Media Solutions
Media integrated solutions gives you the ability to access your videos, music, and photos wherever and whenever you need them. Media integration is an excellent expansion to the smart home and a good way to expand the scope of your smart home capabilities, without breaking the bank. There are free solutions out there to get you started. Having the ability to access your photos and other media on any TV in the house or even away from your home, allows you to take your smart home to the next level and you will be surprised how simple this can be.
Media Solutions
Plex
Plex is a free media server which allows you to have all your media in one place and accessable at all times. The software runs in the background of the computer where you have your media stored. The server interface is then accessed like a website through a browser. You can add different media types for items like movies, home videos, vacation photos, and music. almost any media items can be grouped however you want them to be. Giving the ultimate in flexibility for all your media. Within Plex, grouped media is known as a library and sources are added to this libraries to provide content. Once the sources are added Plex will scan these source regularly for new media to add to the library. Plex has apps for Android and iOS as well as specialised apps for smart TVs and streaming devices such as Roku devices and Amazon Fire sticks. The mobile apps allow media to be accessed outside of your smart home so you can have all your media with you wherever you go.
Once you have created an account, you can download the media server software package using the link below.
Spotify
Spotify is our recommendation when it comes to music streaming providers. It has a vast array of genres and it is rare to ask Alexa to play a track or music by an artist that isn't available on spotify. Spotify is by no means the only provider out there though. If you have Amazon Prime then you may already have access to Amazon Prime Music which works perfectly with Alexa. Although occasionally, some services have been found to be lacking when it comes to some more obscure artists and tracks.
Spotify is a paid for service and an account is required if you wish to use it with Alexa. If you are an Audiophile, you may also want to consider Amazon Music HD especially if you are interested in the Amazon Echo Studio devices. The Alexa app allows you to group devices together so that you can play music from different echo devices at the same time.
To learn more about Spotify and what it has to offer click the link below.
Streaming Services
There are many media streaming services out there today. From Netflix to Disney+, there is something for everyone. These services are paid for either on a monthly or annual basis but the media content that is available is vast.
To find out more about each of these services click the link below.