8 PROGRAMS WE REGRET INSTALLING
From subscription traps to upgrade nags, software has a habit of letting us down. Four Computeractive writers reveal the programs they wish they’d never installed – and what they now use instead
NICK PEERS
1
Plex
Until recently, I used Plex (www.plex.tv) to run my home entertainment server, but despite paying for a lifetime Plex Pass (£190 from www.snipca.com/55685) I’ve grown uneasy at the limits the company places on free users, as well as its increasing focus on promoting its streaming channels over my own libraries. Blocking remote streaming for free users was the final straw.
And what I use instead
Jellyfin (https://jellyfin.org) is a completely free alternative that offers everything you want from a home media server. Its features, including support for live TV and DVRs, are almost on a par with Plex’s, and everything is unlimited, including apps for streaming on any device.
Using it requires a little extra learning, particularly when setting up remote access. But once you’ve done that, it’s easy to use, with great options for subtitles (see screenshot below left). Having run it side by side with Plex, I have no hesitation in recommending it for new users.
Jellyfin is an excellent alternative to the Plex media server, with lots of options for subtitles