DSM Video vs Cathode Player

Your NAS is packed with movies and TV shows. DSM Video is the app built to watch them — a fast, native experience on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Synology dropped Video Station support on current DSM firmware. If you've kept your NAS up to date, you lost your video app. DSM Video fills that gap. It connects to DSVideoServer, a free lightweight package you install on your Synology, and gives you a fully native media player that feels like it belongs on your Apple devices. --- WHAT YOU GET Stream your personal library directly from your NAS — no third-party cloud, no subscription, no compression. Your files, your hardware, your control. - Native HLS Streaming — smooth playback on any network. Adaptive quality keeps video playing even on slower connections. - Apple TV App — a full tvOS experience built for the living room. Focus-engine navigation, cinematic poster art, and a parallax icon that looks great on your home screen. - iPad Sidebar — browse your entire library in a persistent sidebar while you watch. - Gesture Controls — swipe anywhere to scrub (a full swipe = 30 minutes). Swipe up or down to control volume. Pinch or double-tap to toggle fill and fit. - QuickConnect Support — access your NAS from anywhere using your Synology QuickConnect ID. No static IP, no port forwarding required. - Resume Anywhere — watch progress syncs across your devices. Stop on iPhone, pick up on Apple TV. - AirPlay — beam anything to any AirPlay-enabled display. --- COMPLETELY FREE. NO STRINGS. No subscription. No in-app purchases. No ads. You paid for your Synology — the app to use it should be free. DSM Video and DSVideoServer are both open-source on GitHub. --- WHAT YOU NEED - A Synology NAS running DSM 7.2 or later with an Intel or AMD (x86_64) processor - DSVideoServer installed from GitHub (free, open-source) - Your DSM username and password Setup takes about five minutes. Open Settings → How To for step-by-step instructions. --- DSM Video is an independent app and is not affiliated with Synology Inc.

Cathode is a clean, native video viewer for following channels and watching content on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Built with SwiftUI for a fast, lightweight experience. FEATURES • Follow channels and see all their latest videos in one feed • Search for videos and channels • Watch shorts and regular videos with a native player • Picture-in-picture, background audio, and AirPlay support • Save videos to Watch Later • Pick up where you left off — playback progress syncs across your devices via your private iCloud account • Read comments • Compact mini-player while you keep browsing • Curated channel suggestions across Tech, Science, Programming, Cooking, and Lifestyle to help you get started CROSS-DEVICE SYNC Watch Later, history, and saved channels are stored in your private iCloud account so they are always with you. Nothing is sent to our servers. PRIVACY Cathode does not collect personal information, has no analytics, and does not require an account. Your data stays on your device or in your private iCloud.