Digital Signage Players

MediaStar at ISE 2016: Multizone Signage

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MediaStar

At ISE 2016, Cabletime will unveil two important additions to its range of MediaStar solutions. These will include the next generation MediaStar platform of LAN-Caster Gateways and Encoders, and the now available MediaStar 782 media player, which delivers 4K screen resolution and rich HTML 5 support as well as full multizone digital signage capabilities.

Cabletime is also planning to display and demonstrate its full range of video distribution, media management and signage solutions.

Making its debut at ISE, the MediaStar LAN-Caster Gateway is a new platform which promises to provide a step change in the number of channels that can be distributed simultaneously. Users will benefit from the delivery of secure, scalable content from multiple tuners simultaneously from a single gateway. In addition, the new gateway platform, together with the Mediastar range of media players including the new 782, will support content encrypted from end to end.

A rolling programme of demonstrations will highlight the enhancements available from the MediaStar 782 media player, which will be on general release at the show. This solution indicates Cabletime’s intention to fully support the digital signage requirements of its customers, providing support not just for single, but multizone signage environments. It also delivers 4K screen resolution support and HTML 5 support and will enable users to incorporate advanced web pages and rich media in their signage designs.

Cabletime will be announcing further product enhancements before the event.

The MediaStar range provides TV/AV and multimedia distribution products primarily for medium to large enterprises, which require future-proof, stable and proven solutions for live TV, corporate communications, multicasts, music TV, training and digital signage.

Go MediaStar at ISE 2016: Rich Multizone Signage and End-to-End Encryption

BrightSign to Demo HTML5 Advances with 4K Players at InfoComm MEA

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BrightSign 4K

BrightSign will demonstrate its latest platform software that makes it easy to harness the power of HTML5 content in digital signage applications at InfoComm MEA.

The new platform software is integral to BrightSign’s powerful HTML Rendering Engine resident on the company’s latest portfolio of digital signage media players. HTML5-authored content takes advantage of touch interactivity, including the ability to tap, swipe and pinch. The ability of the viewer to self-navigate signage content ensures a highly personalised experience, creating a vital touch-point between proprietor and customer.

“One great benefit of our purpose-built digital signage media players is that we can deliver updates to the player software (also referred to as platform software or firmware) adding important capabilities without any disruption to the hardware itself,” says Jeff Hastings, BrightSign’s CEO. “In this case, we’re seeing a massive influx of rich content, and digital signage installations need a rendering engine capable of processing all of that content in real-time. We developed this new software to bring greater efficiency to our BrightSign players, and to ensure that even the most sophisticated content can be processed with ease.”

HTML5 delivers extremely rich experiences for applications such as the "endless aisle" in retail, powerful wayfinder solutions and real-time social media applications.

At the stand, co-hosted by DigiComm, BrightSign will also be exhibiting its new 2015 range of players for the first time in Dubai. The flagship line offers the new 4K models. Alongside, visitors can view the updated range of XD and HD solid state players, offering greatly increased performance while maintaining existing price points. The new LS product line, a pair of very affordable, full-featured devices for commercial audio and price-sensitive digital signage applications, is also being shown for the first time.

Go BrightSign

AOPEN and the Commercial Chrome Devices

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AOpen Chromebox

In Q3, AOPEN hopes to deliver the fruit of its work with Google on commercial grade devices for signage, POS and kiosk markets.

Google’s Chromeboxes, like other Chrome OS devices, rely heavily on an internet connection for software functionality and data storage. And Google relies on makers such as Samsung, Acer, Lenovo to drive the 5.2 million consumer Chromeboxes sold in 2014.

We previously reported on Google’s intention to push into digital signage…and Google’s promotion and sales of a special Chromebox for meetings.

Based on Chrome OS platform, three AOPEN devices for commercial signage are coming: the Chromebox Commercial, the Chromebase Commercial 19” and the Chromebase Commercial 22”.

Built to use 24/7, AOPEN’s Commercial Chrome Device is solid state and has an open platform designed to support a range of Android apps. It is also bundled with one year of Chrome Management and designed to use Chrome’s cloud application as a device management system to centrally or locally deploy devices.

On top of that, the devices are also feature shock, circuit and vibration resistance, and Chrome hardware level security.

The AOPEN Chromebox Commercial is a small-form device that can power digital displays and vertical applications such as kiosks or public transport information systems. It is also designed specifically to fit in small spaces and comes with powered legacy and commercial ports.

The device is also fanless with no vent holes that allow it to be used in challenging circumstances.

AOPEN’s Chromebase Commercial is an ultra-thin multi-touch tile. Available in two display sizes, 19” and 22”, the tile is driven by Google Chrome’s device management system.

It also features a waterproof toughened glass front, tamperproof management & mounting, and powered ports to power POS devices and industrial connectivity.

Jason Cremins, Founder and CEO at Signagelive.com wrote in a recent LinkedIn blog, “…Whilst some digital signage customers will happily choose from the range of low-cost Chromeboxes that are in the market, and some will even use the upcoming ASUS Chromebit HDMI Dongle device, many want a robust device that is built for unattended 24/7 use.

From our month-long extensive testing of the AOPEN Commercial Chromebox, we are very impressed with the performance and reliability, and we already have numerous partners that are raring to get their hands on a device to trial with Signagelive in a real-world environment…”

Go AOPEN and the Commercial ChromeBox, Chromebase


Thinking Big for a Smaller Solution: TinyGreenPC

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Shown first at ISE 2015,  TinyGreenPC, In-Store Media and Silvercurve demonstrate a complete content-to-screen digital signage solution centred on the TinyGreenPC Solitaire Pi-Player.

TingGreenPC Solitaire Pi Player

The Pi player is a pro grade dedicated media player offering both simple scheduling and ready templates and enterprise scalable scheduling with the Instoremedia Digital Signage solution. 

Drawing only 7W and built around the Raspberry Pi, the TinyGreenPC Solitaire Pi-Player offers a miniscule form factor. It delivers much of the functionality of a pc-based media player but uses approximately 1/3 of the power.  With output to HDMI, wi-fi and Ethernet, as well as OPS slot in and standalone versions, the Pi maker expects to break down many of the the traditional to adopting digital signage (e.g., cost, size, utility, interface etc).

The Pi Player has already been successfully adopted by top retailers-- including one of London’s most prestigious department stores, Gieves & Hawkes.

AVMI, global integrator of retail digital media solutions, created a custom window display for Gieves & Hawkes, powered by a professional digital signage platform from InStore Media and using an Apertur-powered Pi Player. Aperture has been developed by Silver Curve, a leading digital signage software developer. 

PaulMullen_Bryan_Crotaz

Commenting, Paul Mullen, Sales Director, AndersDX parent corporation of TinyGreenPC says, “InStore Media, Silver Curve and TinyGreenPC offer a truly joined up digital signage screen, allowing content to be created and played back quickly and simply. Silver Curve Aperture, bunded with the Pi Player, is a graphics engine that makes the outstanding graphics capabilities of the Raspberry Pi fully accessible. The Solitaire Pi Player from TinyGreenPC is the ultimate compact, low power consumption media player that costs just £7 a year to run in terms of power.”

[Photo: (left) Paul Mullen, AndersDX and (right) Bryan Crotaz, CEO, Silver Curve] 

The TinyGreenPC Solitaire Pi Player andersDX and TinyGreenPC are offered fully cased as a Stand Alone Media Player or an OPS Media Player. Both can receive content via Ethernet or (optional) WiFi and render it to an attached screen of up to 1920 x 1080p (Full HD) resolution. The Stand Alone player is equipped with HDMI, RS-232, Ethernet, GPIO and USB 2.0 Interfaces. The OPS player is based on Intel’s specification and comes with the appropriate 80-pin connector. The players draw just 7W and a UPS mode maintains the power supply from a battery for seven minutes in the event of temporary disconnection.

Instoremedia NOW is a solution for those who want to install and run simple, small scale signage installations from a User Interface which takes minutes to learn. Utilising the ultra-low impact Pi Player, with Instoremedia NOW, users can be running a digital signage display within hours. For larger scale deployments, Instoremedia Enterprise offers end users the ability to schedule content across large display networks from a single user interface. It is also compatible with the Pi Player and features both playlist and meta data rules based scheduling, as well as complete system diagnostics.

SilverCurve Aperture is a graphics engine for digital signage that enables software vendors to run their software on a mobile phone chip instead of a PC. Designed from the ground up specifically for digital signage, Aperture sits between the vendor software and the device hardware, drawing rich content and rendering it at full, broadcast-ready HDMI. It drives the graphics processor on the chip and uses it in a highly efficient way to obtain outstanding graphics, motion images and animation.

Go Tiny Green PC 

Go SilverCurve 

Go InStore Media

Mediateko Takes to the Pistes with ONELAN

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A Finnish advertising company, Mediateko Oy, installed new digital LED-screens in nine ski resorts around Finland. The screens are located near areas of concentrated traffic and so the advertising potential attracts interest.

Mediateko

The project is managed by Avek Esitysratkaisut Ltd (Avek) who provided and installed ONELAN Net-Top-Boxes (NTB-HD-10F-S) to supply content for the LED screens. 

Mediateko's clients send advertising content to Avek who upload and schedule this according to the clients' requirements. Avek uses a ONELAN Content Management Server (CMS) to update content remotely. Avek also monitors the system via a ONELAN Digital Signage Manager (DSM). Mediateko does not become involved in the technology itself or its maintenance, but concentrates on the commercial advertising potential.

"This is the most significant investment of the fiscal year for Mediateko, but we have faith in the concept. Reception among the clients has been very positive", says Mediateko's CEO Teemu Kontkanen.

The CEO of Avek Esitysratkaisut Ltd, Jari Rönkkö, is also excited about the collaboration: "Mediateko is our long-term partner, but these ski resort LED implementations have raised our partnership to a new level. The service-concept based infomedia system gives a massive boost for our co-operation. The concept brings added value for both sides."

Some of the LED screens will be relocated to nearby golf courses to be use in summer months.

Go Mediateko Takes to the Pistes with ONELAN