Google TV Launcher Dispatch Brings Plex Libraries to Main Screen
This year, Patrick O'Rourke experimented with his Google TV operating system on his Hisense U8H TV and found that it wasn't lagging as much as he expected. He wanted to integrate his Plex library with the TV's default operating system, allowing him to browse self-hosted movies and TV shows from the main screen like Netflix or Prime.
He discovered Dispatch, a third-party Google TV launcher that offers a stripped-back UI and Plex integration for $1/month or $10 for a lifetime license. The app directly integrates all of his Plex content on its home screen, allowing him to navigate through his content in the same way as Netflix or Prime.
The navigation experience isn't perfect, but Dispatch's simplicity is refreshing. Patrick can toggle rows on/off on Dispatch's homepage and even hide all media if he wants. The Favorite Apps live in the top-left corner of the screen, and when highlighted, an App Peek offers 'context-appropriate' media that can be pressed to open the app and browse that content.