In both cases, the Chromecast or Apple TV takes over the stream, connects to the original content and starts playing it. To use these devices with a media server you need a compatible app to access the content, which you then Cast to Chromecast or AirPlay to Apple TV. However, transcoding is extremely important when using Chromecast or Apple TV as both devices have extremely limited video format support. Both types of devices are fast enough to play Full HD videos and it's easy enough to get apps that will play practically any video format. This isn't that useful when considering just mobiles and tablets. The combination of the Plex server and client means that any file can play on any device without first having to re-encode them manually. If the video that you're requesting isn't a supported format the Plex server can take the file and re-encode it live into a format that the client understands. When the client connects to the server it can describe which video formats it can play. However, it's the client that makes it act differently. Plex works and acts like any DLNA server you may already have, such as the one built into your NAS. The server is completely free and is also DLNA compliant, which means that any DLNA device (TV, smartphone, games console, etc) can connect to it and start streaming content. Plex is actually a combination of two things: a server where all of your media sits and a client, which you use to access your data.

Plex Transcoding and how it differs from a DLNA media server In this article we'll show you how to set up Plex on your home network and start streaming over your home network using your PC, Mac, tablet, smartphone, Chromecast, Apple TV and even Smart TV. Of course, it supports music and photos, too. Using this software you can play any video on your Chromecast or Apple TV, for example. Unlike traditional DLNA media servers, Plex has built-in transcoding, which means that it converts videos on the fly to play on any device running the Plex Media Client. If it doesn't, you'll need to convert the video into a different format, which can be time consuming, or use the Plex media server. One of the big problems about streaming videos over your home network is making sure that the receiving device has support for the format.

Apple tv plex app