Plex is great, but the otherwise epic streaming service has one major shortcoming – its reliance on a physical media server like an always-on PC or NAS drive. With the introduction of Plex Cloud, that’s no longer the case.
In partnership with Amazon, Plex has just seriously upgraded its home theatre PC (HTPC) offering, introducing Plex Cloud, which negates the need for users to deploy hardware in order to stream to their heart’s content.
How? Plex Cloud piggybacks on Amazon Cloud to offer pre-built storage for Plex users and their files, integrating into the Plex app so you can enjoy access to your content from pretty much any device, wherever you are.
There are a few caveats, of course. Plex Cloud is currently available in beta to Plex Pass holders – that’s Plex’s premium subscription offering – and is rolling out on an invite-only basis. You can register your interest in Plex Cloud here.
In addition, Plex Cloud only supports Amazon Cloud at launch, so if you’d prefer to access your media via OneDrive or Google Drive, sorry – you’re out of luck for the time being.
A few Plex Pass features aren’t currently supported either, namely Camera Upload and Offline Sync, but Plex promises it’s “working hard” to port these to Plex Cloud.
Still, eliminating the need for physical storage breaks down a major barrier for the once-niche Plex and should entice plenty more streamers towards the service.
Related: How to build a full-fat 4K Plex streaming system on the cheap
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Like the sound of Plex Cloud, or prefer having a physical media server? Let us know in the comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
