Choosing the right media player

Media players range in size, but many digital signage networks today use devices that are small enough for co-location with the displays themselves.

Making the choice
The above are just some of the many considerations that need to be taken into account when choosing a media player for a digital signage system. Selections can even change through the life of the same project, based on individual screen installation requirements and other hardware specifications.

Not every installation calls for a small, solid-state, fan-less design or, at the other end of the spectrum, an ultra-powerful processor. What every installation has in common, however, is the demand for a flexible and reliable device. It needs to be trusted with the reputation of the digital signage business behind it.

What this means is ultimately, the ideal media player may not be a specific model per se, but rather a platform that supports the flexible processing, storage, expansion and mounting capabilities a single digital signage network may be expected to encounter across multiple project scenarios. When choosing this media player platform, it is important to consider whether it can be configured to meet the individual needs of specific projects by adding or removing components, while still maintaining a high degree of reliability, as promised through warranty and service terms.

In other words, the goal is not so much finding one ideal player as it is finding a vendor with the right mix of products, support and supplementary tools to help ensure the success of present and future digital signage deployments.

Dmitry Sokolov is retail solutions and thin clients category business manager for HP Canada. For more information, visit www.hp.ca.