Plex Endpoint Support / Plexamp Headless

[nadanre]

I just had a little conversation with the Plex-Support, asking about the state of plex endpoint integration. As of their last roadmap Plex Endpoint/Plexamp Headless support is listed under "actively working on".
According to the support they are still evaluating it and are in fact not actively working on it. I really would like to see headless plexamp on the wiim ultra, because the current implementation is really flawed.
For example: Under artist pages there are only albums shown, no eps or live-albums or compilations.
Also preset-playlists only contain the first 500 tracks...
From my understanding it should be easier to implement a true plex endpoint, than trying to implement all the functions "manually" and bit by bit within the wiim home app.
I guess there are a few others that would like to see this feature, since also chromecast with plexamp is really in dire need of an update, since it doesnt even show track, or artist names not even talking about album art. But from my understanding that is something the Plex/Plexamp team would need to fix/implement.

All that aside, I am still really happy with the plex support so far, and all the improvements that have been made so far.
All the best to all of you,
Navid

 

[Paulf2020]

I sold my WiiM, going to buy it again if they implement plexamp properly.

 

[mpr]

So I finally got tired of a better integration (getting cool plexamp features in a wiim multi room setup) and just set something up that might suit my needs.

I already have a dedicated media PC that hosts all my music. I got a pro, plugged it into the PC usb->optical and use that as my dedicated device for controlling what I play (unrelated, it now also drives the headphone amp I have at my desk, which is a nice bonus). I just use whatever device (phone / tablet) to remotely control plexamp on the PC

The pro built into every group as the lead device. I only go into the wiim app to select a group / throw some speakers together and then stay in plexamp. The volume control there controls the signal out to the pro which flows to all other speakers.

I also took superfluous wiim remote, connected it to my PC through Bluetooth and, as long as it's not locked, the remote can play / pause, switch tracks and control the volume.

I've only been able to play with it for a few hours since setup, but all results are positive so far

 

[nadanre]

Reached out to support again. They are still considering a native plex integration, while working on remote playback support for plex. I really don’t understand, why they wouldn’t just integrate plexamp natively and instead try to develop every single feature that would be included therein themselves… but I am no dev, so… beats me

 

[ihearurdog]

I wish they would clean up their language there. I could read that response as either of “plex library access within the WiiM app” or “making the Wiim be a Plexamp endpoint” being what they are actively working on. I’m pretty sure that I know the answer, but careful wording can go a long way to avoiding confusion.

 

[azoriusmage]

I wish they would clean up their language there. I could read that response as either of “plex library access within the WiiM app” or “making the Wiim be a Plexamp endpoint” being what they are actively working on. I’m pretty sure that I know the answer, but careful wording can go a long way to avoiding confusion.

Been working on that for a long long time

 

[azoriusmage]

Reached out to support again. They are still considering a native plex integration, while working on remote playback support for plex. I really don’t understand, why they wouldn’t just integrate plexamp natively and instead try to develop every single feature that would be included therein themselves… but I am no dev, so… beats me

There is not one implementation where the WiiM app can match the official app.

 

[Burnside]

There is not one implementation where the WiiM app can match the official app.

Isn’t that however down to the fact that APIs made available to third parties like WiiM are seldom if ever as comprehensive as the official app?

 

[erictheperic]

What exactly do they mean with "Plex remote playback functionality"?

It's good that the answer is slightly positive, not all hope is lost, but I'm keeping an close eye on the Eversolo Play as well.

 

[azoriusmage]

Isn’t that however down to the fact that APIs made available to third parties like WiiM are seldom if ever as comprehensive as the official app?

Yes so they should focus on making it an endpoint as it will always be superior. See Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Qobuz Connect.

 

[ihearurdog]

Yes so they should focus on making it an endpoint as it will always be superior. See Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Qobuz Connect.

I’m pretty sure that the only reason the Connect type features are not the default/only integration with services is because Sonos didn’t have any of that for years and some people got used to going through the hardware app to find music. That was done that way primarily because those services didn’t exist when Sonos started though. I guess maybe they wanted some degree of control over the interface, but that seems odd now, given how poorly Sonos and Wiim and etc hold up against the native services’ apps.
I never bought a Sonos product precisely because I did NOT want to have to use their app to find and play music.

 

[d6jg]

I’m pretty sure that the only reason the Connect type features are not the default/only integration with services is because Sonos didn’t have any of that for years and some people got used to going through the hardware app to find music. That was done that way primarily because those services didn’t exist when Sonos started though. I guess maybe they wanted some degree of control over the interface, but that seems odd now, given how poorly Sonos and Wiim and etc hold up against the native services’ apps.
I never bought a Sonos product precisely because I did NOT want to have to use their app to find and play music.

You are forgetting the multitude of Network capable Amplifiers and Receivers that have had built in Spotify, Qobuz, Tidal etc over the years. None of these were originally Connect type integrations

 

[andygradel]

Just replying to the thread so the Wiim team knows we're still interested in headless plexamp and really, really, really hoping it's still on the roadmap somewhere.

If I could use a wiim for headless plexamp - without plugging a raspberry pi into it - if pick up 2 or 3 more in a heartbeat.

 

[Burnside]

Just replying to the thread so the Wiim team knows we're still interested in headless plexamp and really, really, really hoping it's still on the roadmap somewhere.

If I could use a wiim for headless plexamp - without plugging a raspberry pi into it - if pick up 2 or 3 more in a heartbeat.

It’s still on the roadmap under being worked on: https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support/solutions/articles/72000635113-wiim-ultra-roadmap

 

[azoriusmage]

I

t’s still on the roadmap under being worked on: https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support/solutions/articles/72000635113-wiim-ultra-roadmap

For over a year

 

[andygradel]

It’s still on the roadmap under being worked on: https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support/solutions/articles/72000635113-wiim-ultra-roadmap

Thanks for the link. Completely forgot where those roadmaps lived on the site.

I think the gray area here is that the roadmaps keep referencing "Plex Media Server Integration" and "Native Plex Integration," but there's no mention of Plexamp anywhere. That's a key distinction and, in all honesty, where any Plex-related effort should be focused.

Listening to music via the standard Plex interface is ok, but Plexamp operates at a whole 'nother level. Right now, I'm listening to a rock playlist while using the DJ to insert sonic adventures between each song. Beyond the seamless segues, the way it surfaces lesser-played tracks is perfection.

Great example from my current queue:
J Geils Band "Must Have Got Lost"
Rolling Stones "Wild Horses (Acoustic)" (DJ Stretch)
Mumford & Sons "White Blank Page" (DJ Stretch)
Bruce Springsteen "Long Time Comin'" (DJ Stretch)
Grateful Dead "Ripple"
Jimmy Buffett "The Captain and the Kid" (DJ Stretch)
Def Leppard "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" (DJ Stretch)
Beastie Boys "Fight For Your Right" (DJ Stretch)
Billy Idol "Rebel Yell"

That's how you go from J Geils -> Grateful Dead -> Billy Idol! Can't wait to see how it works its way from Metallica's "The God That Failed" to SRV's "Couldn't Stand The Weather" further down the list.

 

[ihearurdog]

Thanks for the link. Completely forgot where those roadmaps lived on the site.

I think the gray area here is that the roadmaps keep referencing "Plex Media Server Integration" and "Native Plex Integration," but there's no mention of Plexamp anywhere. That's a key distinction and, in all honesty, where any Plex-related effort should be focused.

Listening to music via the standard Plex interface is ok, but Plexamp operates at a whole 'nother level. Right now, I'm listening to a rock playlist while using the DJ to insert sonic adventures between each song. Beyond the seamless segues, the way it surfaces lesser-played tracks is perfection.

Great example from my current queue:
J Geils Band "Must Have Got Lost"
Rolling Stones "Wild Horses (Acoustic)" (DJ Stretch)
Mumford & Sons "White Blank Page" (DJ Stretch)
Bruce Springsteen "Long Time Comin'" (DJ Stretch)
Grateful Dead "Ripple"
Jimmy Buffett "The Captain and the Kid" (DJ Stretch)
Def Leppard "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" (DJ Stretch)
Beastie Boys "Fight For Your Right" (DJ Stretch)
Billy Idol "Rebel Yell"

That's how you go from J Geils -> Grateful Dead -> Billy Idol! Can't wait to see how it works its way from Metallica's "The God That Failed" to SRV's "Couldn't Stand The Weather" further down the list.

While it doesn’t change what the Wiim team is actually building, it’s worth pointing out that “vanilla Plex” works just fine as a Plexamp endpoint. So if you’re controlling music from Plexamp on your phone but “casting” it to Plex on Windows or Mac, you get all the same benefits that you mention. It’s that endpoint functionality that I’m hoping Wiim is working on.