plumb.cloud index: jellyfin
Jellyfin is the new Plex. Plex have started requiring a 'Plex Pass' (a paid subscription product) for their service to be externally accessible, meaning anything not on the same network as the Plex server cannot use it. Due to this I have chosen to migrate FilFlix to Jellyfin. Jellyfin is a free and open-source alternative, which as an open-source project should always remain free.
Jellyfin differs from Plex because while Jellyfin relies on apps provided by Jellyfin or third parties, it does not rely on servers hosted by Jellyfin to survive, whereas Plex utilises its own servers for facilitating remote access. Jellyfin is also an open-source project, meaning it was produced by an enthusiast community rather than by an organisation as a for-profit product with a free-tier. Plex started off as a free product which was eventually monetised and turned into a paid product by the owners, however due to jellyfin's open-source status it would be very difficult for the same thing to happen to Jellyfin.
Accessing Jellyfin
Jellyfin can be accessed either through its own (or several third party) apps. A list of all available Jellyfin apps can be found here. For most common devices, you can find the links below.
The easiest way to access Jellyfin is via the web app, this can be accessed on pretty much any modern device with a web browser, and will then simply require you to enter your username and password.
While Jellyfin's web app may be the easiest and quickest way to access the service, using one of their media player apps can give a much better experience. Using a dedicated app will improve the performance of Jellyfin compared to the web app as it is not limited to a webpage. This will include faster loading times, less buffering, better image quality and less need for transcoding. Find the major apps below.
Use the latest release version. For Windows select the 'windows-x64.exe' version. For Mac use the '.dmg' depending on if you have an Apple (e.g. M1, M2' or an Intel processor. For Debian Linux and similar variants, use the .deb for the relevant version, for other versions of Linux the source code is available if you wish to compile from source.
Logging in to Jellyfin
To log in to Jellyfin for the web, you will just need to enter your username and password. To login to the app on a mobile device, you will be prompted for the server address. The server address is 'jellyfin.plumb.cloud', you will then be prompted for your credentials. To login on a TV device you can login in the same way as the mobile device with the 'use password' option, which will prompt you for the server address followed by your credentials, or you will be prompted to login with a Quick Connect code. The code will be displayed on your device. To use the code, from within any Jellyfin app (web, mobile or PC) press the profile icon in the top right, then choose 'Quick Connect' then enter the code on your device. You will then be signed in automatically.
Please note, unlike Plex your credentials are specific to the server, rather than one account having access to all your servers, so if you already use Jellyfin on a different server, you will still need new credentials to login to my server. Jellyfin and Plex are completely separate programs, so your Plex credentials will not allow you to login to Jellyfin, do not attempt to login to Jellyfin with your Plex credentials.
If you do not have credentials to login to Jellyfin, contact FIL, who can provide these to you. My Jellyfin server is free and will always remain free.
FAQ
Is Jellyfin safe?
Jellyfin is safe to install. I suggest only using their official apps when possible, and especially avoiding any apps which are closed-source. Since Jellyfin is open-source, if any malware or similar content were added to it, the entire community of developers (and any member of the general public who wished to check) would be able to find it.
Is Jellyfin private?
Any connections to my Jellyfin server are end-to-end encrypted, meaning nobody, not your ISP, not the government, and not somebody else on your network, can view what you are watching. FIL can see what your account views on the server as the server admin, however he doesn't really care what you're watching.
What if something doesn't work?
Please tell FIL immediately, if something is broken this must be reported as it could indicate a bigger problem.
Can I use Jellyfin without an internet connection?
Jellyfin supports offline file downloads and media syncing, so you can download your media or sync it to the app in advance and then watch it in the app or on your own media player without an active internet connection. If you have not downloaded or synced a show and find you have a weak internet connection the server will attempt to transcode the file into a format which it can play on a weak connection, however this could potentially lead to buffering or poor media quality.