https://www.pistack.xyz/tags/media/Recent content in Media on Pi StackHugoen-usSun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/yamtrack-vs-mediatracker-vs-movary-self-hosted-media-tracker-guide-2026/Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/yamtrack-vs-mediatracker-vs-movary-self-hosted-media-tracker-guide-2026/<p>If you track what you watch, read, or play online, chances are you rely on a centralized service like Letterboxd, Trakt, or Goodreads. These platforms are convenient — but they also hold your entire consumption history, viewing habits, and personal ratings on servers you don&rsquo;t control. Accounts get banned, APIs get rate-limited, and services shut down without warning.</p>https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/tdarr-vs-unmanic-vs-handbrake-self-hosted-video-transcoding-guide-2026/Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/tdarr-vs-unmanic-vs-handbrake-self-hosted-video-transcoding-guide-2026/<p>Video files are among the largest consumers of storage in any self-hosted media setup. Whether you are running <a href="https://jellyfin.org/">jellyfin</a>, Plex, Emby, or simply archiving content, unoptimized video libraries waste disk space and strain playback devices. The solution is automated transcoding — batch-converting your media to efficient formats like H.265/HEVC or AV1 without manual intervention.</p>https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/self-hosted-podcast-hosting-platforms-guide-2026/Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/self-hosted-podcast-hosting-platforms-guide-2026/<p>Podcasting is booming, but relying on third-party hosting platforms means surrendering control over your content, analytics, and distribution. Whether you&rsquo;re an independent creator tired of upload limits, a network protecting proprietary content, or a privacy-conscious hobbyist, self-hosting your podcast gives you full ownership of every episode, subscriber metric, and RSS feed.</p>https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/jellyfin-vs-plex-vs-emby/Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/jellyfin-vs-plex-vs-emby/<h2 id="the-media-server-trifecta">The Media Server Trifecta</h2> <p>When it comes to organizing and streaming your personal media collection, three options dominate the landscape. Each has distinct strengths and trade-offs.</p> <h2 id="quick-comparison-matrix">Quick Comparison Matrix</h2> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>Feature</th> <th><a href="https://jellyfin.org/">jellyfin</a></th> <th>Plex</th> <th>Emby</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Cost</strong></td> <td>100% Free</td> <td>Free / $119 Lifetime / $54/yr</td> <td>Free / $54/yr / $119 Lifetime</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Open Source</strong></td> <td>✅ Fully</td> <td>❌ Closed Core</td> <td>⚠️ Partially</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Hardware Transcoding</strong></td> <td>✅ All GPUs</td> <td>✅ Most GPUs</td> <td>✅ Most GPUs</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Live TV / DVR</strong></td> <td>✅ Yes</td> <td>✅ Yes</td> <td>✅ Yes</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Sync to Mobile</strong></td> <td>✅ Free</td> <td>❌ Premium only</td> <td>❌ Premium only</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Client Apps</strong></td> <td>Good</td> <td>Excellent</td> <td>Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Metadata</strong></td> <td>TMDB/OMDb</td> <td>Plex Metadata</td> <td>TMDB/OMDb</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Remote Access</strong></td> <td>Manual setup</td> <td>Plex Relay (Easy)</td> <td>Emby Connect</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Multi-user Support</strong></td> <td>✅ Yes</td> <td>✅ Yes</td> <td>✅ Yes</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Parental Controls</strong></td> <td>✅ Yes</td> <td>✅ Yes</td> <td>✅ Yes</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <hr> <h2 id="1-jellyfin-the-open-source-champion">1. Jellyfin (The Open Source Champion)</h2> <p><strong>Best for</strong>: Privacy advocates, free access to all features</p>