Plex/Nine Adds Hardware Acceleration, Better Metadata Handling, and iOS Streaming App

Mac only: Plex, the XBMC-based media center app for Macs with gorgeous looks, has updated in a big way, though with few new features. That's because Plex is rebuilding itself and making room for new uses, like its iOS streaming app.

That's not to say that there isn't some good stuff in Plex/Nine. For starters, the GPU-based hardware acceleration that Plex enthusiasts have been side-loading through add-ons is now officially in place, so your Mac's CPU can breathe a little easier. There's also been a total rewrite of how Plex handles your media library and imports metadata from internet sources, so cataloging of movies, TV, and music should go a bit smoother.

Newest of all, though, is the Plex iOS app, which streams media from your Mac Plex setup directly to your portable Apple device. It looks really slick and handy, and deserving of far more visual and in-depth coverage—which we aim to provide here very soon.

Plex/Nine is a free download for Mac systems only. The iOS app is $4.99 and available through the App Store.