It involves a fairly simple installation process that is mostly automated, and you can install it on a PC or a NAS (Network Attached Storage) effortlessly. Plex is undeniably one of the best media server software you can get. As a result, we saw DLNA, founded by Sony back in 2003, getting dissolved and suspending its services in 2017. However, with the dawn of media server software that introduced better visual interface and offered more control over media, and the rise of streaming services, which made the idea of downloading content on physical drives kind of obsolete, DLNA (and a few other standards) began noticing a drop in their adoption.

Similarly, another people’s favorite standard DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), which is more of a jumble of technology jargon, also saw sharp adoption rates in the initial days of the internet boom. And, while it managed to get off to a fairly good start, things didn’t quite bode well from there on as the standard failed to set itself as a mandated brand for devices, which permitted manufacturers to use their own branding on the standard for Miracast implementations for their devices. For the uninitiated, Miracast started rolling out with Android 4.2+ and Windows 8.1. Although these services suffice the entertainment needs of most individuals, some people still prefer having their personal media server - especially those who have created an extensive library of music files, video files, and all other sorts of entertainment content.Ī media server can be anything from a dedicated computer or application software to as basic as a home PC or a NAS (Network Attached Storage) that gives you the ability to store all your media (music, videos, images, files, etc.) in one central location and access it using a client from anywhere over the internet.īack in the day, such needs were met thanks to the popular and free standards like Miracast UPnP, DLNA, and SAMBA, with Miracast and DLNA coming out on top as the most popular ones of the lot.

When you think of media streaming, be it music, TV shows, or movies, there’s a slew of applications to pick ranging from Spotify, Amazon Music, or SoundCloud, for music, and Disney+, Hotstar, Prime Videos, YouTube, or Netflix, for TV shows and movies.

Media server apple tv