2 Jellyfin clients are about to get big updates
One of them also has a Linux desktop edition.
The official Jellyfin client for Android TV and one of the better third-party apps for music, Finamp, both have major releases exiting beta in the coming weeks. Here's a preview of what to expect.
Changes coming for Jellyfin clients on Android devices
Version 0.20 of the Jellyfin Android TV client has been in development for several months, and the beta testing is entering the "feature freeze" period meaning the full release is imminent. At the same, the Finamp app, which aims for feature parity with the popular Plexamp app for Plex servers, has its own long-awaited update exiting beta, version 1.0.0. Finamp is primarily a mobile app for Android and iPhone, but it also has editions available for Linux desktops (not to mention Windows and macOS).
What you can expect in Jellyfin for Android TV 0.20 includes an overhauled settings menu which will itself add more codec controls and external video player options. You can also now choose to burn-in subtitles when transcoding and navigate through photos with a D-pad control scheme (like on a gamepad). It also adds full support for direct-playing SubStation Alpha (SSA or ASS) subtitles, the kind often used in anime videos. You can also now stop Jellyfin from adding "up next" and other promoted items to your Android TV home screen if you don't wan them.
Coming in Finamp 1.0.0 is an overhauled and highly customizable interface. There's a "home screen" that appears when you open the app with several "quick play" options, like favorite songs and newly-added albums. You also have a quick settings button that sends you to a curated set of preferences that people often want to tweak. The player now has timed lyrics, and there are several new options for generating instant mixes and radios. You have Apple Carplay and Siri voice command support now, and playlists are now super easy to edit in Finamp.
Some limitations: The Android TV client will now require Android 6 at a minimum and a server running Jellyfin 10.11 or newer. That means first-generation Fire TV devices will be left behind.
Zooming out
The background: Because of Jellyfin's open and interoperable nature, there are many "client" apps you can use to watch, listen to, or read your media. Some are developed by the Jellyfin project itself, and others are independent, third-party developers who just like Jellyfin.
Why this announcement matters: Jellyfin's advantage over other media servers is that there's no monetary cost and it's ad-free. However, its client apps often lag behind in features. Major advancements like these make a switch to Jellyfin more feasible. These updates come on the heels of the big Jellyfin 12.0 release.
My take: I've been using the Finamp redesign beta for a long time now, so I'm looking forward to a full stable release. I haven't been able to find a better app for Jellyfin on Android.
Jordan Gloor
Diving in
Go further: You can visit the Android TV GitHub release page or the Finamp GitHub release page to get more details about what's coming. There aren't set release dates for either, but both indicate the betas should officially end in the next month or so.
Get it now: The Finamp redesign beta is available in the above-linked release page, and you can get links to the Android TV beta in the Jellyfin Android beta program guide. Otherwise, you can install the Jellyfin Android TV app or the Finamp Android or iPhone app and wait for the update to reach you.
- For my fellow Linux folks, you can get the Finamp redesign on your desktop from Flathub.
