For the TV layout lovers out there, we want to be clear about this: the long-term plan is for the new desktop app to replace Plex Media Player as our only desktop solution. The desktop “side” of the (admittedly Janus-esque) Plex Media Player will live on in the form of the new desktop app. That will mean an end to supporting HTPC setups and the Plex Media Player TV mode. The long-term plan is to make the desktop app the only option for Mac and PC.

For the time being, the Plex Media Player will continue on alongside the new desktop app but will stop seeing updates next year. The company also noted that its mobile apps will head in the same direction in the future. It’s also built on a much simpler and more reliable mechanism, so downloads start quickly, and give clearer feedback along the way. We used to call it “Sync”, but now it’s just “Downloads” - a friendlier term that means it’s just a single click to take your favorite media with you, and you can find it all in one predictable place. We have a brand new desktop app that we’re excited to show off! It has all the glorious player capability of Plex Media Player, plus an exciting new offline capability. Plex shared the news about its desktop app update in a blog post today:

The company has also announced that it will end updates for the Plex Media Player in January 2020 which will eventually bring an end to HTPC support for PC-connected TVs. The new version includes the option to download your content for offline viewing, along with other features that are found in the Plex Media Player. Plex has made its latest desktop app available today for macOS and Windows.

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