It was a bit of a shitstorm even in the English world. Plex definitely could’ve written the requirements more clearly.

I’m glad a full open-source stack works for you; I wish I could. There’s a few of my Plex users who just couldn’t make the jump to something like Jellyfin (and I’m unwilling to be their tech support), and honestly for me PlexAmp is so good as to make the problems of Plex overall be worth it.

Take care, friend.

Based on your comments, it sounds like maybe English isn’t your first language (no shade; your English is miles better than my any-other-language). But that, coupled with a Plex announcement that could’ve been written more clearly, it almost most certainly was a misunderstanding.

To be clear, when Plex removed their fully-free model, the only thing required was at least one paid subscription in the chain. Your lifetime paid server qualified, and no one else would’ve needed to pay. They haven’t reverted to this, this was how it was when they removed the fully-free model. I agree, Plex does carry some responsibility in making sure it was crystal clear. I wonder if they would’ve refunded your users that paid unnecessarily if you’d asked?

That Plex has continued to enshittify is without question. I just don’t think their paid model is the most egregious example of it.

Must be a misunderstanding. Paid server; users do not need a subscription.

I love the idea of Jellyfin, but since I host for my extended family, and it has to be wife approved (re: easy) plex is the answer. If you already have a plex pass it’s annoying brainer. If you don’t, weigh the pros and cons because there are cons.

Spool up an instance of Plex, and install PlexAmp. Put a handful of your favorite albums on it, see if you like the features and the interface.

There definitely can be profiles. You can either create fully new users (with their own logins, etc) or home users. Assign them restrictions as necessary. Of course this is all done in the plex web app, but user switching is done easily in PlexAmp.

I know the self hosted communities are very pro open source, with which I largely agree, but PlexAmp is such a good player it makes sense to at least try it.

Delisted from Google ≠ ruined internet

Ignoring the fact that iOS is an option, I bet you’re mostly mistaken and there is a web based or non app option for everything, even if it’s not obvious.

If you’re waiting for government to save us, you’re going to be waiting a long time.

What is the bank?

Well boys, pack it in. Our Google overlords give us no choice. All hail Google.

You’re missing the forrest for the trees. Almost nothing relies entirely on Google without an alternative.

And even if you have a use case where you do literally rely on a Google service, you can still make steps to cut out all other Google services.

Refusal to at least try is, of course, your prerogative. But it’s tacit approval of their actions.

I’ve actually never seen a bank that an app is the ONLY option. And two factor codes should be able to be generated by any number of (sometimes FOSS) apps.

You’re forced to use that bank?

I don’t understand why you’d have to do that? I have literally zero Google interaction and I don’t have to custom build something. And I access my banks (plural) in browser only.

They probably would have to find accommodation for you, although I’m sure it’d be very inconvenient. But still technically there.

As to if you refuse to have your child be issued a Chromebook and Google account, probably not much you can do, as they are providing everything.

My personal answer to this question is the same as if it were an employer issued mandatory Chromebook; me the employee (or my child the student) is a different entity than me the individual. Me the individual refuses to have anything to do with Google, and that’s enough of a fight for me.

Don’t use those banks then.

Cut Google serves out of your life. That is the answer.

Mine too, so I do agree with you the issue is larger.

But I believe it can start with individual boycotts.

There seems to be a lot of “we’ve tried nothing and we’re all out of ideas” energy in this thread.