So I want to setup a QNAP 253D+ as I do not want to pay for streaming platforms however I can't find an app to set it up.
Plex is what everyone is recommending but that requires outside authentication with plex. So if I want to stream from my NAS to the TV I have to authentication with Plex and I want to avoid that. I do not know when Plex is going to decide I can't watch Aladdin on my home system do to racism or something like that.
Isn't Kodi an option any more?
Plex minus the annoying automation.
I've never met a Smart TV that had Kodi, or would let you install it. Thanks to [deliberate] conflating those piracy add-ins with the Kodi project as a whole, don't expect it any time soon.
Despite shortcomings like HEVC 10bit decoding, Raspberry Pi running Kodi is a pretty decent setup.
So far I haven't heard of plex doing anything naughty.
And even if they do you still have your files. The scenario where they would go from "acceptable" to "nuke your files" overnight seems unlikely and even in that case thepiratebay is everyone's backup server.
I like plex because its dead simple to share my server with normies.
That just seems like a highly unlikely worst case scenario. But, like you said, its fairly straightforward to defend against. Harder for windows users to set permissions but not impossible.
What? No it isn't. Setting file permissions on Windows has always been trivial.
What are the steps for giving plex read permissions but denying write permissions, while allowing other applications write permissions?
Create local user account on Windows for Plex' use.
Install Plex service, input account and password into Plex Service Wizard
Properties of your media folder, add security rule for that user to DENY write, inherit to child objects.
On Unix you'd probably do it with group permissions, but it's essentially the same thing. Harder than getting poked in the eye, sure, but pretty simple.
makes sense, I only had to mess with windows permissoins on systems that weren't mine when they got in the way
edit: or why the fuck can't I delete that file?!?
Permissions would certainly work well enough. I know on my NAS Plex only has access to it's folder. I let it delete things because I sometimes delete things within Plex.
Another secondary measure, back up your Plex files. I do a local backup of the NAS about once a month or whenever I remember. On top of that, most of my videos are ripped from media I actually have so there's that.
Jellyfin and Emby look to be working ok
This was an older post. I ended up using emby for now. It works ok with my samsung tv except you have to reinstall it each month but it saves your account and takes a few seconds to do it.
I wanted Jellyfin at the time but it did not work on a Samsung TV, not sure if it changed.
The app for samsung tv is free, you can pay extra but for what I wanted, free was fine. Maybe because it was never fully released on Samsung TV.
Can't you set it up as a media server? That functionality is native to Windows, which I'm assuming you'd be running Plex from.
I want to also use it as streaming service for kids when we are on the road or vacation. I'm now using emby and it works fine. It streams to the TV as well as phones / tablet.
Considering is a free and open source app I'm happy with it.