Downloading multimedia content from the web remains easy thanks to a huge number of stable, polished, and free programs. But heavy consumers always look for ways to centralize and manage all their material on a server. OpenFLIXR is a new platform that combines multiple tools in a single environment, helping manage movies, series, audio, and even comics.
Many users found an effective solution to their content search in services like Netflix. All they have to do is browse the catalog and choose, but geo-restrictions and exclusive agreements are two very negative aspects that still need to be resolved. Of course, users don't sit idle, and quickly explore alternatives, even if it means wearing "an eye patch". One of the most striking examples out there is Popcorn Time, with its endless variants and derived technologies. And there are also users who prefer to save everything locally, install a server, and send that content to their devices. On more than one occasion you've heard me talk about "a BitTorrent box", sharing the download folder over the local network, but those who want a much more complete solution and know a thing or two about configuring servers might want to look at OpenFLIXR.
An all-in-one multimedia server
The official site presents OpenFLIXR as an "all-in-one multimedia server", and that's due to its effective combination of tools. CouchPotato takes care of downloading movies in the best available quality, the SickRage and Sonarr combo does something similar for TV shows, Headphones is an equivalent to CouchPotato for audio, and finally we have Mylar in charge of comics. The general resources for downloads are SABnzbd, NZBget, and qBittorrent; Plex is the "muscle" when it comes to organizing content and sending it to all our devices (including smartphones and tablets), and HTPC Manager provides a clean interface that makes coordinating these elements very easy.
Beta status and requirements
OpenFLIXR is in public beta, and anyone wanting to evaluate its performance should know that no secondary hardware is needed, since its main image has been prepared for running under VMWare, whether Fusion, Workstation, or Player. The site warns that OpenFLIXR will have support for VirtualBox and Parallels, but that image will take a bit longer. Once configured, OpenFLIXR has the potential to deliver a formidable experience… but the problem is getting to that point. The installation and configuration of OpenFLIXR will become simpler as its development advances, so it's only a matter of time.
