iPhone Can you recommend a client/server video player to stream from my Mac?

[smirk]

Hi, I've used StreamToMe for years to watch videos stored on my Mac on my iPhone, but it's long been abandoned and recently stopped working. I'm looking for a replacement.

What was great about StreamToMe is it had a server component that could transcode videos if they couldn't normally be played on the phone or if the bitrate was too high for weak wifi to handle. It also gave the option of password protecting the share. You could also zoom in while playing, which sadly is now welcome for my aging eyes. Plus, it could play lots of music formats and could display image files.

Do you guys know any other apps like this? Hopefully with a server component so SMB shares don't need to be enabled.

Thanks!

 

[Slartibart]

You can do this using Plex (on the Mac) and VLC (on the iPhone).

Well basically you can do this with VLC on both devices: create the stream with VLC on the Mac, connect to it with VLC on your iPhone. But the Plex-solution offers more comfort.

 

[smirk]

You can do this using Plex (on the Mac) and VLC (on the iPhone).

You're right... and we already use Plex with our TV. For various reasons involving kids and movies not appropriate for them, I was hoping to use something other than Plex on my phone. Plex uses a four digit PIN and it's a pain to constantly hide my fingers or tell them to look away when entering the PIN with them in the room.

Thanks!

 

[Slartibart]

You're right... and we already use Plex with our TV. For various reasons involving kids and movies not appropriate for them, I was hoping to use something other than Plex on my phone. Plex uses a four digit PIN and it's a pain to constantly hide my fingers or tell them to look away when entering the PIN with them in the room.

Thanks!

what about creating a second plex instance just for the kids where make just the movies you deem appropriate available?

 

[smirk]

what about creating a second plex instance just for the kids where make just the movies you deem appropriate available?

I'm not sure if this is what you meant by "instance", but I created a second Plex server instance under a new account, and now the kids only see their stuff. I wasn't sure before how a Plex client figures out what it can connect to; I had thought it was like DLNA where it just detects the server and connects, but it looks like the Plex server attaches to a Plex user ID, and Plex clients also attach to a user ID. The clients will only show the existence of servers logged into the same ID. So for me, the key was two servers using two different IDs. Maybe you had a different solution in mind, though.

Anyway, thanks!

 

[One2Grift]

I have a plex server. Pretty sure you can make specific libraries then allow specific users access only to those libraries.
it’s a bit of a PITA especially if you have over a thousand movies (I do ?). On the server itself Create the new folder in the plex directory. Then copy all kid friendly movies in there. On the Plex web admin add the new folder as a library. The kids account points only to the new folder.

edit — did a quick check of the plex forum.
You can use a built in kid friendly profile. Read this:

Parental Controls

There are two main ways that parents can control the content their managed user are able to watch: Restriction Profiles...

support.plex.tv

“There are several preset profiles available:

• Younger Kid: allows TV-Y, G, TV-G, and other equivalent ratings
• Older Kid: allows all the ratings from the lower profile as well as TV-PG, PG, and other equivalent ratings
• Teen: allows all the ratings from the lower profiles as well as TV-13, PG-13, and equivalent ratings
• None: Can see all content ratings.

 

[smirk]

@One2Grift, thank you for the advice! You're right, and I already have their stuff set up that way, and it does work really well. The problem I was trying to work around is when I log in to perhaps watch something with the older child that we don't want him always having access to, I have to enter a four digit PIN to log in. The kids are always trying to figure out what my PIN is, and it's a hassle to constantly ask them to turn around or to try to hide my fingers as I key it in. I suppose I could create a separate user profile for the older kid content, so if he discovered the PIN then the worst that would happen is some PG-13 movies would become available.

Thanks!

 

[One2Grift]

@One2Grift, thank you for the advice! You're right, and I already have their stuff set up that way, and it does work really well. The problem I was trying to work around is when I log in to perhaps watch something with the older child that we don't want him always having access to, I have to enter a four digit PIN to log in. The kids are always trying to figure out what my PIN is, and it's a hassle to constantly ask them to turn around or to try to hide my fingers as I key it in. I suppose I could create a separate user profile for the older kid content, so if he discovered the PIN then the worst that would happen is some PG-13 movies would become available.

Thanks!

Smirk, you have hit upon one of my irks too, I have an outdoor projector “theater” setup. I use Plex as my movie watching catch all. Friends and neighbors are sitting there and I have to enter my pin in front of them (it’s the plex app version where you have to move the cursor to each number). My pin isn’t exactly a super secret but I still don’t prefer to announce it.

so unfortunately not sure what you can do except a plex feature request. They may fill it in a maintenance release.
I’ll also check how it works with my new ATV 4K. If the plex app is different or there is remote entry auth.