JUMP START GUIDE KEYWEST TECHNOLOGY

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1 5 Factors n Selecting The Best Digital Signage Media Player n addition to the flashy content of an advertising or information strategy for digital signage, which gets all of the attention by design, there remains a hidden hardware component entirely responsible for executing the last mile of any digital signage solution. Often taken for granted and overlooked as a critical element to successful digital signage implementation, the execution of a communication strategy is never any better than the hidden media player tasked with processing your media playlist at the point of display. t s often the weakest link in a digital signage deployment, but it doesn t have to be this way. n this white paper, we review the vital factors and magnify important specifications that will give your digital signage deployment a strong execution. By offering a critical look at technologies that will help future-proof your investment, you can prevent the embarrassment of glitchy media playback, dark displays, and technical obsolescence that wastes both time and money. The physical structure of digital signage media players look similar to a mini PC, but don t be fooled; these tiny boxes are engineered for only one task the reliable playout of high-resolution media in a harsh environment. They can do this reliably because new digital signage (DS) media players do not use typical PC architecture. This is a crucial distinction. A modern DS media player is essentially a media appliance to the nternet. t contains optimized hardware and software to accomplish the task at hand nothing else. Of course, today s choices for digital signage include displays with built-in players referred to as SoC (system on a chip). However, SoC displays cannot be honestly compared to a robust DS media player. SoC-powered displays lack the processing power and software features to take advantage of advanced strategies. SoC also ties your media player to a specific display panel, leaving you stuck with weak media playlist options and future flexibility. For example, aggregated media playlists require significant CPU power to parse data in real time, which is a standard feature on modern players. Additionally, SoC displays typically lack the diverse /O ports required to capture this data. Not to be negative on SoC-powered displays, they have their purpose such as small mom & pop shops, but this paper focuses on digital signage networks that demand more than a limited out-of-the-box solution with few if any options for customizations. A bona fide digital signage media player offers a committed user a much better strategic choice. Here are some additional things to consider when shopping for a new digital signage media player, which will aid you in selecting one that meets your immediate needs as well as provide some built-in future proofing.

2 Check the Connectivity Options of the Media Player The ports of the media player are important because they connect to the monitor that you will use for various digital signs. Avoid players with only VA or DV ports, both of which are indicators of old graphics chips with lower resolutions. Look for standard HDM ports that will support native HD video at 1920 x 1080 resolutions. Better yet, the best DS media players will support HDM 2.0, which supports Ultra-HD, commonly called 4K, and is based on a resolution of 3840 x 60fps. Even though HDM will support hi-def audio, it can be useful to have a separate audio port for distributed audio if that is needed in your design. Either a 3.5mm jack or optical audio works fine for this requirement. Another essential port is used to connect the player to a network. deal players will have both multiport b-ethernet and built-in WiFi. f using a wireless connection, look for the newest WiFi standard of ac, which will get you connected to your content source with the highest speed, reliability, and security. t is also useful but not always necessary to have a USB port (V 3.0 preferably). t can be used for offline updates of firmware or even installing a playlist if you want to run the player offline. t can also be used for integrating third-party devices. f your digital signage strategy requires flexibility for interactive customer engagement, wireless interface support changes from a nice to have to a gotta have. For example, for seamless integration into a more extensive campaign, you will want to leverage either Bluetooth, Beacons, NFC, or RS-232 (serial port), any of which may be necessary to handle real-time sensors or smartphone interaction. The best digital signage players come with this support built-in although applications may require programmed widgets to make it work for specific requirements. This type of integration is typically done through an AP and is supported by the digital signage industry at large. Check Memory Scalability Memory type and flexibility is often overlooked when shopping for a digital signage media player, but nothing will kill your media playlist quicker than a lack of available memory. Modern DS media players excel in installations where scalable memory is necessary, often because of the amount of RAM-gobbling high-resolution content used (think 4K).

3 Since content is downloaded and stored locally in a DS media player, its architecture may offer several memory options that are significantly more robust than SoC displays. n fact, it is likley expandable according to your changing requirements. These factors make memory choices a key differentiator, too. However, avoid media players with standard hard disk drives! They may cost less, but they break quickly under the harsh environment of a digital signage player. A hard disk drive is the chief cause of failures in the field. nstead, opt for a modern player design that uses a solid-state drive (SSD) or Flash memory that is commonly available and rugged as nails. Check The Software And Formats Supported For the best user experience and network integration, a digital signage media player should connect to a cloud CMS and support common operating systems or their mobile counterparts, such as: Windows 10 64bit Windows bit Windows 7 32bit / 64bit Ubuntu or > Ubuntu LTS or > Android 5.1 or > Linux Any of these platforms will support third-party media engines. However, look for SML or HTML5 support, which is the most advanced method for players to source playlists from cloud-based servers. Other ways work as well, like FTP, but this method is old school and limits your playlist options significantly. A new digital signage player with a multi-core CPU will likely support many third-party media playout engines that can be software only or may include hardware support. The most reliable media engines that require the lowest CPU power to run smoothly will be using SML or HTML5 programming. This is most important when playing high-resolution videos. Since digital signage playlists are designed to match the display s native resolution, it s crucial to support the highest graphics resolution possible to prevent the dreaded and ugly pixelation of images on giant screens. The best DS players take advantage of advanced graphics processor units (PU), which dedicate hardware to support MP4, H.264, and H.265 codecs among others. By saving a tremendous load on the CPU, advanced PUs provide both glitch-free and reliable ultra-high-resolution playback. Of course, this added hardware support does increase cost, but it also significantly improves the quality of video playout, and in digital signage, this is more important than saving a few dollars. The best digital signage media players will be certified to support Ultra-High Definition (UHD) on HDM 2.0.

4 Define the Cooling Requirements Another important consideration is the mounting location of the player. ndeed, mounting it close to the display is often the best route, but no player can tolerate extreme heat and humidity conditions for long periods of time. Because failure in the field is expensive, it s worth assessing locations before permanently mounting the player. Almost all players will include a specification for operating temperature range and humidity. Most will perform well within the specified ranges. The best way to add flexibility to player mounting options is to look for these features, all of which reduce the heat load on the player: Mobile chipsets in package Solid-state disk (SSD) or Flash memory (no HDD) Built-in metal cooling fins (instead of a fan) Fanless design Less than 65 (operating) watts Theft Prevention Tampering with digital signage players is not typically a major issue, mainly because the player is often mounted near the display, which is likely out of sight and reach of Joe Public. f your installation calls for added security, chiefly because the player is within reach, you will find that the higher quality digital signage players often include a Kensington security slot. Use it! This universal locking system works well for preventing the majority of thefts. However, if you need to lock-down your media player to prevent tampering all together, there are many locking screws on the market (e.g., Key-Rex) that will prevent thefts even in the most prone areas. These are some of the key specifications and factors to be considered when buying the best digital signage media players for your business today. You can likely think of others, too. Now that you are up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies emerging for this under-rated component, go choose a digital signage media player with more confidence!

5 D T A L S N A E KEYWEST TECHNOLOY About Keywest Technology Keywest Technology is an authentic developer of digital signage technology and a full-service provider offering solutions from single-screen playback to large video walls and multi-sign networks. Keywest builds business communication systems with a holistic approach that includes key software technologies, creative design, system design, and comprehensive network-managed services. Based in Lenexa, Kansas, the company is dedicated to making business communication as enjoyable as a day at the beach. For more information, visit