MrMC, Infuse, Plex & Co.
Posted: 01 Jan 2018, 13:22
On many forums, you will find this kind of X vs. Y discussions while ignoring the basic concept behind the specific application.
MrMC/Kodi is a complete media centre solution, which is suitable for consuming several types of media with its It integrated media management. is a device specific client which assumes that he media files available locally, i.e., fast connection on the same network.
Infuse is also a device specific client, currently only for iOS and tvOS, which can play only videos with little media management capabilities. Here, also, the media files are assumed to be available locally; playing from a cloud drive is a only a virtual extension since it is still a NAS.
Plex is a client-server concept with remote playback on different clients, by many users, in mind.
So, at this point, these three products cannot simply be compared; it depends on the actual needs and the use-case.
They are not a replacement to each other.
Most discussions, however, boil down to the UI. MrMC/Kodi inherited the UI from xmbc and, didn't significantly change over time. Skins offer a face-lift but no new UI. Probably, the functionality might require a more sophisticated in depth control, but an "intelligent" UI should hide the complexity from the user. The setting complexity is so immense and confusing, if not contradicting, which require an experienced user and the Stander-Expert levels of interaction does not make really better. This is the issue where MrMC has to spend more effort; it already has an excellent player and media management.
Infuse, has a simple, "flat" (in the sense of the depth of interaction) UI which is favoured by many users who just want to play movies and tv shows. For example, I mostly use MrMC, my wife and kids prefer Infuse. BTW, the UI of infuse is -almost- exactly that of Synology's DS Video app on Apple TV; I don't know who "inspired" who.
The UI of Plex, in my opinion, is an excellent one; I would say the best I currently know; because it provides for a good depth-width compromise with a reasonable learning effort.
The Co., which I own, are Squire (also with Plex integration like MrMC), PlayerXtreme which are all clients only and Emby which is a client-server completion to Plex, all with their own advantages/disadvantages but really come in a second class regarding usability.
In summary, from my point of view, MrMC is the most complete solution for many clients with a direct contact to the developers; which is big plus(!)Infuse is the most usable, aside from its chaotic marketing/pricing scheme, Plex is currently the "only" client-server solution (until Emby catches up).
Happy new year to everybody and many thanks to the developers of MrMC for a great product.
MrMC/Kodi is a complete media centre solution, which is suitable for consuming several types of media with its It integrated media management. is a device specific client which assumes that he media files available locally, i.e., fast connection on the same network.
Infuse is also a device specific client, currently only for iOS and tvOS, which can play only videos with little media management capabilities. Here, also, the media files are assumed to be available locally; playing from a cloud drive is a only a virtual extension since it is still a NAS.
Plex is a client-server concept with remote playback on different clients, by many users, in mind.
So, at this point, these three products cannot simply be compared; it depends on the actual needs and the use-case.
They are not a replacement to each other.
Most discussions, however, boil down to the UI. MrMC/Kodi inherited the UI from xmbc and, didn't significantly change over time. Skins offer a face-lift but no new UI. Probably, the functionality might require a more sophisticated in depth control, but an "intelligent" UI should hide the complexity from the user. The setting complexity is so immense and confusing, if not contradicting, which require an experienced user and the Stander-Expert levels of interaction does not make really better. This is the issue where MrMC has to spend more effort; it already has an excellent player and media management.
Infuse, has a simple, "flat" (in the sense of the depth of interaction) UI which is favoured by many users who just want to play movies and tv shows. For example, I mostly use MrMC, my wife and kids prefer Infuse. BTW, the UI of infuse is -almost- exactly that of Synology's DS Video app on Apple TV; I don't know who "inspired" who.
The UI of Plex, in my opinion, is an excellent one; I would say the best I currently know; because it provides for a good depth-width compromise with a reasonable learning effort.
The Co., which I own, are Squire (also with Plex integration like MrMC), PlayerXtreme which are all clients only and Emby which is a client-server completion to Plex, all with their own advantages/disadvantages but really come in a second class regarding usability.
In summary, from my point of view, MrMC is the most complete solution for many clients with a direct contact to the developers; which is big plus(!)Infuse is the most usable, aside from its chaotic marketing/pricing scheme, Plex is currently the "only" client-server solution (until Emby catches up).
Happy new year to everybody and many thanks to the developers of MrMC for a great product.
but I could make suggestions for improvements :