jellyfin.org
Digital media continues to dominate the world, and while television and movies still play a big role in our lives, streaming entertainment has become an important part of our lives. I love that I can watch my favorite shows any time I want, wherever I am.
If it isn't abundantly clear by the fact that I spend all day, every day reviewing streaming sites, I think that the inundation of digital media in our lives is wonderful. Technology just keeps becoming more and more intertwined with what it means to be human. Thanks to the internet, nearly infinite knowledge is always at our fingertips. And we can be entertained at all times. Boredom is something that is close to going extinct in the 21st century. Sure, there are plenty of critics out there who like to downplay and hate on the increasing influence that technology has over our lives, but there is no stopping at it this point - so, I say make the most of it! Enjoy all of the conveniences that technology has afforded us.
Fortunately, media center software can help us to manage all the digital media content we juggle across several platforms easily. It's basically a centralized hub where you can access all of your favorite apps and sources. So, goodbye to constantly having to switch between different apps on your Roku or other devices!
Media centers and software suites are like mini operating systems that make accessing all of your entertainment apps easier than ever before. If it contains media files, a media center organizes and archives them for you to find in just a click or two. It is a life simplifier, whether you stream content on your laptop, desktop computer, smart TV, Firestick, Roku, tablet, or phone.
When I first started using my media center of choice, it was a life changer. I never had to think about what show or movie was on what service anymore because the media center would take care of everything for me. I could just relax and enjoy my content without having to worry about anything. This was a huge relief and finally allowed me to fully focus on the show.
A good media center program also lets my music and photos all exist side by side, as well as linking your music streaming services like Spotify or Tidal. When you're done listening to your jam, you can hop over to the new Hollywood blockbuster you've been meaning to see without having to open additional programs or jump around between apps.
There are many media centers to choose from. Which one should you use, Emby or Jelly Fin? Let's take a look at what Jelly Fin has to offer. You can decide for yourself!
History
Jelly Fin is a fork of Emby. This fork was made possible due to Emby's free and open-source nature. Part of Emby's mission was to make it possible (and easier) for coders and amateur developers to create their own customizations of Emby. By offering Emby's code for free and encouraging users to experiment with it, plenty of forks were created. The most popular of those ?forks? as they are called, by far, was Jelly Fin. Jelly Fin officially went live in early 2019, and it has grown exponentially since then.
Emby announced that they were changing their name to ?Emby? and explained why on their blog. They wanted a name that was catchy and unique, without being descriptive. They were not looking for a name that described the project, because that would be difficult to do and people would likely have different interpretations. Short, catchy, and unique were the requirements they were looking for.
It was this growth that Emby strived for that enabled forks like Jelly Fin to rise up and become something different altogether - though still in the free and open-source nature for which Emby laid down the foundation. Free and open information will always be at the crux of both Emby and Jelly Fin's missions.
Design
This is probably where Jelly Fin differs the most from its parent software, Emby. Jelly Fin features an extremely minimalistic design with a simple hierarchical organizational structure. The library, for instance, depicts all of your media organized by type with offshoots of Keep Watching and Latest underneath. In tiny lettering, at the very top left-hand corner of the page, you'll find the understated Jelly Fin logo and a hamburger menu which will give you access to the rest of your media in just a click or two.
The Jelly Fin design is very simple. It makes for an intuitive and user-friendly experience, whether using Jelly Fin on your laptop, smartphone, Roku, tablet, or smart TV. Everything is streamlined and extremely easy to find. Jelly Fin takes the simplification promised by media centers at large and pushes it to the extreme, resulting in a design that everyone can master in a matter of seconds.
Content
If you are looking for a specific movie, song, album, or show to watch, Jelly Fin is an excellent resource as it has access to a vast variety of content. However, note that you will not be able to stream content from Jelly Fin - this is something to keep in mind.
You can also stream and DVR live television on Jelly Fin - so long as you have access to digital cable. You'll be able to record, watch, and store every episode of all your favorite shows. Never miss an episode again. Plus, keep track of what shows you want to plan to watch by making use of Jelly Fin's live airing calendar. Again, Jelly Fin makes life simpler.
Mobile and Desktop Experience
Earlier I mentioned that Jelly Fin offers a great experience no matter what device you're using it on. In fact, their mobile app is almost unanimously loved on the Apple App Store. People seem to really respond well to Jelly Fin's minimalist and intuitive design, which translates perfectly onto any device.
We have a variety of pricing and plan options available to suit your needs.
Jelly Fin is free to download and use. There are no limitations or ads, so download and enjoy your content.
Suggestions that I have for Jelly Fin
I'm not sure if users are currently able to link their streaming accounts to Jelly Fin. So, anything that you view on this media center has to be something that you have purchased or downloaded beforehand. This means that you have to have already downloaded and/or paid for it in order to access it on Jelly Fin. In the future, of course, I would love to see Jelly Fin make it possible, as other media centers have, to watch Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon content right from their near-perfect interface.
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