Popcorntime alternative, what next ... or can I still use it? (A "left of field" perspective).
Popcorntime was created to make torrenting simple, so simple his mum could use it. Well, that was the "pitch", anyway. Personally, I think mum might have struggled when things broke down (as they did) ... but when it worked, it was a revelation! A Netflix killer!! Not really? but it certainly had them worried (during its meteoric rise to "infamy!"). Alas, time and tide have left it abandoned to this backwater! But, we are Iron-born .. are we not?
I'll park my usual historical musings. What now? If you're one of the "more skilled" brethren (unlike me) you've created a bespoke set-up that uses all the tools of your craft, or found something you can adapt/combine and bend to your skills. You won't be reading here, anyway?
Using qbittorrent for this demo (you've seen/heard it before) but it bears repeating. Popcorntime is a sequential torrent client and media player. It has casting/streaming functions and subtitle support. You can use it with your local files. It supports many open source media players from within the app. It also (just about) has its own torrent search function. Box sets and series torrents can be saved in 'Torrent Collection' for quick access later. Many paid for apps would be lucky to have this functionality.
So the bug-bear is the "front end" (we know that issue, ad nauseam) and it can only get worse! But even if YTS API went down (and you miss its eclectic mix) .. you can simply visit their site, for a torrent?
So accept what you've got and adapt its usage, or find an alternative to suit your needs. Torrenting is a simple three step process: find your torrent, download it, playback? Popcorntime (with a nudge) or qbittorrent, can do the job nicely. Generally, I know what's out there, from IMBD, RT, TMDB and the like: So I can do it all within qBittorrent .. or pass over the magnet link to Popcorntime. However, I would miss Popcorntime's media content catalogue (tiles) - for their ad hoc browsing?
Pic 1, find torrent (magnet link). Pic 2, sequential download (preview file). Pic 3, Playback through my default player (preview). Pic 4, streaming to TV (DLNA, or Airplay). Simples!
Whatever you decide - as you hoist the colours and plow through those torrent seas .. we wish you fair winds!
"Now, bring me that horizon."