What this page describes is how the software is designed to behave. It has been tested on the Android 12 emulator, and testing on a real unit is pending.
The short answer
- If you already own the screen, buy a separate player. We do not sell one, and the displays here have no HDMI input.
- If you are buying the screen too, an all-in-one means one case and one power feed, and nothing to hide or lose.
- Ask any seller what the screen shows with no network, and after a power cut. Those answers tell you more than the spec sheet does.
- Files on a card suit a few screens that change now and then. Dozens of screens that change daily need remote management, which is what cloud systems are for.
Three ways to get a player
The screen and the computer can come apart in different places, and each split has its own weak spot.
A TV and a stick. Quick and familiar. The stick is often visible or easy to knock out, and it depends on the TV coming back to the right input after a power cut. Many of these TV setups run through an app with an account behind it. Check the TV's warranty too: AVIXA notes that consumer warranties generally do not cover commercial use.
A monitor and a box. Good when you already own the screen, or when the screen is large. You get to replace either part alone. You also get a box to mount and secure, and two things that can fail.
An all-in-one. The computer is built in. That is what we sell. It suits small screens, where a separate box would be half the size of the sign. The cost is that a failed computer means the whole unit comes off the wall. Our answer to that risk is the 3-year parts and labor warranty, and a published cut-out so the replacement drops into the same hole.
Ten questions to ask any seller
Here is how the IMD Signage Player answers them. Put the same list to anyone else you are considering.
| Question | IMD Signage Player |
|---|---|
| What happens when the network drops? | It plays from internal memory. Nothing in its normal use needs a network. |
| What happens after a power cut? | Set up as the home app, it is designed to start at boot and return to the show. |
| What does the screen show during startup? | The player runs full screen with no launcher and no keyboard once Android has started. Expect the unit to take a moment to boot. |
| Portrait? | Yes. Rotation is a setting. Author slides at 1080 x 1920. |
| Which files? | JPG, PNG and WebP pictures. MP4, M4V and WebM video, with H.264 MP4 the one we recommend. No PowerPoint, PDF, HEIC or GIF. |
| How do I update it? | Card or USB stick by hand, or optional HTTPS sync from your own web server. |
| Is there an account or a fee? | No account, no subscription. |
| Can staff get into settings? | A hidden menu behind a PIN. Nothing is visible during playback. |
| Can I report what played, and when? | No. There are no play logs for reporting and no remote dashboard. |
| Can I run something else? | Yes. It is an Android computer, so your own cloud CMS app or web dashboard can be installed instead. |
The specs that matter on a player
Codec support. H.264 in an MP4 file is the safe choice everywhere. Android's documentation requires decoders for its Baseline and Main profiles. H.265 and VP9 depend on the unit, so do not plan a show around them without a test.
Storage. Find out where the show lives during playback. Ours copies the show into internal memory, then stops reading the card, and it is designed so that pulling the card does not interrupt the picture. If a show does not fit in internal memory, it plays straight from the card without being copied. The spec table for these units does not give an internal storage figure, so ask us if your show runs to many gigabytes.
Ports. Each unit here has gigabit LAN, a Wi-Fi antenna connector, one RS232 port, two USB 3.0 ports, audio in and out, and HDMI out. The HDMI port is an output. You cannot feed a laptop into these screens and use them as a monitor.
Power. Stick and box players usually run from a small mains adapter. Ours runs from 12 to 36 V DC, which suits sites with a low-voltage feed. The power guide has the numbers. There is no PoE.
Where this is the wrong choice
- You already have the screen. Our player is made for our displays. It is not sold as a box.
- You want a screen larger than 23.8 inches. Buy a commercial display and a separate player.
- You sell advertising on the screens. Advertisers usually want proof of play. The player has no such report.
- You want to see every screen from one desk. The player has no dashboard and sends no alerts. If a screen goes dark, someone has to notice. A cloud system does this much better.
- You need web pages, live data or interactive content. The player shows images and video. For anything else, install your own app on the unit.
- You need several screens in frame-accurate sync. That needs a video wall controller or a player built for it.
Questions
What is a digital signage player?
The computer that stores your content and sends it to the screen in a loop. It can be a stick, a box behind the screen, or a board built into the display.
Do I need a separate player with an all-in-one display?
No. The computer is built in. You load the free IMD Signage Player on it, or your own Android app if you prefer. On a ready-to-play quote, we install and test the player.
Can a digital signage player work without internet?
Some can and some cannot, so ask the seller. Ours plays from microSD, USB or internal memory and needs no network. Cloud players vary: some keep a cached copy, others stop.
Can I use the IMD Signage Player on my own TV?
No. It is made for our displays and is not sold for other screens.
Does the player have a monthly fee?
No. There is no subscription and no account.
Planning information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules differ by place: check codes and permits with your local authority and your licensed trades.