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Plex app is now free for Roku, includes redesign, new features

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Image used with permission by copyright holder
Shifting from preview mode for Plex Pass users to public mode for all users, Plex has made the new Roku application free for all users. It was previously priced at $5, similar to the old version of the iOS Plex Pass app. Detailed on the official Plex blog, the company is also making the Xbox 360 app free to download for any Plex user. Previously, you needed the premium Plex Pass subscription to access Plex from the Xbox 360 gaming console.

Similar to the recently redesigned iOS app, the new Plex app for Roku offers a significant upgrade in visual design as well as additional features. Users can access movies, television shows, music and photos within the interface as well as installed channels like Apple movie trailers. This interface is more user friendly than previous versions, ideal for visiting guests that want to browse through your movie, music or photo collection.

plex-roku
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Within the interface, users can use new filters to find specific genres of media. In addition, video streaming settings can be adjusted within the menu, basically allowing the user to scale up to higher quality 1080p streams assuming the local Wi-Fi network can handle it. In addition, mobile streaming settings can be adjusted through the new interface, ideal for Plex Pass users that want to limit streams to sizes that won’t gobble up data on limited LTE plans.

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If you already have the Plex app installed on your Roku device, it’s easy to force the update. While Roku devices will update automatically within the next 24 to 48 hours, force the update by visiting “Settings > System > System Update” within the main Roku settings user interface. Select the “Check Now” option to force the update and download the upgraded Plex app to your Roku device. If you don’t have the Plex app installed on your Roku device yet, visit the Plex page on the Roku Channel Store to install the software.

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Mike Flacy
Mike Flacy
Contributing Editor
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
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