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.

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