.
Some features are still missing at launch, including Camera Upload, Offline Sync, DVR, DLNA and Media Optimizer but Plex says that it is working to bring those features to Plex Cloud later. Also, be aware that Amazon Drive is not available globally.
