Sponsored Content

The digital signage landscape is evolving rapidly, with small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) driving significant growth. This surge is fueled by cloud-based, networked solutions that have democratized access to digital signage technology. While these solutions offer a simple plug-and-play approach, SMBs face a dilemma with media players (small devices that connect to screens to display digital content): Choose consumer-grade devices that lower upfront costs but lack reliability and security, or opt for more expensive, complex industrial solutions. This highlights the need for balanced solutions that are cost-effective, easy to use, and viable long-term.

Enter the Amazon Signage Stick, a professional media player purpose-built for digital signage. It offers premier performance at an affordable price, easily obtainable on Amazon. The Signage Stick boasts features designed to meet SMB needs, including seamless integration with leading content management software applications and auto-launch in kiosk mode for uninterrupted operation. Its user-friendly setup allows for quick connection to screens within minutes using a mobile device. The Signage Stick delivers powerful performance with its quad-core SoC, 4K video capabilities, and high-speed Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. Security features include a secure boot loader and data encryption, alongside smooth, non-disruptive updates. It's also scalable, allowing for effortless expansion across multiple displays and locations.

Amazon has partnered with industry-leading content management software (CMS) providers, offering a diverse selection for various industries, use cases, and budgets. Supported CMS partners include AbleSign, Neon Screens, NoviSign, NowSignage, OptiSigns, Play Digital Signage, PosterBooking, Poppulo, Rise Vision, ScreenCloud, and Yodeck. Each supported CMS works out of the box, allowing users to centralize digital assets and streamline signage operations efficiently. More information is also available on the Amazon Signage dedicated portal.

The Amazon Signage Stick combines professional features with SMB-friendly pricing, reducing upfront investments, and complex setups. This allows businesses to focus on creating engaging content. Its plug-and-play simplicity, improved reliability, and ease of use ensure that businesses can deploy impactful visual communications without technical anxieties. Suitable for various industries, from retail shops to education, clinics, and multi-location facilities, the Amazon Signage Stick empowers users to harness the full potential of digital signage confidently. Available in the U.S. for $99.99 on Amazon and Amazon Business, it offers the quality and peace of mind synonymous with the Amazon brand. The Signage Stick represents a significant step forward in digital signage technology, providing SMBs with an accessible, powerful tool to enhance their visual communication strategies and drive business growth.

Amazon Signage Stick: Professional Digital Signage for SMBs

The Amazon Signage Stick is a cost-effective, purpose-built media player for small and medium-sized businesses. Engineered with security in mind, it offers professional-grade performance with easy setup, 4K video, Wi-Fi 6E, enhanced stability, and scalability. The Amazon Signage Stick bridges the gap between consumer-grade and industrial options, providing reliable, secure digital signage without compromising quality or budget. Readily available on Amazon, it empowers businesses to fully leverage digital signage technology.

Sponsored Content

Think of a digital signage deployment in the hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands. Now, think of how one might plan, deploy, and manage such a program. Answer? 

A collaboration between ChromeOS and Lenovo resulted in the Lenovo Chromebox Micro, a pocket-sized, cost-effective, and energy-efficient mini-computer and media player to power kiosks and digital signage—on a global scale.

"This solution is specifically designed for commercial customers focused on kiosk and digital signage in retail, enterprise, education, and conference room solutions," said Marc Godin, vice president and general manager of Commercial Smart Devices Solutions Group, Lenovo. “The device can help transform any business by offering unparalleled visual experiences in a small but powerful solution that's easy to deploy.”

The Chromebox Micro is transforming retail and hospitality sectors by offering unparalleled visuals for advertising, promotions, and infotainment. In the corporate world, including trading floors, banks, and manufacturing units, the Chromebox Micro drives dynamic communications. In schools and universities, the device enhances learning experiences and plays a crucial role in transportation hubs like airports, where it efficiently delivers real-time information and wayfinding. The Chromebox Micro ensures seamless data visualization and presentations in high-stakes environments such as control rooms and corporate meeting venues.

"It was designed at the core to be a pocket-sized, plug-and-play solution that is not only quick to deploy and easy to manage, but also flexible enough to power incredible experiences across a broad range of use cases," added Bryan Lee, vice president of ChromeOS and Education, Google.

Small in Size, Big in Benefits

The Chromebox Micro offers advantages that are not available in competitive products because most media players within the industry are Windows- or Android-based. "This makes the Lenovo solution global, scalable with lower TCO (total cost of ownership) because of the Google ChromeOS security," Godin said.

The Lenovo Chromebox Micro is smaller than some smartphones, making the applications practically limitless. "It is currently the smallest and lightest form factor in the media player space with additional longevity and security," Godin explained. "You can place the Chromebox Micro in out-of-the-way places such as under desks or shelves in retail environments."

An IT Dream

There is no limit to the number of Lenovo Chromebox Micro devices deployed on a network. "The device is easy to manage remotely with a Chrome Enterprise/Kiosk Management license," Godin explained. Access to the Google Admin console makes deploying, troubleshooting, and monitoring devices easy, while the Titan-C security chip provides top-notch security. Chrome Remote Desktop allows monitoring, troubleshooting, and control of devices from anywhere.

The Lenovo Chromebox Micro works with any kiosk or display with a USB-C, USB-A, or an HDMI port. The fanless, ventless, dust-proof ChromeOS compute solution supports dual displays at 4K resolutions.

Lenovo has collaborated with Instorescreen to offer 15.6- and 21.5-inch inFLEX displays specially designed for the Lenovo Chromebox Micro. The displays feature a rear cavity to accommodate the Lenovo Chromebox Micro, ensuring unhindered access to all ports while offering a streamlined and integrated appearance. The Lenovo Chromebox Micro pairs with the inFLEX displays through a single cable from a USB-C port to provide video, power, and data for a ready to deploy solution out of the box.

Creating Great Experiences

The Chromebox Micro can be the driving force behind advanced digital displays in various industries. The device enables interactive learning through whiteboards in education, streamlines check-ins with self-service kiosks in travel, and enhances operational oversight with monitor and control displays in manufacturing. It also improves employee management with check-in displays and delivers timely information in waiting areas. “The Chromebox Micro is essential for efficient communication and management across diverse sectors," concluded Godin.

To learn more about the Lenovo Chromebox Micro and Lenovo OEM Solutions click here.

About Lenovo: Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world's largest PC company by further expanding into growth areas that fuel the advancement of 'New IT' technologies (client, edge, cloud, network, and intelligence) including server, storage, mobile, software, solutions, and services. This transformation, together with Lenovo's world-changing innovation, is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere.

Immersive. Interactive. Intuitive. These are the buzzwords in today’s world of digital signage and massive displays. And they aren't limited to Times Square or sports stadiums—even a grocery store or doctor's office may be decked out in bright new displays.

That’s why having the right media player behind it all is more important than ever.

Landscape or Portrait?

Resolution and orientation are two important considerations for a digital signage install, and those decisions will impact your media player choice. “While the norm has been Full HD for many years, we’ve finally seen large-scale adoption of 4K,” said Joe Murray, technical operations manager and lead systems engineer at Visix. “The extra resolution has provided clients with the opportunity to showcase high-fidelity images and videos across their organization.”

“Any media player on the market today will accomplish a modest application of 720p video at 30 frames per second,” explained Jordan Feil, director of marketing, Navori Labs. “The story changes as the resolution escalates. What content will your organization publish today, and where does the roadmap lead a year or two in the future? These are some of the essential decisions when choosing the size of the media player and how much power it will consume.”

[Meet the Media Players Behind These SciFi, Fantasy, and Horror Immersive Experiences]

While 4K dominates the current Pro AV landscape, picking the right signage orientation is a bit trickier. “Depending on the application, both [landscape and portrait] orientations are useful,” said Ernie Wohlleben, president of New York-based custom integrator Architechnology Designs. “Signage is often presented differently than video entertainment content.”

“Digital signage end users today do not want limitations,” Feil added. “They want flexibility, which means that media players need to support both orientations. The average end user will use a 75:25 ratio of landscape to portrait.”

Speaking of flexibility, how many displays a media player can support, much like the preferred orientation, is often a case-by-case basis. “While some of our lower-end players support a single display, our higher-end players can support up to 12 displays natively,” Murray said. “Some of our clients even combine our high-end players with video processors to power even more displays than that.”

“Attempting to process video on a 32-screen video wall with a low-power media device will result in failure,” Feil noted. “We recommend media players that can reliably power eight screens at once. Ultimately, it’s about how powerful the device is and how much the end user can spend.”

Get Connected

What about getting the content up and running? There are several ways to get customized content to the media player.

“The days of the tech manager walking from screen to screen with USB sticks and keys to manually transfer files are over,” Feil said. “All professional media players today receive their content via the internet, whether using Wi-Fi or a wired LAN connection. A stable and reliable internet connection is required to ensure that content reaches the device. Content is customized before it is downloaded, which is why end users need a flexible and feature-rich CMS that is easy to use.”

“We offer players that support Ethernet or both Ethernet and Wi-Fi,” Murray said. “HDMI is still the reigning champ for display connectivity, although we’ve seen an uptick in the utilization of DisplayPort. Since most clients are familiar with HDMI, that tends to be the de facto choice.”

“HDMI remains the standard for audio and video,” Wohlleben agreed. “While wireless options do exist, hardwiring for data is the best practice.”

[USB-C: One Size Fits All?]

When it comes to installation, an integrator will need to consider several physical factors as well as the best options to mount the player. “If you plan on mounting a player directly behind a display, be sure to account for networking,” Murray offered. “If a player doesn’t have built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, you may need a network drop behind the display, so the player can connect to your local network and/or the Internet. Additionally, if the player contains an external power supply, be sure there’s room to mount it behind the display.”

“Ideally, they live in the headend, but can easily be tucked behind a display as needed,” Wohlleben added.

That doesn’t mean even the most experienced in the field don’t face challenges. “Navori Labs recently worked with an end user to source about 200 individual media players that were specified for Windows,” recalled Feil. “Licensing costs were higher than the customer preferred, so we pivoted to Android-based players. The lesson learned here is that suppliers, their partners, and end users should experiment with different operating systems and hardware configurations and find solutions that check all the boxes.”

What's the right media player for your install? It depends on what you need today and what you may want tomorrow. Choosing the right media player for your application can be a challenge, but here are some media players from a range of manufactures to consider.

BrightSign HD5

The new 4K BrightSign HD5 is an affordable, versatile player offering the features and functionality needed for a broad range of digital signage projects. The standard model has Gigabit Ethernet, GPIO, and optional Wi-Fi and IR ports, while the extended I/O version adds USB and serial ports for added interactive functionality. The player is cased in a thin aluminum enclosure that dissipates heat, eliminating the need for a fan and helping the player operate silently.

MuxLab Android DigiSign

Android DigiSign, which supports a wide variety of video formats and codecs, works with MuxLab’s DigiSign CMS software. The CMS makes the loading and management of content playing on MuxLab's Android DigiSign media player (model 500799) streamlined and intuitive. The player supports up to 4K@60Hz (4:4:4) video streams, and offers two HDMI output ports to connect to two displays. Supported playlists and yearly scheduler functionalities simplify use. The player offers a wide range of features including multi-format video, image, and audio files, HTML5, widgets, and RSS feeds with the use of the DigiSign CMS.

Navori STIX 3700

StiX 3700 is a 4K Android media player, designed for reliable 24/7/365 digital signage use. The small form factor allows it to be easily hidden behind any display. It features sophisticated template rendering and seamless media transitions across all displays and screens, making for a fully plug-and-play experience for any type of screen. Navori provides total support for every screen size and orientation with easy maintenance.

Seneca Element

Seneca’s new version of the Element media player is powered by the AMD Ryzen processor, delivering more computing power options with devices that deliver high-quality performance in digital signage and IoT environments. The AMD processor provides integrators and end users with the Extended Display Identification (EDID) function, enabling the transmission of native resolution from the display to the media players. The Element media player comes in a compact form factor designed for easy integration behind displays, while simultaneously driving up to four combined displays. The system operates on Windows 10 IoT.

SpinetiX HMP400

The SpinetiX HMP400 is the latest generation of SpinetiX HMP players. Designed for any digital signage scenario, its commercial grade, fanless design enables the player to be used in the most demanding environments. The HMP400 comes with DSOS, the purpose-built operating system designed and developed by SpinetiX, and an Intel Atom processor. The player supports 4K/60 fps streams, allows for long-lasting 24/7 use, and is PoE+ capable (with a Wi-Fi version available).

Videotel Digital's VP92

The new VP92 is a 4K/1080p industrial-grade digital signage media player that is network and Wi-Fi capable. Access content remotely with a free cloud software or play content locally with a USB or SD card. The VP92 comes with StudioPro or StudioWeb, which allows end users to design their screen with creative components.

ViewSonic NMP599-W

The ViewSonic NMP599-W is a high-performance, 4K Ultra HD media player that can be integrated with smart technologies such as sensors, cameras, modules, and readers. Advanced signage features include AlwaysOn AppLock to present unauthorized access and StrongCache for continued playback even when a network is not available. It supports touch for interactive wayfinding or self-service kiosk applications, while providing 4K video playback and access to content from the cloud. The NMP599-W features a powerful quad-core processor and runs on an Android 7.1 operating system. Connectivity includes Gigabit ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n wireless, HDMI 2.0, Micro USB, USB 2.0, and 3.5mm audio-out.

Visix Element 4K

Visix brings content to life at resolutions up to 3840x2160. The compact unit supports both wired and wireless networking with external Wi-Fi antennas. These players are powered by Intel processors, with plenty of built-in memory (256GB SSD) and high-performance graphics cards and HDMI outputs. Landscape and portrait output are supported. As with all Visix media players, the Element 4K has built-in security, including Windows Firewall, to ensure data is protected at all times.

VITEC EP5+ End-Point

The VITEC EP5+ End-Point digital media player displays IPTV video content or digital signage on a single display or up to four multi-display videowalls. It enables decoding of two 4K IP streams or video files, simultaneously, for eye-catching signage or PiP views. Integrated with VITEC’s EZ TV Platform, the EP5+ is controlled and operated from a central management interface for the day-to-day administration of content, schedules, and user access rights. Designed with maximum video performance, lowest playback latency, and highest reliability in mind, the EP5+ features 100% hardware-based video decoding and solid-state components packaged in a rugged enclosure with no moving parts.

Okay, seriously—how cool is our AV industry that a seemingly small AV component plays such a major role in creating immersive experiences that trigger visitors to feel like they are part of a SciFi, fantasy, or horror film? Right?

Wētā Workshop Unleashed is an exciting new ‘part film set, part creative workshop’ attraction housed in the Sky City Hotel of Auckland City, New Zealand. Integrated by Toulouse Group, a New-Zealand-based audio-visual consultant, the visitor attraction showcases the innovations of Wētā Workshop, the industry-renowned makers of props and visual effects for an impressive array of films that includes Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and Bladerunner.

The resulting experience is an explosion of creativity, mayhem and color that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy through smooth content management from the BrightSign players. Following a ‘red carpet’ entrance, visitors are directed through nine distinct zones, each matching a genre of the films being created within a fictional studio. All the BrightSign players are locally networked. The push of a single button by a staff member issues commands to multiple players that send either the video or audio and lighting elements to multiple projectors, a surround sound loudspeaker system, and a theatrical intelligent lighting system.

Commenting on the project, Jeff Hastings, CEO of BrightSign, said “We’re delighted that BrightSign players are powering such a fantastic visitor experience. It’s always exciting to see how installers apply the players to their installations, and Toulouse Group is no exception. For example, using the GPIO inputs on the BrightSign players can trigger the media via a mixture of buttons, levers and other mechanical devices. Using the GPIO inputs in this way is very unusual in digital signage installations, but Toulouse uses the players in this way in close to half its installations, including Weta Workshop.”

Marc Simpson, managing director of Toulouse, said “We use BrightSign players for the majority of our visitor experience installations due to their inherently reliable nature. The client brief for Wētā Workshop was fluid, and we needed a responsive system that allowed us to work swiftly to meet the creative vision in situ. BrightSign players provided a robust platform that supports swiftly changing programming. Firewalls keep the network secure and allow staff at Head office to update content off-site. With almost guaranteed uptime, remote monitoring is a formality and maintenance is very seldom required.”

Wētā Workshop co-founder and creative lead, Richard Taylor said, “The experience wowed audiences from the moment it opened. Each person’s visit is unique depending on what they choose to interact with: which button they push, which lever they pull or which sensor they trigger. BrightSign allows this fully customizable media experience to be delivered in a repeated, reliable way, until the final credits roll.”

The What Navori Labs is introducing its StiX 3700 second-generation compact Android digital signage media player dongle. According to the company, the StiX 3700 is designed to complement software media players, such as System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions, that lack the advanced feature sets and versatility of hardware players.

The What Else: The StiX 3700 builds on the success of Navori Labs’ first-generation StiX 3500 media player, which exceeded 100,000 shipments over four years. The new dongle retains the core StiX 3500 benefits in size, maintenance, and feature set, and adds broadcast-quality 4K rendering at 60 frames per second, a requirement for effective 4K viewing experiences. The StiX 3700 further enhances viewing experiences with media transitions across all screens.

[Navori Labs Releases AI Marketing Analytics Software]

The StiX 3700 adds several new features as well, including remote control of screens using HDMI-CEC functionality. Upon entering schedules, Navori QL software automates all on/off control functions, simplifying management tasks and making it easier to switch screens on and off at different times of the day. Users can install third-party apps such as TeamViewer or VNC for remote control thanks to its user-friendly Android operating system.

The StiX 3700 comes with professional Navori QL Player software, enabling users to get started on their projects upon turning on the device and logging in. The StiX 3700 can also be activated prior to deployment, making it ready for use once the screen is installed.

The Bottom Line: A versatile unit, the dongle can be used as the main player for a screen or to complement built-in System-o-Chip (SoC) players that lack certain capabilities. This includes support for both Wi-Fi wireless and wired connections for any network environment, and its Android operating system accepts security certificates required by many corporate IT organizations.

Videotel Digital has named the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) as the debut partner for its 2021 Association Partner Program, which commits a percentage of media player sales to benefit the AZA’s work and all of its conservation efforts

[The Digital Signage Best Practices Guide]

“Videotel Digital does a significant amount of business with zoos and aquariums and after what has been a very rough year for all of us, Videotel Digital’s Partnership Program is a way for us to give something back and help strengthen the mission of our not-for-profit partners,” said Lisa Schneider, the company's EVP of marketing and sales.

“We are excited to be partnering with Videotel Digital to offer AZA members a new and innovative solution for interacting with their visitors in this new environment,” said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of AZA. “Touchless screens and ‘wave to activate’ technology are advances AZA members can use for ticketing, educational content, and directions while keeping everyone safe. It will be exciting to watch what we can do together!”

Videotel Digital will also supply AZA members with free technical and service support, if needed.

The What: BrightSign has unveiled BrightSign Mobile, a new solution to connect media players to the cloud where traditional methods of network connectivity are difficult to achieve. 

The What Else: The solution is available as an accessory to BrightSign players that includes a low-profile USB modem with an installed SIM card. Customers have a choice of data plans custom-designed for digital signage and exclusive to BrightSign.

[The Technology Manager's Guide to the New Era of Digital Signage]

“With digital signage use cases expanding in all directions, it’s increasingly common to have endpoints located in places far outside the reach of traditional networks,” said Jeff Hastings, BrightSign’s CEO. “BrightSign Mobile answers this challenge by enabling reliable connectivity virtually anywhere there’s a cellular signal present.”

BrightSign Mobile is compatible with all BrightSign Series 3 and 4 media players with a USB port, as well as the BrightSign AU335. The solution provides plug and play modem setup with full support on BSN.cloud, BrightAuthor:connected, and integrated partner CMS solutions.

The Bottom Line: To get started, customers must purchase a BrightSign USB modem and select a data plan via the BrightSign Mobile portal. Once connected, users enjoy 4G connectivity performance throughout the United States wherever cell signals are present.

The What: Sharp NEC Display Solutions has launched a new MPi4 NEC MediaPlayer Kit to augment large-format display solutions, giving customers access to an advanced media player solution and content management system (CMS) capabilities. 

The What Else: The NEC MediaPlayer is a modular plug-and-play digital signage solution that comes pre-installed on a 32GB NEC Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 to swiftly integrate or retrofit inside any NEC large-format display that offers the slot for Raspberry Pi CM4. The new NEC MESSAGE Series MPi4 line-up displays already combine professional display technology with a pre-installed Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 running the NEC MediaPlayer.

[The Technology Manager's Guide to the New Era of Digital Signage]

The MediaPlayer allows the remote operation of individual or multiple screen setups, browser-based playlists, content distribution, and centralized device management. For specific feature demands, the MediaPlayer also grants switching to third-party CMSs directly.

“With the MPi4 NEC MediaPlayer kit, immersive real-time visual experiences are faster and easier to set up than ever,” said Erik Elbert, senior product manager, large format displays and computing technologies. “It will greatly help our customers present dynamic, up-to-date information and advertising to their target audiences. We consider our MPi4 display bundles as an out-of-the-box solution—you don’t need to be a digital display expert to just plug it in and gain access to a world of new capabilities.”

The Bottom Line: When bundled with any new NEC large-format display, the MediaPlayer kit is well suited to meet the needs of retail, quick-service restaurants, transportation, and corporate environments as well as leisure and museum applications.

In the new socially distanced public spaces of the pandemic era, digital signage has never been more vital. Building owners need to communicate procedures and protocols, business information must be shared with employees, and perhaps—in a glimmer of hope—the display of inspiring, vibrant imagery across large-scale, dynamic displays can revitalize the experience of a space.

[The Digital Signage Best Practices Guide]

To ensure that these many displays render imagery in seamless and dazzling ways, media players are evolving to meet new needs. Higher-resolution, touchless interaction and remote operation are key elements to the product evolution, and creative expression is also getting a boost. More robust and flexible external media players enable a wide array of visual updates and architectural media implementations. So look forward to having better experiences as the built environment becomes more animated with pixels and motion.

Visix

Responding to the continued proliferation of video walls across more applications, along with pandemic-related shifts in the way content is shared, Visix added a four-output media player to its lineup and fast-tracked a number of new features. Responding to customer feedback, Visix made the new player easier to set up and more powerful, standardizing its multioutput player lineup on Nvidia Pascal GPUs. The new model has 8 GB of memory, 256 GB SSD storage, built-in wireless, and a Windows 10 IoT Enterprise OS.

The extra capability boost from the Nvidia Quadro P620 reflects a trend toward more robust requirements for media players, which are being asked to handle increasingly complex content tasks. As content creation responsibilities shift to creative agencies and branding teams, designers are asking for more from the technology.

“I love seeing the incredible eye-catching displays that creative people come up with,” said Joe Murray, systems engineer with Visix. Not only are they pushing the bounds with 4K and 8K video content, they’re finding ways to integrate the visuals and the video walls themselves with the architecture in a space. “They’ll actually integrate these giant LED video walls directly into [building] walls as if it’s a piece of the architecture itself. That’s really great because when you design video walls with the architecture in mind, everything is just a little more seamless.”

Of course, many of those video walls are operating in empty offices at the moment, which prompted users to seek ways to use their digital signage systems to deliver messages via other means. Accordingly, Visix integrated web publishing into its flagship AxisTV Signage Suite, allowing signage content to be tied into a web page or broadcast across messaging apps such as Microsoft Teams or Slack.

Meanwhile, another engineering project was fast-tracked in the interaction department, as “touchless everything” became the demand from users. Visix released a voice recognition widget that enables users to plug a microphone into one of its players and control signage with spoken commands. “The display is still interactive, but users don’t have to touch anything,” Murray explained. Now interactive functions like wayfinding can be handled via voice, and directions can even be sent via text to a user’s mobile phone.

Navori 

As is the case across most aspects of video, the demand for 4K and 8K is driving innovation, and within digital signage, that is where external media players shine. External media players provide vital flexibility and processing power for the most demanding applications, explained Jérôme Moeri, CEO of Navori: “For true 4K playback, an external media player is still required.” And demand for 4K will continue to grow, he noted: “Especially in the luxury industry, where the picture and the product matters, 4K will become a requirement within the next five years.”

But external media players don’t have to be a clunky add-on to projects. The diminutive Navori Stix 3500 packs a lot of power. Smaller than a mobile phone, the purpose-built device runs native applications for optimal rendering quality, “so they are eight times more powerful than web applications,” Moeri added.

With 4K soon to be essential to many projects, Navori is planning to release the Stix 3700 in May 2021, and that model will play natively in 4K.

But beyond resolution, it’s important to consider frame rate when seeking the highest-quality rendering. External media players such as Navori’s and others are capable of rendering content at 60 frames per second, where current system-on-chip [SOC] players are limited to 25 frames per second. “When you have slow motion on screen, object motion or special effects, the difference is it is very easily visible” at lower frame rates, Moeri noted.

Other perks to purpose-built external media players such as Stix are the adoption of an ARM CPU, which helps not only in better delivery of dynamic graphic content, but also in lower power consumption than a PC or larger player. And with its experience in the luxury market, Navori has also developed specialized color mapping to match the actual color of high-end imagery in its truest representation. “We have a better control on the color and the outcome,” Moeri said. “We have developed some settings especially for the luxury industry where they can choose a color calibration and control it remotely.”

Enplug

Addressing all the visual and technical requirements that combine to make the most memorable visual impression, Enplug’s digital signage player seamlessly drives content to any digital signage endpoint within the Enplug ecosystem. The player is tested against industry standards, offering broad compatibility and 4K support. Enplug users can quickly connect the player to any HD display in portrait or landscape orientation to deliver content with 1080p and 4K video playback at 60 frames per second. Content is updated via Wi-Fi or Ethernet and stored locally on the device, which means screens will never go down, even if the internet is temporarily disconnected. Once the internet connection is restored, the player automatically reconnects and updates any content to ensure flawless, uninterrupted performance.

VITEC

Maximum-quality video with low-latency playback and high reliability are key to the two versions of VITEC’s digital endpoints that can drive its EZ TV IPTV and digital signage platform, the EP4 and EP5. The VITEC endpoints can be configured for video playback, signage-only or a combination of digital signs with embedded video. All features are controlled by a central interface, simplifying administration and support requirements. These devices are PoE enabled and feature 100-percent hardware-based decoding with all-solid-state components for any type of deployment.

The EP5 is VITEC’s 4K-capable media player, and as an extension to this device, the new EP5+ includes the ability to stretch video and/or signage across the bezel on up to four displays. The EP5+, with four HDMI output ports, provides a cost-effective multidisplay 4K solution to essentially create any configuration of “mini” video wall with up to four screens.

[VITEC Commits to Becoming Carbon Neutral by 2021]

BrightSign

BrightSign’s new XT1144 Expanded I/O player includes all the features of the BrightSign XT244 plus serial, dual USB (type A and C) and live TV playback via the HDMI 2.0a input to play content from any broadcast channel—even HDCP-protected content.

But core to this and the other BrightSign media players is something larger: the dedicated operating system purpose-built to handle the specific needs of digital signage deployments. With self-healing capabilities and secure connectivity through the BSN.cloud, these players are reliable endpoints that minimize headaches across vast deployments.

The What: Visix is now shipping a new digital signage media player that allows for two-, three-, or four-output playback. The new model standardizes the company's multi-output player lineup on Nvidia Pascal GPUs, providing a consistent hardware selection and experience for clients. 

The What Else: The new player allows clients the flexibility to show two, three ,or four video streams for scalable digital signage and video wall applications. The NVIDIA Quadro P620 combines a 512 CUDA core Pascal GPU, large on-board memory, and advanced display technologies to deliver performance at an affordable price.

“This new player rounds out and standardizes our hardware offering,” said Joe Murray, systems engineer for Visix. “With this, we’re making it easier for our clients to implement, update, and expand their digital signage systems. Most importantly, the player was built for enterprise-class applications and provides stellar playback of dynamic content.”

The Bottom Line: The unit is a small form factor device measuring 7.05-inches wide x 7.2-inches deep x 1.38-inches high, and weighs 3.1 lbs. It has 8GB of memory, 256 GB SSD storage, built-in wireless, and a Windows 10 IoT Enterprise OS.

A staple product in AV deployments across facilities and campuses, the mighty digital signage player has seen a flurry of innovation in recent years. In addition to boosted performance to handle today’s demanding video formats and resolutions, the latest breed of devices boast features to make tech managers’ lives easier, too.

The following is a collection of the latest models from leading manufacturers.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to the New Era of Digital Signage

BrightSign XT Series

BrightSign’s XT media players are designed for enterprise applications demanding high performance and state-of-the-art technology. With a 4K video engine, BrightSign’s fastest HTML and graphics engine, and the company’s most powerful CPU, BrightSign XT is well suited for leading-edge digital signage installations involving H.264 and H.265 decoding, Dolby Vision and HDR10 media profiles, and 1080p and 4K playback including Mosaic Mode. 

BrightSign’s XT media players are powered by a hardware-accelerated HTML5 rendering engine that enables playback of multiple modular HTML5 assets including Javascript, CSS animations, WebGL, and even swipe/gesture interactivity. All BrightSign XT models feature gigabit Ethernet, dual 4K video decoding, 4K full resolution graphics, PoE+, and HDMI In for Live TV playback. BrightSign’s XT media players deliver near-zero downtime with high performance at a competitive price.

Elo Backpack

The Elo Backpack is engineered to transform standard digital signage into an interactive experience. The Android compute engine enables users to run audio and video content, interactive HTML webpages, and/or Android-based apps. It features the flexibility and functionality of Google Play Services, enabling apps to take advantage of the latest Google-powered features. The Elo Backpack also features EloView, Elo’s Android MDM, streamlining the deployment and management process. With integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and expansive I/O options, Backpack helps facilitate the creation of unique interactive signage solutions.

Built on Elo’s Unified Architecture, users can scale across sizes and form factors from 7 to 65 inches, creating a consistent, cost-effective deployment optimized for commercial use. 

Enplug Digital Signage Player

Enplug’s High-Performance Digital Signage Player is designed to drive content to any digital signage endpoint within the Enplug ecosystem. The player is tested against top industry standards for reliability, broad compatibility, and 4K support. Enplug users can connect the player to any HD display in portrait or landscape orientation to deliver content with 1080p and 4K video playback at 60 frames per second. 

Content is updated via Wi-Fi or Ethernet and stored locally on the device for uninterrupted operation, even if the internet is temporarily disconnected. Once the internet connection is restored, the player automatically re-connects and updates any content.

Kramer VIA GO²

VIA GO² gives iOS, Android, Chromebook, PC, and Mac users wireless connectivity with 4K advanced presentation capabilities. The product features content streaming with mirrored images and video playback and includes iOS, Windows, and Android mirroring. VIA GO² is compact (7x7cm) and flexible to install with both built-in Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity and includes 1024-bit encryption for secure use on the internal network. VIA GO², when it isn’t actively presenting, acts as an interactive display signage tool. Its small form factor makes it easy to conceal behind the display for a sleek profile.

MuxLab 4K Digital Signage Player

MuxLab’s DigiSign Plus CMS Software and 4K Digital Signage Player are engineered with robust features and user-friendly operation. MuxLab DigiSign Plus CMS works with its 4K Digital Signage Player Plus (model 500789) and allows users to create, arrange, manage, and schedule video, images, audio, and HTML content from a variety of sources, including content streaming via an H.264/H.265 codec over a local Ethernet network, the internet, via internal memory and external USB 3.0 memory devices.

The system supports numerous widgets including RSS and Instagram feeds, text tickers, clocks, stocks, exchanges, weather info, and maps. The system supports multiview layouts, including picture-in-picture (PIP) and the ability to create a schedule of up to 1 year or more of content in advance. The user can then publish the signage content and schedule to the 4K Digital Signage Players distributed throughout a network and displayed on the connected TVs.

PureLink MPX100 II

PureLink’s MPX100 II Wireless Digital Signage solution includes the MPX Content Management Suite, offering comprehensive digital signage program creation including on-demand touchscreen programming and a full range of scheduling tools. Complete diagnostics and metrics are available from any player throughout an MPX system where users can create anywhere from one to hundreds of players spanning different states, and manage them all from one location. It also enables the creation of many different access roles to allow content creators, administrators, and others access the system anywhere, anytime.

Samsung S-Box

Samsung’s SNOW-JMU S-Box for indoor, direct-view LED displays, such as Samsung’s The Wall, allows businesses of all sizes to deliver visual content with a fast processor and enhanced image quality. Additionally equipped with Samsung’s MagicINFO software for content management, the S-Box offers memory and connectivity options, making it well suited for usability across a variety of industries including education, corporate, healthcare, retail, dining, and more. Further, users can update and manage the content remotely, allowing for the connected displays to showcase up-to-the-minute content. For organizations and businesses looking to manage content in highly sensitive environments, the S-Box is fully supported by Tizen 4.0, Samsung’s secure, custom operating system.

Shuttle DH470

Shuttle’s new DH470 is designed to provide high performance from a tiny footprint. Featuring a compact and rugged design with low-temp operation, the digital signage player offers up to 10 cores for multitasking and smooth video. At 43mm in height, the DH470 has enough room to add a 2.5-inch hard drive as well as dual M.2 expansion cards and support up to 64GB of DDR4 memory. Input/output options include up to eight USB and two serial ports as well as built-in HDMI 2.0a and DisplayPort ports, with two RS-232 interfaces as well as an SDXC card reader. The platform also supports integrated UHD graphics and PCIe controllers, and its industrial capacitors meet demanding environmental conditions, operable in 32–122 degrees F (0–50 degrees C) temperatures.

SpinetiX HMP400

Designed for digital signage, the SpinetiX solution featuring the new HMP400 player combines commercial-grade hardware with a purpose-built operating system for operation in a variety of applications. Together with the preinstalled DSOS by SpinetiX operating system, the player supports three modes of use on top of the built-in SpinetiX ARYA cloud-based service. These modes enable users to deliver interactive, data-driven digital signage content that integrates with third-party technology like sensors, cameras, smart buildings, queue management systems, and more.

Engineered in Switzerland and made in Germany, the HMP400’s powerful hardware is capable of reliably delivering 4K60 video in 24/7 operation for a decade. It features an Intel Atom processor, passive heat dissipation, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). A Wi-Fi version is also available.

ViewSonic NMP520-W

The ViewSonic NMP520-W network media player is engineered to deliver reliable 4K multimedia playback and messaging to large-format displays. Equipped with the latest Rockchip RK3368 Octa Core Cortex-A53 64-bit SoC chipset, the NMP520-W offers high-performance functionality in a small package. The compact profile and VESA-compatible design make it well suited for out-of-site installation behind digital signage displays, while the industrial casing make it durable for commercial environments. 

With 16GB of built-in memory, the NMP520-W can store and playback hours of high-definition content, and because it is based on an Android 8.1 operating system, it is compatible with standard digital signage industry software. The NMP520-W comes with connectivity options including HDMI 2.0, USB 2.0, wired Gigabit and wireless LAN, Bluetooth, audio out, and an SD card reader. 

Visix Nano

The Visix Nano is purpose-built to provide reliable 1080p playback for digital signs in the smallest package available, measuring just 2.75 inches square. The Nano is Visix’s smallest player yet, and is designed to fit anywhere, including ceilings and other tight spaces where compact footprint is a requirement. The player is well suited for less video-intensive applications that still demand highly reliable performance from a compact, economical digital signage player.

The Nano player integrates features including 64GB eMMC storage, 4GB LPDDR4 memory, and support for wired and wireless networking. It is powered by the Intel Apollo Lake Celeron N3350 Processor, and comes with a Kensington security port.

VITEC EZ TV EP5+

VITEC’s IPTV and Digital Signage Platform, called EZ TV, manages IP video content across any network to enhance communication for military, enterprise, and sports venues. Designed to scale to meet the requirements of any size deployment, it is managed from a centralized server, and the Digital Signage module is robust enough to support the most advanced signage workflows.

The EZ TV platform uses hardware-based endpoints to deliver IP video in HD or 4K, and will work on mobile devices and PC browsers connected on the network. The new EZ TV EP5+ player is a 4K enabled, multi-display device that can send four HDMI signals for a single image to span any 4x screen configuration. This single-device solution is engineered to replace the need for a video wall processor or multiple discreet devices, enabling small-scale video wall deployments that reduce both cost and complexity.

The What: NEC Display Solutions has launched the latest version of MediaPlayer for its digital signage solutions. MediaPlayer software comes pre-installed on NEC´s Raspberry Pi Compute Module at no additional charge, delivering easier setup and operation, increased performance and customization for digital display boards in retail, digital menu boards, leisure, and corporate communication applications.

The What Else: The MediaPlayer is a plug-and-play digital signage solution that’s designed to be easy to install and customize. With NEC´s MediaPlayer, the latest, real-time visual experiences are now faster and easier to set up, showing target audiences dynamic, up-to-date information and advertising.

Related: NEC Display Expands ProAssist Software to More Projectors

“A key feature of our new MediaPlayer is its ability to operate as a hub for partner companies to allow the user a smooth installation of the supported CMS systems, directly from our MediaPlayer,” said Chris Feldman, product manager at NEC Display Solutions of America. “As requirements and markets change, we can even extend its functionality and enhance performance. This can be done without the need to alter the base infrastructure of the signage solution.”

“The NEC MediaPlayer is easy to install, exchange, and upgrade,” said Art Marshall, product line manager at NEC Display Solutions. “The software is designed to allow the further addition of third-party applications and integration with their solutions. It perfectly complements our modular SoC and computing philosophy. It’s an out-of-the-box solution that’s built to last and grow alongside our corporate ambition and the constantly evolving needs of our customers. Non-experts as well as experienced installers will benefit from the ease and reliability of our system.”   

The Bottom Line: This modular SoC MediaPlayer solution can be integrated inside any compatible NEC display offering the Raspberry Pi slot. It enables the remote operation of setups with individual as well as multiple screens supported by browser-based playlist and content distribution as well centralized device management. Organizations can choose various media formats and web content via the browser for all kinds of demands.

The NEC MediaPlayer comes pre-installed on the Raspberry Pi CM3+ offered by NEC Display Solutions. Starting in October 2020, all NEC –MPi bundles will be offered consisting of NEC V series 40-98-inch and C series 65-98-inch models, which include the Raspberry Pi CM3+ with 32GB internal memory with MediaPlayer pre-installed. 

Ahead of  the 2020 PSNI Global Evolve Marketing Summit, we sat down with the organization's Preferred Vendor Partners to hear about their latest offerings for integrators.

Interview with Ann Holland, Vice President of Marketing, BrightSign.

AVN: Tell us about your latest product.

ANN HOLLAND: BrightSign’s market leading product line has always focused on a line of purpose-built media players with a commercial-grade, proprietary operating system. 

BrightSign OS 8. BSN.cloud, with its free Control Cloud platform for real-time connectivity to a network of BrightSign players, was launched in early 2020. The benefits of setting up, monitoring, and updating players using the BSN.cloud service ushered in even tighter partnerships with leading digital signage CMS providers. 

Pivoting quickly to help businesses re-open safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, BrightSign introduced BrightLink, BrightMenu, BrightVoice, and the BrightSign/Bluefox Count solutions to enabled safer consumer experiences in retail, restaurants, corporate, and other environments.

AVN: What resources are available to your integrators to market their business?

AH: BrightSign offers an image resource library and a set of video training and other dealer resources. BrightSign’s marketing department is always willing to share any promotional materials we’ve created for our products and services, and our PR department is ready and able to publicize new and interesting digital signage installations. Just ask!

AVN: How can integrators partner with you on case studies?

AH: First, please be sure you have permission from the end customer and access to high-res photography. Permission to use video is great, too! Then just reach out to me at aholland@brightsign.biz.

AVN: What is the number one thing integrators can do to market their business?

AH: At BrightSign, we think PR goes a very long way. Our industry is built on personal relationships. Partnerships and innovation are key. When the word gets out in the industry press about new, impressive installations, an integrator’s business is in the spotlight for all to see.

AVN: How is your company dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic?

AH: BrightSign began preparing for the work-at-home situation before the orders were given. While a small number of us are much more productive from the office, most of our employees have been successfully working from home for many months. 

We have been very busy not only creating, marketing and selling our new solutions, but refining our processes to improve our customer’s experience with BrightSign. Business is ramping back up, our project pipeline is robust and we have plenty of inventory for a successful second half of 2020.

For more information on the PSNI Global Alliance, visit psni.org.

Leyard and Planar showcase their latest display and video wall innovations across a network of showrooms worldwide. The New York Showroom is located on 11th Avenue in New York City.

The New York showroom occupies the entire fifth floor of a historic building constructed in 1905. The showroom is separated into a dozen different vignettes that demonstrate how Leyard and Planar displays can be integrated into various commercial and residential settings, including conference rooms, office lobbies, common meeting areas, and home theaters.

An inviting reception area features a Leyard TWA Series LED video wall measuring 108 inches diagonally. With a 1.2-millimeter pitch, the Leyard TWA Series delivers benefits unique to its flat-panel design, including enhanced image quality, a 16:9 form factor optimized for the most popular resolutions, and ease of installation and service. The Leyard TWA Series video wall is powered by a BrightSign 4K media player running Hypersign software. In addition, Hypersign Creative Services put together an interactive product walk-through of each room's hardware, furniture, and decor to touch on the companies that service a wonderful experience.

Another showcase area highlights a Leyard TVF Series stackable front-access LED video wall. Measuring 71.5 inches diagonally, this video wall also features a 1.2-millimeter pitch. The Leyard TVF Series is built on a stackable design that eliminates cabinet-to-cabinet cabling and reduces the complexity of installation and vertical alignment. Powering the Leyard TVF Series video wall is another BrightSign 4K media player running Hypersign software.

The kitchen area features an application of the Leyard CarbonLight CLA Series. At just over 13 feet in width and 10 inches high, the display follows a subtle s-curve design and appears to be suspended midway between the ceiling and cabinet tops. The elongated form factor lends itself particularly well to live scrolling content, such as stock market tickers and social media feeds. The BrightSign LS media player running Hypersign software that powers the kitchen LED configuration is capable of feeding both static, locally hosted content, as well as live content from outside sources.

The vignettes described above were designed and implemented under the guidance of Hypersign, whose creative services team developed engaging content for these LED video walls in the New York showroom. As a preferred partner of Leyard and Planar, Hypersign delivers a cloud-based software platform for easy, intuitive creation and deployment of digital signage content.

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company—one of the world’s largest operators of amusement parks, water parks, and park resort properties—recently updated the guest-facing digital signage networks in its 11 parks located across the U.S. and near Toronto, Ontario. Reflect was tasked with managing the initiative, which required overhauling content distribution to 545 digital screens.

The vast AV infrastructure is used to broadcast Cedar Fair’s digital signage content, which can be seen in ride queue areas throughout the parks. The content, which is focused on entertaining guests, includes a wide variety of content types including long-form videos, text-to-win campaigns, data visualization around ride wait times, and paid advertising placements, all of which runs on the Reflect ReflectView CMS platform via BrightSign’s Series 4 XT media players.

“With such a vastly distributed network, we needed media players that would withstand the rigors of year-round use,” said Lee Summers, Reflect CEO. “Reliability was a key consideration, which led us directly to BrightSign.”

Reflect removed approximately 120 legacy players and replaced them with a combination of BrightSign’s XT244 and XT1144 players. The new infrastructure enables Cedar Fair to broadcast content to all parks, while also empowering individual parks to customize content for their particular locations.

An added benefit of the new AV network is the ability to easily manage DOOH advertising campaigns via the Reflect AdLogic advertising platform. AdLogic enables the content schedulers to simply import advertising content, and AdLogic automatically schedules the ads to play at the ideal times to meet key campaign metrics, including playback totals, frequency, and targeted audience impressions.

Reflect completed the entire project in just eight short weeks, achieving Cedar Fair’s goal of enhancing the guest experience with the latest AV technology. Delivering informative content in the parks’ queue spaces keeps guests entertained as they wait in line, while providing Cedar Fair a new ad-based revenue stream to significantly offset the cost of installation. 

The What: Visix (booth 2321) will showcase its new digital signage media player at InfoComm 2019 in Orlando. The small-form-factor device is designed to provide a flexible playback solution with two-, three-, or four-output playback.

The What Else: The device has 8GB of memory, 120GB of SSD storage, and measures 8.17 inches wide by 6.01 inches deep by 1.87 inches high, with the power supply integrated into the chassis. Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 64-bit OS, Vega-based graphics, and optimized performance settings provide enterprise-class performance.

“This is a fantastic addition to our player lineup”, said Joe Murray, systems engineer for Visix. “This is the smallest, most powerful, and most flexible multi-output player that we’ve ever offered. It addresses a wide range of client needs with crucial features like EDID emulation and bezel correction. This is a great option for anyone who wants built-in flexibility for reconfiguration or expansion in their digital signage system.”

The Bottom Line: The new player combines the convenience of an SFF device with the power and features of a video wall player, allowing display of up to four video streams.

The What: MuxLab has released a comprehensive new software system that is designed to make it easy to select, manage, and control many types of audiovisual content in a digital signage system. MuxLab’s 4K Digital Signage Media Player (model 500769) with DigiSign CMS software aims to strengthen the company’s commitment to driving better user experiences based on high functioning software with greater flexibility. 

The What Else: With DigiSign, content from various sources can be autonomously scheduled for weeks, offering an independent, "set-and-forget" functionality. Multi-view window layouts are supported and can be created with audio, video, and images, including text banners and logos. Content can play simultaneously from different sources on one display or many for video wall applications. 

The 4K Digital Signage Media Player's low bandwidth supports connectivity among a variety of today’s most popular sources for content. This includes streaming AV via the H.264/H.265 codec over a local Ethernet network or the internet as well as content loaded onto its internal memory drive or from an external USB 3.0 memory device. The entire system is HDMI 2.0 compatible with DigiSign supporting multiple window views and scheduling ability to automatically deliver customized windowed content based on a weekly schedule. Multiple video, audio, and image file formats can be displayed at any given time. Video is output up to 4K60 (4:4:4) and the player can upscale 1080p60 video to 4K60 (4:4:4). AV can be assigned to one display or delivered to MuxLab’s AV over IP transmitters to support virtual matrix and video wall configurations. 

“This digital signage system functions as a complete end-to-Mend solution, taking AV from various sources to a video wall configuration and various displays,” said MuxLab’s president, Daniel Assaraf. “By advancing our support for the hardware and software aspects of digital signage as well as the H.264/5 codec and 4K, we’re giving our customers the technologies they need for their future.”

The Bottom Line: DigiSign is engineered to provide users an intuitive interface in which to gather, load, and schedule content, and can handle everything from simple installations to highly sophisticated signage systems.  

The What: BrightSign has unveiled new HD and LS media players, rounding out its Series 4 player family. The three new BrightSign HD4 and LS4 models feature upgraded player hardware and run the latest version of BrightSign’s dedicated operating system (v8.0)

The What Else: Both players feature major updates to the HTML rendering engine, with the HD4 now offering 4K native decode supporting HDMI 2.1 and HDR10. Both the HD4 and LS4 boast higher power efficiency than their Series 3 counterparts. BrightSign OS 8.0 offers a host of enhancements, giving web developers a much better, more recent set of development tools for Chrome.

The Bottom Line: The new HD and LS players join BrightSign’s previously announced XD and XT players to complete the Series 4 portfolio.

The What: Carousel Digital Signage has released new 7.4 software for enterprise-class digital signage.

The What Else: The update adds support for BrightSign’s complete range of 4K media players, offering customers a simpler path to a complete 4K Carousel and BrightSign solution as well as more powerful video and graphics.

The previous release (7.3) reduced the amount of time and labor required to configure, deploy, and manage players across enterprise networks. These new integration efficiencies were chiefly tied to new auto-provisioning benefits including high-speed player configuration, remote firmware/software updates, and secure storage of player settings for simplified management and troubleshooting.

The Bottom Line: The new 7.4 release gives integrators and network operators an easier path to 4K while retaining the enhanced integration and management features of the previous release.

• This summer, Mercedes Benz opened a pair of pop-up stores in high-end shopping malls in Miami and Chicago. These new stores—opened for a limited run of just two months—are designed to showcase some of Mercedes Benz’s newest models in a relaxed setting. Space constraints that limit the number of automobiles on display are offset by liberal use of technology to create an immersive, informative customer experience. BrightSign’s media players were used throughout the space, with design and technical consultation provided by Gorilla Production Group and Red Dot Digital Media.

“Limited square footage required that we think creatively about how to utilize the space as efficiently as possible—and that’s where digital signage offers a huge creative advantage,” said Paul George, president, Gorilla Production Group. “The video walls we installed function not just for the sake of information delivery, but as artistic focal points to draw-in customers and serve as striking backdrops to the cars on display.”

60 displays were carefully distributed in each of the Mercedes Benz stores, 16 of which create a traditional 4x4 video walls that display videos, vehicle specifications, and other anecdotal information about Mercedes Benz. The displays—32-, 43-, or 65-inch—are all from the LG SM5KD Series; the screens are hung with a custom wall mounting system designed by Gorilla Production Group,

The two other video walls are mounted on separate walls that join at a 90-degree angle where dozens of displays are tiled together in a mix of vertical and horizontal orientation, mounted at various depths to create a unique three-dimensional look. These video walls synchronize to create a single piece of art, displaying a mix of artistic photography and animated art, interlaced with Mercedes Benz branding. The remaining displays are wall-mounted horizontally in a casual seating area framed by leather couches.

BrightSign’s HD223 media players feed content to all 60 displays in each store, including 41 43-inch screens, 15 32-inch screens, and four 65-inch screens. BrightSign’s BrightWall feature within BrightAuthor was essential in creating and publishing content that synchronizes perfectly across all three video walls, according to the company.

“Creating three video walls in a relatively small space required that we space the individual displays just right, and that the content displayed perfectly on each screen to create the impact we desired,” said Darryl Kuder, president, Red Dot Digital Media. “BrightSign’s hardware and software works seamlessly and are essential to perfecting high-visibility projects like our latest collaboration with Mercedes Benz.”

Visix, Inc. will exhibit in booth C2328 at InfoComm 2018, June 6-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The company will premiere a range of new products at the show, including new digital signage software applications, content designs, room signs and media players.

“InfoComm is a terrific venue to show off our extensive approach to visual communications,” said Trey Hicks, chief sales officer for Visix. “AxisTV Signage Suite gives us a modern and scalable platform, so we can quickly satisfy market demands and customer expectations. The data mapping features alone are already blowing customers’ minds, and we’re adding new features and widgets almost monthly. With this new platform, our content designs and room signs, we offer clients and channel partners a single source for comprehensive digital signage solutions.”

AxisTV Signage Suite

Visix will premiere its new Campus and Enterprise products from the Signage Suite digital signage software line. Signage Suite offers dynamic apps, a growing library of widgets, powerful data-mapping tools, smart playlists and playback previews—all managed in an intuitive content management system. Clients can choose from cloud or on-premise solutions with subscriptions or perpetual licenses. Expansion is turnkey, so customers can start with one product and upgrade to another by simply purchasing new licenses:

• AxisTV Enterprise lets clients manage communications on any scale with unlimited user accounts delivering content to an unlimited number of players and screens. Enterprise includes 10 categories of widgets for supporting data integration, on-demand interactive content and more with extensive support for sub-organizations.
• AxisTV Campus lets clients share content management across campus with unlimited user accounts delivering content to an unlimited number of players and screens. Campus supports commonly used higher education applications like 25Live, EMS and Google Calendar while providing the content approval workflows and alert notification capabilities (available in Q3) needed by universities.
• AxisTV Workgroup lets clients share content management with up to 50 people contributing and delivering content to up to 100 players and screens, and has tools to support departmental deployments with team-focused content and easy integration of organization-wide messaging.
• AxisTV Team lets customers share content management across a team of up to five people contributing to deliver content to as many as 50 players and screens for an entire organization.
• AxisTV One is perfect for a single digital signage power user, letting them centralize content management while delivering content to as many as 25 players and screens.

InfoComm 2018 will be the first time that visitors can see new enterprise features like support for interactive designs and hot spots, Active Directory Single Sign-On, and unlimited users with assignable rights.

Content Designs

InfoComm 2018 will be the first time that attendees can see ready-made content designs that will be available for purchase by Signage Suite clients. These artwork packs and kits are designed for easy installation and customization, and include background artwork, employee recognition bundles, student messaging packs, and kits for building countdowns, financial stocks dashboards, menu boards, directories and more.

Visix will also highlight their award-winning interactive designs with real-world client projects showing touchscreen wayfinding and directories, responsive HTML5 designs, custom kiosks, social media modules and more.

Meeting Room Signs

Visix will showcase the company’s entire MeetingMinder™ room sign line in booth C2328, with interactive and E Ink models on display.

Visix will show off their new Touch10 interactive room sign—a sleek new unit with a 10-inch screen that displays event calendars, allows room scheduling at the sign, and extends digital signage playlists to meeting rooms.

Also on display will be the company’s Connect and electronic-paper (EPS) room signs. Connect interactive room signs are a stand-alone solution that show room calendars from popular apps, and offer extensive room booking and meeting management features at the sign. EPS room signs use E Ink technology, and are an economical, wireless option for room management or office hoteling, with custom faceplates available in a range of shapes and sizes.

All Visix room signs show data from popular event management systems, like Exchange, EMS, and Google Calendar. Visix’s Conference app also allows you to combine multiple calendars from various systems for display on a single sign.

Video Wall Players

Visix booth C2328 will feature a variety of video walls powered by their four- and six-output media players.

These players support video walls made up of HD displays without a separate video processor. The players are only 2.5 inches tall, are powered by an Intel i7 processor, and have 8GB of memory and a high-performance graphics card with Mini Display Port outputs. The players also support full 1080p resolution per output for both landscape and portrait applications.

The What: AV Stumpfl will debut its next-generation media server software solution and media servers—PIXERA software, PIXERA One, and PIXERA Two—at InfoComm 2018. The 64-bit system for real-time media processing, compositing, and management is built around the theme of usability.

The What Else: According to the company, the PIXERA software is designed with a "groundbreaking" user-friendly GUI, and features seamless integration of 2D and 3D spaces for fast show programming, compositing, and warping/projection mapping.

• PIXERA One is a compact 1U server model that can be upgraded to play back uncompressed 4K at 60fps. It has a depth of 45cm, and will be available with two or four outputs.
• PIXERA Two is a 2U server model that is similar to the PIXERA One, but offers more customization options and a redundant power supply. PIXERA Two will be available with two, four or eight outputs.

"In order to have a real impact on the highly competitive media server and media playout software market, our development team came up with a radical new approach," Horst Damoser, global business development manager, AV Stumpfl said. "There are many great systems out there, but we believe that PIXERA is the only one that strictly follows a product philosophy that lets users focus on their work instead of having to focus on technology. At the end of a busy working day, we want PIXERA users to be able to think about what they achieved that day and not about which sub-menus they had to click."

The Bottom Line: Both media servers models are scheduled to be officially released together with the PIXERA software later this year as part of a new media server product structure that will be gradually implemented in the next 12 months. These products can be seen at InfoComm 2018 in Booth C3810.

The term “media player” tends to inspire confusion in digital signage projects. The industry saying, “one size does not fit all,” only adds to the confusion by putting more options on the table. What should be prioritized as you sort through media player options? What should you know before you select a media player for your next job? The answers lie in the engineering services of your media services supplier. Here are the top 5 things to watch for:

1. A top-tier media services supplier starts with engineering design to the most demanding specs of new modular compute technology. The goal is to allow for easy maintenance, upgrade options, and the potential for custom I/O designed for demanding digital signage applications such as QSR, retail, and wayfinding.

2. A top-tier supplier gets products installation-ready before shipping them out.

3. Software should come loaded on media players, ready for the customer’s field installation and testing of the players to the highest levels of performance.

4. The media players are tested in a thermal chamber before shipping to make sure they perform in heat-intensive environments—so they’re sure to perform reliably, 24/7 in any field conditions.

5. The supplier itself should offer engineering services and support for multiple levels of integrator and end user.

Engineering Design to the Most Demanding Specs of Modular Computer Technology—and Fortune 500 Standards

• From an engineering perspective there is probably no more important Fortune 500 company than Intel. Seneca—the visual media/digital signage media player solutions arm of Arrow Electronics, Inc.—was recently selected was recently selected by Intel to design an enclosure for the new Intel Compute Card technology. Seneca was selected specifically to design a purpose-built solution for use in visual retail, including digital signage and kiosk. The Seneca XK-Dock was engineered as an ultra-small form factor enclosure for the Intel Compute Card, bringing tremendous value to designers, OEMs, channel partners, and AV end users. This design provides a new-generation media player based on a hardened form factor with industrial features, fanless design for rough environments, a simple installation protocol, the capacity to upgrade a system without removing the player enclosure, the ability to lock down a compute card for IT security, and a modular card and dock to allow multiple platforms on the same hardware. Bottom line: the modular compute technology allows for easy maintenance and upgrade path, and the design resists dirt, dust, grease, and grime (because there is no fan). This solution provides custom I/O designed for digital signage applications like QSR, retail, and wayfinding.

Engineering Services: Getting Products Installation-Ready Before Shipping Them Out

Media players are media players, and content and deployment issues are separate—or so some may think. They should think again. The best media player supplier does indeed get products installation-ready before shipping them out. How? The best media player supplier actually can load the software for media players before shipping, in preparation for the customer’s field installation, to test the real-world functionality of the players to their highest levels of performance and simulate real-world installation conditions.

“A major QSR chain came to us,” explains Jami McGraw, Global Product Manager, at Arrow Electronics and its Seneca media player line, “to replace media players from another provider that were failing in the field. As we would do for any customer, we actually ran the digital content in a test, in field conditions, and used custom firmware to control wattage to components, avoiding any problem that would arise in the field. So when installed, the Seneca media players performed flawlessly, over time.”

Trial by Heat—Testing at a Higher Level, in Preparation for the Toughest Conditions in the Field

“We have the most rigorous test labs in the industry,” says Seneca’s McGraw. “Whether for QSR environments, or kiosks, you need to know that the media players will perform at 100%. And it’s not just for heat-generating QSRs, restaurants, or outdoor environments. Yes, it’s crucial for those, but a lot of indoor environments are challenging, because heating in winter and AC in summer can play havoc with enclosed kiosks, for example. And in today’s smart city environments, there is more and more display activity everywhere. If you don’t test—as we do in thermal chambers—and spec for the toughest environment, you won’t get ROI in any environment.”

Beyond “Custom”: Engineering Confidence for Every AV Integrator, Not Just Fortune 500 Companies

So Arrow/Seneca’s advanced engineering services are not just about shipping out media players and AV integrators hoping for the best in the field. But is that kind of rigorous design and engineering affordable for all AV integrators?

“At Arrow/Seneca,” says McGraw, “there is no price added for this kind of custom testing and rigorous engineering. Because of our design and engineering processes, we have less than 1% failure rate on media players. How does that affect you? Because with those kinds of engineering/manufacturing efficiencies, we save on the front end, the manufacturing end, and that translates to savings to the AV integrator and end user. Our highest selling media player actually has just a .8% failure rate. The stats that are important to you? As a provider of media player solutions for the world’s top manufacturers, we bring the same level of rigorous testing and market preparation to each order that we offer Fortune 500 companies—and it is, in fact, the low-failure-rate savings, to us, that results from all our testing, that makes that kind of engineering service affordable to all AV integrators.”

Additional Resources

Seneca XK-Dock for Digital Signage and Kiosk

Seneca was selected by Intel to design an enclosure for the new Intel Compute Card technology, for use in Visual Retail including digital signage and kiosk.

Case Study: Big Sports and Big Streaming at Montreal’s Bell Centre Arena

Programmed content for a Major League Hockey team, including hockey player profiles and advertising, via a Seneca HD2.5 media player housing a quad-output graphics card on a multicast Avaya network.

Seneca XK-1.3 for Full-Motion Video Complex Database Feeds and HDCP Protected Content Playback

Seneca has redesigned and re-launched the Seneca XK-1.3–the purpose built media appliance that uses desktop class processors rather than mobile technology usually found in other small form factor computers– for dynamic full-motion video, complex database feeds and HDCP protected content playback.

The What: Midas Touch has introduced the MES-4190, an energy-efficient fan-less embedded PC suited for extreme applications with extended temperature and wide range voltage capability.

The What Else: The slim-box PC utilizes an onboard Intel Celeron quad-core processor J1900 to boast both higher performance and lower power consumption. The embedded computer supports system memory up to 8GB with one DDR3L-1066/1333 SO-DIMM socket and offers VGA display outputs.

With full-featured of I/O interfaces, the Intel Celeron-based MES-4190 supports one DP-9 for standard RS-232/-422/-485 port, one mini-display port for VGA or HDMI, one Gigabit Ethernet LAN port, and three USB 2.0.

The Bottom Line: Supporting wide operating temperature between minus-10 to plus-50 degrees Celsius, the fan-less embedded PC is suited for wide range of applications. Its passive cooling design also offers quiet operation with low power consumption.

The What: Matrox Graphics and IBASE have collaborated on the SI-61S nine-monitor system. Designed specifically to drive 3x3 video walls for digital signage applications, this Matrox C900-powered bundle features nine HDMI ports and a dedicated graphics processor designed to power all displays as one contiguous desktop at the full 5,760x3,240 resolution. The solution is on display at IBASE’s DSE booth, 2849.

The What Else: In addition to I/O flexibility, resolution support, and GPU performance, the Matrox C900 card in the SI-61S supports video wall software expansion including compatibility with the Matrox MuraControl video wall management software, the Matrox NetAPI video wall development API, and a host of Matrox-compatible, third-party video wall control and management suites.

“Scaling HD or 4K content to fit across nine HD panels is a cheap and convenient way to power 3x3 video walls that are viewed from a distance,” said Samuel Recine, director of sales, Americas and Asia Pacific, Matrox Graphics. “But retailers, gaming houses and casinos, transport agencies, hospitality businesses, stadiums, and arenas are also putting video walls in windows that patrons pass only a few inches away from. At this distance, the effects of scaling are visible to viewers and powering each screen of a 3x3 video wall at its native resolution is unbeatable for visual acuity, fine text, very sharp lines, image clarity, and overall customer engagement.”

“Based on 7th Gen Intel Core desktop processors, the brand new IBASE SI-61S is an awesome digital signage hardware solution for video wall applications,” said Jackson Mao, product planning division vice president of IBASE. “Video walls with high resolution are now in high demand, especially 3x3 display configuration. We’re excited to showcase at DSE the IBASE SI-61S powered by a PCI Express x16 Matrox C900 graphics card that supports nine outputs with the best display density and performance.”

The Bottom Line: This 18.7-megapixel signage player maintains the popular Full HD aspect ratio of 1.78 while allowing nine times the pixel count for large digital signage applications.

Broadsign International has reached an agreement with Westfield Corporation, one of the world’s largest shopping center owners and managers, to power Westfield’s existing digital media network of 500 screens located at 18 flagship shopping centers across the U.S.

The full Broadsign platform will be used to power the Westfield Network, which is designed and managed by Esprit Digital, a full-service digital signage installation, maintenance, and support provider. This includes Broadsign Control to automate the delivery of targeted and contextual messaging and advertisements to Westfield’s network of digital screens, as well as Broadsign Direct to help Westfield’s brand ventures team more efficiently manage and sell ad space. Westfield will also be integrating its inventory with Broadsign Reach to make its network available programmatically to global media buyers.

“When the right content is displayed to the right audience, advertising and messaging is complementary to the shopper experience,” said Charley DeLana, EVP of brand ventures at Westfield. “We want to provide advertisers with every opportunity to reach consumers in interesting and exciting ways, and Broadsign allows us to execute on this forward-thinking vision.”

The partnership includes integration with Quividi’s audience analytics software to detect Westfield’s audience demographics. The network also integrates behavioral and environmental triggers such as weather and location data to add further context to campaigns, and TINT software to stream user-generated social media content to screens in real time.

The ability to optimize content to be relevant to Westfield’s hundreds of millions of annual visitors—regardless of the location, the time of day, and the screen in question—helps deliver efficient ad content for brands and enables Westfield to better connect with consumers.

“Successful shopping malls are those that go beyond a simple retail destination to create a unique and exciting experience,” said Maarten Dollevoet, SVP of global sales at Broadsign. “Through our partnership, Westfield is able to merge retail and media to create an environment that is beneficial to visitors, retailers, and advertisers alike.”

All involved parties will be part of a panel at DSE, with the aim of sharing the experience of this integration and discussing how digital media screens at shopping malls are impressing viewers with aesthetics, functionality, and experiences:

Premium DOOH - The components of a thriving network

Digital out-of-home strategy summit, room S231

Tuesday, March 27, 2:30 p.m.

Moderator:

· Stephanie Gutnik, Broadsign, vice president of business development

Panelists:

· Dave Taylor, Westfield Brand Ventures, senior director of digital operations

· Brett Warner, Quividi, head of business, Americas

· James Brenner, Esprit Digital, owner

· Quinn Cox, TINT, head of business development/partnerships

For more information on the partnership, join Broadsign at DSE at booth 1731.