Matthew Choo

With 20 years in market research across Telco and Media, I’ve decoded consumer behavior, optimized research, and driven data-led strategies. Now, I’m diving into coding, automation, and tech solutions—where data meets efficiency. This blog is my space to share insights, from Python scripts to research optimizations and life hacks. Join me in exploring smarter ways to work and live!

Plex is just so cool!

One line… The End…

Nah… There are more.

Before Plex, these are what I need to go through to manage my media across all my devices:

  1. Find the videos file and download it
  2. Ensure the format is correct.  Else, need to convert it to the right format
  • Note: Many of the formats do not work across platforms e.g. Mac, Window, iOS, Android
  • Shall I keep Two format copies for all videos?
  1. Rename, Sort, Keep it in the right order in my computer or storage
  2. Whenever I wish to watch it other than the storage device, I need to:
  • Connect my phone or tablet to computer via USB cable
  • Load the selected movies into my phone or tablet
  • Delete it after watch

Mmm… Not so fun

  

**Now with Plex**...

1. Find the videos file and download it

* Automatic Naming & Sorting
* Automatic Cover Art & Info download (description, actors etc)

3. Watch it on Any Device directly *(No format conversion ever required)*
4. Tap a button in app to sync (download) content to phone or tablet Wirelessly

* Videos watched are automatically marked as "watched"
* Note: Sync is a PAID feature



**Where?**

You can actually watch IN HOME & OUT OF HOME even you are FREE account:

1. FREE account

* In Home -- Stream over local WiFi network
* Out of Home -- Stream over WiFi or 3G network

3. PAID account

* In Home -- Stream over local WiFi network
* Out of Home

+ Stream over WiFi or 3G network
+ Sync (download) on to smartphone/ tablet (PAID feature)



**What devices Plex support?** A LOTS..
[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn9B1QVu9qvvjjoa9DcDNLfktZgcKkHLtlP5pa12aZhUZ6jRTGv60kgKDaaeqkSb2Xm7bVbfI6WwV-GGpC3XDuJNjIrcaEbOyMR5PL0lDIXkdmHEChmGXbae4za0X28p7JmyoAW89uAM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-29+at+1.39.04+PM.png)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn9B1QVu9qvvjjoa9DcDNLfktZgcKkHLtlP5pa12aZhUZ6jRTGv60kgKDaaeqkSb2Xm7bVbfI6WwV-GGpC3XDuJNjIrcaEbOyMR5PL0lDIXkdmHEChmGXbae4za0X28p7JmyoAW89uAM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-29+at+1.39.04+PM.png)

Requirements:

  1. A file servers to store all video files (recommend to have minimum 1TB)
  2. A computer (Mac/ Window) to manage the video casting to your device
  • This is recommended as the computer needs capacity to manage the video format and quality streaming from the server to your devices
  • Other options are to use servers with built-in processor capacity
  1. LAN cables to connect Server–Router–Computer for best streaming experience

How to Setup: Basic

  1. Register for Free on Plex website
  2. Download “Plex Media Server” for your computer managing the media
  • Login

  • Select the folder where you store your videos

  • Recommend to store your Series and Movies in different folders
  1. Download Apps for the devices you needs
  • Login on Plex Media Server and Apps
  1. Walaah… you are ready to go!!!

Advance

  1. If you wish to sync (download) videos into your devices, you need to purchase a premium service (recommend one time fee of USD$75)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Areas of improvements:

  1. Cloud Sync – Redundant
  • I find Cloud Sync to be cool but less practical as using Cloud Sync is similar to use streaming from home computer
  1. Plex Media Server + Bit Torrent – Crashed
  • As the latest version enable instantaneous library update, it will crashed my computer whenever I have both bit torrent and Plex Media Server on at the same time
  • I would recommend to at least have the option for Manual library update only

If you have any queries not covered above,  just comment below and I will response.

Cheers

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