Screenly - Screenlyhttps://www.screenly.ioMon, 15 Jun 2026 18:39:49 +0000Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:39:49 +00001800<p>You can now use the <a href="https://signage.amazon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amazon Signage Stick</a> with Screenly to simplify your digital signage.</p> <h2 id="what-the-amazon-signage-stick-is">What the Amazon Signage Stick is</h2> <p>The Amazon Signage Stick is a small, affordable, and reliable device built specifically for digital signage. Simply plug it into any screen, connect it to Wi-Fi, and your content displays within minutes. At under $100 per unit, it is one of the more accessible ways to add screens to a signage network.</p> <p>Amazon Signage works with a certified set of content management providers for the Signage Stick. Screenly is now one of them.</p> <h2 id="who-this-is-for">Who this is for</h2> <p>The Amazon Signage Stick is recommended for use by businesses and organizations of all sizes, and across various signage environments:</p> <p>If you already have Amazon Signage Sticks deployed and are looking for a content management platform that better fits your needs, you can now run Screenly on the hardware you already own.</p> <p>If you are managing a mixed fleet of devices, this removes the need for a separate tool. Content delivery to Screenly Players and Amazon Signage Sticks is easily managed from the same dashboard, with consistent security across every screen.</p> <p>For new use cases, locations or pilots, the Amazon Signage Stick is a practical, low-cost way to get started with Screenly before committing to a larger rollout. Scaling your signage is as simple as adding another Stick.</p> <p><a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a>, the hardware-agnostic version of Screenly Player, is what makes this possible. It is designed to run on hardware you already own, and the Amazon Signage Stick is the latest device to join that list.</p> <h2 id="security">Security</h2> <p>Screenly is built around controlling who has access to your screens, how content gets to them, and making sure the software running your displays is something you can rely on. Those principles carry over to the Amazon Signage Stick. You get the same access controls and content integrity you expect from Screenly, on trusted hardware you can pick up anywhere.</p> <h2 id="a-note-on-dedicated-screenly-players">A note on dedicated Screenly Players</h2> <p>We have written before about <a href="/blog/2026/03/02/why-dedicated-hardware-players-are-best-for-enterprise-digital-signage/">why dedicated hardware players are the best choice for enterprise digital signage</a>, and that has not changed. When security requirements are at their strictest, there is a meaningful difference between running software on hardware someone else controls and running it on hardware we built and are responsible for end to end. For large enterprise deployments, healthcare, manufacturing, and environments where that accountability matters, the Screenly Player remains the right choice.</p> <p>The Amazon Signage Stick and the Screenly Player both offer powerful, reliable media players to support a host of use cases across various industry sectors, and for many organizations they work well together. We’re happy to help you define the optimal solution for your organizational needs.</p> <h2 id="what-we-are-working-on-next">What we are working on next</h2> <p>We are working on deeper integration with Amazon Signage’s device management tools, so that monitoring and controlling your Amazon Signage Sticks feels just as seamless as managing any other device in your Screenly fleet. We will share more as that work progresses.</p> <hr> <p><a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Learn more about Screenly Anywhere</a> or <a href="/digital-signage-players/">compare our hardware players</a>.</p> <p>You can buy the Amazon Signage Stick directly on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4FCG9MX/ref=pmkt_cmsscreenly_web">Amazon</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/15/screenly-anywhere-amazon-signage-stick/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/15/screenly-anywhere-amazon-signage-stick/Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>Just in time for InfoComm 2026, Screenly and Crestron are now official partners, and we’re launching support for Crestron AirMedia® in Screenly Anywhere, our player that lets you run Screenly on the hardware you already own.</p> <p>It’s a pairing that just makes sense. Crestron AirMedia® is already in meeting rooms everywhere. With Screenly Anywhere, those same screens can now be managed as digital signage, the same way you’d manage any other Screenly-supported device.</p> <p>If you’re familiar with Screenly on a dedicated Screenly Player or a Raspberry Pi, you’ll feel right at home. Content management works exactly the same way: one dashboard, the same scheduling tools, the same integrations, the same workflows. The only difference is the hardware running it.</p> <h2 id="what-is-screenly-anywhere">What is Screenly Anywhere?</h2> <p>Screenly Anywhere is designed for organizations that want to extend Screenly to the hardware they already have. Instead of deploying new devices, you bring Screenly to the screens you’ve already invested in.</p> <p>With this release, Crestron AirMedia® joins the growing list of platforms where Screenly Anywhere runs natively, meaning your conference room displays, lobby screens, and AV infrastructure can now serve double duty as managed digital signage, right alongside your existing Screenly deployments.</p> <h2 id="one-dashboard-every-screen">One dashboard, every screen</h2> <p>Screenly Anywhere means exactly that: any screen, one dashboard. Whether you’re running a Screenly Player, have Screenly Anywhere installed directly on your display, on an Android or Fire OS device, or now on a Crestron AirMedia® device, everything is managed in the same place. You can:</p> <ul> <li>Schedule and publish content across every screen from one place</li> <li>Push HR updates, event info, and corporate communications to AirMedia® rooms instantly</li> <li>Display web pages, videos, images, apps, and integrations with Salesforce, Power BI, and Grafana</li> <li>Organize screens by location or group and target content exactly where it’s needed</li> </ul> <p>If you’re already a Screenly user, everything works exactly as you’d expect.</p> <h2 id="great-news-for-av-first-organizations">Great news for AV-first organizations</h2> <p>Crestron AirMedia® is trusted in thousands of meeting rooms and enterprise AV environments. Adding Screenly Anywhere to those rooms means you can turn idle display time (the minutes and hours when no meeting is happening) into valuable communication space.</p> <p>Between meetings, your AirMedia® screens can show the same content as every other Screenly-managed display in your organization: safety notices, internal announcements, event schedules, live dashboards, you name it. When a meeting starts, the presentation takes over. When it ends, Screenly picks back up automatically.</p> <p>Your existing AirMedia® setup is all you need.</p> <h2 id="built-for-enterprise-it">Built for enterprise IT</h2> <p>We know that adding new software to AV infrastructure comes with questions around security and manageability. Screenly Anywhere on Crestron AirMedia® comes with the same enterprise-grade features as the rest of the Screenly platform:</p> <ul> <li>SSO/SAML support for centralized identity management</li> <li>Automatic updates so your devices stay current without manual intervention</li> <li>Role-based access and isolated workspace environments</li> <li>Content caching so playback stays smooth even when the network hiccups</li> <li>99.9% uptime backed by Screenly’s cloud infrastructure</li> </ul> <h2 id="try-it-free-for-90-days">Try it free for 90 days</h2> <p>We’re offering Crestron customers a 90-day free trial of Screenly on their AirMedia® devices, no credit card required. Fill out the form and we’ll reach out within one business day to help you get set up. Most teams are live the same day.</p> <p><a href="/lp/digital-signage-crestron-airmedia-trial/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Start your 90-day free trial</a></p> <p>Have questions first? <a href="https://calendar.app.google/cSpt6qtQETFAT5HG8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Talk to our sales team</a> and we’ll walk you through how Screenly fits your setup.</p> <hr> <p>Screenly is trusted by 10,000+ screens across 50+ countries, from manufacturing facilities to corporate campuses to government agencies.</p> <p>Learn more at <a href="/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">screenly.io</a>, and at <a href="https://www.crestron.com/Products/Featured-Solutions/AirMedia?utm_source=screenly&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=screenly-anywhere-crestron-airmedia&utm_content=crestron-airmedia-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">crestron.com/AirMedia</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/08/screenly-anywhere-crestron-airmedia/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/08/screenly-anywhere-crestron-airmedia/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>Welcome to the 6th edition of Screenly Sync, where we share the latest updates across our platform, product, and community.</p> <p>The past few weeks have been among our most active yet. We picked up a major industry award, shipped several significant product updates, expanded our partner ecosystem, and pushed four open-source releases in under 30 days. Here is everything that happened.</p> <h2 id="screenly-wins-the-invidis-strategy-business-critical-award-2026">Screenly wins the invidis Strategy Business Critical Award 2026</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-invidis-strategy-business-critical-award-2026_hu_e470978d6b43fb60.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-invidis-strategy-business-critical-award-2026_hu_ee63ca5c6e89e252.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-invidis-strategy-business-critical-award-2026_hu_850abc9bf4c3e0ea.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-invidis-strategy-business-critical-award-2026_hu_6f66d2f5a3583ced.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-invidis-strategy-business-critical-award-2026_hu_eab43e572fc1e826.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-invidis-strategy-business-critical-award-2026_hu_3ca3b857c4150d80.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-invidis-strategy-business-critical-award-2026_hu_acdeeca50123125c.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-invidis-strategy-business-critical-award-2026_hu_49406d32ddb6c0db.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-invidis-strategy-business-critical-award-2026_hu_850abc9bf4c3e0ea.webp" alt="# Screenly wins the invidis Strategy Business Critical Award Image" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" > </picture> <p>At the <strong>Digital Signage Summit (DSS 2026)</strong>, invidis revealed the winners of its annual Strategy Awards, honoring nine companies for shaping and transforming the digital signage industry. Screenly received the <strong>Business Critical award for Cybersecurity</strong>.</p> <p>The recognition reflects an approach we have held since the beginning: building digital signage from the infrastructure up rather than competing on feature checklists, template libraries, or marketing-centric workflows. The invidis team noted that Screenly has built its proposition around architecture, cybersecurity, and developer flexibility, resulting in a SOC 2-certified platform with open-source roots that challenges conventional assumptions about what a digital signage CMS should look like.</p> <p>We are proud to be recognized alongside other outstanding companies from across the industry. You can see the full list of this year’s winners at <a href="https://invidis.com/news/2026/05/invidis-strategy-awards-2026-the-winners-of-2026/">invidis.com</a>.</p> <hr> <h2 id="product-updates">Product updates</h2> <h2 id="tailscale-remote-configuration-for-screenly-players">Tailscale remote configuration for Screenly players</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-tailscale-cover-image_hu_9a6e37bb37cb97c5.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-tailscale-cover-image_hu_b9a9b5b77324dd74.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-tailscale-cover-image_hu_8f78fbafe0030110.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-tailscale-cover-image_hu_ecc7c9fb1446d933.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-tailscale-cover-image_hu_d7ed481808c31cd5.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-tailscale-cover-image_hu_6f42e34a9b9ec465.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-tailscale-cover-image_hu_7c804b3a3ca22f97.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-tailscale-cover-image_hu_8049d4067e1d532.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-tailscale-cover-image_hu_8f78fbafe0030110.webp" alt="Tailscale remote configuration" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>Screenly players can now be connected to your Tailscale network automatically, directly from workspace settings. You configure the integration once, and every player in your workspace joins your Tailnet. No per-device setup, no manual config files, no firewall rules.</p> <p>This matters because a significant portion of the content digital signage displays is not public. Internal dashboards, intranet pages, data feeds from systems that only exist inside a corporate network. Tailscale removes the traditional workarounds required to reach that content, whether that meant exposing services through reverse proxies or maintaining fragile IP allowlists.</p> <p>The OAuth client requires only the auth key creation scope. This is also the release where we are giving a proper name to something that already exists: ScreenlyOS, the firmware running on Screenly players across Raspberry Pi, x86, and DIY setups. Same platform, now with a name.</p> <p>Full blog post: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/04/remotely-configure-tailscale-on-screenly-players/">You can now remotely configure Tailscale on Screenly players</a></p> <p>Visit the <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/">Screenly Apps directory</a> to get started.</p> <h2 id="password-login-has-been-removed">Password login has been removed</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/password-login-removal-cover-image_hu_f6e79ba31c827c78.webp 480w, /images/blog/password-login-removal-cover-image_hu_f835f3b24a6da6f5.webp 768w, /images/blog/password-login-removal-cover-image_hu_85b1615316464393.webp 1024w, /images/blog/password-login-removal-cover-image_hu_a3679b408d1d8392.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/password-login-removal-cover-image_hu_84c4a0572865fe1d.webp 480w, /images/blog/password-login-removal-cover-image_hu_44ab6fdf06b11d6e.webp 768w, /images/blog/password-login-removal-cover-image_hu_d40a24cffb9179c3.webp 1024w, /images/blog/password-login-removal-cover-image_hu_84854861d40bf0e2.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/password-login-removal-cover-image_hu_85b1615316464393.webp" alt="Password login has been removed cover image" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>As announced in our previous edition, Screenly completed its transition to passwordless authentication on May 21. Email and password login is no longer available. All users now sign in via a single-use, time-sensitive code sent to their registered email address, or through an existing SSO connection (Google, GitHub, Microsoft, or SAML).</p> <p>This change reduces the attack surface from credential reuse and external breaches. If your organization uses SSO, nothing changed for your team. For users who needed to update their email address before the cutoff, our support team assisted with the transition.</p> <p>Full blog post: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/05/18/password-login-removal-may-21/">Password login is being removed on May 21</a></p> <h2 id="apps-salesforce-dashboards-and-reports">Apps: Salesforce Dashboards and Reports</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-salesforce-app_hu_81e938f8157e7ba.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-salesforce-app_hu_bfb97106161c454e.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-salesforce-app_hu_66d614c292582e6b.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-salesforce-app_hu_95be3b9b9db4a9.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-salesforce-app_hu_3afd16de28ac660c.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-salesforce-app_hu_4c672de1bfb8d9dd.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-salesforce-app_hu_b0348e10eedc41c3.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-salesforce-app_hu_b6716448af1adacb.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-salesforce-app_hu_66d614c292582e6b.webp" alt="Salesforce Dashboards and Reports Apps" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="530" > </picture> <p>Screenly’s Apps now include a native <strong>Salesforce integration</strong>, bringing Salesforce dashboards and reports directly to your digital signage displays. Sales teams can surface live pipeline data, quota progress, and report summaries on screens across office environments without building custom tooling or manually exporting data.</p> <p>The integration follows the same model as our existing Power BI and Grafana Apps: authenticate once, and the data updates in real time..</p> <hr> <h2 id="community-updates">Community updates</h2> <h2 id="anthias-four-releases-in-under-30-days">Anthias: four releases in under 30 days</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v2026-06-1-cover-image_hu_f5fbd64072183374.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-06-1-cover-image_hu_8b2d304532a64951.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-06-1-cover-image_hu_4cc36256048e228e.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-06-1-cover-image_hu_33737487d111fad6.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v2026-06-1-cover-image_hu_24204d5e29b33898.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-06-1-cover-image_hu_5455c88f661d62af.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-06-1-cover-image_hu_6f06ba2090937101.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-06-1-cover-image_hu_da33f74a2b634e97.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-v2026-06-1-cover-image_hu_4cc36256048e228e.webp" alt="Anthias updates cover image" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>The Anthias open-source project shipped four releases between May and June: v2026.05.1, v2026.05.2, v2026.06.0, and v2026.06.1. Rather than publish four separate posts, the team rolled everything up into one. The highlights are substantial.</p> <p><strong>Video playback has been completely overhauled</strong>. On Raspberry Pi 4, dropped frames went from approximately 3,000 per minute during a 60-second clip to zero. Pi 4 now runs at a steady 30 fps after a presentation rate issue was resolved. Pi 5 improved from 10 to 12 fps to 26.6 fps. On Pi 2 and Pi 3, VLC was replaced entirely with a hardware-accelerated GStreamer pipeline. On x86 PCs, video playback, which was previously broken due to compositor conflicts, is now fully functional. The team ran 12-hour mixed-media burn-in tests across all supported hardware with zero crashes.</p> <p>Other notable additions in this release cycle include screen rotation via a UI dropdown (no more config file edits), <strong>HDMI-CEC display power control</strong>, <strong>video URL paste support with background download</strong>, a guided migration wizard to Screenly, <strong>expanded ARM SBC support</strong> (Rock Pi, Orange Pi, Odroid, and similar Armbian-based hardware), and graceful degradation for 1 GB boards to prevent OOM crashes.</p> <p>If you run Anthias primarily for video playback, this release cycle is worth upgrading for the video fixes alone.</p> <p>Full blog post: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/03/anthias-v2026-06-1/">Anthias v2026.05.1 to v2026.06.1: four releases in under 30 days</a></p> <h2 id="screenly-changelog-episode-19-fractional-ciso-cybersecurity-reality-and-why-tools-fail-smbs">Screenly Changelog Episode 19: Fractional CISO, cybersecurity reality, and why tools fail SMBs</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/episode-19_hu_c887f21a1d2f3fef.webp 480w, /images/blog/episode-19_hu_2b9c01b9839e3b46.webp 768w, /images/blog/episode-19_hu_80f17e5775345385.webp 1024w, /images/blog/episode-19_hu_36fbb625b62e45c3.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/episode-19_hu_f1e8ee511bdc5116.webp 480w, /images/blog/episode-19_hu_9cb20f6392353dfc.webp 768w, /images/blog/episode-19_hu_8379949dba794461.webp 1024w, /images/blog/episode-19_hu_dab3cbe18409d94d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/episode-19_hu_80f17e5775345385.webp" alt="Chanagelog cover image" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>In the latest episode of the Screenly Changelog, Viktor Petersson and Daniel Mountcastle sat down with Dominic Vogel, Founder of Vogel Cyber Leadership and Coaching and a fractional CISO working closely with manufacturing and SMB environments.</p> <p>The conversation cuts through a common misconception: most organizations are not under-tooled on security. They are overwhelmed. Alerts pile up, configurations drift, and no one owns the outcome. Dominic’s central argument is that cybersecurity for SMBs is primarily an operational problem, not a technical one. The tools and frameworks exist. What is missing is the layer connecting them to how the business actually runs.</p> <p>Other topics covered include why manufacturing environments expose the long-term mismatch between infrastructure lifespans and security timelines, how compliance creates movement but not necessarily real protection, why shadow IT and shadow AI are symptoms of alignment failures rather than causes, and how to translate technical risk into business impact for executives who need to make funding decisions.</p> <p>The full conversation is available on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhSqV8TvVqY">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3tpz193bsSKHn3UhASgSsL">Spotify</a>, and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-0x19-with-dominic-vogel/id1822993066?i=1000767914781">Apple Podcasts</a>.</p> <p>Full blog post: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/05/15/screenly-changelog-episode-19/">Screenly Changelog Episode 19</a></p> <h2 id="signagelist-has-been-redesigned">SignageList has been redesigned</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-signage-list_hu_12289819e21094dc.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-signage-list_hu_8fe1bf370dc0eaa4.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-signage-list_hu_60c16a8928d3a784.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-signage-list_hu_145d1641473ef6ad.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x05-signage-list_hu_65ded1d7b0f008f4.webp" alt="SignageList image" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="332" > </picture> <p><a href="https://signagelist.org/">SignageList</a>, the independent digital signage software directory, launched a significant redesign this month. The update brings a new logo, a cleaner layout, improved UX, proper mobile support, and a new Free and Freemium section for products with no upfront cost.</p> <p><a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/514sid/">514sid</a>, our Product Manager and the creator behind SignageList, built it to fill a gap he kept running into. No neutral, comprehensive place existed to compare digital signage software. Vendor sites push their own products, review platforms sit behind paywalls, and most public lists are either outdated or incomplete. So he built one himself, researching and curating every entry to track pricing models, platform support, open-source status, founding years, and more.</p> <p>The result is a directory of 559+ digital signage software products, built on a simple principle: open data, no vendor bias. The site itself is open source, and anyone can submit corrections or additions via <a href="https://github.com/SignageList/signagelist">GitHub</a>.</p> <hr> <h2 id="thats-all-for-now">That’s all for now</h2> <p>That wraps up this edition of Screenly Sync. May brought an industry award, significant platform updates, a major new partnership, and continued momentum on the open-source side. There is more in the pipeline, and we will share it as it ships.</p> <p>Thanks for reading, and see you in the next Screenly Sync.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/05/screenly-sync-0x05/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/05/screenly-sync-0x05/Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>If you’ve read anything we’ve published in the last couple of years, you already know how we feel about security. We won’t repeat the speech. What we will say is that when we built Tailscale support, the same thinking applied: minimum required access, nothing stored that doesn’t need to be, no new surface area created just for convenience.</p> <p>The result: workspace-wide Tailscale integration is now available for Screenly players. The workspace settings are available today, and the ScreenlyOS update that enables it on your players is rolling out now.</p> <p>This is also a good moment to introduce a name we’ve been meaning to put to something that already exists: ScreenlyOS. It’s what we’re calling the firmware that runs on Screenly players (Raspberry Pi, x86, and DIY Raspberry Pi setups). Same thing it’s always been, just with a proper name now.</p> <h2 id="why-this-matters">Why this matters</h2> <p>A lot of the content digital signage displays isn’t public. Internal dashboards, intranet pages, data feeds from systems that only exist inside a corporate network. If your Screenly players can’t reach those resources, you’re limited to what lives on the open internet.</p> <p>The traditional workarounds aren’t pretty. Exposing an internal service through a reverse proxy just for signage. Whitelisting device IPs in firewall rules that change every time a player moves locations. It works, technically, but it’s the kind of infrastructure that quietly accumulates toil.</p> <p>Tailscale removes all of that. Once a Screenly player is on your Tailnet, it can reach anything else on that network: internal URLs, private APIs, self-hosted data sources. No firewall rules, no per-device configuration, no exposed services. The kind of content that makes signage actually useful, with none of the plumbing that usually comes with it.</p> <h2 id="all-your-players-connected-in-a-few-clicks">All your players, connected in a few clicks</h2> <p>What makes this integration useful beyond just “Tailscale works on the player” is that it operates at the workspace level. You connect once, and every Screenly player in your workspace joins your Tailnet automatically. No touching each player individually, no pushing config files manually.</p> <p>You connect your Tailscale account via OAuth from workspace settings, and Screenly issues a reusable auth key that gets delivered to all players in your workspace automatically.</p> <p>The OAuth client only needs one scope: auth key creation. Screenly requests nothing else. If you’re creating the OAuth client in Tailscale and notice it has broader permissions than that, it’s worth creating a new one with just the auth keys scope to keep things tight.</p> <h2 id="one-thing-worth-knowing-about-device-approval">One thing worth knowing about device approval</h2> <p>By default, Screenly players will join your Tailnet automatically when the integration is active. If you want to review and approve each player before it can connect, that’s a Tailscale-side setting: device approval can be enabled from the Device management page in the Tailscale admin console.</p> <p>When device approval is enabled on your tailnet, the non-preauthorized keys that Screenly issues mean players will show up as pending and wait for an admin to approve them before joining. If device approval is not enabled, players join automatically. Either way, the behavior is controlled from your Tailscale settings, not from Screenly.</p> <h2 id="a-note-on-acl-tags">A note on ACL tags</h2> <p>Screenly uses ACL tags to identify devices on your Tailnet. One thing worth knowing before you start: the tag needs to exist in your Tailscale ACL policy before you create the OAuth client, and tags can’t be added to an existing client after the fact. Worth sorting out upfront to avoid having to redo the setup.</p> <h2 id="where-to-find-it">Where to find it</h2> <p>Go to <strong>Workspace settings > Security</strong>. The section is labeled “Tailscale on screens” and walks you through connecting your Tailscale account via OAuth. Once that’s done, the integration is active for the whole workspace. Any setup errors (missing OAuth scopes, tags not defined in your ACL policy, invalid credentials) surface as specific messages that tell you exactly what to fix.</p> <p>Per-device auth key configuration is not in this release. Workspace-level is the scope for now, and we want to make sure that’s solid before layering anything on top.</p> <p>If you’ve been holding off on deploying Screenly players in certain environments because of network constraints, this should open some doors. Give it a try and reach out to support if you run into anything.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/04/remotely-configure-tailscale-on-screenly-players/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/04/remotely-configure-tailscale-on-screenly-players/Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>I meant to write this up sooner, but every time I sat down another release dropped and the changelog grew longer.</p> <p>So rather than publish four separate posts, I’m rolling everything up here: v2026.05.1, v2026.05.2, v2026.06.0, and v2026.06.1, all at once.</p> <p>Four releases in under 30 days, and there’s a lot to unpack.</p> <p>A quick note on versioning if you’re new here: Anthias releases follow a <code>YYYY.0M.patch</code> scheme. So v2026.05.1 means the second release of May 2026, v2026.06.0 is the first of June, and so on. It makes it easy to see at a glance how recent a build is and how far you are from the latest.</p> <p>I’ve tried to lead with what matters most to everyday users and save the deeper technical material for the end.</p> <p>Let’s get into it.</p> <hr> <h2 id="video-playback-we-fixed-it-for-real-this-time">Video playback: we fixed it. For real this time</h2> <p>Video playback on Anthias has been a persistent source of frustration.</p> <p>On Raspberry Pi 4, we were seeing thousands of dropped frames per minute during a 60-second clip (in some tests, close to 3,000). On Pi 5, frame rates were capping at around 8-10 fps even though the hardware was perfectly capable of more. On x86 PCs, video was outright broken under the compositor we use. On the older Pi 2 and Pi 3, VLC had been doing the heavy lifting for years in a way that was never quite right.</p> <p>We fixed all of it.</p> <p>On Pi 4 and Pi 5, we rewired the entire video rendering pipeline to run inside the same Qt process as the rest of the viewer, using Qt’s native multimedia stack. Previously, video was handed off to a separate process that then had to compete for control of the display hardware. That’s where those thousands of dropped frames were coming from.</p> <p>With the new approach, there’s no competition, no handoff, no contention. Pi 4 dropped from ~3,000 frame drops per minute to zero. Pi 4 also had a separate rendering issue capping presentation at 8.3 fps regardless of how well the hardware decoder was performing. That’s fixed, and Pi 4 now runs at a steady 30 fps. Pi 5 went from 10-12 fps to 26.6 fps.</p> <p>We ran 12-hour mixed-media burn-in tests across all supported hardware with zero crashes.</p> <p>On Pi 2 and Pi 3, we replaced VLC entirely with a hardware-accelerated GStreamer pipeline that feeds directly through the Broadcom codec hardware. The result on Pi 3: 1080p30 playing cleanly with zero dropped frames. VLC is gone from the image.</p> <p>On x86 PCs, video had been completely broken because playback conflicted with the Wayland compositor’s exclusive hold on the display. We now route playback correctly through Wayland and have bundled the right hardware decode drivers so Intel and AMD machines use their GPU for decode instead of doing it in software.</p> <p>If you run Anthias primarily for video playback (which is most people), this release is worth upgrading for this alone.</p> <h2 id="rotate-your-screen-without-touching-a-config-file">Rotate your screen without touching a config file</h2> <p>This one’s been a long time coming. You can now rotate your display (0°, 90°, 180°, or 270°) directly from the Settings page in the Anthias UI.</p> <p>Previously, getting portrait mode required editing config files manually, and which file to edit depended on your hardware. It was one of those things that felt approachable from the outside (“it’s just a rotation setting, right?”) and turned out to be genuinely fiddly in practice.</p> <p>Now it’s a dropdown. It works on all supported hardware. The change takes effect on the next reload without restarting anything. That’s it.</p> <h2 id="turn-your-screen-on-and-off-via-hdmi-cec">Turn your screen on and off via HDMI-CEC</h2> <p>If your display supports HDMI-CEC (and most modern TVs and commercial displays do), Anthias can now turn it on and off directly through the HDMI cable.</p> <p>There’s a new Display power section in Settings (marked “Experimental” for now) where you can toggle the display on and off without needing a smart power strip, an IR blaster, or any other add-on. For operators who want to schedule display on/off times, this removes the last reason to need extra hardware. It also works via the API if you want to script it: <code>POST /api/v2/display/on</code> and <code>POST /api/v2/display/off</code>.</p> <p>The section only appears on hardware where CEC is actually available, so if you’re running on a regular PC, you won’t see it and nothing changes for you.</p> <h2 id="paste-a-video-url-and-anthias-handles-the-rest">Paste a video URL and Anthias handles the rest</h2> <p>You can now paste an HTTP or HTTPS video URL directly into the asset manager and Anthias will download it into your local asset library in the background. It gets run through the same codec normalization flow as anything you’d upload manually.</p> <p>For live streams (RTSP, HLS, and similar), Anthias detects them automatically and keeps them as streaming sources rather than trying to download them. They play live in the viewer as expected.</p> <p>There’s a 5 GB cap on downloads, and failures show up as per-asset error messages so you know what happened. A small thing, but it eliminates a common friction point: finding a video online and having to download it to your laptop first before you can get it onto your displays.</p> <h2 id="migrate-from-anthias-to-screenly-with-a-wizard">Migrate from Anthias to Screenly with a wizard</h2> <p>We’ve replaced the old command-line migration tool with a proper multi-step wizard built into Settings. If you’re running Anthias and want to move to Screenly (or just sync assets over), you no longer need to open a terminal.</p> <p>The wizard lets you validate your Screenly API token right in the UI, pick which assets to migrate with a checkbox list, see per-asset status as the upload happens, and retry any failures selectively. It doesn’t store your API token anywhere; it’s forwarded per request and forgotten.</p> <h2 id="anthias-now-runs-on-a-much-wider-range-of-arm-hardware">Anthias now runs on a much wider range of ARM hardware</h2> <p>If you’ve been trying to run Anthias on something other than a Raspberry Pi (a Rock Pi, an Orange Pi, an Odroid, anything running Armbian on a 64-bit ARM chip), this release adds formal support for that hardware category.</p> <p>We’ve tested end-to-end on a Rock Pi 4B and validated across several SoC families (RK3399, RK35xx, Allwinner H6, and Amlogic S905X3-generation chips). All asset types (images, H.264/H.265 1080p60 video, and web pages) work. Ubuntu-based Armbian isn’t supported yet, but Debian-based Armbian is good to go.</p> <p>This has been a community request for a long time. If you’ve got a drawer full of SBCs that aren’t Raspberry Pis, give it a try.</p> <h2 id="1-gb-boards-stay-stable-now">1 GB boards stay stable now</h2> <p>Pi 2, Pi 3, Pi 4 1 GB, and similar boards with limited RAM were OOM-crashing after some of the video improvements introduced earlier this year. We’ve added graceful degradation for these boards: the memory-hungry preloading behaviour is automatically disabled when the system detects less than ~1.5 GB of RAM, saving around 100 MB of physical memory per device.</p> <p>A couple of things to know: above-1080p video uploads are capped at 1080p on these boards (we downscale at upload time), and there’s a “Low-RAM mode” badge on the Diagnostics page so you can see at a glance how your device is configured.</p> <p>If you’ve been having stability issues on older hardware, this should help.</p> <h2 id="a-few-fixes-youll-notice-immediately">A few fixes you’ll notice immediately</h2> <h3 id="screen-rotation-on-pi-4-is-actually-working-now">Screen rotation on Pi 4 is actually working now</h3> <p>There was a bug where 270° rotation was being treated as -90°, causing portrait displays to stretch instead of rotate. The eglfs backend on Pi 4 also wasn’t picking up the rotation setting at all. Both are resolved.</p> <h3 id="deleting-an-asset-via-the-ui-now-actually-deletes-the-file">Deleting an asset via the UI now actually deletes the file</h3> <p>The API delete path was already handling this correctly, but the UI form-post had drifted and was only removing the database row, leaving the actual video or image file sitting on disk. On a device running 24/7 for months, this would quietly fill up your storage. Both paths now go through the same cleanup logic.</p> <h3 id="deleting-or-deactivating-a-currently-playing-asset-takes-effect-immediately">Deleting or deactivating a currently-playing asset takes effect immediately</h3> <p>Before this fix, if a one-hour image was on screen and you deleted it, it would keep playing for the rest of the hour. Now the viewer checks immediately and moves on.</p> <h3 id="the-4k-splash-screen-is-no-longer-cropped">The 4K splash screen is no longer cropped</h3> <p>On 4K displays, Plymouth was showing a 1080p splash centered on a black background. We now ship a proper 3840x2160 master.</p> <h2 id="for-the-technically-curious">For the technically curious</h2> <p>The viewer binary has been renamed from AnthiasWebview to AnthiasViewer, with the D-Bus service name updated to match. Two new internal API endpoints (<code>GET /api/v2/viewer/playlist</code> and <code>GET /api/v2/viewer/settings</code>) formalize the contract between the viewer and server. Both are gated by an internal token and don’t expose operator credentials.</p> <p>All outbound HTTP from the server now carries an <code>Anthias/<release></code> User-Agent string, which makes it easy to identify Anthias traffic in CDN logs and server-side analytics.</p> <p>If you’re running Anthias behind a reverse proxy (Caddy, Nginx, Cloudflare Tunnel, or similar), two CSRF-related fixes are worth knowing about. First, requests from the same host that differ only in HTTP vs HTTPS scheme no longer trigger 403 errors. Second, you can now set <code>CSRF_TRUSTED_ORIGINS=https://signage.example.com</code> explicitly for proxies that rewrite the upstream Host header.</p> <p>We also shipped a <code>bin/balena_fleet_maintenance.py</code> tool for anyone managing Balena fleets at scale. It rolls pinned devices forward to newer releases in controlled tranches, with a dry-run mode and progress tracking via Balena tags.</p> <p>Three CodeQL security findings were resolved: a path injection issue in asset uploads (hostile filenames can no longer smuggle path traversal characters into the destination path), an open redirect in the login flow, and a stack trace that was leaking into 400 error responses.</p> <p>The full technical changelog is in the release notes on GitHub for anyone who wants to dig deeper.</p> <h2 id="upgrading">Upgrading</h2> <p>Existing installations upgrade automatically. If you’re on Balena, fleet management and legacy data migration are handled in-container, so your existing playlists survive the upgrade.</p> <p>As always, the latest documentation lives at <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io">anthias.screenly.io</a>.</p> <hr> <p>Thank you to everyone who filed issues, tested builds, and contributed code over the past two months. The video playback overhaul in particular involved a lot of back-and-forth with the community to reproduce edge cases across different hardware. We genuinely couldn’t have done it as well without that feedback.</p> <p>More to come.</p> <p>Happy displaying.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/03/anthias-v2026-06-1/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/06/03/anthias-v2026-06-1/Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>Password login in Screenly is being removed on <strong>May 21, 2026</strong>.</p> <p>We sent in-app notifications to all users on May 16. With only a few days left, we want to make sure everyone is ready before the date arrives.</p> <h2 id="why-we-did-not-send-an-email">Why we did not send an email</h2> <p>You might wonder why we did not send an email reminder to users still on password login.</p> <p>The reason is straightforward.</p> <p>If you no longer have access to the email address on your account, an email from us is not going to reach you.</p> <p>And if you do have access to your email account, you will be able to log in without any issues anyway.</p> <p>Either way, the email would not have done much.</p> <h2 id="what-you-need-to-do-before-may-21">What you need to do before May 21</h2> <p>If you sign in through Google, GitHub, Microsoft, or SAML, nothing changes.</p> <p>If you currently use email and password, your login will switch to a one-time code sent to your email. Please make sure the email address on your account is one you can actually reach.</p> <p>If you are on password login and no longer have access to the email address on your account, now is the time to update it. After May 21, a one-time code is the only way in, and it goes to whichever email address is on file.</p> <h2 id="running-into-issues">Running into issues?</h2> <p>If anyone on your team hits problems logging in after the switch, <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> contact our support team </a> and we will get it sorted quickly.</p> <p>For more background on why we made this change, see our earlier post: <a href="/blog/2026/04/29/no-more-passwords/">No more passwords in Screenly</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/05/18/password-login-removal-may-21/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/05/18/password-login-removal-may-21/Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>After months of work, we’re thrilled to ship Anthias v2026.05.0, a landmark update that touches nearly every part of the project. Whether you’re running a single display in a coffee shop or a fleet of Pi-powered screens across a campus, this release brings meaningful improvements to reliability, performance, and day-to-day usability.</p> <p>Here’s what’s new.</p> <h2 id="schedule-your-content-your-way">Schedule your content, your way</h2> <p>The most-requested feature on the Anthias forum is finally here: <strong>per-asset scheduling</strong>. You can now set each piece of content to display only on specific days of the week and times of day. Morning announcements, weekend promotions, and after-hours messaging all just work without needing workarounds or external tools.</p> <p>On a similar note, <strong>web page assets can now auto-refresh on a custom interval</strong>, so live dashboards and data displays always show fresh information without any manual intervention.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v2026-05-0-overview_hu_cb23ef6e75964ecd.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-05-0-overview_hu_a6940b252803ba91.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-05-0-overview_hu_54045b63e90bef6a.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-05-0-overview_hu_75cfa1f5da252e02.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v2026-05-0-overview_hu_df276552ed926043.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-05-0-overview_hu_9fb16834847a089f.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-05-0-overview_hu_ef037e428b064dd6.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v2026-05-0-overview_hu_3ab268fd8b1fed66.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-v2026-05-0-overview_hu_54045b63e90bef6a.webp" alt="Anthias v2026.05.0 per-asset scheduling" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="668" > </picture> <h2 id="raspberry-pi-4-64-bit-and-pi-5-first-class-citizens">Raspberry Pi 4 (64-bit) and Pi 5: first-class citizens</h2> <p>If you’ve been holding off on upgrading your hardware, now’s the time. We’ve done a significant amount of work to bring rock-solid hardware-accelerated video playback to the <strong>Raspberry Pi 4 (64-bit) and Pi 5</strong>. The viewer now uses the correct decoder for these boards, putting an end to the crash loops, frame drops, and playback failures that have frustrated early adopters. Audio output settings are also properly respected now, so there are no more audio routing surprises.</p> <h2 id="a-modern-foundation">A modern foundation</h2> <p>Under the hood, this release is a major modernisation.</p> <h3 id="debian-trixie--python-313">Debian Trixie + Python 3.13</h3> <p>All Docker images are now built on the latest stable Debian release, and the Python runtime has been bumped to 3.13. You get a faster, more secure base to build on.</p> <h3 id="django-52-lts">Django 5.2 LTS</h3> <p>The web framework has been upgraded to the latest long-term support release, bringing two more years of security coverage.</p> <h3 id="react-is-out-htmx--alpinejs-are-in">React is out; HTMX + Alpine.js are in</h3> <p>We’ve replaced the React single-page application with a lighter, server-rendered approach. The result is a smaller JavaScript footprint, no React build pipeline to maintain, and a snappier UI, especially on lower-powered hardware.</p> <h2 id="simpler-architecture-smaller-footprint">Simpler architecture, smaller footprint</h2> <p>We’ve taken the opportunity to streamline how Anthias runs internally:</p> <ul> <li><strong>ZMQ is gone.</strong> Internal messaging now runs over Redis, which was already a requirement, so there’s one fewer dependency to ship and maintain.</li> <li><strong>Two containers became one.</strong> The separate nginx and WebSocket containers have been merged into a single server, making deployments simpler and reducing memory overhead.</li> <li><strong>Celery no longer needs its own Docker image.</strong> It now shares the web server image, saving around <strong>825 MB of SD card storage per device</strong>. That’s a meaningful saving on a 32 GB card.</li> <li><strong>Docker images are significantly smaller.</strong> Unused dependencies, unnecessary packages, and the wifi-connect service have all been stripped out.</li> <li><strong>We’ve modernised the toolchain.</strong> Python dependencies are now managed with uv, and JavaScript builds run through Bun, replacing the previous mix of pip, npm, and webpack. Faster builds, cleaner dependency management.</li> </ul> <h2 id="fixes-youll-actually-notice">Fixes you’ll actually notice</h2> <p>Beyond the big architectural changes, we’ve shipped a pile of fixes for issues that have been bothering the community:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Log files no longer fill up your SD card.</strong> One user reported a 19 GB log file from a long-running device. Container logs now route to the system journal, which handles rotation automatically.</li> <li><strong>The black screen between assets is noticeably shorter.</strong> Media is now pre-parsed in the background, reducing the gap when switching from one asset to the next.</li> <li><strong>The next/previous skip buttons work correctly again.</strong></li> <li><strong>The dashboard is now properly usable on phones and small tablets.</strong></li> <li><strong>YouTube downloads no longer time out.</strong></li> <li><strong>Long asset names are truncated gracefully</strong> with a tooltip showing the full name on hover.</li> <li><strong>HEIC, HEIF, TIFF, and other unusual formats</strong> are now automatically converted on upload rather than failing silently. Great news if you’re uploading photos straight from an iPhone.</li> </ul> <p>There are plenty of other fixes and polish improvements beyond this list. The best way to discover them is to upgrade and try it out.</p> <h2 id="docker-images-have-moved">Docker images have moved</h2> <p>One important heads-up for anyone who manages their own deployments: <strong>we’ve moved all Docker images from Docker Hub to the GitHub Container Registry</strong>. Docker Hub’s persistent rate limiting made it an unreliable host for a community project. If you have scripts or Compose files that reference Docker Hub, now’s the time to update them.</p> <h2 id="upgrading">Upgrading</h2> <p>Existing installations are automatically migrated on upgrade. Any configuration paths that still referenced the old Screenly name have been updated to Anthias, with backwards-compatible symlinks left in place so nothing breaks unexpectedly.</p> <p>Full documentation, including an updated API reference, FAQ, and logs access instructions, is available on the new <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io">Anthias website</a>.</p> <hr> <p>We’re proud of how far Anthias has come in this release and grateful to everyone in the community who filed bug reports, tested pre-release builds, and contributed code. Keep the feedback coming; it’s what shapes the roadmap.</p> <p>Happy displaying.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/05/15/anthias-v2026-05-0/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/05/15/anthias-v2026-05-0/Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog episode 19:</strong> <em>Fractional CISO, Cybersecurity Reality, and Why Tools Fail SMBs</em></p> <p>Cybersecurity for small and mid-sized businesses is often framed as a tooling problem. Buy the right platform, pass compliance, and you’re covered. In practice, that model breaks down quickly.</p> <p>In this episode of the Screenly Changelog, Viktor Petersson and Daniel Mountcastle sit down with Dominic Vogel, Founder of Vogel Cyber Leadership and Coaching and a fractional CISO working closely with manufacturing and SMB environments. Dominic brings a grounded view of what cybersecurity actually looks like inside organizations that do not have dedicated security teams.</p> <p>The conversation focuses on where security efforts fail, how incentives shape decisions, and why most organizations are solving the wrong problems. Watch the full conversation above or read the highlights below.</p> <h2 id="security-is-not-a-tooling-problem">Security is not a tooling problem</h2> <p>A recurring theme in the discussion is that most organizations are not under-tooled. They are overwhelmed.</p> <p>Many SMBs accumulate security tools over time, often driven by vendor recommendations or compliance checklists. What they lack is the ability to operate those tools effectively. Alerts pile up, configurations drift, and no one owns the outcome.</p> <p>The result is a false sense of security. Systems exist, but they are not actively protecting the business. In some cases, they are not even turned on.</p> <p>The takeaway is straightforward. Tools are not the limiting factor. Operational discipline is.</p> <h2 id="manufacturing-exposes-the-long-term-reality-of-security">Manufacturing exposes the long-term reality of security</h2> <p>Manufacturing environments highlight a structural challenge that exists across many industries. Systems are built to last decades, while security expectations evolve every few years.</p> <p>A piece of machinery may run for 25 years. The software and security layers around it will change multiple times during that period.</p> <p>This mismatch forces organizations to think differently about risk. You cannot simply replace infrastructure. You have to design security that can adapt over time without breaking what already works.</p> <p>For operators managing long-lived infrastructure, this is not unique to manufacturing. It applies directly to digital signage deployments, IoT devices, and any system that is expected to run unattended for years.</p> <h2 id="compliance-creates-movement-but-not-necessarily-security">Compliance creates movement, but not necessarily security</h2> <p>Many organizations only take security seriously when forced to. That pressure increasingly comes from compliance and supply chain requirements.</p> <p>Large companies are pushing expectations downstream. A single contract can depend on proving a basic level of security posture. For some businesses, that is the first time security becomes a board-level concern.</p> <p>At the same time, compliance frameworks do not guarantee real protection. They provide a snapshot of what should be happening, not what is actually happening day to day.</p> <p>The gap shows up when something breaks. Passing an audit does not mean you can respond to an incident.</p> <h2 id="the-hardest-problems-are-human-not-technical">The hardest problems are human, not technical</h2> <p>Technical fixes are usually the easy part. The difficult work is changing behavior.</p> <p>Examples in the conversation range from outdated systems that no one wants to replace to insecure workflows that persist because they are convenient. Decisions are often driven by habit or internal politics rather than risk.</p> <p>This is where most security efforts stall. The issue is not identifying what needs to change. It is getting people to accept that change.</p> <p>For SMBs, this is amplified by limited resources. The same individuals are responsible for operations, IT, and often security. Priorities compete, and security rarely wins without clear impact.</p> <h2 id="security-only-works-when-translated-into-business-risk">Security only works when translated into business risk</h2> <p>One of the most practical insights in the episode is how to communicate security to decision-makers. Technical language does not resonate with executives. Risk does.</p> <p>Instead of describing tools or frameworks, the conversation shifts to impact. What does downtime cost? How likely is it? What is the expected loss over time?</p> <p>When framed this way, decisions become clearer. Spending on security is no longer abstract. It becomes a trade-off between cost and risk reduction.</p> <p>For operators, this is often the missing link. Without translating technical issues into business terms, it is difficult to justify investment or drive change.</p> <h2 id="shadow-it-and-shadow-ai-are-symptoms-not-causes">Shadow IT and shadow AI are symptoms, not causes</h2> <p>Shadow IT did not emerge because users wanted to break policy. It emerged because existing tools and processes slowed them down.</p> <p>That same pattern is repeating with AI. Employees adopt tools that help them work faster, regardless of official policy. Simply telling people not to use them does not work.</p> <p>The underlying issue is alignment. If the approved tools do not meet user needs, work will move outside the system.</p> <p>For infrastructure teams, this means visibility matters more than restriction. You need to understand how tools are being used before you can manage the risk.</p> <h2 id="vendor-incentives-often-work-against-the-buyer">Vendor incentives often work against the buyer</h2> <p>Many SMBs rely on managed service providers to guide their security decisions. Those relationships are not always aligned with the business.</p> <p>Vendors and providers often recommend tools based on partnerships or margins rather than fit. The buyer, lacking context, accepts those recommendations.</p> <p>This leads to over-engineered solutions, unnecessary costs, and systems that are difficult to operate. The pattern shows up repeatedly. Organizations pay for capabilities they do not use, while critical gaps remain unaddressed.</p> <h2 id="what-we-are-taking-forward">What we are taking forward</h2> <p>The central insight from this episode is that cybersecurity for SMBs is not primarily a technical problem. It is an operational one.</p> <p>The tools exist. The frameworks exist. What is missing is the layer that connects them to how the business actually runs. That includes understanding where data lives, how systems are used, and how decisions are made.</p> <p>For teams managing digital signage and distributed infrastructure, the implications are clear. Every device on the network is part of the security boundary. Treating them as separate or secondary systems introduces risk that is easy to overlook.</p> <p>The shift required is from accumulation to focus. Fewer tools, better understood. Clear ownership of outcomes. And a consistent translation of technical risk into business impact. The full episode is available now.</p> <h2 id="deploy-secure-enterprise-ready-digital-signage">Deploy secure, enterprise-ready digital signage</h2> <p>Experience the platform firsthand. Start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> of Screenly today.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/05/15/screenly-changelog-episode-19/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/05/15/screenly-changelog-episode-19/Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>Welcome to the 5th edition of Screenly Sync, where we share the latest updates across our platform, product, and community.</p> <p>This month, our focus has been heavily centered on security, compliance, and enterprise networking. From rolling out passwordless authentication and new privacy features to exploring AI-driven security for small businesses, here is everything we shipped and discussed in April.</p> <h2 id="product-updates">Product updates</h2> <h2 id="no-more-passwords-in-screenly">No more passwords in Screenly</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/no-more-passwords-cover-image_hu_fa2c7d9848ef1828.webp 480w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-cover-image_hu_2d8f23e541574552.webp 768w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-cover-image_hu_d9edce87aaecf7d9.webp 1024w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-cover-image_hu_6299c68f5ea207d9.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/no-more-passwords-cover-image_hu_3776be8012bb6aed.webp 480w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-cover-image_hu_f9239484598967b8.webp 768w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-cover-image_hu_2d242b385f09b3fb.webp 1024w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-cover-image_hu_a35875a8e4f6618a.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/no-more-passwords-cover-image_hu_d9edce87aaecf7d9.webp" alt="no more passwords" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" > </picture> <p>We are removing traditional passwords entirely in favor of a <strong>passwordless authentication model</strong>. Passwords are too often reused and exposed in external breaches, creating unnecessary risks. Going forward, email and password logins are being replaced with single-use, time-sensitive codes sent directly to your email. This makes the login process simpler and significantly reduces the attack surface. If your organization uses SAML, Google, GitHub, or Microsoft for SSO, your workflow remains unchanged.</p> <p>Full Blog Post: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/29/no-more-passwords/">No more passwords in Screenly</a></p> <h2 id="privacy-mode">Privacy mode</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-privacy-mode_hu_4f59a064ad495b24.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-privacy-mode_hu_7db140b32e626f6a.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-privacy-mode_hu_d1d07c8fed8c1be6.webp 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-privacy-mode_hu_e00b7b3206cbd2ce.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-privacy-mode_hu_34693bf853932d20.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-privacy-mode_hu_e18f5ad149e301bb.webp 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-privacy-mode_hu_d1d07c8fed8c1be6.webp" alt="privacy mode" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="570" > </picture> <p>Troubleshooting displays in secure environments just got safer. As part of our efforts to make <strong>secure digital signages</strong>, we have introduced <strong>Privacy Mode</strong>, a new feature designed to keep sensitive deployments protected by completely disabling screenshots in diagnostic reports. This ensures that confidential data on your screens is never inadvertently captured or transmitted when pulling device diagnostics. Try it today and share your feedback!</p> <h2 id="linked-workspaces">Linked workspaces</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/centralized-billing-workspaces_hu_ed3bb3cda1b40a23.webp 480w, /images/blog/centralized-billing-workspaces_hu_56e1bbe5810c5478.webp 768w, /images/blog/centralized-billing-workspaces_hu_2c9d55467cbee255.webp 1024w, /images/blog/centralized-billing-workspaces_hu_eea5209af0f2f0dd.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/centralized-billing-workspaces_hu_d7d74d14596dc822.webp 480w, /images/blog/centralized-billing-workspaces_hu_bf20f30f1ed7af25.webp 768w, /images/blog/centralized-billing-workspaces_hu_4b7895727dd7f90b.webp 1024w, /images/blog/centralized-billing-workspaces_hu_a99b67b8bf7c264b.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/centralized-billing-workspaces_hu_2c9d55467cbee255.webp" alt="privacy mode" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" > </picture> <p>Organizations often use multiple workspaces to keep departments, locations, and security boundaries separate. While this separation is essential for access control, it previously made billing and license management a fragmented and manual process across different departments.</p> <p>To solve this, we are introducing <strong>Linked workspaces</strong>. You can now designate a parent workspace that acts as a central hub for your organization. This parent workspace consolidates billing into a single invoice and holds a shared pool of screen licenses.</p> <p>Child workspaces can be linked to the parent, allowing them to automatically draw from the shared license pool as needed. If one factory or department adds a screen, it simply uses an available license from the shared pool without requiring a separate purchase or manual reallocation. You get the security of isolated workspaces with the simplicity of centralized administration.</p> <p>This feature is available on the Enterprise plan. Head to your Workspace settings and look for the new Linked workspaces tab to get started.</p> <p>Full Blog Post: <a href="http://screenly.io/blog/2026/04/30/centralized-billing-workspaces/">Centralized billing for all your workspaces</a></p> <h2 id="industry-insights">Industry insights</h2> <h2 id="screenly-changelog-episode-18-ai-compliance-and-security-for-smbs">Screenly Changelog episode 18: AI, compliance, and security for SMBs</h2> <div class="embed-video"> <div class="embed-responsive"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/6hbl61SG2Sg" title="YouTube video player" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <p>In the latest episode of the Screenly Changelog, we sat down with Ido Green, CTO of Espresso Labs, to talk about cybersecurity for small and mid-sized businesses. We discussed how compliance is becoming a strict forcing function across industries, and how automated, AI-driven systems can help smaller teams achieve enterprise-grade security by filtering out alert noise.</p> <p>You can catch the full conversation on our blog, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app - <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/21/screenly-changelog-episode-18/">Screenly changelog episode 18 - AI, compliance, and security for small business</a></p> <h2 id="cisa-warns-of-digital-signage-vulnerabilities">CISA warns of digital signage vulnerabilities</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-digital-signage-vulnerabilities_hu_da89b800c1453437.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-digital-signage-vulnerabilities_hu_4d083132a1e54d52.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-digital-signage-vulnerabilities_hu_83adbeeeb5fc7a2d.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-digital-signage-vulnerabilities_hu_1c07db5f6ddb0822.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x04-digital-signage-vulnerabilities_hu_b7ecdc589e149cfb.webp" alt=" digital signage vulnerabilities" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="407" > </picture> <p>The <strong>Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)</strong> recently added a Samsung MagicInfo vulnerability to its exploited list. Despite a patch existing since August 2024, many systems remain unpatched in the field.</p> <p>This highlights a structural flaw in on premise signage: relying on operators for manual patch management. When vendors ship a fix, there is often no visibility or enforcement to ensure it gets applied, leaving networks exposed to years old vulnerabilities.</p> <p>The most effective fix isn’t sending better patch reminders, it is removing the manual step entirely. Every Screenly player updates itself automatically. The update is cryptographically signed before it leaves our infrastructure and verifies its own integrity before it applies. No manual intervention, no maintenance windows, and no 22 month exploit windows. Until the industry adopts automated patching as a standard, incidents like this will continue to happen.</p> <p>Full Blog Post: <a href="https://invidis.com/news/2026/04/cybersecurity-us-agency-warns-of-digital-signage-vulnerabilities/">US Agency Warns of Digital Signage Vulnerabilities</a></p> <h2 id="building-a-culture-of-wellness-at-screenly">Building a culture of wellness at Screenly</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-blog-cover-image_hu_623b6d2cc64a5ccf.webp 480w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-blog-cover-image_hu_769ca17969532e40.webp 768w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-blog-cover-image_hu_aa0315be0ab42ff8.webp 1024w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-blog-cover-image_hu_ca2f222dc7b631ce.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-blog-cover-image_hu_ea99f9033156cbff.webp 480w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-blog-cover-image_hu_25c58b2acb2f07bd.webp 768w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-blog-cover-image_hu_78886242782f0cb4.webp 1024w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-blog-cover-image_hu_8d63c35351f49ca5.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-blog-cover-image_hu_aa0315be0ab42ff8.webp" alt=" digital signage vulnerabilities" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>As a remote company where most of us spend our days in front of screens, we wanted to be more intentional about our well-being. We recently rolled out an internal wellness program featuring a $500 annual wellness budget and a monthly Strava leaderboard raffle. It’s not about intense athletic competition, but about building consistent habits, sharing our daily movement, and supporting each other in staying healthy.</p> <p>Full Blog Post: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/09/wellness-at-screenly/">Building a culture of wellness at Screenly</a></p> <h2 id="thats-all-for-now">That’s all for now</h2> <p>That wraps up this edition of <strong>Screenly Sync</strong>. We have more exciting developments in the pipeline, and we look forward to sharing them with you soon. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for the next update!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/05/08/screenly-sync-0x04/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/05/08/screenly-sync-0x04/Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>Not every team starts with a single workspace. For many of the organizations we work with, especially larger ones, the structure is clear from day one: one workspace per department, per office, or per operational unit. Not by accident, but by design.</p> <p>Separate workspaces mean tighter access control, cleaner content boundaries, and a smaller blast radius if anything goes wrong. For organizations that take security seriously, this is exactly how it should work.</p> <p>We built Screenly to support that model. Companies working with us run anywhere from a handful of workspaces to dozens, each one locked down, properly scoped, and in the right hands.</p> <p>But one part of the experience didn’t keep up: billing. Managing licenses across multiple workspaces was manual, fragmented, and unnecessarily complex, whether organizations started with several workspaces or added more over time.</p> <p>Today, that changes.</p> <h2 id="meet-linked-workspaces">Meet linked workspaces</h2> <p>Here’s the idea: workspaces can now have a parent.</p> <p>You designate one workspace as the parent, link your other workspaces to it as children, and suddenly the chaos has a center of gravity. The parent workspace becomes the hub. It holds the billing, owns the licenses, and gives you a single place to manage what used to be scattered across a dozen settings pages.</p> <p>No more paying separately for each workspace. No more chasing down who has unused licenses while another department or location hits its limit. The parent workspace has a single pool of screen licenses that all child workspaces share. You’re in control.</p> <h2 id="how-we-got-here">How we got here</h2> <p>Honestly? This feature came from listening.</p> <p>When we started digging into how larger teams were actually using workspaces, a pattern emerged. Companies weren’t creating multiple workspaces because they wanted complexity, they were doing it because they needed separation. Different departments. Different locations. Different security boundaries. Workspaces were doing exactly what they were designed to do.</p> <p>The problem was never the structure. The problem was that every workspace was an island: independent billing, separate license pools, no way to see the full picture from one place.</p> <p>We heard that loud and clear.</p> <h2 id="what-it-looks-like-in-practice">What it looks like in practice</h2> <p>Say you’re managing digital signage at a large manufacturing enterprise. You’ve got a workspace for headquarters, one for each factory, and one for different operational departments. Each workspace has its own users, content, and schedule. That separation is not extra complexity, it is how manufacturing enterprises stay organized and in control.</p> <p>But come billing time, you want one invoice. And when one factory adds more screens for a new production line, you don’t want to buy extra licenses; you want to use the licenses that another factory isn’t currently using.</p> <p>That’s exactly what linked workspaces makes possible.</p> <p>The parent workspace holds the total license pool. All child workspaces draw from it as needed, automatically. When one factory or department adds screens, it simply uses available licenses, with no manual management.</p> <h2 id="where-to-find-it">Where to find it</h2> <p>If you’re already managing multiple workspaces, this is the first place to check. Setup is straightforward, and the payoff is immediate: one consolidated bill and a shared pool of licenses across all linked workspaces.</p> <p>Head to <strong>Workspace settings</strong> and look for the new <strong>Linked workspaces</strong> tab. From there, you can link existing workspaces as children to the workspace you are in.</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Note:</strong> This feature is available only on the Enterprise plan. If you need help with setup, contact our support team.</p></blockquote> <h2 id="whats-next">What’s next</h2> <p>This is the foundation. Centralized billing and license management is where we’re starting, but having a proper parent-child workspace model opens up a lot of doors. Expect more to come.</p> <p>In the meantime, if you run into anything or have thoughts on how this should evolve, we’d genuinely love to hear it.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/30/centralized-billing-workspaces/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/30/centralized-billing-workspaces/Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>Passwords are going away in Screenly.</p> <p>We are removing them entirely in favor of passwordless authentication that is simpler, faster, and more secure by design.</p> <p>Screenly has supported passwordless login through SAML, Google, GitHub, and Microsoft for some time already.</p> <p>The last piece was email and password login, which is now being replaced with one-time codes sent to your email.</p> <h2 id="why-we-are-doing-this">Why we are doing this</h2> <p>Passwords today create more risk than they prevent.</p> <p>They are reused across services, stored insecurely, and shared in tools like Slack or spreadsheets. When a breach happens anywhere on the internet, those credentials often become a way into unrelated systems.</p> <p>We have seen this firsthand. In our <a href="/blog/2025/11/10/security-incident-response-magic-links/">Security Incident Response: How We Investigated a Data Leak and What We’re Doing Next</a> post, the exposed credentials were not from Screenly systems. They came from external breaches and compromised devices where passwords were reused.</p> <p>Passwordless authentication removes this entire class of risk. Even if another service is breached, there are no reusable credentials that can be turned against your Screenly account.</p> <h2 id="two-factor-authentication-helped-but-it-was-not-enough">Two-factor authentication helped, but it was not enough</h2> <p>Screenly supports two-factor authentication, and it remains an important security layer. It reduces risk and makes attacks significantly harder.</p> <p>However, its effectiveness depends on adoption. Many users never enable it because it feels optional or slightly inconvenient. And even when it is enabled, it is still ultimately protecting a password. It adds a second layer, but the underlying problem remains.</p> <p>That said, we are not removing two-factor authentication. It will continue to be available and can be used alongside passwordless login wherever additional security is needed.</p> <h2 id="what-changes">What changes</h2> <p>If your organization uses SAML, nothing changes. You will continue signing in through your identity provider as before.</p> <p>If you log in with a Google, GitHub, or Microsoft account, your experience also remains unchanged.</p> <p>If you currently use email and password, your login will switch to a one-time code sent to your email. The code is single-use, expires quickly, and cannot be reused.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/no-more-passwords-login-code_hu_18028d2f6328add5.webp 480w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-login-code_hu_789289830c42c83d.webp 768w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-login-code_hu_1b1798dddb5c0c42.webp 1024w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-login-code_hu_6e54db01f3d05c88.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/no-more-passwords-login-code_hu_c6df1382968e050d.webp 480w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-login-code_hu_853f1789ad259a43.webp 768w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-login-code_hu_3e74c8752b9ce652.webp 1024w, /images/blog/no-more-passwords-login-code_hu_80bce3146eedeac0.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/no-more-passwords-login-code_hu_1b1798dddb5c0c42.webp" alt="Email displaying a temporary one-time code required to complete sign-in." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="574" > </picture> <p>Password login will remain available for a limited time before being disabled. We will share the exact date to give you plenty of time to make the transition.</p> <p>If you have questions or need help with migration, our support team is available to assist.</p> <h2 id="what-if-your-email-account-is-compromised">What if your email account is compromised?</h2> <p>One-time code login relies on the security of your email account.</p> <p>This is not a new risk. Email is already the recovery path for password-based accounts. Anyone who controls your inbox can reset your Screenly password today.</p> <p>Passwordless login does not introduce this exposure. Instead, it reduces what you need to protect from two things to one: your email account.</p> <h2 id="what-if-someone-sees-your-code">What if someone sees your code?</h2> <p>The code is bound to the specific browser session that requested it.</p> <p>This means that even if someone else sees the code, for example by briefly looking at your email on a shared screen, they cannot use it to sign in from their own device or browser. The code will only work in the same session where the login was initiated.</p> <p>If you close that session or try to use the code from a different device or browser, it won’t work. Authentication requires both the code and the originating session, so intercepting the code alone is not enough.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/29/no-more-passwords/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/29/no-more-passwords/Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog episode 18:</strong> <em>AI, compliance, and security for small business</em></p> <p>Cybersecurity tends to get discussed in one of two registers: the catastrophic and the abstract. Neither one is particularly useful for the thousands of small and mid-sized businesses that need practical security without a dedicated team to manage it.</p> <p>In this episode of the Screenly Changelog, Viktor Petersson and Daniel Mountcastle sit down with Ido Green, co-founder and CTO of Espresso Labs, an AI-powered cybersecurity platform built specifically for SMBs. With a background spanning Yahoo, Google, and multiple startups, Ido brings both a technical depth and an operator’s pragmatism to a space that sorely needs it.</p> <p>If your organization has ever struggled to close the gap between wanting better security and actually having it, this conversation is worth your time.</p> <p>Watch the full conversation above or read the highlights below.</p> <h2 id="small-businesses-are-the-most-exposed-targets-and-the-least-equipped-to-respond">Small businesses are the most exposed targets and the least equipped to respond</h2> <p>The common assumption among small business owners is that attackers are not interested in them. Ido is direct about why that assumption is wrong. Attackers are not targeting specific companies manually. They are running automated scans across the internet looking for unpatched software, outdated operating systems, and weak configurations. If you match those criteria, you get hit. The intent was never personal.</p> <p>What makes this especially difficult for SMBs is the gap in resources. There is no CISO. There is no CIO. In a 30-person company, the responsibility often falls to the CEO or whoever happens to be technically adjacent. That person is rarely equipped to manage five to ten disconnected security tools, none of which communicate with each other.</p> <p>The market gap Espresso Labs identified was not a lack of security tools. It was the absence of a single platform that could give SMBs enterprise-grade security coverage without requiring enterprise-grade staffing to operate it.</p> <h2 id="compliance-is-becoming-a-forcing-function-whether-companies-are-ready-or-not">Compliance is becoming a forcing function whether companies are ready or not</h2> <p>Security awareness often takes a back seat until something forces it forward. For many SMBs today, that forcing function is compliance. Ido points to CMMC (the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) as one of the most significant near-term pressures. Any business working with the U.S. Department of Defense is required to meet this framework, with enforcement now underway and a grace period running through the end of the year. That affects roughly 250,000 to 300,000 small manufacturers and contractors.</p> <p>SOC 2 and ISO certifications carry similar pressure in other industries. A CPA firm handling financial data, a law firm managing client records, or a healthcare vendor working with regulated information all face compliance requirements that make security non-optional.</p> <p>Viktor adds an important nuance here: compliance and actual security are not the same thing. Frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO can be treated as a checklist exercise or as genuine operational infrastructure. The difference shows up when auditors start asking for evidence. Passing a test once is not the same as maintaining the practices that make a business genuinely safer over time.</p> <h2 id="ai-changes-what-is-possible-for-small-security-teams-but-the-human-is-not-out-of-the-loop-yet">AI changes what is possible for small security teams, but the human is not out of the loop yet</h2> <p>One of the most grounded parts of the conversation is Ido’s take on where AI-driven security actually stands today. Leading endpoint detection platforms now use AI to identify anomalous behavior in real time, distinguishing between a legitimate administrator running a script during business hours and that same process running unexpectedly at 3am. The AI can catch that distinction and contain the threat automatically.</p> <p>But Ido is careful not to overstate the case. The current model is what he describes as a joint venture between AI and human judgment. AI handles roughly 80 to 90 percent of the volume, reducing the noise that would otherwise overwhelm a small team. The remaining cases still benefit from a person reviewing them.</p> <p>Viktor raises the other side of that trade-off: handing AI systems full autonomy over your infrastructure introduces its own risks. An overzealous automated response can lock out legitimate users or disable the wrong processes. The goal is not to remove humans from the loop entirely. It is to use AI to make sure humans are only dealing with the things that genuinely need them.</p> <h2 id="reducing-alert-noise-is-the-unsexy-work-that-makes-everything-else-possible">Reducing alert noise is the unsexy work that makes everything else possible</h2> <p>A million alerts a day is not a theoretical number. Viktor mentions speaking with security professionals who face exactly that volume. No team can meaningfully review that, which means important signals get buried under noise.</p> <p>Espresso Labs approaches this by building industry-specific profiles into their platform. The alert patterns that matter for a law firm are different from those that matter for a manufacturer supplying defense contractors. By tailoring the detection model to the customer segment, the platform can filter out the false positives that would otherwise consume the team’s attention.</p> <p>Ido notes this is also where price becomes relevant for SMBs. Traditional managed security operations can run into six figures or more for comprehensive coverage. Making that accessible at SMB scale requires not just better tooling but a fundamentally different operating model - one where AI carries the baseline load so that human expertise can be applied precisely where it counts.</p> <h2 id="iot-devices-are-part-of-the-network-and-need-to-be-treated-that-way">IoT devices are part of the network and need to be treated that way</h2> <p>Digital signage players, sensors, and other connected devices rarely appear on anyone’s security checklist. They sit on the same network as everything else, but they are often provisioned once and never revisited. That oversight creates real exposure.</p> <p>Daniel raises this directly in the conversation, noting that IoT devices are responsible for a significant share of enterprise attacks despite being routinely overlooked. Ido’s response is practical: the same agent-based approach that secures laptops and servers can extend to Linux-based IoT devices, which covers the majority of what is deployed in the field today. The installation is a single command. The monitoring is continuous from that point forward.</p> <p>What stands out here is how the barrier is not technical. The tools exist. The gap is that most organizations never think to include these devices in their security posture in the first place.</p> <h2 id="what-we-are-taking-forward">What we are taking forward</h2> <p>What this conversation makes clear is that the security problem for SMBs is not primarily technical. The tools and the frameworks exist. What is missing is the layer that turns those tools from a burden into something manageable for a team without dedicated security expertise.</p> <p>The broader shift worth watching is how AI changes the economics of that layer. When automated systems handle the volume of alerts and enforcement, professional-grade security stops requiring professional-grade staffing. Compliance becomes something you maintain continuously rather than something you perform once a year for an auditor.</p> <p>For organizations running digital signage and connected infrastructure, that framing applies directly. Every device on a network is a potential entry point. Managing those endpoints with the same discipline applied to the rest of the business is not a nice-to-have. It is part of operating responsibly.</p> <p>The full episode is available now. We hope it gives you a clearer picture of where SMB security is heading and what it takes to stay ahead of it.</p> <h2 id="interested-in-secure-enterprise-grade-digital-signage">Interested in secure, enterprise-grade digital signage?</h2> <p>Start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> with Screenly today.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/21/screenly-changelog-episode-18/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/21/screenly-changelog-episode-18/Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>During <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/22/screenly-2025-annual-summit/">last year’s annual summit</a>, our CEO Viktor talked about wanting to make wellness a real priority for the organization, not just something that lives on documentation, but something we could actually build habits around.</p> <p>He wasn’t pushing for a big lifestyle overhaul or launching some top-down challenge. It was more of a quiet nudge: we’re a remote team, most of us spend our days in front of screens, and if we’re not intentional about movement and well-being, it’s easy to let it slide. The message was simple: let’s support each other in staying active and healthy.</p> <p>That conversation ended up shaping what became Screenly’s wellness program. The goal was not to track steps or measure output. It was about giving people the tools and motivation to take care of themselves in whatever way made sense.</p> <p>As of writing, the program has two parts:</p> <ul> <li>A Strava leaderboard that turns movement into a friendly monthly raffle</li> <li>A $500 yearly wellness budget that covers everything from gym memberships to health check-ups</li> </ul> <p>What we’ve seen since launching it is that small efforts add up. A little structure, a bit of fun, and a lowkey way to show up for your own health goes a long way.</p> <h2 id="the-starting-point">The starting point</h2> <p>What began as a fun side project by our CEO, Viktor, eventually became a proper Edge app. The app pulls activity data from a Strava club and displays it in a clean, always-up-to-date leaderboard. Read more about the <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/12/introducing-the-strava-club-leaderboard-app/">Strava Club Leaderboard Edge App here</a>.</p> <p>Once we had it running, we figured - since the structure is already there, why not turn it into a friendly internal contest? That’s what led to the idea of a monthly raffle with simple, inclusive mechanics built around consistency and participation.</p> <p>We realized the Strava Leaderboard had a lot more potential. So we went further.</p> <h3 id="part-one-the-strava-leaderboard-raffle">Part one: The Strava leaderboard raffle</h3> <p>To make movement more fun and consistent, we launched a monthly raffle tied to activity logged in our Screenly Strava club. The idea is simple: the more consistently you move, the more chances you have to win.</p> <p>We designed the system to reward effort and regularity, not just intensity. Whether it’s a walk, bike ride, run, or yoga session, if you’re showing up and logging your workouts, you’re in the game.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-strava-activity_hu_dc09a7cd113d201b.webp 480w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-strava-activity_hu_e31adec34a968064.webp 768w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-strava-activity_hu_4a449c45b0032b01.webp 1024w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-strava-activity_hu_ab71966e2e62e3ba.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-strava-activity_hu_6dbfae94f13826f3.webp 480w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-strava-activity_hu_a4fe26955be6b897.webp 768w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-strava-activity_hu_f7352fd1180de46b.webp 1024w, /images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-strava-activity_hu_c0022d88229ee8b2.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-strava-activity_hu_4a449c45b0032b01.webp" alt="Screenly Strava club" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="331" > </picture> <p>Each activity earns raffle entries, and at the end of the month, we randomly draw three winners for $25 gift cards. It’s lighthearted, low-pressure, and surprisingly motivating.</p> <img src="/assets/images/blog/wellness-at-screenly-strava-monthly-raffle.gif" alt="Screenly Strava Monthly Raffle"> <p>What’s worked well is how simple and consistent the format is. It doesn’t demand a big time investment or a competitive mindset, it just adds a bit of structure around staying active. For most of us, it’s more about keeping a light (or intense) rhythm of movement going throughout the week. The raffle adds a small incentive, but the real value is that it helps make wellness feel more accessible and part of the everyday.</p> <h3 id="part-two-the-wellness-budget">Part two: The wellness budget</h3> <p>Alongside the monthly raffle, every team member also gets an annual wellness budget. This is meant to remove friction when investing in your health. Whether you want to sign up for a boxing class, buy a standing desk, or finally get that overdue health screening, the budget is yours to use.</p> <h4 id="what-it-covers">What it covers</h4> <ul> <li>Preventive care like physical exams or lab screenings</li> <li>Gym memberships, fitness classes, or sports club fees</li> <li>Personal training or structured fitness programs</li> <li>Equipment that directly supports your wellness (yoga mats, weights, etc.)</li> </ul> <p>We’ve seen team members use this for all kinds of things: gym memberships, online fitness subscriptions, and more. The variety shows that health looks different for everyone - and that’s the point. The program isn’t here to tell you what to do. It’s here to support what works for you.</p> <h2 id="why-this-matters">Why this matters</h2> <p>Wellness programs can easily fall into the background. But when they’re designed with intention, they quietly shape how people feel about work - and how they show up for it.</p> <p>When you feel supported in your health, everything flows a bit easier. You focus better, you think more clearly, and you have more energy to contribute. The goal here isn’t to push anyone toward a finish line. It’s to help people find routines that are sustainable and personal.</p> <p>At Screenly, we’re always thinking about how to build things that last. That doesn’t just mean strong infrastructure or good processes, it also means supporting the people who make all that possible.</p> <h2 id="what-weve-learned-so-far">What we’ve learned so far</h2> <p>Like most internal programs, this one is evolving. Every few months, we will revisit the structure based on how people are engaging.</p> <p>Here are a few takeaways from the first two months:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Make it visible</strong>: Posting Strava updates in Slack has been a great motivator. People enjoy seeing where others are walking, running, or working out.</li> <li><strong>Keep the rules simple</strong>: One workout per day with heart rate tracking and minimum duration of 20 minutes. Easy as 1,2,3.</li> <li><strong>Recognize effort, not perfection</strong> - By focusing on streaks and consistency, we’re seeing participation from people who aren’t competitive athletes.</li> <li><strong>Offer flexibility</strong>- The budget gives people room to invest in their own version of wellness, without being boxed in by a one-size-fits-all approach.</li> </ul> <p>We’re also exploring new ideas for the future. Additional raffle categories like “Most Consistent” or “Best Photo” may be added based on engagement and feedback.</p> <h2 id="whats-next">What’s next</h2> <p>One of the things that makes Screenly special is that we build culture intentionally through small, thoughtful programs like this.</p> <p>The initial goal was simple: to support each other in staying healthy. But over time, it’s become something more. It’s a shared rhythm that cuts across time zones. A way to stay connected. It’s a quiet reminder that showing up for work starts with showing up for yourself.</p> <p>We’ll keep listening, adjusting, and supporting our team in ways that feel meaningful. And we’ll keep moving - on Strava, in Slack, and everywhere in between.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/09/wellness-at-screenly/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/09/wellness-at-screenly/Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>Welcome to the 4th edition of Screenly Sync, where we share the latest updates across our platform, product, and community.</p> <p>March was an exciting month for us. From showcasing Screenly at Embedded World to introducing new peripheral integrations and rolling out updates to Screenly OS, we’ve been focused on expanding what’s possible with digital signage while continuing to improve reliability and performance.</p> <p>Here’s everything we shipped and explored in March.</p> <h3 id="embedded-world-highlights">Embedded World Highlights</h3> <div class="embed-video"> <div class="embed-responsive"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/iR9ZuXTC8Ro" title="YouTube video player" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <p>Embedded World was an amazing event for Screenly. We showcased our peripheral integration demo at the Raspberry Pi booth, which sparked a lot of interest and meaningful discussions. We had some very insightful conversations with industry leaders in sensors and peripheral integrations, and it was exciting to explore how Screenly can play a role in these evolving ecosystems. We are looking forward to working closely with our partners to bring more sensor and peripheral driven solutions to our users.</p> <h2 id="introducing-peripheral-integrations">Introducing Peripheral Integrations</h2> <div class="embed-video"> <div class="embed-responsive"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/1kk8DBoH6dY" title="YouTube video player" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <p>At Embedded World, we introduced the first version of our Peripheral Integrations. The demo featured an NFC reader and an environment sensor capable of reading and displaying temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure.</p> <p>Integrated with our Edge App, we showcased a manufacturing facility access control use case. By simply tapping an NFC card, the screen identifies the user and displays relevant information based on their role.</p> <p>Operators and maintenance teams see different data, all delivered through the same screen. This moves beyond traditional digital signage, where content is either fully visible or not shown at all.</p> <p>Everything runs locally, ensuring low latency, improved reliability, and no dependency on cloud connectivity. This makes it especially well suited for factory and manufacturing environments where controlled access to information is essential.</p> <p>You can watch the demo in the video above.</p> <h2 id="screenly-player-mk3-release">Screenly Player Mk3 Release</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-3-front_hu_186f88eb47d5c038.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-3-front_hu_5bf59db662b19715.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-3-front_hu_e28c4944bd713245.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-3-front_hu_739cd1230ecc5039.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-3-front_hu_956579a3d8904c4a.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-3-front_hu_431de936543d7062.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-3-front_hu_ce7e9731dab7f131.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-3-front_hu_e54eb2b739ea0e5.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-3-front_hu_e28c4944bd713245.webp" alt="New MAX Mk3" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>The Screenly Player Max Mk3 is available now.</p> <p>It comes with a faster processor, DDR5 memory, and 500GB storage, with the ability for one player to drive up to four screens simultaneously.</p> <p>For enterprise deployments running 4K content, real time dashboards, or Edge Apps in security critical environments, the Mk3 is built to handle it. It also includes TPM, secure boot, and cryptographically signed updates for enhanced security.</p> <h2 id="screenly-os-updates---450">Screenly OS Updates - 4.5.0</h2> <p>We shipped a solid set of updates to make Screenly more secure, flexible, and easier to manage:</p> <ul> <li>Confidential Mode – Keep sensitive deployments safe by disabling screenshots in diagnostic reports</li> <li>Remote Display Power Control – Turn screens on or off remotely with backend commands</li> <li>Improved Portrait Mode – Better layout and responsiveness across intro and diagnostic screens</li> <li>Enhanced Help (F1) Screen – Now available during setup and adapts based on device features</li> <li>Tailscale VPN Support – Secure, seamless remote access to your devices</li> </ul> <h2 id="product--platform-updates">Product & Platform Updates</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-cover-image-edge-app-categories_hu_9d304226f78110bb.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-cover-image-edge-app-categories_hu_ca0f8498ab6176d4.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-cover-image-edge-app-categories_hu_365a0467382ff62d.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-cover-image-edge-app-categories_hu_384dfbe1289fe043.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-cover-image-edge-app-categories_hu_5c9abff2d4301f07.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-cover-image-edge-app-categories_hu_540715173f11ab54.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-cover-image-edge-app-categories_hu_786bb7aca50886bc.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-cover-image-edge-app-categories_hu_45bdc425cbe76788.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-cover-image-edge-app-categories_hu_365a0467382ff62d.webp" alt="Edge App categories page" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="928" > </picture> <p>We introduced an Edge App categories page, making it easier to discover and navigate apps. We also released a new version of Anywhere, focused on improving overall stability and performance.</p> <h2 id="community">Community</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-arduino-day-2026-kochi_hu_5adf9e0f40d24c80.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-arduino-day-2026-kochi_hu_a1eda04d96f8de6.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-arduino-day-2026-kochi_hu_bd2ce8c6b82c976.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-arduino-day-2026-kochi_hu_b5177eee4e64eb55.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-arduino-day-2026-kochi_hu_1227013a5b09db9f.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-arduino-day-2026-kochi_hu_a91f1f77a93d8483.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-arduino-day-2026-kochi_hu_c31d7ecca696a0a9.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-arduino-day-2026-kochi_hu_c41f194967196796.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x03-arduino-day-2026-kochi_hu_bd2ce8c6b82c976.webp" alt="New MAX Mk3" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="585" > </picture> <p>We partnered with Arduino Day in Kochi as part of our ongoing effort to give back to the community. The event was co organized with amazing makers from TinkerSpace and MakerGram community, bringing together around 40 participants from across Kerala. It was a great day of learning, building, and connecting with the local maker community.</p> <h3 id="thats-all-for-now">That’s all for now</h3> <p>That wraps up this edition of <strong>Screenly Sync</strong>.</p> <p>This past month, we focused on expanding integrations, improving the platform, and connecting with the community through events and partnerships. From new hardware to OS updates and real world demos, we’re continuing to push what Screenly can do.</p> <p>There’s a lot more in the pipeline, especially around integrations and Edge Apps, and we’re excited to share those with you soon.</p> <p>Thanks for reading, and see you in the next <strong>Screenly Sync</strong>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/06/screenly-sync-0x03/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/04/06/screenly-sync-0x03/Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re thrilled to announce the newest addition to the Screenly hardware family, the Screenly Player Max Mk3. Built for enterprises that demand rock-solid performance and <a href="/security">secure digital signage</a>, the Mk3 takes everything we learned from the Screenly Player Max Mk2 and pushes it forward with a faster processor, faster memory, nearly double the storage, and now, content mirroring on up to four screens.</p> <p>If you’re running content-heavy dashboards, 4K video walls, complex web applications, or custom digital signage <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a> on your screens in environments where security is paramount, the Mk3 was built for you.</p> <h2 id="whats-new-in-the-screenly-player-max-mk3">What’s new in the Screenly Player Max Mk3?</h2> <p>The Screenly Player Max Mk3 is a significant hardware upgrade over its predecessor, the Mk2. Here’s what changed and why it matters.</p> <h3 id="a-faster-more-efficient-processor">A faster, more efficient processor</h3> <p>The Mk3 is powered by an Intel® Core™ 3 100U processor, stepping up from the Intel i3-1315U in the Mk2. This newer-generation chip delivers improved performance and efficiency, meaning your signage content renders faster and the player handles demanding workloads, like heavy web applications, real-time dashboards, and 4K media.</p> <h3 id="ddr5-memory">DDR5 memory</h3> <p>While both the Mk2 and Mk3 feature 16 GB of RAM, the Mk3 upgrades from DDR4 to DDR5. DDR5 delivers significantly higher memory bandwidth, which translates to smoother multitasking, faster content loading, and better overall responsiveness, especially when driving multiple displays or rendering complex web content.</p> <h3 id="nearly-double-the-storage">Nearly double the storage</h3> <p>Storage jumps from 256 GB on the Mk2 to 500 GB PCIe4 on the Mk3. That’s nearly twice the space for locally cached content, which is a big deal for deployments that rely on Screenly’s content caching to keep screens running even when connectivity is intermittent. More storage means more content cached locally, and PCIe4 means it loads fast.</p> <h3 id="drive-up-to-four-screens-from-a-single-device">Drive up to four screens from a single device</h3> <p>The Screenly Player Max Mk3 can display the same content simultaneously on up to 4 connected screens. This is a game-changer for environments like retail storefronts, airport terminals, conference lobbies, and manufacturing floors where you need the same message displayed across multiple screens without deploying (and licensing) a separate player for each one.</p> <p>One player. One license. Four screens showing your content in perfect sync.</p> <h2 id="mk3-vs-mk2-side-by-side">Mk3 vs. Mk2 side-by-side</h2> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>Spec</th> <th>Player Max Mk2</th> <th>Player Max Mk3</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Processor</strong></td> <td>Intel® Core™ i3-1315U</td> <td>Intel® Core™ 3 100U</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>RAM</strong></td> <td>16 GB DDR4</td> <td>16 GB DDR5</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Storage</strong></td> <td>256 GB M.2 PCIe Gen</td> <td>500 GB PCIe4</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>4K Support</strong></td> <td>Yes</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Multi-Screen Output</strong></td> <td>Up to 2 mirrored screens</td> <td>Up to 4 mirrored screens</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>TPM</strong></td> <td>Yes</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Secure Boot</strong></td> <td>Yes</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Wake on LAN</strong></td> <td>Yes</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>WiFi</strong></td> <td>Yes</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Ethernet</strong></td> <td>Yes</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Assembled In</strong></td> <td>USA 🇺🇸</td> <td>USA 🇺🇸</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Expected Lifetime</strong></td> <td>5 years</td> <td>5 years</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td>$499</td> <td>$699</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h2 id="everything-you-need-in-the-box">Everything you need in the box</h2> <p>The Mk3 ships with everything you need to get up and running right away: the player itself, a power cable, a power adapter, an ethernet cable, and an HDMI cable. No hunting around your office for the right cables on deployment day.</p> <h2 id="enterprise-grade-security-as-always">Enterprise-grade security, as always</h2> <p>Like every Screenly Player, the Mk3 comes with the security features that enterprise IT teams expect. You get digital signage protected with a trusted platform module (TPM), secure boot, and cryptographically signed updates. Your signage infrastructure stays locked down from the hardware level up.</p> <h2 id="assembled-in-the-usa">Assembled in the USA</h2> <p>The Screenly Player Max Mk3 is proudly assembled in the USA, continuing our commitment to quality manufacturing and supply chain transparency.</p> <h2 id="ready-to-upgrade">Ready to upgrade?</h2> <p>The Screenly Player Max Mk3 is available now at <a href="https://shop.screenly.io/products/screenly-player-max-mk-3">shop.screenly.io</a> for $699. As with all Screenly Players, you’ll need one Screenly software license per device, sold separately. Check out our <a href="/pricing/">pricing page</a> for details.</p> <p>Whether you’re expanding an existing deployment or rolling out digital signage for the first time, the Mk3 gives you the performance, security, and multi-screen flexibility to power your digital signs with confidence.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/03/31/screenly-player-max-mk3-launch/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/03/31/screenly-player-max-mk3-launch/Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>This month, we are sharing product improvements, infrastructure updates, and field insights. From better error handling to major website upgrades and industry conversations around security, here is what stood out in February.</p> <h2 id="product-updates">Product updates</h2> <h3 id="new-and-simplified-timer-app">New and simplified Timer App</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/site/edge-apps/simple-timer-app-preview_hu_5993b335f271084a.webp 480w, /images/site/edge-apps/simple-timer-app-preview_hu_22a3c4885f8747cd.webp 768w, /images/site/edge-apps/simple-timer-app-preview_hu_52eac03bc45cd503.webp 1024w, /images/site/edge-apps/simple-timer-app-preview_hu_9cd6fc7cbca675b5.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/site/edge-apps/simple-timer-app-preview_hu_a33993824fb29fcc.webp 480w, /images/site/edge-apps/simple-timer-app-preview_hu_ba533982fbbba564.webp 768w, /images/site/edge-apps/simple-timer-app-preview_hu_d9ec781a468d1061.webp 1024w, /images/site/edge-apps/simple-timer-app-preview_hu_df73d7025fbe5e3c.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/site/edge-apps/simple-timer-app-preview_hu_52eac03bc45cd503.webp" alt="Simpler Timer App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="530" > </picture> <p>We released a new, simplified Timer App designed to do one thing well: count down clearly and reliably.</p> <p>Perfect for meeting rooms, classrooms, production floors, and events where clarity matters more than complexity. You can try the app <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/simple-timer/">here</a>.</p> <h3 id="new-demo-dashboards">New demo dashboards</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-manufacturing-kpi_hu_1ce53e08b7a0f589.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-manufacturing-kpi_hu_1214c82f0c6dee42.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-manufacturing-kpi_hu_1a06627131c1fde0.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-manufacturing-kpi_hu_805d5c946e1513a0.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-manufacturing-kpi_hu_f00532eff3d94b03.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-manufacturing-kpi_hu_6d161bef055e3731.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-manufacturing-kpi_hu_a50b8c00d5f5a944.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-manufacturing-kpi_hu_a56f296feb3757f7.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-manufacturing-kpi_hu_1a06627131c1fde0.webp" alt="New Demo Dashboard" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="528" > </picture> <p>We created new demo dashboards to better showcase real-world use cases. These dashboards make it easier to visualize how Screenly fits into environments like:</p> <ul> <li>Manufacturing KPI monitoring</li> <li>QA and QC dashboards</li> <li>Operational performance tracking</li> </ul> <p>They are built to be practical, realistic, and easy to understand. You can try the app <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/demo-dashboard/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="industry-insights">Industry insights</h2> <p>This month, we shared two pieces exploring how digital signage should be treated as infrastructure, not just screens on walls.</p> <h3 id="digital-signage-for-manufacturing">Digital Signage for manufacturing</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-manufacturing_hu_a7a081ffe2279b00.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-manufacturing_hu_eb57d35c7708f443.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-manufacturing_hu_569f72ae65571d4b.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-manufacturing_hu_decc67eb2fa4108b.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-manufacturing_hu_3ca1f99cc77df8f8.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-manufacturing_hu_5bc9ee69bd1bc3c0.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-manufacturing_hu_a62baf35dbb03f04.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-manufacturing_hu_ad8163b95af64b90.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-manufacturing_hu_569f72ae65571d4b.webp" alt="Digital Signage for Manufacturing" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>In manufacturing environments, screens often display key operational data that teams depend on. When this signage fails, the failure disrupts workflows, which can cost significant time and money. In our post, we explore why signage must be treated as critical infrastructure in the manufacturing sector.</p> <p>Read more → <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/digital-signage-manufacturing-infrastructure-you-only-notice-nnble/">Digital signage for manufacturing: Infrastructure you only notice when it fails</a></p> <h3 id="digital-signage-in-hospitals-is-part-of-the-trust-boundary">Digital signage in hospitals is part of the trust boundary</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-hospitals_hu_caafccfd8fcfc63b.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-hospitals_hu_2861b8c1dff3f03e.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-hospitals_hu_3806b3864f71cc38.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-hospitals_hu_e19b4ea491f82fac.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-hospitals_hu_2ae381cd6130c207.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-hospitals_hu_5755dc7a318ed049.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-hospitals_hu_7dc09b6a7fd1977.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-hospitals_hu_dd6fcd2c8f2dfca.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-digital-signage-hospitals_hu_3806b3864f71cc38.webp" alt="Digital Signage in Hospitals" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="575" > </picture> <p>In healthcare, signage communicates more than just information. It ifluences and affects team member, customer, and visitortrust. We discuss why digital signage in hospitals must be considered part of the security and trust boundary.</p> <p>Read more → <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/digital-signage-hospitals-part-trust-boundary-screenly-inc-jkmae/">Digital Signage in Hospitals Is Part of the Trust Boundary</a></p> <h3 id="digital-signage-operations-playbook-3">Digital Signage Operations Playbook #3</h3> <p>This month, we started a new weekly series, the Digital Signage Operations Playbook. Many thanks to Screenly team member <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-quirke-7bbb9038/">Deanna Quirke</a>!</p> <p>The goal of this series is simply to share practical, field-tested insights from operating digital signage in real environments. From ownership challenges to troubleshooting workflows and security considerations, we are breaking down what actually matters in day-to-day operations.</p> <p>Playbook #3 is now live → <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/salmanfarisvp_signage-content-governance-activity-7431944531471794176-zGnz/">Digital Signage Operations Playbook #3</a></p> <p>If you manage screens at scale, this series is for you.</p> <h2 id="recent-eents">Recent eents</h2> <h3 id="embedded-world">Embedded World</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-ew-2026_hu_d3c50a071b7aad84.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-ew-2026_hu_eaf6b52d3decd048.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-ew-2026_hu_36d659aa1a8ba606.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-ew-2026_hu_9e919aab9cf01114.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-ew-2026_hu_6bc1cffd02f16563.webp" alt="Embedded World Poster" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="535" > </picture> <p>It was great participating in Embedded World and seeing colleagues from around the world in Germany! At our booth, we displayed new Edge Apps for the manufacturing industry.</p> <h3 id="qcon--practical-sboms-with-viktor-petersson">QCon — Practical SBOMs with Viktor Petersson</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-qcon-viktor_hu_98868e1ec0116ad6.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-qcon-viktor_hu_fdc8620aecab1434.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-qcon-viktor_hu_80ae5c9831dc6306.webp 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-qcon-viktor_hu_b2a9a1af0e641754.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-qcon-viktor_hu_c676f62ebfd302e5.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-qcon-viktor_hu_9dcd6db6629beefd.webp 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x02-qcon-viktor_hu_80ae5c9831dc6306.webp" alt="QCon - Viktor Event Poster" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" > </picture> <p>At QCon Software Development Conference, Screenly CEO Viktor Petersson gave a talk on: <strong>“Practical SBOMs: From Chaos to Clarity — Modern SBOM Practices That Actually Work.”</strong></p> <p>Viktor walked through how to build a practical and future-ready SBOM strategy that actually works in real systems, not just on paper.</p> <p>Learn more → <a href="https://qconlondon.com/presentation/mar2026/chaos-clarity-modern-sbom-practices-actually-work">From Chaos to Clarity: Modern SBOM Practices That Actually Work</a></p> <h2 id="anthias">Anthias</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias_hu_10a0c13ac256ca73.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias_hu_2b0ca830f0db2997.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias_hu_9eb8cd1e2e56a1d6.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias_hu_8057c2b651844e69.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias_hu_f6eb704fb99a228f.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias_hu_9cf9d1619d3a8e68.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias_hu_17e9b4f00b2db8a9.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias_hu_7c9ce7092ce9d657.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias_hu_9eb8cd1e2e56a1d6.webp" alt="Anthias logo" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>If you are looking for an open source digital signage solution, you can check out Anthias, our self-hosted signage platform built for flexibility and control.</p> <p>Anthias is ideal for teams that want to run signage on their own infrastructure while keeping things simple and reliable.</p> <p>Learn more about Anthias → <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io/">Anthias</a></p> <h3 id="thats-all-for-now">That’s all for now</h3> <p>That’s it for this edition of Screenly Sync.</p> <p>This month, we shared new product updates, demo dashboards, industry insights, and the lastes from our speaking circuit. We also continued exploring how digital signage fits into real world operational environments. In the coming months, we will keep expanding the Screenly ecosystem with new apps, integrations, and improvements across the platform.</p> <p>Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for the next Screenly Sync!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/03/23/screenly-sync-0x02/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/03/23/screenly-sync-0x02/Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog episode 17:</strong> <em>SAP, enterprise data, and the future of intelligent signage with Chris Carter of Approyo</em></p> <p>Enterprise systems quietly run much of the modern economy. Inventory, logistics, finance, manufacturing, and supply chains all depend on massive platforms that most people never see directly. Yet the information inside those systems is often exactly what employees and customers need to act on in the real world.</p> <p>In this episode of the Screenly Changelog, Viktor Petersson and Daniel Mountcastle sit down with Chris Carter, CEO and Chairman of Approyo, a global SAP services and cloud consultancy. With decades of experience working with SAP environments, Chris brings a practical view of how enterprise systems actually operate and how their data can be used more effectively.</p> <p>If you have ever wondered how systems like SAP connect to the real world of retail stores, manufacturing floors, and customer experiences, this conversation explores what happens when enterprise data finally reaches the screen.</p> <p>Watch the full conversation above or read the highlights below.</p> <h2 id="sap-is-the-backbone-of-modern-enterprise-operations">SAP is the backbone of modern enterprise operations</h2> <p>For many organizations, SAP is not just another piece of software. It is the operational backbone that runs finance, inventory, logistics, human resources, and customer systems all at once.</p> <p>Chris explains that SAP’s strength comes from its ability to unify many parts of a business into a single environment. Instead of stitching together dozens of different tools, companies can manage operations through one integrated platform. That scale is one reason SAP continues to dominate large enterprise environments, from global retailers to major manufacturers.</p> <p>The result is that enormous amounts of operational data already exist inside these systems. The challenge is not collecting data anymore. The challenge is turning that data into something useful that people can see and act on.</p> <h2 id="the-last-mile-of-enterprise-data-is-still-a-human-problem">The “last mile” of enterprise data is still a human problem</h2> <p>One of the most interesting points in the conversation is how enterprise data often fails to reach the people who need it most.</p> <p>Companies build dashboards, reporting systems, and analytics platforms, but those tools often live inside applications that only a few people regularly open. Links to dashboards get emailed around organizations, but many employees rarely check them. The insight exists, but the visibility does not.</p> <p>This is where screens become important. Instead of burying information inside a dashboard, companies can surface operational data where people already are. In manufacturing environments, that might mean showing real-time performance data on the shop floor. In offices, it might mean displaying operational dashboards in shared spaces where teams naturally gather.</p> <p>When the right information becomes visible at the right moment, it changes how organizations respond to problems and opportunities.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-can-bring-enterprise-systems-into-the-physical-world">Digital signage can bring enterprise systems into the physical world</h2> <p>When enterprise systems connect to displays, something interesting happens. Data that once lived deep inside software platforms becomes part of the physical environment. Platforms like Screenly Edge Apps allow developers to build applications that run directly on signage devices.</p> <p>Chris describes examples from manufacturing where production data is shown directly on large displays near machines. Workers can see output, waste levels, and operational status in real time. That visibility changes behavior immediately because employees can respond to issues the moment they appear.</p> <p>The same concept applies in retail environments. Sales metrics, operational dashboards, and logistics data can all be displayed in ways that help employees understand what is happening across the business.</p> <p>In these cases, digital signage stops being a marketing tool and becomes part of operational infrastructure.</p> <h2 id="security-and-access-control-matter-more-than-most-organizations-realize">Security and access control matter more than most organizations realize</h2> <p>Once enterprise data starts appearing on screens, security becomes an unavoidable part of the conversation.</p> <p>Chris shares examples of organizations where internal data controls were far weaker than expected. In some cases, employees could access or download large amounts of company data simply because systems were never properly segmented or locked down. Problems like this are rarely caused by malicious intent. More often, they happen because security policies were never designed for the scale of modern data environments.</p> <p>The same considerations apply when displaying enterprise data on screens. Organizations must decide which information should be visible and who should have access to it. That requires thoughtful segmentation, clear policies, and systems that treat screens as part of the broader infrastructure.</p> <p>Security is not just about preventing attacks. It is about building systems where data flows safely to the places it is actually needed.</p> <h2 id="the-next-evolution-of-signage-is-data-driven-and-context-aware">The next evolution of signage is data-driven and context-aware</h2> <p>One of the most compelling parts of the conversation explores how signage could evolve when connected directly to enterprise data.</p> <p>Viktor raises the idea of linking signage campaigns to real-time inventory. Imagine a retail store promoting a product on screens across the store. If inventory runs out at that location, the signage could automatically switch to a different promotion. That kind of dynamic content becomes possible when signage connects directly to ERP systems like SAP.</p> <p>Other signals could also influence what appears on screens. Weather conditions, store traffic, sensor data, or local events could all trigger different content automatically. The same infrastructure could also apply to manufacturing, where machine events or operational alerts trigger updates on nearby displays.</p> <p>When decisions happen at the edge of the network rather than in distant cloud systems, signage becomes responsive to real-world conditions in real time.</p> <h2 id="what-we-are-taking-forward">What we are taking forward</h2> <p>What stands out from this conversation is how much valuable information already exists inside enterprise systems. Platforms like SAP track the operational heartbeat of entire organizations, yet much of that information never leaves the software environments where it is stored.</p> <p>Screens offer a way to bridge that gap. When enterprise data becomes visible in the physical world, teams gain situational awareness that dashboards alone rarely deliver.</p> <p>The opportunity is not just better reporting. It is creating environments where operational data, infrastructure, and human decision making all meet in the same place.</p> <p>If this sparked any ideas, the full conversation is live. We hope it gives you a new perspective on how digital signage can connect enterprise systems with the real world.</p> <h2></h2> <p><strong>Watch the full conversation with Viktor, Daniel, and Chris in the Screenly Changelog.</strong> Learn how enterprise platforms like SAP can connect with digital signage to turn operational data into real-time insights across retail, manufacturing, and customer environments.</p> <h2 id="learn-more-and-get-started-with-screenly">Learn more and get started with Screenly</h2> <p>Interested in secure, scalable digital signage solutions? Explore Screenly and start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today.</p> <p><strong>Stay tuned for future updates, and thank you for joining us for the Screenly Changelog.</strong></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/03/16/screenly-changelog-episode-17/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/03/16/screenly-changelog-episode-17/Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>Enterprise digital signage is more than screens displaying content.</p> <p>Some screens are internal, showing operational dashboards, production metrics, or safety instructions. Others are public-facing, visible to passengers, visitors, or partners. In every case, the screens represent the organization, and every screen carries responsibility.</p> <p>At Screenly, we offer two ways to deploy digital signage:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a>, which runs on existing hardware across platforms like Chrome OS, Android, Tizen, or in a web browser</li> <li><a href="/digital-signage-players/">Dedicated hardware players</a>, such as the <a href="https://shop.screenly.io/products/screenly-player">Screenly Player</a> and <a href="/shop/screenly-player-max">Screenly Player Max</a>, purpose-built with our firmware</li> </ul> <p>Screenly Anywhere allows organizations to run the player on hardware they already own. It provides flexibility, hardware reuse, and support for environments where dedicated devices are not yet practical.</p> <p>Dedicated players, such as the <a href="https://shop.screenly.io/products/screenly-player">Screenly Player</a> and <a href="/shop/screenly-player-max">Screenly Player Max</a>, are purpose-built with our firmware to deliver enterprise-grade security, reliability, and performance.</p> <p>Both options have their place. But when organizations require predictable performance and full control, the dedicated player is the best choice.</p> <h2 id="flexibility-with-screenly-anywhere">Flexibility with Screenly Anywhere</h2> <p><a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> is practical. It lets organizations deploy signage quickly on hardware they already own, which can reduce costs and simplify initial rollouts.</p> <p>However, flexibility comes with trade-offs. When signage is deployed on vendor-controlled hardware, some control is inevitably lost. This limitation can affect security, performance, and long-term reliability in enterprise environments.</p> <h2 id="why-vendor-platforms-limit-enterprise-security-and-reliability">Why vendor platforms limit enterprise security and reliability</h2> <p>Many organizations choose commercial displays, Android boxes, or smart TVs to run digital signage software because they are easy to buy and often seem simple to deploy. At first glance, they look like a practical and cost-effective solution.</p> <p>But there is one fundamental reality that often gets ignored: the device platform is fully controlled by the vendor.</p> <p>The operating system, firmware updates, security patches, background services, and lifecycle decisions are managed externally, if at all.</p> <p>Organizations do not control:</p> <ul> <li>When updates are applied</li> <li>How long devices remain supported</li> <li>Whether future updates introduce instability</li> </ul> <p>There is another important dimension to this problem.</p> <p>A digital signage software vendor running on third-party hardware is also dependent on external platform decisions. They cannot control firmware changes, OS behavior, driver updates, or hardware-level modifications. Even if the software itself is stable, changes in the underlying platform can introduce unexpected issues.</p> <p>That means a software-only vendor is inherently limited in how much responsibility they can take for end-to-end reliability. They control the application layer, but not the system layer.</p> <p>In contrast, vendors that own both the hardware and firmware stack can define, validate, and maintain the entire environment. When hardware, operating system, and update mechanisms are engineered together for a single purpose, stability and security can be managed as an integrated system rather than as separate components.</p> <h2 id="software-is-never-done">Software is never done</h2> <p>One critical factor often overlooked in signage deployments is ongoing software maintenance.</p> <p>Deploying signage is not just a day-zero event. The real work begins after installation.</p> <p>When organizations deploy hundreds or thousands of screens, they must plan for day 100, day 200, and beyond. Security updates, firmware patches, OS upgrades, driver updates, and performance improvements must be rolled out at scale without breaking production environments.</p> <p>Software is never done.</p> <p>If remote update mechanisms are unreliable or inconsistent, updating a fleet becomes operationally painful. Devices may run different software versions. Some may fail updates. Others may remain stuck on outdated firmware because vendor tooling is limited.</p> <p>Enterprise deployments require the ability to:</p> <ul> <li>Roll out remote firmware updates</li> <li>Push security patches consistently</li> <li>Update the player application at scale</li> <li>Monitor update status across the fleet</li> <li>Roll back safely if an update introduces issues</li> </ul> <p>This capability is not optional. It is essential for long-term infrastructure stability.</p> <p>Digital signage hardware is not static. It is part of a living system that must evolve with security requirements, feature updates, and platform changes.</p> <h2 id="consumer-devices-convenience-with-high-risk">Consumer devices: convenience with high risk</h2> <p>Consumer-grade smart TVs and Android boxes are especially risky for enterprise use.</p> <p>They are built for home entertainment, not managed fleet operations. Common limitations include:</p> <ul> <li>Short or unclear update commitments</li> <li>Limited visibility into firmware changes</li> <li>No guaranteed long-term security patching</li> <li>Restricted device management capabilities</li> <li>Built-in consumer services that cannot always be disabled</li> </ul> <p>In many cases, these devices are already near the end of their lifecycle when shipped. Organizations deploy hardware that immediately operates within a shrinking support window.</p> <p>Without centralized management, these devices sit outside proper governance. Even if they run a single application, they are still full operating systems that require lifecycle control.</p> <h2 id="commercial-displays-and-enterprise-android-devices">Commercial displays and enterprise Android devices</h2> <p>Commercial displays and enterprise Android platforms often feel safer because they are marketed for business use.</p> <p>They usually offer longer support commitments and better stability than consumer hardware. However, they are still vendor-controlled systems.</p> <p>Key realities include:</p> <ul> <li>Firmware updates depend on vendor release cycles</li> <li>Security patches follow manufacturer timelines</li> <li>Feature changes may be introduced without full control</li> <li>End-of-life dates are defined by the vendor</li> </ul> <p>Enterprise branding does not remove lifecycle risk. It only extends the window.</p> <p>Organizations still need to track support timelines and understand when hardware transitions from supported to unsupported status.</p> <h2 id="why-device-management-is-not-optional">Why device management is not optional</h2> <p>Deploying an application on unmanaged hardware is not the same as deploying it on infrastructure under control.</p> <p>At scale, a dedicated device management solution becomes necessary to:</p> <ul> <li>Enforce configuration policies</li> <li>Control application deployment and updates</li> <li>Lock down system settings</li> <li>Monitor device health and compliance</li> <li>Track lifecycle status and support expiration</li> <li>Detect devices that drift from approved configuration</li> </ul> <p>Without centralized management, visibility disappears over time. Devices age. Firmware changes. Security gaps appear. Teams only notice when something breaks.</p> <p>Enterprise security and reliability should not depend on consumer platform roadmaps or vendor patch schedules. They require control, monitoring, and lifecycle awareness.</p> <h2 id="performance-depends-on-the-full-stack">Performance depends on the full stack</h2> <p>Performance is not defined by hardware alone.</p> <p>Enterprise signage often displays real-time dashboards, safety alerts, production metrics, or passenger information. Delivering this reliably depends on the kernel, GPU, memory, background processes, OS scheduling, and thermal stability.</p> <p>On shared platforms, signage competes with system services and features designed for other purposes. Firmware or OS updates can change performance unexpectedly. Hardware variations can create inconsistent results across deployments.</p> <p>Screenly Anywhere can perform well, but its limits are set by the underlying platform. For predictable, enterprise-grade performance, control over the full stack is required.</p> <h2 id="dedicated-hardware-player">Dedicated hardware player</h2> <p>At Screenly, we take infrastructure reliability, security, and long-term maintainability seriously. That is why we offer dedicated players, the <a href="https://shop.screenly.io/products/screenly-player">Screenly Player</a> and <a href="/shop/screenly-player-max">Screenly Player Max</a>, built as controlled hardware platforms for digital signage deployments.</p> <p>By designing and maintaining hardware together with the firmware and software stack, the system becomes a unified environment.</p> <p>The following components are developed and validated to work together:</p> <ul> <li>Operating system</li> <li>Kernel</li> <li>GPU drivers</li> <li>Background services</li> <li>Network configuration</li> <li>Secure boot process</li> <li>Update mechanism</li> <li>Playback application</li> </ul> <p>Updates are managed across the full stack, including:</p> <ul> <li>Firmware updates</li> <li>Operating system and kernel updates</li> <li>Security patches</li> <li>Driver updates</li> <li>Playback application updates</li> </ul> <p>When the player application evolves, the underlying system is validated alongside it. When security requirements change, updates can be delivered across the fleet in a controlled and predictable way.</p> <p>This is where the difference becomes clear.</p> <p>Software-only vendors are responsible for the application layer. When issues originate in firmware, drivers, or the operating system, their ability to intervene is limited. Responsibility becomes fragmented across multiple vendors.</p> <p>With a dedicated hardware platform, responsibility is unified.</p> <p>We provide infrastructure-level support, not just software support. We take ownership of the full stack, from hardware through firmware to the playback application. When something needs to be fixed, optimized, or secured, there is a single accountable vendor.</p> <h3 id="benefits-of-full-stack-control">Benefits of full-stack control</h3> <ul> <li>Minimized attack surface</li> <li>Removal of unnecessary components</li> <li>Coordinated and predictable system and app updates</li> <li>Immediate delivery of security patches</li> <li>Consistent performance across all devices</li> <li>Clear visibility into update status across the fleet</li> </ul> <p>There is no reliance on external platform roadmaps, no fragmentation across OS builds, and no unexpected system-level changes introduced by third parties.</p> <p>For enterprise environments, that level of control translates directly into accountability.</p> <p>Infrastructure that cannot be updated predictably and supported holistically at scale is not enterprise-ready.</p> <h2 id="infrastructure-deserves-dedicated-control">Infrastructure deserves dedicated control</h2> <p><a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> provides flexibility and enables quick deployment on existing hardware. It is ideal for pilots, temporary projects, or situations where dedicated hardware is not yet practical.</p> <p>The dedicated <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a> and <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player Max</a> provide the strongest guarantees. Together, they deliver predictable performance, full security, and consistent reliability across enterprise deployments, whether screens are internal or public-facing.</p> <p>Digital signage in enterprise environments is infrastructure. When the stack is fully controlled, every screen becomes a trusted, high-performing extension of the organization.</p> <p><strong>Control matters. Performance matters. Security matters.</strong></p> <p>Dedicated hardware players deliver all three.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/03/02/why-dedicated-hardware-players-are-best-for-enterprise-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/03/02/why-dedicated-hardware-players-are-best-for-enterprise-digital-signage/Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>Welcome to the second edition of our monthly newsletter, where we share news from the digital signage industry, Screenly product updates, and stories. This month, we have exciting updates on new apps and integrations, new Screenly team members, and digital signage industry events.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-os-4_hu_38c6f50840789715.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-os-4_hu_388808756fa6cc1.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-os-4_hu_841765a5c2d052d8.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-os-4_hu_fc05fae8a0f41d9b.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-os-4_hu_458cc91f534a83dd.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-os-4_hu_fc7a5403175d173.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-os-4_hu_c0f6a4a4ded20928.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-os-4_hu_3ddb95d38ae7607f.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-os-4_hu_841765a5c2d052d8.webp" alt="Magic Links Screenshot" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <h3 id="screenly-os-440-release">Screenly OS 4.4.0 release</h3> <p>We released <strong>Screenly OS 4.4.0</strong>, which adds a Diagnostics page to streamline device onboarding and troubleshooting. This provides real-time visibility into critical hardware health metrics, including CPU temperature, memory allocation, and network throughput.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/site/edge-apps/grafana-dashboard-preview_hu_de19cce7c3e7deef.webp 480w, /images/site/edge-apps/grafana-dashboard-preview_hu_c75ad3b231ccd51b.webp 768w, /images/site/edge-apps/grafana-dashboard-preview_hu_51c80f713034765.webp 1024w, /images/site/edge-apps/grafana-dashboard-preview_hu_34901a53a6ad0537.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/site/edge-apps/grafana-dashboard-preview_hu_d0fff8c4eb07f965.webp 480w, /images/site/edge-apps/grafana-dashboard-preview_hu_5db30f4bc3522edd.webp 768w, /images/site/edge-apps/grafana-dashboard-preview_hu_2cecf7bf03858c0.webp 1024w, /images/site/edge-apps/grafana-dashboard-preview_hu_2d2773b00930b67d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/site/edge-apps/grafana-dashboard-preview_hu_51c80f713034765.webp" alt="Table App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="573" > </picture> <h3 id="grafana-app--integration-launch">Grafana app & integration launch</h3> <p>We launched a new Grafana app and integration, making it easier to view real-time data and metrics on your Screenly screens.</p> <p>Now, teams can show Grafana dashboards, infrastructure metrics, and analytics right on Screenly displays, without authentication issues. You can try our new Grafana app <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/grafana-dashboard/">here</a>.</p> <h3 id="power-bi-integration-improvements">Power BI integration improvements</h3> <p>We improved our Power BI integration with better stability and new dashboard refresh controls. These improvements came from customer feedback requests. We listen!</p> <p>These updates provide:</p> <ul> <li>Improved rendering reliability</li> <li>Better dashboard load handling</li> <li>More predictable refresh behavior</li> </ul> <p>These changes help keep important dashboards accurate and always visible on your screens. You can try the app <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/powerbi/">here</a>.</p> <h3 id="google-calendar-app-enhancements">Google Calendar App enhancements</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-calendar-app_hu_6a0127d2bd53df9a.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-calendar-app_hu_2f4fb3cf9ddc20d4.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-calendar-app_hu_2bcece62527dd995.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-calendar-app_hu_5a3ce2094a56e27.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-calendar-app_hu_4e731aeea7e96425.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-calendar-app_hu_cfd2bb7d565fb1ff.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-calendar-app_hu_1a7b5f791ef26574.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-calendar-app_hu_4e06aad15c0ecdae.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-calendar-app_hu_2bcece62527dd995.webp" alt="Magic Links Screenshot" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>We also updated our Google Calendar App, adding features that customers requested to make their schedules easier to view and manage.</p> <p>You can try our updated Google Calendar App <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/google-calendar/">here</a>.</p> <h3 id="welcoming-ioann-to-screenly">Welcoming Ioann to Screenly</h3> <p>We were also excited to welcome Ioann to the Screenly team.</p> <p>Ioann is widely known in the digital signage community as the moderator of <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalsignage/">r/digitalsignage</a> and the creator of <a href="https://signagelist.org/">SignageList</a>, one of the largest directories of digital signage software platforms.</p> <p>His passion for the industry, involvement in open-source digital signage development, and focus on building community align well with Screenly’s mission and vision for the signage industry at large.</p> <p>Ioann shared more about his journey and his decision to join Screenly on his <a href="https://514sid.com/blog/i-joined-screenly-as-a-product-manager/">blog</a>. Welcome to the team, Ioann!</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/bug-bounty-security-feedback-loop-cover_hu_408c99f909beba53.webp 480w, /images/blog/bug-bounty-security-feedback-loop-cover_hu_c69bdb4bcc6ee340.webp 768w, /images/blog/bug-bounty-security-feedback-loop-cover_hu_7759d19e7c81c8e8.webp 1024w, /images/blog/bug-bounty-security-feedback-loop-cover_hu_b98d3a7695c4dfe6.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/bug-bounty-security-feedback-loop-cover_hu_a4ea7696afa2a296.webp 480w, /images/blog/bug-bounty-security-feedback-loop-cover_hu_4a321ee81a3c4d45.webp 768w, /images/blog/bug-bounty-security-feedback-loop-cover_hu_e49637b8d8289a04.webp 1024w, /images/blog/bug-bounty-security-feedback-loop-cover_hu_f3f47c35a909950c.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/bug-bounty-security-feedback-loop-cover_hu_7759d19e7c81c8e8.webp" alt="Table App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <h3 id="security--trust">Security & trust</h3> <p>At Screenly, we always put security first, from how we design our platform to how we deploy it.</p> <p>To build on that commitment and make responsible disclosure easier, we launched <a href="https://www.screenly.io/bug-bounty/">Screenly’s Bug Bounty and Vulnerability Disclosure Program</a> on September 25, 2025.</p> <p>This program lets security researchers provide feedback so we can find issues faster, strengthen our platform, and maintain our customers’ and partners’ trust.</p> <p>We recently shared a detailed blog post about the program, how it works, and some real-world challenges we’ve faced, such as sorting reports and maintaining quality as more people submit issues.</p> <p>Read the full post: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/01/30/screenly-bug-bounty-building-a-stronger-security-feedback-loop/">Screenly Bug Bounty: Building a Stronger Security Feedback Loop</a></p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-ise_hu_4d78fedd703242f6.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-ise_hu_a29b84cce73edc04.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x01-screenly-ise_hu_9d459ed9c4bebd30.webp" alt="Table App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="301" > </picture> <h3 id="integrated-systems-europe-ise-2026-barcelona">Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026: Barcelona</h3> <p>Last month, our team attended one of the industry’s main events, Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 in Barcelona.</p> <p><a href="https://www.iseurope.org/">Integrated Systems Europe</a> (ISE) 2026 in Barcelona is known as one of the world’s top exhibitions for AV, systems integration, and digital signage technology. The event brings together display makers, signage software companies, infrastructure providers, and solution integrators. It’s a key place for anyone building or running large-scale networks.</p> <p>Screenly attended, and we had a great time meeting with partners, customers, and other industry professionals. At the event, our team showcased Screenly’s secure-by-design platform, discussed scalable digital signage deployments with partners, and met with AV integrators and solution providers. We also learned more about infrastructure needs in enterprise environments and how signage networks are evolving.</p> <h3 id="thats-all-for-now">That’s all for now</h3> <p>That’s it for this edition of <strong>Screenly Sync</strong>.</p> <p>Over the past month, we’ve focused on product updates, integrations, industry events, and security to strengthen the Screenly platform and community. In the next few weeks and months, we’ll be adding more apps and integrations.</p> <p>Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for the next <strong>Screenly Sync</strong>!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/02/06/screenly-sync-0x01/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/02/06/screenly-sync-0x01/Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>At Screenly, we have always been a security-first digital signage company. To double down on that commitment and streamline responsible disclosure for researchers, we officially launched Screenly’s Bug Bounty & Vulnerability Disclosure Program on September 25, 2025.</p> <p>In this post, I’ll break down the program details and share some of the challenges we’ve encountered so far. I’d also like to acknowledge our CTO, Renat Galimov, for his contributions to this post and the program itself.</p> <h2 id="why-we-launched-a-formal-program">Why we launched a formal program</h2> <p>We take security seriously because digital signage is unique: it runs in public spaces, often sits on sensitive networks, and is managed at scale. Security isn’t a one-time box to check; it is a continuous operation.</p> <p>Our goal with this program is to turn external feedback into a reliable engine for improvement and to properly reward researchers for their hard work.</p> <h2 id="how-does-screenlys-bug-bounty-program-work">How does Screenly’s Bug Bounty program work?</h2> <p>We have established clear “rules of engagement” regarding test sites, third-party services, DDoS attacks, social engineering, and physical intrusion. Note that we do not accept reports on known issues that pose no tangible risk or purely cosmetic problems.</p> <p>For full details on scope and reporting standards, please review our <a href="/bug-bounty/">Bug Bounty & Vulnerability Disclosure Policy</a>.</p> <h2 id="the-ai-challenge-interpreting-signal-vs-noise">The AI challenge: Interpreting signal vs. noise</h2> <p>Shortly after launch, reports started rolling in. However, we immediately noticed a high volume of submissions that appeared to be AI-generated or AI-assisted. This resulted in an influx of low-quality, unproven reports that consumed reviewer time and distracted us from legitimate security findings.</p> <p>This isn’t a problem unique to Screenly. The curl project recently announced the <a href="https://github.com/curl/curl/pull/20312">end of its bug bounty program</a> due to a similar surge in low-quality submissions. In their <a href="https://daniel.haxx.se/blog/2025/07/14/death-by-a-thousand-slops/">announcement</a>, they described “an explosion in AI slop reports,” noting that even reports that looked legitimate at a glance were often AI hallucinations.</p> <p>While we can’t stop researchers from using AI tools, we are focusing on building better filters and refining our review process. It takes time, but preserving the signal-to-noise ratio is vital for the program’s health.</p> <h2 id="what-we-changed-after-launch">What we changed after launch</h2> <p>To improve efficiency and response times, we implemented the following changes:</p> <h3 id="1-clearer-handling-of-mixed-and-chained-reports">1. Clearer handling of mixed and chained reports</h3> <p>We noticed researchers combining unrelated issues—sometimes mixing non-security bugs with potential vulnerabilities—into a single submission. To keep reviews clean and efficient, we now require one vulnerability per report. If you have related findings or chained exploits, please submit the details separately or clearly distinguish them.</p> <h3 id="2-a-better-system-for-managing-researcher-communications">2. A better system for managing researcher communications</h3> <p>Running a bounty program requires as much communication as it does technical analysis. As volume increased, long email threads began to create bottlenecks.</p> <p>We have since set up better processes to manage security inboxes, track report statuses, and deduplicate submissions. This allows our team to spend less time managing threads and more time verifying and fixing issues.</p> <h3 id="3-a-more-structured-operating-cadence">3. A more structured operating cadence</h3> <p>We want to set clear expectations, even during high-volume periods. We have established a regular schedule for triage and updates so researchers know when to expect a response, allowing our internal teams to maintain focus on critical tasks.</p> <h3 id="4-non-vulnerability-reports">4. Non-vulnerability reports</h3> <p>Like any software company, we have a backlog of low-priority bugs—issues that users rarely encounter and that carry no security risk. Historically, we prioritized new features over these minor fixes.</p> <p>However, once the bounty program launched, these minor bugs began attracting an unhealthy amount of attention from researchers hoping for a payout. To reduce the noise, we decided to fix many of these minor issues simply to clear the board. That said, we want to remind researchers: we pay for security disclosures, not QA for minor functional bugs.</p> <h2 id="its-just-one-part-of-our-broader-security-efforts">It’s just one part of our broader security efforts</h2> <p>A disclosure program works best when it sits on top of strong security fundamentals. For Screenly, that means a secure platform, hardened system configurations, and transparent reporting channels.</p> <p>Our main takeaway is that we want to reward actionable, high-value findings. We are working to discourage low-effort “spray and pray” submissions so we can resolve real issues faster.</p> <p>Transparency is key. Recently, we received a report regarding a potential data leak. We conducted a thorough investigation and published our findings in a <a href="/blog/2025/11/10/security-incident-response-magic-links/">public blog post</a>. This reflects our commitment to being open with both our customers and the research community.</p> <h2 id="a-note-to-researchers">A note to researchers</h2> <p>Thank you to everyone who helps keep Screenly secure by reporting issues responsibly.</p> <p>If you find a vulnerability, please visit our <a href="/bug-bounty/">Bug Bounty page</a> for details on what is in scope and how to report it.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/01/30/screenly-bug-bounty-building-a-stronger-security-feedback-loop/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/01/30/screenly-bug-bounty-building-a-stronger-security-feedback-loop/Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>What if you could manage all your digital signage with one command: <strong>“Update all lobby screens with the new promo playlist”?</strong></p> <p>With Screenly’s new <strong>Model Context Protocol (MCP)</strong> integration, that is now possible. We’ve added a new <code>screenly mcp</code> subcommand that gives AI assistants direct access to the Screenly API. This means Screenly can now be fully operated through AI platforms, making digital signage management more seamless and intelligent.</p> <h2 id="introducing-mcp-support-for-screenly-cli">Introducing MCP support for Screenly CLI</h2> <p>Digital signage management often involves multiple dashboards and scripts, requiring significant manual coordination and engineering.</p> <p>Today, we’re introducing MCP support in the <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/cli/">Screenly CLI</a>, a new capability that allows AI assistants such as Claude, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible tools to directly interact with Screenly’s infrastructure. With this update, Screenly becomes accessible through natural language-driven workflows while preserving the reliability and security of its existing API and CLI ecosystem.</p> <p>By exposing the Screenly API as structured MCP tools, the Screenly CLI now acts as a bridge between AI agents and real-world signage operations.</p> <p>It’s important to note that all access is scoped by your <strong>Screenly API token</strong>. This means the MCP server inherits the same permissions and restrictions as the authenticated <strong>user</strong>. AI assistants cannot perform any action beyond what your account is authorized to do, ensuring that existing access controls and security boundaries remain fully enforced.</p> <h3 id="what-is-model-context-protocol-mcp">What Is Model Context Protocol (MCP)</h3> <p>Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that enables AI tools to connect to external systems via structured, typed interfaces, allowing seamless, standardized integration beyond proprietary solutions.</p> <p>MCP acts like a USB-C port for AI, providing a standardized way for AI applications to connect to external systems, moving beyond text prompts or custom integrations.</p> <ul> <li>Discover available actions</li> <li>Call APIs safely</li> <li>Exchange structured data</li> <li>Operate real systems with predictable behavior.</li> </ul> <p>For Screenly, AI tools now manage screens, playlists, assets, labels, and Edge Apps using well-defined operations that our official API backs.</p> <h3 id="how-screenly-cli-mcp-works">How Screenly CLI MCP Works</h3> <p>The new integration adds a built-in MCP server to the Screenly CLI version 1.1.0 or later and introduces a new subcommand, enabling users to leverage MCP’s unique device management and automation features directly from the CLI:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>screenly mcp </span></span></code></pre></div><p>At a high level, the architecture looks like this:</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/introducing-screenly-mcp-architecture_hu_5ac773732cb7517a.webp 480w, /images/blog/introducing-screenly-mcp-architecture_hu_cbce7f6f1fe091cd.webp 768w, /images/blog/introducing-screenly-mcp-architecture_hu_74a86ced9e72c921.webp 1024w, /images/blog/introducing-screenly-mcp-architecture_hu_99b235768b5771c8.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/introducing-screenly-mcp-architecture_hu_5ac8cfaddc865d3c.webp 480w, /images/blog/introducing-screenly-mcp-architecture_hu_94284b21fc46a90c.webp 768w, /images/blog/introducing-screenly-mcp-architecture_hu_efa5d18b37088b26.webp 1024w, /images/blog/introducing-screenly-mcp-architecture_hu_6ff228c6e603ca64.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/introducing-screenly-mcp-architecture_hu_74a86ced9e72c921.webp" alt="Strava Club Leaderboard App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="542" > </picture> <p>This design keeps your authentication local, avoids exposing additional network ports, and preserves the existing Screenly security model.</p> <h3 id="what-this-means-for-digital-signage-operators">What This Means For Digital Signage Operators</h3> <p>For signage teams and IT operators, MCP unlocks a new operational interface layer.</p> <p>Instead of navigating dashboards or writing scripts, teams can now:</p> <p>Bulk Operations With Natural Language</p> <p>Examples:</p> <ul> <li>“Assign the Holiday playlist to all screens labeled Retail.”</li> <li>“Show me all offline screens.”</li> <li>“Remove unused assets older than 90 days.”</li> </ul> <h4 id="faster-campaign-updates">Faster Campaign Updates</h4> <p>Marketing and content teams can:</p> <ul> <li>Upload new media</li> <li>Update playlists</li> <li>Trigger deployments</li> </ul> <p>All through AI assisted workflows.</p> <h4 id="reduced-operational-overhead">Reduced Operational Overhead</h4> <p>By automating repetitive management tasks, MCP helps:</p> <ul> <li>Reduce manual errors</li> <li>Speed up rollouts</li> <li>Improve operational consistency</li> </ul> <h3 id="what-this-enables-for-developers">What This Enables For Developers</h3> <p>For developers and platform engineers, Screenly CLI MCP becomes a programmable automation layer.</p> <h4 id="ai-assisted-tooling">AI Assisted Tooling</h4> <p>You can now:</p> <ul> <li>Build internal AI tools around Screenly.</li> <li>Connect Screenly to agent workflows.</li> <li>Prototype operational bots</li> </ul> <h2 id="getting-started">Getting Started</h2> <p>Using MCP with Screenly CLI is simple.</p> <h3 id="step-1-install-or-update-screenly-cli">Step 1: Install or Update Screenly CLI</h3> <p>Make sure you’re running the latest Screenly CLI version 1.1.0 or later. You can follow <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/cli/">this guide</a> to install the Screenly CLI and log in with your Token.</p> <h3 id="step-2-install-cursor-cli-if-you-have-not-you-can-also-use-other-llm-tools-like-claude">Step 2: Install Cursor CLI (if you have not, you can also use other LLM tools like Claude)</h3> <p>Follow <a href="https://cursor.com/cli">this guide to install Cursor CLI</a> and log in.</p> <h3 id="step-3-create-cursor-mcp-config">Step 3: Create Cursor MCP config</h3> <p>Cursor supports global MCP config at:</p> <ul> <li> <p>macOS/Linux: <code>~/.cursor/mcp.json</code></p> </li> <li> <p>Or project only: <code><your project>/.cursor/mcp.json</code></p> </li> </ul> <h4 id="global-setup-works-in-all-projects">Global setup (works in all projects)</h4> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>mkdir -p ~/.cursor </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>nano ~/.cursor/mcp.json </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Paste this:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-json" data-lang="json"><span style="display:flex;"><span>{ </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">"mcpServers"</span>: { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">"screenly"</span>: { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">"command"</span>: <span style="color:#ed9d13">"screenly"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">"args"</span>: [<span style="color:#ed9d13">"mcp"</span>], </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">"env"</span>: { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">"API_TOKEN"</span>: <span style="color:#ed9d13">"YOUR_SCREENLY_V4_TOKEN"</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> } </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> } </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> } </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>} </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Notes:</p> <ul> <li>If you already rely on <code>~/.screenly</code>, you can remove the env block entirely.</li> <li>If <code>screenly</code> is not on PATH, replace <code>"command": "screenly"</code> with the full path (example: <code>/usr/local/bin/screenly</code> or wherever it lives).</li> </ul> <h3 id="step-4-start-cursor-cli-and-test">Step 4: Start Cursor CLI and Test</h3> <p>Open the CLI and type <code>agent</code> to start the Cursor CLI.</p> <p>Now try prompts that force tool usage, for example:</p> <ul> <li>“List my Screenly screens.”</li> <li>“Show playlists and the number of items in each.”</li> <li>“Create a playlist called Test and add the latest uploaded asset.”</li> </ul> <p>If everything is wired correctly, Cursor will discover the MCP server and call the relevant tools when needed.</p> <h2 id="real-world-use-cases-for-ai-assistants-in-digital-signage">Real World Use Cases for AI Assistants in Digital Signage</h2> <p>Enabling MCP in the Screenly CLI empowers AI assistants to execute digital signage operations through natural language, transforming routine workflows. Teams can automate common tasks, accelerate content management, and streamline large-scale screen operations without writing custom scripts.</p> <p>Example: Screen Inventory and Status Overview</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>agent chat <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Using the Screenly tools, list all screens and show which ones are offline."</span> </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Example: Label-driven updates</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>agent chat <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Find screens with label 'Retail' and assign the 'Store Promo' playlist to them."</span> </span></span></code></pre></div><h2 id="demo">Demo</h2> <img src="/assets/images/blog/introducing-screenly-mcp-demo.gif" alt="Screenly CLI MCP Demo"> <h2 id="whats-next">What’s Next</h2> <p>This is just the beginning of a new chapter for AI-driven digital signage operations.</p> <p>Introducing MCP in the Screenly CLI paves the way for smarter, faster signage management through intelligent assistants and automated workflows.</p> <p>We look forward to the community using this to create next-generation operations, automate content, and power integration with AI platforms.</p> <ul> <li>Design fully automated content pipelines</li> <li>Integrate signage into broader AI-powered platforms.</li> </ul> <p>If you’re interested in using AI with infrastructure, join us to build, share your ideas, and influence future developments.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/01/15/introducing-screenly-mcp/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2026/01/15/introducing-screenly-mcp/Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000<p>Screenly Sync is your monthly update on all things Screenly, including our Player, Backend, Apps, and <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io/">Anthias</a>.</p> <p>In this first edition and 2025 year end review, we look back at a year of major progress across Screenly. We started 2025 with the launch of <strong>Screenly Anywhere</strong>, enabling Screenly to run on any device with a modern browser. Throughout the year, we delivered significant improvements to our players and core infrastructure, rolled out new device UI updates, introduced the <strong>Screenly Player Max Mk II</strong>, launched a new <strong>bug bounty program</strong> to secure the platform, expanded <strong>apps and integrations</strong>, and continued enhancing the CLI.</p> <p>We also strengthened platform reach by improving the <strong>Screenly Android TV app</strong> and our <strong>Samsung Tizen app</strong>. Our team achieved milestones such as hosting the <strong>Screenly team summit</strong> in Thailand, delivering conference talks, and engaging our growing community.</p> <p>Below, you’ll find more on each of these updates.</p> <h2 id="platform-updates">Platform Updates</h2> <p>Here we outline the major Screenly platform and infrastructure updates delivered in 2025, including improvements to performance, stability, scalability, and security. This includes faster device-to-server communication for quicker updates and more responsive screen management, along with a stronger focus on security across authentication and integrations. Additional updates are listed below.</p> <h3 id="screenly-anywhere-android-and-tizen-app">Screenly Anywhere, Android and Tizen App</h3> <p>We kicked off 2025 by launching <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">Screenly Anywhere</a>, which lets you turn the devices you already own into fully functional digital signage players. From smart TVs in reception areas to mini PCs in executive suites, you can now use any device with a modern browser to run Screenly Anywhere without additional hardware.</p> <p>Building on this momentum, later in the year, we introduced the <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/09/screenly-android-app/">Screenly Android App</a>, enabling any Android powered device to act as a digital sign. Whether it’s an Android smart TV, an affordable HDMI stick, or a spare tablet, users can easily repurpose existing hardware to display content. The app is available on the Google Play Store, making setup as simple as installing any standard app.</p> <p>Continuing our expansion, we then brought Screenly Anywhere to an even wider audience with the release of the <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/07/13/introducing-the-samsung-tizen-app/">Tizen App for Samsung commercial displays</a>. This allows Samsung displays to run Screenly content natively in full 1080p or 4K resolution, leveraging the Tizen OS with no additional hardware required.</p> <h3 id="magic-links-and-security-incident-response">Magic Links and Security Incident Response</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pin-sign-01_hu_bda3bf381e3feb80.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pin-sign-01_hu_eb0cd42e23d718ea.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pin-sign-01_hu_cdba6664dfc55fc5.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pin-sign-01_hu_4dbba01f4005cfb2.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pin-sign-01_hu_494e079d29edbcc8.webp" alt="Magic Links Screenshot" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="721" > </picture> <p>We have recently upgraded our login system to be more secure and effortless by adopting Magic Links, eliminating passwords for a safer and smoother user experience.</p> <p>This update follows our <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/11/10/security-incident-response-magic-links/">public write-up of a recent Security Incident</a>, which outlined what happened, our response, and the improvements we implemented.</p> <p>You can find more information at: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/11/10/security-incident-response-magic-links/">Security Incident Response: How We Investigated a Data Leak and What We’re Doing Next</a></p> <h3 id="server-side-rendering-for-hardware-devices-faster-lighter-more-efficient">Server-Side Rendering for Hardware Devices (Faster, Lighter, More Efficient)</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-server-rendering-02_hu_ee8f80381e8b3b2d.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-server-rendering-02_hu_f5ea0df1f5e1b55b.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-server-rendering-02_hu_94fbb3e8d851b1.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-server-rendering-02_hu_af0832a80d267f97.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-server-rendering-02_hu_7ed1a3dffac0eec7.webp" alt="Server Side Rendering" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="468" > </picture> <p>In the past, complex dashboards and large web pages were rendered directly on the Screenly Player. This required the device to load and render the user interface, often resulting in slow performance and high resource usage. Large dashboards could also use a lot of bandwidth, take a long time to load, and cause frequent API calls, especially when retrieving real-time data from BI or analytics tools.</p> <p>With our new server-side rendering system, all processing occurs on Screenly’s servers, and the player only receives the optimised output. Users can configure where the asset is rendered, on the device or on the server. This results in:</p> <ul> <li>Much faster loading times for heavy or data-rich dashboards</li> <li>Reduced resource usage on the player, leading to improved stability and performance</li> <li>Lower bandwidth consumption, as the player no longer needs to fetch large datasets</li> <li>Fewer external API calls, which helps avoid rate limits and enhances reliability</li> <li>A new caching mechanism that allows users to control how long rendered content is cached before refreshing, keeping dashboards up to date while minimizing unnecessary re-renders or data requests</li> </ul> <h3 id="screenly-cli-v105-release">Screenly CLI v1.0.5 Release</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-cli-03_hu_6a7615911df30b6d.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-cli-03_hu_9e8af87483df8052.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-cli-03_hu_46c85c7985ca38b5.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-cli-03_hu_3d40c62f05b281aa.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-cli-03_hu_aaf0c0752c3e681f.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-cli-03_hu_89ef9fb560118915.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-cli-03_hu_62efad4f9ca4d55b.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-cli-03_hu_6d7c68bddde7556e.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-cli-03_hu_46c85c7985ca38b5.webp" alt="Screenly CLI" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="471" > </picture> <p>With the release of <strong>CLI v1.0.5</strong>, we made major improvements to the Edge App framework, improving how users build, document, and configure apps.</p> <p>At the core of these improvements is our new <strong>Structured Help Text system</strong>, which employs a YAML based format to define how each setting should be described and presented. This approach provides developers with a clean, standardized method to offer guidance, examples, and context directly within the app settings interface, making it much easier for users to understand and configure apps.</p> <p>Building on this foundation, we have extended the Edge App manifest to include a range of advanced input field types, such as:</p> <ul> <li>Datetime</li> <li>Number</li> <li>Select (dropdown choices)</li> <li>Boolean (toggle switches)</li> <li>Textarea (multi-line text input)</li> <li>URL</li> </ul> <p>Learn more: <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/#introduction">developer.screenly.io</a>, <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/edge-apps/#input-field-types">Edge App Input Field Types</a></p> <h3 id="bug-bounty--vulnerability-disclosure-policy">Bug Bounty & Vulnerability Disclosure Policy</h3> <p>Screenly is built on a security first philosophy, and in 2025, we put that commitment into practice by launching a formal <strong>bug bounty program</strong>. The program provides clear rules and a safe harbor for security researchers to responsibly report vulnerabilities, allowing us to proactively improve the platform and better protect our customers by encouraging responsible disclosure rather than ignoring or discouraging it. You can find more deatils <a href="https://www.screenly.io/bug-bounty/">here</a></p> <h2 id="apps--integrations">Apps & Integrations</h2> <p>In 2025, we shipped a wide range of apps and integrations across the Screenly ecosystem. All Apps are open source and available in the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground">screenly/playground</a> repository and can be easily installed from the <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/">app page</a>. We also developed a new Apps library with shared utilities and helper functions to simplify the development and maintenance of Edge Apps, You can find the details <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/blob/master/edge-apps/edge-apps-library/README.md">here</a>.</p> <p>We also saw many users building their own custom Apps to meet their specific needs, which has been exciting to watch. If you’re working on a custom app or need help getting started, reach out to our <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">support team</a> for guidance or resources.</p> <p>Below, we’ve highlighted some of the latest apps and integrations released.</p> <h3 id="new-power-bi-app-with-upgraded-integration">New Power BI App with Upgraded Integration</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-powerbi-04_hu_358f7ac9c6c80d8c.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-powerbi-04_hu_35fac523a38d0fde.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-powerbi-04_hu_e959c976baf80d5c.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-powerbi-04_hu_2bb2895c546520bb.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-powerbi-04_hu_34cb43eb240ec2da.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-powerbi-04_hu_df74c95409e3b96c.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-powerbi-04_hu_5aa3ff373b8559cf.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-powerbi-04_hu_629a44131c35ef11.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-powerbi-04_hu_e959c976baf80d5c.webp" alt="Screenly CLI" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="486" > </picture> <p>We have completely redesigned our Power BI integration, transitioning from a legacy system to a modern, user friendly experience. The new Power BI App enables seamless dashboard embedding without the setup challenges of the past.</p> <p>With this update, users no longer need to input API keys, dataset IDs, report IDs, or other technical identifiers. Once a user connects their Power BI account via the Screenly integration, all available dashboards are automatically displayed in the Power BI app, ready for selection. Simply choose the dashboard you want displayed, and It becomes available as a piece of content that can be added to your playlist with no extra steps, no manual configuration, and no risk of mistyping complex IDs.</p> <p>This significantly reduces onboarding friction, making dashboard publishing faster, simpler, and much more user friendly.</p> <p>Learn more: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/10/Introducing-the-new-powerbi-integration-for-screenly-apps/">Introducing the New Power BI Integration for Screenly Apps</a></p> <h3 id="google-calendar-app-with-integration">Google Calendar App with Integration</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/calendar-app-demo_hu_2b6e504fd87697cb.webp 480w, /images/blog/calendar-app-demo_hu_348a7b4ecb55f827.webp 768w, /images/blog/calendar-app-demo_hu_242170b89b8285d8.webp 1024w, /images/blog/calendar-app-demo_hu_9cf3c5ff7e24a28f.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/calendar-app-demo_hu_2f2e60688b9bb5d5.webp 480w, /images/blog/calendar-app-demo_hu_45c52a86ac637790.webp 768w, /images/blog/calendar-app-demo_hu_74d7c7f145e8c368.webp 1024w, /images/blog/calendar-app-demo_hu_ca17e9c77f9d3ef0.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/calendar-app-demo_hu_242170b89b8285d8.webp" alt="Calendar App Demo" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>Our new Google Calendar App lets you quickly display events. When you connect your Google account, you no longer have to copy calendar IDs, API keys, or secret tokens. The app automatically retrieves your calendars and displays them in a clean list.</p> <p>Select the calendar you want to display, and the app adds it to your playlist instantly, no technical setup required.</p> <p>​Learn more: <a href="https://screenly.io/apps/google-calendar/">Google Calendar App</a></p> <h3 id="outlook-calendar-app-with-integration">Outlook Calendar App with Integration</h3> <p>Similar to Google Calendar, you can add integrations to connect your Outlook Calendar with other tools and services, enhancing your workflow and productivity.</p> <p>​Learn more: <a href="https://screenly.io/apps/outlook-calendar/">Outlook Calendar App</a></p> <h3 id="generic-calendar-app-with-ical-support">Generic Calendar App with iCal Support</h3> <p>For organizations that utilize custom calendar systems, we have introduced a versatile iCal-based Calendar App. By simply pasting your iCal link, the app handles everything else.</p> <p>Although the app relies on an external link, it provides a universal solution suitable for nearly any calendar system, making it perfect for specialized industry tools.</p> <p>Learn more: <a href="https://screenly.io/apps/calendar/">Calendar App</a></p> <h3 id="qr-code-app-with-utm-tracking">QR Code App with UTM Tracking</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_84cdc73f55bb7c70.webp 480w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_addc3f81da8348b3.webp 768w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_fe16a8ec8e829888.webp 1024w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_6134ff45c06981af.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_975f431eb70e2527.webp 480w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_8b6aa10ea1e79096.webp 768w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_ce52b924ee9d1d05.webp 1024w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_4e9c2c5263a8df2a.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_fe16a8ec8e829888.webp" alt="QR Code Generator App Preview" class="edge-app-steps no-border" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="532" > </picture> <p>We introduce our powerful new QR Code App, designed to simplify the creation and display of trackable QR codes. With this app, you can easily generate high-resolution QR codes directly in Screenly, without third-party tools or manual image uploads.</p> <p>Once you input a target URL, the app quickly generates a QR code optimized for digital signage. A key feature is the option to enable automatic UTM tracking right inside the app. When UTM parameters are activated, Screenly automatically adds analytics tags, such as <code>utm_source</code>, <code>utm_medium</code>, <code>utm_location</code>, and <code>utm_placement</code>, based on your signage metadata. This functionality provides valuable insights into how and where scans occur.</p> <p>Additionally, you can customize optional text elements, such as a headline (e.g., “Scan to Learn More”) and a call-to-action (e.g., “Get the App”), ensuring they align with your display’s theme for a cohesive visual presentation.​</p> <p>This update makes the QR Code App perfect for a wide range of use cases, including customer engagement, surveys, menus, promotions, and campaign tracking — all managed seamlessly within the Screenly platform.</p> <p>Learn more: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/12/09/new-qr-code-app-with-utm/">QR Code App</a></p> <h3 id="news-apps-rss-based-bbc-al-jazeera-fox-news-nyt-npr-wsj--more">News Apps (RSS-Based): BBC, Al Jazeera, Fox News, NYT, NPR, WSJ & More</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-news-app-05_hu_88b610e3d466eeb.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-news-app-05_hu_da155d4fca3c80f7.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-news-app-05_hu_be2ae31f2886312a.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-news-app-05_hu_e349ed7c602bd050.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-news-app-05_hu_e0ff5a6a6ebdbdc2.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-news-app-05_hu_84a863a317bcf231.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-news-app-05_hu_b936873eb3cd4425.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-news-app-05_hu_4521fdfd34edccee.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-news-app-05_hu_be2ae31f2886312a.webp" alt="QR News Apps" class="edge-app-steps no-border" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="264" > </picture> <p>Continuing our efforts to expand Screenly’s capabilities, we have introduced a comprehensive suite of news apps powered by RSS, providing real-time headlines from major global sources, including:</p> <ul> <li>BBC News</li> <li>Al Jazeera</li> <li>Fox News</li> <li>The New York Times</li> <li>NPR News</li> <li>The Wall Street Journal</li> </ul> <p>These feeds make it easy to keep your screens up to date with live, reliable information.</p> <h3 id="simple-table-app-csv-powered-table-generator">Simple Table App (CSV-Powered Table Generator)</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/site/edge-apps/table-app-preview_hu_86a0bf598a2650af.webp 480w, /images/site/edge-apps/table-app-preview_hu_d39e563c764748f3.webp 768w, /images/site/edge-apps/table-app-preview_hu_80a7594492f30b68.webp 1024w, /images/site/edge-apps/table-app-preview_hu_8dafd444a86b33aa.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/site/edge-apps/table-app-preview_hu_a3773b17b92934c4.webp 480w, /images/site/edge-apps/table-app-preview_hu_b48c1096b98b2bce.webp 768w, /images/site/edge-apps/table-app-preview_hu_6374c735902e1728.webp 1024w, /images/site/edge-apps/table-app-preview_hu_36b1feb02edfa8f6.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/site/edge-apps/table-app-preview_hu_80a7594492f30b68.webp" alt="Table App" class="edge-app-steps no-border" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>We launched the Simple Table App for structured displays menus, schedules, KPIs, pricing sheets, rosters, and more without custom design or coding.</p> <p>With the Simple Table App, upload a CSV file, and Screenly creates a formatted table for digital signage. The app handles column sizing, spacing, typography, and layout for maximum readability.</p> <p>Update your CSV file, re-upload, and the table refreshes in seconds. This is especially useful for settings with frequent information changes, such as restaurants, warehouses, universities, offices, hotels, and retail environments.</p> <p>You will find the Simple Table App in the Apps section, as part of our expanding library of plug-and-play, no-code content tools.</p> <p>​Learn more: <a href="https://screenly.io/apps/simple-table/">Simple Table App</a></p> <h3 id="strava-club-leaderboard-app">Strava Club Leaderboard App</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_f2abf9f698f86c1c.webp 480w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_9dacce5831dc196d.webp 768w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_7a63b867adc50c86.webp 1024w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_e92b858d00fdccc.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_cf578d343d092701.webp 480w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_a83029f945364931.webp 768w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_182c5dee4e6829ea.webp 1024w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_20b9bf07706a9fb8.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_7a63b867adc50c86.webp" alt="Strava Club Leaderboard App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="586" > </picture> <p>We believe digital signage can do more than display content, it can bring people together. As a remote team, we’re always exploring new ways to stay connected and motivated, which led to the creation of our Screenly Strava Club.</p> <p>The Strava Club Leaderboard App turns that idea into a plug and play digital signage experience, displaying real time activity data from Strava on your Screenly powered screens. From highlighting top performers to celebrating milestones and tracking weekly totals, the app helps keep teams and communities engaged and moving.</p> <p>Learn more: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/12/introducing-the-strava-club-leaderboard-app/">Introducing the Strava Club Leaderboard App</a>, <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/strava-club-leaderboard/">Strava Club Leaderboard App</a>.</p> <h3 id="charliehr-dashboard-app">CharlieHR Dashboard App</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_cd8f31c0f058d5b4.webp 480w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_b305f22d36605efb.webp 768w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_e49da420b3de41b0.webp 1024w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_a096a561744c8483.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_dcabd6e5b64ef1f.webp 480w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_a5ff14e98b03f2cf.webp 768w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_7763efd709b9dd5a.webp 1024w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_1e3af5c1eae418de.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_e49da420b3de41b0.webp" alt="CharlieHR Dashboard App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="529" > </picture> <p>We focus on building apps that solve real-world problems. We use CharlieHR to manage our team, from tracking birthdays and work anniversaries to managing time off, and we saw an opportunity to make this information more visible and useful in day-to-day work.</p> <p>The CharlieHR Dashboard Edge App brings real-time employee data from CharlieHR directly to your Screenly powered displays. From celebrating birthdays and work anniversaries to showing who’s out of the office today, the dashboard helps teams stay informed, connected, and engaged through digital signage.</p> <p>Learn more: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/26/introducing-the-charliehr-dashboard-app/">Introducing the CharlieHR Dashboard App</a>, <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/charliehr-dashboard/">CharlieHR Dashboard App</a>.</p> <p>We have many more new apps and integrations to share, but to keep this post focused, you can explore the full list in our <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/">fully redesigned Apps section</a>.</p> <h2 id="player--hardware-updates">Player & Hardware Updates</h2> <p>In 2025, we made significant investments in our players and underlying hardware platform to improve performance, reliability, and long term maintainability. This includes the launch of the all new <strong>Screenly Player Max Mk II</strong>, expanded <strong>Raspberry Pi 5 support</strong>, and a major refresh of the device software stack. From a redesigned onboarding experience and faster device provisioning to modern graphics with Wayland, improved logging, and more deterministic device behavior, these upgrades collectively deliver a faster, more secure, and more predictable digital signage player. The highlights below capture the key improvements shipped this year.</p> <h3 id="introducing-the-screenly-player-max-mk-ii">Introducing the Screenly Player Max Mk II</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_d415ab998c119e8e.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_3b4d000987329903.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_3494a26bb3e6fe08.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_e731df072f5b186e.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_75a9dffcda1f1174.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_a37ac34eaddf28af.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_678fc89a8e0eb77.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_e9300c41cef1685c.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_3494a26bb3e6fe08.webp" alt="A back view of the Screenly Player Max Mk II, showing more of the available ports" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" > </picture> <p>Meet the Screenly Player Max Mk II, our most powerful and secure digital signage player yet. Built in partnership with System76, this compact device delivers top tier performance with Screenly’s security first approach at its core.</p> <p>In simple terms: it’s the fastest and most secure digital signage player we’ve ever built, designed for demanding deployments where reliability and protection matter most.</p> <p>Read the full announcement: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/06/introducting-screenly-player-max-mk-II/">Meet the Screenly Player Max Mk II - Secure, High‑Performance Digital Signage</a></p> <h3 id="screenly-now-supports-raspberry-pi-5-latest">Screenly now supports Raspberry Pi 5 Latest</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pi5-support-07_hu_ca038fc2093e6eea.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pi5-support-07_hu_453387ade24f2759.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pi5-support-07_hu_21679b30b47c6e13.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pi5-support-07_hu_3e4665e26b88fc1d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pi5-support-07_hu_6d184f33558ea2c1.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pi5-support-07_hu_65151c6cb4e5c0ad.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pi5-support-07_hu_bdec0769a0d3cfd3.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pi5-support-07_hu_89e39f6311fdbe23.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-pi5-support-07_hu_21679b30b47c6e13.webp" alt="A back view of the Screenly Player Max Mk II, showing more of the available ports" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>Screenly now fully supports and is optimized for the Raspberry Pi 5, delivering improved performance, smoother playback, and a better overall experience when upgrading or expanding fleets.</p> <p>During this work, we identified an issue in the Raspberry Pi 5 bootloader and reported it to the Raspberry Pi team. This was promptly addressed by releasing a new bootloader.</p> <h3 id="all-new-player-onboarding-experience">All New Player Onboarding Experience</h3> <img src="/assets/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-device-ui-06.webp" alt="Player Onboarding UI Update"> <p>We redesigned the Player interface to enhance its intuitiveness, offer better information, and align it with our contemporary design standards. These updates help users troubleshoot and pair devices faster and with less confusion, making the overall experience smoother and more reliable.</p> <h2 id="anthias-2025-in-review">Anthias: 2025 in Review</h2> <img src="/assets/images/blog/screenly-sync-0x00-anthias-08.webp" alt="Player Onboarding UI Update"> <p>Anthias is Screenly’s open source, self hosted digital signage platform. In 2025, it saw major improvements in performance, playback, media support, and long term maintainability, alongside strong community growth to 1,626 <a href="https://forums.screenly.io/">forum members</a> and 3,286 <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias">GitHub stars</a>.</p> <ul> <li> <p>Raspberry Pi 5 support: Added support for Raspberry Pi 5 devices, which feature a faster central processing unit (CPU) and increased random access memory (RAM).</p> </li> <li> <p>Smoother asset transitions: Removed the blank gap between web and image assets and fixed navigation issues with the Previous and Next asset buttons.</p> </li> <li> <p>New media format support: Added native support for GIF and WebP images, removing the need to convert assets to JPEG or PNG.</p> </li> <li> <p>Modern front-end overhaul: Migrated the UI from CoffeeScript and Backbone.js to TypeScript and React, enabling better theming, smoother animations (including drag and drop), clearer tooltips, and improved alert messages.</p> </li> <li> <p>AI ready development workflow: Introduced custom context rules to support AI assisted coding tools while minimizing errors. These rules will be standardized via <code>AGENTS.md</code> to remain tool agnostic and make onboarding easier for new contributors.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Anthias continues to grow as an open source, community driven digital signage platform. Help improve performance, extend media support, refine the user experience, or explore new ideas by contributing today.</p> <p>Get involved: open pull requests, report or discuss issues, and share feedback or use cases with other users. Visit our forum to connect with the <a href="https://forums.screenly.io/">Anthias community</a>, ask questions, collaborate, and stay up to date.</p> <p>Whether you are fixing a small bug or working on a larger feature, every contribution helps move Anthias forward.</p> <h2 id="company--team-highlights">Company & Team Highlights</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/summit-2025-teamphoto_hu_b86f6653fffe00c7.webp 480w, /images/blog/summit-2025-teamphoto_hu_ee26ae5c5981e949.webp 768w, /images/blog/summit-2025-teamphoto_hu_fd3aae90afd74080.webp 1024w, /images/blog/summit-2025-teamphoto_hu_d47d8eb2e16c7fde.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/summit-2025-teamphoto_hu_dffcec6fdce6a859.webp 480w, /images/blog/summit-2025-teamphoto_hu_b7afb7b3a38fbf53.webp 768w, /images/blog/summit-2025-teamphoto_hu_c2d2596fb423d37d.webp 1024w, /images/blog/summit-2025-teamphoto_hu_513b3b117456e564.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/summit-2025-teamphoto_hu_fd3aae90afd74080.webp" alt="CharlieHR Dashboard App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" > </picture> <p>Remote work gives Screenly global reach and flexibility, but nothing replaces the energy of face-to-face connection. While we’ve been fully remote for over a decade, as <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/vpetersson/">Viktor</a>, our CEO, puts it: “<em>Remote work works great, but only if you get people in the same room at least once a year.</em>”</p> <p>This belief shapes our annual summits. Instead of traditional retreats centered on presentations, our summits offer immersive experiences that build personal connections. They remind us that every Slack message or GitHub comment comes from a real person with unique stories, humor, and perspectives.</p> <p>This year, we brought the team together in Thailand, prioritizing a smooth, enjoyable experience and meaningful connections. The summit led to deeper cross team collaboration and a clearer collective understanding of our company vision and priorities. It was a defining moment for our team. Read more about our <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/22/screenly-2025-annual-summit/">summit here</a>.</p> <h2 id="thats-a-wrap">That’s a Wrap</h2> <p>That wraps up the first edition of Screenly Sync and our 2025 year end review. This year, we shipped meaningful updates across the entire Screenly ecosystem, from Players and Backend to Apps, Integrations, and Anthias. Going forward, Screenly Sync will be your monthly source for staying up to date on everything new and improved.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/12/13/screenly-sync-0x00/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/12/13/screenly-sync-0x00/Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>If you’ve ever looked into setting up digital signage for your business, you know that the screens on the wall are just the tip of the iceberg. Behind every display, there’s a key component running the show: the <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. This is the device that renders your content and displays it on the screen.</p> <p>In the “old days” of digital signage, this requirement often came with a catch. Users were often limited to one or two proprietary hardware options from the signage company. If you wanted their software, you had to buy their specific black box.</p> <h2 id="the-cost-of-inflexibility-with-digital-signage-hardware">The cost of inflexibility with digital signage hardware</h2> <p>The traditional setup is not only restrictive. It is also expensive. For businesses looking to deploy a fleet of digital signs, the cost of purchasing new proprietary hardware for each screen quickly adds up.</p> <p>What makes this even more frustrating is that many businesses already have perfectly good hardware sitting around. Maybe there is a stockpile of smart TVs from a previous project or tablets gathering dust in a supply closet. Being told you cannot use your existing hardware because new digital signage software will not “talk” to it is not ideal.</p> <h2 id="a-new-way--screenlys-device-agnostic-philosophy">A new way & Screenly’s device-agnostic philosophy</h2> <p>At Screenly, we believe your <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">digital signage software</a> should work for you, not the other way around. That’s why a key part of our digital signage philosophy is being device-agnostic.</p> <p>Our goal is to expand customer choice and significantly reduce the <a href="/blog/2024/08/23/digital-signage-cost/">cost of deploying a digital signage fleet</a>. We don’t think you should be forced to buy new hardware if you don’t need to. If you have existing hardware that can do the job, we want to help you use it.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-apps-for-the-hardware-you-already-own">Digital signage apps for the hardware you already own</h2> <p>To make this vision a reality, we’ve built robust <a href="/apps/">digital signage Apps</a> for the most popular hardware platforms.</p> <p>With our <a href="/blog/2025/07/13/introducing-the-samsung-tizen-app/">Samsung Tizen App</a>, you can turn your compatible Samsung smart TV directly into a Screenly digital sign. The app installs directly on the TV’s operating system, eliminating the need for an external player. It’s cleaner, simpler, and cost-effective.</p> <p>We’ve taken the same approach with our <a href="/blog/2025/05/09/screenly-android-app/">Google Android App</a>. Android powers a massive range of devices, from smart TVs and media sticks to tablets. Our Google Android App lets you repurpose almost any Android-powered device as a digital sign. No extra dongles, no extra boxes. Just <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.screenlyapp.anywhere.twa&pcampaignid=web_share">download our Google Android App</a>, pair it with your account, and you’re live.</p> <h2 id="use-screenly-anywhere-for-ultimate-hardware-flexibility">Use Screenly Anywhere for ultimate hardware flexibility</h2> <p>For those who have unique setups or mixed hardware environments, we offer <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a>. This feature is the ultimate expression of our device-agnostic philosophy.</p> <p>Screenly Anywhere allows you to securely display content on any device that runs a modern web browser. Have an old laptop you want to turn into a dashboard? A smart monitor with a browser? A PC tower in a lobby? If it can browse the web, it can power a Screenly digital sign.</p> <h2 id="use-screenly-hardware-for-mission-critical-digital-signage">Use Screenly hardware for mission-critical digital signage</h2> <p>Now, despite our love for flexibility, we are also realists. We know that third-party hardware varies wildly in power and stability. That is why we still design and offer our own dedicated <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a>.</p> <p>While we are hardware-agnostic, we naturally have much more control over our own devices than over a third-party smart TV or tablet. When you choose a <a href="https://shop.screenly.io/products/screenly-player">Screenly Player</a> or the more powerful, 4K-ready <a href="/shop/screenly-player-max">Screenly Player Max</a>, you are choosing a device that we have optimized down to the last line of code.</p> <p>If your deployment is mission-critical and you need the highest reliability, our dedicated digital signage players are the way to go. But, ultimately, the choice is yours. Whether you want the convenience of Screenly Anywhere or the horsepower of the Screenly Player Max, the Screenly platform remains adaptable and easy to use for everyone.</p> <h2 id="launch-your-first-digital-sign-today">Launch your first digital sign today</h2> <p>Ready to see how easy digital signage can be when you aren’t held back by hardware? You can get started right now. Grab that smart TV, Android tablet, or laptop you have nearby and launch your first screen in minutes. Start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a> today.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/12/12/device-agnostic-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/12/12/device-agnostic-digital-signage/Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>While screens were once standalone and required manual attention, cloud-based digital signage has been the dominant standard in the market for over a decade. This dynamic is no mystery, as the cloud provides the most efficient way to manage screens at scale.</p> <p>In the past, managing a network of displays was a massive logistical burden. To update a single image or video, an IT manager or administrator would have to travel to the screen in person. They would need to climb a ladder or reach behind a dusty enclosure just to swap out a USB drive.</p> <p>If you had one screen, it was annoying. If you had one hundred screens across different cities, it was impossible. Today, modern digital signage platforms, like Screenly, allow users to update content on hundreds of screens instantly from a <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">single web dashboard</a>. This eliminates travel time completely and ensures campaigns go live exactly when intended.</p> <h2 id="enhancing-team-collaboration-with-cloud-digital-signage">Enhancing team collaboration with cloud digital signage</h2> <p>Cloud digital signage does more than just save time with <a href="/end-user/display-content/">content management</a>. It fundamentally changes how teams work together. In a legacy system, access was restricted to whoever held the physical media player or USB drive. In the cloud, <a href="/enterprise/sso-and-saml-support/">team access</a> can be shared with your entire enterprise in just a few clicks. This capability increases the ability for collaboration among teams, allowing for a shared digital signage content strategy.</p> <p>Now, large enterprises can maintain strict brand governance by <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/29331756712211-How-to-Share-Playlists-Across-Teams">sharing playlists with core messaging</a> across teams. Simultaneously, they can delegate more department or store-specific content to sub-teams and specific users within the organization with <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">granular access controls</a>. This collaboration makes digital signs a shared, active business asset rather than a static piece of hardware.</p> <h2 id="security-in-a-cloud-based-digital-signage-deployment">Security in a cloud-based digital signage deployment</h2> <p>As organizations roll out increasingly more integrated digital signage fleets, security cannot be an afterthought. Cloud-based digital signage allows for enhanced security measures that offline systems simply cannot offer. The most significant advantage is the ability to push automatic software security updates.</p> <p>In a manual environment, patching a vulnerability requires a site visit. This means screens often stay vulnerable for months at a time. With a cloud solution, patches happen quickly in the background, ensuring your digital signage fleet is always protected against emerging threats. Security is key for enterprise digital signage rollouts to avoid reputational harm from inappropriate content being displayed and to prevent hackers from accessing sensitive business data.</p> <p>It is true that putting more devices on the cloud comes with its own set of security risks. Every internet-connected device represents a potential entry point for a bad actor. This reality is exactly why companies with digital signage in the cloud need a security-first digital signage partner. Learn more about <a href="/security/">digital signage security</a> at Screenly, including our <a href="/blog/2025/05/07/digital-signage-soc-2-compliance/">SOC 2 Type II compliance</a>.</p> <h2 id="apps-with-cloud-based-digital-signage">Apps with cloud-based digital signage</h2> <p>The cloud also enables powerful integrations with other business cloud tools. For example, with <a href="/apps/">Screenly Apps</a>, users can quickly integrate their digital signs with popular business tools they use every day. These tools include business intelligence dashboards, shared calendars, HR tools, and more.</p> <p>With Screenly, all Apps can be <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">customized line-by-line</a> at the code level. This capability means that advanced users can build truly unique solutions for their specific business needs. Instead of needing to compromise, users can now integrate digital signs into their company workflows exactly how they want them. Learn more about our Edge App framework and our <a href="//developers/">developer tools</a> for digital signage.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly">Get started with Screenly</h2> <p>There has never been a better time to modernize your visual communication strategy. Whether you are managing a single screen in a lobby or a fleet of enterprise displays across multiple business locations, the cloud offers the security, scalability, and flexibility you need.</p> <p>Experience the power of a cloud digital signage platform for your business today. Sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a> with Screenly and get your first screen up and running in minutes.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/12/10/digital-signage-in-the-cloud/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/12/10/digital-signage-in-the-cloud/Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>The QR Code Generator App is an easy way to create clean, scannable QR codes for your digital signage. Whether you’re sharing links to menus, event registrations, feedback forms, product pages, or campaigns, this app turns any URL into a crisp QR code that can be deployed to any Screenly playlist or screen.</p> <p>But what makes this app especially powerful is its built-in UTM tracking support, designed to help you understand exactly where your traffic comes from.</p> <h2 id="what-are-utm-parameters">What Are UTM Parameters?</h2> <p>UTM (<code>Urchin Tracking Module</code>) parameters are small tags added to the end of a URL that help you track where users originated when they visit your link. A typical URL with UTM parameters looks like this:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-plaintext" data-lang="plaintext"><span style="display:flex;"><span>https://example.com?utm_source=screenly&utm_medium=digital-signage&utm_campaign=winter-sale </span></span></code></pre></div><p>These parameters help answer questions like:</p> <ul> <li>Which screen did users scan the QR code from?</li> <li>Which campaign is performing the best?</li> <li>Are people responding more to certain content or locations?</li> </ul> <p>They provide attribution, turning anonymous QR scans into valuable insights.</p> <h2 id="why-utm-is-important">Why UTM Is Important</h2> <p>Without UTM, all QR-code traffic often appears as “direct” in analytics tools.</p> <p>This means you lose visibility into:</p> <ul> <li>Which screen drove the most engagement</li> <li>Which call-to-action worked</li> <li>Which location or campaign performed better</li> </ul> <p>UTM transforms offline or on-screen engagement into measurable data, letting your marketing and operations teams understand what actually works.</p> <h2 id="how-the-qr-code-generator-app-uses-utm">How the QR Code Generator App Uses UTM</h2> <p>When you enable UTM tracking inside the app, Screenly automatically attaches additional metadata to your URL before generating the QR code. This includes:</p> <ul> <li><code>utm_source</code> — set to <strong>screenly</strong></li> <li><code>utm_medium</code> — set to <strong>digital-signage</strong></li> <li><code>utm_location</code> — derived from the player’s configured location</li> <li><code>utm_placement</code> — based on the player’s hostname or identifier</li> </ul> <p>This turns every QR code from a basic scannable image into a trackable data point across screens, locations, and campaigns.</p> <p>With this, you can compare performance across:</p> <ul> <li>Multiple stores or offices</li> <li>Different screens within the same location</li> <li>Various campaigns or promotions</li> </ul> <p>It’s one of the simplest ways to connect your physical world to your digital analytics.</p> <h2 id="key-features-of-the-qr-code-generator-app">Key Features of the QR Code Generator App</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_84cdc73f55bb7c70.webp 480w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_addc3f81da8348b3.webp 768w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_fe16a8ec8e829888.webp 1024w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_6134ff45c06981af.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_975f431eb70e2527.webp 480w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_8b6aa10ea1e79096.webp 768w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_ce52b924ee9d1d05.webp 1024w, /images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_4e9c2c5263a8df2a.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/site/edge-apps/qr-code-generator-preview_hu_fe16a8ec8e829888.webp" alt="QR Code Generator App Preview" class="edge-app-steps no-border" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="532" > </picture> <ul> <li>Create clean, scannable QR codes instantly</li> <li>Optional UTM tracking for meaningful analytics</li> <li>Add a headline and call-to-action to increase engagement</li> <li>Supports custom colors to match your branding</li> <li>Works across all Screenly screens and playlists</li> </ul> <h2 id="who-this-app-is-for">Who This App Is For</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Marketing teams</strong>: Track which screens generate the highest engagement and conversions.</li> <li><strong>Retail & hospitality</strong>: Display menus, offers, and feedback forms through quick, scannable links.</li> <li><strong>Events</strong>: Simplify registrations and provide instant access to event resources.</li> <li><strong>Corporate environments</strong>: Connect employees to internal tools, surveys, and workflows with ease.</li> <li><strong>A/B testing</strong>: Test different CTAs or screen placements and measure performance with real data.</li> </ul> <h2 id="click-the-button-below-to-use-the-qr-code-generator-app-now">Click the button below to use the QR Code Generator App now</h2> <div class="flex slide-in-top cta cmb-10 cmb-lg-7"> <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/login?next=/manage/edge-apps/01KBHC8GG9WN8HNYC2VSGQFZ20/new" target="_blank"> <button class="btn btn-secondary">Use the App</button> </a> </div> <p>Learn more about the QR Code Generator App <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/qr-code-generator/">here</a></p> <h2 id="learn-more-and-get-started-with-screenly">Learn more and get started with Screenly</h2> <p>Interested in secure, scalable digital signage solutions? Explore Screenly and start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today.</p> <p><strong>Stay tuned for future updates, and thank you for joining us for The Screenly Changelog.</strong></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/12/09/new-qr-code-app-with-utm/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/12/09/new-qr-code-app-with-utm/Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 16:</strong> <em>Why Signage Is Becoming Enterprise Infrastructure With Jon Collins of GigaOm</em></p> <p>Digital signage has a funny way of sitting at the edge of everything while still being at the center of what people experience. In this conversation, Viktor Petersson and Daniel Mountcastle sit down with Jon Collins, VP of Engagement at GigaOm, to unpack what enterprise IT is starting to see in signage, and why the next phase of our industry is going to be shaped by ownership, adaptability, and real security culture.</p> <p>If you have ever wondered why a display can be both “<strong>just a screen</strong>” and a serious part of your infrastructure, this one is for you. Watch the full conversation above or read the highlights below.</p> <h2 id="signage-is-not-the-endpoint-it-is-the-moment-that-matters">Signage is not the endpoint, it is the moment that matters</h2> <p>Jon frames signage in a way that instantly makes it bigger than hardware. A screen is not the final stop of a system. It is a stage in how information moves through a business or a customer journey. What matters is whether the right person sees the right thing at the right time, and whether that moment helps them do what comes next. That is why signage can never be treated like a passive output. It is a live part of the process, even if it sits physically at the edge of the network.</p> <p>For us, this explains a lot about why deployments succeed or stall. When teams understand signage as a decision point, not a decoration, they start asking better questions: what data should be shown? Who needs it? How often does it change? What happens if it is wrong or delayed? Those questions pull signage into the same strategic space as any other business system.</p> <h2 id="the-collision-of-av-it-and-building-ops-is-already-here">The collision of AV, IT, and building ops is already here</h2> <p>Viktor brings up a shift we have all been watching. AV used to be isolated. Now everything is network connected, and IT is walking in the door asking about ownership, lifecycle, and security. Jon expands that into a broader collision between AV, IT, OT, and building management. The tech is converging, but the people and budgets often are not.</p> <p>Jon’s point lands hard because it is so familiar. The teams who understand the technology do not always want to coordinate, and the layer above them that controls budgets often does not fully grasp what is being bought. So you end up with systems that are critical, visible, and expensive, but still treated like side projects. This is exactly why we see signage growing into cross functional territory. It needs shared responsibility, not a silo.</p> <h2 id="digital-sovereignty-is-really-about-being-a-responsible-adult">Digital sovereignty is really about being a responsible adult</h2> <p>The conversation starts with recent cloud outages as context, but quickly turns into something bigger. When Viktor asks Jon about digital sovereignty, Jon reframes it away from buzzwords. Sovereignty is not only about where data lives, but it is also about control, choice, and accountability. If you depend on infrastructure you do not understand, you can lose access to things that matter for no good reason. That realization is pushing organizations to rethink what belongs in the cloud, what should be local, and how much choice they want back.</p> <p>Jon calls this “<strong>adulting</strong>” at cloud scale, and we loved that phrasing because it is honest. Nobody is coming to magically remove complexity for you. The only sustainable answer is to own your architecture decisions, even if someone else runs the servers. This shows up in signage too. If displays are part of critical communication, then uptime, data routing, and regional control are not optional details. They are the work.</p> <h2 id="security-is-a-culture-not-a-paper-exercise">Security is a culture, not a paper exercise</h2> <p>A big thread in this conversation is how security in signage is changing, especially with new regulations on the horizon. Viktor shares a DEF CON example where a signage player was compromised, then used as a stepping stone into cloud infrastructure and the wider network. The risk is rarely just vandalizing a screen. The risk is lateral movement through a device that was treated as harmless.</p> <p>Later, they talked about the EU Cyber Resilience Act and why much of the industry is not ready. The key takeaway is not fear but clarity. Compliance frameworks can be met on paper without building a real security process. What matters is whether security is baked into how products are built and maintained over time. When organizations internalize that, regulation becomes a competitive edge rather than a scramble.</p> <p>That aligns with how we think about Secure by Default. You do not bolt security on after deployment. You build systems that assume they will be part of a network, part of a workflow, and part of someone’s risk surface.</p> <h2 id="flexibility-wins-when-use-cases-keep-evolving">Flexibility wins when use cases keep evolving</h2> <p>Daniel and Jon also talk about a trap the industry still falls into. Single use signage solutions can look neat, but they also box customers into someone else’s assumptions. Real deployments change after six weeks, not six years, once teams see what the screen is capable of and what they actually need. Flexibility up front saves money now, and creates agility later.</p> <p>This is where we connect the conversation to why we built <a href="https://www.screenly.io/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>. Viktor explains them as a runtime environment on the device, designed because we cannot predict every way you will want to use signage. Some teams want to pull data from an ERP system, others want a dashboard that fits their own internal workflows. Edge Apps are our way of letting you build for your context, not ours.</p> <p>The theme here is humility. The best platforms do not assume the future, they make room for it.</p> <h2 id="what-we-are-taking-forward">What we are taking forward</h2> <p>There is a real shift happening in signage. Screens are moving from the edges of IT conversations to the middle of them, which means decisions about ownership, security, and flexibility matter more than ever.</p> <p>The good news is that the path forward is clear. Build systems that can evolve with real use cases, take security seriously from day one, and make them simple enough that teams actually enjoy using them. When those pieces are in place, signage becomes a reliable part of how work gets done.</p> <p>If this sparked any ideas, the full conversation is live. We hope it helps you see your own screens a little differently, whether you are scaling a fleet or rethinking your first deployment.</p> <p><strong>Watch the full conversation with Viktor, Daniel, and Jon in The Screenly Changelog.</strong> Learn how digital signage is evolving into real enterprise infrastructure, and what it takes to build systems that stay secure, flexible, and reliable over time.</p> <h2 id="learn-more-and-get-started-with-screenly">Learn more and get started with Screenly</h2> <p>Interested in secure, scalable digital signage solutions? Explore Screenly and start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today.</p> <p><strong>Stay tuned for future updates, and thank you for joining us for The Screenly Changelog.</strong></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/12/05/screenly-changelog-episode-16/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/12/05/screenly-changelog-episode-16/Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="tldr---no-need-to-panic">TL;DR - No Need to Panic</h2> <p><strong>Your Screenly account is secure.</strong> We investigated a reported data leak and confirmed it did NOT originate from our systems. The leaked data came from malware-infected devices and password reuse from other breached services. Only 228 accounts (less than 1% of users) were affected, and we’ve already reset their passwords as a precaution. We’re also implementing Magic Links this week to eliminate passwords entirely and make your account even more secure.</p> <h2 id="what-happened">What happened?</h2> <p>Yesterday (Sunday), we received an email through our <a href="/bug-bounty/">Bug Bounty program</a> that should make any CEO or CTO skip a beat: a report that a large amount of our users’ data had been leaked. What’s worse, it had been posted on a public forum (<a href="https://leakradar.io/">Leak Radar</a>). The security reporter was helpful enough to attach a dump of what had been posted.</p> <p>Upon inspecting the data in a clean room environment (just in case it was compromised), we discovered that the leak included almost 1,400 user accounts, complete with usernames and passwords in plain text.</p> <p>This is where you start sweating.</p> <p>A leak of such size usually means that the backend was compromised. We immediately started thinking about possible attack vectors that could lead to a leak of such magnitude.</p> <p>As we dove into the data, it became clear that this was a “dirty” data dump, meaning that much of the data didn’t even make sense. We started filtering out data that didn’t make sense (e.g., usernames that didn’t match our structure), and then we de-duplicated this list.</p> <p>We were now down to ~300 user accounts, which was less than 1% of our users. Still bad, but this changed the equation from “definitely something on our end” to it becoming plausible that these were either datasets with reused passwords and/or from compromised end-user devices (spoiler: it was).</p> <p>The next step was to correlate the reported usernames with our actual data to see if they were even real accounts. At this point, we had already spot-checked and confirmed that at least two of the accounts existed in our system.</p> <p>After writing some custom tooling, we were able to find the following:</p> <ul> <li>228 of the ~300 accounts actually existed in our system</li> <li>41 out of the 228 accounts had activity in the last year</li> <li>5 of the 41 accounts were actual paying customers</li> </ul> <p>The first thing we did at this point was to reset the passwords on all affected user accounts to minimize the blast radius of the leak (regardless of how it came to be). Note that this was within about three hours after the report — on a Sunday night. This is where I must give a massive shout-out to our CTO, who was leading this effort in the middle of the night in his time zone.</p> <p>At this point, we had done the most pressing damage control to mitigate the blast radius of the leak. We could continue in the morning with the rest of the team.</p> <p>While we started to reach out to the affected users, we simultaneously started looking at both the audit logs for these users and the patterns around them. For instance, were they all created or accessed around the same time? No immediate pattern emerged. Some were several years old, others were somewhat new. The vast majority of the accounts, however, hadn’t been accessed for a long time.</p> <p>The plot thickens.</p> <p>After investigating our internal systems, including access logs, we became confident that there was no breach in our system. If the breach was not on our end, where did the data for this leak come from?</p> <p>Enter <a href="https://haveibeenpwned.com/">Have I Been Pwned</a>. For those not familiar, Have I Been Pwned is an open database that allows you to monitor if you have been part of a data leak. They also have a great API available. Was there a leak that correlated with all these accounts? Turns out there was.</p> <p>The vast majority of the 228 accounts existed in one of three leaks:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/SynthientStealerLogThreatData">Synthient Stealer Log Threat Data Breach</a></li> <li><a href="https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/DataTrollStealerLogs">Data Troll Stealer Logs Data Breach</a></li> <li><a href="https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/AlienStealerLogs">ALIEN TXTBASE Stealer Logs Data Breach</a></li> </ul> <p>What’s important to note here is that all these sources are “stealer logs”, meaning that most of them appear to have been captured directly from compromised desktops. These are malware-infected machines where credentials were stolen from browsers.</p> <p>With all this data, we became confident in concluding that this was not a breach on our end, but rather a combination of compromised end devices and reused passwords.</p> <p>This is an attack vector that is difficult to protect against, but we believe we can better protect our users from this type of attack going forward.</p> <h2 id="what-we-are-doing-next">What we are doing next</h2> <p>Even though this leak didn’t appear to have originated from an issue on our end, we still wanted to do better. We have supported SSO and Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) for many years. This certainly helps improve our overall security posture, but many users still choose not to use it. For instance, none of the users in the leak had MFA turned on.</p> <p>Also, we can’t prevent users from reusing passwords from other services, which exposes their Screenly account even if we have the best security posture in the world.</p> <p>So how can we make our customers more secure without adding more friction? Many services are moving to passkeys, a great technology we’re fans of, but we’re not convinced it would have changed anything in this scenario.</p> <p>Instead, we decided to implement Magic Links and get away from passwords altogether. This is a well-established concept by now that is widely used. The way it works is very simple. Instead of creating a username and password, when you log in with your username (e.g., your email address), we will send you a Magic Link. When you click on this link, you will automatically be logged in. It’s straightforward and secure.</p> <p>And the best part is that even if we were to be affected by a leak in the future, it would not be exploitable as we don’t even have passwords on file.</p> <p>Work is underway on Magic Links, and we expect this feature to go live this week.</p> <h2 id="what-can-i-do-to-improve-my-security">What can I do to improve my security?</h2> <p>When we looked through the data set of leaked users, the vast majority of them appeared to be small businesses. If we contacted you, we would advise you to do an audit of all your devices as well as your overall security posture. After all, there was (or at least had been) malware that infected at least one of your devices. This is serious. Yes, your Screenly account is safe, but there is a strong probability that many of your other online services were also impacted (but you just might not know it yet).</p> <p>So what should you do?</p> <ul> <li>First, sign up to <a href="https://haveibeenpwned.com/">Have I Been Pwned</a>. It’s a reputable service that will monitor your emails for past and future breaches and notify you if you have been affected. Best of all, it is free!</li> <li>Enable Two Factor Authentication (2FA) / Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on all your accounts. Yes, it creates a bit more friction on a day-to-day basis, but it will save you from issues like this in the future. As mentioned in the post, <em>none</em> of the affected Screenly users had 2FA enabled, despite it being a free option. Some password managers (see below) can also handle 2FA, which minimizes the friction further.</li> <li>Make sure your devices are still supported and receive security updates. You can use <a href="https://endoflife.date/">endoflife.date</a> to check that your desktop and mobile devices are still receiving updates.</li> <li>Install endpoint protection on your devices. Speak to your Managed Service Provider (MSP) and see what they recommend.</li> <li>Last, but not least, never re-use passwords. Use a password manager (we use <a href="https://1password.com/">1Password</a> at Screenly), but there are a lot of both free and paid options available. The tool you choose matters less than adopting a habit of never reusing passwords.</li> </ul> <p>By following these security practices, you’ll significantly reduce your risk and make any future data leaks much less damaging to your accounts.</p> <h2 id="timeline">Timeline</h2> <ul> <li><strong>2025-11-09 (Sunday) 19:21 UTC:</strong> Bug Bounty report received about customer credentials being leaked on a public forum</li> <li><strong>2025-11-09 (Sunday) 21:00 UTC:</strong> Investigation began in clean room environment; confirmed that a subset of reported users were legitimate accounts in our system</li> <li><strong>2025-11-09 (Sunday) 23:22 UTC:</strong> All affected users’ passwords were reset as a precautionary measure to neutralize the leaked data</li> <li><strong>2025-11-10 (Monday) 08:30 UTC:</strong> Investigation continued with full team to analyze patterns and correlate with external breach databases</li> <li><strong>2025-11-10 (Monday) 16:30 UTC:</strong> Investigation concluded that the leak originated from stealer logs on infected devices and password reuse, not from our systems</li> <li><strong>2025-11-10 (Monday) 18:00 UTC:</strong> Planning began for migration to Magic Links to eliminate password-based vulnerabilities</li> <li><strong>2025-11-10 (Monday) 22:30 UTC:</strong> All affected users were individually contacted by our Customer Success team with details and next steps</li> </ul> <p>Finally, a big shout-out to Nick Selby from <a href="https://epsd.io/">epsd</a> for advisory on our incident response plan.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/11/10/security-incident-response-magic-links/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/11/10/security-incident-response-magic-links/Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 15:</strong> <em>The Future Was Yesterday: Security, Simplicity and the Real Cost of Digital Signage With Deacon Wardlow of Vantage LED</em></p> <p>Digital signage is more than a screen on a wall. It is a living system made up of people, hardware, and the habits that connect them.</p> <p>In Episode 15 of The Screenly Changelog, hosts Viktor Petersson and Daniel Mountcastle talk with Deacon Wardlow, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Vantage LED and founder of Spectacular Media, about how far the industry has come and what it takes to build something that lasts.</p> <p>Their conversation moves from the early days of experimentation to the realities of keeping networks secure, reliable, and meaningful today. It is a story about how innovation grows through consistency, discipline, and smart use of technology rather than chasing the next big trend.</p> <h2 id="from-duct-tape-to-data">From Duct Tape to Data</h2> <p>The conversation begins with a look back at how digital signage found its footing. In the early 2000s, outdoor displays were mostly experiments. Integrators were making things work with spare parts, off-the-shelf components, and whatever tools they could find.</p> <p>That period of trial and error, Deacon recalls, shaped the mindset that still drives much of the industry. Those who learned to solve problems creatively back then are the ones building the most resilient systems today. What started as improvisation has evolved into thoughtful, data-driven design that still carries the same spirit of adaptability.</p> <h2 id="the-hidden-cost-of-cheap-screens">The Hidden Cost of Cheap Screens</h2> <p>Viktor points out that many companies still misunderstand what professional signage requires. Too often, teams treat it as a one-time purchase instead of a living system that needs care and maintenance.</p> <p>He explains that while using a consumer TV may seem cheaper at first, it rarely lasts. Heat, glare, and usage wear them down quickly, creating hidden costs in downtime and replacement.</p> <p>Deacon adds that performance is not about resolution or brightness alone. What matters most is visibility and consistency in real-world conditions. A well-designed screen that stays clear and legible in any environment will always outperform a more expensive but poorly chosen display.</p> <p>Both agree that good signage is an investment, not a quick purchase. It requires planning for long-term stability and budgeting for updates and support along the way.</p> <h2 id="security-is-a-culture-not-a-checkbox">Security Is a Culture, Not a Checkbox</h2> <p>Every display connected to the internet is part of a network, and every network has vulnerabilities. The group discusses how the industry still struggles with this reality.</p> <p>Deacon shares that many systems get compromised not by complex attacks but by simple oversights such as weak passwords, outdated software, or unsecured remote access tools. These small gaps can turn a display into a gateway for far bigger issues inside an organization.</p> <p>Viktor emphasizes that at Screenly, security is not an optional feature but a foundation. Being secure by default means thinking about protection from the start, not as an afterthought. Daniel adds that human error is just as common as software failure. Sometimes all it takes is someone unplugging a network cable or misconfiguring a player for things to go offline.</p> <p>True security is not about ticking boxes. It is about awareness, communication, and shared responsibility across the entire organization.</p> <h2 id="designing-for-people">Designing for People</h2> <p>Daniel brings the focus back to usability. Technology only works when people can use it effectively. He explains that the most reliable systems are the ones designed with people in mind.</p> <p>Features like clear dashboards, automated restarts, and straightforward content tools reduce friction and prevent small mistakes from turning into major disruptions. When users feel comfortable managing their displays, the technology blends into their workflow instead of getting in the way.</p> <p>For the Screenly team, designing for simplicity is not just about making things easier. It is about making them better. The more accessible the tools are, the more they get used, and the more value they deliver.</p> <h2 id="the-future-was-yesterday">The Future Was Yesterday</h2> <p>When asked about his thoughts on where the industry is heading next, Deacon explains that the future of digital signage is not about waiting for the next big breakthrough. It is about learning to make better use of what already exists.</p> <p>He describes how technologies like artificial intelligence can already enhance maintenance, automate content management, and predict system issues before they happen. The challenge is not about inventing something new but applying what we have in smarter, more meaningful ways.</p> <p>Deacon calls this idea “The Future Was Yesterday”. It is a reminder that progress depends on how we choose to use the tools available to us today. Viktor agrees, adding that technology alone is never enough. Vision, planning, and maintenance are what keep systems sustainable over time.</p> <p>The message is clear. The future is not something to wait for. It is something to build deliberately, one good decision at a time.</p> <h2 id="building-what-lasts">Building What Lasts</h2> <p>The goal of great digital signage is not just to display information but to create reliability, trust, and continuity. At Screenly, that means building products that are secure, scalable, and simple. It also means thinking about sustainability from the start. Long-term success in signage does not come from flashy features or cutting-edge specs. It comes from a mindset of care, education, and consistency.</p> <p>Technology will always change, but the core values behind great systems remain the same: clarity, resilience, and purpose.</p> <p><strong>Watch the full conversation with Viktor, Daniel, and Deacon in The Screenly Changelog Episode 15.</strong> Learn how to build signage that works today and continues to deliver value for years to come.</p> <h2 id="learn-more-and-get-started-with-screenly">Learn more and get started with Screenly</h2> <p>Interested in secure, scalable digital signage solutions? Explore Screenly and start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today.</p> <p>Stay tuned for future updates, and thank you for joining us for the Screenly Changelog Episode 15!</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/11/05/screenly-changelog-episode-15/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/11/05/screenly-changelog-episode-15/Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>At Screenly, we believe digital signage should be dynamic, relevant, and simple to manage. You already use Screenly to display compelling videos, eye-catching images, and live web dashboards. But what about displaying what’s happening right now?</p> <p>We’re excited to announce a new feature that unlocks real-time content for digital signage: RTSP stream support.</p> <p>You can now pull live video feeds from your on-site IP cameras and broadcast them directly to any screen managed by your Screenly account. This update transforms your digital signs from simple displays into powerful, real-time monitors for security, operations, and live events.</p> <h2 id="what-is-rtsp-and-why-does-it-matter">What is RTSP and why does it matter?</h2> <p>RTSP stands for Real Time Streaming Protocol. In simple terms, it’s the standard language that most network-connected IP cameras (like security cameras or event webcams) use to send video over a local network.</p> <p>Until now, getting these feeds onto a digital sign was a complicated, technical nightmare, often requiring expensive intermediary hardware, custom code, or unstable screen-mirroring setups.</p> <p>With Screenly’s new feature, we’ve made it as simple as adding a new image or video to your <a href="/end-user/display-content/">digital signage content</a>. If your camera or video source provides an RTSP link, you can now add it directly to your content collection and playlists. Alternatively, you can broadcast a local RTSP feed from any webcam or video capture device that is physically connected to your Screenly digital signage player.</p> <p>This new feature matters because it gives you the power to enhance security by displaying live camera feeds, boost transparency by showing customers or employees a live look into your operations, and increase engagement by broadcasting live events or announcements instantly.</p> <h2 id="real-world-use-cases-for-live-video-feeds">Real-world use cases for live video feeds</h2> <p>This feature isn’t just a technical update; it’s a solution that solves real-world business challenges across different industries. In convenience stores or other retail environments, teams can broadcast live security footage to security rooms or even directly to customers to elevate the store’s security presence.</p> <p>In a <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">corporate office</a>, you can display a live feed of the front entrance in the reception area or stream an all-hands meeting from the main auditorium to overflow rooms and breakroom screens, ensuring no one misses out. For <a href="/use-cases/manufacturing-bridon-bekaert-case-study/">manufacturing and warehousing</a>, the applications are immediate. You can show a live feed of the assembly line on the factory floor to monitor progress and spot bottlenecks, or give warehouse managers a live view of all loading bays from a single office screen.</p> <p>The <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">restaurant</a> and <a href="/use-cases/lobby/">hospitality</a> industries can also benefit by showing a live, high-definition feed of valet parking or pickup bays for guests waiting inside. Even in <a href="/use-cases/education/">education</a>, streaming key security camera feeds to the main office enhances campus safety, while live broadcasts of guest lectures or school plays can be shown on screens across campus.</p> <h2 id="how-to-set-up-your-rtsp-stream-in-screenly">How to set up your RTSP stream in Screenly</h2> <p>We’ve integrated this powerful feature directly into our user-friendly interface, so you’ll be up and running in minutes. First, you’ll need the RTSP URL from your camera or video source, which typically looks something like:</p> <p>’’’ rtsp://[username]:[password]@[camera_ip_address]/stream. ’''</p> <p>Once you have it, log in to your Screenly account, navigate to the “Content” tab, and click “+ New Content”. In the popup modal that loads, you will see a new “Streaming” option to select. From there, simply paste your full RTSP streaming URL into the field. Alternatively, select the “Local” option and you can display a video feed from a webcam or video capture device connected to your Screenly <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. Lastly, click “Finish”.</p> <p>That’s it! Your live feed is now an asset in your content library. You can add it to any playlist, just like you would a video or image, setting its duration and deploying it to your screens.</p> <p>To access more technical setup information, check out our Help Desk article at the <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360044184874-Do-you-support-video-streaming">link here</a>.</p> <h2 id="the-future-is-live">The future is live</h2> <p>The addition of RTSP streaming strengthens Screenly’s position as one of the most versatile and powerful digital signage solutions on the market. You are no longer limited to pre-produced content. You now have the power to show your audience exactly what is happening, right as it happens.</p> <p>Enhance your security, streamline your operations, and engage your audience in a brand-new way.</p> <p>Ready to get started? Log in to your Screenly account to try the new RTSP feature today. You can get started right now for free with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p> <p>If you have any questions, check out our detailed <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360044184874-Do-you-support-video-streaming">support article</a> or <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">contact our support team</a> to learn more.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/24/rtsp-url-streaming-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/24/rtsp-url-streaming-digital-signage/Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Last October 5th, we wrapped up Screenly’s 2025 Annual Summit in sunny Phuket, Thailand. With 12 team members in attendance, our biggest turnout yet, the week was filled with tropical adventures, cultural exchanges, and meaningful conversations that strengthened bonds beyond screens and time zones.</p> <p>For some, this was a familiar tradition. For others, myself included, it was a first, the first time meeting colleagues in person after months or even years of virtual collaboration.</p> <h2 id="the-spirit-of-gathering">The Spirit of Gathering</h2> <p>Screenly has been a fully remote company for over a decade. While remote work gives us flexibility and reach, we’ve learned that physical connection is what sustains long-term culture. As Viktor, our CEO, likes to say, <em>“Remote work works great, but only if you get people in the same room at least once a year.”</em></p> <p>That principle is what drives our summits. They’re not corporate retreats filled with slide decks and presentations. They’re immersive experiences designed to remind us that behind every Slack message or GitHub comment is a real person with stories, humor, and quirks.</p> <p>This year, our goal was simple: get everyone to Thailand safely, ensure the experience was smooth and enjoyable, and create an environment where meaningful connections could grow.</p> <h2 id="culture-beyond-screens">Culture Beyond Screens</h2> <p>One of the first things I noticed was how eager everyone was to share a piece of who they are. Conversations drifted naturally from tech to traditions, food, and family, from comparing time zones to comparing cuisines. We laughed about cultural quirks that sometimes get lost in text, and I found myself constantly thinking, <em>“Ah, that’s why they sound like that online!”</em>.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/summit-2025-snacks_hu_2241649a27d73d47.webp 480w, /images/blog/summit-2025-snacks_hu_d84f0b246a79b1e5.webp 768w, /images/blog/summit-2025-snacks_hu_8cab9d03100634fd.webp 1024w, /images/blog/summit-2025-snacks_hu_8b8e7a6e05ac51d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/summit-2025-snacks_hu_1a50b03d15f3aaf6.webp 480w, /images/blog/summit-2025-snacks_hu_e2a6acb67deb70d.webp 768w, /images/blog/summit-2025-snacks_hu_c3a7a430940d24a2.webp 1024w, /images/blog/summit-2025-snacks_hu_5e2e66c435208692.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/summit-2025-snacks_hu_8cab9d03100634fd.webp" alt="Cultural exchange: Bringing snacks from each other’s homeland" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <em>Cultural exchange: Bringing snacks from each other’s homeland</em></p> <h2 id="work-play-and-everything-in-between">Work, Play, and Everything in Between</h2> <p>While our days weren’t packed with work sessions, we did carve out time for meaningful discussions. These moments helped us zoom out from daily tasks and align on bigger questions: Are we on the right track? What can we improve? What’s next for the company?</p> <p>The relaxed setting in Phuket provided the perfect backdrop for both alignment and collaboration. Ideas surfaced during breakfast conversations, poolside chats, and evening strolls. It was a reminder that creativity doesn’t always happen in structured meetings. Sometimes, it happens between bites of Thai curry.</p> <p>Outside of work, we dove headfirst into local culture. We explored Thailand through group activities, a boat trip on crystal waters, ziplining over lush greenery, a cooking class where we learned to make (and slightly burn) Pad Thai, yoga class, and a night at a cultural show.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing01_hu_77fe90dbf57f8324.webp 480w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing01_hu_2471c5326f0bf7d7.webp 768w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing01_hu_47bebf28b5c61e8f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing01_hu_1825a8cf5b375466.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing01_hu_f124ad6a03ac6f03.webp 480w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing01_hu_35330510b408173f.webp 768w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing01_hu_9285972a8a2fca1f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing01_hu_bbff7ec7ba32b1af.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing01_hu_47bebf28b5c61e8f.webp" alt="Cultural exchange: Bringing snacks from each other’s homeland" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing02_hu_4915b63d984cc925.webp 480w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing02_hu_50f352696372f74f.webp 768w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing02_hu_9db0a17429e33652.webp 1024w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing02_hu_a8233dce7bdd8feb.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing02_hu_38f2c1891d2fea37.webp 480w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing02_hu_a720bbb403fa22bf.webp 768w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing02_hu_d6c2a5dd5f4ad220.webp 1024w, /images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing02_hu_dae3282b35fa6bc1.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/summit-2025-team-outing02_hu_9db0a17429e33652.webp" alt="Cultural exchange: Bringing snacks from each other’s homeland" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>Each experience added another layer of connection. Whether it was cheering each other on mid-zipline or checking each other’s output in the cooking class, these shared moments became the foundation for stronger collaboration back home.</p> <h2 id="the-anatomy-of-a-screenly-summit">The Anatomy of a Screenly Summit</h2> <p>Summits aren’t spontaneous getaways. It’s a carefully planned project that begins six to eight months in advance to ensure a seamless experience for everyone. This is a rough guide on how we plan ours – the key things we think about before heading off on a summit trip.</p> <h3 id="1-setting-the-dates">1. Setting the Dates</h3> <p>We share several possible date ranges with the team to find what works best for most people. Scheduling during off-peak travel seasons helps manage costs, avoid crowds, and avoid clashing with family / school holidays.</p> <h3 id="2-choosing-the-location-and-venue">2. Choosing the Location and Venue</h3> <p>Accessibility is a top priority, especially with our globally distributed team. Once a country is selected, we look for accommodations that balance privacy and togetherness. Full-service villas work best, offering private rooms and shared spaces for meals and meetings.</p> <h3 id="3-timing-and-weather">3. Timing and Weather</h3> <p>We consider the season carefully. Favorable weather makes activities and travel more enjoyable, helping the team make the most of the summit experience.</p> <h3 id="4-visas-and-travel-documents">4. Visas and Travel Documents</h3> <p>Some team members require visas, so we prepare supporting documents in advance. Company introduction letters and accommodation confirmations make the process smoother and stress-free.</p> <h3 id="5-transportation-and-logistics">5. Transportation and Logistics</h3> <p>Pre-arranged transfers and reliable ride-hailing options keep the trip efficient and relaxed. Smooth logistics allow everyone to focus on connecting rather than coordinating.</p> <h3 id="6-activities-and-flexibility">6. Activities and Flexibility</h3> <p>The key is balance. One or two group activities are enough to bring everyone together, while optional outings or rest days allow personal flexibility. This mix ensures both meaningful interaction and downtime.</p> <h2 id="the-cultural-impact">The Cultural Impact</h2> <p>Every summit changes the team dynamic in ways that no policy or Slack message ever could. After spending a week together, communication becomes smoother, empathy deepens, and collaboration accelerates. You no longer see names in a chat, you see the faces and memories behind them.</p> <p>What’s most striking is how natural these shifts feel. The trust built over shared meals and laughter carries into how we tackle projects later. Disagreements become easier to navigate, feedback lands softer, and the sense of shared purpose grows stronger.</p> <p>As someone who joined as a non-developer in a tech company, I found the summit especially illuminating. I saw firsthand how cross-functional conversations between engineers, designers, and operations create balance and innovation. The summit wasn’t just about bonding; it was about understanding how each role fits into the bigger picture.</p> <h2 id="looking-ahead">Looking Ahead</h2> <p>Like any project, we’ve definitely had our share of learnings. As someone who organized the summit for the first time, I discovered a lot throughout the preparation process. Next year’s summit will carry these lessons forward as we continue to focus on intentional planning, meaningful experiences, and creating environments that allow people to bring their authentic selves, whether online or off.</p> <h2 id="a-tradition-worth-keeping">A Tradition Worth Keeping</h2> <p>Since 2016, our summits have taken us across the world, from Croatia to Portugal, Turkey, and now Thailand. Each destination adds a new chapter to the Screenly story.</p> <p>What started as small gatherings among a handful of early team members has grown into a defining part of our culture. The settings may change, but the goal remains the same: to celebrate who we are, realign where we’re headed, and remind ourselves that even in a fully remote world, connection is what keeps everything running.</p> <p>As a first-time organizer, I came into this summit with nerves and spreadsheets. I left with a sense of gratitude and perspective that at its core, Screenly’s greatest strength isn’t just our technology or systems, but the people who bring them to life.</p> <p>And for one unforgettable week in Phuket, we weren’t just coworkers. We were teammates, travelers, and friends, together at last.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/22/screenly-2025-annual-summit/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/22/screenly-2025-annual-summit/Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 14:</strong> <em>Screenly Summit in Thailand, remote-first culture, Screenly’s bug bounty program, Secure by Default, Screenly App Store, & the future of digital signage</em></p> <p>Welcome back to the Screenly Changelog! In our first-ever live episode, Viktor and Daniel come to you from the Screenly annual team summit in Phuket, Thailand. This special episode pulls back the curtain on Screenly’s remote-first culture, dives deep into what it truly means to be a “security-first” company, and explores the evolution of the Screenly platform. Catch the full conversation by watching the episode above or read the highlights below.</p> <h2 id="a-look-inside-screenlys-remote-first-culture">A look inside Screenly’s remote-first culture</h2> <p>The episode kicks off from the company’s annual summit, a tradition that has been core to Screenly for about 10 years. As a remote-only company, Viktor explains that these summits are not about sitting behind laptops. Instead, they are crucial for building deep, personal connections that can’t be replicated over Google Meet or Zoom. “There’s something that happens when you’re spending a week together,” Viktor notes, highlighting how these interactions reduce friction and foster a better understanding among team members who collaborate daily from over 10 different countries. This intentional approach to culture is about more than just fun; it’s about fostering collaboration and aligning on long-term company philosophy.</p> <h2 id="security-first-digital-signage--screenlys-new-bug-bounty-program">Security-first digital signage & Screenly’s new bug bounty program</h2> <p>Viktor and Daniel reiterate a core tenet of the company: Screenly is <a href="/security">security-first digital signage</a>. But as they point out, “you can’t just say that… you have to actually do that in practice.”</p> <p>As a concrete example of this commitment, Screenly has launched a formal <a href="/bug-bounty/">bug bounty program</a>. This program provides a safe harbor and clear rules of engagement for “white hat” security researchers to find and report vulnerabilities in Screenly’s software. Viktor explains that rather than turning a blind eye or, worse, punishing researchers for their findings, Screenly wants to incentivize them. “If people can find vulnerabilities in our software, we want to know, right? And we are happy to incentivize that.” This program is a critical step in proactively improving Screenly’s security posture and protecting customers.</p> <h2 id="secure-by-default-and-it-managed-signage">Secure by Default and IT-managed signage</h2> <p>The conversation also tackles industry buzzwords like “Secure by Design” and “Secure by Default.” These aren’t just marketing terms; they represent a set of common-sense best practices that are becoming critical in the industry.</p> <p>This shift is accelerating as the responsibility for digital signage moves from siloed AV teams to internal IT departments. The modern IT manager is responsible for the security of every device on their network, and they are asking tough questions that many signage vendors can’t answer. As Viktor notes, “AV is being swallowed by IT.” This means that proving adherence to security frameworks, providing penetration test reports, and ensuring devices can be updated are no longer optional. They are now mandatory requirements for doing business with security-conscious organizations.</p> <h2 id="the-evolution-of-the-screenly-app-store">The evolution of the Screenly App Store</h2> <p>Reflecting on Screenly’s evolution, the team discusses the journey of <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>. Initially built as a powerful, developer-friendly environment for creating custom integrations, the team recognized that this approach could be too complex for users who are just getting started.</p> <p>As a result, Screenly is repositioning its offerings into a more familiar and accessible <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly App Store</a>. The goal is to provide the logos and plug-and-play simplicity that users expect for their initial deployments, while still offering the deep customization and power of Edge Apps for more advanced use cases down the line. Daniel explains the new philosophy: “You’ll be consuming before you’ll be a producer.” This shift ensures that all users, regardless of technical skill, can get immediate value from Screenly, with a clear path to sophisticated, custom solutions when they’re ready.</p> <h2 id="ai-real-integrations--the-future-of-digital-signage">AI, real integrations, & the future of digital signage</h2> <p>Answering a question from the live audience, Viktor and Daniel shared their thoughts on the future of the industry, identifying key trends that point toward significant market maturation.</p> <p>A major driver of this change is a push for forced security maturity. Upcoming regulations like the <a href="/blog/2025/09/02/eu-cyber-resiliance-act-digital-signage/">EU’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)</a> will compel vendors to take security and software lifecycle management seriously, a shift that is likely to push many non-compliant players out of the market. This move is happening in tandem with the rise of the IT buyer. As IT departments increasingly take control of purchasing, decisions are being based less on flashy features and more on robust security, reliability, and proper device management.</p> <p>This focus on substance over hype extends to technology as well. While the industry is flooded with discussions of AI, the real value lies not in generative content but in practical applications, such as using AI for the preventive maintenance of hardware. Similarly, customers are learning that a logo on a website does not guarantee a true integration, and they are now demanding solutions that are deeply and functionally connected to work exactly as they need them to.</p> <h2 id="learn-more-and-get-started-with-screenly">Learn more and get started with Screenly</h2> <p>This episode gives a unique insight into the principles that drive Screenly forward: a commitment to culture, an unwavering focus on security, and a dedication to building a platform that is both powerful and easy to use.</p> <p>Interested in secure, scalable digital signage solutions? Explore Screenly and start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today.</p> <p>Stay tuned for future updates, and thank you for joining us for the Screenly Changelog Episode 14!</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/16/screenly-changelog-episode-14/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/16/screenly-changelog-episode-14/Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>With the new Power BI integration, you can now link your Microsoft account directly to Screenly. No more dealing with manual IDs or complex setup steps. Just connect, choose your dashboard, and display it on your screens in seconds.</p> <h2 id="a-simpler-way-to-connect-power-bi">A Simpler Way to Connect Power BI</h2> <p>Displaying Power BI dashboards has previously been a complex process that required manual configuration of various credentials and IDs. Many users found this approach too technical and time-consuming, particularly teams looking to visualize dashboards quickly.</p> <p>Fortunately, with the new update, these challenges are being addressed. The steps are now simplified, making it easier for users to display their dashboards seamlessly.</p> <h2 id="whats-new">What’s New</h2> <p>The latest Power BI App introduces direct account integration, removing the need to manually enter any IDs. You can now connect your Power BI account directly to Screenly and start displaying dashboards in just two simple steps:</p> <ol> <li>Connect your Power BI account from Screenly’s Integration page.</li> <li>Install the Power BI App and select the dashboard you want to display.</li> </ol> <p>That’s all there is to it! No complicated setup, no credentials to copy and paste, and no hassle.</p> <h2 id="how-to-set-it-up">How to Set It Up</h2> <h3 id="step-1-connect-the-power-bi-integration">Step 1: Connect the Power BI Integration</h3> <ul> <li> <p>Log in to your Screenly account.</p> </li> <li> <p>Go to <strong>Integrations</strong>.</p> </li> <li> <p>Click <strong>Power BI</strong>.</p> </li> <li> <p>Sign in using your <strong>Microsoft account</strong> to authorize the connection.</p> </li> </ul> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/tutorials/powerbi-intergrations01_hu_8e792035ae5b759f.webp 480w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-intergrations01_hu_10c1ac056a26d621.webp 768w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-intergrations01_hu_cf6e8a7fb443a00f.webp 1024w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-intergrations01_hu_147ae56065c74075.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/tutorials/powerbi-intergrations01_hu_81c6d1e5df25c038.webp 480w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-intergrations01_hu_1f87187fb0967341.webp 768w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-intergrations01_hu_201e135fd06d7fa7.webp 1024w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-intergrations01_hu_d6c01d829f7fe929.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/tutorials/powerbi-intergrations01_hu_cf6e8a7fb443a00f.webp" alt="A data dashboard from Power BI." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="329" > </picture> <p><code>📝 NOTE: Only the account owner can view and connect the Power BI integration. Once the integration is added, other team members will be able to create and install the Power BI App on their own.</code></p> <h3 id="step-2-install-the-power-bi-screenly-app">Step 2: Install the Power BI Screenly App</h3> <p>Once the integration is connected, open the Screenly App Store.</p> <ul> <li> <p>Search for the <strong>Power BI App</strong>, enter a <strong>Name</strong> [1] and click <strong>Create</strong> to proceed.</p> </li> <li> <p>Choose your <strong>Workspace</strong> [2], <strong>Resource Type</strong> [3], <strong>Resource</strong> [4] and <strong>Page Number</strong> [5] from the drop down.</p> </li> <li> <p>click <strong>Install</strong> [6].</p> </li> </ul> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/tutorials/powerbi-install_hu_40e1aa9109f4aa48.webp 480w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-install_hu_26cde6aa7dd5a9b2.webp 768w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-install_hu_24df27dfa3a0356e.webp 1024w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-install_hu_741345b63332635f.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/tutorials/powerbi-install_hu_fdbad796a4275be3.webp 480w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-install_hu_368f7b2e780102e.webp 768w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-install_hu_263bde9b41c22422.webp 1024w, /images/tutorials/powerbi-install_hu_d12f9c02c34c5d52.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/tutorials/powerbi-install_hu_24df27dfa3a0356e.webp" alt="A data dashboard from Power BI." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="495" > </picture> <p>Add the Power BI App asset to a playlist, then connect that playlist to a screen to start showing your dashboard. That’s all. You can learn more about the Power BI App <a href="/edge-apps/powerbi/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="legacy-app-vs-new-integration">Legacy App vs. New Integration</h2> <p>You can still use the Legacy Power BI App if you prefer, but it requires more setup information:</p> <ul> <li>Client ID and Client Secret from your Azure AD application</li> <li>Tenant ID for your Azure instance</li> <li>Group (Workspace) ID for your Power BI dashboard</li> <li>Report or Dashboard ID</li> </ul> <p>The new Power BI App, on the other hand, offers a hassle-free setup, simply connect your account and pick your dashboard from the interface.</p> <h2 id="why-this-matters">Why This Matters</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/power-bi-apps-blog-cover-image_hu_a4e81fd524470285.webp 480w, /images/blog/power-bi-apps-blog-cover-image_hu_1ea1c43600fd5189.webp 768w, /images/blog/power-bi-apps-blog-cover-image_hu_72171b8da4c63e6d.webp 1024w, /images/blog/power-bi-apps-blog-cover-image_hu_2fbce9adb04eec90.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/power-bi-apps-blog-cover-image_hu_f70f2786498bb450.webp 480w, /images/blog/power-bi-apps-blog-cover-image_hu_59e2146c8391417.webp 768w, /images/blog/power-bi-apps-blog-cover-image_hu_941b4500a0d3e93a.webp 1024w, /images/blog/power-bi-apps-blog-cover-image_hu_36302693546c137d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/power-bi-apps-blog-cover-image_hu_72171b8da4c63e6d.webp" alt="A data dashboard from Power BI." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>This update simplifies the process for teams to display live Power BI dashboards in various locations, such as offices, meeting rooms, and production floors. Whether you are tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), monitoring sales performance, or showcasing real-time analytics, you can now set everything up in minutes instead of hours.</p> <p>With <a href="https://www.screenly.io/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a>, you can effortlessly display Power BI dashboards without the need for any hardware. The new integration allows you to operate directly from your browser, making it easy to showcase real-time insights on any screen, anywhere.</p> <h2 id="try-it-today">Try It Today</h2> <p>Get ready to enhance your Power BI dashboards on Screenly! Simply log in to your account, connect your Power BI integration, and install the new Power BI App today.</p> <p>Try Screenly for yourself with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>, and experience a smoother, faster, and more intelligent way to showcase your data.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/10/introducing-the-new-powerbi-integration-for-screenly-apps/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/10/introducing-the-new-powerbi-integration-for-screenly-apps/Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>At Screenly, we make sure that people are aware of important events and deadlines. That’s why we’ve created the Calendar App. This new app allows you to display events from your calendar on a digital sign.</p> <h2 id="what-it-does">What It Does</h2> <p>You can configure the app to display events from your calendar in a variety of ways—schedule, weekly, and daily.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/calendar-app-01_hu_be66b164a7c6a886.webp 480w, /images/blog/calendar-app-01_hu_f6537e5e4934191a.webp 768w, /images/blog/calendar-app-01_hu_f44f020ddf34ea63.webp 1024w, /images/blog/calendar-app-01_hu_d838a452b1dd4982.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/calendar-app-01_hu_4a6c2f3595644fe2.webp 480w, /images/blog/calendar-app-01_hu_d7941e747b750b20.webp 768w, /images/blog/calendar-app-01_hu_bbdbeebdafdb260d.webp 1024w, /images/blog/calendar-app-01_hu_e7a2bed7a213196a.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/calendar-app-01_hu_f44f020ddf34ea63.webp" alt="Calendar App 1" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/calendar-app-02_hu_db93b047a2fca6e2.webp 480w, /images/blog/calendar-app-02_hu_39e3c1be2a256083.webp 768w, /images/blog/calendar-app-02_hu_d679071706531317.webp 1024w, /images/blog/calendar-app-02_hu_f16b8ff53b2a5503.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/calendar-app-02_hu_9f2e4920944ad085.webp 480w, /images/blog/calendar-app-02_hu_76628d41ccb3b12.webp 768w, /images/blog/calendar-app-02_hu_735e9ad1d0d08594.webp 1024w, /images/blog/calendar-app-02_hu_a93d40f903b11f55.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/calendar-app-02_hu_d679071706531317.webp" alt="Calendar App 2" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>This might seem trivial, but having an app that displays calendar events on a digital sign is a great way to keep people informed about important deadlines. This could save you from missing critical events.</p> <h2 id="writing-the-calendar-app">Writing the Calendar App</h2> <p>We used to write most of our apps in plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Because the calendar app must be able to support various display modes, sticking with plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript would have been too limiting.</p> <p>Instead, we decided to write the app using <a href="https://react.dev/">React</a>, a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. React allows us to build a reusable calendar component that can be used in different contexts.</p> <p>Later, we decided to port most of our apps’ source code to <a href="https://vuejs.org/">Vue.js</a>, another popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. While we don’t have a strong preference between the two, we found that Vue has a gentler learning curve and more intuitive syntax.</p> <h2 id="available-now">Available Now</h2> <p>You can learn more about the Calendar App and how to set it up <a href="/edge-apps/calendar/">here</a>.</p> <p>Once you have your iCal URL, click the button below to use the Calendar App now.</p> <div class="flex slide-in-top cta cmb-10 cmb-lg-7"> <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/login?next=/manage/edge-apps/01JY4ARF0H5TAWWEG24KJGW33X/new" target="_blank"> <button class="btn btn-secondary">Use the App</button> </a> </div>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/07/introducing-the-calendar-app/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/10/07/introducing-the-calendar-app/Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Android smart TVs are everywhere. They’ve become a common choice not only for consumers but also for professional digital signage displays. On the surface, Android is a flexible and powerful platform for running signage that can work great. But before rolling out Android TVs at scale, there are some critical considerations you can’t ignore.</p> <p>At Screenly, we support Android-based signage, but we also see firsthand where deployments run into trouble. The biggest challenges? <strong>Security, updates, and scalability.</strong></p> <h2 id="1-android-version-matters">1. Android Version Matters</h2> <p>The single most important factor to check is the <strong>Android version</strong> your device runs.</p> <p>As of this writing, <strong>anything older than Android 13 no longer receives security updates from Google</strong>. If your vendor claims otherwise, they’re not being truthful - Google has ended support, and no amount of vendor patching can change that.<sup id="fnref:1"><a href="#fn:1" class="footnote-ref" role="doc-noteref">1</a></sup></p> <p>To stay current, always check <a href="https://endoflife.date/android">endoflife.date/android</a> for up-to-date support timelines.</p> <p><strong>Rule of thumb:</strong> If your device doesn’t run a supported version of Android, don’t deploy it for signage.</p> <h2 id="2-how-apps-are-distributed">2. How Apps Are Distributed</h2> <p>On consumer Android devices, apps are installed and updated through the <a href="https://play.google.com/">Google Play Store</a>. This ecosystem provides a level of trust: Google vets apps for security, distributes updates automatically, and makes managing them at scale feasible.</p> <p>Unfortunately, many Android TVs <strong>do not ship with the Play Store</strong>. Instead, they use proprietary distribution systems - or worse, force you to sideload apps via <strong>APK files</strong>.</p> <p>This creates major headaches:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Manual updates:</strong> Without Play Store integration, every software or security update requires hands-on intervention.</li> <li><strong>Scalability issues:</strong> Managing hundreds or thousands of screens with USB sticks or vendor tools is unsustainable.</li> <li><strong>Vendor lock-in:</strong> Proprietary app stores restrict flexibility and often lack robust security checks.</li> </ul> <h2 id="3-security-updates-and-device-management">3. Security Updates and Device Management</h2> <p>Even if your Android TV is technically supported, you still need to ask:</p> <ul> <li>How are security patches applied?</li> <li>Who controls when they’re installed?</li> <li>Is there a device management system in place?</li> </ul> <p>In practice, many vendors don’t provide adequate fleet management tools. That means keeping devices up to date - whether for security fixes or new features - can become nearly impossible at scale.</p> <h2 id="4-screenly-on-android">4. Screenly on Android</h2> <p>Yes, Screenly supports Android. Our signage player is available on the <a href="https://go.srly.io/android">Google Play Store</a>, making secure deployment and updates straightforward.</p> <p>We also <a href="https://go.srly.io/android-apk">provide an APK file</a>. But we strongly recommend using the Play Store whenever possible - it’s the easiest way to ensure software can be deployed and maintained reliably across large networks of screens.</p> <h2 id="key-takeaways">Key Takeaways</h2> <p>Before committing to Android TVs for digital signage, make sure you:</p> <ol> <li><strong>Verify OS support</strong> - The device must run a version of Android still supported by Google (currently Android 13+).</li> <li><strong>Check app distribution</strong> - Prefer devices with Play Store access to avoid messy manual updates.</li> <li><strong>Plan for fleet management</strong> - Ensure you have a scalable way to push software and security updates across all devices.</li> </ol> <div class="footnotes" role="doc-endnotes"> <hr> <ol> <li id="fn:1"> <p>Technically, it would be possible for a vendor to backport security patches to older Android versions, but this is extremely unlikely for signage vendors due to the significant engineering resources required. <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-backref" role="doc-backlink">↩︎</a></p> </li> </ol> </div>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/17/android-smart-tv-digital-signage-risks/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/17/android-smart-tv-digital-signage-risks/Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage is a powerful tool for modern enterprises. It can transform how you communicate with both your employees and your customers. From sharing important company updates in the breakroom to showcasing new products in your lobby, digital signs can grab attention and deliver information in an engaging way. However, many enterprises that recognize the value of digital signage also see the potential for complications. Adding a fleet of digital signs to an already long to-do list can seem daunting.</p> <p>Learn more in the article below about how Screenly helps enterprises overcome implementation and support challenges, and how we help enterprises as an ongoing digital signage partner.</p> <h2 id="the-digital-signage-dilemma-for-enterprises">The digital signage dilemma for enterprises</h2> <p>When a team starts to look more deeply into deploying digital signs, a lot of questions come up. How will we deploy all of these screens? How will we manage the devices and content on an ongoing basis? What are the security risks, and how do we mitigate them? What happens when a screen goes down? Who will handle the support for these devices? These are all valid concerns that need to be addressed.</p> <p>Too often, these challenges are handed over to the IT team with a simple “figure it out” or “it’s not that hard” instruction. This approach is not helpful and sets the team up for a frustrating experience. As a result, the digital signage rollout gets pushed back again and again. Before you know it, another year has passed, and you’ve missed out on a year of improved communication.</p> <h2 id="your-partner-in-digital-signage-success-with-dedicated-account-management">Your partner in digital signage success with dedicated account management</h2> <p>At Screenly, we believe that digital signage should be easy to deploy and manage, no matter the size of your fleet. We have designed our platform to be intuitive and user-friendly, but we also understand that enterprises have unique needs and challenges. One of the key ways we support our enterprise users is by providing a <a href="/enterprise/dedicated-account-manager/">Dedicated Account Manager</a>. This means that from the moment you partner with us, you will have a single point of contact at Screenly. You will not have to explain your setup and goals every time you need assistance. Your Dedicated Account Manager will get to know your business, your use case, and your team.</p> <h2 id="getting-to-know-your-business-inside-and-out">Getting to know your business inside and out</h2> <p>Having a single point of contact who understands your business inside and out is a game-changer. Your Dedicated Account Manager can do more than just answer your questions. They can offer creative solutions that are tailored to your specific needs. They can anticipate your future needs and help you scale your digital signage fleet as your business grows. This personalized approach saves you time and frustration and allows you to get the most out of your digital signage investment. Instead of feeling like you are on your own, you can have a true partner who is invested in your success with Screenly.</p> <h2 id="a-smooth-rollout-from-day-one">A smooth rollout from day one</h2> <p>A successful digital signage rollout starts with a solid foundation. Your Dedicated Account Manager will provide tailored onboarding support to ensure that your initial deployment goes smoothly. They will work with you to customize your account settings and make sure that your team is comfortable with the platform. With the right setup from the beginning, you can sidestep common rookie mistakes and ensure that your company’s digital signage debut is a success for everyone involved. This initial support is crucial for building momentum and getting buy-in from all stakeholders.</p> <h2 id="support-you-can-count-on">Support you can count on</h2> <p>Digital signs are meant to be seen. When a screen goes dark, it is a highly visible problem, and all eyes turn to the team responsible for the digital signage. We understand that uptime is critical for your business. That is why we offer contracted <a href="/enterprise/support-sla/">support service level agreement (SLA) times</a> for our enterprise customers. This means that you can have peace of mind knowing that we are committed to resolving any issues quickly and efficiently. You are not left alone to troubleshoot problems. Screenly is your ongoing partner for mission-critical digital signage, and we are here to support you every step of the way.</p> <h2 id="take-the-first-steps-with-screenly">Take the first steps with Screenly</h2> <p>Are you ready to grow your enterprise digital signage fleet with the support of a dedicated partner? Sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> of Screenly today and experience the difference for yourself.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/15/enterprise-digital-signage-support-sla/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/15/enterprise-digital-signage-support-sla/Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Enterprises can use digital signs to communicate with their employees more effectively at scale. In the article below, we cover the limitations of popular existing communication mediums and how adding digital signage to our messaging channels can help improve your team’s alignment.</p> <h2 id="the-deluge-of-messages-from-chat-apps-and-emails">The deluge of messages from chat apps and emails</h2> <p>Tools like <a href="/tutorials/slack/">Slack</a>, Microsoft Teams, and email are essential for our daily operations. They allow for instant communication and collaboration across teams, departments, and even continents. However, this constant connectivity comes at a price. We are inundated with notifications, messages, and emails, creating a digital noise that can be hard to cut through. We all know the feeling of having countless unread messages in Slack channels and a mountain of emails in our inboxes. It can often feel like we are just trying to keep our heads above water, constantly reacting to the next notification instead of focusing on deep, meaningful work.</p> <p>Another challenge with these communication tools is that they require active engagement from the user. It might seem like a small thing, but an employee needs to consciously open an email or check a specific Slack channel to receive the message. These small hurdles can lead to important information being missed for days or even overlooked entirely. In a large enterprise with thousands of employees, ensuring that everyone receives and digests critical information is a significant challenge. When messages are not seen, it can lead to misalignment, missed opportunities, and a breakdown in communication.</p> <h2 id="cutting-through-the-noise-with-digital-signage">Cutting through the noise with digital signage</h2> <p>What if there was a way to communicate important messages to your entire team without adding to their digital noise? This is where digital signage comes in. Digital signage offers a powerful and effective alternative to traditional communication methods. Instead of sending another email or Slack message that might get lost in the shuffle, enterprises can display important information on screens throughout their offices and workspaces. Whether it’s in the <a href="/use-cases/lobby/">lobby</a>, the breakroom, or on the manufacturing floor, digital signs can deliver key messages to your team at a glance.</p> <p>The beauty of digital signage is its passive nature. Employees do not need to take any action to receive the information. A simple glance at a screen is all it takes to absorb the message. This means no workflow interruptions and no need to seek out information actively. Digital signage allows you to communicate with your team in a way that is both non-intrusive and highly effective. It is a communication medium that respects your employees’ time and attention while ensuring that key messages are seen.</p> <h2 id="the-power-of-public-messaging-formats">The power of public messaging formats</h2> <p>There is a unique power in shared, public messaging. When information is displayed on a screen for everyone to see, it becomes a conversation starter. Think about displaying key company metrics, such as revenue growth or customer satisfaction scores, in a public space like the sales department or the employee cafeteria. This public display of information fosters a sense of transparency and shared purpose. It encourages conversations among team members, sparking new ideas and promoting a culture of open communication.</p> <p>When a message is received by a group, it has a different impact than a message received individually. It creates a shared context and a collective understanding of the company’s goals and performance. This public communication can lead to spontaneous discussions, brainstorming sessions, and valuable feedback that might not have happened otherwise. It helps to break down silos and create a more connected and collaborative work environment.</p> <h2 id="introducing-screenly-aligncentral">Introducing Screenly AlignCentral</h2> <p>At Screenly, we understand the communication challenges faced by modern enterprises. That is why we are excited to introduce our new tool, <a href="/enterprise/align-central/">Screenly AlignCentral</a>. Screenly’s AlignCentral is designed to help enterprise leadership connect with large and distributed teams, whether they are spread across a large corporate campus or working in a hybrid environment. With AlignCentral, you can easily and quickly get shared messaging out to your entire team, ensuring that everyone is aligned and informed.</p> <p>AlignCentral transforms your existing digital signage network into a powerful communication platform. It allows you to create and manage content centrally and deploy it to any screen, anywhere in the world. This makes it incredibly easy to share important updates, company news, and key metrics with your entire organization. AlignCentral is designed to be user-friendly, so you don’t need a technical background to manage your digital signage network. It is all about making enterprise communication simple, effective, and scalable.</p> <h2 id="seamless-integration-with-your-existing-workflows">Seamless integration with your existing workflows</h2> <p>We know that introducing a new tool can sometimes be disruptive. That’s why we designed Screenly AlignCentral to integrate seamlessly with your existing collaboration tools and digital workspaces. You can connect your digital signage displays to the tools your team already uses every day, and you can customize these integrations line-by-line at the <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">code level</a>.</p> <p>These custom integrations can work with your enterprise management tools, so your digital signage works with your enterprise workflows, not against them. For example, you can automatically display data from your <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">business intelligence dashboards</a> on your screens, or you can integrate with your internal communication tools to share company-wide announcements. This seamless integration ensures that your digital signage consistently displays the most up-to-date and relevant information, without requiring extra effort from your team.</p> <h2 id="more-than-just-metrics--reinforcing-company-culture">More than just metrics & reinforcing company culture</h2> <p>While sharing business metrics and data is important, a huge part of messaging with Screenly AlignCentral is about reinforcing your company culture. A strong company culture is the backbone of any successful organization. It keeps your team engaged, motivated, and aligned with the company’s mission and values.</p> <p>With AlignCentral, you can keep your company culture vibrant by communicating your company’s values, celebrating achievements, and highlighting employee successes. When everyone knows why they are there and what the company is trying to achieve, it creates a powerful sense of purpose. This shared understanding can lead to increased productivity, higher employee morale, and a stronger sense of community.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly">Get started with Screenly</h2> <p>Ready to see how Screenly can transform your enterprise communication? Sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today and experience the power of Screenly AlignCentral for yourself.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/11/enterprise-communication-screenly-aligncentral/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/11/enterprise-communication-screenly-aligncentral/Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 13:</strong> <em>Florian Rotberg from invidis, managed signage, security blind spots, the EU’s CRA, and AI’s impact</em></p> <p>Welcome back to the Screenly Changelog! In Episode 13, Viktor and Daniel are joined by a very special guest, Florian Rotberg, the founder and Managing Director of invidis consulting. As one of the foremost authorities on the global digital signage market, Florian brings a 30,000-foot view to the industry’s most pressing topics. Catch the full conversation by watching the episode above or read the highlights below.</p> <h2 id="joined-by-a-true-digital-signage-industry-expert">Joined by a true digital signage industry expert</h2> <p>Florian Rotberg is the Managing Director of <a href="https://invidis.com/">invidis</a>, the Munich-based digital signage consulting firm he founded 19 years ago. We’re honored to have Florian on this week’s episode!</p> <p>The expertise of Florian and invidis is crystallized in the company’s annual <a href="https://invidis.com/news/2025/06/download-now-the-invidis-yearbook-2025-is-here/">invidis Yearbook</a>, a comprehensive 200+ page report often called the “bible of the digital signage industry.” The yearbook provides market analysis, trends, and rankings of top companies.</p> <h2 id="the-inevitable-shift-to-managed-digital-signage-services">The inevitable shift to managed digital signage services</h2> <p>A major theme of the discussion is the industry’s transition to a managed service provider (MSP) model. Florian explains that as digital signage has become business-critical, the old approach of simply installing hardware and leaving the end-user responsible is no longer viable.</p> <p>The modern mindset is a shift from ownership to access. Companies no longer need to own and manage the hardware. Instead, they need access to a reliable, secure, and always-on service. This moves the responsibility for lifecycle management, including critical software updates and maintenance, from the customer to the MSP, who has the expertise and tools to do it effectively. This now frames signage correctly as an IoT endpoint within the broader IT ecosystem, not just an isolated AV silo.</p> <h2 id="winning-in-the-msp-landscape">Winning in the MSP landscape</h2> <p>So, who is set to win in this new landscape? In Episode 13, the panel covers that success requires three things: the right skills, the right tools, and financial strength. They predict that many smaller, traditional AV integrators may not survive the transition because they lack the scale, 24/7 network operations centers (NOCs), and security that enterprise clients now demand.</p> <p>It’s a scale game, and it’s far easier for a large IT services company to add digital signage to its portfolio than for a small AV company to build an entire MSP practice from scratch.</p> <h2 id="the-security-blind-spot--the-power-bi-wake-up-call">The security blind spot & the Power BI wake-up call</h2> <p>The conversation also touches on topics in <a href="/security">digital signage security</a>. Viktor and Florian discuss the dangerous “security blind spot” in the industry: many compliance frameworks, like SOC 2, don’t properly audit the <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage player</a> This means a vendor can be certified while shipping players with dangerously outdated software.</p> <p>Florian pointed to the widespread issue of displays running Chromium browser versions that are many years old. This vulnerability was thrown into full display when a Microsoft Power BI update required a more modern browser, suddenly rendering the popular tool incompatible with a huge portion of installed digital signage hardware. This was a “shock moment” for the industry, exposing a long-neglected part of the security chain.</p> <h2 id="a-new-era-of-accountability--the-eus-cyber-resilience-act-cra">A new era of accountability & the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)</h2> <p>Addressing this and similar market failures in digital signage security is the upcoming <a href="https://www.european-cyber-resilience-act.com/">EU Cyber Resilience Act</a> (CRA). Viktor described it as a necessary, if painful, intervention that will force vendors to take software supply chain security seriously.</p> <p>A key component of the <a href="/blog/2025/09/02/eu-cyber-resiliance-act-digital-signage/">CRA for digital signage</a> is the mandate for a software bill of materials (SBOM), essentially a detailed ingredient list for software. This eliminates “plausible deniability” for vendors, forcing them to be transparent about the components they use and the vulnerabilities they contain. While this will be a major challenge for companies with legacy tech stacks, it’s a vital step toward maturing the industry’s security posture. The cost of compliance will need to be absorbed by the industry as the new cost of doing business in Europe.</p> <h2 id="the-current-state-of-ai-in-digital-signage">The current state of AI in digital signage</h2> <p>It wouldn’t be a 2025 discussion without mentioning AI. Florian cut through the hype to focus on where AI is delivering real value today. One key area is in smart device management, where AI is being used to monitor hardware, proactively detect potential failures, and provide recommendations for maintenance. This is a complex task that favors larger players with the resources to invest in AI talent.</p> <p>Another key area is data-driven content. In <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">corporate campus digital signage</a>, for example, AI can pull data from various backend systems (like room booking software or CO2 sensors) to display highly relevant, automated content without human intervention.</p> <p>While the future may lie in agentic AI that deeply integrates into customer journeys, these practical applications are already making a tangible impact.</p> <h2 id="learn-more-and-get-started-with-screenly">Learn more and get started with Screenly</h2> <p>We want to extend a huge thank you to Florian Rotberg for sharing his insights and being part of Episode 13! To keep up with his work, you can visit <a href="https://invidis.com/">invidis.com</a> or find him on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/florianrotberg/">LinkedIn</a>.</p> <p>Interested in secure, scalable digital signage solutions? Explore Screenly and start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today.</p> <p>Stay tuned for future updates, and thank you for joining us for the Screenly Changelog Episode 13!</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/09/screenly-changelog-episode-13/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/09/screenly-changelog-episode-13/Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>As your digital signage network grows, so does the complexity of managing it. You need to be able to control who has access to what and what they can do with that access. This is where granular user access controls come in. In the article below, we highlight why <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">granular access controls</a> are important and why they are key for scaling enterprise digital signage deployments.</p> <h2 id="what-are-granular-user-access-controls">What are granular user access controls?</h2> <p>Granular user access controls allow teams to give different users different levels of permission to access and manage your digital signage network. For example, you might want to give your marketing team the ability to create and upload content, but not the ability to change account users. In another case, you might want only the accounting department to access billing information.</p> <p>With granular user access controls, you can create custom roles for each user, so they only have access to the features and content they need to do their job. This helps to improve security and prevent unwanted changes to your digital signage network.</p> <h2 id="understanding-screenlys-user-roles">Understanding Screenly’s user roles</h2> <p>Screenly makes <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360047727593-Add-remove-or-manage-users-on-your-Screenly-account">granular user access controls</a> simple by providing four distinct user roles. This allows you to easily set up your team and ensure everyone has the right level of access.</p> <p>The account <strong>Owner</strong> is the creator of the Screenly account and has full permissions, including the unique ability to create Admin users.</p> <p><strong>Admin</strong> users have broad permissions and can manage most aspects of the account, but they cannot create other Admins.</p> <p>The <strong>Billing Manager</strong> role has the same permissions as a regular user but with the added ability to access and manage the billing section of your account.</p> <p>Finally, the <strong>User</strong> role is perfect for team members who need to manage screens, playlists, and content but should not have access to billing information or the ability to change or create other users.</p> <p>This clear separation of access ensures your team can work efficiently without compromising security. If you ever need to change a user’s permissions, you can do so in just a few clicks.</p> <h2 id="why-are-granular-user-access-controls-important">Why are granular user access controls important?</h2> <p>Granular user access controls are important because they are key to scaling your digital signage network, especially in enterprise deployments. As your business grows, you can empower your team and streamline workflows by assigning them specific roles and permissions with just a few clicks. This level of control makes it simple to add/remove users and maintain digital signage security as you expand.</p> <p>To ensure full accountability across a large team, Screenly users can also review detailed <a href="/enterprise/audit-logs">audit logs</a> that show a complete history of all user actions. Additionally, Screenly supports <a href="/enterprise/sso-and-saml-support/">SSO and SAML authentication</a>, so enterprise teams can manage their digital signage user accounts easily within existing user management workflows.</p> <h2 id="take-the-first-step-with-screenly-digital-signage">Take the first step with Screenly digital signage</h2> <p>Screenly is a digital signage platform that offers robust granular user access controls that is ideal for enterprise deployments. With our defined user roles, you can easily manage your team and your digital signage network, no matter how large or complex it is. If you’re looking for an enterprise-grade digital signage platform that can help you improve security, efficiency, and scalability, then Screenly is the perfect solution for you.</p> <p>To get started, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today and see how Screenly can help you take your digital signage to the next level.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/05/enterprise-digital-signage-user-access-controls/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/05/enterprise-digital-signage-user-access-controls/Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage is everywhere you look these days. From <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">data dashboards</a> to <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">corporate communication boards</a>, it helps businesses share information quickly and effectively. What many don’t realize, however, is that at the end of the day, digital screens are just computers connected to a network. Just like your office laptops or servers, they can become targets for cyberattacks if they are not properly secured. This is a big deal, especially with new regulations like the European Union’s <a href="https://www.european-cyber-resilience-act.com/">Cyber Resilience Act</a> (CRA) on the horizon.</p> <h2 id="what-is-the-eus-cyber-resilience-act-cra">What is the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)?</h2> <p>The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act is a new set of rules designed to make all digital products safer. Think of it as a commitment from product makers to build security into their devices from the very beginning, and to keep them secure throughout their lifespan. The CRA has a few main goals: it wants to ensure that products are designed with security in mind, that companies have clear ways to handle and fix security vulnerabilities, and that there’s more transparency about how secure these products actually are. It applies to both the hardware you use and the software that runs on it, covering everything from smart home devices to, yes, <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage players</a>.</p> <h2 id="your-digital-signage-is-a-pde">Your digital signage is a PDE</h2> <p>You might think of your digital signage as just a screen displaying content, but the CRA sees it differently. It considers a digital signage player a “product with digital elements” (PDE), because it connects to a network and uses software to function. This means it falls squarely under the new CRA regulations.</p> <p>Why does this matter? Well, an insecure digital signage player isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it can pose significant risks. Imagine hackers displaying inappropriate messages on your public screens, damaging your brand’s reputation. Or, worse, they could use an unsecured player as a door into your entire company network, potentially stealing sensitive data or disrupting your operations. The digital signage industry has seen cases where compromised devices are used to launch large-scale cyberattacks, entirely without the owner’s knowledge. The CRA aims to prevent these scenarios by setting a high standard for security and maintaining it throughout a product’s lifespan.</p> <h2 id="what-to-ask-your-digital-signage-provider">What to ask your digital signage provider</h2> <p>Given these new rules, it’s crucial to be proactive. If you’re currently using digital signage or planning to, you should ask your provider some important questions to ensure you’re choosing a secure solution that aligns with the spirit of the CRA.</p> <p>First, inquire about their security update process. How often are updates released, and are they automatically applied to your devices? A good provider will have a robust system to deliver security patches quickly and seamlessly, protecting your players from newly discovered threats.</p> <p>Next, ask about “security by design.” This means understanding how security is built into the product from the ground up. Does the player’s operating system only include what’s essential, reducing potential weak points? Is all communication between the player and the <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage management software</a> encrypted? Read more about Screenly’s participation in CISA’s Secure by Design standards <a href="/blog/2024/07/31/cisa-secure-by-design/">here</a>.</p> <p>You should also investigate how they secure both the physical device and its software. Does the system prevent unauthorized applications from being installed on your players? Are there strong access controls, like multi-factor authentication and <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">role-based permissions</a>, within the content management system to ensure only approved individuals can make changes?</p> <p>Finally, transparency is key under the CRA. Ask your provider about their policy on vulnerability disclosure. Do they have a clear process for reporting and addressing security issues? How will they inform you if a vulnerability is found that could affect your digital signage?</p> <h2 id="future-proofing-your-digital-signage-strategy">Future-proofing your digital signage strategy</h2> <p>The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act signals a clear message: cybersecurity can no longer be an afterthought. It’s a fundamental requirement for any connected product, including digital signage and digital signage players. Businesses must now prioritize security when choosing their digital signage solutions, looking beyond just features and price. By asking the right questions and partnering with providers who take security seriously, you can protect your business, your data, and your reputation.</p> <p>At Screenly, we understand the critical importance of security in today’s interconnected world. We are committed to providing a robust and reliable digital signage platform that you can trust, and you can read more about Screenly’s commitment to digital signage security <a href="/security">here</a>.</p> <p>Ready to see how secure digital signage can work for you? Take the first step towards a more secure and reliable digital signage experience and sign up today for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/02/eu-cyber-resiliance-act-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/09/02/eu-cyber-resiliance-act-digital-signage/Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>When businesses invest in digital signage, they often imagine a future where their most important content flows seamlessly from their existing tools onto their screens. In reality, many companies discover that what looks like an integration is actually a severely limited version of what they envisioned. The result is frustration, wasted time, and a digital signage deployment that can never quite deliver on its promise. At Screenly, we think digital signage should work differently. It should adapt to your business and your workflows, not force you into someone else’s idea of what matters.</p> <h2 id="why-integrations-matter">Why integrations matter</h2> <p>Digital signage is at its best when it can use the tools and data your team already uses in day-to-day operations. If you track sales goals in a dashboard, you should be able to show that content live on screens across your office. If your marketing team has a content calendar, you should be able to bring it straight to the screen without first having to export slides. If your operations team manages schedules or alerts in another system, those updates should appear instantly without anyone copying, pasting, exporting, or reformatting files.</p> <p>The whole point of an integration is to remove unnecessary steps. When integrations serve their purpose correctly, digital signage becomes a natural extension of your workflow rather than another disconnected platform that demands extra effort. Teams save time, reduce the chance of mistakes, and actually use digital signage in ways that move the needle for their business.</p> <h2 id="the-problem-with-app-store-logo-walls">The problem with app store logo walls</h2> <p>Visit most digital signage company websites and you’ll find a wall of recognizable logos. It’s a nice way to signal capability, but it can also mislead customers. Seeing a tool you use on a list of “integrations” doesn’t always mean you can show the data you want from that tool in the way you want to show it. It usually means the provider built a narrow connection to a specific feature.</p> <p>The developer who created that integration decided what was important, and your use case may or may not match their assumptions. For example, an integration with a project management tool might only display task deadlines but not the progress charts or workload summaries you really need.</p> <p>This is where many “last mile” problems emerge. The content you actually need to display isn’t supported, or the integration only works in a very rigid way. Businesses then make compromises that blunt the value of their digital signage deployment. Instead of unlocking communication and engagement, screens become another project that requires workarounds. The promise of digital signage is immediacy in communication for messages that matter, but rigid integrations often break that promise.</p> <h2 id="screenlys-open-source-approach">Screenly’s open source approach</h2> <p>Screenly takes a different view. We believe that integrations should empower, not limit, the digital signage user. That’s why we not only provide a growing set of <a href="/edge-apps/">ready-to-use apps</a> but also make them fully open source and available on <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground">GitHub</a>. Every app can be inspected, edited, and customized line by line. This gives users full freedom to adapt digital signage to their exact needs.</p> <p>Maybe you need to show a custom report from your CRM or pull specific metrics from a tool that only exposes part of its data. With open apps, you’re not stuck waiting for someone else to prioritize your request. You can modify the app yourself or with the help of your developers and get the exact outcome you want.</p> <h2 id="edge-apps-and-custom-workflows">Edge Apps and custom workflows</h2> <p>For teams that want full control, Screenly’s <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge App framework</a> makes it possible to build completely custom digital signage apps. We handle the difficult parts of digital signage infrastructure, from secure distribution to device management and operating system testing. You focus on the business logic that matters to you.</p> <p>Because Screenly Edge Apps run directly on the device, you can even build signage that responds instantly to on-site sensors. A retailer could use motion sensors to trigger the display of product information when a customer reaches for a specific item. A factory could connect a machine’s live data feed or temperature sensors to an on-floor display for workers. A <a href="/use-cases/hospitals/">hospital</a> could tie sign content to badge readers, displaying information only when authorized staff are nearby. In these cases, waiting on sensor date to pass to round-trip to a server would introduce unacceptable response-time delays, but with Edge Apps the response is immediate.</p> <h2 id="freedom-without-complexity">Freedom without complexity</h2> <p>Some customers want to go deep and customize apps at the code level. Others simply want something that works out of the box. Screenly supports both use cases for digital signage app and integrations. If you never touch a line of code, the apps in the <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge App Store</a> are ready right now. You can start displaying <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">dashboards</a>, <a href="/tutorials/google-calendar/">calendars</a>, <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">weather</a>, or <a href="/end-user/display-content/">custom media</a> in minutes.</p> <p>But if you do want to tailor things further, you’re never blocked by closed integrations or black-box apps. This balance is important, and digital signage should be as simple or as flexible as you need it to be. You can start small with an off-the-shelf app and later evolve your setup into something more advanced without having to switch platforms.</p> <h2 id="digital-signs-that-serve-your-goals">Digital signs that serve your goals</h2> <p>At the end of the day, digital signage isn’t about ticking a box or adding flashy logos to a feature page. It’s about communication, efficiency, and delivering business value. If the content you want can’t make it to the screen in a way that supports your goals, your digital signage deployment and system is failing you.</p> <p>Screenly’s approach puts the power back in your hands. By keeping apps open and making customization accessible, we help ensure that your screens always serve your business rather than the other way around. Whether you’re a small team wanting to show internal metrics or a global enterprise with strict data requirements, you should never have to settle for half measures.</p> <h2 id="get-started-today-with-screenly">Get started today with Screenly</h2> <p>Digital signage should be an asset, not a compromise. With Screenly, you can integrate your existing tech stack the way you want, whether through ready-to-go apps or custom apps tailored to your needs. Try Screenly for yourself with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>, and get your first digital sign up and running today.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/28/custom-digital-signage-integrations/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/28/custom-digital-signage-integrations/Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Here at Screenly, our mission has always been to make digital signage powerful, secure, and incredibly simple to use. From the very beginning, we’ve focused on removing the barriers that make launching and managing screens a headache. That mission is what led us to recently make a major shift in our philosophy: becoming hardware-agnostic.</p> <p>It might sound like a technical term, but it’s a simple idea with a huge impact. It means you are no longer tied to a specific piece of hardware to use our <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage software</a>. You have the freedom to choose. To understand why this is such a big deal for us (and for you!), it helps to look at where we started.</p> <h2 id="our-roots-are-in-hardware">Our roots are in hardware</h2> <p>Screenly’s journey began back in 2012, born from a passion for innovation and the game-changing potential of the Raspberry Pi. By building our first players on this open-source platform, we made digital signage accessible for everyone, from small businesses to tech enthusiasts. We proved that you didn’t need an expensive, oversized computer to run a beautiful digital sign.</p> <p>As our customers grew, so did their needs. We heard from large businesses that required more power for mission-critical displays and more demanding content, like <a href="/end-user/full-hd-4K-resolution/">4K videos</a> and real-time, web-based <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">data dashboards</a>. In response, we developed the Screenly Player Max and, most recently, the <a href="/blog/2025/06/06/introducting-screenly-player-max-mk-II/">Screenly Player Max Mk 2</a>, an enterprise-grade device built for maximum performance and reliability. We love hardware, and we’re proud of the players we’ve built. But along the way, we realized that a hardware-first approach wasn’t always the right answer for everyone.</p> <h2 id="listening-to-our-customers-and-providing-choice">Listening to our customers and providing choice</h2> <p>Many new users loved how easy our software was to use, and we didn’t want them to have to order or wait for a digital signage player to have a “wow” moment with our solution. Many customers had pre-existing hardware ready to go (or at least they had their laptops), and they wanted to launch their content now. This became especially obvious when we saw how many people were using our simple “virtual screen” demo tool not just to test content, but because they wanted a fast, browser-based solution.</p> <p>Secondly, many customers were in the situation of having a previous digital signage deployment. In this case, they were transitioning to Screenly because they preferred our digital signage management software, and they did not want to take on the cost of reordering Screenly-built hardware for each of their screens. Understandably, they wanted to be able to use Screenly with the hardware they already owned.</p> <h2 id="use-the-hardware-you-have-right-now">Use the hardware you have right now</h2> <p>These insights led us to develop a new range of software-based digital signage players that give users the ultimate flexibility. The real game-changer is <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a>, which turns any device with a modern web browser into a full-featured digital signage player. That smart TV in your lobby, a spare mini-PC, or even a tablet can become a professional digital sign in minutes. If your device can display a modern web browser, you can use it to power a Screenly digital sign. There’s zero extra hardware to buy and no waiting for delivery.</p> <h2 id="screenly-apps-for-more-seamless-integrations">Screenly Apps for more seamless integrations</h2> <p>For an even more seamless experience, we’ve also built native apps for popular platforms operating systems and smart TVs. Right now, users can use the <a href="/blog/2025/05/09/screenly-android-app/">Screenly Android App</a> to transform any Android device into a digital sign. Additionally, with the <a href="/blog/2025/07/13/introducing-the-samsung-tizen-app/">Screenly Samsung Tizen App</a>, users can quickly get Samsung smart TVs up and running with their Screenly deployment with nothing else needed beyond the Samsung smart TV itself. We also recently launched the Screenly ChromeOS App. As mentioned, our goal is simple. We want you to be able to launch a digital sign quickly and easily, and in many cases, that means enabling you to use the hardware you already have.</p> <h2 id="the-best-of-both-worlds">The best of both worlds</h2> <p>To be clear, we haven’t abandoned hardware. Far from it. Our recently released, US-assembled <a href="https://shop.screenly.io/products/screenly-player-max-mk-ii">Screenly Player Max Mk 2</a> is still the perfect choice for high-stakes environments where you need guaranteed performance and rock-solid reliability.</p> <p>Our new philosophy isn’t “either/or,” it’s “yes/and.” We believe you should have the power to choose the right tool for each specific job. You can also mix and match players in the same account and deployment to create the perfect digital signage network for your needs.</p> <p>No matter which option you choose, every screen is managed from the same simple, <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">centralized dashboard</a>. You get a single interface to control your entire fleet, whether you have two screens or two thousand.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly-today">Get started with Screenly today</h2> <p>Our move to a hardware-agnostic approach is the natural next step in our mission. By giving you the freedom to choose, we’re making digital signage more accessible, affordable, and faster to deploy than ever before. You can get started with Screenly today and launch your very own digital signs in minutes with our <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a></p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/26/hardware-agnostic-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/26/hardware-agnostic-digital-signage/Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>At Screenly, we believe that digital signage should be a tool for everyone. If you have a message you want to share, technical hurdles and challenges shouldn’t get in the way. In the article below, we explore how complex setups of the past have hindered digital signage rollouts. We then cover how point-and-click digital signage management platforms, such as Screenly, can unleash digital signage creativity within your organization today.</p> <h2 id="bottlenecks-in-past-digital-signage-setups">Bottlenecks in past digital signage setups</h2> <p>Digital signage has come a long way. Not too long ago, the very idea of a network of screens displaying dynamic content was squarely in the realm of the technically savvy. It was a world of complex hardware, cryptic software, and a whole lot of manual labor. If you wanted to update a screen, it often meant a physical trip with a <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">USB drive and a keyboard</a>. This reality naturally placed the setup and management of digital signage firmly in the hands of IT departments. Their technical expertise was essential to get things up and running, and it created a bottleneck that often stifled the true potential of an organization’s digital signage deployment.</p> <p>Fortunately, the digital signage landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation with user–friendly, <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">web-based digital signage management tools</a>. At Screenly, we often say that if you can send an email, you can manage a Screenly digital signage network. Instead of wrestling with complicated video settings for each individual screen, you can now add, schedule, and manage your content across your entire network with just a few clicks from your web browser. This simplicity is a game-changer, and its impact extends far beyond just making things easier.</p> <h2 id="take-it-teams-out-of-the-loop">Take IT-teams out of the loop</h2> <p>One of the most significant benefits of this shift is the relief it provides to often-overburdened IT staff. In many traditional digital signage deployments, the IT team was not only responsible for the initial setup of digital signs, but they also became the de facto content managers. This meant that every request to update a screen, whether it was a new promotional video or a simple announcement, had to go through them. This workflow not only pulled them away from their critical, domain-specific tasks, but it also created a frustrating bottleneck for other departments. The result was often a lose-lose situation: IT professionals were stretched thin and at risk of burnout, and other teams were unable to communicate their messages in a timely and effective manner. In many cases, these constraints either prevented organizations from adopting digital signage altogether or led to deployments that were much smaller and less impactful than they could have been.</p> <h2 id="involve-team-members-who-are-most-in-tune-with-the-audience">Involve team members who are most in tune with the audience</h2> <p>Beyond freeing up IT resources, increased ease-of-use in digital signage management has another, perhaps even more important, impact: it puts the power of communication directly into the hands of the experts. Think about it: who is better equipped to create engaging content for a school’s music department than the music faculty themselves? Who knows what messaging will resonate most with a sales team better than the sales team themselves? When the people with the domain-specific knowledge are empowered to create and manage their own content, the result is a digital signage network that is not just functional but also highly relevant and effective. The content is no longer a filtered-down version of a message that has been passed through multiple hands. Instead, it’s a direct, authentic, and timely piece of communication from the people who know their audience best.</p> <h2 id="unleash-digital-signage-creativity-at-your-organization">Unleash digital signage creativity at your organization</h2> <p>This newfound accessibility can unleash a wave of creativity that was previously held back by technical and logistical hurdles. With tools like Screenly, every department, every team, and every individual can have a new superpower. Now, at their fingertips, they have a dynamic and engaging medium to communicate with the people who matter most to their work. This not only leads to more creative and compelling content but it also fosters a culture of more frequent and timely updates. When the process of updating a screen is no longer a time-consuming chore for a small IT team, the content remains fresh, relevant, and engaging.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-digital-signage-today">Get started with digital signage today</h2> <p>Ultimately, the best digital signage setup is the one that is used regularly and with ease. It’s the one that effectively communicates its message to its intended audience. By making digital signage content management accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical expertise, you can ensure that your team gets the most out of your deployment.</p> <p>Are you ready to unlock the full potential of digital signage at your business or organization? Sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up%22">14-day free trial</a> of Screenly today and see for yourself how easy it is to get your first digital sign up and running.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/21/non-technical-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/21/non-technical-digital-signage/Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage is a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. From <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail stores</a> showcasing new products to <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">corporate offices</a> displaying important announcements, digital signs can engage audiences and deliver timely information more effectively than static posters or <a href="/blog/2024/12/26/digital-bulletin-board/">bulletin boards</a>. However, the initial <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage hardware</a> investment can often be a significant barrier to entry, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. This article explores how you can deploy digital signs without incurring additional hardware costs, leveraging the technology you already have on hand.</p> <h2 id="the-typical-digital-signage-setup">The typical digital signage setup</h2> <p>Traditionally, a digital signage setup consists of two main hardware components: a screen and a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. The screen, of course, is the visual component, while the digital signage player is the small computer that renders media content from <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage management software</a> and sends the media to the screen. This player is the brains of the operation, responsible for displaying everything from images and videos to web pages and dynamic data dashboards. While this setup is robust and reliable, it comes with its own set of challenges.</p> <h2 id="downsides-of-using-digital-signage-players">Downsides of using digital signage players</h2> <p>The most significant hurdle is the cost of the digital signage players themselves. For businesses looking to deploy multiple screens, the expense of purchasing a player for each display can quickly add up. Beyond the initial purchase price, there are also logistical considerations. These devices need to be ordered, shipped, and then physically installed and configured, all of which takes time and resources. For companies eager to get their first screens up and running, these upfront costs and logistical hurdles can be a major deterrent. Even larger organizations with ample budgets can find themselves entangled in lengthy approval and procurement processes, which can delay the launch of <a href="/blog/2025/08/15/champion-digital-signage/">department-led digital signage initiatives</a>.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-without-digital-signage-players">Digital signage without digital signage players</h2> <p>Recognizing these challenges, Screenly now empowers teams to bypass the need for dedicated digital signage players and instead utilize their existing hardware. The first of these is <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a>, a game-changer that enables you to display and schedule content on any device capable of displaying a modern web browser. This means you can transform the devices you already own—be it a tablet, a smart computer monitor, a smart TV, or even a spare laptop—into a fully functional digital sign. With Screenly Anywhere, you can harness the processing power of your existing hardware, eliminating the need to purchase, wait for, and set up a separate digital signage player. You can still perform all the essential digital signage tasks that small and medium-sized enterprises rely on, such as creating and organizing content into <a href="/end-user/playlists/">playlists</a> and scheduling when that content is displayed.</p> <h2 id="beyond-screenly-anywhere-and-native-apps">Beyond Screenly Anywhere and native apps</h2> <p>In addition to Screenly Anywhere, we have also developed a range of native applications for various operating systems. These apps provide a more streamlined and integrated experience, allowing you to use your existing smart TVs and other devices as dedicated digital signage players. With native apps, you gain greater flexibility and control over the installation and management process. We currently offer a <a href="/blog/2025/07/13/introducing-the-samsung-tizen-app/">Screenly Samsung Tizen App</a>, a <a href="/blog/2025/05/09/screenly-android-app/">Screenly Android App</a>, and a <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/43114739340435-Using-Google-ChromeOS-Flex-in-Kiosk-Mode-with-Screenly-Anywhere">Screenly ChromeOS App</a>, with more on the way. These native applications offer a smoother and more reliable playback experience, as they are specifically designed and optimized for their respective platforms.</p> <h2 id="limitations-of-using-your-own-hardware">Limitations of using your own hardware</h2> <p>While Screenly Anywhere and our native apps provide a cost-effective and convenient way to deploy digital signs, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of not using a dedicated digital signage player. For instance, overall screen control can sometimes be a challenge. If a device unexpectedly shuts down or the application closes, it may require manual intervention to get the digital sign back up and running. There can also be <a href="/security/">hardware security considerations</a> that are outside of Screenly’s direct control when using third-party hardware setups. Furthermore, diagnosing screen health remotely and troubleshooting technical issues can be more complex without the standardized hardware of a dedicated player. For these reasons, we still recommend a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">dedicated digital signage player</a> for mission-critical deployments where uptime and security are of the utmost importance.</p> <h2 id="launch-your-first-screen-today-for-free">Launch your first screen today for free</h2> <p>The barrier to entry for digital signage has never been lower. With innovative solutions like Screenly Anywhere and our suite of native applications, you no longer need to invest in expensive, specialized hardware to get your first digital sign off the ground. You can leverage the devices you already own to create engaging and dynamic displays in just minutes.</p> <p>Ready to see for yourself? Sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> of Screenly today and get your first digital sign up and running with the hardware you already have.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/19/reduce-hardware-costs-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/19/reduce-hardware-costs-digital-signage/Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>So, you see the power of digital signage. You envision screens across your office displaying real-time dashboards, company announcements, and celebrating team wins. You know it can transform internal communications. But how do you get everyone else to see it, too? Introducing any new tool can be a challenge, but with the right approach, you can turn your colleagues into digital signage advocates. This guide will walk you through how to champion digital signage in your organization and get the buy-in you need for a successful rollout.</p> <h2 id="start-small-with-a-digital-signage-pilot-program">Start small with a digital signage pilot program</h2> <p>The thought of a company-wide digital signage overhaul can be daunting for decision-makers. Instead of pitching a grand vision, propose a small-scale, low-risk pilot program. Start with one or two screens in a high-impact area. This allows you to demonstrate the value of digital signage and work out any kinks before committing to a larger investment. A successful pilot program is your best ammunition for getting a company-wide “yes.”</p> <p>And getting started is easier than you think. With <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> and our apps, such as the <a href="/blog/2025/05/09/screenly-android-app/">Screenly Android App</a> and <a href="/blog/2025/07/13/introducing-the-samsung-tizen-app/">Screenly Samsung Tizen App</a>, you can display content on screens without purchasing a dedicated <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. You likely already have the hardware you need.</p> <h2 id="be-sure-to-answer-whats-in-it-for-me">Be sure to answer “What’s in it for me?”</h2> <p>To get buy-in, you need to show how digital signage benefits everyone. Tailor your pitch to different audiences. For executives, frame digital signage as a tool to reinforce company culture, communicate vision, and boost employee morale (with tools like <a href="/enterprise/align-central/">Screenly AlignCentral</a>). Meanwhile, managers can highlight how they can use screens to motivate their teams with real-time performance data and project updates. For employees, the benefit is clear: they’ll get relevant information without digging through emails and will feel more connected to the company’s goals and successes.</p> <p>When people see content they care about, they get it. For example, show the sales team their current, company-branded team dashboard on a screen in their office area. This immediate relevance is the most powerful way to demonstrate the value of digital signage.</p> <h2 id="address-the-it-teams-concerns">Address the IT team’s concerns</h2> <p>Let’s be honest, the IT team’s first thought is often “great, another system to manage.” Reassure them from the start. Communicate that with a modern tool like Screenly, they don’t have to be the content gatekeepers. Past digital signage software was often too complex for non-technical users, putting IT in the middle of every content change request.</p> <p>With Screenly, if you can send an email, you can <a href="/end-user/display-content/">manage content</a> on your digital signs. The intuitive interface empowers teams to manage their own content. Plus, Screenly’s <a href="/security">enterprise-grade security</a>, including <a href="/blog/2025/05/07/digital-signage-soc-2-compliance/">SOC 2 Type II compliance</a>, means that IT can delegate content management and deploy digital signage without compromising network security.</p> <h2 id="form-a-group-of-digital-signage-champions">Form a group of digital signage champions</h2> <p>You don’t have to go it alone. Identify enthusiastic colleagues from various departments—HR, Marketing, Sales, Engineering—and form a team of digital signage leads. This creates shared ownership and ensures the content displayed is diverse and valuable to the entire organization. This group can brainstorm a wide variety of engaging content beyond just dashboards. Imagine screens showcasing employee spotlights, work anniversaries, welcome messages for new hires, customer testimonials, safety reminders, and photos from recent company events.</p> <h2 id="showcase-the-power-of-integration">Showcase the power of integration</h2> <p>One of the most powerful aspects of modern digital signage is its ability to integrate with your existing workflows and business tools. Share that Screenly isn’t a closed-off system. With the Screenly <a href="/api">digital signage API</a> and <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps framework</a>, your developers can create custom integrations that pull real-time data from the tools you already use. This means your teams aren’t limited in what content they can show or when their content is triggered. Imagine screens that automatically update with the latest sales figures from your CRM or project statuses from your project management tool.</p> <h2 id="theres-no-risk-to-getting-started">There’s no risk to getting started</h2> <p>The best way to convince your team is to show them with <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Screenly’s 14-day free trial</a>, you can get started right now for free. Set up a pilot screen, display relevant content for a specific team, and let the results speak for themselves. Once your colleagues see the power of dynamic, real-time visual communication via digital signage, you won’t have to do much more convincing. They’ll be asking you how they can get a screen for their team.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/15/champion-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/15/champion-digital-signage/Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>At Screenly, we’ve always believed in making connections, not just between screens and content, but also between people. As a remote company, we’re continually seeking innovative ways to keep our team engaged and connected beyond the workplace. One of the ways we achieve this is through our Screenly Strava Club, where we track activities and motivate each other to be more active.</p> <p>Recently, seeing teammates’ activity stats inspired me to push myself, and I ended up completing my longest ride yet at <strong>20.71 km</strong>. I enjoyed the ride through my village, surrounded by endless greenery and the untamed beauty of the wild. That kind of friendly motivation is what makes this club so special.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/strava-app-salman-first-long-ride_hu_4ed49402cd63d46a.webp 480w, /images/blog/strava-app-salman-first-long-ride_hu_b699a346fae7052b.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/strava-app-salman-first-long-ride_hu_18d7ff360fb693fa.webp 480w, /images/blog/strava-app-salman-first-long-ride_hu_50c8f602f2526f15.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/strava-app-salman-first-long-ride_hu_7c9b607d83684d26.webp" alt="Salman's First Long Ride" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="858" > </picture> <p>Until now, the leaderboard was only visible inside the Strava app, which is excellent for personal tracking, but not ideal for celebrating achievements together. That’s why we built the Strava Club Leaderboard Edge App.</p> <h2 id="what-it-does">What It Does</h2> <p>This Edge App creates a beautiful, real-time leaderboard for your Strava club, perfect for office displays, gyms, or clubhouses. It automatically pulls in fresh activity data and showcases member rankings with key performance metrics:</p> <ul> <li>Distance covered</li> <li>Time spent</li> <li>Elevation gain</li> <li>Number of activities</li> </ul> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_f2abf9f698f86c1c.webp 480w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_9dacce5831dc196d.webp 768w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_7a63b867adc50c86.webp 1024w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_e92b858d00fdccc.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_cf578d343d092701.webp 480w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_a83029f945364931.webp 768w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_182c5dee4e6829ea.webp 1024w, /images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_20b9bf07706a9fb8.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/strava-club-leaderboard-demo_hu_7a63b867adc50c86.webp" alt="Strava Club Leaderboard App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="586" > </picture> <p>These statistics provide a comprehensive view of both individual and team performance, fostering friendly competition and celebrating success.</p> <h2 id="behind-the-build">Behind the Build</h2> <p>The first version of the app was created by our CEO, <strong>Viktor Petersson</strong>, as a fun side project. Later, I took over to refine and polish it for public release. One significant technical challenge was handling Strava’s short-lived access tokens, which expire after six hours and must be refreshed regularly to continue pulling data. After reviewing Strava’s documentation, I implemented a refresh system using the provided refresh tokens, ensuring the leaderboard remains live without interruption.</p> <p>Here is the suggested flow for the refresh token from Strava’s documentation:</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/strava-app-refresh-token_hu_a3041f8a735c8b30.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/strava-app-refresh-token_hu_1a5c7120c9c5500d.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/strava-app-refresh-token_hu_507116aebdf3abe3.webp" alt="Strava App Refresh Token Docs" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="703" > </picture> <p>Another important detail is that we store all credentials, API keys, and tokens in the Edge App settings as secure secrets. This means, as a developer, I don’t need to worry about managing sensitive data myself; Screenly takes care of it securely, allowing me to focus purely on building features. (If you’re curious how this works, <a href="https://www.screenly.io/security/">read here</a> and <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/edge-apps/#edge-apps">here</a>). Like other Screenly-developed edge apps, this app is also open source and available on <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground">GitHub</a>. Please put a ⭐️ star if you like it!</p> <p>When it came to design, I made sure the app’s branding aligned with <strong><a href="https://developers.strava.com/guidelines/">Strava’s official guidelines</a></strong>. With the help of our Chief Design Officer, <strong>Adnan</strong>, we created a simple, clean logo that feels right at home in both the Screenly and Strava ecosystems.</p> <h2 id="available-now">Available Now</h2> <p>The Strava Club Leaderboard Edge App is live and ready to use. You can find it in the Screenly Edge App Store today and start motivating your team with a live leaderboard that looks great on any screen.</p> <div class="flex slide-in-top cta cmb-10 cmb-lg-7"> <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/login?next=/manage/edge-apps/01K1DVC10GNKZQBB9YM5Q566FC/new" target="_blank"> <button class="btn btn-secondary">Use the App</button> </a> </div> <p>You can learn more about the Strava Club Leaderboard App and how to set it up <a href="/edge-apps/strava-club-leaderboard/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly">Getting started with Screenly</h2> <p>Screenly supports both paths. If you prefer to start lean, the Raspberry Pi–based Screenly Player is a smart, accessible option that plugs into the same <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">management platform</a>. If you need maximum reliability, stronger performance for custom apps and 4K, and a platform tuned for enterprise operations, the Screenly Player Max Mk II is the right fit. Either way, you get enterprise‑grade security and the same straightforward management experience.</p> <p>If you’d like to learn more, you can get familiar with Screenly in minutes. Start a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> and launch your first screen directly from your web browser with no additional hardware required. When you’re ready, you can move to dedicated players with a smooth handoff from your trial environment.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/12/introducing-the-strava-club-leaderboard-app/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/12/introducing-the-strava-club-leaderboard-app/Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Every digital signage project faces the same fork in the road: pay for solutions now, or pay for problems later. On day one, the lowest‑cost player and a basic setup can look like a win. Six months into a rollout, when a few screens go dark, a manager is texting at 6:15 a.m., and someone has to drop everything to troubleshoot, the calculation shifts. The longer you run signage—especially at scale, the more reliability, security, and future needs determine your true cost of ownership.</p> <h2 id="the-costs-of-digital-signage-player-reliablity">The costs of digital signage player reliablity</h2> <p>Reliability is where this trade‑off often shows up first. If a single <a href="%7B%7Bsite.rule%7D%7D/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player device</a> in one store goes offline once a month, it’s a nuisance you can handle. Multiply that by dozens or hundreds of screens across multiple locations, and the interruptions become expensive. Each outage costs time and money, from reactive fixes and on‑site visits to the internal coordination that pulls your team away from higher‑value work. Investing in reliable players and a robust management platform is how you keep screens on and people focused on what matters.</p> <p>This is exactly why we developed the <a href="%7B%7Bsite.rule%7D%7D/blog/2025/06/06/introducting-screenly-player-max-mk-II/">Screenly Player Max Mk II</a>. It’s our most powerful digital signage player and is built for enterprise deployments where reliability isn’t optional. The Screenly PLayer Max Mk II runs custom content apps smoothly, handles heavy web pages, and drives 4K content without breaking a sweat. We still offer our Raspberry Pi–based Screenly Player, and it remains a great fit for pilots and smaller fleets. However, for large, multi‑location rollouts, we recommend the Screenly Player Max Mk II so you can minimize downtime and maintenance from day one.</p> <p>There’s also the question of “free players.” Some vendors bundle “free digital signage players” with annual subscriptions. While the hardware might be free on paper, it’s not free in practice. These devices are often cheaply produced media players that will eventually fail and require attention. Every troubleshooting session, every reimage, and every on‑site visit eats into your budget. If you’re managing a small, non‑critical deployment, you might accept those trade‑offs. At enterprise scale, the hidden costs pile up quickly.</p> <h2 id="the-costs-of-expanding-digital-signage-features">The costs of expanding digital signage features</h2> <p>Another cost to consider is upgrading later when content ambitions grow. Many teams start with simple 1080p loops and then expand to real‑time data-rich dashboards, custom digital signage <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a>, and <a href="/end-user/full-hd-4K-resolution/">4K visuals</a> as digital signs become part of daily workflows. Entry‑level players often struggle at that point, forcing you to buy twice. You’ll buy once for the first rollout, and again when you need more capability. Sometimes, it’s smarter to solve the problem up front with hardened, more powerful hardware like the Screenly Player Max Mk II, so your content roadmap doesn’t outgrow your devices.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-security-considerations">Digital signage security considerations</h2> <p>Security is an even bigger version of the same trade‑off. Lower‑cost solutions often treat security as an afterthought, and the price tag reflects that. The risk, however, can be enormous. A compromised screen can damage your brand with embarrassing content in public spaces, and in a worst‑case scenario, an attacker could use a poorly secured device as an entry point to your broader network. That can lead to exposure of personal data, regulatory fines, and ransomware incidents that dwarf any savings on day one.</p> <p>Screenly takes a security‑first approach across the platform. Devices and cloud communicate over encrypted channels, and software updates are applied automatically. Additionally, access controls support least‑privilege roles and modern authentication options, and our operational practices are built to keep fleets patched and protected. With the Screenly Player Max Mk II, you also gain a modern hardware platform designed to support stronger security measures for organizations that need them. If you want a deeper look, our <a href="/security">security page</a> explains our entire security-first approach.</p> <h2 id="no-two-screen-deployments-are-the-same">No two screen deployments are the same</h2> <p>Ultimately, paying for solutions now or problems later is a personal choice. If your use case is modest and you don’t mind fixing issues as they arise, the lower‑cost route may be perfectly fine. For enterprise digital signage, where screens are mission‑critical and customer‑facing, predictability wins. IT teams want to solve a class of issues once, set clear expectations, and move on to the next priority. In those scenarios, it makes sense to address edge cases and operational risks up front.</p> <h2 id="navigating-cost-trade-offs-as-an-integrator">Navigating cost trade offs as an integrator</h2> <p>Integrators navigate this decision with clients every day. Managing expectations early prevents surprises, especially when stakeholders push for the cheapest option. It’s important to define support boundaries and contracts clearly to avoid scope creep and unplanned maintenance that lands on the integrator. We’re seeing this conversation frequently as we expand the <a href="/blog/2025/06/05/screenly-channel-partnership-program/">Screenly Channel Partnership Program</a>, and we’re committed to giving partners the tools and guidance to deliver reliable, secure deployments.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly">Getting started with Screenly</h2> <p>Screenly supports both paths. If you prefer to start lean, the Raspberry Pi–based Screenly Player is a smart, accessible option that plugs into the same <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">management platform</a>. If you need maximum reliability, stronger performance for custom apps and 4K, and a platform tuned for enterprise operations, the Screenly Player Max Mk II is the right fit. Either way, you get enterprise‑grade security and the same straightforward management experience.</p> <p>If you’d like to learn more, you can get familiar with Screenly in minutes. Start a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> and launch your first screen directly from your web browser with no additional hardware required. When you’re ready, you can move to dedicated players with a smooth handoff from your trial environment.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/11/total-cost-of-ownership/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/11/total-cost-of-ownership/Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 12:</strong> <em>Edge Apps, Enterprise Security, Screenly Playground, New Hardware Support, & the Interactive Digital Signage Contest 2025</em></p> <p>Welcome back to the Screenly Changelog! In Episode 12, we’re joined by special guest Salman Faris, who covers Customer Success and Edge App development at Screenly. Alongside Viktor Petersson and Daniel Mountcastle, the team takes a deep dive into the power of our developer-first Edge Apps platform, enterprise security for digital signage, and our expanding hardware support. Catch the full conversation by watching the full episode or read the highlights below.</p> <h2 id="unlocking-custom-content-with-screenly-edge-apps">Unlocking custom content with Screenly Edge Apps</h2> <p>A core focus of this episode is the <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps framework</a>, our developer-first platform for creating custom digital signage content and applications. Instead of locking users into a fixed set of integrations, Screenly Edge Apps provides the tooling for developers to build exactly what they need and edit code line-by-line.</p> <p>Salman, who has been at the forefront of building out our library of open-source apps, highlights the platform’s ease of use. Thanks to thorough documentation and publicly available examples on <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground">GitHub</a>, developers can create and deploy custom digital signage applications in a matter of hours. This developer-centric approach empowers users to move beyond simple content loops and build truly dynamic, value-driven signage solutions.</p> <h2 id="built-in-security-and-simplified-development">Built-in security and simplified development</h2> <p>In this episode, the team discusses the often-underestimated technical complexities of <a href="/security/">deploying digital signage securely</a>. A key feature of the Edge Apps framework is its built-in secret management. This allows developers to securely handle sensitive information like API tokens, which are encrypted on the device. Even if a player is physically compromised, credentials remain protected. By handling the heavy lifting of security, app distribution, and device management, Screenly allows developers to focus on the value-add business logic of their applications, not the complex infrastructure required to run them.</p> <h2 id="new-in-the-screenly-edge-app-playground">New in the Screenly Edge App Playground</h2> <p>Salman covers several new Edge Apps now available in the Screenly Playground:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Strava Activity Tracker Edge App:</strong> Born from an internal initiative to promote fitness at Screenly, our <a href="/edge-apps/strava-club-leaderboard/">Strava Edge App</a> displays a leaderboard from a company’s Strava club, fostering team engagement and friendly competition.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>CharlieHR Edge App:</strong> To help our remote team stay connected, the <a href="/edge-apps/charliehr-dashboard/">CharlieHR Edge App</a> shows employee anniversaries, birthdays, and who is away for the day.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Sonar Dashboard Edge App:</strong> The <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/blob/master/edge-apps/sonar-dashboard/README.md">Sonar Dashboard Edge App</a> uses Bluetooth beacons to provide an approximation of footfall in a given area. While not a precise measurement tool, it offers a cost-effective way to gather impression and dwell-time data for signage content without the high cost and privacy concerns of camera-based solutions.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Fake Dashboard Edge App:</strong> The simple but powerful <a href="/edge-apps/fake-dashboard/">Fake Dashboard Edge App</a> displays dummy data, allowing teams to prototype and champion new signage use cases without needing to complete full data integrations first.</p> </li> </ul> <p>You can use these <a href="/edge-apps/">ready-to-go Edge Apps</a> out of the box or you can customize them to work for your specific use cases. They’re all open source, and it’s entirely up to you.</p> <h2 id="leveling-up-the-developer-experience">Leveling up the developer experience</h2> <p>To make building custom apps even easier, the Screenly team is developing reusable components for Edge Apps. By migrating to modern frameworks like Vue, we are establishing best practices for Edge App development that save developers time and effort. These components can be easily dropped into new projects, ensuring consistency and accelerating development. This allows our partners and customers to build on top of our work instead of having to reinvent the wheel with each new app.</p> <h2 id="the-security-blind-spot">The security blind spot</h2> <p>A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the critical state of enterprise digital signage security. Importantly, Viktor warns that many vendors can achieve security certifications while running their players on outdated, vulnerable software. This is because most compliance audits don’t scrutinize the security of the media player itself, creating a dangerous blind spot for buyers.</p> <p>Digital signage players can be a prime target for attackers, who can use them as a stepping stone to pivot into a company’s core network. The risk isn’t just pranksters showing embarassing content. It’s sophisticated actors establishing a persistent foothold for data access or ransomware attacks. Enterprises must look beyond compliance checkboxes and demand robust and actively-maintained device security.</p> <h2 id="screenly-anywhere--expanded-hardware-support">Screenly Anywhere & expanded hardware support</h2> <p>Reinforcing our commitment to hardware flexibility, Screenly now runs on more platforms than ever. In addition to our flagship <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> tool, which allows you to display digital signage screen content on any web browser, we now offer apps for:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/blog/2025/05/09/screenly-android-app/">Android devices and smart TVs</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2025/07/13/introducing-the-samsung-tizen-app/">Samsung Tizen smart TVs</a></li> <li>Chrome OS devices</li> </ul> <p>These apps allow businesses to deploy Screenly on hardware they already own, reducing costs and simplifying implementation across diverse environments.</p> <h2 id="interactive-digital-signage-contest-2025--connecting-with-us">Interactive Digital Signage Contest 2025 & connecting with us</h2> <p>Salman announced the Interactive Digital Signage Contest 2025, hosted by Seeed Studio. With Viktor serving as a judge, it’s a great opportunity for developers to showcase their skills. The deadline to apply is August 15th, and the grand prize is a trip to Shenzhen, China! Learn more and apply now at the <a href="https://www.seeedstudio.com/blog/join-seeeds-interactive-signage-contest-2025/">link here</a>.</p> <p>Also, Screenly’s very own <a href="https://x.com/vpetersson">Viktor Petersson</a> will be at Black Hat USA and Def Con 33 in Las Vegas this week, so be sure to reach out if you’re around!</p> <p>That’s all for now! Stay tuned for future updates, and thank you for joining us for the Screenly Changelog Episode 12.</p> <p>Want to start building digital signage apps with Screenly? All our open-source Edge Apps and documentation are available on the <strong><a href="https://github.com/screenly/playground">Screenly Playground on GitHub</a></strong>.</p> <p>Interested in secure, scalable digital signage solutions? Explore Screenly and start your <strong><a href="https://www.screenly.io/pricing/">14-day free trial today</a></strong>.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/08/screenly-changelog-episode-12/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/08/screenly-changelog-episode-12/Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>If you’re reading this, you’ve likely just scanned our card QR code at an event, and you are now holding a small device, wondering about the message: “THE DUNGEON OF PUBLIC PORTS AWAITS.” It’s a playful nod to a serious issue, and that little device is your key to navigating it safely.</p> <p>Let’s descend into the dungeon.</p> <h2 id="the-threat-of-juice-jacking">The threat of juice jacking</h2> <p>The “dungeon” we’re talking about is the growing network of public USB charging stations you find everywhere. We’ve all seen them at airports, hotels, coffee shops, and conference halls. While they seem like a helpful convenience when your battery is low, they can hide a nasty threat called “juice jacking.”</p> <p>Juice jacking is a cyberattack where criminals compromise these public USB ports. Because a standard USB cable is designed to transfer both power and data, an attacker can use a modified port to either steal sensitive information from your device or install persistent malware. Within seconds of plugging in your device, your passwords, contacts, and financial data could be at risk. It’s a threat so real that government agencies like the U.S. Army Cyber Command have issued public warnings about it.</p> <h2 id="your-protector-usb-data-blocker">Your protector: USB data blocker</h2> <p>This is where your new “protector” comes in. The device you’re holding is a USB data blocker. Sometimes called a “USB condom,” its function is brilliantly simple. When you plug it between your charging cable and a public USB port, it physically blocks the data-transfer pins while leaving the power pins connected.</p> <p>Think of it as a one-way filter: it allows power to flow into your device but makes it physically impossible for any data to be sent or received. It’s a simple, effective tool that lets you charge your phone or tablet with peace of mind.</p> <h2 id="more-than-just-swag-a-symbol-of-our-philosophy">More than just swag: A symbol of our philosophy</h2> <p>So, why is a digital signage company giving away personal security gadgets? Because we’re tired of useless corporate swag. Instead of another pen or stress ball destined for a desk drawer, we wanted to give you something genuinely helpful.</p> <p>More importantly, this data blocker is a physical representation of our core philosophy at Screenly. We believe security shouldn’t be an afterthought or a feature you bolt on later. It should be proactive, practical, and built into the very DNA of a product. This focus on security is what drives every decision we make, whether we’re designing a small giveaway item or a global digital signage network.</p> <h2 id="security-at-scale-how-screenly-protects-your-screens">Security at scale: How Screenly protects your screens</h2> <p>Just as we want to help you protect your phone, we apply our rigorous, security-first mindset to protecting our customers’ digital signs. An unsecured screen in a public space is an attractive target for attackers looking to cause brand damage or use it as a gateway into a corporate network. That’s why organizations in security-critical fields like banking and healthcare trust Screenly.</p> <p>Our <a href="/security">security strategy</a> includes multiple layers of protection for your digital signs:</p> <p><strong>Hardened players</strong>: Our digital signage players are built like fortresses. We use advanced process isolation to create “digital walls” inside the device, so even if one part is compromised, the rest of the system remains safe. All software and OS updates are cryptographically signed, ensuring only legitimate code from Screenly can run. We also lock down our players by default, eliminating open ports and default credentials, which are the most common vectors for IoT attacks.</p> <p><strong>Secure communications</strong>: All traffic between a Screenly Player and our backend is fully encrypted using Mutual TLS (mTLS). This means both the player and the server must prove their identities to each other before any communication happens, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks.</p> <p><strong>A resilient backend</strong>: Our cloud infrastructure is ephemeral, meaning our servers are short-lived and replaced with fully patched versions every 24 hours. This drastically shrinks the window of opportunity for any potential attacker.</p> <p>We are proud that security is at the core of our development, and our team continues to work hard to provide the most secure <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage hardware</a> and software on the market.</p> <h2 id="the-gold-standard-soc-ii-type-2-compliance">The gold standard: SOC II Type 2 compliance</h2> <p>Don’t just take our word for it. Screenly is <a href="/blog/2025/05/07/digital-signage-soc-2-compliance/">SOC II Type 2 compliant</a>. This isn’t a one-time checklist; it’s a rigorous, ongoing audit by an independent third party. With SOC II Type 2 compliance, our security controls are not only designed with best practices but are operating effectively over time. It’s the ultimate proof of our commitment to keeping your content, your screens, and your network secure.</p> <p>From the USB data blocker in your hand to the enterprise-grade security architecture protecting thousands of screens worldwide, our mission is the same: to provide security you can trust.</p> <p>Ready to see how secure digital signage can transform your business? Start your free <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/05/usb-data-blocker/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/08/05/usb-data-blocker/Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 11:</strong> <em>Dave Haynes retirement, AI and innovation in digital signage, Live-stream content feeds, Advice for signage companies, and more!</em></p> <p>Welcome back to the Screenly Changelog! In Episode 11, we’re joined by special guest Dave Haynes, founder of the iconic digital signage publication <a href="https://www.sixteen-nine.net/">Sixteen:Nine</a>. Catch the full conversation by watching the episode or read the highlights below.</p> <h2 id="a-special-guest---dave-haynes-founder-of-sixteennine">A special guest - Dave Haynes, founder of Sixteen:Nine</h2> <p>Dave Haynes, a true pillar of the digital signage industry for decades, joined <a href="https://vpetersson.com/">Viktor</a> and Daniel to discuss his remarkable career and lasting impact on the industry. Dave’s storied journey, from newspaper journalism to pioneering the premier digital signage publication Sixteen:Nine, highlights the transformative evolution of the digital signage industry at large.</p> <h2 id="the-origin-of-screenly--daves-influence">The origin of Screenly & Dave’s influence</h2> <p>Dave played a pivotal role in introducing Screenly to the broader digital signage community. In fact, Viktor shared that Dave first introduced him to the term “digital signage,” spotlighting Screenly during its early stages. Their first meeting not only connected Screenly with key industry figures but also set the tone for years of meaningful collaboration.</p> <h2 id="sixteennine---from-hobby-to-industry-cornerstone">Sixteen:Nine - From hobby to industry cornerstone</h2> <p>Dave founded Sixteen:Nine in 2006 to address the lack of insightful, reliable coverage in the digital signage space. Initially a side hobby, the publication rapidly grew into an essential industry resource, renowned for its candid analysis, absence of marketing hype, and deep dives into practical, real-world issues.</p> <h2 id="cutting-through-buzzwords---real-talk-on-digital-signage-security">Cutting through buzzwords - Real talk on digital signage security</h2> <p>In Episode 11, Dave and Viktor address the critical need in digital signage to move beyond security buzzwords. They stress that genuine <a href="/security/">digital signage security</a> isn’t about ticking compliance boxes—it requires a continuous, proactive cultural commitment. Viktor underscored the importance of comprehensive lifecycle management, emphasizing that genuine security involves deep scrutiny, ongoing updates, and robust hardware management.</p> <h2 id="the-shifting-digital-signage-buyer---from-marketing-to-it">The shifting digital signage buyer - From marketing to IT</h2> <p>A notable trend discussed was the evolving profile of digital signage buyers—from traditionally marketing-driven teams to IT-focused professionals. This shift is bringing increased scrutiny on security, system integrations, and long-term reliability, requiring vendors to provide genuinely robust technical solutions rather than superficial feature sets.</p> <h2 id="ai-vibe-coding-and-practical-innovation">AI, vibe coding, and practical innovation</h2> <p>Dave, Viktor, & Daniel explore the real-world use of AI in digital signage, agreeing that true innovation isn’t always flashy. For years, Dave has championed “boring signage” that genuinely solves customer pain points, such as dynamic queue management, directional signage, and operational automation—highlighting real value over headline-grabbing gimmicks.</p> <h2 id="avoiding-common-signage-pitfalls">Avoiding common signage pitfalls</h2> <p>Dave shares critical insights about digital signage best practices and advises against multi-zone screens and <a href="/blog/2025/05/19/digital-signage-widgets/">distracting widget overload</a>, explaining that these approaches fragment audience attention, reducing impact and effectiveness. Keeping signage content clear, direct, and simple is paramount for success.</p> <p>Importantly, Dave also advises digital signage companies to differentiate themselves clearly, avoid competing solely on price, and lean into their unique strengths. In the case of Screenly, Dave advises that the company lean into its deep technical expertise in security. Specializing in niche applications, industries, or pain points rather than general-purpose offerings ensures sustained relevance and customer loyalty.</p> <h2 id="thank-you-dave-retirement--whats-next">Thank you, Dave! Retirement & what’s next</h2> <p>We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Dave Haynes for his immense contributions to the digital signage industry, his energizing support of Screenly, and his commitment to keeping the industry honest, insightful, and innovative.</p> <p>Although now retired, Dave plans to remain active in the industry and possibly start a personal newsletter for deep-dive research pieces every month or so. To reach out to Dave Haynes, contact him on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/davethaynes/">LinkedIn</a>.</p> <p>Interested in secure, scalable digital signage solutions? Explore Screenly and start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p> <p>Stay tuned for future updates, and thank you for joining us for the Screenly Changelog’s Episode 11!</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/07/16/screenly-changelog-episode-11/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/07/16/screenly-changelog-episode-11/Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re excited to announce the release of Anthias <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias/releases/tag/v0.20.3">v0.20.3</a>. This release includes a number of new features and improvements, including migration to <a href="https://www.typescriptlang.org/">TypeScript</a>, minor UI changes, and bug fixes to playback issues.</p> <h2 id="migration-to-typescript">Migration to TypeScript</h2> <p>Like with the <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/03/11/migrating-browser-extension-code-to-typescript-and-other-bug-fixes/">Browser Extension</a>, we’ve migrated the front-end code to TypeScript. This enables us to write more robust, maintainable, and readable code. Type safety helps us catch errors at compile time and makes the codebase easier to understand.</p> <h3 id="challenges">Challenges</h3> <p>Introducing type safety is not without its challenges. First, we installed and set up TypeScript so it wouldn’t complain about implicit <code>any</code> types. This was fine initially, but settling for <code>any</code> defeats the purpose of using TypeScript. Next, we enabled stricter type checking, which revealed hundreds of compilation and linting errors—most related to type mismatches and implicit <code>any</code> types.</p> <h3 id="benefits">Benefits</h3> <p>Let’s take a look at the <code>ActiveAssetsTable</code> component before the migration:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-jsx" data-lang="jsx"><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">export</span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">const</span> ActiveAssetsTable = ({ onEditAsset }) => { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#999;font-style:italic">// ... </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#999;font-style:italic"></span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">const</span> activeAssets = useSelector(selectActiveAssets) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">const</span> [items, setItems] = useState(activeAssets) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#999;font-style:italic">// ... </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#999;font-style:italic"></span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">return</span> ( </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <<span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">table</span> <span style="color:#bbb">className</span>=<span style="color:#ed9d13">"ActiveAssets table"</span>> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> {<span style="color:#999;font-style:italic">/* ... */</span>} </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </<span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">table</span>> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> ) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>} </span></span></code></pre></div><p>At first glance, we have no idea what the value of <code>activeAssets</code> or <code>items</code> looks like unless we use a <code>console.log</code>, for instance. This is okay for smaller components, but it becomes a problem when we have to debug larger components. We can add comments, but they could become irrelevant if the code changes and the comments remain unchanged.</p> <p>By using types, we can define the “shape” of the data that’s being used in the component. Here’s what the component looks like after the migration:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-tsx" data-lang="tsx"><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">export</span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">const</span> ActiveAssetsTable = ({ onEditAsset }: ActiveAssetsTableProps) => { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#999;font-style:italic">// ... </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#999;font-style:italic"></span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">const</span> activeAssets = useSelector(selectActiveAssets) <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">as</span> Asset[]; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">const</span> [items, setItems] = useState<<span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">Asset</span><span style="color:#a61717;background-color:#e3d2d2">[]</span>>(activeAssets); </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#999;font-style:italic">// ... </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#999;font-style:italic"></span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">return</span> ( </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <<span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">table</span> <span style="color:#bbb">className</span>=<span style="color:#ed9d13">"ActiveAssets table"</span>> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> {<span style="color:#999;font-style:italic">/* ... */</span>} </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </<span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">table</span>> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> ); </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>}; </span></span></code></pre></div><p>For convenience, here are the definitions of the <code>ActiveAssetsTableProps</code> and <code>Asset</code> interfaces:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-tsx" data-lang="tsx"><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">export</span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">interface</span> ActiveAssetsTableProps { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#999;font-style:italic">// We'll not be showing what `AssetEditData` looks like here since </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#999;font-style:italic"></span> <span style="color:#999;font-style:italic">// the focus is on the `Asset` interface. </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#999;font-style:italic"></span> onEditAsset: (asset: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">AssetEditData</span>) => <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">void</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>} </span></span></code></pre></div><div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-typescript" data-lang="typescript"><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">export</span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">interface</span> Asset { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> asset_id: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">string</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> name: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">string</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> start_date: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">string</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> end_date: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">string</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> duration: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">number</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> uri: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">string</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> mimetype: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">string</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> is_enabled: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">number</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> nocache: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">boolean</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> skip_asset_check: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">boolean</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> is_active: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">boolean</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> play_order: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">number</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> is_processing: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">boolean</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>} </span></span></code></pre></div><p>With this, users can now see the structure of the data that’s being used in the component. This is especially useful when we have to debug larger components. Spamming <code>console.log</code> statements is no longer necessary, for the most part. Types also act as a form of documentation, making it easier to read and understand the codebase as it grows.</p> <p>While it will be somewhat harder to introduce changes to the project due to strict type checking, we believe the long-term benefits of using TypeScript are worth it.</p> <h2 id="minor-ui-changes">Minor UI changes</h2> <p>We’ve made several minor UI changes to the schedule overview page, including restyled tooltips, alert modals, and the home page. We also removed the unnecessary “Cancel” button, which previously redirected users to the home page.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.3-02_hu_fc908346cf1123c.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.3-02_hu_bbc5b062aafa1011.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.3-02_hu_880402c0fa9cc276.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.3-02_hu_1d0a94bed884c424.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.3-02_hu_c189c15d4954106e.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.3-02_hu_f4ecc11c938c488e.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.3-02_hu_bf561a81b79edc04.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.3-02_hu_ee71c863dbb11c7d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.3-02_hu_880402c0fa9cc276.webp" alt="Anthias v0.20.3" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <h2 id="bug-fixes">Bug fixes</h2> <p>We previously <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias/releases/tag/v0.19.6">got rid of the black gap that appears between image assets</a>, but this broke GIF playback, which is now fixed. Additionally, we optimized web asset playback so that upcoming web pages load before being displayed, reducing wait times for users.</p> <h2 id="whats-next">What’s next?</h2> <p>We will continue to improve asset playback and enhance the user experience of the web interface. Anthias is free and open source, and we’re committed to keeping it that way. Feel free to check out the source code or contribute to the project.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/07/14/anthias-v0.20.3/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/07/14/anthias-v0.20.3/Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re excited to announce that our new Tizen App for Samsung Commercial displays is now available to use with <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a>! We’ve been working hard on this behind the scenes, and we are delighted to finally get this across the finish line. You can now enjoy beautiful 1080p or 4K digital signage content natively on your Samsung display, leveraging all of the benefits of Screenly and the Tizen OS. No extra hardware is needed.</p> <h2 id="so-how-does-it-work">So, how does it work?</h2> <p>If you’re installing a new commercial display and going through the initial setup, choose the option to use a custom app on the player selection menu. Then, enter in the app URL: <code>https://tizen.srly.io</code>. Once you move past the next few intro screens, the app will automatically install and start.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/player-selection_hu_c7c31acc4e22fc65.webp 480w, /images/blog/player-selection_hu_d7353918149ad252.webp 768w, /images/blog/player-selection_hu_632fa9f83d992de2.webp 1024w, /images/blog/player-selection_hu_f1f6566026f37227.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/player-selection_hu_39253d570e22bd68.webp 480w, /images/blog/player-selection_hu_fc14bff2c4a88059.webp 768w, /images/blog/player-selection_hu_274c6c895c9613c7.webp 1024w, /images/blog/player-selection_hu_d8371b1b54bf9d1b.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/player-selection_hu_632fa9f83d992de2.webp" alt="Samsung Player Selection Menu" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1812" > </picture> <p>On existing displays that are already up and running, go into your settings, select the system tab, and change it to play via a custom app. Next, go back to the home screen, go to app management, and in the install custom app field, enter in the app URL: <code>https://tizen.srly.io</code>. Once you select go, the app will automatically install and start upon completion.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/app-management_hu_ba286dd99bb1633e.webp 480w, /images/blog/app-management_hu_670f2f8cde772241.webp 768w, /images/blog/app-management_hu_ad74cdb32d40bb14.webp 1024w, /images/blog/app-management_hu_fe7b4a1bb0e925e6.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/app-management_hu_e570073b08b86861.webp 480w, /images/blog/app-management_hu_6cd09389fc06d465.webp 768w, /images/blog/app-management_hu_f3900c6a9fbcebc1.webp 1024w, /images/blog/app-management_hu_52f6f8315bb46651.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/app-management_hu_ad74cdb32d40bb14.webp" alt="Samsung App Management Page" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1365" > </picture> <p>You should now see the pairing screen, and you can pair your device to your account by entering in the PIN code. That’s it!</p> <h2 id="start-your-hahahugoshortcode354s2hbhb-day-free-trial">Start your 14-day free trial</h2> <p>Ready to turn your Samsung device into a Screenly digital sign? Check out our support center guide <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/42853974911379-Using-Samsung-Commercial-Displays-with-Screenly-Anywhere">Using Samsung Commercial Displays with Screenly Anywhere</a> for more tips and tricks, and start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day</a> trial with Screenly.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/07/13/introducing-the-samsung-tizen-app/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/07/13/introducing-the-samsung-tizen-app/Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 10:</strong> <em>InfoComm 2025 recap, new Screenly Player Max Mk II Launch, Partner Program debut, mobile connectivity, live-stream content, Tizen app launch, and more!</em></p> <p>Welcome back to the Screenly Changelog! Episode 10 brings you exciting insights from InfoComm 2025, a major product launch, and key updates. Join <a href="https://vpetersson.com/">Viktor</a>, Udi, and Daniel and catch up on the highlights by reading the post below or watch the full episode above.</p> <h2 id="infocomm-2025-connecting-with-the-digital-signage-community">InfoComm 2025: Connecting with the digital signage community</h2> <p>Screenly’s team recently attended InfoComm 2025 in Orlando, Florida. Despite concerns about potential low attendance due to the absence of major TV manufacturers, InfoComm attracted over 31,000 attendees from 97 countries, surpassing expectations. Our team really enjoyed engaging discussions about digital signage, security, and innovative use cases with industry professionals and AV specialists. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hi!</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/spmmii_hu_603769f021aab883.webp 480w, /images/blog/spmmii_hu_2768beaa55463bca.webp 768w, /images/blog/spmmii_hu_e68385e0cea2aeda.webp 1024w, /images/blog/spmmii_hu_998de4d9af7cc20c.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/spmmii_hu_26f395dbe676033f.webp 480w, /images/blog/spmmii_hu_c52022f1f6458118.webp 768w, /images/blog/spmmii_hu_7f54b20cebf0c6f3.webp 1024w, /images/blog/spmmii_hu_bc1e069f76323746.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/spmmii_hu_e68385e0cea2aeda.webp" alt="The new Screenly digital signage player, the Screenly Player Max Mk II." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" > </picture> <h2 id="introducing-the-screenly-player-max-mk-ii">Introducing the Screenly Player Max Mk II</h2> <p>At InfoComm, we proudly debuted our latest digital signage player, the <a href="/blog/2025/06/06/introducting-screenly-player-max-mk-II/">Screenly Player Max Mk II</a>. Building upon the success and learnings from our previous model, the new Screenly Player Max Mk II offers enhanced performance, improved security, and a compact form factor ideal for discreet installations behind screens. Partnering with <a href="https://system76.com/">system76</a>, known for expertise in secure, Linux-powered hardware, the Screenly Player Max Mk II is assembled in the U.S., which significantly strengthens Screenly’s supply chain security. This device is now arguably the most secure signage player available on the market.</p> <p>Ready to buy a Screenly Player Max Mk II? Order on the <a href="https://shop.screenly.io/products/screenly-player-max-mk-ii">Screenly online storefront</a>.</p> <h2 id="screenly-partner-program-designed-for-growth">Screenly Partner Program: Designed for growth</h2> <p>Screenly formally launched its comprehensive <a href="/blog/2025/06/05/screenly-channel-partnership-program/">Partner Program</a> at InfoComm 2025! Led by Udi Nachmany, our new Head of Channel, this initiative aims to support integrators, resellers, managed service providers (MSPs), and distributors. The program provides partners with tools and resources to scale their digital signage offerings, deliver secure and user-friendly signage solutions, and build profitable, long-lasting relationships. To learn more, <a href="https://go.srly.io/1qy">request a meeting</a> with Udi.</p> <h2 id="beyond-buzzwords-genuine-security-in-digital-signage">Beyond buzzwords: Genuine security in digital signage</h2> <p>Security was a significant topic at InfoComm, and we discussed the importance of moving beyond mere marketing buzzwords. Viktor highlighted the importance of real security measures, emphasizing comprehensive lifecycle management and ongoing software updates. Screenly’s unique approach involves proactive security management, clear documentation, and robust security architecture from the start of each product’s development, setting Screenly apart in the digital signage industry. Learn more about Screenly’s approach for enhanced <a href="/security/">digital signage security</a>.</p> <h2 id="integrated-mobile-data-connectivity">Integrated mobile data connectivity</h2> <p>Feedback at InfoComm revealed a strong demand for simplified mobile data connectivity solutions in digital signage. Many AV integrators and venue managers emphasized the need for plug-and-play signage solutions, especially where Wi-Fi is limited, restricted, or unreliable. Screenly is actively exploring solutions to enable easy mobile data connectivity, aiming to simplify deployments and significantly reduce setup times and complications.</p> <h2 id="optimized-signage-for-live-events-and-house-of-worship-use-cases">Optimized signage for live events and house of worship use cases</h2> <p>A recurring theme at InfoComm was the critical need for seamless live feed integration, especially for live events and house of worship environments. Screenly is already developing functionality to effortlessly toggle digital signage content to live streams during events and automatically revert post-event. This capability addresses common real-world challenges faced by large-scale AV operations, ensuring seamless, uninterrupted communication and enhanced viewer engagement.</p> <h2 id="tizen-app-launch-expanding-compatibility">Tizen App launch: Expanding compatibility</h2> <p>We are pleased to announce the upcoming release of Screenly for Samsung’s Tizen OS. This addition is part of Screenly’s broader effort for comprehensive coverage across major platforms. Screenly can now operate on dedicated Screenly digital signage players, Android devices, Chrome OS, web browsers, and now Tizen, further increasing hardware flexibility and deployment ease for customers.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-industry-insights-and-trends">Digital signage industry insights and trends</h2> <p>Viktor recently participated in a panel discussion at <a href="https://digitalsignagesummit.org/">Digital Signage Summit Europe</a> in Munich, addressing key industry trends such as managed signage services. Analyst firm Invidis highlighted <a href="https://invidis.com/news/2025/05/signage-2-0-software-in-an-msp-oriented-world/">managed signage</a> as a rapidly growing sector due to the benefits of centralized lifecycle management and streamlined troubleshooting that results in increased uptime—trends aligning closely with Screenly’s strategic focus.</p> <h2 id="congratulations-to-dave-haynes">Congratulations to Dave Haynes</h2> <p>Finally, a special congratulations to Dave Haynes, founder of <a href="https://www.sixteen-nine.net/about/">Sixteen:Nine</a>, on his retirement! Dave significantly influenced the digital signage industry and notably introduced Screenly to the broader digital signage community. His contributions to the industry cannot be overstated, and we look forward to having Dave on the upcoming Screenly Changelog Episode 11.</p> <h2 id="explore-the-screenly-partner-program-and-get-started-today">Explore the Screenly Partner Program and get started today</h2> <p>Interested in partnering with Screenly? Our new Partner Program offers flexible and robust opportunities tailored to your needs. Contact us today with a <a href="https://go.srly.io/1qy">new partner inquiry</a> to discuss how we can collaborate to deliver secure, scalable digital signage solutions.</p> <p>Not yet using Screenly? Start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today to experience simple, secure, and powerful digital signage solutions tailored for your organization.</p> <p>Stay tuned for future updates, and thank you for joining us on Screenly Changelog Episode 10!</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/28/screenly-changelog-episode-10/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/28/screenly-changelog-episode-10/Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>At Screenly, we use CharlieHR to manage our team—track birthdays, work anniversaries, leaves, and more. While it’s a great tool for internal HR operations, we saw an opportunity to take it one step further: what if this information could be visualized on our signage screens in real time?</p> <p>That’s how the CharlieHR Dashboard Edge App App was born.</p> <h2 id="turning-hr-data-into-moments-that-matter">Turning HR Data Into Moments That Matter</h2> <p>We wanted to turn routine HR data into meaningful, visible moments. Now with the CharlieHR Dashboard App, your digital screens can:</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_cd8f31c0f058d5b4.webp 480w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_b305f22d36605efb.webp 768w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_e49da420b3de41b0.webp 1024w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_a096a561744c8483.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_dcabd6e5b64ef1f.webp 480w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_a5ff14e98b03f2cf.webp 768w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_7763efd709b9dd5a.webp 1024w, /images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_1e3af5c1eae418de.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/charliehr-dashboard_hu_e49da420b3de41b0.webp" alt="CharlieHR Dashboard App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="529" > </picture> <p>It’s a simple but powerful way to foster connection—especially in hybrid or distributed teams.</p> <h2 id="a-developers-journey-cracking-the-integration">A Developer’s Journey: Cracking the Integration</h2> <p>When I first dove into <a href="https://www.charliehr.com/api_docs/">CharlieHR’s API docs</a>, it seemed like direct integration wasn’t possible without going through one of their listed API service providers. That didn’t fit our goal of a secure, self-contained solution.</p> <p>So I reached out directly to the CharlieHR team—and they were incredibly responsive and helpful.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/charliehr-app-settings_hu_3b4513aa0cc4db6e.webp 480w, /images/blog/charliehr-app-settings_hu_eed378c7b98ebd88.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/charliehr-app-settings_hu_53ad7e6ef237f8fc.webp 480w, /images/blog/charliehr-app-settings_hu_dafc873fa9b6224c.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/charliehr-app-settings_hu_880b847d7d3cd7eb.webp" alt="CharlieHR Dashboard App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="514" > </picture> <p>After several rounds of testing and research, I found a way to use CharlieHR’s client ID and secret directly, without relying on external API gateways. This meant we could build a truly independent and efficient Edge App that pulls live employee data securely. You can find the code for the app <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/tree/master/edge-apps/charlie-hr-app">here</a>. Please give a star if you like it!</p> <h2 id="built-with-security-at-the-core">Built with Security at the Core</h2> <p>As a security-first company, we handle all sensitive data with care. The CharlieHR credentials are stored as Edge App secrets, and our MAX players come equipped with TPM (Trusted Platform Module) for hardware-based protection.</p> <p>You get peace of mind knowing your HR data is encrypted, stored securely, and never exposed.</p> <h2 id="designed-to-fit-your-brand-and-timezone">Designed to Fit Your Brand and Timezone</h2> <p>The dashboard automatically adapts to your company branding by pulling in your Screenly logo and color palette—no extra work required.</p> <p>It also respects local timezones and date formats, so no matter where your screens are located, the content always feels native and timely.</p> <h2 id="part-of-a-bigger-edge-app-ecosystem">Part of a Bigger Edge App Ecosystem</h2> <p>The CharlieHR Dashboard App is one of many Edge Apps available on the Screenly platform. You can:</p> <ul> <li>Use it out-of-the-box</li> <li>Customize styles or what information is displayed</li> <li>Add triggers to show it during specific events (e.g., team meetings or Monday morning stand-ups)</li> </ul> <p>It’s flexible, powerful, and built for real-world teams.</p> <h2 id="live-now-on-the-edge-app-store">Live Now on the Edge App Store</h2> <p><a href="https://www.screenly.io/edge-apps/charliehr-dashboard/">Explore the CharlieHR Dashboard App</a></p> <p>Try it today and bring your team updates to life on your screens.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/26/introducing-the-charliehr-dashboard-app/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/26/introducing-the-charliehr-dashboard-app/Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>The <strong>Screenly Player Max Mk II</strong> is our latest and most advanced digital signage player, built in partnership with <a href="https://system76.com/">system76</a>. It’s a compact device that packs a serious punch, combining top-tier hardware with Screenly’s signature security-focus. In plain language: this is the fastest, most secure digital signage player in the market for digital signage, and we’re excited to show you why.</p> <h2 id="what-is-a-digital-signage-player">What is a digital signage player?</h2> <p>A <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage player</a> is a specialized mini-computer that connects to a screen and displays content (like videos, images, news tickers, or live dashboards) on that screen. Think of it as the brains behind any digital sign. Using digital signage software, you can send content to the player and schedule that content remotely over the internet. This means that from your office (or anywhere), you can update a menu board in real time or push new announcements to dozens of store displays at once. For modern businesses, that kind of flexibility is gold – it lets you keep your messaging fresh, targeted, and engaging without the hassle and cost of constantly replacing printed signs.</p> <h2 id="built-with-system76--true-linux-hardware-experts">Built with system76 – True Linux hardware experts</h2> <p>We didn’t build the Screenly Player Max Mk II alone. To make it truly enterprise-grade, Screenly teamed up with <a href="https://system76.com/">system76</a> – a renowned company known for its Linux-based hardware. system76 is a leading provider of Linux laptops, desktops, and servers, and it proudly engineers and manufactures its premium computers at a factory in Denver, Colorado. In other words, they know their stuff when it comes to building high-quality, Linux-optimized machines. This collaboration means the Screenly Player Max Mk II benefits from the best of both worlds: Screenly’s digital signage expertise and system76’s hardware craftsmanship. Together, we’ve created a digital signage player with rock-solid reliability, bringing a new level of quality to the digital signage space.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_d415ab998c119e8e.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_3b4d000987329903.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_3494a26bb3e6fe08.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_e731df072f5b186e.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_75a9dffcda1f1174.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_a37ac34eaddf28af.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_678fc89a8e0eb77.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_e9300c41cef1685c.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-player-max-mk-ii-back_hu_3494a26bb3e6fe08.webp" alt="A back view of the Screenly Player Max Mk II, showing more of the available ports" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" > </picture> <h2 id="assembled-in-the-usa-for-a-secure-supply-chain">Assembled in the USA for a secure supply chain</h2> <p>Another big differentiator: the Screenly Player Max Mk II is assembled right here in the United States. Why does that matter? For one, it gives us tighter control over the production process and the components inside each device. In a world of complex global supply chains, having our hardware built on home turf means we know exactly what goes into every unit, drastically reducing the risk of tampering or counterfeit parts. This enhanced supply chain security translates to peace of mind for you – your digital signage hardware comes with an extra layer of trust and quality assurance.</p> <p>Security isn’t just a buzzword for us; it’s ingrained in Screenly’s DNA. Since day one, we’ve made <a href="/security">digital signage security</a> our top priority, and assembling our devices in the U.S. is part of that commitment. We also recently recieved <a href="/blog/2025/05/07/digital-signage-soc-2-compliance/">SOC 2 Type II complicance</a>. It’s all about protecting our customers and their content at every step, from factory to field.</p> <h2 id="the-worlds-most-secure-digital-signage-player">The world’s most secure digital signage player</h2> <p>When it comes to <a href="/security">security for digital signage</a>, the Screenly Player Max Mk II stands in a league of its own. Unlike many generic media players, Screenly’s player is purpose-built to be locked down from the ground up. Out of the box, it has zero open network ports that hackers could exploit, which dramatically shrinks its attack surface. We isolate and sandbox all processes to prevent any intrusion from spreading. On the hardware side, the player includes a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for secure key storage, uses Secure Boot to ensure the operating system isn’t tampered with, and accepts only cryptographically signed software updates. In plain English: it’s extremely hard for anyone bad to mess with this device. (That’s a big reason that banks, hospitals, public companies, and other security-conscious organizations trust Screenly for their signage needs.)</p> <p>What’s more, the Screenly Player Max Mk II is a major milestone toward open hardware in the digital signage world. Most signage players are closed devices that offer little transparency or flexibility. By partnering with system76 – a company famous for championing open-source hardware – we’re pushing things in a more open direction. system76’s philosophy has always preached “chipping away at the proprietary bits until it’s 100% open source”, and that ethos is now part of the Screenly Player Max Mk II. While the device isn’t completely open hardware <em>yet</em>, it’s built with an open-hardware mindset rarely seen in our industry. This is an important step forward: over time, a more open hardware approach means more transparency, more customization, and even better security for everyone.</p> <h2 id="high-performance-tech-specs-and-why-they-matter">High-performance tech specs (and why they matter)</h2> <p>Let’s talk about what’s under the hood of the Screenly Player Max Mk II:</p> <ul> <li><strong>CPU:</strong> Intel Core i3-1315U (13th Gen)</li> <li><strong>Memory:</strong> 16 GB DDR4</li> <li><strong>OS Drive:</strong> 256 GB M.2 PCIe Gen3 SSD</li> </ul> <p>So, what do these specs mean in practice? In short: performance and reliability. The Intel i3-1315U is a modern 13th-generation processor with plenty of horsepower to drive 4K displays and run complex web apps smoothly. That means whether you’re showing high-resolution videos, interactive dashboards, or heavy custom digital signage <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a>, the Screenly Player Max Mk II won’t break a sweat. The 16 GB of RAM ensures smooth multitasking and content playback – even if you have multiple apps or playlists running at once, there’s ample memory headroom. And with a 256 GB M.2 SSD, you get fast boot times, quick software updates, and lots of local storage for caching content (like videos or graphics), so your screens stay up-to-date even if the network is slow or down. Essentially, these high-end specs make the player extra snappy today and future-proof for tomorrow. It’s built to handle your needs now and for years to come, without skipping a beat.</p> <h2 id="ready-to-upgrade-your-signage">Ready to upgrade your signage?</h2> <p>The Screenly Player Max Mk II is available now for just $499 per unit at our <a href="https://shop.screenly.io/products/screenly-player-max-mk-ii">online storefront</a>. If you’re ready to elevate your digital signage to the next level of security and performance, this is the player to get. We even offer <a href="https://shop.screenly.io/products/bundle-5-screenly-player-max-mk-ii">5-player bundles</a> for larger deployments.</p> <p>Don’t miss out on the world’s most secure, high-performance digital signage player – it’s a game-changer for your screens and a major step forward in what digital signage can do for your business. Get yours today and experience the Screenly difference in action!</p> <p>If you have yet to experience Screenly’s digital signage management software, get a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> and start today.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/06/introducting-screenly-player-max-mk-ii/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/06/introducting-screenly-player-max-mk-ii/Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Screenly, a Delaware-based provider of integrated digital signage solutions for the cloud and cybersecurity age, is announcing the launch of its Channel Partner Program at InfoComm in Orlando, FL on June 11-13.</p> <p>Leveraging cutting-edge technology, Screenly enables users to create, manage, and display captivating digital signage across various platforms and devices. With a focus on user-friendly interfaces and seamless integrations, Screenly empowers organizations to enhance communication, marketing, and branding efforts, transforming traditional advertising into engaging visual experiences. The company’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction positions it as a leader in the rapidly evolving world of digital signage.</p> <p>So far, Screenly has successfully relied on inbound and self-service sales, securing customers such as NASA, Lowe’s, and many others. Given Screenly’s ambitions to scale further into enterprise and retail segments in North America and Western Europe, the company plans to do so exclusively via channel partners—both value-added resellers and managed service providers. This channel-only strategy is being brought to life right now.</p> <p>The Screenly Partner Program is designed to help partners take their customers on a journey into digital signage for the cloud and cybersecurity age. Screenly wants its partners to be on top, if not ahead, of market trends by providing in-depth sales and technical training as well as generous incentives. Screenly partners of all levels enjoy highly competitive gross profit margins, sales and technical support, and a wide range of sales and marketing enablement tools.</p> <p>Screenly will be exhibiting at InfoComm 2025 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. We’ll be at booth 7363! The company will be showcasing its flagship, integrated software+hardware product, as well as the recently launched, software-only product <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a>.</p> <p>Whether an existing or potential customers, or a potential partner—please come by booth 7363 and chat to our team about your digital signage needs.</p> <p>Want to set up a meeting with the Screenly team? Complete our meeting request form at the <a href="https://forms.gle/5aEUcFsM9tPZaB1x8">link here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/05/screenly-channel-partnership-program/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/05/screenly-channel-partnership-program/Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re excited to announce the release of Anthias <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias/releases/tag/v0.20.0">v0.20.0</a>. This release includes a number of new features and improvements, including migration to <a href="https://react.dev/">React</a>, new API endpoints, and major UI overhaul.</p> <h2 id="migration-to-react">Migration to React</h2> <p>Anthias’ front-end was written using <a href="https://coffeescript.org/">CoffeeScript</a>, <a href="https://backbonejs.org/">Backbone.js</a>, and <a href="https://jquery.com/">jQuery</a>. This made it difficult to maintain and update the codebase as some of the dependencies were no longer maintained or don’t have an active community. To address this, we migrated the front-end to React. This change allows us to use modern JavaScript features, improve the overall code quality, and make it easier to add new features.</p> <h2 id="new-api-endpoints">New API endpoints</h2> <p>Migrating to React means that the front-end is decoupled from the back-end. This prompted us to create new API endpoints so that the components can have a way to access the data they need from the back-end.</p> <h2 id="major-ui-overhaul">Major UI overhaul</h2> <p>We didn’t just migrate the front-end to React, we also took the opportunity to overhaul the user interface. With the power and flexibility of React, we were able to create a more modern and user-friendly interface. Below you can see the screenshots of the new interface.</p> <h3 id="schedule-overview">Schedule Overview</h3> <p>We restyled most of the components on the schedule overview page (the home page) to make it look more modern. We also made the animations more smooth when dragging and dropping active assets.</p> <h3 id="alerts">Alerts</h3> <p>We made the look and feel of the alerts page more consistent with the rest of the interface.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-02_hu_1cb3d770b7fafe4f.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-02_hu_682ad781ea02b75e.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-02_hu_77edd3a23f3c6b9d.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-02_hu_b64c04357cebbb27.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-02_hu_f2bdb238402869ef.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-02_hu_1a0eaf485a87780.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-02_hu_7dc0819bd94eaa53.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-02_hu_dff7e577cd8cf549.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-02_hu_77edd3a23f3c6b9d.webp" alt="Anthias v0.20.0" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-03_hu_d4ff1a15ff9e44ee.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-03_hu_17b3bed3eba150fe.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-03_hu_e492eab5f9e6d06c.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-03_hu_1832c6b7a25d5b34.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-03_hu_540f4104954b352f.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-03_hu_cb2f320cb76ecb07.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-03_hu_ab41cbef9dee4f23.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-03_hu_2a1008113931553d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-03_hu_e492eab5f9e6d06c.webp" alt="Anthias v0.20.0" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>Before the makeover Anthias used basic JavaScript alerts.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-04_hu_f09e4a19b3bd95c8.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-04_hu_ccb639d8047a7ba0.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-04_hu_78c7e2178acf64c.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-04_hu_ba2645083a60b54e.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-04_hu_52afb39a9985afd8.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-04_hu_47e414dce337629b.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-04_hu_b1aa62814211acd3.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-04_hu_e71caf09f2e1909b.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-04_hu_78c7e2178acf64c.webp" alt="Anthias v0.20.0" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-05_hu_76b65623f7eecee0.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-05_hu_881aaf43e49349d4.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-05_hu_70f6dd154d34748f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-05_hu_1c726e9c70fa5f37.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-05_hu_48bf0f6625fe5f3d.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-05_hu_9d026122af7c9185.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-05_hu_8e80c316d973e9db.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-05_hu_96e6889b727df3a9.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-05_hu_70f6dd154d34748f.webp" alt="Anthias v0.20.0" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-06_hu_ada42f38ca6da9e8.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-06_hu_49ae3219ce88d5fd.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-06_hu_c7ee28ebd923aaa8.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-06_hu_61f253b71239392e.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-06_hu_cf9f0bb2446a2f7.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-06_hu_45858c68d1c58c90.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-06_hu_8a2e53e7d6959d83.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-06_hu_66a03824361b9b88.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-06_hu_c7ee28ebd923aaa8.webp" alt="Anthias v0.20.0" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <h3 id="system-info-page">System Info page</h3> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-07_hu_63b3f350673639ae.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-07_hu_8c65d6eeb03882e6.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-07_hu_6f3cd141a05f6daf.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-07_hu_7284c99374e0cb7c.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-07_hu_1063a79a98604f6e.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-07_hu_ad2811ff4d413780.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-07_hu_9edb769c284a65b6.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-07_hu_8e15a24de4921f39.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-07_hu_6f3cd141a05f6daf.webp" alt="Anthias v0.20.0" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <h3 id="login-page">Login page</h3> <p>This is what the login page looked like before.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-09_hu_f9e0e228b590e7c6.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-09_hu_77d01fe1a5aa27fc.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-09_hu_5f8cbdea37fa72a4.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-09_hu_84ad88bd2a97da7a.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-09_hu_4f750d1556be923e.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-09_hu_5b62beffad946c3a.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-09_hu_b5295e919129a67a.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-09_hu_3166c9f0123547af.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-09_hu_5f8cbdea37fa72a4.webp" alt="Anthias v0.20.0" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>We also restyled the login page to make it more appealing and consistent.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-08_hu_be0985a59775735c.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-08_hu_c01f22441b6e7716.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-08_hu_e20c76d32f5ce9ea.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-08_hu_abc3d78bbb875eb1.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-08_hu_3925e5dacdf4c99.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-08_hu_e33dc35c610e2794.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-08_hu_f4b6e130fafffed3.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-08_hu_792ed8ee99c97e82.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-v0.20.0-08_hu_e20c76d32f5ce9ea.webp" alt="Anthias v0.20.0" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <h2 id="whats-next">What’s next?</h2> <p>Now that we’ve migrated to React, we’re going to focus on adding new features and improving the existing ones much faster and easier. Anthias is free and open source, and we’re going to keep it that way. Feel free to <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias">check out the source code</a> and <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias/pulls">contribute</a> to the project.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/02/anthias-v0.20.0/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/06/02/anthias-v0.20.0/Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 9</strong>: InfoComm 2025, Android App Launch, Vibe Coding, SOC 2 Certification, and more!</p> <p>Welcome back to the Screenly Changelog! In Episode 9, we cover exciting updates, upcoming events, and our latest features at Screenly. Catch the highlights below or watch the full episode video.</p> <h2 id="infocomm-2025-meet-screenly-in-orlando">InfoComm 2025: Meet Screenly in Orlando!</h2> <p>We’re thrilled to announce Screenly’s attendance at InfoComm 2025 in Orlando, Florida. Stop by the Screenly booth to meet our team! It’s a perfect chance to chat about your signage needs and see our latest digital signage hardware in action. We’ll also be launching our new <a href="/blog/2025/06/05/screenly-channel-partnership-program/">Screenly Channel Partner Program</a>. Learn more and book a meeting at the <a href="https://forms.gle/PkaKvo9eqNw7NZ7N8">link here</a>.</p> <h2 id="screenly-android-app-now-available">Screenly Android App: Now available!</h2> <p>In line with our ongoing commitment to hardware flexibility, we’ve officially launched the <a href="/blog/2025/05/09/screenly-android-app/">Screenly Android App</a>! Now available on the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.screenlyapp.anywhere.twa&pcampaignid=web_share">Google Play Store</a>, the app allows you to effortlessly run Screenly digital signage on any Android-powered smart TV or device. Say goodbye to separate media players—transform existing hardware into powerful signage solutions instantly.</p> <h2 id="vibe-coding-edge-apps-made-easier">Vibe Coding: Edge Apps made easier</h2> <p>Our CEO, <a href="https://x.com/vpetersson">Viktor Petersson</a>, showcased the power of vibe-coding custom digital signage apps with <a href="https://www.cursor.com/">Cursor</a>. In just an hour, Victor demonstrated how you can create fully functional, custom Edge Apps without extensive engineering resources. Whether building dashboards, integrating sensor data, or setting up dynamic content, vibe coding significantly lowers development barriers, making custom applications both practical and cost-effective. Learn more about Screenly Edge Apps and checkout our vibe-coded <a href="https://youtube.com/video/ZolNnjcj4Q4/edit">queue-management digital signage app</a>.</p> <h2 id="rickrolled-with-node-red-and-digital-signage">Rickrolled with Node-RED and digital signage</h2> <p>In a fun demonstration of reactive signage, Viktor introduced a <a href="https://youtu.be/7SoOQwe4tnI?feature=shared">playful Node-RED integration</a>. By pressing a button, content switched seamlessly to the famous “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley for 30 seconds before reverting back. This entertaining example highlights how Screenly can manage interactive and responsive content, ideal for engaging exhibition attendees or providing dynamic content in various settings.</p> <h2 id="zapier-integration-now-publicly-available">Zapier Integration: Now publicly available</h2> <p>Screenly’s <a href="/blog/2025/05/16/updates-to-screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0/">integration with Zapier</a> has officially moved out of demo and is now publicly accessible on the<a href="https://zapier.com/apps/screenly/integrations">Zapier marketplace</a>. Connect your Screenly signage to thousands of apps, including <a href="/tutorials/multi-step-zap-using-screenly/">Google Drive</a>, <a href="/tutorials/dropbox/">Dropbox</a>, and <a href="/tutorials/box/">Box</a>, automating content management effortlessly. Simply drop files into a connected folder, and your signage updates automatically, keeping your content fresh.</p> <h2 id="soc-2-type-ii-compliance-achieved">SOC 2 Type II compliance achieved</h2> <p>We’re proud to announce our <a href="/blog/2025/05/07/digital-signage-soc-2-compliance/">official SOC 2 certification</a>—a major milestone validating Screenly’s commitment to enterprise-grade security and operational excellence. Achieving SOC 2 Type II compliance involved extensive documentation and rigorous processes to meet industry standards. This certification ensures our customers, especially enterprise clients, can confidently trust Screenly with their digital signage security and compliance needs.</p> <h2 id="screenly-anywhere-enhancements">Screenly Anywhere enhancements</h2> <p>Screenly Anywhere continues to improve. Enhanced health checks and status reporting features help you ensure that your signage is consistently running smoothly, providing clearer visibility into screen operations. These updates are especially useful for teams managing remote or widespread signage deployments. Learn more about getting your digital signs up and running with <a href="/blog/2025/05/07/digital-signage-soc-2-compliance/">Screenly Anywhere</a>.</p> <h2 id="try-screenly-free-for-14-days">Try Screenly Free for 14 Days</h2> <p>If you haven’t explored Screenly yet, now’s the time. Start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today and discover why Screenly remains the simplest, most flexible digital signage solution for your business.</p> <p>Stay tuned for more updates, and we look forward to seeing many of you at InfoComm 2025!</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/28/screenly-changelog-episode-9/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/28/screenly-changelog-episode-9/Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>If you manage a dental practice, you know the waiting room can be a stressful place. Patients often arrive anxious about procedures, and even a short wait can feel long. This is where dental digital signage comes in. Digital screens in your office can entertain and calm nervous patients, educate them about oral health, and even promote your services – all while creating a modern, welcoming atmosphere. In this blog post, we’ll explore how digital signage for dental offices can benefit your practice. From easing patient anxiety to marketing high-value treatments, you’ll see why more dental clinics are turning to digital displays. We’ll also show how to get started quickly and easily with Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">cloud-based solution</a>, even if you don’t consider yourself “tech-savvy.”</p> <h2 id="engage-and-calm-patients-in-the-waiting-room">Engage and calm patients in the waiting room</h2> <p>Sitting in a dental waiting room can be tough for patients – especially those with anxiety around dental treatments. Instead of letting them fixate on the clock or their nerves, use digital signage to entertain and relax them. Displaying soothing imagery (like nature scenes or aquarium videos) or even light-hearted content (like trivia or kids’ cartoons in a family practice) can significantly lower patient tension. Research shows that engaging visuals and videos can reduce perceived wait times by over 35%, making the wait feel shorter and less stressful. By giving patients something positive to focus on, you create a more comfortable experience that leaves a good impression. In short, an <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-content-design">eye-catching digital sign</a> transforms a dull, silent waiting area into a more pleasant and welcoming space.</p> <h2 id="educate-patients-on-dental-services-and-hygiene">Educate patients on dental services and hygiene</h2> <p>Your waiting room is the perfect place to educate patients about their oral health and the services you offer. With digital signage, you can <a href="/end-user/display-content/">play short videos</a> or show informative slides about topics your patients care about. For example, you might display oral hygiene tips – like proper brushing and flossing techniques or the importance of regular check-ups – to reinforce good habits. You can also highlight specific dental services: explain how teeth whitening works, showcase the benefits of Invisalign clear aligners, or outline the steps of a cosmetic procedure like dental veneers. Because digital signs are dynamic and visual, patients are more likely to pay attention compared to static brochures. In fact, digital displays capture 400% more views than static posters, and they significantly improve information recall. By educating patients in an engaging way, you not only help them understand their treatment options better, but you also position your practice as a trusted expert in dental care.</p> <h2 id="promote-high-value-treatments-and-specials">Promote high-value treatments and specials</h2> <p>Another big advantage of digital signage is the ability to promote your services and special offers in real time. Many patients coming in for a routine cleaning might not know about all the other treatments you provide. Use your screens to advertise high-value or elective treatments – the kind that patients don’t need but may want once they learn about them. For instance, you could display a before-and-after photo slideshow of successful teeth whitening or dental implant cases to spark interest. If you offer clear aligner orthodontics (like Invisalign) or cosmetic dentistry, create a short reel highlighting patient success stories or testimonials. Digital signage provides a dynamic, cost-effective way to showcase these services and differentiate your practice. Studies show digital signs are incredibly effective at building awareness and capturing attention compared to traditional signage. You can also promote any specials or financing options – for example, “10% off whitening this month” or “Free consultation for Invisalign – Ask us today!” The content can be updated easily at any time, so you can advertise seasonal promotions or new services instantly. By using your digital sign as an <a href="/blog/2025/02/05/programmable-digital-signage/">in-house marketing tool</a>, you’ll encourage patients to explore additional treatments and increase revenue for your office.</p> <h2 id="share-announcements-and-oral-health-tips">Share announcements and oral health tips</h2> <p>Keeping patients informed is simple when you have digital signage. Think of it as a live bulletin board that’s far more likely to be noticed than a paper flyer on the wall. You can share important announcements about your practice, such as updated office hours, holiday closures, or new staff introductions. Instead of printing notices, just add a slide to your <a href="/end-user/playlists/">content playlist</a> – the information will reach everyone in the waiting area immediately and can be taken down just as easily when it’s no longer needed.</p> <p>Digital signage is also great for broadcasting hygiene tips and health reminders. Consider dedicating part of your screen rotation to fun facts about dental health or quick tips (e.g., “Don’t forget to replace your toothbrush every 3 months” or “Flossing daily can increase your life expectancy – your gums will thank you!”). These bite-sized tips (pun intended) not only educate patients but also show that you care about their well-being beyond the appointment. You could even tie the content into seasonal themes – for example, a reminder to avoid too many sugary treats around the holidays, or hydration tips in the summer for oral health. By mixing helpful tips and timely announcements, your digital signage content stays fresh and keeps patients engaged and informed during every visit.</p> <h2 id="simple-setup-with-screenly--no-it-degree-required">Simple setup with screenly – No IT degree required</h2> <p>By now, you might be thinking that digital signage sounds useful – but you could be worried it’s complicated or expensive to set up. Good news: modern solutions like Screenly make it incredibly easy, even if you’re not tech-savvy. In fact, today’s digital signage technology has made it easier than ever to set up displays yourself, with <a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">no-hardware options</a> that run on screens you already own. That means you can likely use the TV in your waiting room or any spare monitor as a digital sign, without buying fancy new equipment. Screenly’s platform is cloud-based and hardware-agnostic, so you can deploy content to a smart TV, a small PC, or even a tablet – essentially anything that can display a modern web browser. This flexibility keeps costs down and setup simple.</p> <p>Importantly, you won’t need any special IT skills or outside installers to get started. Screenly is designed for end users, so setup is straightforward and managing content is easy. All of the heavy lifting (like content scheduling and device management) is handled through an intuitive online dashboard. If you can upload a photo to social media, you can upload an image or video to Screenly and add it to a playlist. The Screenly interface lets you drag-and-drop content, create playlists of dental tips or promos, and set schedules for when each item should play. Everything is controlled via the cloud, which means you can update your screens from anywhere – want to change the waiting room playlist from your home or update an announcement on the fly? Just log in to Screenly’s web dashboard, and your content will update remotely in seconds. Even better, Screenly offers features like content templates and a <a href="/edge-apps/">digital signage App Store</a> (with widgets for weather, clocks, social media, etc.) to add variety to your screen with minimal effort. The bottom line is that running digital signage in a dental office no longer requires a dedicated IT person or complex hardware. It’s a plug-and-play solution that you and your team can handle with ease.</p> <h2 id="quick-guide---setting-up-digital-signage-in-your-dental-office">Quick guide - Setting up digital signage in your dental office</h2> <p>Ready to get started? Here’s a brief step-by-step guide to launching digital signage in your practice. It’s easier than you might think – let’s break it down:</p> <h3 id="define-your-goal">Define your goal</h3> <p>First, decide what you want to achieve with your dental digital signage. Is your primary goal to calm anxious patients and reduce perceived wait times? Or do you want to educate patients about services and boost uptake of certain treatments? You might have multiple goals, but it helps to prioritize. For example, your goal could be “Increase interest in teeth whitening services” or “Make waiting room more relaxing and informative.” Having a clear goal will guide the content you create and display.</p> <h3 id="plan-screen-placement">Plan screen placement</h3> <p>Figure out where to put your screens for maximum impact. The waiting room is a natural spot – patients spend the most time there, so a wall-mounted TV or screen behind the reception desk can capture their attention. Make sure the screen is easily visible from seating areas and at eye level or higher. You could also consider a smaller screen in treatment rooms or above the dental chair for educational content (just ensure it’s not distracting during procedures). Another idea is placing a screen near the checkout or appointment scheduling area – as patients wrap up their visit, the screen can remind them of additional services (like “Ask us about our new orthodontic options!”) or prompt them to book their next appointment.</p> <h3 id="prepare-your-content">Prepare your content</h3> <p>Now for the fun part – creating the content that will go on your digital sign. Tailor your content to your goals and keep it engaging. A good approach is to mix different content types to keep viewers interested. For example, you might prepare a slideshow of before-and-after photos of whitening or orthodontic patients (with permission, of course) to highlight your expertise. Add some short video clips explaining how a particular procedure works or testimonials from happy patients to build trust. Sprinkle in a few oral health tips or trivia questions to educate and entertain. If you have any promotions or seasonal offers, create a simple graphic announcing them. You don’t need to be a designer – even basic text over a pleasant background will do, or you can use templates. Keep each content piece brief (imagine someone watches it for 20–30 seconds).</p> <h3 id="launch-your-digital-signs">Launch your digital signs</h3> <p>With your screens in place and content ready, it’s time to launch your dental digital signage! Using Screenly, this is as simple as pairing your <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">browser screen or digital signage player</a> (via a code or link) to your account and hitting “Play” on your playlist. The content will start looping on your office TV, and you can sit back and watch the magic.</p> <p>That’s it! It’s just a few easy steps and your dental office digital signs are up and running.</p> <h2 id="transform-your-practice-with-screenly-digital-signage">Transform your practice with Screenly digital signage</h2> <p>Digital signage isn’t just a flashy tech trend – for dental offices, it’s a practical tool to enhance patient experience and boost practice revenue. From the moment patients walk in, your screens can set a positive, engaging tone. They’ll feel more at ease, learn something new about their oral health, and become more aware of all the ways you can help them smile brighter. And with Screenly, bringing this solution into your office is straightforward and stress-free.</p> <p>Ready to give it a try? Screenly offers a fully featured <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> so you can experience firsthand how digital signage can elevate your dental practice. It only takes minutes to get started – no credit card or technical expertise needed.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/21/dental-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/21/dental-digital-signage/Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>At Screenly, we get a lot of customer requests about digital signage widgets. However, we’ve found that many of these requests are not fully thought through, and they don’t make a lot of sense when they are implemented. Take a look at our article below to learn more about digital signage widgets and how to implement them best in you digital signage strategy.</p> <h2 id="what-is-a-digital-signage-widget">What is a digital signage widget</h2> <p>A digital signage widget is a bite‑size web application - think digital clock, live weather card, or social feed - that occupies only a portion of your screen instead of filling it. It fetches fresh data automatically so passers‑by can see up‑to‑the‑minute information without waiting for the next slide.</p> <p>Widgets feel natural on a smartphone, where you hold the display inches from your face, but on a lobby monitor twenty feet away their tight boxes and small type can become hard to read. Many organizations try to save space by surrounding a hero video or promotion with multiple widgets, assuming more information means more value. In reality every extra widget steals pixels from the main message, forces fonts to shrink, and turns an eye‑catching sign into a dense collage that asks hurried viewers to squint, guess, and move on. When the average audience spends only a few seconds near the screen, giving them homework is the last thing you want to do.</p> <h2 id="why-small-widgets-miss-the-mark">Why small widgets miss the mark</h2> <p>Pack half a dozen widgets into one layout and the screen starts behaving like a trading terminal. Text shrinks, icons overlap, and motion from competing feeds drags the viewer’s eye in too many directions. People might catch the temperature but miss the limited‑time discount you needed them to notice. That visual noise also erodes brand polish, too. Each third‑party widget arrives with its own fonts, colors, or watermark, breaking design consistency and making your signage look homemade.</p> <p>Also, data maintenance can become a challenge. Every widget depends on a separate data feed, so if a provider changes an API or your Wi‑Fi hiccups you could end up with a blank rectangle advertising your technical troubles. Small widgets can create big problems that grow as your network scales.</p> <h2 id="fullscreen-beats-splitscreen-everytime">Full‑screen beats split‑screen, everytime</h2> <p>A cleaner, stronger strategy is to let one idea own the display for a few focused seconds, then move on. Picture your screen opening with a vivid product promo, transitioning to a bold five‑second <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">weather forecast</a>, then showing to a customer testimonial, and finally displaying a <a href="/edge-apps/clock/">digital signage clock</a> before looping again. Because each asset fills the canvas, you can use giant typography, dramatic motion, and brand‑true colors that stay legible from the back of the room.</p> <p>Sequential storytelling puts you in charge of the narrative arc: raise awareness, deliver proof, drive to action, and sprinkle utility content between peaks. Studies show viewers recall single‑message frames far better than cluttered dashboards, and designers benefit too—they build one full‑screen graphic rather than a jigsaw puzzle of zones. Less design time and stronger recall: everybody wins. Your <a href="/end-user/playlists/">digital signage playlist</a> becomes a carefully paced story instead of a static billboard frozen in sensory overload.</p> <h2 id="screenly-edge-apps-widgets-done-right">Screenly Edge Apps: Widgets done right</h2> <p>Of course, live data still matters, which is why <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a> re‑imagine widgets for a full‑screen world. Edge Apps are digital signage applications that run locally on the Screenly Player, so they launch instantly, continue updating even if the connection drops, and render pixel‑perfect at 1080p or 4K content.</p> <p>Out of the box you’ll find fan favorites like Screenly’s Clock App and Weather App, each crafted to occupy the entire display for a scheduled slot before passing the spotlight to the next playlist item. Because Edge Apps are open source, you can clone any repository, tweak colors, fonts, animations, or data endpoints line by line, and redeploy your custom build. That flexibility lets you turn almost anything into a screen‑ready experience: a safety checklist, a live call‑queue board, a real‑time manufacturing dashboard, or an interactive social wall.</p> <p>If coding isn’t your thing, Screenly’s blog offers dozens of <a href="/tutorials/">no‑code digital signage tutorials</a> that connect popular SaaS platforms—Canva, Airtable, Grafana, Google Calendar, Databox, and many more—to your screens in minutes. Whatever information keeps your team informed or your customers engaged can be packaged as an Edge App and delivered in crisp, full‑screen clarity.</p> <h2 id="remote-control-and-digital-signage-for-teams">Remote control and digital signage for teams</h2> <p>Full‑screen storytelling only works if updates are effortless, and that’s where Screenly’s <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">cloud-based digital signage dashboard</a> shines. From any browser, you can upload images, videos, web pages, or Edge Apps. You can then arrange your content into playlists, assign schedule rules, and push changes to one screen or thousands with a click. Role‑based <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">user permissions</a> keep large teams organized. Designers add visuals, marketing adjusts schedules, IT monitors device health, and finance manages billing—all without stepping on one another’s toes.</p> <p>Every change syncs your screen almost immediately, and because content is cached locally, playback stays smooth even during a shaky interent connection. Centralized logs, heartbeat alerts, and automatic software updates eliminate the need for USB sticks, manual reboots, or site visits, freeing staff to focus on digital signage messaging rather than field repairs. Whether you manage one <a href="/use-cases/coffee-shop-digital-signage/">cafe’s digital signage</a> display or a global fleet of <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">corporate lobbies</a>, your workflow with Screenly remains identical and scales without added complexity.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-digital-signage-widgets-with-screenly">Get started with digital signage widgets with Screenly</h2> <p>Tiny widgets may promise convenience, but their cramped layouts often bury the very message your audience should remember. Give each idea a full‑screen spotlight and you keep text legible, guide attention, and boost recall. To get started with Screenly and launch your own full-screen digital signage widgets, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/19/digital-signage-widgets/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/19/digital-signage-widgets/Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Earlier this year, we announced the release of our <a href="/blog/2025/01/16/zapier-integration-for-screenly/">Zapier integration</a>. This integration allows you to automate your digital signage workflows by connecting Screenly with your favorite apps and services.</p> <h2 id="whats-new-in-v060">What’s new in v0.6.0?</h2> <h3 id="cleaning-up-assets-created-via-zapier">Cleaning up assets created via Zapier</h3> <p>Before this update, triggering the <strong>Cleanup Zapier Content</strong> action would only remove playlists that were created via Zapier. More specifically, a label named <code>created_via_zapier</code> was added to the playlists that were created via Zapier. However, this functionality isn’t available for assets.</p> <p>As a workaround, we modified the <strong>Upload Asset</strong> action so that certain <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/api_v4/#properties-4">metadata can be added to the asset via the API</a>. This way, we can label the assets that were created via Zapier with <code>created_via_zapier</code>.</p> <p>We also modified the <strong>Cleanup Zapier Content</strong> action so that it also removes assets that were created via Zapier, given the metadata added to them.</p> <h3 id="migration-to-typescript">Migration to TypeScript</h3> <p>We also migrated the Zapier integration to TypeScript as part of our effort to improve code quality and maintainability. You can check <a href="/blog/2025/03/11/migrating-browser-extension-code-to-typescript-and-other-bug-fixes/">this post</a> for more details about how we migrated our browser extension’s source code from JavaScript to TypeScript. The motivation for doing the same for the Zapier integration is the same—to have a better developer experience when making changes to the codebase.</p> <h2 id="an-example-use-case">An example use case</h2> <p>Here’s a screenshot of how the <strong>Cleanup Zapier Content</strong> can be used with existing Zapier integrations like the <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/zapier-chrome-extension/integrations">Zapier Chrome extension trigger</a>.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0_hu_4f18a8dd0a9d0f1f.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0_hu_8cfd89bad172ba70.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0_hu_16863c448a02960d.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0_hu_e82ae3f1e3769b8b.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0_hu_eb4f89a9c16f53e7.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0_hu_dc2aba36eb627b58.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0_hu_f666c59d2a0d0180.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0_hu_6aca1fcb213ee01e.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0_hu_16863c448a02960d.webp" alt="Screenly's Zapier integration v0.6.0" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>With this, users can just initiate cleanup at will from the Chrome extension, with just a click of a button.</p> <h2 id="whats-next">What’s next?</h2> <p>Our Zapier integration for Screenly is open source, and you can explore the source code <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/zapier">here</a>. We welcome open-source contributions, whether it’s reporting an issue or submitting a pull request.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/16/updates-to-screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/16/updates-to-screenly-zapier-integration-v0.6.0/Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re excited to introduce a new addition to the Screenly Edge App Store – the Screenly Welcome App. This app allows you to display a personalized greeting on your digital signage, making it perfect for receptions, office lobbies, events, and anywhere you want to create a warm and branded welcome experience.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/welcome-app-preview_hu_5c8e335851dcf82f.webp 480w, /images/blog/welcome-app-preview_hu_2b610e24d0be5e33.webp 768w, /images/blog/welcome-app-preview_hu_dffcad7d73e8c406.webp 1024w, /images/blog/welcome-app-preview_hu_e734f26c44e1d00d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/welcome-app-preview_hu_bea4cca25fe7285e.webp 480w, /images/blog/welcome-app-preview_hu_1ce41b3c3dc54a1f.webp 768w, /images/blog/welcome-app-preview_hu_25838dace63f260e.webp 1024w, /images/blog/welcome-app-preview_hu_4b9f141ab2e2e6fb.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/welcome-app-preview_hu_dffcad7d73e8c406.webp" alt="Screenly Welcome App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>The app is designed to be fully customizable. You can easily set the headline and body text from the Screenly dashboard using the <code>welcome_heading</code> and <code>welcome_message</code> settings. Alongside the message, the app also displays the current date and time, and you can adjust the timezone using the <code>override_timezone</code> setting to suit your location.</p> <p>What makes this app feel truly personal is its ability to automatically adapt to your brand. It fetches and applies your brand’s primary and secondary colors, and even updates the logo in the layout to match your own branding. This ensures that the Welcome App looks and feels like a custom-built solution just for your organization. You can also choose between light and dark themes, allowing the display to match the mood or time of day.</p> <h3 id="-key-features">🛠 Key Features</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Custom Greetings</strong>: Configure the title and message via the Screenly dashboard using <code>welcome_heading</code> and <code>welcome_message</code>.</li> <li><strong>Dynamic Clock & Calendar</strong>: Show the current date and time with timezone customization using <code>override_timezone</code>.</li> <li><strong>Brand-Powered Theming</strong>: The app automatically adopts your brand’s primary and secondary colors.</li> <li><strong>Your Logo, Your Look</strong>: The app dynamically updates the logo to match your brand, making it feel like a fully custom-built app.</li> <li><strong>Theme Modes</strong>: Supports light and dark themes for better visual harmony.</li> <li><strong>Great for</strong>: Receptions, visitor centers, events, internal office displays, and more.</li> </ul> <h3 id="-open-source-and-developer-friendly">🔓 Open-Source and Developer Friendly</h3> <p>Just like all our other Edge Apps, the Welcome App is completely open-source. You’re free to explore, fork, and extend it to match your specific needs. <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/tree/master/edge-apps/welcome-app">View the Source Code on GitHub</a></p> <p>Want more? Check out all our Edge Apps at <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground">Screenly’s Playground on GitHub</a> — and if you find them useful, don’t forget to ⭐ star the repo!</p> <h3 id="-try-it-now">🚀 Try It Now</h3> <p>The Welcome App is available now in the Screenly Edge App Store. <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Sign up for Screenly’s 14-day free trial</a> (no credit card required) and discover how effortlessly you can turn any screen into a welcoming, branded experience.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/15/screenly-welcome-app-for-personalized-greetings/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/15/screenly-welcome-app-for-personalized-greetings/Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage has never been easier for a small business. The best part is, setting up a digital signage strategy doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. With modern cloud-based tools (like Screenly), you can <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">update your screen content remotely</a> from anywhere with an internet connection and start reaching your audience with just a single display. In the post below, we share a simple 5-step plan for getting started with digital signs and crafting your own digital signage strategy.</p> <h2 id="1-pick-one-goal-for-your-digital-signs">1. Pick one goal for your digital signs</h2> <p>Start by choosing one main goal for your digital sign. Having a clear focus will keep your content on point and effective. Maybe you want to increase sales of a certain product, promote a daily special, share internal perfomance metrics, or announce an upcoming event – it all depends on your business (<a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail store</a>, <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">restaurant</a>, <a href="/use-cases/education/">school</a>, etc.). Pick one objective that matters most, and let that goal guide all your content decisions. By zeroing in on a single goal, you can create a targeted message and more easily measure its success.</p> <h2 id="2-choose-the-best-screen-location">2. Choose the best screen location</h2> <p>Next, decide where to put your screen so it gets noticed. Location is key in any digital signage strategy. Think about where your target viewers spend time or pass by:</p> <p><strong>Retail store:</strong> Place your digital sign near the entrance or checkout, where shoppers can’t miss it.</p> <p><strong>Restaurant:</strong> Mount your screen by the menu board or counter, where customers are deciding what to order.</p> <p><strong>School:</strong> Put your display in the main check-in area or a busy hallway, where parents and students will see updates in their daily routine.</p> <p>Wherever you place it, make sure the screen is easy to spot (eye-level, unobstructed, and in a well-lit area). Make the screen part of the natural flow of your space so people naturally glance at it. Digital signs are flexible – if one spot isn’t working well, you can always move the screen or add a second one elsewhere.</p> <h2 id="3-load-3-to-5-content-slides-to-get-started">3. Load 3 to 5 content slides to get started</h2> <p>With your goal and location set, it’s now time to create content. We recommend starting with just 3 to 5 slides in rotation. That’s enough to provide some variety without overwhelming your viewers (or whoever is creating the content!). Focus on content that supports your one goal. For example, if you’re promoting a new product, you could show a bold image of the product with a catchy headline on one slide, then highlight a special offer or price on the next. A third slide might include a short testimonial or a clear call-to-action.</p> <p>Each slide should be simple, eye-catching, and readable at a glance. Use bright images or graphics and concise text. You don’t need dozens of slides or complicated animations to start – a few clear messages will do the job. If you’re using a <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage management platform</a>, like Screenly, just upload your content to its cloud dashboard, and it will handle the looping and scheduling for you.</p> <h2 id="4-track-one-metric">4. Track one metric</h2> <p>Once your digital sign is up and running, keep an eye on one key metric that ties back to your goal. This will tell you if your strategy is working. For a sales goal, look at that product’s sales; if you promoted an event, check how many people signed up; for an internal message, maybe use a quick survey to see if employees noticed the announcement.</p> <p>Sticking to one metric makes it simple to measure success. For example, some businesses use a promo code exclusively shown on the digital sign and then count how often that code is used – a clear indicator that viewers acted on the content. You can also <a href="/blog/2020/09/27/display-QR-codes-on-digital-signs/">display QR codes with UTM parameters</a> and associated tracking software. Give it some time and then check the results. If the numbers move in the right direction, great – if not, you can adjust and try again.</p> <h2 id="5-tweak-and-grow-your-digital-signage-footprint">5. Tweak and grow your digital signage footprint</h2> <p>Digital signage isn’t a set-and-forget tactic. After a while, look at your results and make tweaks to improve. Did you reach your goal, or do you need to change something? Use the data to refine your approach. If the content isn’t getting results, try a clearer message or more eye-catching visuals (or adjust the timing). If the screen isn’t being noticed, reposition it for better visibility. If your sign did accomplish its goal, you can build on that success – perhaps set a new goal, or add another screen in a new location to reach even more people.</p> <p>The beauty of digital signage is that it is easy to scale up. You can go from one screen to multiple screens without a lot of extra effort, especially if you’re using a cloud management platform. Screenly lets you manage a single display or a whole fleet of screens across locations from one online dashboard. As you add more screens or goals, continue to track metrics and iterate. Over time, you’ll discover what content works best for your audience and can build on that success.</p> <h2 id="bring-your-strategy-to-life-with-screenly">Bring your strategy to life with Screenly</h2> <p>Following these five steps will help you build a simple but effective digital signage strategy, and having the right tool to manage your screens makes everything easier. Screenly offers an all-in-one <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage platform</a> that’s easy to use, cloud-based, and flexible enough to run on just about any screen you have.</p> <p>Screenly is designed to be accessible and affordable for small businesses, so you won’t need a big budget or technical team to get started. In fact, you don’t need additional <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage player hardware</a>. You can launch your digital signs using existing screens via our <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> feature and <a href="/blog/2025/05/09/screenly-android-app/">Screenly Android App</a>.</p> <p>Ready to get started? You can try Screenly free for 30 days and see how simple digital signage can be. Sign up for your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> and start engaging your audience with your own digital sign!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/13/digital-signage-strategy/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/13/digital-signage-strategy/Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage just got a whole lot more accessible. If you’ve been holding off on deploying digital signs because of cost or complex hardware, we have great news. Screenly is excited to announce the release of the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.screenlyapp.anywhere.twa&pcampaignid=web_share">Screenly Android App</a>, a game-changer that turns virtually any Android device into a digital signage player. This means you can launch professional, eye-catching displays for your business without investing in specialized hardware – all with a simple app download.</p> <h2 id="turn-any-android-device-into-a-digital-signage-player">Turn any Android device into a digital signage player</h2> <p>With the new Screenly Android App, any Android-powered device can become a dynamic digital sign. Whether it’s an Android smart TV in your lobby, a budget-friendly Android HDMI stick, or a spare Android tablet, you can now repurpose it to showcase your content. The app is readily available on the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.screenlyapp.anywhere.twa&pcampaignid=web_share">Google Play Store</a>, so getting started is as easy as installing any other app. Once installed, the Screenly Android App brings the full power of Screenly’s digital signage platform to your device – no separate media player box required. In other words, your existing hardware can do the job of expensive dedicated signage players, lowering the cost of entry for high-quality digital signage.</p> <p>This flexibility is especially useful for business owners concerned about cost. Instead of purchasing new equipment, you can use devices you already own or inexpensive Android devices to pilot your signage project. For example, that TV in your waiting area or the tablet sitting idle on your desk can now display menus, promotions, schedules, or social media feeds through Screenly. By leveraging Android devices, Screenly is effectively putting professional digital signage within reach for businesses of all sizes and budgets.</p> <h2 id="simple-setup---download-pair-and-display-in-minutes">Simple setup - download, pair, and display in minutes</h2> <p>We know that busy business operators and managers don’t have time for complicated tech deployments. The Screenly Android App keeps things simple and user-friendly, so you can go from download to displaying content in just a few minutes. Here’s all it takes to get your digital sign up and running:</p> <p><strong>Download the app:</strong> Find the Screenly Android App on the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.screenlyapp.anywhere.twa&pcampaignid=web_share">Google Play Store</a> and install it on your Android device (TV, tablet, or even an Android TV stick).</p> <p><strong>Pair with your Screenly account:</strong> Launch the app, and it will display a unique pairing code on the screen. Log in to your online Screenly account (or create a free account if you’re new) and enter that code to link the device to your Screenly dashboard.</p> <p><strong>Upload and schedule content:</strong> Once your Android screen is paired, you can use Screenly’s web-based dashboard to upload images, videos, or web page content and schedule playlists for that screen. After you publish, your content will immediately display on the Android device.</p> <p>That’s it! In three simple steps, your Android device transforms into a remotely-managed digital sign. No special technical skills are required – if you can install an app and use a web browser, you can handle Screenly’s setup. The pairing process is secure and quick, and you can manage one or multiple screens from your Screenly online account. This ease of setup means you can roll out new screens to different locations rapidly, without any onsite server or complex configuration. It’s an ideal solution for small businesses and lean teams that need to get signage running without a hitch.</p> <h2 id="no-hardware-to-buy---lowering-the-barrier-to-entry">No hardware to buy - lowering the barrier to entry</h2> <p>One of the biggest hurdles in starting with digital signage has always been the extra hardware – the dedicated media player boxes that drive content to your screens. Many business owners worry about the upfront cost of buying a player for each screen (not to mention the effort of installing and maintaining them). The Screenly Android App eliminates that hurdle entirely. By using the smartphones, tablets, or smart TVs you already have (or affordable devices you can easily obtain), you don’t need to purchase separate Screenly hardware to deploy your first screens.</p> <p>For a business on a tight budget, this dramatically lowers the barrier to entry. You can start with a single Android device as a pilot, see the benefits of digital signage in real time, and add more screens as needed – all without significant hardware expenses. Even for larger organizations, the ability to convert existing displays into Screenly-powered signage means faster expansion and less strain on your IT budget. Essentially, if you have an Android device and a screen, you have a digital signage solution. This opens the door for creative uses too: imagine a retail store repurposing an Android tablet as an interactive product showcase, or a café using an Android TV to display daily specials and social media updates. The possibilities are endless now that cost and hardware procurement are no longer roadblocks.</p> <h2 id="hardware-players-still-have-you-covered">Hardware players still have you covered</h2> <p>What if your deployment is mission-critical – say, a network of screens that must run 24/7 in a high-traffic environment, or a setup where you require maximum control over the hardware? Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">dedicated hardware players</a>, the Screenly Player and Screenly Player Max, are still available and ideal for exactly these scenarios. While the new Screenly Android App makes digital signage easier and more accessible, we recognize that some situations call for the specialized reliability and performance that purpose-built devices provide.</p> <p>The <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a> (our Raspberry Pi-based device) and the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player Max</a> (a more powerful Intel-based device) are designed for maximum reliability, security, and control. They come with features like robust offline playback, hardened operating systems, and enterprise-grade manageability that ensure your content keeps playing smoothly even under demanding conditions. Large enterprises or critical installations – for example, a hospital’s emergency information displays or a nationwide retail signage network – often prefer dedicated players to guarantee consistency and uptime. These devices are optimized for Screenly and can handle intensive content (like high-resolution videos or heavy dashboard integrations) with ease.</p> <p>In short, Screenly now offers two paths: a hardware-free approach with the Screenly Android App (and <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a>) and a traditional approach with dedicated hardware players. You’re free to choose the mix that fits your needs. If you’re just starting out or running a small deployment, the Screenly Android App might be all you need. If you’re rolling out hundreds of screens or have zero tolerance for downtime, the Screenly Player and Screenly Player Max give you that extra peace of mind. Importantly, both types of screens can be managed side by side in your Screenly account – whether it’s an Android device or a dedicated Screenly digital signageplayer, all your screens appear on the same dashboard for easy control. This brings us to Screenly’s broader philosophy of being hardware-agnostic.</p> <h2 id="part-of-screenlys-hardware-agnostic-philosophy">Part of Screenly’s hardware-agnostic philosophy</h2> <p>The launch of the Screenly Android App is part of Screenly’s larger move toward hardware-agnostic digital signage. Our mission is to let you run digital signs on any hardware that makes sense for you. Earlier, we <a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">introduced Screenly Anywhere</a>, which allows you to use any modern web browser as a digital signage player. With Screenly Anywhere, you simply open a secure Screenly URL in a browser on a device (like a PC, Mac, or even a smart TV’s built-in browser) and that browser tab becomes your signage screen. This was a big step in removing hardware constraints – no box to plug in, no waiting for shipments – you could turn a screen on and have content up in minutes using just a browser.</p> <p>The Screenly Android App takes that hardware-agnostic approach one step further by tapping into the vast Android ecosystem. Between browser-based playback and our Android app, Screenly gives you unprecedented flexibility in how you deploy your screens. You can mix and match: for instance, use Screenly Anywhere on office computers, use the Android App on TVs in your conference rooms, and use a couple of Screenly Player Max devices for your most critical customer-facing displays – all managed together seamlessly. Everything reports to the same <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">Screenly cloud platform</a>, so scheduling content is uniform across all device types.</p> <p>For business owners, this flexibility means you’re never locked into a single type of hardware. Start with what you have, expand with what’s convenient, and know that Screenly’s platform will support you as you grow. This hardware-agnostic strategy is all about removing barriers and giving you choices. Our goal is to make digital signage as easy and adaptable as possible, whether you’re a small shop or a large enterprise. The Screenly Android App and Screenly Anywhere are just the latest examples of how we’re continually lowering costs and simplifying deployments for our users.</p> <h2 id="start-your-hahahugoshortcode342s0hbhb-day-free-trial">Start your 14-day free trial</h2> <p>Ready to turn your Android device into a digital sign? Download the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.screenlyapp.anywhere.twa&pcampaignid=web_share">Screenly Android App</a> today and start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day</a> trial with Screenly.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/09/screenly-android-app/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/09/screenly-android-app/Fri, 09 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re excited to share that Screenly has officially achieved SOC 2 Type II compliance! This significant milestone highlights our ongoing dedication to keeping our digital signage solutions secure and reliable for our customers, particularly with mission-critical <a href="/blog/2024/06/13/enterprise-digital-signage/">enterprise digital signage</a>. By passing the rigorous SOC 2 audit, Screenly demonstrates our commitment to maintaining industry-leading standards in security, privacy, and operational excellence.</p> <h2 id="what-exactly-is-soc-2-type-ii-compliance">What exactly is SOC 2 Type II compliance?</h2> <p>SOC 2, or <a href="https://www.aicpa-cima.com/topic/audit-assurance/audit-and-assurance-greater-than-soc-2">Service Organization Control 2</a>, is an auditing procedure governed by the <a href="https://www.aicpa-cima.com/">American Institute of CPAs</a> (AICPA). It evaluates companies on five key principles: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Screenly underwent a thorough, independent assessment to ensure our systems and processes meet these high standards, proving our ability to securely manage your digital signage networks.</p> <p>Achieving SOC 2 Type II compliance means that our security controls are not just documented but proven to be effective in real-world conditions over time. For our customers, this provides confidence that Screenly consistently operates at the highest level of security and reliability.</p> <h2 id="why-soc-2-type-ii-compliance-matters-in-digital-signage">Why SOC 2 Type II compliance matters in digital signage</h2> <p>Security is critical in digital signage because screens are often publicly accessible and operate without constant supervision. Digital signage networks, if not properly secured, can become easy targets for cyberattacks, potentially leading to compromised screens, data breaches, or unauthorized network access.</p> <p>Research shows IoT devices, including <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage players</a>, are increasingly targeted in cyberattacks. Hackers commonly exploit vulnerabilities such as outdated software or weak security configurations. By attaining SOC 2 Type II compliance, Screenly ensures that we’ve implemented comprehensive safeguards, continuous monitoring, and rapid response procedures to keep your signage systems secure.</p> <p>Moreover, enterprise organizations often have strict vendor security requirements. SOC 2 compliance is widely recognized as a “gold standard” security benchmark, making vendor assessments simpler and faster. With SOC 2 Type II, Screenly helps enterprises quickly verify that our security practices meet their compliance needs, particularly important in industries like finance, healthcare, and retail.</p> <h2 id="how-screenlys-security-approach-supports-soc-2">How Screenly’s security approach supports SOC 2</h2> <p>Our SOC 2 Type II compliance reflects a deeper culture of security at Screenly, embedded since our founding. Key elements of our <a href="/security/">robust security posture</a> include:</p> <p><strong>Secure Devices:</strong> Screenly digital signage players run securely isolated processes, have no default logins, and have no open network ports, minimizing vulnerabilities.</p> <p><strong>Reliable Updates:</strong> Updates are automatic, seamless, cryptographically signed, and applied transactionally, ensuring devices always run verified software.</p> <p><strong>End-to-End Encryption:</strong> We use mutual TLS encryption and hardware-secured keys, protecting all communications between devices and our cloud platform.</p> <p><strong>Proactive Cloud Security:</strong> Our cloud infrastructure continually scans for vulnerabilities and uses short-lived servers to mitigate potential threats.</p> <p><strong>Advanced Access Controls:</strong> Screenly supports two-factor authentication, role-based permissions, and <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">granular team controls</a> to ensure only authorized users manage signage content.</p> <p>Each of these security features combines to make your digital signs as secure as possible. You can deploy just one screen or hundreds of screens with confidence, knowing that your digital signs are built with security at their core.</p> <h2 id="trust-and-reliability-for-enterprise-customers">Trust and reliability for enterprise customers</h2> <p>For businesses considering digital signage, Screenly’s SOC 2 Type II compliance represents a strong reassurance of security, reliability, and trustworthiness. Also, this milestone is just part of our ongoing security-first digital signage commitment. Screenly remains committed to continuously improving and updating our security practices to adapt to evolving threats, giving customers complete confidence in their digital signage deployments.</p> <p>Try out Screenly for yourself! Get started today with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/07/digital-signage-soc-2-compliance/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/07/digital-signage-soc-2-compliance/Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>For an upcoming event, we wanted to create a more engaging on-site experience. Rather than just showing a static playlist, we built a live dashboard that visualizes real-time air quality data collected from the venue — displayed directly on a Screenly player. The result is a lightweight Edge App that integrates a local ESP32-based sensor using the newly added <a href="https://esphome.io/components/prometheus.html">Prometheus format</a>, with real-time updates rendered on screen.</p> <p><img src="/assets/images/blog/indoor-sensor-dashboard.webp" alt="Indoor Sensor Dashboard" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy"></p> <h3 id="why-esp32">Why ESP32?</h3> <p>The ESP32 was a natural fit for this project:</p> <ul> <li>Inexpensive and easy to source</li> <li>Built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy to deploy anywhere in the venue</li> <li>Sufficient processing power for basic environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, VOCs)</li> </ul> <p>The complete sensor setup costs around <$30 using off-the-shelf components. We’ve published the hardware files and schematics on <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/open-hardware/tree/master/indoor-sensor">GitHub</a>.</p> <h3 id="firmware-with-esphome">Firmware with ESPHome</h3> <p>We used <a href="https://esphome.io/">ESPHome</a> to build and flash the firmware. ESPHome’s Prometheus format integration made this process straightforward — a couple of lines in the config and the device starts exposing metrics in plain-text format via HTTP. No custom API or additional code required.</p> <h3 id="using-the-prometheus-format">Using the Prometheus Format</h3> <p>We chose to expose the sensor data in the Prometheus format because it’s now widely adopted as a standard for telemetry. By using this format, we can:</p> <ul> <li>Avoid building a custom API (but arguably more fragile than a JSON based RESTful API)</li> <li>Use simple, text-based parsing from almost any client</li> <li>Easily integrate with existing observability tools and workflows</li> <li>Make the data accessible to a wide range of tools and systems</li> </ul> <h3 id="developing-the-edge-app">Developing the Edge App</h3> <p>With the sensor in place and metrics flowing, we used the <a href="https://github.com/screenly/cli">Screenly CLI</a> to scaffold a new Edge App:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>screenly edge-app create <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> --name=indoor_sensor_dashboard_dev </span></span></code></pre></div><p>From there, we:</p> <ol> <li>Created a basic dashboard layout, using an earlier project as a starting point.</li> <li>Configured the app to fetch the Prometheus format endpoint at regular intervals.</li> <li>Used the local run mode to preview and test the app without deploying to hardware.</li> <li>Fine-tuned the styling and logic to ensure live values updated smoothly on screen.</li> </ol> <h3 id="deployment">Deployment</h3> <p>Once the dashboard was ready, we pushed it live using:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>screenly edge-app deploy </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Because the Edge App queries the sensor over the local network, it needs to run on a device with LAN access. This setup is compatible with Screenly Player and Player Max. However, it is not supported on Screenly Anywhere or our Android player, which renders content server-side and cannot access local network devices.</p> <h3 id="key-takeaways">Key Takeaways</h3> <ul> <li><strong>ESP32 + ESPHome</strong> is a cost-effective and flexible way to collect live environmental data.</li> <li>Using the <strong>Prometheus format</strong> provides a well-supported, standards-based way to expose metrics with minimal overhead.</li> <li><strong>Screenly Edge Apps</strong> enable interactive, local-first dashboards that continue working even without internet connectivity.</li> <li>Keeping both the sensor and the player on the same network simplifies the setup and avoids latency issues.</li> </ul> <h3 id="resources">Resources</h3> <ul> <li>Open hardware repository and schematics are available <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/open-hardware/tree/master/indoor-sensor">here</a>.</li> <li>The demo Edge App is available on the Screenly <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/playground">Playground</a>.</li> </ul> <p>If you’re building something similar, get in touch. We’d love to learn more.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/05/building-real-time-indoor-sensor-dashboard/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/05/building-real-time-indoor-sensor-dashboard/Mon, 05 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Deploying digital signs can feel daunting, but it boils down to getting the right digital signage device and supporting components in place. In this guide, we’ll explain what a digital signage device (also known as a digital signage player) actually is, how it fits into a complete signage setup, and how to choose between different options. We’ll dive into Screenly’s <a href="/digital-signage-players/">dedicated devices</a> (Screenly Player vs. Screenly Player Max) and hardware-agnostic solutions (<a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> and the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.screenlyapp.anywhere.twa&hl=en_US">Screenly Android app</a>), weighing the tradeoffs of each. By the end, you’ll know exactly which approach to take for your use case – and how to get started with a free trial of Screenly’s platform.</p> <h2 id="main-components-of-a-digital-signage-setup">Main components of a digital signage setup</h2> <p>A successful digital sign setup typically includes three main components: the screen, the digital signage device (player), and the software. Here’s a quick rundown of each and why each component is important:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Screen:</strong> This is the physical display that shows your content. It can be any modern TV or monitor with an HDMI input – you don’t necessarily need a special commercial display. Standard 1080p Full HD or 4K TVs are commonly repurposed for digital signage. The key is that the screen can connect to a player device (via HDMI) or, in some cases, run a web browser for browser-based playback.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Digital Signage Device:</strong> The <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage player</a> is the “brain” of your digital sign – a small device (or app) that renders your images, videos, web pages, or dashboards on the screen. It can be a dedicated hardware box or a browser or app-based solution. For example, Screenly offers plug-and-play hardware players like the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a> and the more powerful <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player Max</a> for driving content to any screen via HDMI. Screenly also provides software players – such as a <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">browser-based optio</a> and an Android app – which can run on hardware you already have (more on these later).</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Software:</strong> <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">Digital signage software</a> is used to manage what content plays and when. Typically cloud-based, it lets you upload images and videos, create playlists, and set schedules for your screen content. This software connects to your players over the internet, telling them which content to download and display. A good content management system makes it easy to update screens remotely and keep multiple displays in sync.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Each component is essential: the screen displays the visuals, the player (device) drives the visuals, and the software controls it all. With these pieces working together, you have a complete digital signage solution.</p> <h2 id="screenly-player-vs-screenly-player-max">Screenly Player vs Screenly Player Max</h2> <p>Screenly offers two dedicated players, and choosing between them comes down to the scale and complexity of your signage needs. The Screenly Player is a compact, Raspberry Pi–based device geared toward basic signage deployments. It can reliably render 1080p Full HD videos, images, and web content on your screens, and it’s best suited for smaller setups with just a few screens. As the budget-friendly option ($219 USD for the device), the Screenly Player is ideal if you’re looking to get started with minimal cost or only need to display standard content in 1080p Full HD.</p> <p>In contrast, the Screenly Player Max is a more powerful signage device built for demanding applications. It features an Intel processor and can smoothly handle 4K content and heavy web-based applications with ease. This extra horsepower makes the ScreenlyPlayer Max ideal for enterprise deployments, video walls, data dashboards, or any scenario where you have multiple screens and more complex content. It also comes with enhanced security features (like a Trusted Platform Module and secure boot functionality) to meet enterprise IT requirements. The tradeoff for this higher performance is cost – the Screenly Player Max is priced higher ($369 USD) than the standard Screely Player. In short, Screenly Player Max gives you greater reliability and capability for mission-critical signage, while the standard Screenly Player offers a cost-effective solution for straightforward needs.</p> <p>Learn more about our <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a>.</p> <p><strong>Best use cases:</strong> If you have a small business or a couple of screens showing simple menus, images, or videos, the Screenly Player will likely cover your needs. On the other hand, if you’re deploying a large network of screens (for example, across multiple offices or a big retail space) or need to display high-resolution videos and live data feeds, investing in the Screenly Player Max is worth it for more reliable 24/7 performance. Many businesses find that the best approach is to mix and match – using the affordable players for less intensive screens and reserving the Screenly Player Max units for the most demanding displays.</p> <h2 id="screenlys-hardware-agnostic-philosophy">Screenly’s hardware-agnostic philosophy</h2> <p>While Screenly provides dedicated hardware, it also embraces a hardware-agnostic philosophy – meaning you aren’t limited to proprietary devices. Screenly’s goal is to give users a choice in how they deploy their digital signage. Some teams love the plug-and-play simplicity of Screenly’s own digital signage devices (especially in high-stakes environments where absolute reliability is a must). Others may prefer to use hardware they already have – like a spare mini PC or a smart TV – to get screens up and running quickly. In the past, setting up digital signage often meant buying specialized players and waiting for them to be delivered and installed. Screenly’s hardware-agnostic approach changes that dynamic.</p> <p>By being hardware-agnostic, Screenly lets you deploy signage faster and more easily. You can bring your own device – whether it’s a Windows PC, Mac, Chrome OS device, tablet, or even a smart TV with a browser – and turn it into a Screenly-powered sign. This flexibility means you don’t have to wait for dedicated hardware to ship or pay for equipment where you might already have a substitute. The result is more efficient rollouts and creative use of existing hardware: you might use Screenly Players for some locations while repurposing an existing computer or Android tablet for others. All these devices can be managed together seamlessly under the same Screenly cloud dashboard, so you’re never locked into one hardware type or forced to switch platforms. In essence, Screenly’s hardware-agnostic philosophy empowers you to choose the digital signage device that makes the most sense for each deployment, without sacrificing centralized control or content synchronization.</p> <h2 id="screenly-anywhere-and-the-screenly-android-app">Screenly Anywhere and the Screenly Android app</h2> <p>To support this hardware flexibility, Screenly provides two solutions that let you deploy digital signage without a physical Screenly player: <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> and the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.screenlyapp.anywhere.twa&hl=en_US">Screenly Android app</a>. These options make it easy to get started with the Screenly platform on hardware you already own.</p> <p>Screenly Anywhere is Screenly’s browser-based digital signage player. It allows you to turn any device with a modern web browser into a digital signage device. Instead of plugging in a separate player box, you simply open a secure Screenly playback URL in Chrome, Firefox, or another browser on your device (whether it’s a PC, a Mac, a Linux box, or even a smart TV’s built-in browser). That browser tab essentially becomes your “player,” displaying whatever content and playlist you’ve configured in the Screenly cloud software. The big advantage here is zero extra hardware: there’s no need to purchase or install a dedicated player at all. You can launch a new screen in minutes by just using a device you already have on hand, which is perfect for quickly scaling up or testing digital signage in new locations. Screenly Anywhere still gives you all the scheduling, content management, and security features of the Screenly platform – it’s a full-featured player, just running through a browser. This means you can manage Screenly Anywhere screens alongside hardware players in the same interface, with features like content scheduling, user access controls, and even integrations (yes, things like <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a> and <a href="/foundations/api-integrations/">API integrations</a> work in the browser player, too).</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Screenly Android app brings the Screenly experience to Android-powered devices. Released recently, this app (available from the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.screenlyapp.anywhere.twa&hl=en_US">Google Play Store</a>) can turn any Android TV, tablet, or Android-based streaming device into a dedicated digital signage player. Simply install the Screenly app on your Android device, log in to your Screenly account, and that device will sync with your Screenly content and start displaying it, just like a regular screen. Like Screenly Anywhere, the Android app option means you don’t need to buy new hardware from Screenly – your existing Android smart TV or an inexpensive Android TV stick can do the job. It’s an easy way to re-use hardware. For instance, a school could use Android tablets as information kiosks, or a business could convert an Android smart TV into a lobby display. The Screenly Android app is especially handy if you prefer using a familiar TV interface or need a solution where a browser alone isn’t practical. It essentially extends Screenly’s hardware-agnostic approach to the Android ecosystem, bringing the full power of Screenly’s digital signage software to readily available devices. Setup is straightforward and quick – no cables or special configuration beyond installing the app and entering a pairing code or credentials.</p> <p>In both cases (Screenly Anywhere and the Screenly Android App), you’re leveraging hardware you have, which can significantly lower costs and deployment time. These solutions are great for getting started instantly or rolling out many screens on a tight budget. They complement Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">physical players</a>, giving you the freedom to choose the best method per screen.</p> <h2 id="physical-devices-vs-browser-and-app-based-options">Physical devices vs browser and app-based options</h2> <p>With both dedicated players and browser and app-based options available, you might wonder which route to take. The decision largely depends on your use case, environment, and performance needs. Here are some trade-offs and guidelines to help you choose the right type of digital signage device for each situation:</p> <p><strong>Dedicated hardware players</strong>: The Screenly Player and Player Max excel in plug-and-play reliability. They are purpose-built for digital signage, which means they’re optimized to run content 24/7 with minimal hiccups. If you have a mission-critical display – say, a big retail storefront screen or an operational dashboard in a factory that must not fail – a dedicated device provides peace of mind. The Screenly Player Max’s enterprise-grade hardware is designed for exactly these high-stakes scenarios where you need maximum performance and uptime.</p> <p><strong>Browser-based or app-based players</strong>: Screenly Anywhere and the Screenly Android App shine in flexibility and speed of deployment. They’re ideal for scenarios where convenience or cost is a big factor. If you need to bring up a new screen on short notice – perhaps for a one-time event or a pilot project – using Screenly Anywhere on a laptop or plugging an Android stick into a TV can get you going in minutes, with no shipping or setup delay. These options are also excellent for widespread rollouts across many locations when you might not want to purchase dozens of devices. For example, a corporate office could deploy Screenly via the browser on existing conference room PCs to show announcements, and a school district could use the ScreenlyAndroid App on affordable media boxes for digital notice boards. The trade-off is that you’re running on general-purpose hardware, which might not be as tightly controlled as a dedicated player. In practice, as long as the device is modern and internet-connected, Screenly’s software will run smoothly – but you’ll want to ensure things like the browser remains open or the Android device stays powered and isn’t used for other tasks. Use cases best for browser or app-based screens are quick deployments, non-permanent installations, situations leveraging devices already in place (e.g. using a lobby’s PC for signage after hours), or small-scale signage where buying new hardware isn’t justified. They’re also great for trialing Screenly: you can test your content on a couple of screens using Screenly Anywhere or an Android device before deciding if you need dedicated devices.</p> <p>The good news is you don’t have to pick one or the other exclusively. Screenly’s platform lets you mix both dedicated players and bring-your-own-device options under one management dashboard. This means you can start with a browser-based approach and later add hardware players as your project grows without any disruption. Many organizations take a hybrid approach: critical displays might run on ScreenlyPlayer Max units, ande less critical displays use Screenly Anywhere or the Screenly Android App. Because all players report to the same cloud service, content scheduling and monitoring are uniform. Ultimately, choosing your digital signage device is about matching the hardware solution to the importance of the screen. Screenly gives you the freedom to choose the right tool for the job* for each screen.</p> <h2 id="screenly-edge-apps-dynamic-content-on-any-device">Screenly Edge Apps: dynamic content on any device</h2> <p>To make your digital signs even more powerful, Screenly offers <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a>, which are applications that can run on your physical player device, browser-based player, or Android app-based player. Screenly Edge Apps allow you to build custom digital signage applications for your unique business use cases. You can use ready-to-go Edge Apps on our Edge App Store, you can customize and existing Edge App line-by-line at the code level, or you can build a new Edge App from scratch. Edge Apps can pull in live data from your existing business tools via Screenly’s <a href="/developers/digital-signage-api/">digital signage API</a> and use that data to trigger or build custom content.</p> <p>Importantly, Screenly Edge Apps work across both dedicated devices and the hardware-agnostic setups. If you’re using Screenly Anywhere through a browser, you can still incorporate Edge Apps into your content rotation. The same goes for the Screenly Android App – any Edge App will run on the Android player just as it would on a Screenly Player or ScreenlyPlayer Max. This compatibility means you don’t have to worry about certain features being available only on certain hardware. No matter which digital signage device you choose to deploy (hardware box, PC, or Android), Screenly Edge Apps will function, ensuring you get a rich set of capabilities on all screens.</p> <h2 id="finding-the-right-digital-signage-device">Finding the right digital signage device</h2> <p>Choosing the right digital signage device comes down to understanding your needs and knowing your options. To recap, make sure you have the core components in place: a reliable screen, a player (whether a physical device, or a browser-based or app-based solution), and user-friendly software to manage content. If you’re leaning toward dedicated hardware, the Screenly Player and ScreenlyPlayer Max offer plug-and-play simplicity at different performance tiers. If flexibility or speed is your priority, Screenly Anywhere and the Screenly Android App let you deploy signage on virtually any device in no time. Remember, you can mix these approaches to tailor the solution for each screen’s importance and context.</p> <p>The best way to decide is to try our Screenlys digital signage device options in your business environment. Screenly makes this easy with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/01/digital-signage-devices/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/05/01/digital-signage-devices/Thu, 01 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage programs make it easy for businesses to deploy and manage digital signs at scale. Learn more about how to evaluate and select a digital signage program for setting up digital signage at your business or organization in the post below.</p> <h2 id="why-businesses-need-digital-signage-programs">Why businesses need digital signage programs</h2> <p>Digital signage can replace static posters and bulletin boards with vibrant, real-time content. This dynamic format naturally draws more attention from customers and employees, helping businesses convey information in a more memorable way. Whether it’s a <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail store</a> showcasing daily specials or an office displaying HR announcements, screens can rotate through images, videos, and <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">live data</a> that captivates viewers. Importantly, digital signage is completely contactless for the audience – customers and employees don’t need to touch a screen or download an app to get the message. They can simply look up and see the latest content. By removing barriers to information (no logins needed), digital signs can ensure that company messaging and data reaches everyone quickly. Overall, a well-crafted digital signage program boosts communication effectiveness, brand consistency, and even team morale, as people stay informed and connected to the organization’s message and goals.</p> <h2 id="scaling-signage-deployments-with-ease">Scaling signage deployments with ease</h2> <p>One of the biggest advantages of modern digital signage programs is the ability to manage and scale your display deployments effortlessly. In the past, updating multiple screens meant running around with USB drives or <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">manually changing each sign</a> – a tedious and time-consuming task. Today’s cloud-based signage software eliminates that hassle. Businesses can control a single screen or hundreds of screens from anywhere using a web dashboard. For example, instead of visiting each location, a manager can schedule and publish new content to every screen across all office locations in seconds. With a robust digital signage content management system (CMS), teams can oversee content on many displays from anywhere, saving countless hours. They can coordinate campaigns and schedule messaging centrally, ensuring all locations stay in sync without anyone needing to leavetheir desk.</p> <h2 id="key-features-to-look-for-in-a-digital-signage-program">Key features to look for in a digital signage program</h2> <p>When evaluating digital signage software, it’s important to look for a robust feature set that will meet your communication needs now and as you grow. Below are some key features and considerations to keep in mind as you evaluate digital signage programs.</p> <p><strong>Support for diverse content types</strong>: Ensure the platform supports all <a href="/end-user/display-content/">content types</a> that you plan to show – images, videos, slideshows, web pages, data dashboards, PDFs, and more. The best digital signage programs are content-agnostic, and this content flexibility makes it easier to keep your screens fresh and engaging.</p> <p><strong>Playlist management</strong>: Look for the ability to <a href="/end-user/playlists/">create playlists</a> or rotations of content. Playlist management lets you arrange multiple pieces of content in a sequence that plays in a loop, so you can continuously run your digital signs without manual intervention. For instance, you might loop a welcome message, a promotional video, and then a news ticker in a playlist.</p> <p><strong>Content scheduling</strong>: A good signage program lets you schedule content and set recurring times for specific messages. You can schedule a breakfast menu to display each morning or have holiday greetings appear on certain dates. Advanced scheduling guarantees that the right content shows at the right time, without someone needing to toggle it manually.</p> <p><strong>Screen grouping and tagging</strong>: As your deployment grows, you’ll want to <a href="/end-user/group-labels/">organize screens into groups</a> (by location, department, etc.) or tag them by category. This feature allows you to publish content to many screens at once based on their group or tag. For example, all lobby screens might get a welcome video, while all factory floor screens get a safety alert. Grouping and tagging saves time by enabling bulk content management across similar displays.</p> <p>Most digital signage programs allow users to get started with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a>. The best way to check out a digital signage program for your deployment is to, well, check it out. Get your first sign running, and you’ll understand a lot more of the details than you ever would by just reading a digital signage platform’s features.</p> <h2 id="advanced-features-for-enterprise-needs">Advanced features for enterprise needs</h2> <p>For larger organizations and enterprise IT teams, there are additional advanced features to look for in a digital signage solution. These capabilities help with security, collaboration, and reliable service at scale:</p> <p><strong>Multi-user access with SSO</strong>: In an enterprise environment, multiple team members (marketing, HR, IT, etc.) may need to manage content. Look for software that supports multiple user accounts and <a href="/enterprise/sso-and-saml-support/">single sign-on (SSO) integrations</a> (using SAML or other protocols). SSO allows your team to log in with existing company credentials, streamlining access while keeping it secure. With multi-user support, you can collaborate on signage management without sharing passwords.</p> <p><strong>Granular access controls</strong>: Not everyone should have the same permissions on your account. Good digital signage programs let you set <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">granular access controls</a> and user rights. For example, you might assign Admin, Editor, and Viewer roles with varying levels of control. Such role-based access ensures security and governance over your screens. Additionally, <a href="/enterprise/audit-logs">audit logs</a> are a valuable feature – the system should track who made each change and when, providing an audit trail for accountability.</p> <p><strong>Enterprise-grade support and SLAs</strong>: When your communications rely on dozens or hundreds of screens, any downtime or issue needs prompt attention. Enterprise-focused signage providers typically offer <a href="/enterprise/dedicated-account-manager/">dedicated account managers</a> and <a href="/enterprise/support-sla/">service-level agreements (SLAs)</a> that guarantee fast support response times. This means if a problem arises, you have a direct line to expert help with defined turnaround times. High availability and reliability are key to a successful SLA, ensuring your digital signs stay up and running when you need them. Prioritizing providers with strong support commitments will give you peace of mind as you scale your deployment.</p> <p>Of course, an enterprise digital signage system should be able to grow with your needs. You should be able to manage tens, hundreds, or even thousands of screens as easily as you can manage just one. This scalability, paired with the above multi-user and security features, is key to maintaining a successful, enterprise signage network.</p> <h2 id="integration-and-customization-capabilities">Integration and customization capabilities</h2> <p>Every business has its own tech stack and unique requirements. The ideal digital signage program will integrate smoothly with your existing systems and offer customization options to adapt to your use cases. One major consideration when selecting a digital signage program is the availability of a <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a> and other developer tools. A robust API allows you to connect the signage software with your other applications or databases – for example, pulling live data from your CRM to display on screens, or triggering certain content based on events. Leading digital signage solutions provide developer-friendly features like APIs and <a href="/developers/command-line-interface/">command-line interfaces</a>, so your team can tailor the platform to your development workflows.</p> <p>Beyond standard integrations, look at the possiblity of building and running custom digital signage apps. Screenly <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a>, for instance, offer a powerful way to build custom signage applications. Edge Apps run natively on Screenly devices, enabling you to create bespoke apps or widgets for your screens with almost zero latency. Developers can even edit these apps at the code level, line-by-line, to achieve exactly the functionality that the business needs. This means if you have a special use case, you can develop it on top of the signage platform itself. The flexibility to deploy custom code on your players opens up endless possibilities, from integrating IoT sensor data to designing completely unique on-screen experiences. When evaluating digital signage programs, consider how well they can adapt to your business: the best solutions will offer both out-of-the-box integrations and the freedom to build your own, ensuring the system can evolve with your requirements.</p> <p>Check out the <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge App Store</a> and some of our recent vibe-coded Edge App tutorials on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ScreenlyDigitalSignage/videos">Youtube</a>. We recently made a tutorial on vibe-coding a <a href="https://youtu.be/ZolNnjcj4Q4?feature=shared">queue management Edge App</a> and an <a href="https://youtu.be/TGu8MwtWwnc?feature=shared">indoor air quality sensor Edge App</a>.</p> <h2 id="other-factors-when-evaluating-digital-signage-programs">Other factors when evaluating digital signage programs</h2> <p>Aside from the major points above, there are a few other important factors to keep in mind to make a smart decision:</p> <p><strong>Ease of use</strong>: An intuitive, user-friendly interface is crucial, especially if non-technical staff will be updating content. A well-designed digital signage program should make tasks like adding media or scheduling playbacks simple and straightforward. This minimizes training time and user errors, allowing your team to focus on messaging rather than wrestling with the software. A quick demo or <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a> can help gauge how easy the platform is to navigate.</p> <p><strong>Compatibility</strong>: Make sure the software and any media player devices are compatible with your intended screen hardware. The top platforms (like Screenly) are flexible, working with standard TVs, smart TVs, monitors, and commercial displays via inexpensive players or even just a web browser. You shouldn’t have to purchase proprietary screens or digital signage players unless you want to – check that the program supports the hardware you already have or plan to use.</p> <p><strong>Security</strong>: Digital signage is part of your IT footprint, so <a href="/security/">digital signage security</a> matters. Look for features like encryption, secure device management, and <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">user access controls</a> to prevent unauthorized access or tampering. Reliable providers will also roll out regular software updates and security patches. Protecting your signage network ensures that only the intended messages are displayed – the last thing you want is a <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">hacked screen</a>. Robust security measures are a sign of a mature, trustworthy platform.</p> <p>By keeping all these factors in mind – from content capabilities and scheduling to security and scalability – you can confidently choose a digital signage program that meets your business’s needs.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-digital-signage-from-screenly">Get started with digital signage from Screenly</h2> <p>Modern digital signage software can transform how you connect with both customers and employees. Screenly offers an easy-to-use platform loaded with all the features discussed above to make digital signage management a breeze. If you’re curious to see the impact for yourself, consider signing up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> of Screenly’s digital signage program. With no upfront commitment, you’ll be able to test out content scheduling, remote management, Edge Apps, and more.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/29/digital-signage-programs/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/29/digital-signage-programs/Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage is a dynamic and versatile communication medium that businesses use to engage customers and employees. From retail stores to corporate offices, digital signs are everywhere – displaying menus, advertisements, dashboards, and more. When it comes to digital signage installation, many people assume they must hire specialized digital signage installation companies or invest in complex hardware. In reality, modern digital signage solutions have made it easier than ever to set up displays yourself, even offering <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">no-hardware options</a> that run on screens you already own. In this post, we’ll explore what’s needed for a digital sign, how digital signage installation services fit in (and when they don’t), and how Screenly’s approach makes implementing digital signs simple and approachable for anyone.</p> <h2 id="components-of-a-digital-signage-solution">Components of a digital signage solution</h2> <p>Setting up a digital sign is straightforward. You typically need three components: a screen, a digital signage player, and digital signage software. The screen is the display for your content – this could be any standard TV or monitor. The player is a small device (or app) that displays media on the screen by rendering your images, videos, or web pages. Lastly, the software is the platform or content management system where you upload and schedule content to play on your screens.</p> <p>Screen (Display): Almost any modern display will work as a digital signage display. If it’s a TV or monitor with an HDMI port, you can use it as part of your digital sign setup. Standard <a href="/end-user/full-hd-4K-resolution/">1080p or 4K TVs</a> are commonly repurposed as digital signage screens, so you don’t necessarily need a special commercial display. Whether you have outdoor displays or indoor digital screens, the key is that the screen can connect to a player or run a web browser.</p> <p>Player (Media player): The <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a> is the “brain” of your sign that renders content to the screen. It can be a physical device or purely software-based. For example, Screenly offers plug-and-play hardware players like the Screenly Player and the more powerful Screenly Player Max for driving content on any screen via HDMI. Screenly also offers a browser-based player called Screenly Anywhere, which requires no additional hardware at all.</p> <p>Software (Content management): To manage what appears on your digital signs, you’ll use <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>. This is usually a cloud-based platform (essentially a specialized content management system) where you can upload images and videos, create playlists, and set schedules for your screens.</p> <h2 id="physical-players-vs-no-hardware-options">Physical players vs. no-hardware options</h2> <p>One key decision when implementing digital signage is whether to use a physical media player or go with a “no-hardware” approach. Dedicated players offer plug-and-play ease and reliability. For instance, the Screenly Player Max is built for enterprise needs and can smoothly run video walls or complex dashboards.</p> <p>However, not every deployment requires extra hardware. Browser-based players have emerged as a convenient alternative. <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> lets you use any device with a web browser as your player, eliminating the need for special equipment.</p> <p>Browser-based signage is hardware-agnostic: it works on Windows PCs, Mac computers, Chrome OS devices, iOS devices, tablets, <a href="/blog/2024/12/29/digital-signage-smart-tvs/">smart TVs</a>, and more. This flexibility means you’re not locked into one method; you can easily choose the best digital signage setup for each project.</p> <h2 id="diy-digital-signage-installation-made-easy">DIY digital signage installation made easy</h2> <p>Setting up the physical parts of a digital sign is often a simple do-it-yourself job. In most cases, you won’t need a specialized installation company or professional installation services. Many users choose to wall-mount their screens for a clean, professional look. Modern flat-screen TVs and monitors are <a href="/blog/2019/08/19/VESA-mount-digital-signage/">VESA-compatible</a>, meaning they have standard screw holes on the back for mounting.</p> <p>You can buy an affordable VESA wall mount bracket, attach it to the wall, and hang the screen securely. If you’re not comfortable drilling into walls and studs, consider using a free-standing mobile mount – essentially a TV stand on wheels.</p> <p>For wall mounts, a local handyman or your own facilities team can usually handle mounting a screen. Digital signage screens can be installed by just about anyone with basic handywork skills. Even the digital signage player device, if you’re using one, is simple to set up.</p> <p>Wiring and power are also easier than you might think. Most digital signage hardware now supports WiFi, so you often don’t need to run long network cables. With a bit of cable management, you can hide the wires for a clean finish.</p> <h2 id="when-to-use-professional-installation-services">When to use professional installation services</h2> <p>While most digital sign deployments can be handled in-house, there are scenarios where hiring professional installation services or an expert team makes sense. If you’re dealing with a complex or large-scale project, a specialized digital signage installation company can ensure the job is done efficiently and safely.</p> <p>One common example is video walls – those impressive, multi-screen displays tiled together to act as one giant screen. Building a video wall requires precise alignment of screens, extra planning for mounting multiple units, and often specialized hardware.</p> <p>Another case for signage installation services is unusual installations or <a href="/blog/2019/04/12/digital-signage-enclosures/">custom enclosures</a>, like screens embedded into walls, kiosks, or outdoor digital signs that must withstand weather.</p> <p>Cost and time are always factors. Bringing in professionals will increase your budget, but it can also accelerate a big project and ensure it’s done right.</p> <h2 id="quick-setup-and-content-management-in-one-platform">Quick setup and content management in one platform</h2> <p>No matter which hardware approach you choose, the goal is to have an easy way to manage your screen content. This is where Screenly’s software shines, making it simple to go from unboxing to live content on your display screens in under an hour.</p> <p>First, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> of Screenly’s cloud platform. Once logged in, start uploading the images, videos, web pages, and graphics you want to show on your screens.</p> <p>Next, <a href="/end-user/playlists/">create a playlist</a> or schedule for your content in the Screenly dashboard. Once your content is ready, pair your screen by entering the screen’s unique pairing code. Whether using Screenly Player or Screenly Anywhere, you can assign playlists and display content easily.</p> <p>With Screenly’s platform, you can <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">manage your screens</a> from anywhere. Want to change what’s showing on the lobby display? Just log in, update the playlist, and it will update remotely.</p> <h2 id="professional-results-without-the-hassle">Professional results without the hassle</h2> <p>Digital signage technology has evolved so that installing digital signs is no longer an intimidating project. Unless you’re assembling a colossal video wall or doing something highly custom, you can likely set up your own digital sign with minimal cost and effort.</p> <p>Modern digital signage solutions like Screenly are designed for the end-user: setup is straightforward, and managing content is easy. By understanding the key components – your screen, the player, and the software – and knowing when to bring in the pros, you’re well on your way to launching effective digital signs.</p> <p>If you’re ready to elevate your communications with digital signage, sign up for Screenly’s <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> and see how quickly you can launch a fully functioning digital sign. No specialized digital signage companies needed – just your creativity, a screen, and Screenly to make it all happen.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/25/digital-signage-installation/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/25/digital-signage-installation/Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital screens have become essential in modern manufacturing facilities. Screenly, a leading provider of digital signage software, understands that factories are dynamic environments where real-time data and clear communication are key. For example, in an industrial setting filled with heavy machinery and mobile workers, traditional communication methods often fall short. In this article, we explain why digital signage for manufacturing is so important and how Screenly’s digital signs address communication needs on the production floor.</p> <h2 id="challenges-in-manufacturing-communication">Challenges in manufacturing communication</h2> <p>Manufacturing facilities face unique communication challenges. The complexity of production line operations means there’s an abundance of data, from machine status to output quotas, that needs to reach employees quickly. At the same time, many workers on the production floor are constantly on the move and may not have access to email or computers during their shift. Important safety information, policy updates, and production metrics can be missed if delivered through old-fashioned methods like bulletin boards or paper notices. Ensuring everyone stays informed and compliant requires a solution that can keep up with the pace of manufacturing. This is where digital signage manufacturing solutions come into play.</p> <p>However, simply setting up screens isn’t enough. Without a proper content management system and <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage software</a>, displays can become stale or ignored. Companies often struggle with manually updating content on multiple screens and keeping content fresh. The key challenge is streamlining workflows for communication: getting the right information to the right people at the right time, without burdening staff with tedious update processes.</p> <h2 id="remote-control-and-scheduling-with-screenlys-software">Remote control and scheduling with Screenly’s software</h2> <p>Screenly’s cloud-based digital signage software directly tackles these challenges by enabling easy <a href="o/end-user/management-dashboard/">remote management of screens</a>. Instead of physically updating each sign in person, team members can control and schedule content on digital signs across various manufacturing facilities from a central dashboard. Through Screenly’s intuitive content management systems, teams can schedule playlists of images, videos, dashboards, and even live data feeds to display real-time information on screen. For example, a supervisor can upload an updated production schedule or a new safety notice and deploy it to every screen on the production floor within seconds.</p> <p>This remote capability is especially valuable in manufacturing, where sites may be large or spread across multiple locations. Whether you have one factory or many, Screenly ensures that all your displays show the right content at the right time. The platform supports various media formats and integrates with external data sources, so live production metrics or inventory levels can be displayed seamlessly. With Screenly’s digital signage solutions, what used to require walking around the plant with a USB drive and keyboard is now handled with just a few clicks, greatly streamlining workflows and saving time. This efficient system lays the foundation for delivering all kinds of critical information through your screens, starting with safety.</p> <h2 id="improving-safety-with-real-time-alerts">Improving safety with real-time alerts</h2> <p>Worker safety is paramount in any industrial setting, and digital signage in manufacturing plays a critical role in keeping safety information front and center. Screenly-powered digital signs can display safety alerts and compliance messaging that catch the eye of employees in busy areas. Instead of static posters that blend into the background, digital screens can rotate through engaging reminders about proper protective equipment, machine lockout procedures, and emergency exits. Because content updates are so easy, safety managers can quickly push out new alerts in response to changing conditions, such as a spill, a fire drill, or updated OSHA guidelines. This ensures that safety communications are never out-of-date. By providing these real-time updates on-screen, Screenly helps improve safety awareness throughout the facility.</p> <p>An added benefit is the ability to target specific zones of a manufacturing plant with relevant warnings. For instance, a screen by a hazardous chemicals storage area can display handling precautions unique to that area. Overall, digital signage initiatives focused on safety create a more alert and informed workforce, reducing the risk of accidents. When safety is visibly emphasized every day, it becomes ingrained in the company culture.</p> <h2 id="boosting-productivity-and-team-cohesion-with-live-data">Boosting productivity and team cohesion with live data</h2> <p>Safety is just one part of the equation. Beyond compliance, manufacturing companies use Screenly’s digital signage to drive efficiency and foster team cohesion. One of the best ways to motivate teams is by sharing live, actionable information. Digital signs positioned along the production line can display real-time production metrics: output counts, efficiency rates, downtime, and progress toward daily targets. Seeing these key performance indicators updated live on a large screen keeps everyone informed about how their line is performing. It also encourages teams to react quickly to any dips in performance, as the data is visible to all in the moment. This transparency improves productivity by aligning everyone with production goals and creating a sense of shared accountability.</p> <p>Moreover, celebrating wins on-screen — like meeting a monthly goal or achieving a safety milestone — can boost morale. In this way, digital signage becomes a kind of cheerleader on the production floor. It’s not just about numbers; content can include employee shout-outs, birthdays, or team success stories, which strengthen team cohesion. Screenly’s content scheduling makes it simple to mix these uplifting messages into the rotation of <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">data dashboards</a>. By having a unified source of truth visible to all, misunderstandings are reduced and teams stay cohesive and informed. The outcome is smoother operations and more on-time production, since everyone can adjust their work based on the latest information in sight.</p> <h2 id="never-miss-an-emergency-with-priority-override">Never miss an emergency with Priority Override</h2> <p>Even the most efficient production floor needs to be prepared for the unexpected. In fast-paced industrial environments, emergencies or urgent announcements can arise with little warning. Screenly’s digital signage software comes prepared for these moments with its Priority Override feature. Priority Override ensures that critical messages are never missed: it allows an emergency alert or high-priority content to immediately interrupt the regular screen programming. Imagine there’s a safety incident like a fire, gas leak, or severe weather warning — with Priority Override, an urgent warning message can flash across all digital signs instantly, advising workers to evacuate or take specific action. Once the situation is resolved, normal content playback resumes. This gives manufacturers peace of mind that even if employees are spread out across a large facility, they will all receive urgent information simultaneously and without delay.</p> <p>It’s an essential part of how digital signage improves safety in manufacturing settings. Even for non-emergencies, this override feature can be used for time-sensitive announcements from leadership, such as a last-minute schedule change or a critical quality control notice. With a tool like Priority Override, Screenly’s platform combines routine communication and emergency alerting into one seamless system, reinforcing the reliability of your internal communications network.</p> <h2 id="real-world-success-bridon-bekaert-case-study">Real-world success: Bridon-Bekaert case study</h2> <p>Screenly’s impact on manufacturing communication is best illustrated by real-world examples. A great case in point is <a href="/use-cases/manufacturing-bridon-bekaert-case-study/">Bridon-Bekaert</a>, a global steel rope manufacturer that turned to Screenly to modernize its factory communications. Prior to Screenly, Bridon-Bekaert had a makeshift digital signage setup: a few monitors around the plant displaying a looping PowerPoint with announcements. This DIY approach had serious limitations. Content was hard to update, as staff had to go to each screen in person to change the slideshow. As a result, screens often showed outdated information that employees eventually tuned out. In fact, some workers even switched off the monitors out of frustration with the stagnant content.</p> <p>After implementing Screenly’s digital signage solution, Bridon-Bekaert saw an immediate transformation. The company’s IT department quickly set up Screenly’s media players and taught the safety coordinator how to use the web-based dashboard to upload content and manage playlists. Within minutes, they had their first Screenly-powered digital sign running in the facility’s cafeteria. From there, the network of screens grew.</p> <p>Today, Bridon-Bekaert uses multiple digital signs throughout its factories to keep everyone informed. They broadcast safety procedures and reminders, display production numbers and other business metrics, and share general company news and updates from management. To keep content engaging, the screens alternate between work-related information and brief, fun content (like motivational quotes or quick humorous videos). Employees soon started paying attention and even looking forward to the updates on the screens. Management noticed that important messages, such as reminders about required OSHA training or updates on production goals, were finally reaching staff consistently.</p> <p>With Screenly’s cloud-based control, Bridon-Bekaert can update all its screens across different plant locations from headquarters, ensuring the entire workforce receives the same information. As the company expanded its Screenly deployment to multiple facilities, workers in different locations began to feel more connected. Employees enjoyed seeing photos and videos from sister plants on the displays, fostering a sense of unity across the company. The Bridon-Bekaert story shows how effective digital signage in manufacturing can improve safety, enhance communication, and create a more cohesive team environment.</p> <h2 id="training-and-event-updates-via-digital-signs">Training and event updates via digital signs</h2> <p>Bridon-Bekaert’s experience mostly highlights safety and performance, but digital signs can do even more for employee engagement. Another powerful use case for digital signage in manufacturing is employee training and internal events. Training materials that might normally be confined to a manual or occasional seminar can be brought to life on digital screens. For instance, Screenly allows you to schedule short training videos or how-to animations that play during shift changes or break times. New procedures, quality control steps, or equipment operation guidelines can loop on screens in the break room or near workstations, continuously reinforcing best practices. This approach is incredibly effective for a workforce that might not sit at desks reading emails – the training content comes to them, right on the shop floor, in an easily digestible format.</p> <p>Additionally, digital signs are a great way to announce company events and recognize employee achievements. Is there a town hall meeting next week or a team-building event coming up? Broadcasting that information on the screens ensures everyone sees it, even those who might miss an email. You can also use the screens to congratulate a team that hit a production milestone or to spotlight an “Employee of the Month.” These kinds of communications help strengthen the community spirit within manufacturing facilities. They remind every worker that they’re part of a larger story, not just isolated in their day-to-day tasks. By using Screenly’s scheduling, management can keep a steady rotation of training tips, company news, and event reminders playing alongside operational data. The result is a workforce that is not only well-informed about their tasks and safety, but also more engaged and included in the company’s journey.</p> <h2 id="innovating-with-screenlys-edge-app-framework">Innovating with Screenly’s Edge App framework</h2> <p>Screenly’s commitment to empowering manufacturers goes beyond just standard content – it also provides tools for innovation through its Edge App framework. Screenly’s <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge App framework</a> enables companies to create custom applications for their screens, enabling deep integration with real-time devices and data on the factory floor. In practice, this means your digital signage can do more than show a playlist of images or videos; it can become an interactive dashboard tied directly into your operations. For example, using Edge Apps, a manufacturer could develop a custom screen application that connects to assembly line sensors or a factory’s PLC/SCADA system. The digital sign could then display live readings of machine temperatures, speeds, or maintenance alerts directly from the equipment. If a sensor on a machine detects an anomaly, the screen could instantly show a warning or instruction specific to that machine, without any human intervention. This kind of real-time device integration greatly enhances responsiveness on the production floor.</p> <p>Edge Apps also make it possible to pull data from internal software solutions like ERPs or MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) and display up-to-the-minute inventory levels, order statuses, or quality metrics on the shop floor. Because Screenly’s Edge App framework is flexible and developer-friendly, these custom manufacturing apps can be built quickly and tailored precisely to a company’s needs. Essentially, Screenly provides the digital signage infrastructure (handling the hardware, security, and content distribution), and you focus on the business logic that runs on the screen. For manufacturers embracing Industry 4.0 initiatives, this ability to merge digital signs with IoT sensors and local databases is a game-changer. It turns your screens into intelligent hubs that not only broadcast information but also react to your operations in real time. This level of customization and integration is something traditional signage systems can’t easily offer, and it’s a standout feature of Screenly’s platform for any tech-forward industrial organization.</p> <h2 id="transforming-manufacturing-communication">Transforming manufacturing communication</h2> <p>Effective signage for manufacturing is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s a must-have for safe, productive, and efficient operations. From improving safety with timely alerts to driving productivity with real-time performance dashboards, digital signage is transforming how manufacturing teams communicate. Screenly’s all-in-one platform makes this transformation accessible to any company. With its easy-to-use cloud management, robust media players, and advanced features like Priority Override and Edge Apps, Screenly provides the tools to keep every worker in the loop and every process visible. The result is a more informed workforce, quicker decision-making on the factory floor, and better outcomes in both safety and productivity.</p> <p>If you’re looking to modernize your factory communication and streamline information flow, now is the perfect time to explore what Screenly can do for you. The platform is designed to scale and adapt, whether you run a small shop or multiple large manufacturing facilities. To see the impact for yourself, we encourage you to experience Screenly firsthand. You can <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> of Screenly’s digital signage software and have your first screen up and running in minutes. No complex IT project or steep learning curve is required. Embrace digital signage in your manufacturing operations today, and watch how it improves productivity, enhances safety, and unites your workforce like never before.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/23/digital-signage-for-manufacturing/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/23/digital-signage-for-manufacturing/Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>In today’s workplace, digital signage for internal communications has become a vital communication channel. This approach replaces static bulletin boards and printed posters with dynamic, real-time content displayed on digital screens, offering an engaging, efficient, and cost-effective method to keep employees informed and connected. Leveraging <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">corporate digital signage</a> strategically for internal communications allows organizations to streamline updates and foster a sense of unity among team members.</p> <h2 id="from-bulletin-boards-to-real-time-dashboards">From bulletin boards to real-time dashboards</h2> <p>Previously, internal communications relied heavily on notice boards and slide decks updated <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">manually via USB drives</a>, often resulting in outdated content. Modern digital signage solutions now use cloud-based dashboards to control content across multiple screens instantly. This ensures information, like meeting changes or company announcements, reaches employees in real-time, significantly improving the effectiveness of internal communication strategies.</p> <h2 id="engaging-content-ideas-for-internal-digital-signage">Engaging content ideas for internal digital signage</h2> <p>Digital signage excels by delivering diverse and relevant content directly to employees. Essential daily information such as meeting schedules, deadlines, and events can be clearly communicated. Companies frequently <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">display live key performance indicators (KPIs)</a>, enhancing transparency and motivation. Employee recognition—such as birthdays, anniversaries, or achievements—is another powerful use case, boosting morale and engagement by publicly acknowledging team members.</p> <h2 id="mixing-company-info-with-real-time-updates">Mixing company info with real-time updates</h2> <p>Effective digital signage combines essential business content with real-time information employees find valuable, such as local news headlines, weather forecasts, and traffic updates. For instance, break room screens might rotate through sales dashboards, event announcements, and <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">weather updates</a>, balancing informative and practical content. Additionally, digital signage can mix company-specific updates with engaging content like daily trivia, historical company facts, or social media highlights. This approach ensures important internal messages are noticed, as employees regularly engage with screens for both professional and personal updates.</p> <h2 id="fostering-engagement-and-morale-through-shared-displays">Fostering engagement and morale through shared displays</h2> <p>Beyond information delivery, digital signage can significantly shape company culture and employee morale. Visibility is key: displaying achievements or recognitions publicly fosters a sense of pride and unity among staff. Celebrating milestones and successes encourages others and creates a workplace culture of acknowledgment and appreciation.</p> <p>Regular reinforcement of the company’s mission and values via digital signage also helps align employees around shared objectives. By consistently showcasing examples of core values in action, such as volunteering events or team accomplishments, signage builds a deeper sense of community and purpose. This consistent messaging not only enhances engagement but also reinforces a <a href="%7B%7Bsitel.url%7D%7D/blog/2023/02/22/office-digital-signage/">positive workplace atmosphere</a>.</p> <h2 id="seamless-integration-of-dashboards-and-live-content">Seamless integration of dashboards and live content</h2> <p>Modern digital signage platforms like Screenly easily integrate third-party dashboards, reports, and web content, keeping screens informative and relevant. Companies can effortlessly include real-time data from business intelligence tools, social media feeds, or project management boards through public URLs, iframes, or advanced integrations via <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>.</p> <p>Edge Apps allow businesses to securely display internal dashboards and data without exposing sensitive information, providing instantaneous updates directly to digital screens. Developers can build and edit Edge Apps at the code level, line by line. This seamless custom app building enables screens to function as dynamic informational hubs, automatically showcasing comprehensive company updates and analytics all managed from a central online dashboard.</p> <h2 id="quick-deployment-with-minimal-it-involvement">Quick deployment with minimal IT involvement</h2> <p>Deploying internal digital signage is straightforward and accessible, requiring minimal IT involvement. The essential components include a display screen, a media player device (or browser-based media player like <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a>), and user-friendly content management software. Screenly’s intuitive platform lets users easily <a href="/end-user/display-content/">upload content</a>, <a href="/end-user/playlists/">manage playlists</a>, and schedule updates via an <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">online dashboard</a>, enabling non-technical staff to quickly take charge of digital signage operations.</p> <p>Connectivity requirements are minimal, typically involving basic internet access for content updates and remote management. Modern digital signage solutions are scalable and easy to maintain, offering significant savings compared to traditional methods like printed posters and emails. This ease of setup and operation makes digital signage ideal for businesses of all sizes, allowing them to efficiently communicate with customers and employees without additional IT overhead.</p> <h2 id="bringing-it-all-together">Bringing it all together</h2> <p>Implementing digital signage best practices can transform internal communications by ensuring essential messages reach employees clearly and consistently. By blending business-critical updates with engaging, real-time information, digital signage strengthens company culture, improves engagement, and boosts morale.</p> <p>Ready to enhance your internal communications strategy? Screenly offers an easy-to-use platform to deploy effective digital signage quickly. Experience these benefits firsthand by signing up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> and see how digital signage can energize your workplace communication.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/21/digital-signage-for-internal-communications/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/21/digital-signage-for-internal-communications/Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Quick service restaurants (QSRs) operate in a fast-paced environment where every second counts. Whether you’re running a burger joint, a coffee shop, or a taco stand, you know how important it is to keep menu boards up-to-date and customers happy. But updating traditional signs or printed menus can be a headache. This is where digital signage comes in as a game-changer for QSRs. In this blog post, we’ll explore how deploying and managing digital menu boards in a QSR is now easier than ever – and how Screenly’s friendly, plug-and-play solutions can help improve customer service, enhance customer experiences, increase sales, reduce wait times, and enable real-time menu updates. Grab a snack, and let’s dive in!</p> <h2 id="why-digital-signage-for-qsrs">Why digital signage for QSRs?</h2> <p>Digital signage isn’t just a flashy tech upgrade – it directly addresses common challenges in quick service restaurants. Here are some key benefits of switching to digital menu board displays in your QSR:</p> <p><strong>Better customer service:</strong> Digital signs can streamline the ordering process. For example, screens can display order numbers or status, so staff don’t need to shout out when an order is ready. This reduces confusion and creates a smoother, more customer-friendly experience at the counter. When customers can easily see menu options and order status, your team can focus on serving food and answering fewer repetitive questions – a win for customer service efficiency.</p> <p><strong>Enhanced customer experiences:</strong> Bright, dynamic displays with mouth-watering visuals make waiting in line a bit more enjoyable. Compared to static posters, digital boards can show delicious animations or rotating images of each menu item, catching customers’ attention. In fact, restaurants that use digital screens see higher customer engagement and recall. One study found that digital displays in restaurants increased customer recall rates by up to 47%, meaning people notice and remember your content. Entertained and informed customers are happier customers, which keeps them coming back.</p> <p><strong>Increased sales and promotions:</strong> Eye-catching digital menu boards don’t just look good – they can help drive impulse buys and upsells. With the flexibility to highlight menu items (like a limited-time dessert or a combo upgrade) at the perfect moment, you can gently influence what customers order. On average, businesses have seen sales increase by around 31.8% after implementing digital signage. QSRs can use this to their advantage by promoting high-margin items or daily specials prominently on the screen. The result? Customers are more likely to add that side dish or try the new item, and your revenue gets a tasty boost.</p> <p><strong>Reduced perceived wait times:</strong> No one likes to wait, but digital signage can make waiting feel shorter. By displaying engaging content – from fun facts to social media feeds or mouth-watering videos – you keep customers occupied and less aware of the clock. Research shows digital signs can cut perceived wait times by around 35%, making lines feel faster. Additionally, clear digital menus can help people decide on their order more quickly, moving the line along. Shorter wait times (or at least the feeling of shorter waits) lead to more satisfied guests.</p> <p><strong>Real-time updates and flexibility:</strong> Perhaps one of the biggest advantages for QSR operators is the ability to update content in real time. Sold out of a menu item? No problem – simply hide or replace it on the screen. Need to switch from the breakfast menu to the lunch menu at 11:00 AM on the dot? It can happen automatically with scheduled content. The era of printed posters and static signs is fading fast. Major fast-food and coffee chains already use digital menu boards that can change based on the time of day or inventory levels. For example, a breakfast menu can seamlessly swap to the lunch menu at 11am, and pricing or items can update on the fly as needed. The result is not only a more engaging, up-to-date menu for customers, but also easier item and price updates for your staff and managers. In short, digital signage gives you the power to be nimble – adapting to everything from current promotions to unexpected stock issues, across one or many locations, with just a few clicks.</p> <p>As you can see, switching to digital signage in a QSR delivers a better experience for customers <em>and</em> makes life easier for the business. Now, let’s talk about how Screenly makes deploying and managing these digital signs truly effortless.</p> <h2 id="deploying-screens-without-the-hassle">Deploying screens without the hassle</h2> <p>One reason some restaurant owners hesitate to adopt digital menu boards is the fear that it’s technically complicated or requires a big upfront investment in new hardware. Screenly solves these worries with a plug-and-play approach to deployment.</p> <p><strong>Screenly’s digital signage players:</strong> If you prefer dedicated hardware, Screenly provides compact <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a> that are simple to set up. These little devices hook up to your existing TVs or monitors (via HDMI) and connect to the internet. It’s as easy as plugging in a streaming stick – no technical expertise required. Once connected, the player will download your content and start showing your menu and promotions on the screen. Because Screenly’s platform is cloud-based, you don’t need to manually load media with USB sticks or constantly tend to the device; it’s largely “set it and forget it.” In fact, Screenly’s robust solution lets your staff manage screens from a central web interface, so you can deploy a device and then manage it remotely. Many users find that after the initial setup, they can literally focus on running the restaurant while the digital signs take care of themselves – the screens reliably play the right content at the right times without constant manual intervention.</p> <p><strong>Screenly Anywhere:</strong> Don’t have a dedicated media player device? No problem – Screenly has a unique solution called <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> that allows you to deploy digital signage on any device with a web browser. This means your smart TV, a spare tablet, an old laptop, or a mini PC can become a digital menu screen <em>without</em> any specialized player hardware. In other words, you can launch your first screen in minutes by just opening a link. Screenly Anywhere is a browser-based player that is hardware-agnostic, allowing you to get up and running fast and cost-effectively. There’s no need to wait for shipping or purchase new equipment if you already have a capable screen on hand. For a busy QSR, this is a big deal – you could roll out digital menus to all your franchise locations using existing TVs, all through a simple web app, ensuring a quick deployment across the board.</p> <p>Because the Screenly platform is cloud-based and built for user-friendliness, deploying a new screen – whether with a Screenly player or via Screenly Anywhere – is straightforward. Many QSR operators are pleasantly surprised that what they assumed would be a high-tech headache is actually as simple as “plug in, connect, and go live.”</p> <h2 id="effortless-content-management-from-anywhere">Effortless content management from anywhere</h2> <p>Getting your screens up is just step one – the real magic is in how easily you can manage and update your content. This is where Screenly truly shines, making content management a breeze even if you’re overseeing digital signage for multiple restaurant locations.</p> <p><strong>Centralized cloud management:</strong> With Screenly’s web-based dashboard, you can control one screen or hundreds from a single login. All you need is an internet connection to push new content or changes. For example, you (or your team) can update a menu from anywhere – whether you’re on-site at the restaurant or at a central office miles away. This remote content management means no more rushing USB sticks to every store or having staff manually change each screen. You can update prices, swap out an image, or post a new special in seconds via the online interface, and it will roll out to all your chosen screens. This saves a ton of time and labor. Think about the old way: if you had 50 locations, updating a breakfast item’s price might have meant 50 separate visits or a lot of shipped posters. With Screenly, it’s one click – 50 screens updated. Your staff stay off ladders and your customers aren’t staring at “black screens” while updates happen. The content updates are seamless and can even be scheduled to occur in off-hours to avoid any disruption.</p> <p><strong>Easy scheduling & dayparting:</strong> QSR menus change throughout the day – breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night, etc. Manually swapping menus is a hassle (and forgetting to do it on time can confuse customers). Screenly’s scheduling tools take care of this automatically. You can set up a playlist or schedule so that your digital menu board content changes at preset times. For instance, schedule the breakfast menu to display from 6am to 10:59am, then have the lunch menu kick in at 11:00am, and so on. The transition will happen on schedule without you lifting a finger. Have different menus on weekends or special holiday menus? Those can be pre-programmed as well. Screenly’s built-in playlist feature is sophisticated enough to handle multiple menu variations and dayparts – all you do is set it once, and it will automatically show the right menu at the right time. This ensures customers are always seeing the appropriate offerings (no more people trying to order breakfast at 2pm because the sign didn’t change!). It also reduces stress for staff, since they don’t need to remember to update screens manually. In short, scheduling makes your content timely and relevant all day, every day.</p> <p><strong>Instant promotions and real-time changes:</strong> Because everything is managed in the cloud, you can react to events in real time. If a certain ingredient runs out at 2pm, you can quickly hide that item from the menu to set proper expectations. If weather suddenly turns cold and you want to promote hot coffee and soup, you can push a new promo graphic to all screens immediately. Some QSRs even integrate live data – for example, a local sports score ticker during big games, or linking the menu to a database so that menu items automatically gray-out when unavailable. Screenly’s platform is robust and even supports Edge Apps and integrations for those who want to get creative. Edge Apps allow you to build custom signage applications and integrate third-party data into your screens easily. Imagine displaying a live social media feed of customers enjoying your food, or an up-to-the-minute countdown on a limited-time offer. With Screenly’s low-code Edge Apps framework, it’s possible to craft these kinds of dynamic experiences without needing to be a software wizard. The best part is that these apps run natively on the device, so even if your internet goes down, your screen can keep showing content without a hitch. While not every QSR will need to build custom apps, it’s nice to know the option is there to really tailor your digital signage to your restaurant’s needs.</p> <p><strong>Monitoring and reliability:</strong> Managing digital signage isn’t just about the content; it’s also about making sure your screens are up and running when you need them. Screenly includes features for monitoring your screens’ health in real time. You’ll get visibility into whether a screen is online and what’s playing. If something goes wrong (say a screen goes offline or there’s a power issue), you’ll know right away through the dashboard. This proactive monitoring means you can often fix an issue <em>before</em> it becomes a problem noticeable to customers. High reliability keeps your digital menu boards displaying and your customer experiences consistent. After all, a blank screen or error message during the lunch rush is the last thing you (or your hungry patrons) want to see.</p> <p>Overall, managing content with Screenly is designed to be so easy that one person can handle the digital signage for an entire chain of restaurants. For example, a marketing manager at headquarters can centrally update content for all franchises, ensuring brand consistency and timely promos everywhere. This frees up local staff to focus on on-site customer service, while the screens handle the standardized messaging. Your digital signage basically becomes a well-oiled machine that runs in the background, supporting your business goals with minimal upkeep.</p> <h2 id="ready-to-get-started">Ready to get started?</h2> <p>Get started with Screenly today, and serve up a modern menu experience that will keep guests coming back for more. Your restaurant’s digital transformation is just a few clicks away. Sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/17/qsr-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/17/qsr-digital-signage/Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>In recent years, many churches and other religious organizations have started embracing technology to better engage their congregations and local communities. From live-streaming services to using social media for outreach, churches are finding new ways to connect and enhance the worship experience. One essential part of this digital transformation is the rise of electronic church signs – dynamic digital displays that are replacing traditional static church signs.</p> <p>These digital church signs allow you to present messages in a visually engaging way, update content instantly, and communicate more effectively with church members. In fact, when used properly, digital signage for churches can greatly improve communication and even increase participation in services. For many first-time guests, the church sign makes a first impression even before they walk in. Digital signs can display a warm welcome message or inspirational quote that gives newcomers a taste of your church community. Instead of only sharing announcements during Sunday service or in a paper bulletin, a digital sign lets you reach people through multiple touchpoints – as they arrive in the foyer, walk the halls, or even drive by outside. It’s all about effective communication: delivering the right message at the right time in a way that captures attention and leaves a lasting impact.</p> <p>In this article, we’ll cover ideas for launching digital signs for your church, and we’ll discuss how you can get started with Screenly.</p> <h2 id="creative-content-ideas-for-church-digital-signs">Creative content ideas for church digital signs</h2> <p>What should you display on your digital church sign? Here are some popular content ideas that can help you engage your congregation and community:</p> <p><strong>Inspirational Bible verses & quotes</strong> – Share scripture or uplifting quotes that inspire and encourage your congregation. These daily messages can set a positive tone and keep people reflecting on faith throughout the week.</p> <p><strong>Service times & worship schedules</strong> – Clearly display your worship schedule, including Sunday service times, prayer meetings, Bible study nights, and any special services. This ensures everyone (including visitors) knows when and where worship events happen.</p> <p><strong>Announcements & upcoming events</strong> – Highlight upcoming church events, from Sunday school picnics to choir concerts to community outreach programs. Include event details like dates, times, and locations so members don’t miss out on church events or special events.</p> <p><strong>Community news & local events</strong> – If your church is involved in local happenings or supports community activities, use your sign to promote those. For example, an outdoor church sign can invite neighbors to a charity drive or let the local community know about a free concert on the church campus.</p> <p><strong>Welcome messages & member highlights</strong> – Make newcomers feel seen by programming warm welcome messages (e.g. “Welcome, we’re glad you’re here!”). You can also spotlight new members or volunteers (with permission) to build a sense of community and belonging among members.</p> <p><strong>Engaging extras</strong> – Keep content fresh by adding variety. Some churches include a “message of the day” from the pastor, birthdays or anniversaries in the congregation, or even fun touches like children’s artwork from Sunday school (a heart-warming personal touch). These little extras make your digital sign more attention-grabbing and relatable.</p> <p>Each of these content types plays a role in building stronger ties within your church community. Whether it’s sharing a meaningful verse or highlighting a local event, your digital signs can help reinforce your church’s values and create a more welcoming and informed environment.</p> <h2 id="best-practices-for-church-digital-signage">Best practices for church digital signage</h2> <p>To make the most of your church digital signs, keep these best practices in mind:</p> <p><strong>Pick the perfect placement</strong> - Position your signs for maximum impact. Place digital screens in high-traffic areas on your church campus – think entryways, lobbies, fellowship halls – where your congregation will see them often. For outdoor LED church signs, choose a spot visible from the road to catch the eye of passersby and potential members. Good placement ensures your message gets noticed by the people you want to reach.</p> <p><strong>Keep content fresh and relevant</strong> - Don’t let the same message sit on your sign for months. Update your digital sign content regularly to reflect current worship topics, upcoming events, or daily inspirations. This keeps people engaged and paying attention. Many digital signage tools (like Screenly) let you schedule content in advance, so you can plan a rotation of announcements, inspirational messages, and event reminders. Fresh content not only provides new information but also signals that your church is active and thriving, which draws more attention from members and visitors.</p> <p><strong>Mind local regulations</strong> Before you invest in that shiny new digital sign, be sure to check your local municipality’s rules on signage. Many areas require permits or a municipal code review for outdoor church signs, especially electronic LED displays. There may be regulations on the sign’s size, brightness, how frequently the message can change, or whether certain colors or animations are allowed. By doing your homework and complying with local codes, you’ll avoid fines and ensure your sign is a positive addition to the neighborhood (and not an unintended nuisance). If in doubt, consult city officials or even reach out to a sign company for guidance – many sign providers offer a free quote and are familiar with local sign ordinances, so they can help you navigate the approval process.</p> <p>By curating meaningful content and keeping it updated, your digital signs can do more than inform—they can uplift, connect, and reflect the spirit of your church community.</p> <h2 id="what-you-need-to-build-your-church-digital-sign">What you need to build your church digital sign</h2> <p>Setting up an electronic sign may sound complex, but you actually only need a few key components to get started:</p> <p><strong>A screen or display</strong> - This is the surface where your content will show. It could be a TV, a computer monitor, or a dedicated LED sign. For indoor digital signs, a standard HDTV or commercial display works well (you might already have one on hand). For outdoor signage, you’ll likely use a weatherproof full-color LED church sign built for exterior use – make sure to invest in a quality LED sign that can withstand the elements. Whatever type of display you use, it should be large enough and sharp enough that text and images are easily readable by your audience. High resolution is important for a polished look, but you don’t necessarily need the latest 4K screen – just something with clear, bright output that’s appropriate for your viewing distance.</p> <p><strong>A digital signage player or browser-based screen</strong> - This is a small device (like a mini-computer or media box) that plugs into your screen and “drives” the content. Think of it like a DVD player, but for your slideshow, videos, and graphics. The player connects to the display (usually via HDMI) and runs your signage software. Screenly offers plug-and-play <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage media players</a>, but thanks to the new <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> feature, you can even turn hardware you already own into a player – any device capable of running a modern web browser can become your digital signage player. That means you could use a smart TV in the lobby or a spare PC in the office as part of your setup. The goal is simply to have a reliable player that can run all day and smoothly display your content.</p> <p><strong>Content management software</strong> - To control what appears on the sign, you’ll use digital signage software (a Content Management System for your signs). This software lets you upload images/videos, create playlists of content, and schedule what plays when. It’s the “remote control center” for your sign. As a church leader, you’ll want a user-friendly platform that doesn’t require specialized training. (If you can handle making a PowerPoint or Facebook post, you can handle updating a digital sign!) Screenly’s cloud-based signage software is one example – it allows you to easily manage your sign from a web browser on your laptop. With the right software, church staff can change messages in minutes via an online dashboard, rather than having to manually update the sign in person.</p> <p><strong>Internet connection</strong> - Finally, your digital sign setup will need internet access or a network connection. This allows you to send new content and updates to the signage player remotely. It can be via WiFi or a wired Ethernet connection, whichever is practical. A good internet connection means you can update your sign on the fly and even pull in live data if desired – for example, showing a weather update or social media feed as part of your display.</p> <p>Once you’ve gathered the right tools, building your church’s digital signage system becomes a straightforward and rewarding process. A clear setup lays the foundation for meaningful engagement with your congregation.</p> <h2 id="making-digital-signage-easy-even-for-non-techies">Making digital signage easy (even for non-techies)</h2> <p>One of the biggest advantages of a platform like Screenly is that it makes digital signage incredibly easy to manage – even for volunteers or staff who aren’t tech experts. You don’t need an IT department or any special software training to run an electronic church sign. If you can drag-and-drop files or send an email, you can update a Screenly-powered sign!</p> <p><strong>Remote management</strong> - Screenly’s <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">web-based dashboard</a> lets you update your displays from anywhere. You can be in the church office or at home, and still change what’s showing on your church sign with a few clicks. Want to tweak the Sunday service announcement while you’re on vacation? No problem – just log in to the Screenly dashboard through any browser and update the content. This means you don’t have to physically go to the sign each time you want to change a message. Gone are the days of loading content onto a USB drive and plugging it into the sign for every little update. Everything updates over the cloud, which is a huge time-saver.</p> <p><strong>Use any hardware (Screenly Anywhere)</strong> - We mentioned <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> above, but it’s worth highlighting how it can help non-technical users. Screenly Anywhere allows you to deploy your signage on almost any device that has a web browser, with no additional hardware needed. That means you might not need to buy new equipment at all – for instance, you could use a smart TV in your lobby or a spare computer connected to a screen, and turn it into a digital sign just by running Screenly’s web player. This hardware-agnostic approach makes setup easier and can save money, since you’re leveraging devices you already have.</p> <p><strong>Easy scheduling and playlists</strong> - With Screenly, you can prepare content in advance and <a href="/end-user/playlists/">schedule it to display</a> at specific times. For example, you might schedule a “Youth Group tonight at 7 PM” reminder to run only on Wednesday afternoons or set an inspirational quote to appear every morning at 8 AM. You can also create playlists that cycle through various slides (e.g., rotating between an announcements slide, a Bible verse, and an upcoming events preview). This ensures the right message shows at the right moment, automatically. You can plan out a whole week or month of content and let it run on its own – a big help for busy church staff.</p> <p><strong>Multiple screens, one control center</strong> - If your church has several digital signs – say one in the lobby, one by the sanctuary, and one in the fellowship hall – Screenly lets you manage all of them from the same interface. You can group screens together and update them all at once, or send specific content to specific screens (for instance, a special message just on the youth room sign). This centralized control saves a ton of time. Church staff could update a dozen screens across a church campus (or even across multiple campuses) in the same time it takes to update one, with just a few clicks. No more running around to each display to keep them in sync!</p> <p><strong>Edge Apps for dynamic content</strong> - Digital signage managers should also know about <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a> – a low-code way to add custom or dynamic content to your screens. This is an advanced feature, but it opens up exciting possibilities if you want to get creative. For example, you could use an Edge App to automatically fetch and display real-time information on your sign. Edge Apps run directly on the screen’s player hardware and can pull in data from other tools via Screenly’s API. In practical terms, that means your sign’s content can update itself from predefined sources – truly programmable LED signs that might show a different inspirational message every day without you manually changing it. While using Edge Apps is completely optional, it’s nice to know the capability is there as your digital signage strategy grows. Even without any coding, Screenly provides some built-in integrations (apps) to simplify tasks like displaying calendars, news, or weather.</p> <p>Overall, the goal is that managing your digital church signs should not add stress to your day. Modern digital signage platforms like Screenly are designed so that anyone on your team can learn the basics quickly. The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, so you can focus on the content of your message rather than wrestling with technology. If you ever need help, Screenly provides support resources to guide you. In short, digital signage tools make it easy to engage your congregation and community – no tech genius required.</p> <h2 id="ready-to-get-started-try-screenly-free-for-hahahugoshortcode333s0hbhb-days">Ready to get started? Try Screenly free for 14 days</h2> <p>Digital signage can be a game-changer for church communication. Try Screenly’s <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> to see how easy it is to share timely, engaging content that informs and inspires your congregation.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/15/signage-for-churches/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/15/signage-for-churches/Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Creating impactful digital signage applications traditionally involves considerable technical challenges, often preventing businesses from fully expressing their creativity. Selecting hardware, managing operating systems, provisioning devices, and reliably distributing updates can quickly transform exciting projects into daunting tasks. Thankfully, Screenly’s <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge App framework</a> provides an easy solution, empowering users to effortlessly create engaging digital signage apps.</p> <h2 id="the-challenges-of-traditional-digital-signage-app-development">The challenges of traditional digital signage app development</h2> <p>Traditionally, deploying digital signage required navigating numerous technical hurdles, such as hardware selection, operating system management, network setup, and constant maintenance. These tasks typically diverted businesses from focusing on what truly matters: displaying compelling content and increasing customer engagement. Additionally, many <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage software solutions</a> provide limited integrations that rarely satisfy specific business needs, forcing companies into unwanted compromises.</p> <h2 id="screenly-edge-apps-making-digital-signage-easy">Screenly Edge Apps: Making digital signage easy</h2> <p>Screenly’s Edge Apps address these common pain points head-on. With Edge Apps, Screenly handles hardware compatibility, operating system reliability, device provisioning, <a href="/security/">security</a>, and content distribution seamlessly. This comprehensive approach enables businesses to concentrate solely on crafting compelling apps that more effectively integrate with their business tech stack. The Edge Apps framework significantly streamlines digital signage app development, allowing rapid deployment without traditional complexity.</p> <h2 id="fully-open-source-for-maximum-flexibility">Fully open-source for maximum flexibility</h2> <p>A key advantage of Screenly Edge Apps is that they are open-source. You can find the full code base on <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground">GitHub</a>. Unlike typical digital signage applications that offer limited integrations, Edge Apps grant complete freedom to users. Businesses are no longer constrained—they can fully customize each Edge App at the code level, perfectly aligning them with unique business systems. Developers can modify existing functionality or add entirely new features, ensuring that digital signage precisely meets specific operational needs and enhances customer engagement.</p> <h2 id="real-time-interactive-experiences">Real-time, interactive experiences</h2> <p>Edge Apps operate directly on the signage device, enabling unmatched real-time performance. By running directly on the hardware, Edge Apps drastically reduce latency, allowing immediate responses to local inputs or sensor data. For example, in retail settings, digital signs can instantly display promotional content triggered by customer interactions with products via motion sensors. This dynamic responsiveness creates immersive experiences far beyond what traditional cloud-based signage can achieve.</p> <h2 id="explore-the-screenly-edge-app-store">Explore the Screenly Edge App Store</h2> <p>Screenly further simplifies digital signage with the <a href="/edge-apps/">Edge App Store</a>, offering numerous ready-to-use digital signage apps. The store includes popular applications like <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">weather widgets</a>, <a href="/edge-apps/clock/">digital clocks</a>, and more. Each app is intuitive and deployable within moments, thanks to Screenly’s straightforward drag-and-drop interface.</p> <p>However, simplicity doesn’t limit flexibility. Because Edge Apps are open source, businesses can fully customize any app from the store. Adjust branding, integrate proprietary data systems, or modify functionality—Screenly ensures that users never need to compromise, delivering precisely tailored digital signage solutions.</p> <h2 id="comprehensive-solutions-from-screenly">Comprehensive solutions from Screenly</h2> <p>In addition to Edge Apps, Screenly provides a complete ecosystem designed to streamline every facet of digital signage deployment. Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage players</a> offer true plug-and-play convenience. Simply connect the device to your display and network, and it synchronizes seamlessly with your Screenly account.</p> <p>For even greater flexibility, <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> lets businesses deploy digital signage directly via any modern web browser, eliminating the need for specialized hardware. Existing devices like smart TVs or tablets instantly convert into powerful digital signs, all managed conveniently through Screenly’s intuitive cloud dashboard.</p> <p>Regardless of media player choice—dedicated Screenly players or Screenly Anywhere - Screenly’s centralized cloud dashboard ensures effortless management. Users can easily schedule content, monitor screen performance in real-time, and distribute updates across multiple locations with minimal effort.</p> <h2 id="experience-screenly-risk-free">Experience Screenly risk-free</h2> <p>Discovering the ease and power of Screenly’s digital signage software firsthand is simple with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. Within minutes, businesses can deploy their first digital sign, explore the <a href="/edge-apps/">Edge App Store</a>, and fully customize applications according to their needs.</p> <p>Screenly empowers businesses to focus less on infrastructure and more on captivating their audience. With Edge Apps, building professional digital signage applications has never been simpler.</p> <p>Start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today, and experience hassle-free digital signage with Screenly.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/10/build-digital-signage-apps/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/10/build-digital-signage-apps/Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Imagine needing to update promotional content on multiple screens across your stores right before a big sale. Previously, you’d have to run around manually updating each screen with USB sticks—a tedious and inefficient process. Thankfully, modern technology has simplified everything. Deploying a digital signage network is now easier, quicker, and more cost-effective than ever before. In this article, we’ll explore what digital signage networks are, how they can benefit your business, and how Screenly’s digital signage solution streamlines this process.</p> <h2 id="understanding-digital-signage-networks">Understanding digital signage networks</h2> <p>A digital signage network is a centralized system of connected digital screens, digital signage players, and cloud-based management software. The <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage network player</a>, or media player, is a small device connected to each display screen, responsible for downloading and playing your image and video content. Digital signage screens can range from standard TVs to professional-grade displays placed strategically in areas like lobbies, storefronts, or conference rooms.</p> <p>The core strengths of a digital signage network lies in its digital signage network software. Screenly’s web-based platform enables teams to remotely manage multiple screens from a central location. This cloud-based solution eliminates the hassle of individually updating each digital sign, saving substantial time and resources.</p> <h2 id="efficient-management-with-digital-signage-software">Efficient management with digital signage software</h2> <p>Modern digital signage software offers powerful tools to efficiently manage a large network of digital screens. Features like real-time screen health monitoring allow you to see the status of every screen instantly, ensuring that your displays remain operational and effective. You can quickly address any issues, minimizing downtime and improving reliability.</p> <p>With Screenly, you can easily organize and group multiple screens using <a href="/end-user/group-labels/">tags and group labels</a>. This functionality allows you to update and deploy content across several related screens simultaneously. For instance, a promotional campaign can be pushed instantly to all screens tagged “retail floor screens” without repetitive manual updating tasks.</p> <p>Screenly’s intuitive interface simplifies <a href="/end-user/playlists/">playlist scheduling</a>, letting you automate content delivery across your digital signage network. You can schedule different content to appear at various times, such as a breakfast menu in the morning or promotional offers in the afternoon. This ensures that your messages remain timely and relevant.</p> <h2 id="transition-from-manual-to-modern-signage">Transition from manual to modern signage</h2> <p>In the past, managing digital signs involved physically updating each screen individually - an expensive and time-consuming process. Modern digital signage networks drastically change this by centralizing <a href="/end-user/display-content/">digital signage content management</a> through web-based software. Updates that once required hours of manual labor now take just moments, greatly reducing labor and operational costs.</p> <p>Cloud-based digital signage software networks that function without a ton of management allow your team to focus on more critical business activities. Screenly’s solution helps ensure that your brand message remains consistent across multiple screens, enhancing your overall brand experience and communication effectiveness.</p> <h2 id="advantages-for-large-organizations">Advantages for large organizations</h2> <p>Digital signage networks provide significant benefits, especially for larger businesses and organizations. Centralized control ensures consistent branding across all locations, creating a unified and professional appearance. Whether managing ten or hundreds of screens, a digital signage network with guarantees uniformity in messaging and visuals.</p> <p>Additionally, networked signage allows businesses to communicate rapidly and effectively. Important information or emergency alerts can be instantly broadcasted across all screens simultaneously, ensuring timely dissemination. Dynamic content capabilities also keep your audience engaged—integrating live data or social media feeds can enhance viewer interaction.</p> <h2 id="how-screenly-enhances-digital-signage-network-management">How Screenly enhances digital signage network management</h2> <p>Screenly provides an all-in-one digital signage solution designed for simplicity and efficiency. Its web-based platform allows easy access from any internet-connected device, making content updates seamless and straightforward. Screenly supports various content formats, including images, videos, social media feeds, and interactive web pages, providing flexibility in your content strategy. Its enterprise-level features, such as team management, <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">granular access controls</a>, and secure <a href="/enterprise/sso-and-saml-support/">Single Sign-On (SSO)</a>, offer organizations the necessary security and operational control.</p> <p>Scalability is another major advantage of Screenly’s solution. Whether you manage a few screens or thousands, Screenly provides robust infrastructure and optimized hardware, ensuring reliable, high-quality content playback.</p> <h2 id="start-your-digital-signage-campaign-today">Start your digital signage campaign today</h2> <p>Deploying a digital signage network with Screenly transforms how your business communicates. Experience firsthand how Screenly simplifies digital signage management by signing up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>. Test the platform’s full capabilities—manage digital screens remotely, schedule dynamic content, and discover how effortless digital signage can truly be.</p> <p>Say goodbye to outdated manual methods and embrace the future of digital signage. Start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial today</a> and enhance your communication strategy with Screenly’s powerful digital signage solution.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/08/digital-signage-networks/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/08/digital-signage-networks/Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 8 Feature Releases</strong>: Screenly Anywhere improvements, Edge Apps branding, PDF updates, Android App launch, and more!</p> <p>Welcome back to another edition of the Screenly Changelog! In Episode 8, we’re excited to highlight several new features designed to make your digital signage experience simpler, more flexible, and ready to scale. Catch up quickly with the highlights below or watch the full episode recording to see these updates in action.</p> <h2 id="screenly-anywhere-updates">Screenly Anywhere updates</h2> <p>Last episode, we introduced <a href="/end-user/screenly-anywhere/">Screenly Anywhere</a> as the easiest way to get started with digital signage-no special hardware needed. We’ve continued improving Screenly Anywhere based on user feedback. Now, it supports even more smart TVs and browser set ups, letting you quickly transform any existing screen into a digital signage player. Just launch a Screenly Anywhere screen from your online Screenly account, enter a simple pin code, and start displaying content immediately. This makes deployment perfect for teams who want to launch screens quickly, without waiting for new hardware.</p> <h2 id="enhanced-edge-apps-with-custom-branding">Enhanced Edge Apps with custom branding</h2> <p>Edge Apps, Screenly’s ready-made apps for digital signage like <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">weather widgets</a>, <a href="/edge-apps/clock/">clocks</a>, or dashboards, now feature automatic branding. This means <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a> can match your company’s colors and logo effortlessly, creating a consistent and professional appearance across all screens. You still have full flexibility to customize these apps further if you choose, but now you can start with a polished, branded look right out of the box. Check out ready-to-go Edge Apps at the <a href="/edge-apps/">Edge Apps store</a>.</p> <h2 id="improved-pdf-support">Improved PDF support</h2> <p>We’ve completely rebuilt <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/35609825047059-How-to-display-PDF-content-with-Screenly">digital signage PDF handling</a> to make displaying PDFs smoother than ever. PDFs now render natively on screens, preserving the original layout, fonts, and graphics. You can select specific pages to show, rotate content, and manage them just like any other media asset. This update makes Screenly an ideal platform for showcasing menus, presentations, or reports without having to convert PDFs to images first.</p> <h2 id="zapier-integration">Zapier integration</h2> <p>Our recent <a href="/blog/2025/01/19/screenly-zapier-digital-signage-integration/">digital signage Zapier integration</a> continues to simplify content management. Zapier connects Screenly to thousands of popular apps like <a href="/tutorials/google-drive/">Google Drive</a>, <a href="/tutorials/dropbox/">Dropbox</a>, and <a href="/tutorials/slack/">Slack</a>, automating the content upload process. Just drop your file into a connected folder or app, and your digital signage will update itself. It’s automation that keeps your screens fresh without any extra manual effort.</p> <h2 id="enhanced-browser-extension">Enhanced browser extension</h2> <p>The <a href="/tutorials/browser-extensions/">Screenly Browser Extension</a> for <a href="https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/save-to-screenly/kcoehkngnbhlmdcgcadliaadlmbjmcln">Chrome</a> and <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/save-to-screenly/">Firefox</a> has been updated to better handle authentication details for secure and private dashboards. If your signage needs to display secure, logged-in content, the extension captures your authenticated session securely, eliminating repeated logins and interruptions on-screen. It’s perfect for displaying internal metrics or secure information seamlessly.</p> <h2 id="introducing-the-screenly-android-app">Introducing the Screenly Android app</h2> <p>We’re excited to announce our new Android app, now available in the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.screenlyapp.anywhere.twa">Google Play Store</a>. The app turns any Android-powered smart TV or tablet into a dedicated digital signage device, bringing the power of Screenly directly to your Android hardware. Simply install, log in, and you’re ready to display your content—no additional hardware required.</p> <h2 id="sneak-peek-new-screenly-player-max-hardware">Sneak Peek: New Screenly Player Max hardware</h2> <p>Lastly, keep an eye out for upcoming announcements about our refreshed Screenly Player Max hardware. We’re upgrading the performance, reliability, and security of our dedicated player to meet the demands of even the most complex signage deployments. More details coming soon!</p> <h2 id="try-screenly-free-for-hahahugoshortcode331s0hbhb-days">Try Screenly free for 14 days</h2> <p>If you haven’t tried Screenly yet, now’s the perfect time. Sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">14-day free trial</a> today and see firsthand how simple and powerful digital signage can be for your business</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/04/screenly-changelog-episode-8/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/04/screenly-changelog-episode-8/Fri, 04 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage is an eye-catching way to share dynamic content like images, videos, and real-time information on digital screens. Unlike static signs, digital signage is interactive, easy to update, and highly engaging. Businesses of all types use digital signs to promote products and services, display dashboards, or communicate effectively with customers and staff. In the post below, we’ll cover how to launch custom digital signage deployments with Screenly.</p> <h2 id="what-you-need-for-digital-signage">What you need for digital signage</h2> <p>Getting started with digital signs might sound complicated, but you really only need three basic components:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>A screen</strong>: Almost any TV or monitor with an HDMI input works perfectly. You likely already have something suitable.</p> </li> <li> <p>A <strong>digital signage player</strong>: This small, powerful device connects your screen to the internet and renders your content. Screenly offers plug-and-play options like the Screenly Player and Screenly Player Max. You can also get started with your existing hardware or no hardware at all using Screenly Anywhere.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Digital signage management software</strong>: This software lets you manage content remotely—uploading, scheduling, and monitoring multiple screens from a simple web dashboard.</p> </li> </ul> <p>With these three elements, you’re ready to deliver content your audience in minutes.</p> <h2 id="screenly-makes-digital-signage-simple">Screenly makes digital signage simple</h2> <p>Managing hardware and software separately can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to digital signage. Screenly simplifies the whole process by combining everything into one easy-to-use solution.</p> <p>Screenly provides both the hardware (plug-and-play digital signage players) and software (a user-friendly, cloud-based dashboard). Upload images or videos, create playlists, and schedule content effortlessly. Need to display different messages across multiple screens? Screenly handles it smoothly. Remote monitoring ensures your screens are always online, while robust security keeps your content safe. With Screenly, the complexity is gone—just plug it in, log in, and you’re good to go.</p> <h2 id="screenly-anywhere-digital-signage-without-extra-hardware">Screenly Anywhere: Digital signage without extra hardware</h2> <p>What if you could start using digital signage right now, using hardware you already own? With Screenly Anywhere, you can. This new offering from Screenly transforms existing devices—like laptops, smart TVs, or mini PCs—into powerful digital signage players through a modern web browser.</p> <p>This flexibility means launching customized digital signage in just minutes without buying extra hardware. Want to test digital signage without upfront investment? Screenly Anywhere is the perfect solution, offering the full power and features of Screenly’s hardware solutions but with zero setup hassle.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-that-works-with-any-screen">Digital signage that works with any screen</h2> <p>One of Screenly’s greatest strengths is its flexibility. You can use any HDMI-compatible screen or any modern web browser-equipped device to create your custom digital signage setup. Screenly supports both landscape and portrait modes, allowing you to mount screens exactly how you need them.</p> <p>Additionally, Screenly displays content beautifully in 1080p HD or stunning 4K resolution, perfect for small displays, video walls, and everything in between. Screenly’s versatility lets you repurpose existing screens or choose new ones specifically for your needs, ensuring your digital signage looks professional everywhere.</p> <h2 id="create-custom-apps-with-screenly-edge-apps">Create custom apps with Screenly Edge Apps</h2> <p>Sometimes your business needs more than standard digital signage. Maybe you want real-time sales data, custom alerts, or unique business data displayed. That’s why Screenly created Edge Apps—a powerful framework that lets you build and customize digital signage apps to suit your unique needs.</p> <p>Edge Apps let you easily connect your digital signage with existing business systems, such as inventory, CRM, or analytics platforms. You don’t need to start from scratch either—Screenly provides open-source Edge Apps you can customize quickly. Whether it’s creating dashboards or showing live updates from your data sources, Edge Apps offer unmatched customization for your digital signage.</p> <h2 id="try-screenly-for-free-with-our-hahahugoshortcode329s0hbhb-day-trial">Try Screenly for free with our 14-day trial</h2> <p>Screenly’s goal is to make custom digital signage accessible, affordable, and easy for everyone—from small businesses to large corporations. Whether you’re experimenting with digital signage or launching large-scale displays, Screenly’s flexible platform simplifies every step.</p> <p>Ready to see how easy digital signage can be? Sign up for Screenly’s <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">14-day free trial</a>, no credit card required. Experience firsthand how quickly you can set up captivating, customized digital signage. Start your trial today and join countless businesses transforming their screens and engaging their audiences effortlessly.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/03/custom-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/03/custom-digital-signage/Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Modern conference rooms deserve modern solutions. If your office is still relying on printed schedules or guesswork to manage meeting spaces, it’s time for an upgrade. In the post below, we cover how to make the most of conference room digital signage and get your display up and running quickly.</p> <h2 id="manage-conference-room-bookings-with-digital-signage">Manage conference room bookings with digital signage</h2> <p>Conference room digital signage can display real-time meeting schedules right at the conference room door. With a glance at a screen, employees know exactly when a room is free or in use, which prevents double booking and reduces scheduling conflicts. Using a digital conference room display synced to your calendars means everyone stays on the same page – no more meeting mix-ups or wasted time hunting for available space. It also provides real-time information that updates automatically as meetings are scheduled or changed, so your room schedule is always accurate. In short, conference room digital signage improves transparency, boosts meeting management, and optimizes room usage.</p> <h2 id="going-beyond-conference-room-schedules">Going beyond conference room schedules</h2> <p>A conference room meeting display also serves as a communication hub. When no meeting is in progress, the screen can cycle through other useful content – upcoming company events, announcements, or a friendly welcome message for guests. You might use the display to show instructions for the AV equipment or reminders of Wi-Fi details. This transforms your digital signage for conference rooms into a dynamic workplace asset that keeps everyone informed. Some teams alternate between the room’s schedule and a live presentation feed or internal dashboard during meetings, turning their conference room screen into a hub for real-time information.</p> <h2 id="key-benefits-of-conference-room-digital-signage">Key benefits of conference room digital signage</h2> <p>Conference room digital signage delivers a range of benefits. First, as mentioned, double-booking becomes a problem of the past. A second order effect is that improved room usage visibility helps teams to have more ad-hoc meetings and collaboration.</p> <p>Digital signage also provides a professional appearance compared to outdated paper signs. A sleek, cloud-based digital display signals to visitors that your company embraces modern, user-friendly technology. Additionally, you can repurpose your conference room’s digital signage to showcase announcements, news, or welcome messages, making your signage both practical and engaging.</p> <p>Finally, your conference room digital signage can reinforce company culture. Easily display personalized welcome messages for guests or showcase team highlights when rooms are idle. With Screenly, these engaging updates take seconds via the cloud-based platform.</p> <h2 id="getting-your-first-conference-digital-sign-running-with-screenly">Getting your first conference digital sign running with Screenly</h2> <p>Deploying conference room digital signage with Screenly is easy—even if you’re not especially tech-savvy. Screenly provides the hardware (digital signage players) and software (cloud-based manager solution) you need, packaged into a user-friendly platform.</p> <p>Setting up your digital signage for conference rooms begins by signing up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> at Screenly.io.</p> <p>Choosing your display hardware is flexible with Screenly. The plug-and-play <a href="/digital-signage-players">Screenly Player</a> connects easily to your chosen display, from large monitors to small touchscreen tablets. For higher-performance needs, <a href="/digital-signage-players">Screenly Player Max</a> offers 4K and heavier content support. Alternatively, <a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">Screenly Anywhere</a> lets you turn virtually any existing mobile device, tablet, PC, or even a smart TV into a digital sign via a browser link, offering total hardware flexibility.</p> <p>Integrating your calendar to create your digital conference room schedule display is simple. For <a href="/tutorials/google-calendar/">Google Calendar</a> users, generate a public calendar URL in your calendar settings and add it directly into Screenly’s dashboard. Office 365 users can similarly publish their calendar externally, adding the generated URL into Screenly. This integration allows your conference room meeting display to dynamically show real-time updates directly from your calendar software.</p> <p>After integrating your calendar, simply create playlists in Screenly’s dashboard to schedule and manage what content shows on your screens. Once your playlist includes the calendar URL, assign it to your screens, and Screenly automatically updates your displays. This simple setup ensures everyone in your office sees up-to-date meeting details at a glance, without extra manual effort.</p> <h2 id="managing-conference-digital-signs-at-scale">Managing conference digital signs at scale</h2> <p>Screenly’s cloud-based platform makes it easy to manage multiple conference room displays remotely. Whether updating room booking information or adding new content from your office or mobile device at home, changes appear instantly across your digital signs. Screenly also supports multiple content types, making it easy to display dashboards, company news, or interactive touch screen content alongside your room scheduling.</p> <p>Screenly <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a> expand integration capabilities further, allowing custom apps to be built to display information from specialized platforms and tools. You could, for example, use Screenly to pull in real-time room usage analytics or integrate sensors to detect occupancy. These integrations can further optimize your room scheduling and help you understand peak usage patterns.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly-today">Get started with Screenly today</h2> <p>If you’re ready to streamline meeting management, reduce scheduling conflicts, and modernize your conference room signage, try Screenly today. Sign up now for your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>, and experience firsthand how easy, flexible, and transformative Screenly’s digital signage solution can be for your office. Say goodbye to room scheduling headaches and hello to seamless conference room management.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/02/conference-room-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/04/02/conference-room-digital-signage/Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2> <p>When I joined Screenly, my first big task was re-skinning the existing Edge Apps to a new model. It sounded straightforward initially, but as I delved into the process, I encountered interesting challenges and learning moments. Here’s my journey through the transformation of these apps.</p> <h2 id="the-need-for-a-fresh-look">The Need for a Fresh Look</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/new-simple-message-edgeapp_hu_30014322c34a521a.webp 480w, /images/blog/new-simple-message-edgeapp_hu_da8e24fa284c6512.webp 768w, /images/blog/new-simple-message-edgeapp_hu_3dc2ede8983184f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/new-simple-message-edgeapp_hu_5d5dc54ce91ccde9.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/new-simple-message-edgeapp_hu_5f33a58fbdc67bbc.webp 480w, /images/blog/new-simple-message-edgeapp_hu_b31a814e45438745.webp 768w, /images/blog/new-simple-message-edgeapp_hu_45eebecd9a4690e7.webp 1024w, /images/blog/new-simple-message-edgeapp_hu_9ccb90a00e8c266b.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/new-simple-message-edgeapp_hu_3dc2ede8983184f.webp" alt="New Simple Message Edge App" class="no-border" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="531" > </picture> <p>Screenly’s apps were functional, but they lacked a customised feel. We wanted to give users more control over the appearance by allowing them to change the primary and secondary colours while incorporating their domain logos. This meant ensuring a seamless and dynamic UI update based on user preferences.</p> <p>The challenge was clear: How do we make each app feel like an extension of the user’s brand while maintaining a cohesive design language across all apps?</p> <h2 id="implementing-global-branding-settings">Implementing Global Branding Settings</h2> <p>I utilised <strong>Global Branding Settings</strong>, a feature that simplifies the application of brand identity across digital signage. This system automatically extracts branding elements—such as colours and logos—using public data associated with an organisation’s email domain. It seamlessly integrates into all Edge Apps, requiring no extra effort from users or developers. With its support for accent colours, light and dark mode variants, and adaptive logos, this feature ensures that every app consistently represents an organisation’s visual identity, delivering a unified and professional look.</p> <p>You can find the Global brand setting details <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/edge-apps/#reserved-setting-names">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="the-unexpected-logo-challenge">The Unexpected Logo Challenge</h2> <p>One of the hurdles I faced was handling customer logos. Users could upload their logos in various formats—PNG, JPEG, SVG, and more—but the system did not provide a MIME type for these images.</p> <p>To tackle this, I implemented a clever workaround by fetching the file’s initial bytes and using magic numbers to determine the format:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-javascript" data-lang="javascript"><span style="display:flex;"><span>jpegMagicNumbers = <span style="color:#ed9d13">"FFD8FF"</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>pngMagicNumber = <span style="color:#ed9d13">"89504E47"</span>; </span></span></code></pre></div><p>A small but crucial fix ensured proper logo rendering across all apps.</p> <h2 id="introducing-sentry-for-better-debugging">Introducing Sentry for Better Debugging</h2> <p>No project is complete without a solid error-handling strategy. We integrated Sentry to log errors, making tracking and debugging issues easier. This addition will help us identify and resolve problems before they impact users.</p> <h2 id="transforming-the-apps">Transforming the Apps</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/new-edgeapp-list_hu_fcc364e605e4313c.webp 480w, /images/blog/new-edgeapp-list_hu_c55c21d7679fb68c.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/new-edgeapp-list_hu_ba6617034ed38d7d.webp 480w, /images/blog/new-edgeapp-list_hu_bf2d8bdbcd8962bb.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/new-edgeapp-list_hu_acce42fa7eeb71f0.webp" alt="New Edge App List" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="902" > </picture> <p>With these foundational improvements in place, we set out to re-skin multiple apps:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/edge-apps/countdown-timer/">Countdown Timer</a></li> <li><a href="/edge-apps/clock">Clock App</a></li> <li><a href="/edge-apps/rss-reader">RSS Reader</a></li> <li><a href="/edge-apps/simple-message">Simple Message App</a></li> <li><a href="/edge-apps/tfl/">TFL Bus Status App</a></li> </ul> <p>Some are already live, while others are undergoing final testing before production release. Seeing them evolve into a polished, modern experience was deeply satisfying.</p> <h2 id="the-open-source-spirit">The Open-Source Spirit</h2> <p>One of the best parts of this journey is that all our Edge Apps are open-source and available on GitHub. With documentation in place, the community can contribute improvements and suggestions. This project wasn’t just about redesigning apps but making them more accessible and collaborative. You can find the source <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="reflections-and-whats-next">Reflections and What’s Next</h2> <p>Re-skinning these apps was an exciting challenge, blending creativity with problem-solving. It reinforced my ability to think critically about UI customisation, handle real-world technical limitations, and implement effective debugging solutions.</p> <p>I’m eager to see how users will interact with these apps and what improvements we can make in the future. I’m confident that each challenge will provide us with new learning and innovation opportunities!</p> <h2 id="final-thoughts">Final Thoughts</h2> <p>I’m excited about the future of Screenly Edge Apps. The journey has been a mix of challenges and successes, and I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished. Want to learn more? Check out our <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps overview</a> or launch your first Edge App today with our <a href="/edge-apps/">Edge Apps Store</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/03/12/revamping-screenly-edge-apps-a-developers-journey/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/03/12/revamping-screenly-edge-apps-a-developers-journey/Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2> <p>We announced about a month ago that <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/30/resurrecting-browser-extension/">we revived our Google Chrome extension</a> project and made some major improvements—user interface makeover, React migration, Firefox support, and going open source. It’s a great start, but we don’t stop there.</p> <h2 id="new-changes">New changes</h2> <p>Since the announcement, we’ve implemented bug fixes and further codebase improvements. The asset metadata (i.e., asset ID, whether to save cookies and/or to bypass asset verification) that’s being persisted client-side isn’t being wiped out anymore when the user signs out. New assets are now being persisted in local storage properly. We also fixed the issue where the browser extension shows that it’s an existing asset even though that asset was removed via the Screenly web interface or via the REST API. To summarize, we applied fixes related to synchronizing browser storage with Screenly.</p> <p>Regarding open source, we’ve now added a prerequisites section in the documentation so that users and potential contributors can get started with less hassle. We also added documentation on <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Browser-Extension/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md">how developers can start making contributions</a> to the project. Some parts of the new contribution docs were already in the main README, but having separate documentation for that makes it clearer.</p> <p>We also migrated the codebase to TypeScript, which we’ll elaborate on in the next section.</p> <h2 id="why-migrate-to-typescript">Why migrate to TypeScript?</h2> <p>Our decision to migrate to <a href="https://www.typescriptlang.org/">TypeScript</a> wasn’t easy or straightforward. We researched other developers’ stories about migrating to TypeScript, reverting to JavaScript, and other approaches. There’s no silver bullet for every problem. Every approach has its own benefits and trade-offs.</p> <p>When we first migrated to TypeScript, we used <code>any</code> everywhere. While this is a neat feature that TypeScript offers (to allow a smooth transition from JavaScript), it’s <a href="https://medium.com/@ExplosionPills/avoid-the-any-type-in-typescript-aba2496d1e6a">not a good practice</a> as it defeats the purpose of moving to a strongly-typed programming language.</p> <p>Introducing type systems in the project has its pros and cons. With typing, it becomes easier to debug code. It also acts as documentation, alongside code comments. To justify this statement, we’ll demonstrate code snippets from our project. Here’s what our function <code>createWebAsset</code> looks like <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Browser-Extension/blob/734ca9834c5e473b2e2f681f916ed36a0a8eb6a3/src/assets/js/main.mjs#L46-L58">before TypeScript</a>:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-javascript" data-lang="javascript"><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">export</span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">function</span> createWebAsset(user, url, title, headers, disableVerification) { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#999;font-style:italic">// callApi is a wrapper function that we wrote for window.fetch </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#999;font-style:italic"></span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">return</span> callApi( </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'POST'</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'https://api.screenlyapp.com/api/v4/assets/'</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'source_url'</span>: url, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'title'</span>: title, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'headers'</span>: headers, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'disable_verification'</span>: disableVerification, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> }, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> user.token </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> ); </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>} </span></span></code></pre></div><p>For contributors new to the project, it would be quite hard to identify what arguments to pass. Take the <code>user</code> parameter for instance. At first glance, it looks like data needs to be a JavaScript object, but it’s not particular about what attributes to include. We can get away with debugging it by temporarily putting <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/console/log_static">console.log</a> statements all over the place but it can be tiresome especially when things get quite complicated.</p> <p>This is where TypeScript can be useful. Here’s what the <code>createWebAsset</code> function <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Browser-Extension/blob/567903e260d85e2690baa029002470a371f58c09/src/assets/ts/main.ts#L73-L91">looks like right now</a>:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-typescript" data-lang="typescript"><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">export</span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">function</span> createWebAsset( </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> user: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">User</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> url: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">string</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> title: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">string</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> headers: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">object</span> | <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">null</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> disableVerification: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">boolean</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>) { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#999;font-style:italic">// callApi is a wrapper function that we wrote for window.fetch </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#999;font-style:italic"></span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">return</span> callApi( </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'POST'</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'https://api.screenlyapp.com/api/v4/assets/'</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> source_url: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">url</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> title: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">title</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> headers: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">headers</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> disable_verification: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">disableVerification</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> }, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> user.token, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> ); </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>} </span></span></code></pre></div><p>As seen on the snippet, <code>user</code> should be of <code>User</code> type. Here’s how the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Browser-Extension/blob/567903e260d85e2690baa029002470a371f58c09/src/assets/ts/main.ts#L13-L15"><code>User</code></a> type is defined:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-typescript" data-lang="typescript"><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">export</span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">interface</span> User { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> token: <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">string</span>; </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>} </span></span></code></pre></div><p>This means that we should pass to <code>createWebAsset</code> a TypeScript object with a property named <code>token</code>, which should be a <code>string</code>. Developers won’t have to guess what kind of arguments to pass or rely on <code>console.log</code> statements.</p> <p>With these improvements, TypeScript can detect errors that JavaScript might miss.</p> <h2 id="when-not-to-use-typescript">When not to use TypeScript?</h2> <p>Initially, our browser extension project was written in JavaScript. As the codebase grew larger, it became less readable and more prone to bugs that could have been caught earlier.</p> <p>As mentioned earlier, TypeScript is not a “one size fits all” solution. It requires a learning curve, especially for developers who are used to JavaScript’s flexibility. There can be cases where TypeScript’s strictness might hinder rapid prototyping or experimentation. The tooling and ecosystem around TypeScript are still evolving, and there might be compatibility issues with certain libraries or frameworks.</p> <h2 id="whats-next">What’s next?</h2> <p>The project remains open source, so we encourage everyone to contribute. If you find a bug, feel free to create an issue. Additionally, if you discover something that can be added or enhanced—whether it’s an internal change, a minor user interface fix, or a documentation update—feel free to open a pull request.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/03/11/migrating-browser-extension-code-to-typescript-and-other-bug-fixes/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/03/11/migrating-browser-extension-code-to-typescript-and-other-bug-fixes/Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital displays have become a staple in transportation hubs – from <a href="/use-cases/airport-digital-signage/">airport terminals</a> to train stations – where they provide real-time flight and transit information to thousands of passengers. Modern digital signage now replaces static signs with dynamic screens that can show schedules, <a href="/blog/2025/02/02/wayfinding-digital-signage/">wayfinding directions</a>, safety alerts, and even advertisements in high definition. This not only keeps travelers informed with up-to-the-minute updates but also improves the overall passenger experience by reducing confusion and perceived wait times. </p> <p>Screenly, a leading digital signage platform, offers a cloud-based solution tailored for transportation displays, making it easy for transportation facilities to deploy and manage these smart displays at scale. By leveraging Screenly’s tools, transit hub operators can centrally control content across all their screens – whether in an airport or a bus network – ensuring consistent messaging and quick updates when it matters most. In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of digital signage in transportation and how Screenly empowers transit operators to inform and engage travelers more effectively.</p> <h2 id="the-importance-of-digital-signage-in-transportation">The importance of digital signage in transportation</h2> <p>Transportation environments are fast-paced and information-driven. Digital signage plays a critical role in delivering timely information and enhancing the journey for commuters and travelers. Key benefits include:</p> <p><strong>Real-time information updates:</strong> Schedules in transit can change rapidly due to delays, cancellations, or service changes. Digital signage allows instant updates to arrival/departure boards and platform displays so passengers always see the latest information. For example, high-resolution LCD screens in airports and train stations automatically refresh with real-time data. With a platform like Screenly, transit staff can push updates to all relevant screens via the cloud within seconds, ensuring everyone is informed simultaneously. In most cases, these updates happen automatically through integration with the trasit facilitie’s data systems and the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>.  This immediacy builds trust and reduces uncertainty for passengers who depend on accurate, current information.</p> <p><strong>Enhanced passenger experience & wayfinding:</strong> Beyond schedules, digital signs improve the overall travel experience. They can display directional guidance or even announcements for boarding and gate changes. In crowded transit hubs, this wayfinding capability helps newcomers navigate complex terminals with ease. Screens can also share helpful content like news, weather, or trivia to keep waiting passengers engaged. By providing useful and engaging content, transportation providers make wait times feel shorter and reduce passenger frustration. The flexibility of Screenly’s software means content can range from simple images and videos to live webpages or even <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">custom apps</a> showing things like subway maps – all in rotation as part of a <a href="/end-user/playlists/">programmed playlist</a>.</p> <p><strong>Emergency alerts and safety notifications:</strong> In case of emergencies or service disruptions, digital signage becomes a crucial communications tool. Instead of relying on static signs or public address alone, screens can instantly switch to display emergency messages, evacuation instructions, or safety alerts in multiple languages. With Screenly, operators can trigger a <a href="/end-user/playlists/">priority playlist</a> that overrides regular content on all screens to broadcast urgent announcements. For instance, if a train station must be evacuated, every Screenly-powered display can flash evacuation directions and exit locations, ensuring the message reaches everyone on-site. This centralized control of content allows faster response times during critical events.</p> <p><strong>Advertising and revenue opportunities:</strong> Transportation hubs are prime locations for advertising, given the high foot traffic and dwell times. Digital signage enables transit authorities and facility operators to display advertising content – from local business ads to national brand campaigns – on screens alongside informational content. Bus shelters and station platforms increasingly use <a href="/blog/2019/04/12/digital-signage-enclosures/">outdoor digital displays</a> to show not just route maps and schedules, but also rotating digital adverts while riders wait. This creates a new revenue stream without the additional overhead of printing posters. Screenly supports high-definition images and videos (even 4K), ensuring ads are eye-catching and professional. With its scheduling feature, different ads can play at different times of day or in specific locations, allowing targeted advertising (for example, promoting a coffee shop during morning commute hours). By integrating advertising into their digital signage, transportation providers can offset costs and invest more in passenger amenities, all managed through Screenly’s easy interface.</p> <p>Next, we’ll look in more depth at how Screenly’s platform specifically supports the above use cases, providing the tools needed to deploy and manage transit digital signage effectively.</p> <h2 id="how-screenly-supports-transportation-digital-signage">How Screenly supports transportation digital signage</h2> <p>Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage platform</a> is feature-rich and perfect for a variety of transportation usecases. Screenly offers a combination of software, hardware flexibility, and cloud services that address the unique needs of transit environments. Below are key Screenly features and how they apply to transportation use cases:</p> <h3 id="cloud-based-content-management-and-scheduling">Cloud-based content management and scheduling</h3> <p>Managing dozens or even hundreds of screens across a transit system is straightforward with Screenly’s cloud-based CMS (content management system). Administrators can log into the Screenly web dashboard to upload content, organize playlists, and schedule when each piece of content should play. Additionally, teams can <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-integrations/">integrate their digital signs</a> with existing databases and data providers so that content is updated automatically. This central management and programmatic scheduling means a small team can handle signage for an entire airport or city-wide transit network from one interface – no need to <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">update content via USB sticks</a> or visit each sign.</p> <p>Screenly’s dashboard also lets you <a href="/end-user/group-labels/">group screens</a> by location or function so you can deploy content to, say, all “Platform Screens” or all “Lobby Displays” with one click. You can schedule playlists to run at specific times (for example, a “Night Service” schedule on platform screens after 10 PM) or even set up day-parting and weekly schedules in advance. Importantly, if something unexpected happens (like an emergency or a sudden delay announcement), Screenly allows you to push instant updates or override content with priority messaging across all screens. All of this is done remotely via the cloud, ensuring real-time updates system-wide without physical intervention.</p> <h3 id="hardware-flexibility-and-247-reliability">Hardware flexibility and 24/7 reliability</h3> <p>Transportation facilities often have a mix of display types and require hardware that can run reliably 24/7. Screenly excels here by being hardware-agnostic and offering robust player options. Screenly <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage players</a> are purpose-built media devices optimized for digital signage, available in models like the standard <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a> and the high-performance <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player Max</a>. These players simply connect to any TV or digital display via HDMI and to the internet via WiFi or ethernet, then automatically retrieve and play scheduled content from the Screenly cloud. They support <a href="/end-user/full-hd-4K-resolution/">1080p Full HD and 4K playback</a> for crisp timetable screens or ad content, and they’re designed for reliability – including features like automatic rebooting and security updates to keep them running smoothly in unattended locations.</p> <p>For transit agencies that may want to utilize existing hardware, Screenly provides flexibility through <a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">Screenly Anywhere</a> which lets you use virtually any device capable of running a modern web browser as a digital signage player. That means a mini PC behind a large LED departure board or even a <a href="/blog/2024/12/29/digital-signage-smart-tvs/">smart TV</a> with a built-in browser could be used as a Screenly display client, reducing the need for specialized equipment. </p> <p>With Screenly digital signage player devices, Screenly <a href="/end-user/content-caching/">caches content locally</a> on each player, so if the network connection drops (such as in a subway tunnel or during an outage), the screen will keep displaying the last updated content instead of going blank. This local content caching is crucial in many transit environments – it maximizes uptime and ensures your passengers always see information on the screen, even during connectivity hiccups.</p> <h3 id="live-data-integration-and-edge-apps">Live data integration and Edge Apps</h3> <p>Transportation signage is most useful when it can tap into live data – for example, pulling the latest train schedules, service alerts, or weather conditions automatically. Screenly supports this through <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-integrations">integrations</a> and <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a>. With Screenly’s open API, transit operators can connect their existing data systems (like a public transport schedule database or flight information feed) directly to their digital signs. This enables automation – for instance, when a bus is delayed, the transit database could trigger an update on all affected station displays via the Screenly API without manual input.</p> <p>Screenly’s <a href="/edge-apps/">Edge App Store</a> offers ready-made apps that allow users to integrate with systems out-of-the-box or in a customized way. Each Edge App is customizable at the code level. A great example is Screenly’s <a href="/edge-apps/tfl/">Transport for London (TFL) Bus Stop app</a>, which Screenly provides for free: it allows any screen to display real-time bus arrival times for a specified stop in London. A local transit authority can deploy a customized TFL app in their city across all bus stop displays at once, and the app will automatically show each stop’s unique schedule based on the screen’s location metadata. This dramatically simplifies scaling digital timetable displays – one app deployment updates all stops with relevant local data.</p> <p>Other Edge Apps include <a href="/edge-apps/weather">weather forecasts</a>, <a href="/edge-apps/rss-reader">news tickers (RSS feeds)</a>, a <a href="/edge-apps/countdown-timer/">countdown timer</a>, a <a href="/edge-apps/clock">clock app</a>, and more, which can easily be incorporated into transportation signage to keep content fresh and useful. And since Screenly’s Edge Apps are customizable at the code level, tech-savvy transit IT teams can modify them or create new ones tailored to their specific needs (for example, a live train status dashboard or a wayfinding map with live travel times to each gate). These integration capabilities mean Screenly can seamlessly become part of a transportation agency’s broader information ecosystem, ensuring screens always display accurate, context-relevant data in real time.</p> <h3 id="remote-monitoring-and-secure-management">Remote monitoring and secure management</h3> <p>When managing digital signage across critical infrastructure like transportation hubs, having oversight and control is essential. Screenly addresses this with a robust <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">remote monitoring and management dashboard</a>. From the Screenly online interface, administrators can monitor the health status of every connected screen at a glance. The system provides a color-coded map or list that shows which screens are online, offline, or need attention, helping teams quickly spot any issues. Screen health data includes information like connectivity status and whether the player’s content is up-to-date.</p> <p>If a screen goes down or falls out of sync, Screenly can send instant alerts via email or integrations like <a href="/tutorials/pagerduty/">PagerDuty</a> so support staff can respond immediately. This proactive monitoring is vital in transit settings – for example, if a display at a train platform is offline, technicians can be dispatched before it impacts too many passengers.</p> <p>In terms of <a href="/security/">digital signage security</a>, Screenly’s platform offers <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">granular user access controls</a> and can support <a href="/enterprise/sso-and-saml-support/">SSO/SAML</a> for enterprise deployments, ensuring that only authorized personnel can manage the displays. Content is distributed with encryption, and players receive regular updates, protecting against vulnerabilities. With these enterprise-grade security controls, Screenly gives transportation IT teams confidence that their digital signage network is both reliable and secure, requiring minimal manual oversight to maintain uptime. Overall, the ability to centrally monitor and manage all screens means higher efficiency and peace of mind – your digital departure boards and info kiosks will be running smoothly when travelers need them most.</p> <h2 id="screenly-use-cases-in-transportation-environments">Screenly use cases in transportation environments</h2> <p>To illustrate how all these features come together, let’s consider a few transportation scenarios where Screenly adds value:</p> <p><strong>Airports:</strong> An <a href="/use-cases/airport-digital-signage/">international airport deploys Screenly</a> on hundreds of screens – including departure/arrival boards, gate info displays, baggage claim signs, and concourse advertising video walls. Through Screenly’s cloud dashboard, the airport’s operations team schedules airline content feeds (via integration with the airport’s flight information system) to update gates and flight times in real time. They group screens by terminal and gate area, so each area’s displays show relevant flights and directions. If a gate changes or there’s an urgent security message, they use the priority override to instantly flash alerts across all affected screens. Between flights, the screens show welcome messages, duty-free shop promotions, and weather updates using Screenly’s playlist scheduling. The result is a cohesive, up-to-date visual communication system that enhances passenger experience from check-in to boarding.</p> <p><strong>Public transit (train/bus systems):</strong> A city transit authority uses Screenly to manage digital signs at train stations, <a href="/use-cases/bus-stop-digital-signage/">bus terminals</a>, and even on buses. At each train station, a Screenly Player powers content on LED boards that list upcoming train arrivals, delays, and notices are pulled automatically from the central transit schedule (thanks to a custom integration via Screenly’s API). Bus stops throughout the city have smaller screens running the TFL-style bus arrival Edge App, configured for the local transit feed – this provides riders at each stop with real-time ETAs without any custom programming. Transit staff schedule public service announcements and safety reminders to run during off-peak hours and sell ad slots to local businesses, which are inserted into the content rotation. When a sudden service disruption occurs (e.g. a subway line closure), the control center uses Screenly to push an immediate alert to all screens network-wide, informing riders of alternate routes. Throughout the day, the team monitors screen statuses via Screenly’s dashboard; if a station’s sign goes offline, maintenance is alerted via PagerDuty before the next rush hour.</p> <p><strong>Other transportation venues:</strong> Screenly’s versatility extends to any transportation-related venue – from port authorities displaying <a href="/blog/2022/05/03/digital-sign-api-case-study-infoplay/">ferry schedules</a> to corporate shuttle services with onboard info screens. For example, a ferry terminal might use Screenly to show departure times, boarding calls, and tourism ads on displays in the waiting area. Because Screenly supports virtually any screen orientation or size (<a href="/end-user/potrait-and-landscape/">landscape or portrait</a>, <a href="/end-user/full-hd-4K-resolution/">HD or 4K</a>), it can drive everything from large outdoor LED marquees to small customer information screens at ticket counters. </p> <p>These use cases demonstrate the flexibility of Screenly in meeting various transportation signage needs – whether it’s a single transit center or a sprawling, city-wide network of displays.</p> <h2 id="transforming-transit-communication-with-screenly">Transforming transit communication with Screenly</h2> <p>Digital signage has become a game-changer in transportation, elevating everything from daily commutes to international travel by delivering timely information and engaging content. A well-implemented signage system leads to smoother operations and happier passengers – missed announcements and static bulletin boards are quickly becoming things of the past. Screenly’s digital signage platform offers transportation authorities an all-in-one solution to harness these benefits: an intuitive content management interface, flexible and reliable playback hardware, real-time data integration, and enterprise-grade monitoring and security. By deploying Screenly, transit hubs can ensure that their passengers always know where to go and what’s happening. </p> <p>Ready to enhance your passenger experience with dynamic digital displays? Sign up for Screenly’s <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> and discover how easy it can be to modernize your transportation signage. From bus stops to airport lounges, Screenly provides the tools to keep your information flowing and your passengers moving.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/17/transportation-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/17/transportation-digital-signage/Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signs are everywhere – from vibrant <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">menu boards</a> at fast-food restaurants to interactive maps in <a href="/use-cases/lobby/">corporate lobbies</a>. Chances are you’ve been captivated by an eye-catching digital display at some point. In fact, studies show that 64% of businesses saw increased customer engagement after adopting digital signage, and about 80% of consumers have entered a store because a digital sign caught their eye. One of the most popular technologies behind these dynamic displays is LCD digital signage. But what exactly is LCD signage, and why are so many modern businesses switching out static posters for digital screens?</p> <p>In this article, we’ll guide you through the benefits of LCD digital signage, explore real-world applications, and highlight key features to look for in digital signage systems. Along the way, we’ll also see how Screenly’s digital signage solutions – with innovations like <a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">Screenly Anywhere</a> and <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a> – make it easier than ever to deploy and manage stunning digital signage LCD displays. By the end, you’ll understand why leveraging the latest technology in digital signage can be a game-changer for your business and how Screenly can help you get started (with a free trial to boot).</p> <h2 id="what-is-lcd-digital-signage">What is LCD digital signage?</h2> <p>First, before getting started, it is important to highlight a common point of confusion: What is the difference between LCD and LED screens? When people discuss LCD vs LED, they’re referring to the backlighting technology used in modern screens. Both LCD and LED displays utilize liquid crystal panels, but the key difference is how they are illuminated. Traditional LCD screens use fluorescent tubes (CCFL), while LED screens use light-emitting diodes. Most TVs and digital signage screens purchased today are LED-backlit LCD displays—commonly referred to simply as “LED TVs.” Thus, while all LED displays are technically LCD, the distinction highlights a more energy-efficient, brighter, and slimmer form factor provided by LED backlighting.</p> <p>LCD digital signage refers to using LCD (liquid crystal display) screens to show multimedia content for advertising, information, or branding. In simpler terms, an LCD signage setup replaces traditional printed signs with electronic digital signage displays that can show images, videos, webpages, or even live data. A typical digital signage system includes one or more screens (often LCD TVs or monitors), a media player or small computer to feed content to the screen, and content management software to control what’s displayed and when. Modern digital signage systems leverage cloud-based content management, making it easy to update screens remotely.</p> <p>Unlike old-school static signs, LCD digital signs are dynamic and versatile. You can schedule different content for different times of day, run slideshows of promotions, or even integrate real-time information (like news, weather, or social media feeds). LCD is one of the dominant display technologies for digital signs today – these panels offer high resolution and reliable performance and have dropped significantly in cost over the past decade. Whether it’s a single digital signage LCD display in a boutique shop window or a network of hundreds of screens across a corporate campus, LCD-based signage allows businesses to deliver their message in a flexible, impactful way.</p> <h2 id="benefits-of-lcd-digital-signage">Benefits of LCD digital signage</h2> <p>Why are so many organizations investing in LCD digital signage? Let’s look at some key benefits that set digital signs apart from traditional signage:</p> <p><strong>Attention-grabbing with dynamic content:</strong> An illuminated screen with motion is naturally more eye-catching than a static poster. Bright visuals and animations draw in viewers. As mentioned earlier, many customers actively notice and respond to digital signs – they’re hard to ignore! Businesses can leverage this to increase foot traffic and dwell time. For instance, a digital signage LCD display in a storefront window looping through new product videos is far more likely to turn heads than a printed banner. It’s no surprise that digital signage often leads to higher engagement and recall than print, contributing to better brand awareness.</p> <p><strong>Easy content updates and scheduling:</strong> With <a href="/blog/2019/09/30/top-features-digital-signage-content-management-software/">content management software</a>, updating an LCD signage screen is as simple as a few clicks. Need to change your restaurant’s digital menu board from breakfast to lunch? Or launch a flash sale advertisement in all store locations at once? No problem – digital signage lets you push new content instantly without the cost of printing and distributing new signs. You can also schedule content in advance (say, holiday promotions) and set it to play at specific times. This flexibility means your messaging is always timely and relevant. Screenly, for example, provides a user-friendly web dashboard to upload and schedule content across your screens, ensuring your displays are always up to date.</p> <p><strong>Rich multimedia and interactive possibilities:</strong> An LCD digital sign isn’t limited to a single image – it can play HD videos, image slideshows, live news feeds, social media walls, and more. This multimedia capability allows for creative storytelling and more effective digital advertisements. Retailers can show product videos or customer testimonials; offices can display live dashboards or announcements. By leveraging the latest technology, such as touchscreen LCD panels or <a href="/blog/2020/09/27/display-QR-codes-on-digital-signs/">QR code integration</a>, businesses can engage customers in a two-way interaction. All of this contributes to a more immersive experience that static signs simply can’t match.</p> <p><strong>Cost-effective and efficient:</strong> While the upfront investment in screens and a digital signage system is higher than printing posters, in the long run, it always pays off. You save on printing costs, and changes can be made on the fly without waste. Additionally, one screen can serve multiple purposes throughout the day (rotating content), reducing the need for multiple physical signs. Digital signs can also be controlled centrally (for example, a headquarters marketing team can update every branch location’s displays remotely), saving time compared to manually swapping out posters. This efficiency is especially valuable for large enterprises with many locations. Learn more about <a href="/blog/2018/08/27/digital-signage-roi/">calculating digital signage ROI</a>.</p> <p><strong>Real-time updates and integration:</strong> One powerful benefit of modern digital signage is the ability to integrate real-time data. For example, airports and transit stations use digital displays to show live arrival/departure times. Retail stores might integrate inventory data to only show ads for in-stock items. With the right solution, your digital signage systems can pull in information from weather services, news APIs, calendars, social media, or internal databases. Screenly’s platform excels here – <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a> allow users to build custom signage apps that pull in metrics or data from other tools via the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>. This means your LCD screens can always show fresh, automatically updated content (like the latest sales numbers or a live countdown to an event) without manual intervention.</p> <p><strong>High visibility, even in bright conditions:</strong> Commercial-grade LCD signage screens are designed for visibility. Many come with high-brightness panels that stay vivid even under bright indoor lighting or direct sunlight. This is crucial for grabbing attention in storefront windows or outdoor environments. High-brightness LCD displays (often 700 to 2500 nits or more) ensure your content doesn’t look dim or washed out. For example, <a href="/blog/2019/04/12/digital-signage-enclosures/">outdoor digital signage displays</a> often offer around 2,500 nits of brightness to combat sunlight glare. The result is a clear, vibrant message that stands out, day or night.</p> <h2 id="real-world-applications-of-lcd-signage">Real-world applications of LCD signage</h2> <p>One of the best ways to appreciate the impact of LCD digital signage is to see how it’s being used in the real world. Digital signage has permeated almost every industry and public space. Here are some common applications:</p> <p><strong>Retail advertising and branding:</strong> Walk into any modern retail store, and you’re likely to see digital screens showcasing product promos, lookbooks, or brand videos. In storefront windows, these digital signs act as dynamic billboards that lure foot traffic inside with bright visuals. In-store, they can highlight special deals, guide customers to new sections, or simply reinforce branding. Clothing stores play runway videos on wall-mounted LCDs; electronics shops demo new gadgets via video loops. Because the content can be updated easily, retailers can adjust messaging for different seasons and times of day. Learn more about <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail digital signage</a>.</p> <p><strong>Restaurants and quick service restaurants (QSRs):</strong> The era of printed menu boards is fading. Fast-food and coffee chains now use <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">digital menu boards</a> (large LCD displays) to present menus that can change based on time of day or inventory. For example, breakfast menus swap out automatically at 11am for lunch items. Animated images of steaming hot lattes or cheesy pizzas can tempt customers more than static text. Drive-thrus and outdoor digital signage at restaurants employ ultra-bright weatherproof LCD screens as well, ensuring the menu is readable under sunlight. The result is not only a more engaging menu but also easier pricing and item updates for the business.</p> <p><strong>Corporate and office displays:</strong> Internal communications get a boost from digital signage, too. Companies install LCD screens in lobbies, lounges, and hallways to share company news, performance dashboards, upcoming event reminders, and welcome messages for visitors. It helps reinforce company culture and keep everyone informed in a visually pleasing way. A wall of screens in a company’s operations center might display real-time metrics or social media mentions. Because content can be scheduled, a single screen can show a mix of informational content and employee spotlights, keeping things fresh. This beats cluttering the office with bulletin boards and posters. Screenly’s content management capabilities even allow grouping screens by location or department so that each team sees relevant info. Check out more on <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">corporate digital signage</a>.</p> <p><strong>Education and campuses:</strong> Schools and universities use digital signage for everything from digital noticeboards (exam schedules, event announcements) to wayfinding kiosks that help new students find their classes. In cafeterias or student unions, digital menu boards and promotional screens are common. During emergencies, these screens can instantly display alerts or safety instructions. Because they can be centrally controlled, campus IT staff can manage all the displays across different buildings through one system.</p> <p><strong>Healthcare and hospitals:</strong> Hospitals employ LCD digital signage to guide visitors (interactive maps), display waiting room information and queue numbers, or promote health tips on lobby screens. All these <a href="/use-cases/hospitals/">hospital digital signage uses</a> share a common goal: providing timely, useful information in a visually appealing way.</p> <p><strong>Transportation hubs:</strong> From <a href="/use-cases/airport-digital-signage/">airports</a> to train stations to <a href="/use-cases/bus-stop-digital-signage/">bus stops</a>, digital displays have become crucial. Arrival and departure boards are now high-resolution LCD or LED displays that update in real time. Bus shelters in many cities feature outdoor digital signage that can show route maps, schedules, or digital adverts while riders wait. These transit displays often need to withstand weather and operate 24/7, making durability and high brightness important. They exemplify how digital signage can disseminate up-to-the-minute information to the public effectively.</p> <p>It’s clear that LCD digital signage has versatile uses, from enhancing customer experience to conveying important information. They can be found in public spaces, transportation systems, museums, stadiums, retail stores, hotels, restaurants, and corporate buildings – essentially anywhere you need to communicate with an audience. The key is to have the right software and hardware in place to leverage these applications effectively. This is where choosing a robust digital signage solution matters.</p> <h2 id="key-features-of-effective-lcd-digital-signage-systems">Key features of effective LCD digital signage systems</h2> <p>If you’re considering deploying LCD digital signage, what should you look for in a solution? Whether you have one screen or a thousand, certain features are essential to get the most out of your investment. Here are some crucial ones:</p> <p><strong>Easy content management:</strong> A strong digital signage platform provides an intuitive way to upload, organize, and schedule content. You shouldn’t have to manually tend each screen – the system should let you <a href="/end-user/playlists/">manage content playlists</a> centrally (ideally via cloud). Look for features like drag-and-drop scheduling, remote updates over the internet, and the ability to group screens (so you can send specific content to a subset of displays). Screenly’s cloud-based CMS, for example, allows you to update and schedule content, monitor screen health, and manage digital signs at scale from a web interface. This kind of convenience is critical, especially as your deployment grows.</p> <p><strong>Hardware flexibility for media player devices:</strong> Consider what media player hardware is needed for the screens. Some solutions require proprietary players; others are more flexible. <a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">Screenly Anywhere</a> is a great example of flexibility – it lets you use virtually any hardware that can run a modern web browser as a signage player. That means you could repurpose a mini PC or even a smart TV as your signage player, reducing the need to buy specialized devices. This hardware-agnostic approach can lower costs and simplify scaling up. Additionally, ensure the system supports the types of displays you need (orientation landscape/portrait support, 4K resolution for large UHD screens, etc.).</p> <p><strong>Custom applications and integrations:</strong> As mentioned in the benefits, integration capabilities set top-tier solutions apart. <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly’s Edge Apps</a> allow you to build and run custom applications on your screens – for instance, showing a dashboard that pulls live data from your Google Analytics or a <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">weather app</a> that updates every hour. Moreover, an open API integration is valuable; it means your developers can tie the signage system into your existing software or databases. With the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>, companies have the option to automate content updates or trigger certain displays based on events (for example, a retail POS system could trigger a “Thank you for your purchase!” message on a screen as a customer completes a transaction). Integration capabilities future-proof your signage by making it part of your broader digital ecosystem.</p> <p><strong>High reliability and security:</strong> When you have displays running important info (or expensive advertising), you want them up and running securely. Enterprise-grade digital signage solutions pay attention to <a href="/security/">device security</a> and uptime. This includes features like device monitoring (so you know if a screen goes offline), automatic reboot or recovery if something crashes, and secure content delivery. Screenly puts a big emphasis on security – its players run on <a href="/blog/2022/11/29/five-years-of-ubuntu-core/">Ubuntu Core</a>, a secure, IoT-focused OS, and they’re fully locked down with no open network ports to minimize vulnerabilities. All content communication between Screenly’s cloud and the devices is encrypted, so you don’t risk someone hijacking your feed. Additionally, Screenly devices auto-install security updates to stay protected with the latest patches. When evaluating solutions, consider these kinds of security measures, especially for enterprise deployments. You don’t want your digital sign <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">showing a hacker’s message</a> due to treating security as an afterthought.</p> <p><strong>Scalability and multi-user support:</strong> Your needs today might be a single lobby sign, but in a year, you might want screens in every conference room and every storefront. The system you choose should scale seamlessly from one to many screens. Features like user roles/permissions (to allow multiple team members to manage content without stepping on each other’s toes), <a href="/enterprise/sso-and-saml-support/">enterprise SSO (Single Sign-On)</a> for user management, and the ability to segment and organize a large number of screens are important for larger networks. Screenly, for instance, is designed to manage digital signs at scale – it’s trusted to run 10,000+ active screens for brands globally and offers enterprise features like SAML SSO and <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">granular access control</a> for big organizations. Even if you’re starting small, choosing a solution with enterprise scalability ensures you won’t outgrow it.</p> <p><strong>Remote monitoring for screen health:</strong> Look for a system that provides feedback on your screens’ status. It’s useful to know if a screen is offline or if a media player is glitching, etc. Some platforms show a heartbeat or screenshot of what’s playing on each screen, all accessible remotely. That way, you can proactively address any issue. Power management (scheduling screens to turn off after hours) is another handy feature to save energy and extend screen life.</p> <p><strong>Content variety and templates:</strong> If you’re not a designer, having built-in templates or apps for common content can be a big plus. Many digital signage solutions (Screenly included) come with a library of templates or apps – e.g., an app for <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">weather forecasts</a>, a <a href="/edge-apps/simple-message/">simple message app</a>, a <a href="/edge-apps/countdown-timer/">countdown timer</a>, etc. These ready-made content options can enrich your signage without requiring you to create everything from scratch. Plus, they ensure your content looks professional and well-formatted for the screen. In addition to having ready-to-go templates apps, users can also customize each Screenly app at the code level for tailoring to their exact use case.</p> <p>By focusing on these features, you’ll set yourself up for success. Ultimately, the goal is a digital signage solution that is easy to use, powerful, and reliable so you can focus on crafting your message rather than fiddling with tech issues.</p> <h2 id="the-screenly-advantage---why-screenly-is-the-ideal-solution-for-lcd-signage-deployments">The Screenly advantage - Why Screenly is the ideal solution for LCD signage deployments</h2> <p>Throughout this article, we’ve touched on how Screenly’s platform excels in various aspects of digital signage. Let’s summarize what makes Screenly stand out as a top choice for businesses looking to deploy LCD digital signage:</p> <p><strong>Screenly Anywhere for ultimate hardware flexibility:</strong> <a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">Screenly Anywhere</a> breaks the typical hardware dependency by letting you turn any compatible device into a signage player. Whether it’s a Raspberry Pi, an Intel NUC, a smart TV, or just a web browser on a PC, you can connect it to Screenly and start displaying content. This is a huge advantage if you want to pilot digital signage using equipment you already have in order to save money or just get your deployment running the same day. It lowers the barrier to entry and gives you more options. Despite being hardware-agnostic, Screenly still provides purpose-built players (Screenly Player and the Screenly Player Max) for those who need robust, 24/7 performance. You get to choose what works best for your situation. Screenly’s hardware-agnostic approach is all about eliminating barriers and making digital signage accessible on your terms.</p> <p><strong>Powerful content management and screen grouping:</strong> Screenly’s cloud-based interface is designed with simplicity in mind. Users praise how straightforward it is to upload content, create playlists, and push updates to screens. You can <a href="/end-user/group-labels/">organize screens into groups</a> (by location, department, etc.) and publish content to one or many screens with a few clicks. Need to schedule a video to play only during store hours? The scheduling tools have you covered. Want to show different content on lobby screens vs. cafeteria screens? Grouping makes that easy. Plus, with Screenly’s remote monitoring, you can check the status of any screen from anywhere, ensuring your network is running smoothly. In short, Screenly handles the heavy lifting of device and content management so you can deliver timely content without hassle.</p> <p><strong>Screenly Edge Apps and integrations:</strong> One of Screenly’s most differentiating features is its approach to dynamic content. The <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge App</a> framework enables you to build and run custom apps on your screens for specialized content. For example, you might use a Weather app from Screenly’s Edge App store to <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">show local weather</a> info on part of your display or a <a href="/edge-apps/countdown-timer/">countdown timer app</a> for an event launch. For more advanced needs, developers can create their own edge apps – pulling in data from, say, your company’s internal API to display live metrics or integrating with IoT sensors (imagine a factory screen that shows equipment statuses in real time). Through the Screenly API, these Edge Apps fetch data directly and run locally on the device. This level of extensibility means Screenly isn’t just a static signage player – it’s a platform you can mold to your business workflows, something many competitors can’t match.</p> <p><strong>Robust security and reliability:</strong> Screenly has taken a <a href="/security/">security-first approach</a> to digital signage. By using Ubuntu Core OS, they start with a secure foundation that is built for IoT devices. Their players run in a “locked down” state – no open ports, confined processes – greatly reducing the attack surface. All software updates are automatic and cryptographically signed, which means your devices stay up-to-date without you having to lift a finger, and there’s no risk of malicious firmware getting installed. Content delivery is encrypted end-to-end, so you won’t have prying eyes intercepting or altering your media. For enterprise users, Screenly also supports best practices like network isolation (though it’s not required since each player assumes networks might be hostile and protects itself accordingly). The bottom line: with Screenly, you can trust that your signage content is secure and that your screens will remain stable and operational. There’s even a feature for health monitoring, so if a screen or player goes offline, you’ll know and can react quickly. In industries like finance or healthcare, where security is paramount, these measures make Screenly an ideal choice.</p> <p><strong>Enterprise-grade scalability:</strong> Screenly isn’t just for small deployments – it shines at enterprise scale. It supports <a href="/enterprise/sso-and-saml-support/">single sign-on (SSO) and SAML</a> for integrating with corporate user directories, meaning your IT team can manage access easily. It offers <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">granular access controls</a> , so you can give different permissions to, say, your marketing team (who uploads content) versus your IT team (who manages devices). Screenly also provides options like consolidated billing and even a dedicated account manager for large accounts. The fact that it’s running thousands of screens for big-name brands speaks to its robustness. If you plan to roll out digital signage across dozens of locations, you need a solution that won’t break a sweat as you add more screens – Screenly has proven itself in this arena. Even if you’re a smaller business, using an enterprise-capable platform means you won’t have to switch systems as you grow; Screenly will scale with you.</p> <p><strong>Excellent support and community:</strong> While not a “feature” in the technical sense, it’s worth noting that Screenly offers industry-leading customer support. The Screenly team regularly publishes tutorials (for integrating with tools like Grafana, Power BI, Google Slides, etc.) and is responsive to customer questions. When you sign on with Screenly, you’re not just getting software and hardware – you’re gaining a partner with deep expertise in digital signage. This can be invaluable when you’re brainstorming how to best set up your screens or troubleshoot an issue. For enterprise users, Screenly also offers <a href="/enterprise/support-sla/">Support SLAs</a>.</p> <p>In summary, Screenly brings together ease of use, powerful features, and reliability in one platform. It’s tailored to help businesses deploy effective LCD digital signage solutions without needing a dedicated IT army. By combining innovations like hardware-agnostic playback (<a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">Screenly Anywhere</a>), real-time data integration (<a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a> and <a href="/api/">API</a>), and rock-solid security, Screenly truly positions itself as a leader in the digital signage space. It’s the ideal match businesses that want to transform their LCD displays into smart, engaging digital signs.</p> <h2 id="bringing-your-lcd-displays-to-life">Bringing your LCD displays to life</h2> <p>LCD digital signage has proven to be a transformative tool for communication, marketing, and customer engagement. It marries the latest technology in display hardware with the creativity of dynamic content. By now, we’ve seen how these digital signage displays can captivate audiences, from retail shoppers to office employees, and deliver messaging that’s timely and relevant. We’ve also discussed how crucial it is to have a robust platform behind the scenes – one that simplifies management and amplifies what you can do with your screens.</p> <p>Screenly offers all of this and more. It removes the friction and complexity from deploying digital signs, so you can focus on crafting great content and strategy. Whether you need a single eye-catching welcome screen in your hotel lobby or hundreds of menu boards across a franchise, Screenly’s scalable platform has you covered. And with features like remote management, data integrations, and top-notch security, you can be confident your digital signage network will run smoothly and securely.</p> <p>Ready to transform your business with LCD digital signage? Screenly makes it easy to get started and see results quickly. Sign up for Screenly’s <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> (no credit card required) and discover how effortless it is to deliver stunning, high-impact content to any screen. With Screenly, you’ll be joining countless other businesses that have turned ordinary screens into powerful communication tools. Don’t let your LCD signage be static – embrace the flexibility and creativity of digital, and engage your audience like never before.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/13/lcd-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/13/lcd-digital-signage/Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Vertical digital signage refers to digital display screens positioned in a portrait (vertical) orientation, and it has become a significant tool in modern business communication and marketing. Unlike traditional static signs, which are printed and fixed in place, digital signage allows businesses to present dynamic, multimedia content that can be updated in real-time. This capability means companies can convey timely promotions, videos, and content that captures attention in ways static posters cannot. By leveraging vertical digital displays, businesses can combine the power of digital media with a format that fits naturally into many physical spaces, creating a compelling visual experience for their audience.</p> <p>Adopting digital signage solutions offers clear advantages over relying on traditional static signs. With digital signage, content updates are quick and cost-effective – there’s no need to reprint materials for every minor change or new campaign. The screens can display rotating messages and eye-catching animations all of which help to engage viewers more effectively than a static sign. Additionally, modern <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage software</a> enables remote management of content, so a marketing team can instantly push new updates across multiple locations with a few clicks, ensuring messaging stays relevant and consistent. In short, vertical digital signage brings together the flexibility of digital content and the familiarity of a poster-like format, making it an increasingly popular choice for businesses looking to modernize their customer engagement strategy.</p> <h2 id="vertical-digital-signage-vs-horizontal-digital-signage">Vertical digital signage vs. Horizontal digital signage</h2> <p>Screen orientation plays a pivotal role in how content is perceived. Vertical (portrait) vs. horizontal (landscape) digital signage each offers distinct viewing experiences and engagement strategies. Vertical digital displays are taller and narrower, making them ideal for content like <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">digital menus</a>, directories, or social media feeds that naturally fit a portrait layout. In contrast, horizontal screens, with their wider landscape orientation, are often better for panoramic content like widescreen videos or image slideshows. These differences in screen orientation can directly impact audience engagement. Vertical screens tend to stand out because they break the mold of the typical TV-like display – a portrait sign in a sea of landscape displays is immediately eye-catching and can draw viewers’ attention to your message. Moreover, a vertical setup often aligns better with human posture and scrolling habits (think of how we use smartphones), offering an intuitive viewing experience for certain types of content.</p> <p>Vertical digital signage also provides unique advantages for specific industries and applications. For example, fashion retailers often use vertical screens to display life-sized posters or models wearing outfits – something that looks more natural in a portrait format. Restaurants love vertical digital menu boards because they can list menu items in a top-to-bottom flow, similar to printed menus, making them easy for customers to read at a glance. In high-traffic areas like malls or airports, a <a href="/blog/2025/02/02/wayfinding-digital-signage/">vertical wayfinding display</a> can show a map or directory in a space-efficient manner, guiding visitors effectively. This brings us to another benefit: space utilization. A portrait-oriented screen can fit into narrow spaces such as pillars, small wall nooks, or between architectural features where a wide horizontal screen might not. Vertical displays mounted in elevator lobbies or corridors take up minimal width, allowing for digital signs even when wall space is limited. Despite their smaller footprint, they provide an ultimate viewing experience for content tailored to that orientation – for instance, scrolling announcements or tall infographics utilize the full vertical real estate and appear bold and immersive.</p> <p>Horizontal displays certainly have their place, especially for video-heavy content and presentations. However, vertical digital signage excels when you want to stack information (like multiple product ads or <a href="/use-cases/airport-digital-signage/">flight arrival times</a>) or create a digital poster effect. Many businesses are discovering that a mix of both orientations can deliver the best overall engagement: horizontal screens for broad visuals and vertical screens for focused, information-rich content. The key is choosing the orientation that best suits your content and the viewer’s context.</p> <h2 id="essential-software-and-hardware-for-vertical-digital-signage">Essential software and hardware for vertical digital signage</h2> <p>Implementing a vertical digital signage solution requires a combination of the right software and hardware. At the core, you need <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage software</a> and <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage hardware</a> to get started. The hardware typically includes the digital display itself and a media player device. The display can be any high-definition screen (such as an LCD or LED screen) that supports portrait orientation. In most cases, portrait orientation is really just a matter of how the screen is mounted. Many commercial-grade LCD screens are designed to rotate and operate vertically. These displays might be part of vertical kiosks – freestanding units that house a screen in portrait mode along with a built-in player or computer. Vertical kiosks are popular in retail stores and lobbies because they are all-in-one solutions: a tall screen mounted on a pedestal or enclosure that can be placed anywhere to attract passersby. The media player, on the other hand, is the device that feeds content to the screen. It could be a small computer or specialized signage player (like a Raspberry Pi-based device or an Android HDMI stick) that connects to the display. This player runs your content and ensures that videos, images, and playlists play smoothly on the vertical screen. Screenly users can also use <a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">Screenly Anywhere</a> to use any hardware existing hardware that can display a web browser as a sign’s media player.</p> <p>On the software side, a robust digital signage software platform is essential for managing what appears on your vertical displays. This software allows you to upload content (images, videos, graphics, etc.), organize it into playlists, and schedule when each piece of content should play. A cloud-based solution like Screenly is particularly advantageous for vertical digital signage deployments. Cloud-based digital signage software optimizes performance, management, and content updates by allowing users to control everything from a web browser. Whether you have one screen or a hundred across different locations, a cloud system for digital signage means you can change what’s on any screen in real-time without being on-site. For example, Screenly’s cloud platform lets you drag-and-drop new content, schedule it, and have it display on your portrait-oriented signs within seconds, no matter where the screens are located. This remote management capability is a game-changer for efficiency and ensures your vertical signs are always up-to-date with the latest messaging.</p> <p>In terms of cutting-edge features, modern vertical digital signage setups can include vertical signage <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/215089826-Does-Screenly-support-running-in-video-wall-mode">video walls</a>. Video walls are another hardware deployment option: you can combine multiple vertical displays to create one giant portrait-oriented video wall for a stunning effect, useful in large venues or for high-impact advertising. Additionally, mobile connectivity is an important consideration. Screenly digital signage players can support mobile connection with SIM-card add-ons.</p> <p>To summarize, a successful vertical digital signage deployment will typically include: a high-quality vertical-capable digital display, a reliable media player to run content, sturdy mounting or a vertical kiosk stand for placement, and user-friendly digital signage software (preferably cloud-based like Screenly) to manage it all. With these components in place, businesses can effortlessly publish content to their signs and keep the system running smoothly.</p> <h2 id="common-use-cases-for-vertical-digital-signage">Common use cases for vertical digital signage</h2> <p>Vertical digital signage has been embraced across various industries, thanks to its versatility and impact. Here are some common use cases where vertical screens are making a difference:</p> <p><strong>Retail advertising and promotions:</strong> In <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail stores</a>, vertical digital screens can serve as dynamic posters. Placed in window displays or near product shelves, they showcase product advertisements, new arrivals, or flash sales with eye-catching motion. For example, a clothing boutique might use a tall vertical display to run a looping video of models wearing the latest fashion line, effectively turning heads of people walking by. These digital signs engage customers the moment they enter the store, and the content can be tailored throughout the day (e.g., promoting raincoats on a rainy morning, and switching to sunglasses in the afternoon). The result is higher customer engagement and often improved sales – in fact, studies have found that 80% of businesses recorded an increase in sales after deploying digital signage, and nearly one in five viewers make an unplanned purchase of a product promoted on a digital screen. Such statistics underscore how effective well-placed digital screens can be in influencing shopper behavior.</p> <p><strong>Wayfinding and directories:</strong> Vertical displays are naturally suited for <a href="/blog/2025/02/02/wayfinding-digital-signage/">wayfinding</a> in places like malls, corporate campuses, hospitals, and airports. Their portrait orientation is perfect for displaying maps, directories, and step-by-step directions in a user-friendly vertical list. For instance, a large hospital can have a vertical digital kiosk at the entrance, where visitors can touch an interactive directory to find their destination ward or office. Because the screen is vertical, it can show a floor map on the upper portion and turn-by-turn text directions on the lower portion, all in one view. These wayfinding signs improve visitor experience by providing clear navigation assistance. In office buildings or universities, vertical digital directories near elevators list companies or departments floor by floor, and can update instantly if there are changes (unlike static directory boards that require reprinting). This use of digital signage not only guides people effectively but also adds a modern touch to the environment.</p> <p><strong>Digital menu boards in restaurants:</strong> Restaurants, cafes, and QSR (quick service restaurants) are rapidly moving from printed menus to <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">digital menu boards</a>, many of which are vertical screens mounted behind the counter or at drive-thrus. Vertical menu boards allow businesses to display their menu in a logical top-to-bottom format, often mirroring the layout of a handheld menu. They can highlight specials or rotate through enticing food images. Because the content is dynamic, a restaurant can change its menu based on the time of day – for example, automatically switching from a breakfast menu in the morning to a lunch menu at midday, then to dinner options in the evening. This flexibility can directly improve sales by ensuring customers see the most relevant offerings. Digital menu boards have been shown to increase the number of unplanned purchases (like adding a dessert or a drink) by up to 80%, simply by showcasing those items more vividly. Additionally, with video capabilities, a vertical screen can play mouth-watering clips of menu items, leveraging motion to grab the attention of customers and influence their choices while they’re waiting to order.</p> <p><strong>Corporate communication and lobbies:</strong> In <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">digital signage for corporate settings</a>, vertical digital signage is used for internal communication and branding. A company might install a vertical display in its lobby to welcome visitors with a schedule of events or meetings for the day, company news, and a display of social media feeds or dashboards. Because the screen is portrait-oriented, it resembles a bulletin board, which is a familiar format for information. Employees passing by can quickly catch up on announcements or HR messages displayed on the digital sign. In large offices, you might also find vertical screens near conference rooms showing meeting schedules or in common areas displaying key performance metrics, updated in real-time. This is far more engaging than a static notice board. It helps keep everyone informed and reinforces a modern, tech-forward company image. Moreover, corporate communications via digital signage can be scheduled – for instance, more general info in the morning and targeted departmental info during specific hours – ensuring the right message reaches the right audience at the right time.</p> <p><strong>Events, exhibitions, and trade shows:</strong> Vertical digital signage shines in event environments. At trade show booths, a vertical screen can act as a digital banner, looping through product showcases and testimonials to attract attendees from across the exhibit hall. Because it’s vertical, the display mimics the form of a standing banner but with moving content, which is far more likely to stop traffic. Event organizers also use vertical screens throughout venues for schedules and wayfinding (e.g., “10:00 AM Keynote in Hall A” with an arrow, followed by the next sessions). These signs can be updated on the fly if there’s a room change or schedule tweak, which is a huge benefit over printed signs. In museums or galleries, vertical interactive displays might provide additional information about exhibits — their form factor blends in as a digital poster next to an artwork or artifact, offering context that visitors can scroll or tap through. All these use cases have a common thread: digital screens engage customers and improve experiences, whether it’s boosting sales in a store or enhancing information delivery in public spaces. By deploying vertical digital signage in such scenarios, businesses and organizations create more engaging, modern-feeling environments that visitors appreciate.</p> <h2 id="managing-vertical-digital-signage-efficiently">Managing vertical digital signage efficiently</h2> <p>Once you have vertical digital signs up and running, efficient management is key to keeping content fresh and relevant without it becoming a burden. One best practice is delegating content creation and updates to the right people on your team. Instead of a single person shouldering all the work, businesses can assign roles – for example, your marketing team might create the promotional graphics, while store managers can be given limited access to update certain local content (like daily specials) on their screens. Modern digital signage software often supports <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">multi-user access with permissions</a>, so content creation can be a collaborative effort. By delegating tasks, you ensure that content on your vertical signs is updated by those who know the information best, and you avoid bottlenecks. For instance, a cafe owner could let the head barista update the specialty drinks menu on the vertical screen each morning, while the marketing specialist handles branded advertisement slides for new breakfast combos. This division of labor makes updating digital signs more efficient and keeps the content pipeline flowing.</p> <p>Central to efficient management is utilizing remote content management and <a href="/end-user/playlists/">playlist scheduling features</a>. With a cloud-based system like Screenly, you can manage all your vertical displays from a single online dashboard. This means you can change what’s on any screen without physically being in front of it – a critical feature if you have screens across multiple locations or even multiple floors of a building. Remote management saves time and travel; for example, a franchise owner can update ten restaurant menu boards across the city in minutes from their office. Additionally, scheduling content in advance ensures you’re always showing the right message at the right time. You can prepare a week’s (or a month’s) worth of content and set it to play on specific days or times. Scheduling might include day-parting (different breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus as mentioned, or different retail promotions on weekends vs weekdays) and holiday schedules. By planning ahead, you reduce the last-minute rush to update signs and ensure that nothing important gets forgotten. Unlike static signs, digital signs allow content to be scheduled in advance, making them far more flexible for timely messaging.</p> <p>Another key to managing vertical digital signage efficiently is leveraging <a href="/end-user/group-labels/">screen group lables and tagging</a>. If you have many screens, you might not want to schedule content on each one individually. Good signage software lets you group screens (say, all lobby screens in one group, all cafeteria menu boards in another) and then publish content to an entire group at once. This way, you can update a dozen displays with one action, keeping operations streamlined. Monitoring and maintenance should also be part of your management strategy. Keep an eye on your screens through the software’s dashboard – many systems will show if a screen is offline or if a media player has an error. This proactive monitoring ensures maximum uptime; you can often fix issues remotely (like pushing a reboot to a frozen media player) or at least know to send someone for repair if needed. Regular check-ins to ensure content is playing as scheduled and that the network connection is solid will help avoid any downtime.</p> <p>Efficiency also comes from keeping the signage operations user-friendly. Screenly and similar platforms focus on easy content uploads (drag-and-drop) and intuitive interfaces so that even non-technical staff can handle updates. Training your team briefly on how to use the signage CMS (content management system) can pay off greatly, as it empowers them to make quick changes without calls to IT support. This ease of use means your vertical digital signage can be very agile – reflecting a pricing change, a new announcement, or a social media post almost instantly on screen when needed.</p> <p>Finally, to optimize your digital signage displays for maximum impact, keep an eye on analytics if available. By reviewing which content gets the most engagement (e.g., which <a href="/blog/2020/09/27/display-QR-codes-on-digital-signs/">on-screen QR code</a> got the most scans, or which advertisement was displayed during peak sales upticks), you can refine your content strategy over time. In essence, efficient management of vertical digital signage boils down to smart use of the software tools (remote updates, scheduling, grouping), empowering your team through delegation and training, and maintaining the system proactively. With these practices, your digital signage network will run like a well-oiled machine, delivering the right content to the right place at the right time with minimal hassle.</p> <h2 id="creating-engaging-content-for-vertical-digital-signage">Creating engaging content for vertical digital signage</h2> <p>The effectiveness of your vertical digital signage ultimately hinges on the content you display. Crafting visually compelling content is crucial to capture viewers’ attention and leave a lasting impression. Here are some tips and strategies for content creation that leverages the unique advantages of vertical displays:</p> <p><strong>Design for the portrait aspect ratio:</strong> It might sound obvious, but content should be optimized for the vertical (9:16) layout. Avoid simply taking a horizontal ad and rotating the images and text – instead, redesign or rearrange elements to fit the tall space. Use the ample vertical real estate to stack information logically. For example, in a vertical digital poster, you might place a headline at the top, a large graphic or video in the middle, and additional details or a call-to-action at the bottom. Ensure that images are high-resolution and cropped for portrait view so nothing looks stretched or pixelated. By optimizing layout and spacing for the vertical format, you create a clear information hierarchy that is easy for the eye to follow. This often means centering content and using the upper and middle parts of the screen for the most crucial visuals or messages, since those are at eye level for viewers.</p> <p><strong>Keep text concise and legible:</strong> People typically glance at digital signs for only a few seconds, so your message needs to be absorbed quickly. Use bold, legible fonts and don’t overcrowd the screen with too much text. A common guideline is the “5x5 rule” – no more than five lines of text, with five words per line, on a single image or slide. While you can bend this rule for certain use cases, the spirit of it holds: simplicity equals readability. Make sure the text is large enough to be read from the typical distance your audience will stand. For instance, a vertical welcome sign in a lobby should have the main greeting or instruction in big lettering. Also, choose color combinations wisely – contrasting colors (like white text on a dark background or vice versa) will make your content pop and improve legibility in various lighting conditions. Vertical screens often attract viewers from a distance, so high contrast and a clean design help draw them closer.</p> <p><strong>Use high-quality visuals and video content:</strong> One of the big advantages of digital signage is the ability to use videos and animations. Movement catches the eye far more than static images. Incorporate short videos or motion graphics in your content loop to maximize engagement. For example, instead of a static image of a product, use a rotating 360-degree video of it or an animation that highlights its features. On a vertical screen, a video can have a dramatic effect – imagine a full-length video of a runway model walking (great for a fashion store) or steam rising off a hot cup of coffee (perfect for a café’s morning promotion). Such visuals are memorable and create an immersive experience, especially on a life-sized vertical display. Just be sure that any video is properly formatted for portrait orientation (you might need to shoot or edit videos specifically for this aspect ratio). Many social media videos (like Instagram Stories or TikTok) are vertically oriented by default, and those can often be repurposed for your signs with minimal tweaks.</p> <p><strong>Leverage interactive technology:</strong> To truly boost customer interaction, consider incorporating motion sensors or camera-based triggers – the content on a vertical screen could change when someone approaches, perhaps greeting them or playing a specific advertisement. This kind of context-aware content can surprise and delight viewers, and it makes the experience feel personalized. Even if your vertical display is not a touch unit, you can encourage interaction by other means, such as showing a QR code that people can scan to get a coupon or to pull up more information on their phone. The key is to transform what could be a passive viewing experience into an active one. You can easily build and deploy custom digital signage applications that interact with local sensors with <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>.</p> <p><strong>Consider placement and viewing angles:</strong> Creating engaging content isn’t just about the on-screen design, but also about how and where the screen is positioned. Optimize your content knowing the typical viewing distance and angle. If the vertical sign is at eye level and meant for up-close interaction (like a directory kiosk), you can include more detail because people will stand there and read it. However, if it’s meant to be seen from down a hallway, stick to bold headlines and graphics that entice people to come closer. Make sure important content isn’t at the extreme top or bottom where it might be out of the comfortable line of sight. For example, on a vertical wayfinding sign, put the most-requested directions (like “Restrooms ->”) toward the upper-middle area. Good placement also relates to space utilization – since vertical signs save horizontal space, you might place two side by side in a large area (one could be interactive, the other playing a slideshow). Ensure multiple screens don’t visually clash; keep a consistent style. Essentially, design your content layout with the environment in mind, aiming to create a seamless and appealing presence that complements the physical space.</p> <p><strong>Maintain brand consistency and update frequently:</strong> Use your brand’s colors, fonts, and tone in all content so that your vertical signage becomes an extension of your brand identity. A vertically oriented screen can beautifully display your brand logo and imagery in a towering format that reinforces brand recall. At the same time, keep the content fresh. An engaging vertical sign today can become “digital wallpaper” tomorrow if the same content just repeats for weeks. Take advantage of the ease of updating: refresh the visuals regularly, rotate through a content library, and update messages to align with current campaigns or seasons. This keeps customers looking at the screens time after time, wondering what’s new today. Some companies even integrate live feeds – for instance, a live social media wall in portrait mode, or up-to-the-minute news/weather alongside their promotions – to ensure there’s always something timely on display.</p> <p>By following these content creation strategies, you maximize the performance of your vertical digital signage — meaning the screens will effectively catch eyes, convey information, and prompt action. Engaging content combined with the space-saving, novel format of vertical displays leads to stronger customer interaction, whether that’s a customer deciding to try the dessert that just flashed on a yummy video or an employee stopping to read an important HR update on a lobby screen. In essence, great content is how you unlock the full potential of your digital signage investment.</p> <h2 id="launch-your-vertical-digital-signs-with-screenly">Launch your vertical digital signs with Screenly</h2> <p>Vertical digital signage offers a powerful blend of modern technology and practical design for businesses aiming to enhance communication and boost engagement. By capitalizing on the portrait orientation, companies can utilize space more efficiently and deliver an ultimate viewing experience for content like menus, advertisements, and interactive guides that shine in a vertical format. We’ve seen that vertical displays can be more than just digital posters – they can actively engage customers through dynamic content and even sensor-based interactive features, leading to higher customer satisfaction and increased sales. From retail stores using vertical screens to showcase promotions and drive impulse buys, to corporations streamlining their internal communications on digital notice boards, the benefits are tangible and wide-ranging. Digital signage in general trumps static signage with its agility and vibrancy, and the vertical orientation adds another layer of versatility to fit various environments and use cases.</p> <p>If you’re looking to implement digital signage solutions in your business, now is a great time to take action. Screenly’s cloud-based digital signage platform provides all the essential software and management tools to make deploying vertical (and horizontal) displays a breeze. With Screenly, you can easily upload content, schedule playlists, and manage multiple screens remotely, ensuring your vertical signs always display the most impactful content at the right time. The result is a sleek, professional signage network that captivates your audience and keeps you a step ahead of the competition.</p> <p>Ready to transform your business with vertical digital signage? Explore what Screenly’s digital signage solutions can do for you and sign up for <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Screenly’s 14-day free trial</a>. This trial gives you full access to our platform so you can experience firsthand how easy it is to create, manage, and optimize content on your digital displays. Whether you start with one screen or fifty, you’ll quickly see the difference digital signage can make in engaging your customers and streamlining your communications.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/09/vertical-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/09/vertical-digital-signage/Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>In today’s highly competitive business environment, standing out from the crowd is essential. Programmable digital signage has become a crucial marketing tool for businesses aiming to attract customers, enhance visibility, and significantly boost sales. Whether you run a cozy local boutique or a large retail operation in a bustling city, dynamic digital displays offer a powerful solution for effectively communicating your message and drawing potential customers in.</p> <p>At Screenly, we specialize in programmable digital signage solutions that enable businesses to engage with their customers and employees. We provide straightforward content management tools and <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage hardware</a> with reliable, robust performance. In the post below, we explore Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage software</a> and <a href="/digital-signage-players/">hardware options</a> for programmable digital signage.</p> <h2 id="what-you-need-to-get-started-with-programmable-digital-signs">What you need to get started with programmable digital signs</h2> <p>Screenly provides digital signage management software that allows users to manage the content on one or multiple programmable digital signs with ease. We can connect to any screen that supports HDMI input, and Screenly is currently used to manage 10,000+ screens in 100+ countries.</p> <p>Screenly also provides digital signage players, which are small, physical devices that render content from your online Screenly account to your screens. You need one digital signage player per sign, unless you use <a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">Screenly Anywhere</a>. Screenly Anywhere is our cloud-based digital signage solution that allows you to use Screenly with any existing hardware that can display a web browser. This hardware can include smart TVs and the generic browser options that are available on most smart TV interfaces.</p> <h2 id="captivate-your-audience-with-eye-catching-displays">Captivate your audience with eye-catching displays</h2> <p>Imagine potential customers noticing your new LCD or LED sign, brilliantly showcasing vibrant colors and engaging messages, whether day or night. Programmable LCD signs, programmable LED signs, and color LED signs provide unparalleled opportunities to showcase your own ads, promotions, and customized messaging. Businesses adopting digital signage typically report sales increases ranging from 15% to 150%, highlighting the remarkable impact eye-catching displays have on foot traffic behavior and audience engagement.</p> <p>With Screenly, users can also manage outdoor programmable digital signage that features ambient light sensors and high-brightness displays, ensuring optimal visibility even in direct sunlight. It’s possible for outdoor LED signs to be energy-efficient, reducing operational costs. Modern <a href="/blog/2019/01/29/outdoor-digital-signage/">outdoor digital sign displays</a> are also designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, including rain, snow, and wind, offering consistent and reliable performance throughout the year.</p> <h2 id="tailored-lcd-and-led-displays-for-every-application">Tailored LCD and LED displays for every application</h2> <p>With Screenly, users can display content on programmable digital signs that are suitable for indoor and outdoor environments. Available in various pixel pitches and dimensions, programmable displays allow you to select the ideal screen for your needs. You can meet local requirements while delivering a superior viewing experience for your audience.</p> <p>Full-color LCD and LED signs deliver exceptional visuals with brilliant colors, effectively capturing the attention of potential customers through dynamic images, videos, and animations. Screenly’s user-friendly content management software offers easy setup and allows worry-free updates, enabling effortless remote control and customization of your messaging. With Screenly, your team can make sure that your display screens always showcase fresh, relevant content that keeps your audience engaged.</p> <h2 id="built-to-last-in-harsh-outdoor-conditions">Built to last in harsh outdoor conditions</h2> <p>Durability is crucial for outdoor digital signage, and Screenly is compatible with outdoor LCD displays and outdoor LED displays that are engineered specifically to excel in tough environments. Featuring rugged cabinet designs, weatherproof enclosures, and heavy-duty mounting brackets, outdoor programmable signs remain stable even during severe weather conditions. Also, UV-resistant coatings can protect your display from prolonged sunlight exposure, preserving the visuals throughout the entire life of your sign.</p> <h2 id="simplified-installation-with-exceptional-technical-support">Simplified installation with exceptional technical support</h2> <p>At Screenly, we understand the challenges businesses face with complicated installations for programmable digital signs. To answer this, we’ve streamlined the installation process for Screenly digital signage players, providing clear, step-by-step installation guides, versatile mounting brackets, and dedicated support. Our expert tech support team is available around the clock for setup and ongoing support queries. Our team members at <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a> are there to help and are available to answer your questions promptly, ensuring that your signage remains fully operational once installed.</p> <h2 id="simple-month-by-month-pricing-and-flexible-financing-options">Simple month-by-month pricing and flexible financing options</h2> <p>We recognize the importance of financial flexibility when investing money in digital signage. When launching a large digital signage, deployment costs can quickly add up. Screenly makes <a href="/pricing/">digital signage pricing</a> easy by offering our digital signage management software on a monthly or annual SaaS subscription.</p> <p>Our <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player hardware</a> is available at competitive pricing for one-time payments. Our Screenly Player is available for $219, and our more advanced Screenly Player Max is available at $369. Payment options over time are available for large enterprise deployments. Users need one digital signage player per sign, unless they are using a smart TV with Screenly Anywhere.</p> <h2 id="real-world-success-across-industries">Real-world success across industries</h2> <p>Businesses worldwide are experiencing remarkable success by leveraging Screenly with programmable LCD andLED displays. Restaurants boost sales by promoting daily specials, <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">menu boards</a>, and limited-time offers through eye-catching digital signs. Retail stores regularly see increased customer engagement by frequently updating dynamic advertisements, resulting in greater foot traffic and stronger connections with their local communities and patrons.</p> <p>Industries and use cases like <a href="/use-cases/lobby/">hospitality</a>, <a href="/use-cases/education/">education</a>, <a href="/use-cases/hospitals/">healthcare</a>, and event venues also benefit from improved communication, increased visibility, and higher customer satisfaction. Screenly’s versatile features and powerful displays offer effectiveness, reliability, and control, empowering businesses in virtually any setting.</p> <h2 id="why-screenly-is-your-digital-signage-partner">Why Screenly is your digital signage partner</h2> <p>Choosing the right programmable display screen for digital signage means considering factors such as display size, installation simplicity, technical support quality, and durability in challenging conditions. With Screenly, you can choose the perfect screen for your deployment and rest assured that you have a secure, effective, and profitable way to manage content on those screens.</p> <p>Importantly, Screenly makes it easy for teams to integrate their digital signage into their existing tech stack and workflows. With the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>, teams can make sure that their digital signage works alongside their existing systems. Additionally, with <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>, users can write custom digital signage applications that create and schedule content and run directly on their digital signage players. This edge computing means that custom digital signage apps can integrate on-device information and sensor data in real-time..</p> <p>Our advanced software, intuitive user interface, and robust hardware features ensure your content remains online and engaging, impactful, and easy to manage across multiple displays and locations. Screenly positions itself as the ideal partner in your digital signage journey, delivering unmatched quality, ease-of-use, and exceptional support.</p> <h2 id="start-your-free-hahahugoshortcode322s0hbhb-day-trial-today">Start your free 14-day trial today</h2> <p>Ready to harness the full potential of programmable digital signage? Contact Screenly today to start your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> and explore firsthand why businesses globally rely on our solutions. Improve your visibility, engage more customers, and boost sales performance with our vibrant, durable, and user-friendly digital signs.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/05/programmable-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/05/programmable-digital-signage/Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2> <p>Screenly Cast was initially created and <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/05/31/introducing-screenly-cast-for-wordpress/">released in 2016</a> with a simple yet powerful purpose: to transform WordPress articles into a display-friendly layout. However, as time passed, the project fell into a period of inactivity and remained unmaintained for years. With recent advancements in generative AI coding tools, we saw an opportunity to breathe new life into Screenly Cast and bring it up to speed with today’s technological standards.</p> <h2 id="challenges">Challenges</h2> <p>The primary challenge we faced was the plugin’s compatibility with WordPress. After years without maintenance, the WordPress plugin had become incompatible and essentially unusable, especially with newer WordPress versions.</p> <h2 id="whats-new-and-improved">What’s New and Improved</h2> <h3 id="modernizing-cicd-pipeline">Modernizing CI/CD Pipeline</h3> <p>During the resurrection process, we implemented several significant improvements to modernize the project. We replaced <a href="https://www.travis-ci.com/">Travis CI</a> with <a href="https://github.blog/enterprise-software/automation/action-demos/">GitHub Actions</a>, consolidating our source code management and continuous integration/delivery onto a single platform. This integration has greatly improved our ability to manage unit tests, releases, and deployments effectively.</p> <h3 id="containerized-testing-environment">Containerized Testing Environment</h3> <p>We also focused on containerizing our unit tests, which eliminated the need to worry about dependency installation, whether running tests locally or through CI/CD. This containerization approach has streamlined our testing process significantly.</p> <h3 id="enhanced-local-development">Enhanced Local Development</h3> <p>While Screenly Cast was already utilizing Composer for CI/CD dependency installation, we extended its use to our local testing environment. By combining Composer with Docker, we’ve created a plug-and-play solution for running unit tests, making the development process more efficient.</p> <h3 id="improved-code-quality">Improved Code Quality</h3> <p>We’ve also embraced strict typing declarations in our codebase. Although PHP is traditionally a <a href="https://www.php.net/manual/en/language.types.intro.php">dynamically typed language</a>, implementing type declarations has helped us write more readable and predictable code. While this approach does come with some drawbacks, we believe the long-term benefits of easier debugging and maintenance far outweigh any initial challenges.</p> <h3 id="wordpress-version-compatibility">WordPress Version Compatibility</h3> <p>A crucial improvement was adding support for multiple WordPress versions. This enhancement ensures that Screenly Cast remains both future-proof and backwards-compatible, accommodating a wider range of WordPress installations.</p> <h2 id="moving-forward">Moving Forward</h2> <p>With Screenly Cast now modernized and up-to-date, users can confidently use it with both Screenly and <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io/">Anthias</a>. We remain committed to the project’s open-source nature and actively welcome community contributions, whether through issue reporting or pull request submissions.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/03/resurrecting-screenly-cast/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/03/resurrecting-screenly-cast/Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Wayfinding digital signage is transforming how people navigate hospitals, universities, office buildings, and other complex locations. Instead of relying on static signage and printed maps, organizations can now provide live directions, interactive maps, and instant updates. Read more in the article below to learn how your business or organization can get started with wayfinding digital signage quickly and easily.</p> <h2 id="why-is-digital-wayfinding-signage-useful">Why is digital wayfinding signage useful?</h2> <p>Digital wayfinding signage gives visitors the confidence to find their destinations quickly and helps staff avoid answering the same directions over and over. When powered by a robust software platform, these solutions are easy to maintain and can be updated from anywhere, no matter how large the building or campus.</p> <p>Many organizations that rely on traditional wayfinding are switching to digital signage and wayfinding because it’s so much easier to keep signs accurate. Static signs often require costly reprints when a room changes names or a department moves. In contrast, digital signage allows you to log in and revise content with just a few clicks.</p> <p>For example, if an event pops up or you want to highlight a promotion, you can schedule that announcement online. This flexibility makes a significant difference in the visitor experience. No one wants to see outdated signs that send them on the wrong path.</p> <h2 id="necessary-components-for-wayfinding-digital-signage">Necessary components for wayfinding digital signage</h2> <p>To launch wayfinding digital signage, users need both hardware and software. A successful rollout and customer experience depends on reliable hardware, easy-to-use software, and content that people truly need.</p> <p>On the hardware side, users need a physical TV screen. This can be either a <a href="/blog/2024/12/29/digital-signage-smart-tvs/">smart TV</a> that can display a web browser via <a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">Screenly Anywhere</a> or any screen paired with a physical <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. On the software side, users will need to choose <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage management software</a>. This software enables users to communicate with their screen and upload their wayfinding maps.</p> <p>A good first step is to choose hardware and software for your digital wayfinding solution that is stable and easy to manage. There are plenty of signage solutions, but not all of them have a user-friendly interface that is navigable to non-technical users or can integrate with your data sources.</p> <p>You need a system that works behind the scenes so you can focus on delivering relevant information to guests. Cloud-based platforms like Screenly let you update screens from an online dashboard with just a few clicks. You can create special content for a set of wayfinding signs, assign that content to a group of screens, and deploy it instantly.</p> <h2 id="other-use-cases-for-wayfinding-digital-signage">Other use cases for wayfinding digital signage</h2> <p>Digital signage and wayfinding can do more than show building layouts. You can display safety alerts, corporate announcements, or welcome messages that rotate with your interactive wayfinding maps. This variety keeps people engaged. With digital signs, you can also highlight advertisements or special offers that might boost the bottom line, such as discounts or loyalty programs. If you’re a school or conference center, it’s helpful to show upcoming events or room schedules next to your maps. The ability to tie other data into a single screen is a major advantage over static signage.</p> <p>Some businesses install wayfinding kiosks that provide step-by-step directions, which can include real-time elements like Google Maps feeds for traffic or public transport info. If you have multiple floors or business offices, you can allow visitors to choose their location and display a custom route on digital displays. These enhancements not only reduce confusion but also free up employees to do more important work.</p> <h2 id="integrating-with-business-systems-and-data-sources">Integrating with business systems and data sources</h2> <p>Screenly makes it easy to integrate your wayfinding digital signage with your existing business systems or even third-party data sources. If you want to use traffic data, <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">weather data</a>, or <a href="/tutorials/density/">room-occupancy data via Density.io</a> in your wayfinding digital signage, it’s easy to creat custom solutions. Users can build their own wayfinding digital signage with the <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a> framework and <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>. These tools allow users to edit the application line-by-line at the code level.</p> <h2 id="tips-for-your-first-wayfinding-signage">Tips for your first wayfinding signage</h2> <p>It’s important to be purposeful with wayfinding signage map design. When picking a layout for your wayfinding maps, keep it simple. Detailed floor plans are helpful, but too much clutter can make them confusing. Each screen should show the essential options: perhaps a list of departments, an alphabetical directory, or a search bar if it is interactive. If your location is large, break it down by area or floor so people can quickly find themselves on the map.</p> <p>Be sure to adapt your digital wayfinding signage designs to the target audience. For instance, senior living facilities can display large icons and readable text for older adults. Hospitals might feature color-coded maps for different types of care. Office buildings can incorporate branding elements that match a company’s style. Digital signage is infinitely adjustable, which means you can tailor your screens to fit any environment, and it is important to take advantage of this capability.</p> <p>Screen placement for your wayfinding systems is also an important consideration. If visitors don’t see interactive maps in an obvious location, they may never use your wayfinding screens to begin with. A safe bet is to primarily place wayfinding kiosks at main entrances or elevators, since those are high-traffic spots where visitors often need guidance. If you have multiple floors and wings, consider placing at least one screen per level, plus additional screens at large junctions.</p> <p>Lastly, it is important to have clear responsibilities in your organization for who is responsible for sign wayfinding content. With Screenly, it’s easy to delegate resposibilities with team accounts and <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">granular user access controls</a>. Your team needs to double-check your organization’s content regularly to make sure all posted locations and directions are correct. A well-planned maintenance schedule should ensure that navigating spaces is an issue that is taken care of as your organization changes.</p> <h2 id="launch-wayfinding-signage-quickly-with-screenly">Launch wayfinding signage quickly with Screenly</h2> <p>Upgrading to digital wayfinding solutions can enrich the visitor experience, reduce frustration, and streamline building navigation. Rather than dealing with traditional wayfinding methods that quickly become outdated, you can embrace interactive wayfinding that gives people confidence the moment they arrive. These digital signs give your business room to adapt, providing not just directions but whatever else your guests need on-screen.</p> <p>The best way to launch your digital signs quickly and easily is with Screenly. Screenly provides both a hardware and software solution so that you can take care of wayfinding at your organization and get back to your business’s core competencies. To get started with Screenly, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> today.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/02/wayfinding-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/02/02/wayfinding-digital-signage/Sun, 02 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 7 Feature Releases</strong>: Screenly Anywhere, Screenly AlignCentral, Screenly’s Zapier integration, Screenly’s updated browser extension, Screenly’s updated WordPress plugin</p> <p>Welcome back to the Screenly Changelog! This is our first episode of 2025, and we are excited to share several big updates with our community. The overarching theme of our recent work is to make Screenly more accessible and reduce friction between getting an idea for digital signage content and getting that content up on your screen. You can watch the full Screenly Changelog Episode 7 recording above or check out the feature highlights below.</p> <h2 id="screenly-anywhere">Screenly Anywhere</h2> <p>Our first announcement, <a href="/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/">Screenly Anywhere</a>, came from a growing need for more flexible digital signage deployments. For years, users needed to run Screenly on dedicated Screenly digital signage players. That approach is still great if you’re in a high-security environment or just love the hands-on reliability of a dedicated player. Yet, with the rise of smart displays, many people want the ease of using their existing screens. Screenly Anywhere makes that possible, as users can now deploy any hardware that can display a web browser as their digital signage player. You can now log in, pair your screen, and see content playing almost instantly with your existing devices and hardware.</p> <h2 id="screenly-aligncentral">Screenly AlignCentral</h2> <p>Next up is <a href="/blog/2025/01/17/screenly-align-central-launch/">Screenly AlignCentral</a>, which makes it easier than ever for companies to coordinate aligned messaging with their teams and employees, regardless of whether teams are in-office or distributed. Imagine you have a great employee spotlight or an important company announcement. With Screenly AlignCentral, you can make it pop up on traditional office screens and also embed it online through existing company communication platforms so everyone sees it—no matter where they are working that day. For executives eager to keep people connected, this offers a quick, integrated way to share communications that will drive your business forward.</p> <h2 id="zapier-integration">Zapier integration</h2> <p>Screenly’s <a href="/blog/2025/01/19/screenly-zapier-digital-signage-integration/">Zapier integration</a> follows a similar logic: the simpler it is to bring content and data into Screenly, the easier digital signage becomes. Zapier is a popular “no-code” platform that helps different software tools talk to each other. Maybe you have a sales CRM that records a big deal or a Google Drive folder where you drop promotional videos. With the Zapier integration, any of those events can trigger an automatic upload to Screenly. The next time your marketing team finishes a graphic, for instance, they can just add it to a shared folder, and your screens will update themselves—no need for manual logins or repeated uploads. These previous use cases are just a few examples of how teams can use Zapier with Screenly. Zapier integrates with thousands of popular software tools, and we are excited to see what our community builds.</p> <h2 id="browser-extension-for-chrome-and-firefox">Browser extension for Chrome and Firefox</h2> <p>Not everything you want to show on screens is a plain web page you can simply bookmark. Sometimes, it’s a secure dashboard you have to log into. That’s where the newly updated <a href="/blog/2024/12/30/resurrecting-browser-extension/">Screenly browser extension</a> (for Chrome and Firefox) becomes your best friend. Instead of juggling passwords in multiple places, you can open the page in your browser, click the extension button, and let Screenly handle the rest. The extension captures your login session so the screen display remains authorized and up-to-date.</p> <h2 id="wordpress-plugin-revival">WordPress plugin revival</h2> <p>We also brought back the <a href="https://wordpress.com/plugins/screenly-cast">Screenly WordPress plugin</a> with a fresh overhaul. Many of us use WordPress daily to create updates, blog posts, or company announcements. Converting that content into something that looks great on a big screen often requires playing around with layouts or custom code. The WordPress plugin does that formatting for you. After installing it, any page or post can be turned into a display-friendly layout with a simple link parameter. You can take what you’ve already published on your site and quickly make it part of your digital signage, saving effort and ensuring consistent design.</p> <h2 id="thats-all-for-now">That’s all for now</h2> <p>That’s all for now - we look forward to sharing more next month with the Screenly Changelog Episode 8. If you have yet to get started with Screenly, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/29/screenly-changelog-episode-7/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/29/screenly-changelog-episode-7/Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Screenly has long been dedicated to making digital signage both powerful and accessible. From <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail stores</a> that need to showcase timely promotions to <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">corporate offices</a> that display internal dashboards and event announcements, our platform helps users get critical information onto screens with speed and simplicity. Now, with the launch of Screenly Anywhere, we’re raising the bar on flexibility by letting you use any hardware that’s capable of running a modern web browser for your digital signage player.</p> <p>This hardware-agnostic approach might seem like a small change at first, but it has huge implications for an organization’s digital signage strategy. Instead of having to purchase and wait for specialized <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a>, you can turn devices you already own, like a smart TV in your lobby or a mini PC in your executive suite, into a fully functional digital signage player. It’s a natural next step in our mission to eliminate barriers and make it easier than ever to launch engaging, eye-catching displays.</p> <h2 id="a-quick-overview-of-screenly-digital-signage">A quick overview of Screenly digital signage</h2> <p>To appreciate Screenly Anywhere, it helps to know a bit about who we are and where Screenly came from. Screenly is an all-in-one digital signage platform that provides both the <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">CMS software</a> and <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">media player hardware</a> that users need to get digital signs up and running. At its core, Screenly enables you to create, schedule, and manage content on your screens, whether it’s images, videos, live web pages, or specialized apps.</p> <p>For digital signage player hardware, Screenly offers the Screenly Player and the more powerful Screenly Player Max. Companies use these specialized players for setups that run content around the clock, such as <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail environments</a>, <a href="/use-cases/manufacturing-bridon-bekaert-case-study/">manufacturing floors</a>, or even <a href="/use-cases/hospitals/">hospital campuses</a>. Screenly also provides a user-friendly web interface for managing your screens, with features from uploading and <a href="/end-user/display-content/">scheduling content</a> to <a href="/end-user/group-labels/">grouping screens</a> by location or function.</p> <p>Beyond hardware, Screenly integrates with a range of <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-integrations">data sources and third-party services</a>, making it easy to keep content current and automate updates. <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a> allow users to build custom digital signage apps that run directly on their hardware. Screenly Edge Apps can pull real-time metrics and custom data from your company’s existing business tools via the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>.</p> <p>Over the years, Screenly has grown into a trusted platform for thousands of users worldwide, helping them cut through the complexity of digital signage and focus on delivering meaningful, impactful content to their audiences. With Screenly Anywhere, we aim to bring Screenly to even more users on more devices.</p> <h2 id="why-screenly-anywhere-came-to-life">Why Screenly Anywhere came to life</h2> <p>When we first began offering digital signage cloud software, new users quickly realized how straightforward our interface is for digital signage tasks. However, many prospective users also told us that they felt frustrated having to purchase and wait for a Screenly Player or Screenly Player Max.</p> <p>To bridge that gap, we initially launched a simple “virtual screen” tool, accessible via any standard browser. This free tool allowed people to see how their content looks on a live display, but it lacked key features like robust scheduling, multi-user management, live web page display, and third-party integrations, which are all hallmarks of a fully-fledged digital signage experience. Still, the excitement around that initial web-based demo revealed something important: if we made our full platform available on any device with a browser, more businesses could discover and adopt digital signage quickly.</p> <p>That realization led us to develop Screenly Anywhere, a full-featured solution that retains the convenience of a simple web-based demo but expands it into a secure, reliable, and professional-grade digital signage setup.</p> <h2 id="what-screenly-anywhere-offers">What Screenly Anywhere offers</h2> <p>By bringing the power of Screenly to any device with a modern web browser, Screenly Anywhere unlocks new possibilities for organizations across industries. You can now harness our platform’s robust content management, multi-location scheduling, and comprehensive <a href="/security/">digital signage security</a> on devices you already own. This means that schools can repurpose existing media players for campus-wide announcement signs, corporate offices can transform conference room PCs into digital data dashboards, and restaurants can quickly upgrade smart TVs into digital menu boards—all without waiting for additional hardware to arrive.</p> <p>With Screenly Anywhere, you’ll find all the features that have made Screenly a leader in digital signage:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>User-friendly content management:</strong> Organize images, videos, dashboards, live web pages, or custom apps into playlists and schedule them to play when and where you want.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Flexible collaboration:</strong> Grant different levels of access to various team members. So, for example, your marketing department can upload branded content while IT handles technical settings.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Security and reliability:</strong> Screenly Anywhere operates via secure web links. You can feel confident deploying it even in environments where data protection is paramount, such as healthcare facilities or financial institutions.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Screenly Edge Apps:</strong> Build powerful apps and data integrations for real-time use cases with your existing tech stack and business tools.</p> </li> </ul> <p>For most digital signage use cases, like employee information displays, waiting room screens, or event signage, Screenly Anywhere offers a seamless experience. For especially demanding scenarios, think large-scale rollouts in 24/7 retail hubs or global manufacturing hubs, our dedicated digital signage players, in particular the Screenly Player Max, continue to be available for those needing an even higher level of performance and reliability.</p> <h2 id="a-giant-leap-toward-hardware-agnostic-digital-signage">A giant leap toward hardware-agnostic digital signage</h2> <p>The introduction of Screenly Anywhere is a significant milestone in our strategy to make Screenly a hardware-agnostic digital signage platform. Giving users a choice on how they deploy digital signage leads to more efficient and creative use of screens throughout an organization. Some teams love the plug-and-play simplicity of the hardened Screenly Player or Screenly Player Max, especially in high-stakes situations where device failure isn’t an option. Others are perfectly comfortable using an existing media player, a simple stick PC, or a <a href="/blog/2024/12/29/digital-signage-smart-tvs/">smart TV</a> for smaller-scale or less critical signage needs.</p> <p>Also, because everything is managed through the same Screenly dashboard, switching from a browser-based setup to a dedicated hardware setup, or vice versa, is easy. It’s all about matching the right hardware approach to the right scenario without sacrificing the seamless control and scheduling capabilities of the Screenly platform.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly-anywhere">Getting started with Screenly Anywhere</h2> <p>One of the best parts about Screenly Anywhere is how effortless it is to try out. If you’re new to digital signage or curious about how Screenly works, start by signing up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a>. You’ll gain access to our user-friendly web interface for uploading, organizing, and scheduling content. Next, pick any device at your place of business, a smart TV, a mini PC, or even a standard laptop, and open a modern web browser. Load the Screenly Anywhere link, and within moments, you’ll see your content displayed on the screen.</p> <p>This quick and flexible setup helps you experiment with best practices in real-time, whether you want to test drive rotating promotional ads, daily metrics for your team, or a dynamic news feed. If you discover that you need a more robust, dedicated player down the line, you can easily upgrade to a Screenly Player or Screenly Player Max without a complicated content migration required.</p> <h2 id="your-invitation-to-a-new-era-of-digital-signage">Your invitation to a new era of digital signage</h2> <p>Whether you’re a seasoned Screenly user or just beginning your search for a digital signage solution, we invite you to explore Screenly Anywhere. It’s part of our commitment to making digital signage accessible to everyone, regardless of budget, technical expertise, or hardware preferences. We know that the faster you can get your content onto screens, the faster you can capture attention, inform viewers, and drive engagement. To get started, begin your no-credit-care-required <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a>. From there, you can deploy Screenly Anywhere and bring your content ideas to life with hardware you already own. Your digital signage journey is only a browser window away.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/27/screenly-anywhere-launch/Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Top digital signage platforms provide a dynamic medium for delivering targeted and engaging content to audiences. When comparing the offerings of top digital signage companies, it is essential to understand which features drive the most value. Organizations should seek solutions that align with their unique communication goals, provide robust functionality, and remain user-friendly. In this article, we explore what sets top digital signage software and hardware apart, why integrations are vital, and how enterprise features help large organizations manage digital signage efficiently.</p> <h2 id="the-features-of-top-digital-signage-software">The features of top digital signage software</h2> <p>Comprehensive content scheduling is a crucial feature of <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">top digital display software</a>. This capability allows administrators to decide precisely when and where to display specific messaging. Whether it’s a product launch or a time-sensitive announcement, scheduling tools ensure your digital signage efforts stay perfectly aligned with business objectives. Another essential capability is an intuitive playlist builder that helps non-technical team members add, organize, and update content with ease. By eliminating the need for heavy IT involvement, organizations can roll out new campaigns or promotions quickly.</p> <p>Managing multiple screens at once is an equally important aspect of a top digital signage software platform. Group labeling or tagging is a powerful way to organize displays by location, department, or campaign, making it easy to perform bulk updates rather than adjusting settings on each screen individually. Automated alerts when screens need troubleshooting further bolster the solution’s reliability. Rapid notifications allow for prompt resolution of screen issues, reducing downtime and preserving the consistency of on-screen messaging.</p> <h2 id="the-features-of-top-digital-signage-hardware">The features of top digital signage hardware</h2> <p>A successful top digital signage system pairs advanced software with reliable hardware, commonly called a digital signage player or media player. A fundamental requirement for such <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">top digital signage hardware</a> is content caching, ensuring that displays remain active even if the internet connection is temporarily disrupted. Instead of going dark or showing an error message, digital signage continues to cycle through assigned content, maintaining a professional appearance for viewers.</p> <p>Security is also paramount. Digital signage players need automatic security updates to protect against hacks and vulnerabilities. This proactive approach keeps both data and content safe without requiring manual updates. In addition, fanless designs increase hardware reliability. By eliminating moving parts, fanless players can reduce the risk of mechanical failure and keep long-term maintenance costs in check, which is especially beneficial in complex or remote deployment environments.</p> <h2 id="the-importance-of-integrations">The importance of integrations</h2> <p>No matter how comprehensive a platform may seem, its value massively increases when it can seamlessly integrate with other software solutions, data sources, and tools in an organization’s technology ecosystem. A top digital signage system offers a library of pre-built integrations that let users connect social media feeds, calendar applications, or data dashboards directly to their displays. This immediate compatibility removes the need for tedious, time-consuming data transfers and reduces errors.</p> <p>However, even an extensive set of integrations has limits if your organization has unique requirements. For these scenarios, the ability to modify or enhance applications at the code level is indispensable. <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>, for example, let developers customize integrations line-by-line so that the digital signage platform can adapt to specialized business needs. This flexibility ensures that digital signage can evolve alongside an organization’s changing processes, technologies, and market demands.</p> <h2 id="enterprise-grade-features-for-managing-digital-signage-at-scale">Enterprise-grade features for managing digital signage at scale</h2> <p>For large organizations, top digital signage software must include advanced capabilities that simplify the management of hundreds of displays across multiple locations. <a href="/enterprise/sso-and-saml-support/">Single Sign-On (SSO) and SAML support</a> are key for easy user management. Instead of juggling separate logins for each user, administrators can leverage existing identity management solutions to grant and revoke access efficiently. In addition, granular access controls ensure that users can only perform actions they are authorized to do, reducing the risk of unintended changes and preserving consistency across displays.</p> <p>Consolidated invoicing and billing features are also critical in an enterprise environment. By handling payments and subscription costs under one streamlined system, organizations avoid administrative headaches and maintain greater clarity over budgeting and spend. Finally, service-level agreements (SLAs) are essential at scale. The ability to rely on robust support ensures that any technical issues or outages are resolved promptly, helping large enterprises maintain uptime and deliver consistent, high-impact messaging.</p> <h2 id="try-out-top-digital-signage-for-free">Try out top digital signage for free</h2> <p>By selecting a platform that can scale, integrate with existing workflows, and adapt as technology evolves, companies can deliver the right message at the right time in a way that resonates with viewers and aligns with business goals. You can get started with top digital signage for free with <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Screenly’s 14-day free trial</a>. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>. We are always happy to help!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/25/top-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/25/top-digital-signage/Sat, 25 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage comes in many shapes, sizes, and formats, and each version is best suited for particular use cases. Check out our article below to learn more about the different types of digital signage and how they can be helpful for your business.</p> <h2 id="what-is-digital-signage">What is digital signage?</h2> <p>At its core, digital signage is the use of electronic displays to present multimedia content. This content can include videos, images, animations, or text-based messages that are designed to inform, engage, or influence viewers. A digital signage deployment includes <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage hardware</a> (a display screen and media player), <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage software</a> for scheduling and remote management, and the <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-content-design">digital signage content</a> itself.</p> <h2 id="indoor-digital-signage">Indoor digital signage</h2> <p>Indoor digital signage appears in locations such as shopping malls, retail stores, corporate lobbies, and entertainment venues. Because these digital displays are situated in controlled environments, they can focus on aesthetic appeal without the added stress of needing to withstand harsh weather or direct sunlight. Common applications include promotional screens, reception area video wall installations, and interactive wayfinding solutions.</p> <p>Indoor displays are often the first step for businesses exploring digital sign options, thanks to simpler installation requirements and the immediate visual impact they provide to visitors. Many Screenly customers find that these flexible solutions help them communicate more effectively and improve overall customer engagement.</p> <h2 id="outdoor-digital-signage">Outdoor digital signage</h2> <p>Outdoor signage is engineered to operate in challenging conditions and must handle variations in temperature, humidity, and sunlight. High bright displays with <a href="/blog/2019/04/12/digital-signage-enclosures/">weatherproof enclosures</a> are used in places like bus stops, highways, and public squares to ensure the content remains visible. Larger-than-life billboards also fall into this category, delivering sweeping advertisements for drivers and pedestrians alike.</p> <p>Outdoor signage can become a powerful branding tool, especially when paired with a reliable media player and content management system that enables real-time updates. These <a href="/blog/2019/01/29/outdoor-digital-signage/">outdoor digital signage solutions</a> can range from massive LED boards to smaller screens installed in kiosks or on building exteriors, all designed to make a memorable impact on passersby, whether they are walking or driving.</p> <h2 id="interactive-kiosks-and-touchscreen-displays">Interactive kiosks and touchscreen displays</h2> <p>Interactive kiosks represent a more hands-on form of digital signage that encourages viewers to become active participants rather than passive onlookers. These kiosks appear in shopping centers for wayfinding, in hospitals for patient check-in, and in airports for self-service ticketing.</p> <p>The touchscreen element empowers users to explore signage content, search for specific information, or complete transactions on their own, improving satisfaction by reducing wait times. Beyond convenience, interactive digital displays enable businesses and organizations to gather real-time data about customer and user preferences, which in turn helps refine strategies for future messaging. Screenly customers often integrate interactive features with our remote management tools to keep information current and appealing, regardless of whether the display is located indoors or outdoors.</p> <h2 id="video-walls">Video walls</h2> <p>Video walls consist of multiple screens arranged to form one large, high-resolution display. They can be configured in standard rectangular layouts or creative mosaic-like shapes. Often found in corporate headquarters, hotel lobbies, or control rooms, a <a href="/tutorials/raspberry-pi-video-wall/">digital sign video wall</a> is intended to make a dramatic visual statement that holds viewers’ attention far longer than a single display might. The sheer size of a video wall allows businesses to showcase branding videos or other multimedia content in a visually striking way.</p> <h2 id="led-tickers-and-real-time-information-displays">LED tickers and real-time information displays</h2> <p>LED tickers are narrow, scrolling displays that deliver real-time data such as financial updates, sports scores, or breaking news. They excel in environments where continuously updated information is crucial, including banks, stock exchanges, and corporate offices. Transportation hubs and sports bars also integrate LED tickers to keep visitors informed about schedules, flight information, and live scores.</p> <p>These displays tend to be attention-grabbing due to the constant motion of the text, making them an effective choice for businesses that rely on immediate updates. With Screenly, these dynamic digital signage installations can be managed centrally, ensuring that fresh details are always delivered to viewers.</p> <h2 id="digital-menu-boards">Digital menu boards</h2> <p>Digital menu boards are especially popular in quick-service restaurants and casual dining establishments. By replacing traditional static menus with digital sign setups, businesses can effortlessly update prices, change menu items, and promote limited-time offers without incurring printing costs.</p> <p>Alongside text, these <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">digital menu boards</a> often employ mouth-watering visuals or rotating specials to entice customers. Digital menu boards can integrate nutritional information, tie into online ordering systems, or feature dayparting schedules that switch content based on the time of day. This seamless approach to displaying content is a prime example of how a media player and content management system work together to elevate the customer experience while staying cost-effective.</p> <h2 id="corporate-communication-signage">Corporate communication signage</h2> <p>Many organizations install digital signage throughout their offices for internal communications, turning lobbies, hallways, and break rooms into places for sharing corporate news, announcements, and real-time metrics. Corporate communication signage fosters workplace culture by keeping employees informed and engaged. It also provides a platform to celebrate achievements, announce events, and disseminate emergency alerts.</p> <p>Interested in aligning your team with corporate communication digital signage? Check out <a href="/blog/2025/01/17/screenly-align-central-launch/">Screenly AlignCentral</a>. By maintaining consistent branding within every digital display, organizations can reinforce their corporate identity while promoting a sense of unity. Screenly’s remote management capabilities help businesses keep these displays fresh and relevant, regardless of how frequently signage content needs updating.</p> <h2 id="transportation-digital-signage">Transportation digital signage</h2> <p>Airports, train stations, and bus terminals rely on digital signage to guide travelers, display timetables, and share gate or platform information. This type of dynamic digital signage improves passenger flow and reduces confusion, especially when schedules change unexpectedly.</p> <p>Whether it’s a large arrivals and departures board or smaller overhead screens, effective transportation signage plays a key role in delivering timely messages to those on the move. Screenly’s centralized content management system simplifies the process of updating information across multiple displays in real-time, ensuring travelers stay informed at all stages of their journey.</p> <h2 id="interactive-retail-displays">Interactive retail displays</h2> <p>Retailers take customer engagement to another level by implementing interactive displays that allow shoppers to explore products, view additional details, or even visualize how items might look in different settings. In clothing outlets, virtual fitting rooms let customers see how outfits appear without physically trying them on. In electronics shops, interactive product demonstrations compare features side by side. These <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail digital signage</a> installations elevate the shopping experience, foster brand loyalty, and enable retail stores to collect valuable data on consumer behavior.</p> <h2 id="content-strategy-for-each-digital-signage-type">Content strategy for each digital signage type</h2> <p>No matter which category of digital signage a business chooses, an effective content strategy is critical. Some displays are best for quick bursts of information, while others can showcase lengthier video content or interactive elements that invite user participation. It’s vital to rotate signage content frequently and schedule it based on the times of day or unique audience segments you wish to reach.</p> <h2 id="get-started-today-with-screenly">Get started today with Screenly</h2> <p>If you’re ready to explore digital signage for your organization, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a> with Screenly. We do not require a credit card to sign up, and you can test out our digital signage platform right now at no cost.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/23/types-of-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/23/types-of-digital-signage/Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Inexpensive digital signage has become a popular conversation topic for businesses looking to increase engagement and streamline their marketing efforts without breaking the bank. Many organizations begin their search by looking for cheap digital signage solutions, hoping to discover a way to showcase their content in a compelling way while keeping costs at a minimum. However, it’s essential to remember that even with cheap digital signage options available, there are various factors to consider before settling on any single approach. Cost and quality need to be balanced carefully so that the solution remains both effective and reliable.</p> <h2 id="using-free-digital-signage-software-and-anthias-by-screenly">Using free digital signage software and Anthias by Screenly</h2> <p>One of the most significant ways to achieve savings in digital signage is through free software, such as Screenly’s open-source solution, <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io/">Anthias</a>. Anthias is a robust option for organizations that want to dip their toes into cheap digital signage setups without committing to ongoing subscription fees. Since Anthias can only be used for single-screen deployments, it does have limitations for anyone aiming to manage multiple displays at once. Nonetheless, it offers an excellent starting point for those who want to experiment with digital signage on a tight budget or in a limited capacity.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-resolution-cost-savings">Digital signage resolution cost savings</h2> <p>Many companies are drawn toward displaying high-resolution content, but there is an associated increase in hardware and content production costs when you move beyond 1080p to 4K resolution. The truth is that, in most cases, 1080p full HD content is more than sufficient to captivate an audience. These displays often look crisp and professional without requiring the more expensive hardware necessary to render higher-resolution content. While 4K can provide a stunning visual experience, it may only be necessary for businesses that rely heavily on highly detailed images, such as high-end retail or those displaying intricate design elements. For the vast majority, full HD is cost-effective and visually striking enough to get the job done. Learn more about <a href="/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/">content resolution considerations</a>.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-player-cost-considerations">Digital signage player cost considerations</h2> <p>Within the Screenly product line, there are two options to consider for digital signage players: the Screenly Player and the Screenly Player Max. Check out a full <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player feature comparison</a>. The Screenly Player Max is undoubtedly more powerful, making it ideal for more complex or resource-intensive applications. However, this increased performance comes with a higher price tag. For most scenarios, particularly those focused on simpler content playback, the standard Screenly Player is a perfectly capable solution that balances affordability and functionality. It’s essential to evaluate your business’s needs carefully, from the type of content you plan to display to the environments in which your screens will operate.</p> <h2 id="how-digital-signage-can-reduce-costs">How digital signage can reduce costs</h2> <p>When companies compare digital signage solutions, it’s important to factor in not just the upfront costs of hardware and software but also the significant labor savings that digital signage delivers. Traditional methods often involve printing, shipping, and manually replacing static signs. In other setups, employees need to manually visit digital signs and upload new content with a <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">USB drive and keyboard</a>. These tasks can be labor-intensive, time-consuming, and error-prone. Modern digital signage systems, including Screenly, simplify this process by allowing you to manage screen content remotely, all from a laptop or desktop with an internet connection. This capability means you can update multiple displays at once across different locations, saving substantial labor hours and ensuring messaging remains timely, accurate, and consistent.</p> <h2 id="digital-signs-are-not-just-an-expense">Digital signs are not just an expense</h2> <p>Beyond convenience and cost savings, digital signage is also a revenue-generating investment that can help businesses stand out. With dynamic, eye-catching content on the screen, customers are more likely to engage with promotions, learn about new products, or become aware of upcoming events. Rather than viewing digital signage as a mere expense line item, it’s better to see it as an investment for driving revenue and <a href="/blog/2025/01/17/screenly-align-central-launch/">strengthening brand identity</a>. By choosing the right mix of software, hardware, and resolution, you can keep costs under control while still maximizing the returns on your digital signage investment. Cheap digital signage does not mean sacrificing value, as long as you carefully weigh your options and select the technology that meets your unique requirements.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly-for-free">Get started with Screenly for free</h2> <p>You can get started at no cost today with Screenly’s <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>. Test us out, try out our interface, and plan your inexpensive digital signage deployment.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/21/inexpensive-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/21/inexpensive-digital-signage/Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>In the past, digital signage used to be limited to a user uploading content to a sign and scheduling when that content played. That workflow had a lot of great use cases and helped many companies create a more engaging customer and employee experience. However, in many situations, that workflow was too limited and too slow, as it was not able to incorporate real-time content and real-time scheduling.</p> <p>Now, those limitations are a thing of the past. Enter Screenly & Zapier. It’s now possible to integrate with almost any app quickly and easily. With this integration, users can automatically display new content and trigger when this content displays.</p> <h2 id="why-we-built-our-digital-signage-zapier-integration">Why we built our digital signage Zapier integration</h2> <p>Screenly has been in business for over a decade, so we have received almost every integration request you can imagine. In many cases, these requests provided useful guidance for our product roadmap, and we built these requested integrations for thousands of users.</p> <p>In other situations, integration requests were more obscure and had a very limited user base. Without a large potentialuser base, it was hard to justify allocating developer resources for requests with small target markets. Nonetheless, while it was hard to make a convincing business justification for these integration requests, they were still very important for the customers who requested them.</p> <p>That’s why we built our <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/screenly/integrations">integration with Zapier</a>. Zapier makes it easy for users to connect and transfer data between software tools. So, building our Zapier integration was like building thousands of integrations at once. With our new Zapier integration, users can easily integrate their Screenly digital signs with thousands of popular software tools and business apps.</p> <h2 id="example-use-cases-with-screenly-and-zapier">Example use cases with Screenly and Zapier</h2> <p>With our Zapier integration, you can use Zapier triggers to initiate actions on your digital signage deployment. You can trigger asset uploads, playlist creation, screen content assignment, and more. Anything you can trigger with the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>, you trigger within Zapier’s interface.</p> <p>To get a better idea of what is possible with Screenly’s Zapier integration, check out the example workflows below:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Use Zapier to trigger automatic content uploads when new files are added to Google Drive, Dropbox, or a SharePoint folder.</p> </li> <li> <p>Use Zapier to trigger content to display when particular data conditions are met, such as when a sales rep meets their monthly quota or when a team reaches a new weekly revenue record.</p> </li> <li> <p>Use Zapier to change screen content based on third-party data, such as weather data. Retail stores can then display coat and jacket promotions when it is cold out and promote summer wear when it is warm out.</p> </li> </ul> <p>The above list is just for inspiration! You can connect any of Zapier’s thousands of apps to trigger and build your Screenly-powered digital signage.</p> <h2 id="preparing-digital-signage-for-workflows-and-ai-agents">Preparing digital signage for workflows and AI agents</h2> <p>In 2025, AI agents have been and will be all the rage. This year, teams will be able to use AI tools to not just complete one task at a time but instead to complete an orchestrated workflow of several tasks that all interrelate with each other. In some of these agentic workflows, users will want to incorporate digital signs.</p> <p>With Screenly & Zapier, users can get to work with this upcoming trend in digital signage and technology at large. Instead of digital signage content being something that needs to be planned weeks in advance and changed one piece at a time, users can start to innovate new ways of interfacing with their digital signs and displaying content that will best drive business results.</p> <p>For example, a past workflow (or soon-to-be-disrupted current workflow) for listing a new retail item would have included creating new marketing collateral, sending it to different team members, and then uploading it to <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>. With new AI-enabled workflows, it’s possible that all these steps happen automatically when a new SKU and product description are added to a business’s inventory database. AI agents and workflows enabled through Zapier and Screenly will allow all of that work to happen in the background. It’s possible that moments after a new SKU is added to an inventory system, beautiful digital signage content for that item starts displaying in stores.</p> <h2 id="in-need-of-more-custom-integrations-try-screenly-edge-apps">In need of more custom integrations? Try Screenly Edge Apps</h2> <p>Screenly’s integration with Zapier makes it easier than ever to integrate your digital signs with other business tools and software. Zapier’s point-and-click interface also opens up this integration work to anyone on your team - digital signage setup no longer has to be the sole task of the IT department. However, the ease-of-use that Zapier provides does have some limitations on customization.</p> <p>When Screenly’s integration with Zapier is not enough, users can write custom digital signage applications that are editable line-by-line at the code level. This is possible with the <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge App framework</a>. With Screnly Edge Apps, we take care of all the behind-the-scenes work so that developers can focus on building only the parts of their application that add value to their business. All the complicated parts of digital signage, including content formatting, device management, operating system choices, and <a href="/security/">digital signage security</a> are taken care of.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-get-started-with-screenly-and-zapier">How do I get started with Screenly and Zapier?</h2> <p>You can get started with Screenly and Zapier right now. The first step is to get a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> with Screenly. Next, get a <a href="https://zapier.com/">free trial with Zapier</a> and check out our <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/screenly/integrations">integration page</a>. That’s it - you can start building right away!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/19/screenly-zapier-digital-signage-integration/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/19/screenly-zapier-digital-signage-integration/Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p><em>TLDR:</em> Today we launch an exciting new product, Screenly AlignCentral! Business leaders and management teams can use Screenly AlignCentral to schedule and send out multimedia messaging to their teams. This messaging can appear on digital signs throughout an office or corporate campus and even inside existing online communication tools.</p> <p>At Screenly, we have always believed that dynamic, visually engaging messaging can be a powerful driver for organizational alignment. Since our founding, our digital signage solutions have helped thousands of businesses deliver relevant, on-brand content across various screens and locations. Now, we are thrilled to announce Screenly AlignCentral, our newest innovation that empowers leadership teams to communicate their objectives, updates, and culture more effectively than ever before.</p> <h2 id="why-screenly-aligncentral">Why Screenly AlignCentral?</h2> <p>Email blasts and memos often fall short. They land in cluttered inboxes, get skimmed or ignored, and rarely leave a lasting impact. Screenly AlignCentral tackles this challenge by displaying leadership messages on screens throughout a workspace and even inside existing communication tools. Instead of relying on employees to log in and open an email, Screenly AlignCentral ensures your most important information and ideas are visible seamlessly as people go about their day. This fresh approach transforms communication from a one-off announcement into a continual presence that informs, aligns, and engages.</p> <h2 id="built-to-be-hardware-agnostic">Built to be hardware agnostic</h2> <p>Screenly AlignCentral is hardware agnostic: it can run on any device with a modern web browser and no separate <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage hardware</a> is required. This means that you can share content on physical displays, within browser-based dashboards, or as <a href="/edge-apps/iframe/">iframe instances</a> inside messaging apps and business management platforms. By eliminating the need for specialized devices, Screenly AlignCentral simplifies hardware demands and makes rollout across multiple locations and tools a breeze.</p> <h2 id="keeping-content-engaging">Keeping content engaging</h2> <p>Screenly AlignCentral is not limited to text-based announcements. Leadership teams can include videos with sound or subtitles, slide decks, infographics, and real-time data dashboards. You can even integrate content such as <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">weather updates</a> or <a href="/tutorials/google-calendar/">event calendars</a> alongside leadership messaging to keep screen content fresh and relevant. This variety helps prevent message fatigue and ensures that employees remain interested in what appears on their displays.</p> <h2 id="building-culture-one-screen-at-a-time">Building culture, one screen at a time</h2> <p>A strong culture does not just happen; it needs continual care and cultivation. Screenly AlignCentral provides a direct way for leadership to share what the company stands for, where it is heading, and how the team can get there together. By repeating goals, celebrating successes, and talking about company values in regular updates, leadership can reinforce culture in a tangible way. The frequency of non-invasive digital signage displays helps teams more fully embrace and understand the company’s core values and goals.</p> <h2 id="targeted-messaging-for-different-teams">Targeted messaging for different teams</h2> <p>A one-size-fits-all message is not always the best choice. Screenly AlignCentral allows you to create specific content feeds for particular teams or departments. Leadership may send performance metrics and sales strategies exclusively to the sales department, while a separate feed could show safety updates and manufacturing targets to production teams. Organization-wide messaging remains critical to unify everyone’s focus, but Screenly AlignCentral offers the flexibility to tailor content when different teams need information unique to their roles.</p> <h2 id="simple-flexible-content-management">Simple, flexible content management</h2> <p>AlignCentral’s content management system frees leadership to share updates on their own timeline. Rather than waiting for the next scheduled meeting, you can upload content, select where it appears, and schedule precisely when the team sees it. When business conditions shift, ScreenlyAlignCentral enables real-time communication so people get the most relevant guidance as soon as possible. This agility means leadership can keep pace with evolving strategies and market changes without the burden of lengthy processes.</p> <h2 id="why-choose-screenly">Why choose Screenly?</h2> <p>Screenly has a long-standing commitment to delivering intuitive <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage solutions</a> that connect organizations. With over 10,000 active screens, businesses worldwide trust our products to foster engagement in locations ranging from financial institutions to hospital campuses to retail storefronts. With Screenly AlignCentral, we extend that reach directly into the heart of your corporate communications, helping you cut through the noise and highlight the information that will drive your organization’s success.</p> <h2 id="ready-to-elevate-your-internal-communication">Ready to elevate your internal communication?</h2> <p>We invite you to see how Screenly AlignCentral can transform your communication strategy, engage your workforce, build a stronger culture, and ensure that key updates never go unnoticed again. To get started, <a href="https://forms.gle/Yd6QtiR1W1YdFYLfA">book a demo</a> today, and let us show you how easy it is to harness existing hardware and our powerful platform to keep everyone on track and informed. We look forward to helping you take your organization’s communication to the next level with Screenly AlignCentral.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/17/screenly-align-central-launch/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/17/screenly-align-central-launch/Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="overview">Overview</h2> <p>Screenly provides an intuitive way to manage your assets, playlists, and screens through a user-friendly web console. However, there may be times when your workload becomes overwhelming, leaving you without the bandwidth to switch contexts and manage your Screenly console. In such cases, manually updating and managing content can feel cumbersome.</p> <p>For instance, imagine wanting to add new content to your screens as soon as a file is uploaded to a specific Google Drive folder or changing what is displayed based on the current weather or time of day. This is where workflow automation comes to the rescue, saving you time and effort. With tools like Zapier, automating workflows becomes incredibly straightforward.</p> <p>This motivated us to create a <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/screenly/integrations">Zapier integration for Screenly</a>, allowing you to automate your digital signage workflows.</p> <h2 id="what-is-zapier">What is Zapier?</h2> <p>Zapier is a powerful platform that enables you to automate workflows—referred to as “Zaps”—by connecting various apps seamlessly. A Zap consists of two core components: the <em><strong>trigger</strong></em> and the <em><strong>action</strong></em>.</p> <p>The <em><strong>trigger</strong></em> is the event that initiates the Zap. For example, a trigger could be a new file uploaded to a specific Dropbox folder, changes made to a spreadsheet, or a specific time of day. On the other hand, the <em><strong>action</strong></em> represents the task executed when the trigger event occurs. Examples of actions include displaying particular content on a TV screen, sending notifications via email or SMS, or playing an audio or video file.</p> <p>To get started, you can create a simple two-step Zap, which is accessible to all users. However, if you want to create Zaps with more than two steps, you will need to upgrade to a pro plan, as multi-step Zaps are a premium feature at the time of writing.</p> <h2 id="use-case-integrating-google-drive-with-screenly">Use Case: Integrating Google Drive with Screenly</h2> <p>Let’s explore a practical use case where we create a workflow—or “Zap”—that integrates Google Drive with Screenly. This Zap will have just two steps: one for the trigger and one for the action.</p> <p>For the trigger step, we will use the <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/google-drive/integrations">Google Drive integration</a>. This will be set up to trigger the Zap whenever a new file is uploaded to a specified Google Drive folder. For the action step, we will use the <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/screenly/integrations">Screenly integration</a> and configure it to create and play a <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360009207314-What-content-types-are-supported-by-Screenly">Screenly-compatible content file</a> based on the uploaded file.</p> <p>A detailed, step-by-step guide for creating this workflow can be found in <a href="/tutorials/google-drive">this documentation</a>. Once you have set up and published the Zap, you can test it by uploading a file to the specified Google Drive folder to see the content automatically appear on your Screenly screen.</p> <h2 id="whats-next">What’s Next?</h2> <p>Zapier isn’t limited to workflows involving cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. You can also experiment with <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/weather/integrations">Zapier’s built-in weather integration</a> to enhance your Screenly content. For example, you can configure your screens to display specific images or web pages depending on real-time weather data, adding a layer of dynamism to your digital signage. The possibilities are endless.</p> <p>Our Zapier integration for Screenly is open source, and you can explore the source code <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/zapier">here</a>. We welcome open-source contributions, whether it’s reporting an issue or submitting a pull request.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/16/zapier-integration-for-screenly/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/16/zapier-integration-for-screenly/Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Workplace communication in 2025 is faster than ever, and employees now expect critical information to reach them instantly. This shift leaves companies searching for better ways to keep staff informed about goals, metrics, and company-wide announcements.</p> <p>Workplace digital signage is meeting this demand by delivering real-time updates to screens in offices and remote locations. This kind of visual communication helps employees feel more involved, and it keeps them up to speed with important developments that affect their day-to-day work. Learn more in our post below.</p> <h2 id="benefits-of-workplace-digital-signage">Benefits of workplace digital signage</h2> <p>One of the most powerful benefits of workplace digital signage is the boost it can bring to <a href="/blog/2019/09/23/improving-employee-engagement-digital-signage/">employee engagement</a>. Modern workplaces rely heavily on shared data and teamwork, and employees want to see how their contributions fit into broader company objectives. By placing digital signs in common areas and conference rooms, leadership teams can highlight key metrics that matter, such as sales figures, as well as project deadlines and upcoming training opportunities.</p> <p>In many work environments, it can be tough to capture people’s attention. Slack messages, emails, and chat threads often get lost in the noise. With workplace digital solutions, companies can ensure critical messages stand out. Visual screens are more eye-catching than text-based announcements, so employees are more likely to retain the information presented. This can be useful for large organizations that need to share updates about scheduling or policy changes or for smaller teams that want to highlight success stories and encourage peer recognition.</p> <h2 id="manage-workplace-digital-signage-content-remotely">Manage workplace digital signage content remotely</h2> <p>Another major advantage of modern digital signage solutions is the ability to run content management from the cloud. Gone are the days when teams had to manually update each sign with a USB stick. Instead, <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> lets you log in from any browser and adjust what shows on each screen in just a few clicks. You can push out policy reminders, safety updates, and even entertaining content that provides a quick break from the grind. This cloud-based approach means you stay agile, and you can react faster to shifting business needs or urgent announcements.</p> <p>Companies today also look for ways to keep a consistent message across multiple offices, especially as distributed workforces become the norm. Workplace digital signage can be updated in real-time, so employees in different regions see the same dashboards, news, or company highlights. This consistency helps leadership maintain a unified voice and ensures no one feels left out of the loop, no matter where they work. This type of centralized communication strategy can build team spirit, foster transparency, and encourage cross-department collaboration.</p> <p>Business leadership that is interested in maintaining consistent and coherent messaging company-wide should check out our recent product release, <a href="/blog/2025/01/17/screenly-align-central-launch/">Screenly AlignCentral</a>. Screenly AlignCentral makes it easy for leadership teams to maintain focused and culture-building messaging across an organization, no matter how large or distributed that organization may be.</p> <h2 id="show-kpis-and-data-dashboards-with-ease">Show KPIs and data dashboards with ease</h2> <p>Many organizations use digital signage to showcase workplace digital dashboards with KPIs and other business intelligence metrics. When these data feeds are displayed front and center, employees see how their tasks connect to broader targets. This instant feedback offers a clear sense of progress and helps teams adapt to challenges quickly. This is especially true when screens can update in real-time through tools like <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a> or the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>. With frequent progress checks, employees know exactly where things stand and can spot potential problems before they escalate. One popular tool for this is Screenly’s <a href="/edge-apps/powerbi/">Power BI Edge App</a>.</p> <h2 id="boost-employee-morale-and-engagement">Boost employee morale and engagement</h2> <p>Another use case for digital signage in the workplace is to spotlight personal wins and celebrate milestones. This display messaging can help employees feel recognized and valued, which increases motivation and commitment to company goals. It can be tough to congratulate every achievement in a fast-paced office environment, but a digital sign in the lobby or break room can highlight promotions, project completions, and team accomplishments. This recognition does wonders for workplace morale and motivates others to contribute to a culture of success.</p> <h2 id="workplace-digital-signage-for-creating-a-welcoming-environment">Workplace digital signage for creating a welcoming environment</h2> <p>Modern digital signage solutions are also useful for welcoming visitors and clients. Displays in the reception area can greet people by name, outline the day’s events, or show brand videos. This adds a professional first impression and sets a positive tone for any meeting. Additionally, staff can use screens to reduce confusion about room assignments, daily schedules, and wayfinding around the office.</p> <h2 id="whats-needed-for-workplace-digital-signage">What’s needed for workplace digital signage</h2> <p>As you plan your digital signage deployment, it is crucial to select digital signage software that can handle the content management tasks your team needs. Screenly’s digital signage software allows you to update your displays with images, videos, and real-time data. The system also supports <a href="/end-user/display-content/">content scheduling</a>, so you can plan your content strategy for days or weeks at a time. If you want to see more of these features in action, you can check out Screenly’s digital signage solutions on our site and learn how easy it is to deploy them in your office.</p> <h2 id="getting-your-first-workplace-digital-sign-up-and-running">Getting your first workplace digital sign up and running</h2> <p>Whether you need screens that show project timelines, health and safety updates, or simply an engaging way to improve workplace communication, the right signage tools can transform the flow of information across your organization. Workplace digital signage allows you to share core metrics and useful insights at the precise moment employees need them. This kind of immediate, targeted communication keeps everyone aligned with the company’s vision and reduces wasted time on outdated or scattered messages.</p> <p>If you are ready to try workplace digital signage in your office, you can sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> with Screenly to explore how digital signage can enhance your employee engagement strategy. Our platform can grow alongside your organization, ensuring you always have a trusted partner in your journey toward a more connected and informed workforce. By embracing a modern approach to workplace digital, you can set the stage for your company’s success this year and beyond.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/13/workplace-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/13/workplace-digital-signage/Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital meeting room signs provide a modern way to transform any meeting space. By using meeting room display technology, you can show who is booking a room and much more. These screens can also display company announcements, branding information, or even quick AV setup tips. When paired with a user-friendly screen manager solution like Screenly, your conference room digital signage deployment can seamlessly integrate scheduling tools and other relevant content in real-time.</p> <h2 id="use-cases-for-meeting-room-digital-signage">Use cases for meeting room digital signage</h2> <p>Many teams start with a simple conference room meeting schedule display to prevent double booking. This scheduling element is still crucial. Displaying room usage on digital signage meeting room screens makes it easy for employees or <a href="/use-cases/coworking/">co-working members</a> to know when rooms are free and how to book rooms quickly. This feature alone reduces scheduling conflicts and improves meeting management overall. With solutions that integrate with <a href="/tutorials/google-calendar/">Google Calendar</a>, <a href="/developers/digital-signage-api/">Office 365</a>, and other popular calendars, screen content changes can happen automatically on your room schedule displays.</p> <p>However, there is no need to stop there. The same conference room meeting display can alternate between scheduled playlists and the active <a href="/tutorials/google-slides/">Google Slides</a> or <a href="/tutorials/powerpoint/">PowerPoint presentation</a> feed. When there aren’t any meetings, you can use the screen to show company updates, project progress, or welcome messages for guests. You can even display a short guide on how to connect laptops or video calls to the AV system. If you have a help desk, you can publish contact numbers that employees can call right away. This flexibility helps your digital signage meeting room become a hub of real-time information throughout the workday.</p> <h2 id="planning-your-conference-room-meeting-display-deployment">Planning your conference room meeting display deployment</h2> <p>When planning your hardware setup, you can opt for anything from a large monitor to an android tablet. Some offices use a small screen mounted outside each room. Others place the screen inside the room so people can reference company announcements or check the current meeting agenda. Either way, you want to be sure your displays seamlessly integrate with your existing systems. A room manager tool can sync with all your calendars and show live availability on your screens.</p> <p>The right screen manager solution should make your digital meeting room signs easy to update. Screenly, for example, allows you to <a href="/end-user/display-content/">schedule content</a> across each meeting room display in just a few clicks. With Screenly, you can remotely add presentations, videos, or other media to your conference room meeting schedule display from anywhere with an internet connection. You can also <a href="/end-user/playlists/">create playlists</a> that feature your company’s branding slides or community news, and you can switch from these scheduled playlists to a live presentation view whenever a meeting starts. By leveraging a user-friendly interface, teams can avoid complex workflows and focus on their core tasks.</p> <h2 id="key-benefits-for-meeting-room-digital-signage">Key benefits for meeting room digital signage</h2> <p>Combining meeting management with engaging visuals and content helps your business make the most of every meeting space. Employees never have to wonder if they are in the right room or if someone else is about to walk in. They can see real-time information on each digital signage meeting room setup and quickly adjust if anything changes. If you rely on a digital signage solution that integrates smoothly with your scheduling systems, your screens will always reflect the latest updates without requiring any extra data entry. Your team can book rooms, check for the next steps, and even confirm who is speaking in a matter of seconds.</p> <p>If you want to see how digital signage can elevate your meeting rooms, check out our overview on <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> and <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players/">digital signage hardware</a> to learn more. Screenly can help you manage multiple types of content on each screen so that you can effortlessly switch between room schedules, corporate messages, and presentations. Best of all, Screenly’s cloud-based system works with a wide range of hardware, giving you the freedom to choose a small tablet or a larger display. This flexibility is crucial for teams that need to balance cost, convenience, and a professional look.</p> <h2 id="integrate-with-anything-using-screenly-edge-apps">Integrate with anything using Screenly Edge Apps</h2> <p>Many company AV setups and infrastructure are highly customized, and any new digital signage system needs to be highly customized, too, if it is to work within the existing setup. Screenly has made custom digital signage applications and integrations easy with <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>. Screenly Edge Apps allow users to quickly write and deploy custom applications that work within their existing tech stack. This capability means that teams can integrate with meeting room digital signs with the company’s room management software, online calendar system, and even company communication tools, like <a href="/tutorials/slack/">Slack</a>, with ease. Check out the <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge App Store</a> to see some ready-to-go Edge Apps and starter templates.</p> <h2 id="meeting-room-analytics-and-digital-signage">Meeting room analytics and digital signage</h2> <p>Some companies pair their modern conference room digital signage with data on room usage. Tools like <a href="/tutorials/density/">Density</a> can track how many people pass by your digital sign and use your conference room, all without the privacy concerns of having mounted cameras. There are also similar sensors that use phone signals in proximity to the screen to estimate how many people saw the digital sign and attended meetings.</p> <p>Detailed usage data can help you see which rooms may require more equipment or a different layout and, more generally, how your workspace is being used by your employees. You can even set up your digital sign to display room usage data and trends in real time. Ready-to-go Edge Apps, like our <a href="/edge-apps/powerbi/">Power BI Edge App</a>, can be useful for displaying this data.</p> <h2 id="getting-your-first-meeting-room-digital-sign-up-and-running">Getting your first meeting room digital sign up and running</h2> <p>Deploying a new digital signage meeting room initiative does not need to be complicated. The key is finding a manager solution that is user-friendly, supports real-time updates, and syncs with the scheduling platform you already use. If you are ready to explore how a flexible conference room digital signage solution can streamline meeting management and help you share brand content or AV instructions in each room, consider giving Screenly a try. With Screenly, your digital meeting room signs become more than just a conference room meeting schedule display. They become a valuable part of your workplace that can reduce headaches, keep employees updated, and showcase the best of your company’s culture.</p> <p>You can sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> and see for yourself how easy it is to manage playlists, schedule content, and switch from announcements to live presentations.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/10/meeting-room-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/10/meeting-room-digital-signage/Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<p>Supermarket digital signage has become a pivotal tool for modern grocery stores. By showing promotional offers, product details, and other dynamic content, grocery retailers can boost sales, improve in-store navigation, and elevate the overall customer experience. This article highlights the key benefits and applications of digital signage in supermarkets and explains how to roll out a digital signage deployment quickly and easily with Screenly.</p> <h2 id="key-takeaways">Key Takeaways</h2> <ul> <li> <p>Digital signage in grocery stores and supermarkets transforms customer engagement by providing real-time, engaging content that personalizes and streamlines the in-store shopping experience.</p> </li> <li> <p>Proper placement of digital signage displays and digital screens helps capture attention, direct customers to key areas, and encourage impulse purchases through timely promotional offers.</p> </li> <li> <p>Technologies like digital wayfinding make store navigation smoother, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.</p> </li> <li> <p>Supermarket digital signage can boost sales and increase sales by highlighting promotions, featuring loyalty programs, and creating a more engaging shopping experience that keeps loyal customers coming back.</p> </li> <li> <p>Choosing scalable technology and the right digital signage software—alongside secure hardware—ensures retailers can manage multiple locations effectively while protecting both their data and brand image.</p> </li> </ul> <h2 id="understanding-supermarket-digital-signage">Understanding supermarket digital signage</h2> <p>At its core, digital signage uses electronic digital displays and digital screens to deliver targeted information. In retail stores like grocery stores, this technology replaces static posters with eye-catching, dynamic shelf displays and storefront screens that can be updated instantly. The ability to show real-time promotions means food retailers and supermarkets can adapt swiftly to shifting inventory or customer trends.</p> <p>By incorporating digital signage for grocery stores into a location’s layout, retailers can effortlessly guide customers to specific product locations, share store hours or store events, and even rotate <a href="/tutorials/instagram/">social media</a> feeds or user-generated content to build deeper connections with shoppers. When supermarkets move from traditional signage to supermarket digital solutions, they reduce the need to constantly print new materials and can quickly respond to real-time data.</p> <h2 id="types-of-digital-signs-for-grocery-stores">Types of digital signs for grocery stores</h2> <p>Implementing the right types of digital signs and signage for grocery stores can significantly enhance the shopping journey and drive sales. Below are some popular formats that deliver a more engaging shopping experience:</p> <h3 id="digital-menu-boards">Digital menu boards</h3> <p>Placed in deli sections or food-service areas, <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">digital menu boards</a> and digital menus let retailers display prices, nutritional details, and rotating specials. They simplify updates for weekly promotions or changes in loyalty programs, making it easier to keep customers informed.</p> <h3 id="digital-end-caps">Digital end caps</h3> <p>Sometimes called digital end-cap displays, these are located at the ends of aisles and are ideal for highlighting promotions, high-margin products, or limited-time promotional offers. Their strategic placement in high-traffic areas encourages impulse purchases and increases brand awareness.</p> <h3 id="digital-shelf-labels">Digital shelf labels</h3> <p>Replacing printed price tags with dynamic shelf displays enables real-time updates for stock, pricing, and promotions. They’re perfect for signage for grocery stores that frequently adjust pricing and want to quickly access or change product details.</p> <h3 id="digital-signage-screens">Digital signage screens</h3> <p>Large digital signage screens or storefront screens can be positioned near entrances or checkout lanes to display engaging content like new deals, fun facts, or even social media feeds. These screens help capture attention and keep the customer shopping experience fresh.</p> <h2 id="enhancing-customer-experience-with-digital-displays">Enhancing customer experience with digital displays</h2> <p>Modern digital displays are far more than static signage. They transform the in-store shopping experience through real-time updates on product locations, prices, and current sales, helping shoppers make informed decisions. By using digital signage screens to demonstrate recipes or share fun facts about certain products, retailers foster a more immersive environment that resonates with customers.</p> <p>These digital advertising tools not only present key messages but also incorporate user-generated content and interactive elements that spark curiosity. For example, an eye-catching video wall might feature cooking demos or brand stories to keep shoppers engaged. Overall, these dynamic methods help shoppers move more seamlessly through the store, resulting in a more enjoyable and engaging shopping experience that can increase sales and build brand loyalty.</p> <h2 id="boost-sales-with-dynamic-promotions">Boost sales with dynamic promotions</h2> <p>One of the most powerful ways to boost sales and drive sales with grocery store digital signage is to showcase and display dynamic promotions. By placing digital signage displays in high-traffic areas—such as the entrance, the checkout line, or end-of-aisle sections—stores can strategically encourage impulse purchases. These visible, frequently updated messages entice customers to grab last-minute items, helping retail stores move surplus inventory or spotlight high-margin products.</p> <p>Additionally, leveraging social proof testimonials or user-generated content—on digital screens further influences buying decisions. For example, featuring real-time social media highlights or loyalty programs can build trust and nudge shoppers to try new products. By consistently adjusting and refining digital content based on performance metrics, retailers can keep more customers excited about what’s on offer.</p> <h2 id="navigating-the-store-with-digital-wayfinding">Navigating the store with digital wayfinding</h2> <p>Large supermarkets can feel like a maze, especially for new or hurried shoppers. Digital wayfinding systems can guide customers effortlessly, helping them locate high-margin products, find product details, and discover new sections. By incorporating easy-to-read maps, digital end cap signs, and aisle pointers, retailers simplify store navigation and streamline the entire customer journey.</p> <p>Switching out traditional signs for digital signage screens also allows for on-the-fly updates when store events or layout changes occur. Shoppers can quickly identify where to find seasonal products, new arrivals, or daily specials, which ultimately creates a more engaging shopping experience. This well-organized, time-saving approach helps direct customers to items efficiently and enhances overall grocery shopping satisfaction.</p> <h2 id="leveraging-real-time-updates">Leveraging real-time updates</h2> <p>Keeping customers informed of real-time promotions and fresh deals is essential for any supermarket. Digital signage is an excellent tool for sharing up-to-the-minute pricing, promotional offers, or store alerts. By programming digital signage content to reflect immediate stock changes, retailers can promote limited quantities or new arrivals before items run out.</p> <p>Digital menu boards and other digital signage screens can show time-sensitive data, such as flash sales or special events. This dynamic approach entices shoppers to act quickly on enticing discounts or new product lines, effectively driving impulse purchases. As a result, the store benefits from consistent engagement while customers enjoy a timely, interactive shopping experience.</p> <h2 id="utilizing-digital-menu-boards">Utilizing digital menu boards</h2> <p>Digital menu boards—often seen in cafés, delis, and prepared-food counters—let retailers show off daily specials, nutritional information, and appealing food images. These digital signs offer the flexibility to update content as frequently as needed, making them a perfect fit for grocery stores that want to display weekly promotions, highlight seasonal favorites, or promote weekly specials in their ready-to-go food sections.</p> <p>By using digital menus, stores can easily alter pricing or switch out items for different meal times, which helps manage stock and reduce waste. This adaptability also encourages impulse purchases because newly displayed promotions or special deals catch shoppers’ eyes. Ultimately, digital menu boards simplify how stores communicate with patrons while elevating the overall customer experience.</p> <h2 id="integrating-social-media-feeds">Integrating social media feeds</h2> <p>Bridging the gap between online and in-store experiences, social media feeds can be streamed directly to digital signage displays. Sharing real-time comments, reviews, or photos that showcase user-generated content brings an authentic sense of community to grocery stores. This not only fosters trust but also encourages shoppers to participate by tagging or mentioning the store in their own posts.</p> <p>Retailers can harness trending hashtags to showcase enthusiastic customer endorsements, new recipes, or upcoming store events, thereby enriching the store’s atmosphere. This interactive content provides a sense of connectivity and can drive sales by featuring top-rated products that customers are buzzing about online. By weaving social media into supermarket digital signage, stores develop a cohesive brand presence across all channels.</p> <h2 id="personalizing-content-with-data-analytics">Personalizing content with data analytics</h2> <p>Personalization is at the forefront of today’s digital signage for grocery stores. By gathering and analyzing customer data, retailers can tailor digital signage content to reflect individual preferences, local trends, or even external factors like weather. Data analytics tools help determine what customers respond to most, enabling supermarkets to curate and adjust display dynamic messages for the best impact.</p> <p>For instance, a store might show grilling ideas and barbecue promotions during warm weekends or highlight hot soups and comfort foods on colder days. When integrated with loyalty programs and loyalty schemes, personalized displays can prompt shoppers to redeem rewards or discover items they might not have otherwise considered. This smart approach helps guide customers toward relevant products, fostering repeat visits and deeper brand loyalty.</p> <h2 id="building-customer-loyalty-and-driving-repeat-purchasers">Building customer loyalty and driving repeat purchasers</h2> <p>Customer loyalty is crucial for long-term success in grocery stores and supermarkets. Using grocery store digital signage to feature loyalty programs, share rewards progress, or announce exclusive perks keeps loyal customers engaged. Here are some ways retailers can strengthen loyalty:</p> <h3 id="personalized-promotions">Personalized promotions</h3> <p>Incorporate digital signage that showcases individualized offers based on a shopper’s purchase history. This makes customers feel recognized and encourages them to return frequently.</p> <h3 id="loyalty-program-details">Loyalty program details</h3> <p>Placing details about loyalty programs on digital signage screens underscores how customers can earn points, redeem coupons, or unlock exclusive discounts. Clear communication of these perks fosters continued participation.</p> <h3 id="user-generated-content">User-generated content</h3> <p>Testimonials, reviews, or photos of real shoppers can be displayed to build trust and authenticity. This type of engaging content can motivate others to join a program or try recommended items.</p> <h3 id="digital-coupons">Digital coupons</h3> <p>Offering digital coupons or timed discounts helps keep shoppers excited. When integrated seamlessly into checkout lanes, these offers can encourage impulse purchases or push final add-ons.</p> <h3 id="store-events">Store events</h3> <p>Promoting upcoming specials, recipe demos, or sponsored events through digital signage invites a sense of belonging and provides another reason for loyal patrons to visit.</p> <h2 id="implementing-scalable-digital-signage-solutions">Implementing scalable digital signage solutions</h2> <p>Successfully managing supermarket digital signage across multiple locations requires scalable digital signage technology like Screenly. Screenly’s centralized content management system allows retailers to upload and distribute messaging to any digital signage screens in their store or stores in just a few clicks.</p> <p>Finding the ideal <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> and <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players/">digital signage hardware</a> mix is critical for long-term success. Key factors include:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Scalable technology: Ensure the system can support multiple locations and allow for centralized, cloud-based updates. With Screenly, you can manage 1 or 1000+ screens from anywhere with an internet connection.</p> </li> <li> <p>Ease-of-use: The chosen platform should let teams modify content quickly, schedule playback times, and handle media in multiple formats. Screenly makes digital signage intuitive so that non-technical teams can manage a business’s entire digital signage suite.</p> </li> <li> <p>Playback quality: Check for 4K or HD support, depending on your display needs. Screenly supports both <a href="/end-user/full-hd-4K-resolution/">4K and 1080p HD</a> resolutions.</p> </li> <li> <p>Security features: Screenly offers security-first digital signage for both our software and hardware. Learn more about <a href="/security/">how we keep your digital signs secure</a>.</p> </li> <li> <p>Budget & ROI: Hardware like digital signage players can vary widely in cost. Weigh upfront investment against the potential to boost sales, cross-sell, and direct customers to profitable promotions. Screenly’s <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a> start at just $219.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Choosing solutions that can integrate seamlessly with a supermarket’s existing tech stack helps unify the online and offline shopping experience, thereby enhancing customer engagement. <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a> and the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a> make it easy for developers to build out custom digital signage applications that integrate with existing business systems and tools.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-supermarket-digital-signage--screenly">Getting started with supermarket digital signage & Screenly</h2> <p>Supermarket digital signage is revolutionizing the grocery retail landscape by merging digital advertising with practical functionality, helping grocery stores and other food retailers keep pace with consumer demands. From displaying dynamic product information to sharing live social media feeds, these digital signs cultivate an environment that can improve store navigation, encourage impulse purchases, and heighten overall customer engagement.</p> <p>To get started with Screenly, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/06/supermarket-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/06/supermarket-digital-signage/Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<!-- JSON-LD markup generated by Google Structured Data Markup Helper. --> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "name": "A year in review - Screenly’s happenings in 2024", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel Mountcastle" }, "datePublished": "2025-01-01", "image": "https://www.screenly.io/assets/images/blog/digital-signage-presentation.webp", "articleSection": "Digital Signage Technology", "articleBody": "The year 2024 has been one for the books at Screenly, filled with product releases, feature improvements, team building, and impressive growth. As we reflect on the past months, it’s clear how much we’ve accomplished and how this sets the stage for an impressive upcoming 2025. In the post below, we’ve compiled a few milestones from 2024 that we’d like to share and highlight as we prepare for the year ahead.</P> <H2 id=\"making-custom-digital-signage-easier-than-ever\">Making custom digital signage easier than ever</H2> <P>A major push of 2024 was the comprehensive rollout of <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/developers/edge-apps/\">Screenly Edge Apps</A>, in particular our <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/edge-apps/\">Edge App Store</A>, which give developers a quick and easy way to create digital signage applications. By focusing on all the behind-the-scenes work, we allow developers to focus fully on the features that drive business value. We also built out the Edge App Store with ready-to-go apps that can be customized line-by-line at the code level, including an <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/edge-apps/iframe/\">iframe Edge App</A>, a <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/edge-apps/simple-message/\">simple message Edge App</A>, a <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/edge-apps/countdown-timer/\">countdown timer Edge App</A>, a <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/edge-apps/tfl/\">TFL bus stop Edge App</A>, and a <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/edge-apps/powerbi/\">PowerBI Edge App</A>.</P> <H2 id=\"keeping-our-customers-in-the-loop\">Keeping our customers in the loop</H2> <P>We also launched the <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/16/screenly-changelog-episode-6/\">Screenly Changelog</A>, a monthly video podcast and recap of everything digital signage and Screenly. This production helps our customers stay connected to our latest updates, and it’s been an effective and fun way to share insights into our ongoing improvements and thoughts on the digital signage industry at large.</P> <H2 id=\"new-programs-for-faster-digital-signage-deployments\">New programs for faster digital signage deployments</H2> <P>We also introduced new programs to help businesses bring digital signage into their workflows faster and more easily. Our <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/02/13/screenly-byod/\">Bring Your Own Device program</A> lets users install Screenly on their existing hardware. This step supports our goal of being a hardware-agnostic provider and granting customers maximum flexibility. Another major launch was <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/use-cases/events/\">Screenly for Events</A>, which simplifies digital signage for conferences, expos, and other gatherings. We provide the hardware, setup, and screen management so that event organizers can focus on content rather than logistics.</P> <H2 id=\"screenly-around-the-world\">Screenly around the world</H2> <P>It’s been a busy travel year, too. We started out in Barcelona at the <A href=\"https://x.com/ScreenlyApp/status/1754584732212334775\">Integrated Systems Europe conference</A> in February, followed by a memorable Screenly Summit in Lisbon for our full team in September. Soon after, we took part in the <A href=\"https://x.com/ScreenlyApp/status/1850082691808448846\">Ubuntu Summit in The Hague</A> and wrapped up the year with the <A href=\"https://x.com/ScreenlyApp/status/1866529618334777418\">Digital Signage Experience show in Las Vegas</A>. As a remote company, these gatherings offer a valuable chance to meet in person and connect with colleagues, partners, and friends across the digital signage community.</P> <H2 id=\"new-features-at-screenly\">New features at Screenly</H2> <P>We also introduced a slew of new features to enhance the user experience. Shared playlists let teams build and <A href=\"https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/29331756712211-How-to-Share-Playlists-Across-Teams\">share playlists across their organization</A>, creating a centralized content distribution with added flexibility. Screen notes give users a <A href=\"https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/29363834568211-Adding-Notes-to-Screens-in-Your-Account\">convenient place to record details</A> like setup instructions and screen workflow specifics. Full <A href=\"https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360009207314-What-content-types-are-supported-by-Screenly\">YouTube video support</A> and <A href=\"https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/35609825047059-How-to-display-PDF-content-with-Screenly\">PDF support</A> makes uploading and presenting content easier than ever. Also, our recent <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/tutorials/slack/\">Slack integration</A> lets teams keep an eye on real-time screen actions in a communication platform they already use every day.</P> <H2 id=\"digital-signage-security-advancements\">Digital signage security advancements</H2> <P>Security remains a top priority at Screenly, and we’ve implemented several updates to reinforce that commitment. Screenly <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/03/18/digital-signage-personal-support-pin/\">personal customer support PINs</A>, a <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/case-studies/screenly\">logged software bill of materials</A>, and adherence to <A href=\"https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/31/cisa-secure-by-design/\">CISA’s Secure by Design Framework</A> all strengthen the safety of our platform. This constant attention to security underscores our belief that digital signage security should always be a top priority rather than just an add-on or afterthought.</P> <H2 id=\"looking-ahead-to-2025\">Looking ahead to 2025</H2> <P>It’s been a productive and exciting year! We look forward to 2025 with enthusiasm, and we remain committed to providing our users with the best digital signage platform on the market for our users. If you have yet to get started with Screenly, sign up for a <A href=\"https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up\">free trial</A> today. We can’t wait to see what the new year brings for Screenly and for the digital signage industry!" } </script> <p>The year 2024 has been one for the books at Screenly, filled with product releases, feature improvements, team building, and impressive growth. As we reflect on the past months, it’s clear how much we’ve accomplished and how this sets the stage for an impressive upcoming 2025. In the post below, we’ve compiled a few milestones from 2024 that we’d like to share and highlight as we prepare for the year ahead.</p> <h2 id="making-custom-digital-signage-easier-than-ever">Making custom digital signage easier than ever</h2> <p>A major push of 2024 was the comprehensive rollout of <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>, in particular our <a href="/edge-apps/">Edge App Store</a>, which give developers a quick and easy way to create digital signage applications. By focusing on all the behind-the-scenes work, we allow developers to focus fully on the features that drive business value. We also built out the Edge App Store with ready-to-go apps that can be customized line-by-line at the code level, including an <a href="/edge-apps/iframe/">iframe Edge App</a>, a <a href="/edge-apps/simple-message/">simple message Edge App</a>, a <a href="/edge-apps/countdown-timer/">countdown timer Edge App</a>, a <a href="/edge-apps/tfl/">TFL bus stop Edge App</a>, and a <a href="/edge-apps/powerbi/">PowerBI Edge App</a>.</p> <h2 id="keeping-our-customers-in-the-loop">Keeping our customers in the loop</h2> <p>We also launched the <a href="/blog/2024/12/16/screenly-changelog-episode-6/">Screenly Changelog</a>, a monthly video podcast and recap of everything digital signage and Screenly. This production helps our customers stay connected to our latest updates, and it’s been an effective and fun way to share insights into our ongoing improvements and thoughts on the digital signage industry at large.</p> <h2 id="new-programs-for-faster-digital-signage-deployments">New programs for faster digital signage deployments</h2> <p>We also introduced new programs to help businesses bring digital signage into their workflows faster and more easily. Our <a href="/blog/2024/02/13/screenly-byod/">Bring Your Own Device program</a> lets users install Screenly on their existing hardware. This step supports our goal of being a hardware-agnostic provider and granting customers maximum flexibility. Another major launch was <a href="/use-cases/events/">Screenly for Events</a>, which simplifies digital signage for conferences, expos, and other gatherings. We provide the hardware, setup, and screen management so that event organizers can focus on content rather than logistics.</p> <h2 id="screenly-around-the-world">Screenly around the world</h2> <p>It’s been a busy travel year, too. We started out in Barcelona at the <a href="https://x.com/ScreenlyApp/status/1754584732212334775">Integrated Systems Europe conference</a> in February, followed by a memorable Screenly Summit in Lisbon for our full team in September. Soon after, we took part in the <a href="https://x.com/ScreenlyApp/status/1850082691808448846">Ubuntu Summit in The Hague</a> and wrapped up the year with the <a href="https://x.com/ScreenlyApp/status/1866529618334777418">Digital Signage Experience show in Las Vegas</a>. As a remote company, these gatherings offer a valuable chance to meet in person and connect with colleagues, partners, and friends across the digital signage community.</p> <h2 id="new-features-at-screenly">New features at Screenly</h2> <p>We also introduced a slew of new features to enhance the user experience. Shared playlists let teams build and <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/29331756712211-How-to-Share-Playlists-Across-Teams">share playlists across their organization</a>, creating a centralized content distribution with added flexibility. Screen notes give users a <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/29363834568211-Adding-Notes-to-Screens-in-Your-Account">convenient place to record details</a> like setup instructions and screen workflow specifics. Full <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360009207314-What-content-types-are-supported-by-Screenly">YouTube video support</a> and <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/35609825047059-How-to-display-PDF-content-with-Screenly">PDF support</a> makes uploading and presenting content easier than ever. Also, our recent <a href="/tutorials/slack/">Slack integration</a> lets teams keep an eye on real-time screen actions in a communication platform they already use every day.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-security-advancements">Digital signage security advancements</h2> <p>Security remains a top priority at Screenly, and we’ve implemented several updates to reinforce that commitment. Screenly <a href="/blog/2024/03/18/digital-signage-personal-support-pin/">personal customer support PINs</a>, a <a href="/case-studies/screenly">logged software bill of materials</a>, and adherence to <a href="/blog/2024/07/31/cisa-secure-by-design/">CISA’s Secure by Design Framework</a> all strengthen the safety of our platform. This constant attention to security underscores our belief that digital signage security should always be a top priority rather than just an add-on or afterthought.</p> <h2 id="looking-ahead-to-2025">Looking ahead to 2025</h2> <p>It’s been a productive and exciting year! We look forward to 2025 with enthusiasm, and we remain committed to providing our users with the best digital signage platform on the market for our users. If you have yet to get started with Screenly, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a> today. We can’t wait to see what the new year brings for Screenly and for the digital signage industry!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/01/digital-signage-2024-year-in-review/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/01/01/digital-signage-2024-year-in-review/Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="the-past-a-look-back">The past: a look back</h2> <p>Digital signage management became significantly easier for Screenly users about five years ago with the introduction of <a href="https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/save-to-screenly/kcoehkngnbhlmdcgcadliaadlmbjmcln">our Chrome extension</a>. This tool streamlined the content adding process, allowing users to add web assets to their digital signage displays with just a few clicks and eliminating the need to copy URLs and navigate through the dashboard manually.</p> <h2 id="the-challenge">The challenge</h2> <p>While the Chrome extension has served its purpose reliably for years, we recently encountered a critical issue where users could no longer log in. The root cause was our deprecated v3 REST API endpoint, which the extension relied on for authentication via username and password credentials and returned an access token. This created an urgent need to fix the extension and align it with our current API infrastructure.</p> <h2 id="the-solution">The solution</h2> <p>In addressing this challenge, we transitioned to our v4 API implementation. However, this migration required a fundamental change in our authentication approach since v4 doesn’t support token generation from a username and password. We simplified the user experience by modifying the sign-in form to accept API tokens directly, though we acknowledge this is just the first step in a larger modernization effort.</p> <h2 id="code-quality-and-open-source">Code quality and open source</h2> <p>At Screenly, we maintain high standards for code quality across all our projects. As part of our commitment to transparency and community involvement, we’ve open-sourced the extension’s repository. You can find it <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Browser-Extension">here on GitHub</a>. This decision allows users to access and install specific versions from our releases while enabling community contributions. We’ve also implemented GitHub Actions workflows to automate our build processes for new changes.</p> <h2 id="technical-modernization">Technical modernization</h2> <p>The extension’s source code initially relied heavily on vanilla JavaScript for DOM manipulation. As our feature requirements grew, this approach became increasingly difficult to maintain. To address this, we’re transitioning to React, embracing its <a href="https://react.dev/learn/thinking-in-react">component-based architecture and reactive programming model</a>. While this introduces a learning curve, the long-term benefits in maintainability and scalability make it a worthwhile investment. This <a href="https://legacy.reactjs.org/blog/2013/06/05/why-react.html">React blog post</a>, which is more than 10 years old, provides a good overview of why Facebook (now Meta) built React.</p> <h2 id="browser-compatibility">Browser compatibility</h2> <p>Recognizing our diverse user base, we have expanded browser compatibility to include Firefox. You can find the Firefox Add-On at the <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/save-to-screenly/">link here</a>. Users can now utilize the extension regardless of their preferred browser, eliminating the need to switch to Chrome specifically for Screenly operations.</p> <h2 id="looking-forward">Looking forward</h2> <p>Looking ahead, while the extension is now functional and open-source, we see numerous opportunities for improvement. We welcome community involvement through issue reporting and pull requests, believing that collaborative development will help us create a more robust and feature-rich tool for all users.</p> <p>Looking to get started with Screenly? <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Sign up for a free trial</a> today!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/30/resurrecting-browser-extension/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/30/resurrecting-browser-extension/Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Smart TVs are an excellent way to get a digital signage deployment up and running. Many people see smart TVs as simply a home entertainment device, but they can be much more. With the right approach, these screens can become your storefront’s promotional display, a <a href="/use-cases/education/">school’s announcement hub</a>, or an office’s <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">dashboard for key metrics</a>. Now that smart TVs have become more affordable, they make launching digital signs easier than ever. Better yet, using a smart TV for your digital signage setup lets you skip a dedicated signage player entirely.</p> <h2 id="combining-digital-signage-software-and-smart-tvs">Combining digital signage software and smart TVs</h2> <p>When you want to turn a smart TV into a digital sign, you need a solution for storing, scheduling, and delivering content to the TV. That’s where Screenly comes in. Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage software</a> for smart TV solutions allows you to quickly manage what shows up on your screen, when it appears, and which team members can make changes. Our platform makes it possible to use your existing smart TV as both your screen and your digital signage player. You don’t have to worry about messing with extra <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage hardware</a> when you can take care of everything directly on your TV.</p> <h2 id="rolling-out-a-digital-signage-deployment-on-smart-tvs">Rolling out a digital signage deployment on smart TVs</h2> <p>Getting started is simple. Once you create a Screenly account, you can <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/4411049291155-How-to-launch-your-first-virtual-screen">create a virtual screen URL link</a> that you can enter on your smart TV’s web browser app. When you open that link on the smart TV, your custom content will appear on the screen. If you’re looking for a free digital signage software option for smart TV experimentation, try our <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> and get a feel for how everything works. We do not require a credit card to sign up. You’ll see how easy it is to upload and <a href="/end-user/display-content/">schedule your content</a>, whether it’s images, videos, or live web pages (web page support coming soon). You’ll also be able to manage content on multiple TVs, create different playlists, and organize them all from one online dashboard.</p> <h2 id="on-device-apps-vs-dedicated-digital-signage-players">On-device apps vs. dedicated digital signage players</h2> <p>Using an on-device app for smart tv screen screen digital signage is especially common with smart TVs from large brands, like Samsung smart TVs and LG smart TVs. Samsung TVs often come with built-in browsers that can display a digital signage link, effectively creating a Samsung smart tv digital signage app that you can use with third-party content management software.</p> <p>However, it’s important to mention that some smart TVs can be finicky. For example, some might not keep your webpage open if the TV is idle too long, or they might turn themselves off automatically at a certain hour. This can result in interruptions, and it can be a problem if you want your digital sign on 24/7. Another issue is <a href="/end-user/content-caching/">content caching</a>. Most smart TVs won’t store your content locally, so if your internet goes down, your sign might go dark. For those who need that higher degree of reliability, it’s a good idea to pair our smart digital signage software with a more dedicated device, like a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly digital signage player</a>.</p> <p>A Screenly player is a small piece of hardware that connects to your TV’s HDMI port. The player is purpose-built for digital signage. That means it’s ready to cache your content, run scheduled updates, and display your media even if your internet goes offline for a while. This hardware approach solves a lot of the common challenges associated with smart TV signage. It also gives you a higher level of control over your screens. This is especially valuable if you are running a large network of screens in different locations and want to keep them stable at all times.</p> <h2 id="get-your-first-digital-sign-up-and-running-now">Get your first digital sign up and running now</h2> <p>Still, if you’d like the simplest option, going with a smart digital signage system that just uses your smart TV is appealing. You skip all the cords and skip the extra purchase. Smart TVs are often easy to mount and set up, so you can roll them out across multiple stores or offices without too much hassle. Screenly’s cloud-based platform then becomes your remote command center. You can add playlists, schedule them at specific hours, and update everything in real time. There’s no learning curve beyond opening a web dashboard and uploading your media assets.</p> <p>For many businesses, this type of smart digital signage solution can save weeks of labor that would otherwise be spent building a custom solution and manually loading content onto screens. If you recall the days of running around with a <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">USB flash drive</a>, you know how tedious that process can be. Now, you can do it all from your laptop in a few minutes. When your marketing team wants to change a promotion, you can swap it out instantly. When you want to highlight a new product, you can push it to all your screens at once. The best part is that you can do this from any location, as everything runs on Screenly’s secure, cloud-based platform.</p> <h2 id="get-a-free-trial-with-screenly-now">Get a free trial with Screenly now</h2> <p>If you’re curious how this all translates to your environment, jump into Screenly and take it for a spin. Our smart digital signage software is available for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>, and you don’t have to commit until you’re comfortable with how it all works. Once you’re in, you’ll see how easy it is to add your images or videos, set up schedules for different times of day, and group your screens so you can update them all in one go. If you run into questions, reach out to Screenly Support at anytime. We’re always happy to help.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/29/digital-signage-smart-tvs/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/29/digital-signage-smart-tvs/Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="overview">Overview</h2> <p>The <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/introducing-raspberry-pi-5/">release of the Raspberry Pi 5 in October 2023</a> marked another milestone in the single-board computer landscape.</p> <p>As maintainers of <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io/">Anthias</a>, Screenly’s free and open-source digital signage solution, we knew we needed to extend support to this new device. However, the path to implementation wasn’t as straightforward as one might expect, largely due to our ongoing technical debt resolution and infrastructure improvements.</p> <h2 id="what-is-anthias-and-why-do-we-maintain-it">What is Anthias and why do we maintain it?</h2> <p>Anthias is a free and open-source digital signage solution that allows you to deploy digital signs in your organization quickly and easily. You can use Anthias to run and manage digital signage players and control the content that runs on your screen from a user-friendly interface.</p> <p>Anthias’s origins date back to 2012 when Screenly was founded. At the time, our <a href="/about-us/">founders</a> were working on a client project that required a digital signage solution. They built a custom solution for the client, but they quickly realized that they could create a more widelyapplicable solution that could be used by other organizations. This gave rise to Screenly Open Source Edition, also known as Screenly OSE. Screenly OSE quickly became the most-starred open-source digital signage solution on GitHub.</p> <p>Screenly OSE was then rebranded to Anthias in 2022. The motivation for this rebrand was to more clearly differentiate Screenly OSE from Screenly’s <a href="%7B%7Bsitel.url%7D%7D/pricing/">paid digital signage plans</a>. While Anthias is free and open-source and will be free and open-source forever, Screenly also offers paid plans that offer features better geared for multi-screen deployments.</p> <h2 id="challenges-we-have-encountered">Challenges we have encountered</h2> <p>When the Pi 5 was released, we were amidst of significant architectural changes. Our team was navigating through crucial migrations, moving from Flask to Django and upgrading from Qt 5 to Qt 6. This transition to Qt 6 brought its own set of considerations, particularly regarding compatibility with older hardware like the Raspberry Pi 1 and 2.</p> <p>One of our biggest challenges lie in our Docker infrastructure. Our existing setup, with its tightly coupled <code>Dockerfile</code> and <code>docker-compose.yml</code> configuration, served us well when supporting a limited number of platforms like Raspberry Pi 1 through 4 and x86 devices. However, as our platform support grew, we needed a more scalable and flexible approach.</p> <p>Initially, we employed a Bash script to generate Docker files conditionally, but this solution quickly showed its limitations. The growing complexity of conditional logic threatened to make our codebase unintuitive and difficult to maintain.</p> <h2 id="the-solution">The solution</h2> <h3 id="transitioning-from-bash-to-python">Transitioning from Bash to Python</h3> <p>This realization led us to reimagine our approach. We <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias/pull/2060">transitioned from Bash to Python</a> for generating Dockerfiles, implementing Jinja templates in place of our existing Docker templates. This shift granted us unprecedented flexibility in managing dependencies and configurations. However, this comes with a small cost. The Python script depends on third-party libraries, which means that an extra step is needed to install those dependencies.</p> <h3 id="using-docker-to-isolate-dependencies-from-the-host-machine">Using Docker to isolate dependencies from the host machine</h3> <p>This is where Docker came in handy. We automated the installation of third-party libraries via a Docker container and a script that the user can run. Now, we can elegantly handle platform-specific dependencies through conditional statements, making our build system more maintainable and extensible. This made adding support for the Pi 5 more of a breeze rather than a headache. We don’t want our host machine to be polluted with dependencies for different platforms.</p> <p>The actual migration process for Pi 5 support took a different route compared to our existing platforms. While we build Qt libraries from source for Raspberry Pi 1 through 4 and x86 devices – a process requiring substantial computational resources – we opted for a more pragmatic approach with the Pi 5. We decided to utilize the pre-built version of Qt 6 and build the WebView directly on a Raspberry Pi 5 device. Though this approach presents challenges for automating builds through GitHub Actions, we prioritized getting Pi 5 support into users’ hands quickly, leaving build automation as a future enhancement.</p> <h3 id="supporting-different-user-needs">Supporting different user needs</h3> <p>As with our existing supported platforms, our implementation strategy is divided into two paths: supporting devices running <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/">Raspberry Pi OS Lite</a> (which is based on Debian) and those running <a href="https://docs.balena.io/reference/OS/overview/">balenaOS</a>. This strategy serves different user needs. The Raspberry Pi OS version caters to users who want to customize their Anthias installation post-installation, while the balenaOS version provides a streamlined solution for those seeking a plug-and-play digital signage system.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started">How to get started</h2> <p>Now that Raspberry Pi 5 support is live in Anthias, we invite you to <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io/docs/">try it out</a>. Whether you prefer the command-line installation or our pre-released images, both options are available to suit your needs. As an <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias">open-source project</a>, we welcome community contributions – if you have ideas for features or spot any bugs, please don’t hesitate to create an issue or open a pull request. Your involvement helps make Anthias better for everyone.</p> <h2 id="switching-to-a-paid-screenly-plan">Switching to a paid Screenly plan</h2> <p>Anthias is free and open-source, and it will always be. However, if you are looking for run multiple screens at once and deploy digital signs in an enterprise environment, you may want to consider a paid Screenly plan. Many of our paid Screenly customers started with Anthias for their first screen and then upgraded to a paid plan as their digital signage needs grew. You can learn more about our plans <a href="https://screenly.io/pricing/">here</a> and sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/28/adding-anthias-support-for-pi5/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/28/adding-anthias-support-for-pi5/Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage is a powerful way to replace static boards with dynamic, engaging messages that capture the attention of anyone who walks by. One of the most popular use cases of digital signage is to set up a digital bulletin board. You can use these digital boards to keep people informed about important happenings, share updates, and highlight timely announcements in bulletin-board style. Compared to print signs, a digital bulletin board has a modern look that is easier to manage and update. Here, we will explore what digital bulletin boards are, why they are useful, and how you can leverage the right <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage software</a> to create your own virtual bulletin board that is easy to keep fresh and relevant.</p> <h2 id="what-is-a-digital-bulletin-board">What is a digital bulletin board?</h2> <p>A digital bulletin board is essentially a screen-based display of information. Instead of pinning paper memos or flyers to a corkboard, you can provide content on sleek electronic bulletin boards that can showcase an informative bulletin board full of text, images, or even video content. These electronic bulletin boards can act as a company bulletin board for employee announcements, a corporate bulletin board to share important business updates, or an e-bulletin board for individuals who need an easy way to show announcements to a large audience. This type of setup can also include a bulletin board website feature, where outside viewers can access and even contribute to a remote feed of updates.</p> <h2 id="why-are-digital-bulletin-boards-important">Why are digital bulletin boards important?</h2> <p>Digital bulletin boards are important because they bring flexibility and speed to your announcements. When a school needs bulletin board announcements about new events, staff can simply log in to their platform and update the digital bulletin board. Because these bulletin boards are online, there is no need to reprint anything or physically update the board. For businesses, digital bulletin boards reduce printing costs and make it straightforward to keep content up to date. When policies need changing or events require last-minute details, staff can make those changes on the fly with just a few clicks. This speed ensures that your content stays accurate and that viewers alwaysremain in the loop.</p> <h2 id="what-are-popular-use-cases-for-digital-bulletin-boards">What are popular use cases for digital bulletin boards?</h2> <p>There are many use cases for a digital bulletin board application. One scenario is in office lobbies, where employees and visitors can see up-to-the-minute news about the company and upcoming activities. Another example is on college campuses, where a virtual bulletin board displays event schedules, club announcements, and emergency notices in real-time. Retailers can use bulletin boards online to share product releases, store specials, or brand updates to entice customers. Any space that currently has a traditional bulletin board can benefit from switching to digital bulletin boards.</p> <h2 id="how-digital-signage-works-with-digital-bulletin-boards">How digital signage works with digital bulletin boards</h2> <p>Many digital bulletin board setups work as a distributed web URL. The organization will share or post the URL, and users can click to see the digital bulletin board on their computers or mobile devices. However, while this method provides easy distribution, it loses the immediacy of displayed physical bulletin boards. This point is where digital signage can bridge the gap.</p> <p>At Screenly, we provide a <a href="/blog/2024/08/28/digital-cloud-signage/">cloud-based digital signage platform</a> that allows you to control every screen in your network from a single web dashboard. With our <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-players">digital signage players</a>, you can deploy content to screens in your offices, hallways, or storefronts in just a few minutes. Our software takes care of the heavy lifting behind the scenes, so you can focus on your business rather than on digital signage.</p> <p>With Screenly digital signage, you can create a digital bulletin board for different departments, offices, or storefronts, and you can manage all your corporate bulletin board messages in one place. If you have a large organization, you can <a href="/end-user/group-labels/">group screens for easier management</a> so that you can schedule bulletin board announcements on multiple screens in just one click. Screenly has built-in support for live webpages, which makes it easy to include feeds from a bulletin board website service.</p> <p>Screenly also makes it easy for users to ensure that their digital bulletin boards are running with remote monitoring features. Users will know when a screen is malfunctioning immediately, rather than finding out days later that your electronic bulletin board was stuck or offline. You can even <a href="/end-user/content-caching/">keep recent content cached</a> on the player in case the device loses internet connection. This setup ensures your visitors always see a working online bulletin board, even when your internet connection experiences issues.</p> <h2 id="how-to-launch-a-digital-signage-bulletin-board">How to launch a digital signage bulletin board</h2> <p>Creating a digital bulletin board with our platform requires no technical expertise. You can upload your bulletin board images or add the URL, drag and drop your content into a playlist, and assign that playlist to your chosen screen or group of screens. You can also set up a schedule so that different online bulletin boards appear at certain times or days. If you only need to show a digital bulletin board in the mornings and want to run ads or other announcements after lunch, you can do that effortlessly.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-your-first-digital-bulletin-board">Get started with your first digital bulletin board</h2> <p>If you’d like to see how digital signage can power your own bulletin boards online, take a look at Screenly’s <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>. Testing out an e-bulletin board setup is the best way to get a feel for what you can accomplish. You can simply sign up for an account and start displaying virtual bulletin board quickly & easily.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/26/digital-bulletin-board/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/26/digital-bulletin-board/Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Modern healthcare organizations depend on fast communication, trusted data handling, and efficient ways to connect with patients. Healthcare digital signage helps them achieve these goals by offering a secure way to display important information throughout hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. Unlike old-fashioned signage that can be slow to update, digital signage for healthcare makes it possible to share real-time updates to staff, patients, and visitors, all while keeping patient data and sensitive details safe. These <a href="/security/">secure digital displays</a> can help reduce perceived wait times, improve the patient experience, and give teams the tools to run a more efficient and patient-focused operation.</p> <h2 id="why-digital-signage-matters-in-a-healthcare-setting">Why digital signage matters in a healthcare setting</h2> <p>A busy hospital or clinic can sometimes feel overwhelming for both patients and staff. Digital signage healthcare deployments allow medical teams to post timely updates, share critical safety measures, and highlight any sudden changes to procedure schedules. This is especially useful for facilities that need to adapt quickly, such as when delays force last-minute shifts. By relying on digital signage solutions like Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage software</a>, healthcare organizations can update multiple screens at once in seconds. Because these updates are cloud-based, there is no need to physically visit each screen, meaning that staff can manage all displays from a single web dashboard.</p> <h2 id="how-digital-signage-can-improve-patient-experiences">How digital signage can improve patient experiences</h2> <p>Patients often find themselves waiting in lobbies, hallways, and exam rooms, and many healthcare facilities are trying new ways to keep people informed. Healthcare digital signage placed in a waiting area can feature news, healthcare tips, or even entertainment. These tools help reduce perceived wait times and give visitors something more meaningful to watch than a static poster. An up-to-date content loop can show hospital news, visiting policies, or information on upcoming events. Better yet, these displays can show appointment schedules, which can further improve the patient experience by reducing confusion or anxiety about what comes next. With the right digital signage healthcare setup, facilities can keep patients engaged at every stage of their visit.</p> <h2 id="security-and-privacy-considerations">Security and privacy considerations</h2> <p>Because healthcare organizations handle sensitive patient data, there is no room for error when it comes to security measures. A secure digital signage platform in a healthcare setting should have safeguards that ensure patient details remain private. At Screenly, we work to keep every <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signageplayer</a> and screen as secure as possible. This focus on <a href="/security/">digital signage security</a> is essential for modern clinics and hospitals that must comply with strict industry regulations and protect patient privacy.</p> <h2 id="benefits-for-staff-and-operations">Benefits for staff and operations</h2> <p>Digital signage for healthcare does more than just improve the patient experience. When staff members have access to real-time updates, they can act faster. Screenly’s digital signage solutions make it possible to push new safety measures, shift schedule changes, or urgent notifications to break rooms and other staff-only areas. By delivering critical details through digital displays, healthcare facilities can ensure that everyone gets the same important information at once and improve patient outcomes. Doctors, nurses, and administrative staff are busy, so it is essential that they get updates in a timely way. With easy scheduling and remote screen controls, teams can schedule content for specific times of day or tailor messages to specific locations across a large network of screens.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-screenlys-healthcare-digital-signage">How to get started with Screenly’s healthcare digital signage</h2> <p>If you are searching for a secure, user-friendly way to manage digital signage in a healthcare environment, Screenly’s digital signage player combined with our cloud-based software is a natural fit. Setup is straightforward, and you can begin by testing your content using a <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/4411049291155-How-to-launch-your-first-virtual-screen">virtual screen</a> with no hardware required. Once you see the difference real-time updates can make, it becomes clear how useful this tool can be for both patient experiences and staff operations. Deploying digital displays with Screenly is as simple as plugging in the player and connecting it to your Screenly account. From there, you can schedule, group, and update your content seamlessly.</p> <h2 id="start-your-free-hahahugoshortcode302s0hbhb-day-trial">Start your free 14 day trial</h2> <p>Secure digital signage for healthcare is more than just a modern convenience. It is a reliable way for healthcare organizations to spread vital messages and streamline workflows. Whether the goal is to reduce perceived wait times in crowded waiting rooms or to provide critical updates to staff, a solid digital signage healthcare solution delivers on efficiency and clarity. Patients benefit from easy-to-read visuals that help improve the patient experience, and staff can trust that they have the best possible tools to do their jobs. If you are looking for a system that puts security first while still offering a polished, easy-to-use interface, <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">try Screenly for free with a 14 day trial</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/21/digital-signage-healthcare/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/21/digital-signage-healthcare/Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Many businesses use digital signage apps to share content, data dashboards, or alerts with their audiences. Often, they try to connect their digital signage with a third-party platform or product, and they rely on standard integrations made available by their digital signage software. While these integrations can be enough to handle basic needs, they rarely provide the customization businesses need for truly unique signage solutions.</p> <h2 id="why-these-third-party-integrations-can-fall-short">Why these third-party integrations can fall short</h2> <p>Custom business processes vary drastically from company to company. One organization might want a countdown timer on their retail display that syncs perfectly with a real-time POS system. Another might want an internal dashboard that shows different information according to current sales and campaigns. Most integrations can’t handle these specific requirements seamlessly. Users end up going back and forth with support or patching code.</p> <h2 id="how-screenly-edge-apps-solve-the-integration-issue">How Screenly Edge Apps solve the integration issue</h2> <p>We built <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a> to allow users to build and deploy their own custom digital signage applications. With Screenly Edge Apps, you don’t have to rely on a single integration built by someone who doesn’t understand your unique business goals. Instead, you can build a digital signage app from scratch, editing code line by line. This flexibility means that you can integrate with whatever tools or hardware your business uses.</p> <p>Screenly Edge Apps run locally on the digital signage player itself. This approach results in almost zero latency and allows for a faster user experience overall. If your app needs to react within milliseconds, that’s no problem. For example, when someone picks up a product in a store, your digital signage app can instantly display relevant info about that product. Edge processing removes most network latency that other signage solutions face, which is critical in situations where speed is essential.</p> <h2 id="take-advantage-of-out-of-the-box-edge-apps">Take advantage of out-of-the-box Edge Apps</h2> <p>You don’t have to be a developer to start using Screenly Edge Apps. We have many out-of-the-box apps that are ready for deployment right away. These include apps for weather forecasts, RSS feeds, bus stop signage, countdown timers, and more. Our digital signage software also makes it easy to take any existing Edge App as a template and adapt it to your unique use case. If you need custom bus stop signage in your city, you can easily start with our London-based TFL bus stop Edge App and reconfigure it for your city.</p> <h2 id="streamline-authentication-for-digital-signage">Streamline authentication for digital signage</h2> <p>A major obstacle for many organizations is authentication. Often, businesses need to display a private web page that contains sensitive company information. People shy away from the difficulty of using an authenticated link with a digital signage player and resort to making the link public. That public link floats around for anyone to access and poses serious security concerns. Screenly’s signage solutions help solve authentication issues with specialized digital signage player app integrations. For example, we have a PowerBI App that deals with authentication under the hood. This approach means you don’t have to share your private company info via a public link. Screenly securely manages the sign-in process so you can focus on what matters—showing the content on screen.</p> <h2 id="enjoy-a-free-digital-signage-experience-with-a-no-cost-trial">Enjoy a free digital signage experience with a no-cost trial</h2> <p>Screenly offers a free 14-day trial so you can get started without committing to a long-term contract. When you create a free account, you can explore our cloud-based digital signage software and test out the functionality of our Edge Apps. Get started with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a> today.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/19/digital-signage-apps/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/19/digital-signage-apps/Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 6 Industry News</strong>: Portugal company summit, Ubuntu Summit 2023, Screenly for Events, Secure by Design, and Digital Signage Experience 2024</p> <p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 6 Feature Releases</strong>: Edge App Branding, PagerDuty, Slack, and PDF support</p> <p>In a recent episode of the Screenly team’s “Changelog” podcast, Viktor and Daniel discussed the company’s latest developments, recent industry events, and ongoing initiatives around digital signage security. From battling storm-related internet outages to attending major community summits, here’s a detailed look at what’s been happening behind the scenes at Screenly.</p> <h2 id="a-company-summit-in-portugal">A company summit in Portugal</h2> <p>The Screenly team recently gathered for their annual company summit in Lisbon, Portugal. The summit allowed colleagues—both long-standing team members and newer faces—to connect and collaborate in person. Beyond productive workshops, the team also enjoyed cultural outings such as visiting the Pena Palace and sampling authentic Portuguese cuisine.</p> <h2 id="ubuntu-summit-2023-powering-the-event-with-screenly">Ubuntu Summit 2023: Powering the event with Screenly</h2> <p>Screenly took a major step forward at this year’s Ubuntu Summit, held annually to showcase cutting-edge projects and solutions. Canonical, Ubuntu’s publisher, approached Screenly to run digital signage for the entire event. This involved a seamless content management system that allowed exhibitors to pre-upload their materials. By the time everyone arrived at the venue, each booth’s displays were up and running—no last-minute tech hassles or frantic cable management needed. Additionally, the event organizers used the signage to redirect attendees to keynotes and important sessions, demonstrating how versatile and dynamic digital signage can be.</p> <h2 id="introducing-screenly-for-events">Introducing Screenly for Events</h2> <p>The Ubuntu Summit project led to the creation of a new offering called <a href="/use-cases/events/">Screenly for Events</a>. This service allows event organizers to rent pre-configured digital signage players from Screenly. The idea: simply ship the players to the event location, and the Screenly team handles all the backend setup and content management. Ideal for mid-sized conferences (around 30–50 screens), this turnkey solution helps both event planners and exhibitors avoid last-minute technical headaches and ensures a polished, professional experience for attendees.</p> <h2 id="deepening-ties-with-ubuntu-and-canonical">Deepening ties with Ubuntu and Canonical</h2> <p>Screenly’s relationship with <a href="https://canonical.com/">Canonical</a> goes back many years, rooted in their pioneering use of <a href="https://ubuntu.com/core">Ubuntu Core</a> for secure digital signage. Ubuntu Core’s hardened IoT operating system provides a robust, secure base for Screenly’s platform. This longstanding partnership underpins ongoing collaborations, such as co-exhibiting at trade shows and working together on security and compliance initiatives.</p> <h2 id="security-and-the-secure-by-design-framework">Security and the Secure by Design framework</h2> <p>In the world of digital signage, security often takes a back seat—until something goes wrong. Screenly is proactively addressing this through alignment with the U.S. government’s <a href="https://www.cisa.gov/securebydesign">Secure by Design</a> principles. They’re also heavily investing in Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) to bring transparency and trust to their software supply chain. By detailing every software component used in their platform, Screenly empowers clients to understand potential vulnerabilities and meet forthcoming regulatory requirements. Collaborations with Canonical and third-party security experts allow Screenly to stay ahead of compliance trends and protect their customers’ brand reputations. Learn more about Screenly’s participation in the Secure by Design program <a href="/blog/2024/07/31/cisa-secure-by-design/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="feature-highlights-pagerduty-slack-and-pdf-support">Feature highlights: PagerDuty, Slack, and PDF support</h2> <p>To enhance its core platform, Screenly has rolled out several new features and integrations:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>PagerDuty integration</strong>: Mission-critical environments often require real-time alerts. Screenly’s revamped PagerDuty integration uses modern authentication (OAuth) and makes it easy for IT teams to get immediate alerts when a screen goes offline or encounters an issue. <a href="/tutorials/pagerduty/">Learn more</a>.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Slack integration</strong>: Recognizing that many organizations live inside chat platforms, Screenly now integrates with Slack. Alerts about signage issues can appear directly in designated Slack channels, making it easy for teams to coordinate responses without leaving their primary communication tool. <a href="/tutorials/slack/">Learn more</a>.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>PDF support overhaul</strong>: After initial attempts at PDF rendering proved clunky, Screenly rebuilt PDF support from the ground up. The new implementation allows users to upload a multi-page PDF, select the exact pages they want to display, and seamlessly show them as assets on their screens. It’s a user-friendly, native solution that truly meets the Screenly quality standard. <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360009207314-What-content-types-are-supported-by-Screenly">Learn more</a>.</p> </li> </ul> <h2 id="the-evolution-of-edge-apps-and-branding">The evolution of Edge Apps and branding</h2> <p>Screenly’s vision for <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a> continues to mature. These lightweight, on-device applications enable custom branding, local content rendering, and even user-specific branding cues—like automatically tailoring logos and color schemes based on a user’s email domain. Edge Apps provide a foundation for future innovation, offering greater flexibility and personalization for a variety of digital signage scenarios.</p> <h2 id="open-source-roots-enterprise-grade-solutions">Open source roots, enterprise-grade solutions</h2> <p>While Screenly is a commercial product, it maintains strong ties to the open-source community through its widely used open-source platform, <a href="https://github.com/screenly/anthias">Anthias</a> by Screenly (formerly known as Screenly OSE). Many users start with the open-source edition and later transition to the enterprise platform for <a href="/blog/2024/06/13/enterprise-digital-signage/">advanced features</a> like SSO, robust user management, and security compliance. Screenly’s commitment to open source and transparent development remains a core part of its identity, even as it meets the demands of large-scale, mission-critical deployments.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-experience-2024">Digital Signage Experience 2024</h2> <p>Screenly recently exhibited at December’s Digital Signage Experience (DSE) in Las Vegas with Canonical, and excitement is building for new projects and announcements. The company hinted at major developments in the pipeline, promising even more powerful solutions and integrations in the near future. Check out a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_XS8O8k3Zc">Screenly interview</a>from our time at DSE2024.</p> <h2 id="thats-all-for-now">That’s all for now</h2> <p>From resurrecting features like the Chrome extension and perfecting PDF support, to forging new event-focused solutions and strengthening security frameworks, Screenly continues to raise the bar in the digital signage industry. Their forward-thinking approach, combined with a deep respect for open source, security, and user experience, positions them as a key player to watch in the dynamic world of digital signage technology.</p> <p><a class="cmr-4 btn btn-primary" href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/signup">Get started with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/16/screenly-changelog-episode-6/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/12/16/screenly-changelog-episode-6/Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Thinking about enhancing your business with digital screens? Whether you’re a small café owner or manage a large enterprise, setting up digital signage screens doesn’t have to be complicated. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get your digital screens up and running quickly and easily.</p> <h2 id="deciding-what-screen-to-use">Deciding what screen to use</h2> <p>The first step is choosing the right screen for your needs. The great news is that any TV screen with an HDMI input will work with most digital signage players. You don’t need to invest thousands of dollars in a specialized display; a off-the-shelf screen costing a couple of hundred dollars can do the trick.</p> <p>When selecting a screen, consider whether you want to display content in <a href="/end-user/full-hd-4K-resolution/">1080p HD or 4K resolution</a>. If you opt for 1080p HD content, you’ll benefit from smoother playback on most digital signage players due to the lower processing power required. The file sizes are smaller, making content easier to upload and manage. This option is ideal for standard images and videos displays where ultra-high definition isn’t necessary. However, on very large screens or specialized digital signage displays, a higher resolution may be important.</p> <p>Choosing 4K content offers four times the resolution of 1080p, resulting in sharper and more detailed images. This higher resolution provides a premium look that’s impressive for high-end venues where media with detailed visuals are necessary. The drawback is that it requires more powerful hardware to ensure smooth playback and more costly content production.</p> <p>If your content doesn’t demand ultra-high definition, 1080p HD content is often the more practical and cost-effective choice. It looks great on most screens and is less demanding on your hardware. Also, think about the size and orientation of the screen. Do you need a compact display for a checkout counter or a large screen for a lobby? Will it be in <a href="/end-user/potrait-and-landscape/">landscape or portrait mode</a>? Considering these factors will help you choose a screen that fits your space perfectly.</p> <h2 id="deciding-what-digital-signage-player-to-use">Deciding what digital signage player to use</h2> <p>After selecting your screen, the next step is choosing a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>, which is the device that connects to your screen and displays your content. The player you choose should match the complexity of your content and the resolution you’ve decided on.</p> <p>For standard 1080p content, the Screenly Player is a reliable and cost-effective option. It’s built on the robust Raspberry Pi platform and is optimized for smooth playback of HD content. However, if you’re planning to display 4K content or more demanding visuals, the Screenly Player Max is a more powerful choice. It offers enhanced processing capabilities, ensuring that your high-resolution content runs smoothly without glitches. This player is ideal for businesses that want the best possible image quality and performance.</p> <p>Another consideration is your desired digital signage integrations with your existing tech stack and business systems. Screenly <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a> allow users to trigger and and even build content using data from third-party software solutions and business tools. Screenly Edge Apps can be used out-of-the-box or customized by developers at the code level–the choice is up to you.</p> <p>Additionally, Edge Apps run locally on the digital signage player device, which allows these applications to use device metadata and sensor data at lightning speed. Depending on the complexity of Edge Apps you plan to use or build will inform which digital signage player makes the most sense to buy. Teams who wish to use complex and data-intensive Edge Apps should get the more powerful Screenly Player Max.</p> <h2 id="deciding-what-software-to-use">Deciding what software to use</h2> <p>With your hardware sorted, choosing the right digital signage software is crucial for managing your content effectively. Good software should offer intuitive tools for uploading, scheduling, and organizing your content remotely.</p> <p>Be sure that the software you choose features <a href="/end-user/display-content/">content scheduling</a>, which allows you to plan what content plays and when, which is great for timing promotions or menus to specific hours. Other important features include:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong><a href="/end-user/playlists/">Playlist creation</a></strong>, which helps you organize your content for different audiences or times of the day. Remote management, which enables you to update and control your screens from anywhere, without needing to be onsite.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong><a href="/end-user/group-labels/">Screen grouping and labels</a></strong>, which lets you manage multiple screens by grouping them based on location or function, making mass updates effortless.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong><a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">Real-time monitoring</a></strong>, which keeps you informed about the status of your screens so you can address any issues promptly.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Screenly’s cloud-based digital signage software offers all these features and more. It’s designed to be user-friendly, so even if you’re not tech-savvy or in the IT department, you can manage your digital screens with ease.</p> <h2 id="how-to-set-up-your-first-digital-signage-screen">How to set up your first digital signage screen</h2> <p>Setting up your first digital screen is straightforward. Start by mounting your screen in the desired location, ensuring it’s visible to your target audience and has access to power outlets. Attach your chosen digital signage player to your screen using an HDMI cable and connect the player to a power source. Next, establish an internet connection by connecting your player via Wi-Fi or ethernet; an internet connection is necessary for updating content and managing your screen remotely.</p> <p>Next, create a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial account</a> on Screenly’s website. Once you’ve created an account, pair your screen to your online account and pload your content using the Screenly dashboard, where you can add images, videos, or web pages you want to display. You can then create playlists and schedules to organize your content and set when each playlist should run. Lastly, assign the playlists to your screen or groups of screens, and your content will start playing as scheduled. When your screens are up and running, you can use the real-time monitoring features to check the status of your screen and make any necessary adjustments. By following these steps, you’ll have your digital signage screen up and running in no time.</p> <h2 id="tips-on-managing-digital-screens-at-scale">Tips on managing digital screens at scale</h2> <p>As your business grows, you might find yourself managing multiple digital screens across various locations. Organization is key in making this process smoother. Use <a href="%7B%7Bsitel.url%7D%7D/end-user/group-labels/">screen group labels</a> to organize your screens based on location, function, or any other criteria that make sense for your operations. This allows you to deploy content to multiple screens with the same label with a single action. Leverage <a href="%7B%7Bsitel.url%7D%7D/enterprise/granular-access-control/">user permissions levels</a> if you have a team, assigning roles within your digital signage software to ensure team members can contribute in their respective job functions.</p> <p>Regularly updating content keeps your audience engaged, so schedule updates and consider seasonal or event-based promotions. Utilize real-time monitoring to keep an eye on your screens’ performance and address any issues promptly to minimize downtime. Planning ahead using content scheduling saves time and ensures consistent messaging. Also, pay attention to customer and employee feedback about your digital screens, and use this information to improve content and functionality.</p> <h2 id="integrating-digital-screens-with-your-tech-stack-via-screenly-edge-apps">Integrating digital screens with your tech stack via Screenly Edge Apps</h2> <p>To get the most out of your digital screens, consider integrating them with your existing tech stack. Screenly <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a> allow you to display dynamic and interactive content that is triggered or built with input from your business data and software tools, enhancing the functionality of your digital signage.</p> <p>You can develop custom applications tailored to your business needs, like inventory dashboards or appointment schedules. For example, a retail store could use Edge Apps to display real-time sales data or inventory levels. A restaurant might show live social media posts from happy customers or display wait times. Integrating your digital screens with your tech stack not only enhances customer engagement but can also improve internal communications and efficiency.</p> <h2 id="get-your-first-digital-screen-up-and-running">Get your first digital screen up and running</h2> <p>Getting your digital screens up and running doesn’t have to be a complicated process. By carefully selecting the right screen, player, and software—and leveraging powerful tools like Screenly—you can deploy and manage digital signage screens quickly and easily.</p> <p>Digital screens offer a versatile medium to engage customers, inform employees, and enhance your brand presence. With features like remote management, content scheduling, and tech integration, you have all the tools you need to make a significant impact.</p> <p>Ready to transform your business with digital screens? Sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> of Screenly and get started today.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/11/14/digital-screens/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/11/14/digital-screens/Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Imagine being able to update all your business’s digital displays from any location, at any time. With web based digital signage, this convenience is not just a possibility—it’s a reality. By leveraging a signage website and online CRM solution, you can remotely manage your digital signage network easily and efficiently.</p> <h2 id="quickly-change-out-content-from-anywhere">Quickly change out content from anywhere</h2> <p>One of the most significant advantages of web based digital signage is the ability to <a href="/end-user/display-content/">change out content</a> from anywhere. Teams no longer need to be physically present to update displays. This remote capability saves valuable time and resources, allowing for more frequent content updates. Fresh and regularly updated content keeps your audience engaged and ensures that your messaging remains relevant and timely. Whether it’s a new promotion, an important announcement, or dynamic content like live social media feeds, you can make changes instantly without the hassle of onsite visits.</p> <h2 id="troubleshoot-immediately-and-get-more-screen-uptime">Troubleshoot immediately and get more screen uptime</h2> <p>Another key benefit of web based digital signage is the ease of managing the health of your digital signs remotely. When a screen encounters an issue or goes down, immediate action is crucial. With web based digital signage, teams can quickly identify screens that need troubleshooting through an online dashboard and address issues promptly. Screenly enhances this process with its <a href="/tutorials/pagerduty/">PagerDuty integration</a>, allowing you to integrate digital signage maintenance into your existing workflows. This integration means that alerts and notifications about screen issues are streamlined, ensuring that your team can respond swiftly to minimize screen downtime.</p> <h2 id="connect-your-digital-signage-with-your-existing-tech-stack">Connect your digital signage with your existing tech stack</h2> <p>Integration with other business systems and databases is another powerful feature of web based digital signage. With tools like <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a> and the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>, you can automate content updates and create dynamic displays that respond to real-time data. For instance, retail businesses can show live inventory levels, while corporate offices might display up-to-date performance metrics or KPIs. Also, Screenly Edge Apps process data locally on the digital signage player device, combining the benefits of cloud scheduling with near-zero latency.</p> <h2 id="streamline-and-delegate-digital-signage-management">Streamline and delegate digital signage management</h2> <p>Collaboration across teams is simplified with web based digital signage. Multiple team members can log in and manage content within a single account, making it easy to delegate tasks and collaborate on campaigns. For large enterprises, administrative controls are essential for maintaining security and efficiency. Team administrators can <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">set user permissions</a> to limit access, ensuring that only authorized team members can make critical changes. Screenly offers robust enterprise features like <a href="/enterprise/sso-and-saml-support/">SSO and SAML support</a>, <a href="/enterprise/consolidate-billing-and-invoicing/">consolidated invoicing and billing</a>, and <a href="/enterprise/support-sla/">support SLA agreements</a>.</p> <h2 id="scale-your-deployment-as-your-business-grows">Scale your deployment as your business grows</h2> <p>Another benefit is the scalability of web based solutions. As your business grows, adding more screens or locations to your digital signage network is straightforward. There’s no need for complex installations or overhauls of your existing system. With Screenly’s cloud-based platform, you can scale up your operations screen-by-screen, without worrying about infrastructure limitations.</p> <h2 id="cost-effectiveness-of-web-based-digital-signage">Cost-effectiveness of web based digital signage</h2> <p>Cost-effectiveness is also a significant advantage of web based digital signage. Traditional print signage requires printing, shipping, and installation costs every time you want to update content. Early digital signage solutions also had high labor cost problems, as team members would have to physically visit each sign and <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">manually upload assets</a> whenever the business needed to change out content. With digital signage, especially when managed online, you eliminate these expenses. The initial investment in digital displays and media players is offset by the long-term savings and increased operational efficiency of web based digital signage.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-web-based-digital-signage">Get started with web based digital signage</h2> <p>Ready to transform your digital signage experience? Sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up%7D">free 14-day trial</a> of Screenly’s digital signage software.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/10/24/web-based-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/10/24/web-based-digital-signage/Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Choosing the right digital signage platform can make a significant difference in how effectively you communicate with your audience, whether it be customers or team members. Whether you’re a small business owner or managing a large enterprise, there are several factors to consider before making a decision. Let’s dive into some key points that can help you select the best digital signage solution for your needs.</p> <h2 id="how-many-screens-do-you-need">How many screens do you need?</h2> <p>The number of screens in your deployment is a crucial starting point. If you’re planning to use just one screen, you might get by with a simple, open-source solution like <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io/">Anthias by Screenly</a>. It’s a great way to dip your toes into digital signage for free. However, as your needs grow and you start considering multiple screens, especially across different locations, you’ll benefit from a more robust solution.</p> <p>For larger deployments, paid software like Screenly’s digital signage platform offers features designed for scale. For example, <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">multi-user accounts</a> and team management tools become essential when several people are involved in managing content across numerous screens. These features not only streamline operations but also enhance security by controlling who has access to what. Additionally, large deployments need advanced scheduling features and the ability to control multiple screens at once.</p> <h2 id="what-kind-of-content-do-you-want-to-display">What kind of content do you want to display?</h2> <p>Your content needs heavily influence the type of digital signage platform you should choose. If you’re primarily showing just images and videos, most platforms will suffice. However, if you want to <a href="/end-user/display-content/">display live web pages or dynamic content</a> that updates in real-time, you’ll need a more advanced digital signage player and accompanying software.</p> <p>Resolution is another important factor. While 1080p HD content is standard and looks great on most screens, you might be tempted to go for 4K displays. Keep in mind that <a href="/end-user/full-hd-4K-resolution/">4K content requires more powerful hardware</a> and is more expensive to produce. Unless ultra-high definition is critical for your messaging, 1080p is usually sufficient and more cost-effective.</p> <h2 id="do-you-need-integration-with-your-existing-software">Do you need integration with your existing software?</h2> <p>Integration with your existing business software and databases can take your digital signage to the next level. If you want your signs to pull data from your business systems or react to certain triggers from this data, you’ll need a platform that supports this level of connectivity. Screenly <a href="/edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a> allow you to integrate your digital signs with your existing tech stack seamlessly. Whether it’s displaying live social media feeds, inventory levels, or custom dashboards, these apps can be fully customized at the code level to fit your specific needs.</p> <h2 id="how-important-is-security-for-your-deployment">How important is security for your deployment?</h2> <p>Security should never be an afterthought, especially since most digital signs are customer-facing. Unauthorized access can lead to inappropriate content being displayed, damaging your reputation and causing PR disaster. Also, bad actors can use digital signs as an entry point into your business network and data. Screenly is <a href="/security/">security-first digital signage</a> and uses modern security standards to protect both your digital signs and your business systems.</p> <p>Also, with Screenly, you can securely <a href="/developers/authentication/">display password-protected content</a>, like company KPI dashboards. This means that you can share sensitive information with your team via digital signs without having public links floating around. Regular software updates and secure communication protocols further ensure that your digital signage network remains safe from potential threats.</p> <h2 id="ease-of-use-and-support">Ease of use and support</h2> <p>Another critical consideration is how user-friendly the platform is. A steep learning curve can slow down your deployment and make it harder for your team to manage content effectively. Screenly’s platform is designed with simplicity in mind, offering an intuitive interface that anyone on your team can use with minimal training. Digital signage does not have to be isolated to a team’s IT resources, and non-technical users can fully install and manage Screenly by themselves.</p> <p>Good customer support is also invaluable. Should you encounter any issues, responsive support can save you time and keep your screens running smoothly. Screenly offers <a href="/enterprise/support-sla/">comprehensive support and SLA plans</a> to help you quickly troubleshoot problems and get the most out of your digital signage solution.</p> <h2 id="ready-to-make-a-decision">Ready to make a decision?</h2> <p>Selecting the right digital signage platform involves weighing multiple factors, from the number of screens and content you wish to display to integration capabilities and security features. By taking the time to evaluate your specific needs, you can choose a solution that not only meets your current requirements but also scales with your business.</p> <p>If you’re ready to explore what Screenly can offer, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>. You can get started right now and experience firsthand how easy it is to manage your digital signage content securely and efficiently.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/10/23/digital-signage-platforms/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/10/23/digital-signage-platforms/Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Are you looking to better engage with your customers and employees? Visual communication through simple digital signage might be just what you need. It’s an effective way to display information, promote products, and connect with your audience in real-time. Check out our article below to learn more about how to get started and what to consider when deploying your first digital sign or digital signage fleet.</p> <h2 id="understanding-the-essentials-of-a-digital-sign">Understanding the essentials of a digital sign</h2> <p>Setting up a digital sign is easier than you might think. You do not need technical consultations or advance planning. All you need is a screen that accepts HDMI input, a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a> like the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a> or <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player Max</a>, and reliable signage software. Digital signage players are small, physical devices that render content from your digital signage software to your TV screen. With these components, you’re ready to create dynamic displays that captivate your customers and employees.</p> <h2 id="creating-content-without-the-hassle">Creating content without the hassle</h2> <p>Worried about producing content? Don’t be. Tools like <a href="/tutorials/canva/">Canva</a> and <a href="https://invideo.io/">InVideo</a> make it easy to craft branded images, graphics, and videos for your digital signs. Whether it’s showcasing social media feeds or displaying targeted messages, you can keep your content fresh and relevant. Also, with <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>, you can integrate content from your existing tech stack in just a few clicks.</p> <p>There’s no need to stress over every detail; starting with simple content for your simple digital signs makes it easy to get your screens up and running. One of the strong points of digital signage is that it is easy to change content on the fly. So, get started with a first draft of content quickly and change it out when you have something better.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-your-digital-signage-setup">Getting started with your digital signage setup</h2> <p>Beginning your digital signage journey is straightforward. First, get the necessary hardware: a screen and a digital signage player. Then, register for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> of Screenly’s digital signage software. Once you’re signed up, upload your content and organize it into playlists. Finally, assign these playlists to your screens. With Screenly, you can remotely manage your digital signs from anywhere once they are set up.</p> <h2 id="sharing-the-load-delegating-responsibilities">Sharing the load: Delegating responsibilities</h2> <p>Digital signage doesn’t have to be a solo task or isolated to a company’s IT team. With Screenly, you can invite multiple users to your team account and assign specific <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">user permissions</a>. These users do not have to be computer or IT experts; non-technical team members can contribute to your digital signage strategy. Often, IT teams set up a company’s digital signage deployment and then pass on content management responsibilities to a company’s marketing department. Also, you can even assign billing responsibilities to members of the company’s accounting team. By collaborating, you ensure your digital signage solutions are effective and efficiently managed.</p> <h2 id="dont-overlook-security-with-simple-digital-signage">Don’t overlook security with simple digital signage</h2> <p>While it’s tempting to focus solely on digital signage content and display capabilities, not forgetting security is crucial. Neglecting <a href="/security/">digital signage security</a> can lead to hackers displaying inappropriate content on your screens, causing PR nightmares and damaging your brand. Worse, it can open doors for bad actors to access sensitive business data. Screenly takes security seriously, ensuring that even though you can get started quickly, your digital signage remains protected. Learn more about Screenly’s digital signage security best practices.</p> <h2 id="why-simple-digital-signage-is-the-smart-choice">Why simple digital signage is the smart choice</h2> <p>Starting with simple digital signage allows you to get started with digital signage without getting tangled up in complexity. You can easily grow your digital signage fleet and display more sophisticated content as you get familiar with digital signage and learn more about your audience’s preferences.</p> <p>With Screenly, you can explore our digital signage software for <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free</a>. If you want to go forward, you can <a href="/digital-signage-players/">source a digital signage player</a> for between $200 and $370 and get your screen up and running in no time. Our goal is to make digital signage simple and accessible for everyone.</p> <h2 id="ready-to-transform-your-communication">Ready to transform your communication?</h2> <p>Digital signage is a powerful tool to engage customers and streamline information sharing. With Screenly’s user-friendly signage software, you can launch simple digital signage and share impactful display screens without the hassle. Sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> now and discover how simple digital signage with Screenly can help grow your business.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/10/22/simple-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/10/22/simple-digital-signage/Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Imagine walking into a café and seeing a vibrant screen showcasing the day’s specials, live weather updates, and even social media content. This display screen isn’t magic—it’s made possible by a digital signage app. Today’s businesses are turning to digital signage solutions to engage their audience in real-time, but what exactly is a digital signage app? Read more in the article below.</p> <h2 id="what-is-a-digital-signage-app">What is a digital signage app?</h2> <p>A digital signage app is software that allows you to display content on digital signs—screens that can show images, videos, web pages, and more. Unlike traditional static signs, digital signs can be updated remotely and show content that is scheduled in advance. These features make it easy to keep content fresh and tailor content to specific audiences. With a digital signage app, you can manage all your screens from one place, making it easier than ever to manage your content and signs on the fly.</p> <h2 id="benefits-of-using-a-digital-signage-app">Benefits of using a digital signage app</h2> <p>One of the biggest advantages of signage apps is the ability to remotely manage your content. Gone are the days of printing new posters or manually updating each screen. Whether you have one screen or a hundred, a digital signage app lets you control them all from your laptop or phone.</p> <p>Another benefit is real-time updates. Need to promote a flash sale or share urgent information? You can push out new content instantly. You can even override scheduled content with content <a href="/end-user/playlists/">priority playlist</a> settings.</p> <p>Many of these real-time updates are made automatically with <a href="/blog/2023/08/30/introducing-edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>. Edge Apps allow users to integrate their existing tech stack with their digital signs and use that data to impact what is on their screens. Screenly Edge Apps are fully open source and customizable at the code level, so users and developers can get exactly what they want.</p> <p>Digital signage apps also make it easy to deliver targeted messaging for different customer segments and time-sensitive offers. For example, a <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail store</a> can display different promotions in different departments. A <a href="/blog/2019/06/21/hotel-digital-signage/">hotel can showcase</a> local attractions during the day and dining options at night. By tailoring your content, you make it more relevant and engaging for your audience.</p> <h2 id="screenlys-digital-signage-solutions">Screenly’s digital signage solutions</h2> <p>If you’re looking for a reliable and user-friendly digital signage app, Screenly offers a comprehensive solution. With Screenly, you can easily upload content, create playlists, and schedule when and where your content appears. The platform supports various media types, including images, videos, and web pages, giving you the flexibility to display your best content regardless of format.</p> <p>Screenly also provides robust features like <a href="/end-user/group-labels/">screen labels</a>, which lets you manage multiple screens as a single unit. This is perfect for businesses with several locations or departments. Also, with real-time monitoring, you can ensure your digital signs are always up and running.</p> <p>Learn more about Screenly’s features and how they can benefit your business at the link here.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-screenly">How to get started with Screenly</h2> <p>In today’s fast-paced world, keeping your audience engaged is crucial. A digital signage app like Screenly empowers you to deliver dynamic, targeted messages in real-time. Whether you’re a small business owner or part of a large enterprise, digital signage software can revolutionize the way you communicate.</p> <p>Getting started is straightforward. All you need is a screen, a digital signage player, and the Screenly digital signage app. Your screen can be any modern TV that accepts HDMI input. A <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a> is a small device that connects to your screen and runs the content you manage through the Screenly signage app.</p> <p>Screenly offers a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free tria</a> so you can experience firsthand how easy it is to transform your screens into dynamic communication tools. No credit card is required, and you can start showcasing content in minutes.</p> <p>Interested in open-source digital signage? Try Screenly’s free digital signage app <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io/">Anthias</a>. It does not have as many features as Screenly’s paid version and can only support one screen at a time, but it can certainly get the job done for technical users who need a one-off deployment.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/10/21/signage-app/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/10/21/signage-app/Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Remote digital signage has emerged as a powerful tool for businesses to capture attention and convey messages effectively. With the advent of remote digital signage software and digital signage remote management features, managing and updating digital displays has become easier and more efficient than ever. In this article, we’ll explore what digital signage is, how it was managed in the past, and how remote management capabilities have changed team workflows. We’ll also delve into key features of remote digital signage software and offer tips on getting the most out of these tools, in particular with Screenly’s cloud-based digital signage solution.</p> <h2 id="what-is-digital-signage">What is digital signage?</h2> <p>Digital signage refers to the use of digital displays—such as LCD, LED, or projection screens—to present content to prospective customers, employees, or passing foot traffic. Digital signs are commonly found in <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail stores</a>, <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">restaurants</a>, <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">corporate offices</a>, and public spaces. They serve various purposes, from advertising and brand promotion to providing real-time updates and notifications. Digital signage content can be customized and scheduled to target specific audiences at optimal times, making it a versatile communication medium.</p> <h2 id="how-digital-signs-were-managed-in-the-past">How digital signs were managed in the past</h2> <p>In the early days of digital signage systems, managing content was a manual and time-consuming process. Teams had to physically visit each digital sign to update its content. This often involved using <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">USB drives to transfer media files</a> and connecting keyboards to navigate the player interface. For businesses with multiple screens or in multiple locations, this approach was extremely labor-intensive and inefficient. The lack of digital signage remote management software and remote control capabilities meant that updating content across multiple digital signs was a logistical challenge, leading to outdated displays and missed opportunities.</p> <h2 id="using-remote-digital-signage-software-to-improve-workflows">Using remote digital signage software to improve workflows</h2> <p>The introduction of remote digital signage software has transformed how businesses manage their digital displays. With cloud-based solutions, teams can now update and schedule digital signage content from anywhere, at any time. Remote media digital signage tools allow for real-time content updates and ensure that all screens display up-to-date content in just a few clicks. By centralizing content management, businesses can more easily manage multiple screens across multiple locations. Importantly, remote management enables teams to focus on creating fresh and engaging <a href="/end-user/display-content/">digital signage content</a> rather than dealing with the logistics of manual updates.</p> <h2 id="key-features-for-remote-digital-signage-software">Key features for remote digital signage software</h2> <p>When selecting a remote digital signage solution, it’s important to consider key features that will enhance your operations. Cloud-based management allows you to access and control your digital signage content from any device with an internet connection, giving you the flexibility to manage your displays remotely. Content scheduling enables you to plan and schedule content in advance for specific times and dates. This ensures that your audience sees the right message at the right time without the user having to be involved in content changes throughout the week or month.</p> <p>Another important feature is <a href="/end-user/group-labels/">screen group labeling</a>. Screen labeling helps you organize screens into groups, allowing you to manage multiple digital displays simultaneously. This is particularly useful for businesses with multiple screens in different locations, as it simplifies the process of deploying content across various related digital signage systems. Instead of updating one screen at a time, you can update a group of tagged realted screens in the same workflow.</p> <p>Supporting various content types is essential for engaging your audience. Ensure that the software supports images, videos, web pages, and even social media feeds. This versatility allows you to create dynamic and interactive digital signage content that captures attention. Additionally, remote management and monitoring features enable you to keep track of your digital signage systems’ health and performance from afar, ensuring that your digital displays are always functioning optimally and that you are alerted when a screen needs troubleshooting.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-the-most-out-of-digital-signage-software">How to get the most out of digital signage software</h2> <p>To maximize the benefits of your digital signage software, it’s important to plan your content strategy carefully. Understanding your audience and tailoring your digital signage content to engage them effectively is key. Using high-quality media, such as compelling images and videos, can capture attention and convey your message more effectively. Incorporating social media integration can also increase engagement by displaying live social media feeds, keeping your content fresh and interactive.</p> <p>Scheduling content wisely enhances the effectiveness of your digital signs. By taking advantage of content scheduling features, you can display relevant information at the right times, ensuring that your messaging aligns with your audience’s needs and expectations. Monitoring the performance of your content through analytics helps you understand which messages resonate most with your audience, allowing you to adjust your strategy accordingly.</p> <h2 id="how-to-best-use-digital-signage-software-as-a-team">How to best use digital signage software as a team</h2> <p>Effective collaboration is crucial when managing digital signage as a team. Assigning roles and permissions using the software’s <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">user management features</a> helps delegate tasks and control access levels. This ensures that team members can focus on their specific responsibilities without overstepping into areas outside their purview. Maintaining a shared content library allows team members to access and use approved content, streamlining the content creation process and ensuring consistency across your digital displays.</p> <p>Regular communication among team members keeps everyone informed about content updates, schedules, and any changes in strategy, ensuring that the team operates cohesively. Providing training for team members on how to use the digital signage software effectively can maximize productivity and reduce errors. By fostering a collaborative environment, your team can manage your digital signage more efficiently and create a cohesive brand message across all your digital signs.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-screenly">How to get started with Screenly</h2> <p>If you’re ready to transform your digital signage management, Screenly offers a comprehensive remote digital signage solution that’s easy to use and packed with powerful features. With Screenly, you can manage your digital signage remotely, schedule content, and monitor your screens in real time. Screenly’s digital signage software supports various content types, including images, videos, and live web pages, allowing you to create dynamic and engaging displays. Through Edge Apps, Screenly also offers customizable digital signage applications that allow you to display content from your favorite business and design software.</p> <p>Getting started with Screenly is simple. Sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> of Screenly’s digital signage software to explore all the features and see how it can benefit your business. With Screenly’s cloud-based digital signage solution, you can start managing your digital displays across multiple screens and multiple locations with ease.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/10/01/remote-digital-signage-software/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/10/01/remote-digital-signage-software/Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>In today’s fast-paced digital world, grabbing attention is everything. Enter cloud-based digital signage. It’s a game-changer for businesses looking to communicate effectively with their audience. Whether you’re running a restaurant and need an eye-catching menu board or managing a retail store and want to boost brand awareness, cloud-based digital signage solutions have you covered.</p> <h2 id="why-cloud-based-digital-signage">Why cloud-based digital signage?</h2> <p>Cloud digital signage offers a seamless way to manage your content remotely. Gone are the days of fiddling with USB drives or dealing with on-site updates. With cloud-based digital signage software, you can update your displays from anywhere. That means whether you’re sipping coffee at a cafe or sitting in your office, you can manage your digital signs with just a few clicks.</p> <p>What makes cloud-based digital signage so appealing is its user-friendly interface. Platforms like Screenly allow you to drag and drop content with ease. No tech expertise? No problem. The platform is designed to be intuitive, so you can focus on what matters—engaging your audience.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-hardware-and-software-what-you-need">Digital signage hardware and software: What you need</h2> <p>To set up a cloud-based digital signage solution, you’ll need two main components: the digital signage hardware and the digital signage software.</p> <p><strong>Digital signage hardware:</strong> At its core, <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage hardware</a> includes a screen and a digital signage player. The screen can be a TV, monitor, or any display with an HDMI port. The digital signage player is a small device that connects to your screen and runs the content from the cloud. It’s the bridge between your cloud-based digital signage software and your display. These players are generally compact and straightforward to set up, requiring only power and an internet connection.</p> <p><strong>Digital signage software:</strong> The software is the platform where you create, manage, and schedule the content for your screens. A cloud-based <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>, like Screenly, enables you to manage your content from anywhere. The software allows you to upload images, videos, and even integrate live data feeds like social media or news. It’s designed to be user-friendly, often with drag-and-drop interfaces, so you can start creating content without a steep learning curve.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-cloud-based-digital-signage">Getting started with cloud-based digital signage</h2> <p>The setup process is straightforward. First, connect your digital signage player to your screen. Once it’s powered on and connected to the internet, link it to your cloud-based digital signage platform. From there, you can start uploading your content and scheduling it to display across your screens.</p> <p>The flexibility of cloud-based systems means you don’t need to be on-site to make changes. Whether you’re updating a menu board or launching a new promotion, everything can be done remotely through the software.</p> <h2 id="the-power-of-remote-management-with-cloud-digital-signs">The power of remote management with cloud digital signs</h2> <p>Remote management is where cloud-based digital signage truly shines. Imagine you’re managing multiple locations; updating each sign individually would be a nightmare. But with a cloud-based digital signage solution, you can manage all your screens from a single platform. Change a menu board in your New York restaurant or update a promo in your Los Angeles store—all without leaving your desk.</p> <p>And it’s not just about convenience. Remote management also ensures that your content is consistent across all locations, reinforcing your brand and ensuring that your messaging is always on point.</p> <h2 id="using-cloud-digital-signage-to-boost-brand-awareness">Using cloud digital signage to boost brand awareness</h2> <p>Speaking of branding, cloud-based digital signage is a powerful tool for boosting brand awareness. Whether you’re promoting a new product or running a seasonal campaign, cloud digital signage allows you to quickly adapt your content to reflect your current marketing efforts. Plus, you can easily integrate social media feeds into your digital signage platform, keeping your content fresh and engaging.</p> <h2 id="benefits-of-cloud-signage-versatility">Benefits of cloud signage versatility</h2> <p>One of the most significant advantages of cloud-based digital signage solutions is their versatility. From menu boards in restaurants to promotional screens in retail stores, cloud digital signage can be tailored to a wide range of uses. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, the scalability of cloud-based digital signage means you can start small and expand as your needs grow.</p> <p>And let’s talk about the cost-effectiveness. Traditional digital signage setups can be expensive and cumbersome, requiring specific hardware and on-site maintenance. In contrast, cloud-based digital signage solutions are typically more affordable and easier to deploy. With a platform like Screenly, you can use a simple digital signage player to turn any screen into a powerful marketing tool.</p> <h2 id="integrating-cloud-base-digital-signage-with-social-media">Integrating cloud-base digital signage with social media</h2> <p>In today’s connected world, integrating your digital signs with social media is a no-brainer. Cloud-based digital signage platforms allow you to display live social media feeds, engage with your audience in real-time, and keep your content dynamic. It’s a simple way to make your brand more relatable and interactive.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-cloud-digital-signage">Getting started with cloud digital signage</h2> <p>The future of digital signage is undoubtedly in the cloud. As businesses continue to embrace digital transformation, cloud-based digital signage solutions will play a pivotal role in how brands communicate with their audience. The flexibility, scalability, and ease of use offered by these platforms make them an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes.</p> <p>If you’re ready to explore how cloud-based digital signage can work for you, Screenly offers a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> that lets you test all the features without any commitment. This is a practical way to see how you can effectively manage your digital signage and enhance your communication strategy.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/08/28/digital-cloud-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/08/28/digital-cloud-signage/Wed, 28 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Businesses are increasingly adopting digital signage to engage customers, share information, and enhance their brand. However, one of the key concerns before getting started is understanding the cost of digital signage and how it fits into your budget. This guide breaks down the essential components of digital signage costs to help you and your team make informed decisions.</p> <h2 id="key-factors-in-digital-signage-costs">Key Factors in Digital Signage Costs</h2> <p>The cost of digital signs depends on several factors, including the size of the digital signage system, the type of digital displays, the type of digital signage players, the software chosen for content management, and installation costs. Here’s a breakdown of these costs:</p> <h2 id="hardware-costs-digital-signage-displays-and-media-players">Hardware Costs: Digital Signage Displays and Media Players</h2> <p>The core of any digital signage solution is the hardware, which includes the digital signage display and the media players that drive the content. The overall digital signage price for hardware can be tailored to meet the needs of your business, whether you’re just starting or planning to expand your digital signage network.</p> <p>Most businesses use off-the-shelf consumer-grade TV screens, which work fine for 90% of digital signage cases. Depending on size, resolution, and durability, commercial displays can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. One consideration when choosing a display is whether you want it to <a href="/end-user/full-hd-4K-resolution/">display 1080p HD or 4K content</a>. Another consideration is whether your display will be outside or inside and how bright you need it to be.</p> <p>Digital signage media players vary in price, but affordable options are available for all business scenarios. For small businesses that just want to display images and videos, a low-cost digital signage player can offer a cost-effective way to get started without sacrificing quality. A great small business media player option is the Raspberry Pi-based Screenly Player at $219. Businesses that need to display content that requires more processing power may need to opt for a more expensive, more powerful digital signage player. The Screenly Player Max can provide more processing power for $319. Learn more about Screenly’s <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a>.</p> <h2 id="software-costs-content-management-and-creation">Software Costs: Content Management and Creation</h2> <p>Once the hardware is set, the next step is selecting software for content management and creation. Digital signage software solutions range from free digital signage software, like Screenly’s <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io/">Anthias</a>, to paid platforms with advanced features. Free software can be ideal for businesses needing basic features, while more robust options offer tools for remote management, scheduling, and analytics.</p> <p>Screenly offers a <a href="/pricing/">variety of plans</a> starting at $11 per screen per month. Users can opt for a higher-tiered plan at $25 per screen per month depending on their required features.</p> <p>Content creation is another cost to consider. Whether created in-house or outsourced, quality digital signage content is essential for engaging your audience and maximizing the value of your digital signage network. Today, businesses can significantly lower the cost of high-quality content production using AI-assisted tools and user-friendly design suites like <a href="/tutorials/canva/">Canva</a>.</p> <h2 id="installation-and-maintenance-costs">Installation and Maintenance Costs</h2> <p>The installation cost of digital signage varies with the complexity of the setup. Of course, a single-screen setup is less expensive than a multi-screen digital signage network. Additionally, ongoing maintenance costs must be considered to ensure the system runs smoothly. These costs can vary depending on location and the managed service provider market in your area.</p> <h2 id="long-term-costs-scaling-and-expanding-your-digital-signage-system">Long-Term Costs: Scaling and Expanding Your Digital Signage System</h2> <p>For businesses looking to expand their digital signage network in the future, it’s important to consider long-term costs. These costs include potential additions to digital displays, software upgrades, and more complex content management systems. Investing in scalable hardware and software solutions from the start can help manage these future costs effectively.</p> <p>With Screenly, users can start with one screen and scale up at any time as their needs grow. Adding a screen is as simple as adding another license to your account. You will need one digital signage player per screen.</p> <h2 id="managing-digital-signage-costs-for-small-businesses">Managing Digital Signage Costs for Small Businesses</h2> <p>Small businesses need to be strategic in managing digital signage costs. Selecting a low-cost digital signage player and exploring free digital signage software is one way to keep expenses low while still achieving your business goals.</p> <p>However, many businesses will find that they need more advanced features for their digital signage solutions. It is best to plan out your digital signage deployment needs and management workflow so that you can get your digital signage right the first time and do not have to redo the deployment. Whether you need basic displays or a more advanced digital signage network, there are options available that fit within a variety of budgets.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-digital-signage">Getting started with digital signage</h2> <p>The cost of digital signage can be adjusted to suit various budgets, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. By understanding the key components—hardware and software, installation, content creation, and long-term costs—businesses can make informed decisions that support their growth.</p> <p>To get started with Screenly, sign up for a free account using the <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">link here</a>. We do not require a credit card to get started, and you can see inside Screenly right now.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/08/23/digital-signage-cost/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/08/23/digital-signage-cost/Fri, 23 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>In this article, we cover options for connecting digital signage to the internet, and we discuss the trade-offs between each choice. Digital signs can use wired ethernet, WiFi, or a wireless cellular internet connection. Read more below to see which option fits best with your digital signage plans.</p> <h2 id="why-do-digital-signs-need-an-internet-connection">Why do digital signs need an internet connection?</h2> <p>Modern digital signs use <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> and <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a> to show content. Digital signage players are small, physical devices that render content to digital signage screens. These devices communicate with digital signage software to know what content to show and when.</p> <p>In most cases, digital signage players communicate with digital signage software over the internet. This setup allows users to control their digital signs from anywhere with an internet connection, which is a massive improvement from the digital signage management methods of the past. Before internet-connected digital signs, users would have to visit each sign in person and manually update content with a USB drive and keyboard.</p> <h2 id="are-digital-signage-players-compatible-with-wireless-or-wired-internet-connections">Are digital signage players compatible with wireless or wired internet connections?</h2> <p>Most modern digital signage players can work with both wireless and wired internet connections. WiFi digital signage players can connect to your WiFi network during initial setup and programming. Alternatively, operators can typically use an ethernet cable for a wired connection.</p> <p>The main advantage of wireless digital signage is convenience. Teams do not have to deal with cable management or making new wired ethernet ports near the sign. However, wireless digital signage often comes with the disadvantage of being less reliable. Often, teams expect WiFi to work in difficult environments where the connection is less than stable.</p> <p>Wired ethernet digital signage has flipped positives and negatives when compared to wireless options. The positive is that a wired internet connection is often more stable than a wireless digital signage solution. However, the negative is that a wired connection is often more difficult to set up.</p> <h2 id="what-about-cellular-wireless-digital-signage-solutions">What about cellular wireless digital signage solutions?</h2> <p>Some digital signs use a cellular wireless connection. This solution is mostly used for outdoor solutions where the digital sign provider does not want to deal with a third-party internet source. Cellular connections for digital signage players sometimes come from an add-on to the device or as a hotspot peripheral tool. Using a cellular wireless connection requires a separate cell data plan, and this option, while feasible, is not common for digital signage deployments.</p> <h2 id="what-happens-to-a-digital-sign-when-an-internet-connection-drops">What happens to a digital sign when an internet connection drops?</h2> <p>Digital signs are meant to be seen, so when a digital sign stops displaying content, this issue is highly visible to customers and employees. In the past, many digital signage solutions required an ongoing internet connection to display content. When the internet connection died, the sign stopped displaying content.</p> <p>To combat that issue, modern digital signage solutions started caching content locally. This solution means that content is stored on the digital signage player device after downloading it from an internet connection. With local caching, the digital sign can still display content even when the internet connection cuts out. The digital signage player can then reestablish an internet connection in the background while content plays on the screen. As far as customers, employees, and foot traffic passing by the sign can tell, nothing goes wrong when the device’s internet conneciton drops.</p> <h2 id="managing-digital-signage-internet-connections-at-scale">Managing digital signage internet connections at scale</h2> <p>Modern digital signage often has fleet management features that allow users to monitor the internet connection status of their digital signs at scale. Often, this feature takes the form of a dashboard or map where users can see how many screens are offline and which screens need troubleshooting. This functionality can also alert users as to which screens are out of sync, meaning which screens have content changes that have yet to register on the screen and are waiting for a reestablished internet connection.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly">Get started with Screenly</h2> <p>Screenly provides both digital signage player hardware and digital signage software. Screenly digital signage solutions can be either wireless or wired, depending on the user’s needs. While we recommend wired digital signage for increased screen reliability, we have many customers who use a wireless connection successfully.</p> <p>To get started with Screenly, register for our <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free tria</a>. You do not need a credit card to sign up.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/08/19/wifi-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/08/19/wifi-digital-signage/Mon, 19 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 5 Industry News</strong>: The CrowdStrike Catastrophe, Digital-Out-Of-Home Advertising in Switzerland</p> <p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 5 Feature Releases</strong>: Screenly and Secure by Design</p> <p>It’s hard to believe it’s that time again for another Screenly Changelog episode. Check out our monthly video update below on all things Screenly and digital signage.</p> <p>In this episode, we cover:</p> <ul> <li>The CrowdStike Catastrophe</li> <li>Digital-Out-Of-Home Advertising in Switzerland</li> <li>Screenly’s participation in the Secure by Design program</li> </ul> <h2 id="the-crowdstrike-catastrophe-a-perfect-storm">The CrowdStrike Catastrophe: A Perfect Storm</h2> <p>First, Viktor and Daniel discuss the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp4wnrxqlewo">recent CrowdStrike incident</a> that affected devices around the world. The source of this debacle was a poorly executed software update, and there are many lessons that can be learned from this incident. Viktor and Daniel discuss the financial impact of this event and how companies can mitigate similar risks in the future, particularly regarding gatekeeping updates and gradual rollout practices.</p> <h2 id="digital-out-of-home-advertising-in-switzerland">Digital-Out-Of-Home Advertising in Switzerland</h2> <p>Digital-Out-Of-Home (DOOH) advertising is a massive industry worldwide. While it can provide customers with more information for purchasing decisions and can drive revenue for businesses, some people complain that DOOH advertising is an eyesore and a form of pollution to the cityscape.</p> <p>Recently, <a href="https://www.sixteen-nine.net/2024/07/30/swiss-ooh-media-companies-facing-existential-threat-from-local-government-bans/">courts in Switzerland</a> paved the way for DOOH advertisements to be banned. In Vernier, most of the current 172 DOOH billboards will be removed after the recent decision, and groups are taking action to roll out similar bans in Bern and Zurich. In this Changelog episode, Viktor and Daniel discuss this recent happening and its implications for the digital signage industry.</p> <h2 id="secure-by-design">Secure by Design</h2> <p>Screenly recently joined the United States Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s <a href="https://www.cisa.gov/securebydesign">Secure by Design</a> program. While this program is affiliated with CISA, it is also built in collaboration with cyber security agencies internationally. This program aims to encourage the integration of cybersecurity into the “design and manufacture of technology products”.</p> <p>Key principles of this program include:</p> <ul> <li>Taking ownership of customer security concerts</li> <li>Following security-minded default practices</li> <li>Adhering to secure product development practices</li> <li>Carrying out pro-security business practices.</li> </ul> <p>Screenly participates in the program to “put our money where our mouth is” as it relates to building secure digital signage. Viktor and Daniel discuss the implications of this program on Screenly’s trajectory as well as the importance of having security-first practices in the digital siganage industry. Read more on Screenly’s security philosophy and why we are excited about the Secure by Design program at the <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/31/cisa-secure-by-design/">link here</a>.</p> <h2 id="until-next-time">Until next time</h2> <p>That’s it for this episode of the Screenly Changelog! It’s a true pleasure to catch up on industry and company news each episode and share this conversation with our customers and followers.</p> <p>In addition to watching our latest episode, you can get started with Screenly for free. New users can get started right now by signing up for our 14-day <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">digital signage free trial here</a>.</p> <p>Enjoying the Screenly Changelog? Check out past episodes:</p> <p><a href="/blog/2024/06/14/screenly-changelog-episode-4/">Screenly Changelog Episode 4</a> <a href="/blog/2024/05/22/screenly-changelog-episode-3/">Screenly Changelog Episode 3</a> <a href="/blog/2024/03/26/screenly-changelog-episode-2/">Screenly Changelog Episode 2</a> <a href="/blog/2024/03/07/screenly-changelog-episode-1/">Screenly Changelog Episode 1</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/08/01/screenly-changelog-episode-5/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/08/01/screenly-changelog-episode-5/Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000<!-- markdownlint-disable MD024 --> <h2 id="tldr"><strong>tl;dr</strong></h2> <p>We put our money where our mouth is and joined CISA’s Secure by Design program as the world’s first digital signage company to publicly commit to producing secure software. This article discusses Principle 1. Additional posts for Principles 2 and 3 will be published later.</p> <h2 id="backstory">Backstory</h2> <p>Every once in a while, you come across something that really resonates with your core values. For me, the most recent time this happened was when I came across CISA’s <a href="https://www.cisa.gov/securebydesign">Secure by Design</a>. At Screenly, we’ve been trying to lead the way in security since our inception. It is fair to say that we’re way ahead in the digital signage industry. <strong>Publicly committing to Secure by Design allows us to really put our money where our mouth is.</strong></p> <p>This is why we are very excited to be the first digital signage company to have signed CISA’s <a href="https://www.cisa.gov/securebydesign/pledge/secure-design-pledge-signers">Secure Design Pledge</a>. For those not familiar, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is a government agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The agency’s purpose is to advise both other government agencies and the industry on security best practices. This is the agency that is also lobbying for the use of Security Bill of Materials (SBOMs) as mentioned in the <a href="//blog/2024/05/23/security-update/">State of Security at Screenly - Ongoing Efforts and Improvements</a>. However, Secure by Design is not just a US program; it is also a collaboration with the following agencies:</p> <ul> <li>Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)</li> <li>Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS)</li> <li>Computer Emergency Response Team New Zealand (CERT NZ) and New Zealand’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-NZ)</li> <li>Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA)</li> <li>Czech Republic’s National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB)</li> <li>Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)</li> <li>Israel’s National Cyber Directorate (INCD)</li> <li>Japan’s National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC) and Japan Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center (JPCERT/CC)</li> <li>Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA)</li> <li>Netherlands’ National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-NL)</li> <li>Norway’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC-NO)</li> <li>OAS/CICTE Network of Government Cyber Incident Response Teams (CSIRT) Americas</li> <li>United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-UK)</li> </ul> <p>The core principles for Secure by Design are outlined in the <a href="https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-10/SecureByDesign_1025_508c.pdf">whitepaper</a>. In this article, we’ll go through our current assessment and what we are doing to improve.</p> <p>This article is limited to “Principle 1”; additional posts will be published that focus on Principles 2 and 3.</p> <h2 id="principle-1-take-ownership-of-customer-security-outcomes">Principle 1: Take Ownership of Customer Security Outcomes</h2> <p>This is something that really resonates with us. Some of the items in this list are really obvious, but it’s good that they are highlighted to ensure no corners are cut. Too many vendors (particularly in the world of digital signage) just push the burden of security onto their customers. While some savvy customers have the tools and infrastructure for doing this, the reality is that the vast majority will just deploy the devices on the network and call it a day. This cohort will either assume (incorrectly) that security is owned by the vendor or not be savvy enough to even entertain the problem space.</p> <h3 id="secure-by-default-practices">Secure by Default Practices</h3> <h4 id="1-eliminate-default-passwords">1. Eliminate default passwords</h4> <p>I can’t believe we’re still talking about this in 2024, but concerningly, many IoT devices are still shipped with default passwords.</p> <p>None of our devices are shipped with default passwords. In fact, they don’t even have any open ports (see <a href="/security/">Security</a>).</p> <h4 id="2-conduct-field-tests">2. Conduct field tests</h4> <p>This one has a very noble purpose. In short, the goal is to understand how users are <em>actually</em> using a product versus how it was designed. For Screenly, we are taking a slightly different approach to this. Our goal is to raise the bar across the entire customer base. As such, we are planning to dive into the data and look at how users are using our security features. This will then be used in conjunction with “Implement attention-grabbing alerts” to drive the adoption of security features.</p> <p>In the spirit of Secure by Design, we are also planning to publish statistics related to this.</p> <h5 id="follow-up-actions">Follow-up Action(s)</h5> <ul> <li>Pull statistics and publish findings.</li> </ul> <h4 id="3-reduce-hardening-guide-size">3. Reduce hardening guide size</h4> <p>Hardening guides are popular in enterprise software. Many of these are very long, complex, and convoluted. A good example of this is <a href="https://www.cisecurity.org/cis-benchmarks">CIS Benchmarks</a>. This is a 3rd party guide and applies to something as complex as an operating system, but is often considered somewhat of a gold standard for hardening guides.</p> <p>The purpose of this sub-principle is to try to make these hardening guidelines less complex and convoluted by building security into the product and defaults, rather than being bolt-ons (a recurring theme in Secure by Design).</p> <p>At Screenly, we have gone out of our way to make things secure by default. A good example of this is that we assume all our devices are deployed in hostile environments and make all our implementation decisions with this baseline. Much of this is inspired by the Zero Trust model. As such, our hardening guide has been largely communicated to customers in support tickets as it can be distilled down to a few bullet points.</p> <p>To be compliant with Secure by Design, we’ve created an initial <a href="/security/hardening-guide">Hardening Guide</a>.</p> <h4 id="4-actively-discourage-the-use-of-unsafe-legacy-features">4. Actively discourage the use of unsafe legacy features</h4> <p>The purpose of this feature is great, especially in legacy products. We are fortunate enough not to have many legacy features. While we will likely encounter that in the future, our plan is to use our in-app notifications to drive awareness.</p> <p>What’s more current is device players with End-of-Life operating systems. Since we ship a complete solution, we own the management of the operating system. Subsequently, the onus is on us to notify the customer about deprecation.</p> <p>Our primary goal is to take care of this on behalf of our customers. However, this isn’t possible for the Ubuntu Core 16 based devices. In newer versions, it is possible for us to remotely upgrade the operating system over the air (OTA), allowing us to take that burden away from our customers.</p> <h5 id="follow-up-actions-1">Follow-up Action(s)</h5> <ul> <li>Implement notifications for devices approaching End-of-Life (EoL) in the operating system.</li> </ul> <h4 id="5-implement-attention-grabbing-alerts">5. Implement attention-grabbing alerts</h4> <p>This is a good one. For us, this practically means a few things.</p> <ul> <li>We want to drive users towards either using SSO or enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) through UI/UX nudges.</li> <li>Encourage the use of shared playlists as a security boundary.</li> </ul> <h5 id="follow-up-actions-2">Follow-up Action(s)</h5> <ul> <li>Implement notifications and create content to highlight this.</li> </ul> <h4 id="6-create-secure-configuration-templates">6. Create secure configuration templates</h4> <p>This one is not super applicable for us at Screenly. Our devices are automatically hardened, and the main configuration for hardening lies in access control in our user interface, along with referencing the new hardening guide.</p> <p>We have included this in the initial <a href="/security/hardening-guide">Hardening Guide</a>.</p> <h3 id="secure-product-development-practices">Secure Product Development Practices</h3> <h4 id="1-document-conformance-to-a-secure-sdlc-framework">1. Document conformance to a secure SDLC Framework</h4> <p>The objective of this sub-principle is to ensure that the software is developed (and documented) securely. While we do not strictly adhere to NIST’s <a href="https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/ssdf">Secure Software Development Framework</a>, we are confident that we’re in a good starting place.</p> <p>Here’s a quick outline of what we are doing today:</p> <ul> <li>All our software goes through Pull Requests (PR) before it can get shipped. Each PR needs to be reviewed by two separate team members.</li> <li>All commits must be signed (usually using PGP/GPG, but GitHub’s new SSH signing is also allowed).</li> <li>All our software is built and deployed using our CI/CD pipeline both for our back-end and for our device software. No manual deployment is allowed anywhere in the pipeline.</li> <li>All PRs are automatically checked with static code analysis through SonarCloud.</li> </ul> <h5 id="follow-up-actions-3">Follow-up Action(s)</h5> <ul> <li>Update our <a href="/security">Security</a> page with details on our current SDLC.</li> <li>Review NIST guidelines to see where there is room for improvement.</li> </ul> <h4 id="2-document-cybersecurity-performance-goals-cpg-or-equivalent-conformance">2. Document Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPG) or equivalent conformance</h4> <p>This sub-principle deals with Operational Security (OpSec) among other things. Understanding the threat model is key, and we’ve already done exercises around this as part of our penetration tests (pentest). While there is room for improvement, the safeguards that we have in place (such as signed commits and code reviews) will help here. We also practice the Principle of Least Privilege when granting access to services internally, which reduces the attack vector.</p> <h5 id="follow-up-actions-4">Follow-up Action(s)</h5> <ul> <li>Review our internal principles and aspire to align them with NIST’s <a href="https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework">Cybersecurity Framework</a> (CSF) 2.0.</li> </ul> <h4 id="3-vulnerability-management">3. Vulnerability management</h4> <p>This sub-principle spans more than the title suggests. Doing vulnerability management is table stakes for anyone committing to Secure By Design. But let’s talk a little bit about how we do vulnerability management at Screenly.</p> <p>Since all our source code and CI/CD lives in GitHub, this is where we also want our vulnerability management. One of the tools that we use for vulnerability management is Dependabot from GitHub. While it should not be seen as a panacea, it does pick up a lot of vulnerabilities in our dependency tree and makes remediation very quick and fast. As per our SOC 2 Type II compliance, we have an internal SLA for how quickly these vulnerabilities need to be resolved and deployed.</p> <p>Beyond this, we are also using <a href="https://sonarcloud.io/">SonarCloud</a> for automatic static code analysis, which again integrates directly into our code review process. If a violation is detected (such as a false positive), this needs to be justified as part of this process.</p> <p>What we are planning to do next is to generate SBOMs for all our products, which will enhance our vulnerability management and give us greater visibility.</p> <p>We are also exploring using more hardened Docker images (e.g., <a href="https://www.chainguard.dev">Chainguard</a>) to reduce the attack surface further.</p> <h5 id="follow-up-actions-5">Follow-up Action(s)</h5> <ul> <li>Adopt SBOMs across all our products.</li> <li>Explore using more hardened Docker images to reduce the attack surface.</li> </ul> <h4 id="4-responsibly-use-open-source-software">4. Responsibly use open source software</h4> <p>This is a really good one. We, like most modern companies, rely heavily on open source in our products. We are also big fans of open source ourselves and publish a fair bit on our <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/">GitHub</a>. Understanding the dependency tree of components can be a daunting task, but by generating SBOMs we will be in a better position to analyze and understand our footprint.</p> <p>Understanding the current state of affairs is one thing, but we also need better guidelines for adopting new open source libraries. We need a way to quantify what we can use (both in terms of licensing) and to quantify the maturity of a project. Work is needed here to better establish a baseline for what this looks like, as it has largely been done on a per-case basis so far.</p> <p>While we try to contribute to upstream projects, the reality is that we have limited resources to do this. However, we do try to ship patches upstream whenever we do patch open source software. An example of this is our JSON improvement to <a href="https://github.com/PostgREST/postgrest/pull/2542">PostgREST</a>.</p> <h5 id="follow-up-actions-6">Follow-up Action(s)</h5> <ul> <li>Document the requirements for open source libraries that we can use.</li> <li>We have discussed an internal open source donation program where we will donate money to projects that we depend on (with a bias towards smaller projects).</li> </ul> <h4 id="5-provide-secure-defaults-for-developers">5. Provide secure defaults for developers</h4> <p>This is an area where we have been actively working in the last few years, but there is lots of room for improvement in this domain (and there always will be). The three areas where we have identified ways to raise our security bar across various components in our software stack:</p> <ul> <li>Complete the migration to Python’s Django framework. We still have some legacy code that is yet to be migrated to Django/Django REST Framework (DRF). Completing this migration will give us more guardrails that allowed us to write less code but deliver a more secure product.</li> <li>We have also adopted PostgREST for strategic API endpoints, which is a RESTful framework that sits on top of PostgreSQL. We use this as a complement to our Django DRF APIs to not only get better performance for many of our API endpoints but also to benefit from PostgreSQL’s built-in Row-Level Access Control. By doing this, we have yet another safeguard against a whole category of attack vectors against our API and database.</li> <li>Rewriting our player stack to Rust. Historically, our software stack for our digital signage players was written in Python and QT (with some C++). We are currently rewriting the Python part in Rust. We are doing this to improve the security of our signage player, as well as to improve reliability and performance.</li> </ul> <p>It’s also worth mentioning that we are big fans of workload isolation, as mentioned on our <a href="/security">Security</a> page. This is true both in our back-end where we use containers, but also on our digital signage devices, where we use Snaps.</p> <h5 id="follow-up-actions-7">Follow-up Action(s)</h5> <ul> <li>Finalize migration to PostgREST/DRF of APIs.</li> <li>Finalize migration of the Python stack to Rust.</li> </ul> <h4 id="6-foster-a-software-developer-workforce-that-understands-security">6. Foster a software developer workforce that understands security</h4> <p>This is important. As part of our company onboarding for developers, we review our internal OpSec guide. This covers everything you expect developers to understand, including our mandate for Full Disk Encryption (FDE), along with other security hygiene. While the documentation covers the basic training, along with our SOC 2 Type 2 mandated orientation, ongoing training is performed in the form of code reviews. This is where a lot of our ‘real world’ security training happens.</p> <h4 id="7-test-security-incident-event-management-siem-and-security-orchestration-automation-and-response-soar-integration">7. Test security incident event management (SIEM) and security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) integration</h4> <p>This is a good one. We have most of these building blocks in place, but more work is needed to get to the point where we are fully satisfied with the setup.</p> <h5 id="follow-up-actions-8">Follow-up Action(s)</h5> <ul> <li>Perform testing and optimization with regards to Google Security Center.</li> <li>Configure alerts between Google Security Center and PagerDuty.</li> </ul> <h4 id="8-align-with-zero-trust-architecture-zta">8. Align with Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)</h4> <p>We’re big fans of Zero Trust. Over the last year, we’ve begun the migration of all of our digital signage devices to use Zero Trust (mTLS to be precise) for communication to our backend. When a new device comes online for the first time, a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) is issued. On devices that support it, the cryptographic operation is performed in the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) to ensure the private key is never written to disk.</p> <p>For internal users accessing our systems, MFA is required in the form of a Yubikey (i.e., FIDO).</p> <p>We would like to protect sensitive endpoints even further. Options to explore include Google Zero Trust, Cloudflare’s Access, and Tailscale.</p> <h5 id="follow-up-actions-9">Follow-up Action(s)</h5> <ul> <li>Evaluate and expand our Zero Trust usage further.</li> </ul> <h3 id="pro-security-business-practices">Pro-security Business Practices</h3> <h4 id="1-provide-logging-at-no-additional-charge">1. Provide logging at no additional charge</h4> <p>For some time, we have logged security-related application logs by default for all users. This is done using an <code>append-only</code> table in PostgreSQL to ensure these logs cannot be tampered with.</p> <p>These logs are only <em>exposed</em> to Enterprise users by default but can be retrieved on behalf of any customer in the event of a security incident.</p> <h4 id="2-eliminate-hidden-taxes">2. Eliminate hidden taxes</h4> <p>We fully agree with the theory behind this sub-principle, but the devil is in the details.</p> <p>All our users are able to:</p> <ul> <li>Use Single Sign-On (SSO) with our supported SSO providers.</li> <li>Use 2FA (via TOTP).</li> </ul> <h4 id="3-embrace-open-standards">3. Embrace open standards</h4> <p>We generally prefer open standards. Most of our communication is HTTPS-based. For identity, our mTLS implementation is heavily inspired by <a href="https://spiffe.io/">SPIFFE/SPIRE</a>. No proprietary protocols have been invented and everything (with exceptions of things like NTP) is encrypted.</p> <h4 id="4-provide-upgrade-tooling">4. Provide upgrade tooling</h4> <p>This sub-principle is not super relevant for Screenly. Our signage players are automatically updated over-the-air (OTA). Our SasS service is offered hosted in the cloud, meaning that there is no customer workflow for these upgrades.</p> <h2 id="more-to-come">More to come</h2> <p>Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we will provide an update on <strong>Principle 2: Embrace Radical Transparency and Accountability</strong>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/31/cisa-secure-by-design/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/31/cisa-secure-by-design/Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>If you have seen beautiful digital displays promoting a business, you may have wondered how the business turns a TV into digital signage. There are a few ways to do this, and some methods are more sophisticated than others. In the post below, we cover how businesses can set up a digital sign on their own TV, and we share step-by-step how they can get their content displayed as soon as possible.</p> <h2 id="how-businesses-turned-tv-screens-into-digital-signs-in-the-past">How businesses turned TV screens into digital signs in the past</h2> <p>Broadly speaking, a digital sign is any screen that shows business content. This content can be for employees or for customers who are looking to buy the goods and services of the business. Whatever the use case, each digital sign needs a screen and a message worth sharing.</p> <p>In the past, businesses would hack together different ways to get business content displayed on their screens. One common but cumbersome way to do this was by burning content onto a DVD disc and connecting a DVD player to the screen. This process would get the job done, but it was very difficult to edit the content on each screen, as a team member would have to physically visit each screen and change out the DVD. Some businesses were able to display content from a memory card. While memory cards have a smaller form factor than a DVD player, the problem of users having to physically visit each screen to change out content remained.</p> <h2 id="the-role-of-digital-signage-players-and-digital-signage-software">The role of digital signage players and digital signage software</h2> <p>Businesses like Screenly aim to make content management for digital signs seamless. To make this process seamless, users need a digital signage player and digital signage software. A <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a> is a physical media player device that renders content to your TV screen. Importantly, a digital signage player communicates with digital signage software in order to know what content to display and when.</p> <p>With <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>, users get an online content management system (CMS) that they can control from anywhere. Instead of having to visit each screen in person, users can determine what shows on their digital signage displays from anywhere with an internet connection. Important digital signage software features include:</p> <ul> <li>The ability to render image, video, motion-graphic, and even audio content</li> <li>The ability to easily add, delete, and swap out content</li> <li>The ability to organize content into reusable playlists</li> <li>The ability to tag screens and manage the content on multiple screens at once</li> <li>The ability to override existing content and show priority content</li> <li>The ability to schedule content and playlists in advance</li> </ul> <p>Digital signage software makes managing digital signage content a breeze. When it is easier for users to manage the content on their digital signs, they are more likely to keep content fresh and frequently updated. In the past, the arduous process of digital signage content management resulted in many businesses not updating their content for long periods.</p> <h2 id="step-by-step-how-to-transform-your-tv-into-a-digital-sign">Step-by-step: How to transform your TV into a digital sign</h2> <p>If you are interested in transforming your TV into a digital sign and you are ready to go, follow the steps below. You can get your TV screens displaying content that is important to your business quickly and easily. Any smart TV or TV with an HDMI cable is compatible with most digital signage software.</p> <p>The first step is to get a free trial with Screenly. We offer a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> with no credit card required, so you can check out our platform at no cost.</p> <p>Second, after you have registered for your free trial, purchase a digital signage player. You can choose from a Screenly Player or a Screenly Player Max, and the choice depends on your business needs. We recommend a Screenly Player Max for commercial displays.</p> <p>Next, you can begin uploading content to your Screenly account and organizing it into playlists. Get familiar with the Screenly platform, and setting up your screen will be easy once your digital signage player arrives in the mail.</p> <p>Last, once your digital signage player arrives, connect it to your TV screen via HDMI cable, connect it to the internet using WiFi or ethernet, and pair your screen with your online Screenly account.</p> <p>That’s it! Your TV is now a digital sign.</p> <h2 id="were-here-to-help-with-your-digital-signage-solution">We’re here to help with your digital signage solution</h2> <p>If you have any trouble along the way or need advice on setup, we are here to help. There is a wide range of options when it comes to setting up your first digital sign, and we want to make the process easy for you. Feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a> at any time. We are here to help!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/25/turn-tv-into-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/25/turn-tv-into-digital-signage/Thu, 25 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Effective communication with both employees and customers is key to business success. While company-wide email memos can certainly get the job done, they often go unread and get lost in the digital flurry that barrages the modern worker.</p> <p>An alternative medium for corporate communications is the digital sign. In the article below, we cover the strengths and limitations of this communication medium, and we provide examples of how corporations can use digital signs effectively.</p> <h2 id="what-is-a-digital-sign">What is a digital sign?</h2> <p>A digital sign is any screen that displays company information. Typically, digital signs are TV screens that are fitted with <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a> hardware. This hardware renders content from digital signage software to the TV screen.</p> <p>Cloud-based <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> enables businesses to easily manage their digital signage content online. In the past, employees would need to physically visit each screen whenever they wanted to change out screen content. With digital signage software, employees can manage sign content from anywhere with an internet connection. This management includes adding, removing, and swapping out content. Additionally, users can organize content into playlists and schedule these playlists.</p> <h2 id="strengths-of-using-digital-signs-for-corporate-communications">Strengths of using digital signs for corporate communications</h2> <p>The main strongpoint of digital signs is that they are immediately accessible. Employees and customers do not have to download an app, they do not have to log in, and they do not have to check their email. Whatever the message is, it can be immediately accessed.</p> <p>Additionally, digital displays are great at getting key messages across quickly. Many of us have had experiences where we have attended a “this could have been an email” meeting. Likewise, we have all read verbose emails that “could have been digital signage content.” The digital signage medium forces people to be concise and direct with their messages, which often results in increased retention and comprehension among teams.</p> <p>Also, another strength of digital signs for corporate communications is that it can communicate information that is best viewed in a group context. For example, displaying sales team data and revenue, demos, or calls by reps is most effective when it is displayed in the open. Individuals can see where they stand in relation to other team members, and teams can talk about this information transparently. When teams work well together, this information can drive competitive spirits that result in greater team output.</p> <h2 id="limitations-of-digital-signage-systems-for-corporate-communications">Limitations of digital signage systems for corporate communications</h2> <p>There are always two sides of the coin. As with most tools, their benefits can, in some contexts, be limitations. With digital signs, their immediate and public display of information is only great so long as the information is appropriate for immediate and public messaging. Some communications are best shared using other formats that are slower and more private. Additionally, some messages are more nuanced and cannot be condensed into a character length that is appropriate for digital signs.</p> <h2 id="examples-of-effective-corporate-communications-with-digital-signs">Examples of effective corporate communications with digital signs</h2> <p>The first set of corporate communication use cases for digital signs includes those for internal communications. These digital signs can be used in team offices or even on larger corporate campuses to boost employee engagement. Examples include displaying:</p> <ul> <li>Real-time messaging on company performance</li> <li>Company value and key components of the mission statement</li> <li>Company news, events, and other happenings</li> <li><a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">Data dashboards and KPIs</a></li> <li>Recent team and individual successes</li> </ul> <p>Corporate communications with digital signage can also be customer-facing. This customer-facing content is typically used to increase customer purchases through promotions or upsells. Additionally, customer-facing content can be used to build the company’s brand. Examples include displaying:</p> <ul> <li>Limited-time offers and promotions</li> <li>Social media feeds</li> <li>Video wall content of ad creatives</li> <li>User-generated content product reviews.</li> </ul> <p>The list above just shows a few examples of how digital signage can be used for corporate communications. The reality is that digital signage use cases are truly endless. In addition to display image and video content, teams can also integrate their digital signage content with their existing tech stack. This allows teams to allow their business data to display and trigger real time information, such as inventory levels, wait times, and performance metrics as they happen. Check out some of our <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge App digital signage templates</a> for custom applications.</p> <h2 id="ready-to-get-started-with-a-corporate-digital-signage-solution">Ready to get started with a corporate digital signage solution?</h2> <p>Screenly makes it easy to get started with digital signage for corporate communications. We offer a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>, and you can look inside Screenly right now. You can even start displaying digital signage content without any hardware with our virtual screen feature. While our virtual screen feature does not have all the functionality of a screen powered by a digital signage player, it’s a great way to get a better feel for the Screenly platform quickly and easily.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/23/digital-signage-for-corporate-communications/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/23/digital-signage-for-corporate-communications/Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>When a small business plans its first digital signage deployment, business owners are typically bombarded with a variety of different options and functionality to choose from. Originally, business owners think that displaying content on a screen is a relatively simple task. It is, however, to do it right there are several features a deployment must have. Read below to learn more about important feature considerations when launching small business digital signage.</p> <h2 id="integrated-hardware-and-software">Integrated hardware and software</h2> <p>To run a digital sign, you need both hardware and software. Each digital sign requires a TV screen as well as a digital signage player. A digital signage player is a small, physical device that renders digital signage content to your TV screen.</p> <p>In addition to the necessary hardware, it is important to have an integrated software solution. Digital signage deployments that have “run on anything” software can get into trouble when it comes to reliability and security. With an integrated digital signage management software solution, user can manage their digital signs and the content on their digital signs from anywhere.</p> <h2 id="easy-content-management">Easy content management</h2> <p>One key feature for small business digital signage is easy content management. Users need to be able to quickly change and update digital signage content in just a few clicks.</p> <p>Modern digital signage software makes it easy for small business owners to schedule content to run and organize content into ordered playlists. These features allow business owners to take care of digital signage content weeks in advance so that their digital signs can assist them in doing business rather than act as an additional task that gets in the way.</p> <h2 id="content-caching">Content Caching</h2> <p>When digital signs go down, it looks bad on the business. Small business digital signage solutions work best where there is some form of content caching. This functionality means that content is saved locally on the digital signage player device. In this case, even if the internet goes down, the small business’s digital sign will still display content. When the internet connection is restored, the digital signage player can then source any new content or playlist changes.</p> <h2 id="portrait-and-landscape-mode-support">Portrait and landscape mode support</h2> <p>Some businesses use landscape oriented displays to display product offers in their windows. Other businesses use portrait oriented displays to display digital menu boards. When selecting a digital signage solution, it is important to make sure that the solution can support the landscape or portrait orientation that your business needs. Screenly supports 9:16, 16:9, and all content aspect rations.</p> <h2 id="customizable-integrations-and-digital-signage-apps">Customizable integrations and digital signage apps</h2> <p>Digital signage is much more than displaying images and videos. Small businesses can integrate digital signs with their existing business apps and tech stacks to create unique customer and employee experiences. For example, digital signs can display calculated live wait times. Additionally, digital signs can display current inventory levels and alerts when items need to be restocked.</p> <p>This functionality is possible with digital signage applications. Screenly makes it easy for teams to get started with <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>. Edge Apps can work out of the box, and they can also be fully customized by an in-house or third party developer. Our goal is to take all the complicated leg work out of digital signage app development so that developers can focus on only the parts that drive business value.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-small-business-digital-signage-at-screenly">Getting started with small business digital signage at Screenly</h2> <p>Getting started with small business digital signage at Screenly is easy. The best first step is to see inside Screenly right now with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. You can try out Screenly without hardware by using our free virtual screen functionality.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/19/small-business-digital-signage-features/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/19/small-business-digital-signage-features/Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signs can achieve much more than displaying images and videos. Digital signs can be an integral part of unique multimedia solutions that generate revenue, engage employees, and deliver “wow” moments to people who interact with your business.</p> <p>At the core of this functionality are custom digital signage applications that are built by developers. At Screenly, our goal is to make developer-first digital signage that makes the build and deployment of custom solutions easier than ever. Read the post below to learn more about digital signage developer tools at Screenly.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-api">Digital signage API</h2> <p>Any developer-friendly platform needs an API. At Screenly, we have a fully defined API that allows users to integrate their existing tools quickly and easily. Our API is RESTful, JSON-based, and properly versioned. Developers can use our API to display custom content and make digital signage respond to real-time business data.</p> <p>Check out our <a href="/api/">Screenly API documentation</a> to learn more.</p> <h2 id="edge-apps">Edge Apps</h2> <p>Edge Apps are the evolution of the Screenly API, and they allow developers to run applications that run natively on each digital signage player. This on-device functionality allows flawless playback and lightning-fast load times that usher in a new era of digital signage functionality.</p> <p>With Edge Apps, developers get everything they need to deploy a digital signage app right out of the box. There is no need to deal with thorny issues like app distribution, device management, operating system selection, or hardware intricacies. Instead, developers can focus on the parts of their app that are custom to their business and drive business value.</p> <p>Learn more about <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>.</p> <h2 id="command-line-interface">Command-line interface</h2> <p>Screenly provides developers a full CLI, so that they can interact with their digital signs with speed and intuitively within their existing CI/CD pipeline. The CLI makes managing digital signs at scale easy. Functionality like pairing a screen or even more complicated functionality like updating playlists with UNIX pipes is possible with the Screenly CLI.</p> <p>Our CLI is fully open-source, and you can check it out <a href="https://www.screenly.io/developers/cli/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-predicates">Digital signage predicates</h2> <p>With Screenly, our <a href="/developers/predicates/">predicate system</a> determines when content displays on a screen. For example, a time predicate determines which time a playlist will run on a screen. In addition to time, users can build unique predicates based off of their existing tech stack. One example is a predicate that evaluates inventory based on a JSON endpoint. Depending on whether an item is in stock or not, different content can show on your digital sign. Our predicate system allows developers to fine tune their digital signage and apply digital signage to unique business use cases.</p> <h2 id="javascript-injection-and-authentication">Javascript injection and authentication</h2> <p>One of the biggest problems companies face with digital signage is how to securely display password-protected content. With Screenly, users can take advantage of our <a href="/developers/javascript-injection/">JavaScript Injection feature</a> to log in to web pages, close GDPR content, and even add custom styling. Screenly has even made several of these Javascript injection snippets available at the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground">link here</a>.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-developer-first-digital-signage">Getting started with developer-first digital signage</h2> <p>Interested in getting started with Screenly? It’s possible to get started right now. With Screenly, users can register for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/16/digital-signage-developer-tools/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/07/16/digital-signage-developer-tools/Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 4 Industry News</strong>: Digital Signage Summit Europe, Jureskogs restaurant wait time display, digital signage security risks and legislation</p> <p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 4 Feature Releases</strong>: Transport for London Bus Stop Edge App, Screenly Anthias Django migration</p> <p>It’s time for another episode of the Screenly Changelog! The Screenly Changelog is our monthly video update on all things digital signage. Tune in for industry happenings, company updates, and plans for the future.</p> <p>In this episode, we cover:</p> <ul> <li>Digital Signage Summit Europe</li> <li>How a burger chain uses digital signage to display customer wait times</li> <li>Screenly’s latest Edge App for transportation</li> <li>An update to Screenly Anthias, Screenly’s open-source digital signage project</li> <li>Security in digital signage and risks with outdated hardware</li> <li>Digital signage and software bill of materials.</li> </ul> <h2 id="digital-signage-industry-events-and-innovations">Digital signage industry events and innovations</h2> <p>First off, the <a href="https://digitalsignagesummit.org/agenda/">2024 Digital Signage Summit Europe</a> was recently held in Munich. This event is one of the biggest in the industry, and it is always great to see industry peers displaying their newest innovations and offers. One of the key highlights of the event was the <a href="https://invidis.com/news/2024/05/invidis-strategy-awards-2024-these-are-the-winners/">invidis Strategy Awards 2024</a> that gave recognition to those leading the way for the future of digital signage.</p> <p>Another exciting happening in digital signage is with <a href="https://www.jureskogs.se/">Jureskogs</a> restaurant, a fast-casual Scandinavian burger chain. The restaurant recently used digital signage to <a href="https://www.sixteen-nine.net/2024/06/05/airport-restaurant-publishes-real-time-service-wait-times-next-to-departure-gate-walk-times-info/">display customer wait times</a> at one of its airport locations. This use of digital signage is a great display of how companies can integrate business data and sensors with their deployments.</p> <h2 id="screenly-company-happenings-and-launches">Screenly company happenings and launches</h2> <p>On to company happenings, Screenly recently launched our Transport for London (TFL) Bus Stop <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge App</a>. This app displays the bus status and times for any given TFL bus stop. While this Edge App is built for the TFL network, the app can be customized easily for different transport services. This Edge App is an example of our broader strategy for both creating apps that are ready-to-go and creating starter <a href="developers/">digital signage applications for developers</a> that can be customized and added on to for a range of specific use cases.</p> <p>Next up with Screenly, we have an important update for <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io/">Screenly Anthias</a>. Screenly Anthias was our first digital signage offering, which remains entirely <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias">open source on GitHub</a>. It is a great solution for technically-minded users who just need one or two screens. The update on Anthias is that we are transitioning the project to the Django framework. The motivation behind this work is that it will be easier for Screenly developers who work on the project to maintain it. Additionally, it will be easier for non-Screenly contributors to add to the project.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-security-risks-and-precautions">Digital signage security risks and precautions</h2> <p>We then end the episode with a broad discussion on <a href="/security/">security in digital signage</a>. We drill down on the risks associated with some fly-by-night digital signage companies and their questionable hardware. Security risks in digital signage do not end with a screen displaying inappropriate information. These risks also extend to hackers using digital signs as a pathway to sensitive company data and business systems. We also discuss software-bill-of-materials and how keeping accurate records is an important part of digital signage security. Check out Sccreenly’s recent security efforts, including our focus on SBOMs, at the <a href="/blog/2024/05/23/security-update/">link here</a>.</p> <h2 id="next-steps-for-your-digital-signage-deployment">Next steps for your digital signage deployment</h2> <p>That’s all for our fourth episode of the Screenly Changelog! We look forward to talking again next month and covering the latest events in digital signage.</p> <p>If you are new to digital signage or just new to Screenly, you can get started right now for free. We offer a free trial with no credit card required, and you can see inside the Screenly platform and test it out immediately. You can even display your content without <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage hardware</a> by using our virtual screen feature and your web browser. Sign up for your <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">digital signage free trial here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/06/14/screenly-changelog-episode-4/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/06/14/screenly-changelog-episode-4/Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000<meta property="twitter:image" content="https://www.screenly.io/assets/resized/1200/enterprise-digital-signage.webp" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.screenly.io/assets/resized/1200/enterprise-digital-signage.webp" /> <p>If you are considering a digital signage deployment for your large company, you are likely overwhelmed when trying to decide what is important and what is nice to have. While it would be useful to study all your options for weeks, you also have a deadline to hit and need to call a shot soon. In this article, we hope to make this job easier for you. Below, we outline several important features for enterprise digital signage that make your deployment easier to get out the door, manage, and build on over time.</p> <h2 id="sso-and-saml-support-for-enterprise-digital-signage">SSO and SAML support for enterprise digital signage</h2> <p>In large enterprises, user management is extremely important and, sometimes, time-consuming. When employees, contractors, and consultants come and go, the company needs to be able to quickly and easily manage employee access in order to maintain security. With <a href="/enterprise/sso-and-saml-support/">SSO and SAML support</a> in your digital signage tool, enterprise users can use Auth0, okta, and, for example, SAML with Microsoft Azure, to set up and manage user accounts.</p> <h2 id="granular-user-access-controls-for-enterprise-digital-signage">Granular user access controls for enterprise digital signage</h2> <p>In addition to user management at the level of who has an account and who does not, it is also important for enterprise digital signage users to be able to <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">manage user access controls</a>. For example, which users can publish content, and which users can only organize and upload content? Can some users only access billing information? Granular access controls make solutions for these questions possible. These controls help provide an additional layer of security and protection to make sure that users cannot accidentally or maliciously cause issues that impact the entire account.</p> <h2 id="consolidated-billing-and-invoicing-for-enterprise-digital-signage">Consolidated billing and invoicing for enterprise digital signage</h2> <p>We get it: enterprise invoice and billing management is difficult. Accounts need to be reconciled, and budgets need to be set. This workflow is difficult if enterprises cannot get the information they need quickly and easily. Make sure that your enterprise digital signage solution has <a href="/enterprise/consolidate-billing-and-invoicing/">custom billing and invoicing options</a>. These options can include keeping accounts simple with consolidated billing for multiple locations. Additionally, it is important that the enterprise digital signage vendor can work with the company and provide the monthly or annual terms that they need.</p> <h2 id="enterprise-grade-security">Enterprise-Grade Security</h2> <p>Enterprise-grade security is essential for any software in the corporate world. With a long-standing commitment to robust security practices, we invite you to learn more about our approach on our <a href="/security">security page</a>.</p> <h2 id="support-service-level-agreement-sla-for-enterprise-digital-signage">Support service-level agreement (SLA) for enterprise digital signage</h2> <p>Digital signs are meant to be seen, and this reality means that issues with digital signs are seen, too. When hardware or software needs troubleshooting, enterprise teams need to feel confident that they have access to the timely support they need. This is where <a href="/enterprise/support-sla/">service-level agreements</a> become a key decision point for enterprise digital signage customers. Make sure that the enterprise digital signage solution you choose can meet your company’s SLA needs. Having the support you need when you need it is key for maintaining mission-critical digital signage around the clock.</p> <h2 id="dedicated-account-manager-for-enterprise-digital-signage">Dedicated account manager for enterprise digital signage</h2> <p>Sometimes, a personal touch is key to success. Support coming from round-robbin responses from dozens of support agents can work at times. However, having a dedicated account manager who knows the ins and outs of your business can be vital to a company’s success with enterprise digital signage. This <a href="/enterprise/dedicated-account-manager/">dedicated account manager</a> can serve as an important liaison between the digital signage company and your enterprise and make sure that everything is running smoothly. In addition to helping with troubleshooting when necessary, they can also act as a coach, guiding you on how to best implement a complex digital signage deployment and how to get the most out of your existing account.</p> <h2 id="ability-to-integrate-and-customize-enterprise-digital-signage">Ability to integrate and customize enterprise digital signage</h2> <p>Another important feature and consideration of enterprise digital signage is whether the solution can work with the company’s existing tools and tech stack. One way to look into this consideration is to see if the digital signage tool has applications and integrations.</p> <p>However, digital signage applications are great if the work out of the box, but the often need a few tweaks. Make sure that your enterprise digital signage application allows for app customizations at the code level. This <a href="/developers/">developer-friendly digital signage</a> allows enterprise teams to build custom digital signage solutions that make sense with in their existing workflows and tech stack.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-enterprise-digital-signage">Getting started with enterprise digital signage</h2> <p>The best way to learn more about digital signage and to see if it works for the enterprise deployment you have in mind is to <a href="/hc/en-us/requests/new">schedule a demo</a>. In the demo, a team member can show you the ins and outs of Screenly’s enterprise digital signage features and can answer any questions you have.</p> <p>Additionally, it’s possible to get started right now on your own with a <a href="/sign-up">free trial</a>. We do not require a credit card at signup, and you can get inside Screenly right now for free. Additionally, you can even experiment with displaying content on your web browser with the Screenly virtual screen option.</p> <p>That’s all for now! If you have any questions or want to learn more about our enterprise digital signage, feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/06/13/enterprise-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/06/13/enterprise-digital-signage/Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>If you are looking to launch digital signage in your business, there are a few things you should know before buying digital signage network software. It’s important to be aware of key features and functionality that are vital to a smooth user experience so that you can make informed purchasing decisions. Read the article below to learn more.</p> <h2 id="what-is-digital-signage-network-software">What is digital signage network software?</h2> <p>Digital signs are any screen that displays content to viewers. Typically, this content includes promotional material, <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">data dashboards</a>, <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">menus</a>, or company branding. Digital signage does not work by magic, though, and it requires dedicated software to run reliably. This software communicates with digital signage player hardware and cloud servers to render the customer’s content on the screen.</p> <h2 id="why-is-digital-signage-network-software-important">Why is digital signage network software important?</h2> <p>In the past, when a user wanted to update content on a digital sign, they would often have to <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">physically visit each sign</a> in person. During this visit, they would upload new content via a USB drive and edit what showed on the screen with a keyboard. This process was incredibly time-consuming and inefficient, particularly if a digital signage deployment had many screens across one or more cities.</p> <p>Digital signage software eliminates the need for physical interaction with screens and allows users to add, edit, and schedule digital signage content from anywhere with an internet connection. Instead of spending time traveling to screens and messing with arduous content update workflows, users can now complete content updates in just a few minutes. Users can then focus their time and efforts on content creation and more pressing business tasks.</p> <h2 id="what-features-are-important-in-digital-signage-network-software">What features are important in digital signage network software?</h2> <p>The most important feature is content scheduling. Modern digital signage software allows users to schedule their content so that everything is taken care of weeks or even months in advance. For example, a restaurant can program its digital menu boards to show lunch and dinner menus only during specific hours. Additionally, restaurants can schedule special promotions throughout the month.</p> <p>Be sure that the software you end up going with can support the <a href="/end-user/display-content/">digital signage content</a> that is important to you. This content is likely photo and video files, but audio may be important, too. Another important consideration is if you want to display content in <a href="/end-user/full-hd-4K-resolution/">1080p or 4K</a>. While 4K content is more visually stunning, it is also more costly to find and produce. In many cases, 4K content is not necessary and is just an added complication.</p> <p>You should also make sure that your digital signage network software can easily integrate with your favorite <a href="/edge-apps/">applications and tools</a>. Many digital signage software options have an app store or listed tools for which they have a premade solution. These apps can enable companies to get started more quickly and launch digital signs with content that is important to them.</p> <h2 id="features-that-are-important-for-launching-digital-signs-at-scale">Features that are important for launching digital signs at scale</h2> <p>Another important set of features are those that make it easy to manage digital signage at scale. These features include <a href="/enterprise/granular-access-control/">team permissions and access controls</a>, so you can allow your team to work on your digital signage deployment with you. If you want to allow a team member to update the card on file but not the content on screens, team permissions make this possible. They provide an added fail-safe so that you don’t have to worry about potential mishaps.</p> <p>Another important feature is remote screen health monitoring, which ensures that you and your team are the first to know when screens or hardware encounter issues. With <a href="/end-user/management-dashboard/">remote screen health monitoring</a>, users can see the status of all the screens on a visual dashboard. Additionally, users can receive notifications via email or app integrations like <a href="/tutorials/pagerduty/">Pagerduty</a> that alert them when screens need troubleshooting. The faster your team knows about screen issues, the faster these issues can get resolved. No more days or weeks of an offsite screen not displaying content.</p> <p>Lastly, it is also important to be able to share content across multiple screens at once with features like screen group labels and shared playlists. With <a href="/end-user/group-labels/">screen group labels</a>, users can deploy content to many screens in just a couple of clicks. For example, they can deploy a promotional offer to all screens with the label “Floor One.” Similarly, shared playlists also help users manage digital signage at scale, as users can share content across multiple company teams, and the teams can decide where this content gets displayed.</p> <h2 id="developer-friendly-digital-signage-features">Developer-friendly digital signage features</h2> <p>Another important consideration is whether or not your digital signage network software is <a href="/developers/">developer-friendly</a>. Surprisingly, this consideration is important for both developers and non-developers alike.</p> <p>Sometimes, digital signage software is extremely locked down. The benefit here is that “what you see is what you get,” but a downside is that customizations are not possible. Often, getting a digital signage workflow to operate perfectly for your business requires a few tweaks here and there or custom integration work with your existing hardware and tools. Developer-friendly digital signage makes this customization possible.</p> <p>Developer-friendly digital signage can include a <a href="/developers/">digital signage API</a> that allows developers to connect their existing tools to their digital signage solution. Relatedly, features like <a href="/blog/2023/08/30/introducing-edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a> allow users to deploy and manage these custom solutions at scale without having to worry about the behind-the-scenes infrastructure and headaches. Other important developer-friendly features include a <a href="/developers/cli/">digital signage command line interface (CLI)</a> so that developers can more easily write documentation and automation.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-digital-signage-network-software">How to get started with digital signage network software</h2> <p>The best way to get started with digital signage network software is to, well, get started. With Screenly, we make it easy to try out digital signage without any cost or hardware. You can get started right now with our <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>, and we do not require a credit card. Once you are inside, check out Screenly for yourself. You can even start displaying content on a web browser virtual screen so you can test out your content and playlists immediately.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/06/11/digital-signage-network-software/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/06/11/digital-signage-network-software/Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>In the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, maintaining robust security protocols is essential to protect our systems and our customers’ data. At Screenly, we are committed to staying ahead of the curve, continuously improving our security measures, and ensuring our processes meet the highest standards. This year, we are excited to share significant advancements in our security efforts, including our journey toward SOC2 Type II compliance and our proactive approach to Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs).</p> <h2 id="soc2-type-ii-compliance-enhancing-trust-and-assurance">SOC2 Type II Compliance: Enhancing Trust and Assurance</h2> <p>One of our primary goals for this year is to achieve SOC2 Type II compliance. This certification is a rigorous standard for managing customer data based on five “trust service principles”—security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. By becoming SOC2 Type II compliant, we aim to provide our customers with the highest level of assurance that their data is handled with the utmost care and security.</p> <p>To streamline our compliance process and ensure that all our systems meet the required standards, we have partnered with Vanta. Vanta’s platform is designed to simplify and automate the path to compliance, making it easier for us to monitor and maintain the necessary security controls. We are pleased to report that our progress is on track, and we expect to achieve full compliance later this year. This milestone will not only strengthen our security posture but also reinforce the trust our customers place in us.</p> <h2 id="embracing-sboms-transparency-and-security">Embracing SBOMs: Transparency and Security</h2> <p>As part of our commitment to transparency and security, we are also focusing on Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs). An SBOM is a comprehensive inventory of all components, libraries, and dependencies in a software product. It is an essential tool for managing supply chain security, enabling organizations to identify and address vulnerabilities more effectively.</p> <p>The importance of SBOMs has been underscored by recent regulatory developments, including the Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity (<a href="https://www.nist.gov/itl/executive-order-14028-improving-nations-cybersecurity">Executive Order 14028</a>). This directive highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in software development, and we anticipate an increasing number of requests from our larger customers for detailed SBOMs.</p> <p>To meet this demand and streamline our process of sharing SBOMs with relevant stakeholders, we have partnered with <a href="https://sbomify.com/">sbomify</a>. sbomify’s platform allows us to efficiently generate and distribute SBOMs, ensuring that our customers have the information they need to assess and manage their security risks. By proactively addressing these requirements, we are positioning ourselves to better serve our customers and comply with emerging cybersecurity standards.</p> <h2 id="looking-ahead">Looking Ahead</h2> <p>At Screenly, our commitment to security is unwavering. We will continue to invest in our security infrastructure, adopt best practices, and collaborate with industry leaders to safeguard our systems and customer data. Achieving SOC2 Type II compliance and embracing SBOMs are just two examples of how we are enhancing our security efforts. We’ve also shipped features, like our <a href="/blog/2024/03/18/digital-signage-personal-support-pin/">personal support PIN</a>, that enhances the security of our platform at large.</p> <p>We are proud of the progress we have made and are confident that these initiatives will further solidify our reputation as a trusted partner in the digital signage industry. We look forward to sharing more updates with you as we continue our journey toward a more secure and transparent future.</p> <p>Thank you for your continued trust and support.</p> <p><strong>Stay Secure,<br> The Screenly Team</strong></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/05/23/security-update/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/05/23/security-update/Thu, 23 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 3 Industry News</strong>: E ink for large displays, M.2 Hat+ for the Raspberry Pi 5</p> <p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 3 Feature Releases</strong>: <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/29331756712211-How-to-Share-Playlists-Across-Teams">Shared playlists</a>, <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/29363834568211-Adding-Notes-to-Screens-in-Your-Account">screen notes</a>, improved <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360009207314-What-content-types-are-supported-by-Screenly">YouTube Support</a>, Simple Message Edge App</p> <p>If you’ve been wondering what’s been happening at Screenly, the best way to find out is with the Screenly Changelog. On this monthly video series, we cover all things Screenly and digital signage, including product updates and industry news.</p> <p>The Screenly Changelog Episode 3 is now live and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjfJHBwpTbY">ready to watch</a>. The best things come in threes, right?</p> <p>First up, in this episode, we cover innovations in E ink technology for digital signage, including E ink technology for larger color displays. E ink has been a talked-about sub-category of the display industry for a while, and it is great to see this technology getting more use in the digital signage marketplace.</p> <p>We then cover how the M.2 HAT+ for the Raspberry Pi 5 is addressing storage reliability issues. Screen uptime is probably the most correlated metric to customer success in the digital signage business, and storage reliablity is often a key failure point that causes screen uptime issues.</p> <p>Next up, we cover recent product releases at Screenly. One recent feature includes <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/29331756712211-How-to-Share-Playlists-Across-Teams">shared playlists</a>, which enables teams to create one playlist that’s used seamlessly across multiple teams. When the playlist is edited, that updated playlist then automatically updates across all teams and all screens.</p> <p>Another important product update is our new <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/29363834568211-Adding-Notes-to-Screens-in-Your-Account">screen notes</a> feature. This feature is a simple text field associated with each screen, but it is incredibly useful for helping teams remember specific items or peculiarities with each screen. These notes can include WiFi configuration details or even notes on a faulty nearby power outlet.</p> <p>Lastly, we discuss improved <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360009207314-What-content-types-are-supported-by-Screenly">YouTube video support</a>, which has been a much requested update that we are proud to deliver to our customers.</p> <p>We then discuss our recent <a href="https://www.screenly.io/developers/edge-apps/">Edge App</a> releases, including our Simple Message Edge App, and ongoing plans for supporting digital signage developers.</p> <p>Check it out! You can watch the full Screenly Changelog Episode 3 right now at the top of this post.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-screenly">How to get started with Screenly</h2> <p>If you have yet to get started with Screenly, you can set up an account right now for free. Sign up for a 14-day free trial at the <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">link here</a>. We do not require a credit card at sign up, and you can see inside the platform right now.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/05/22/screenly-changelog-episode-3/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/05/22/screenly-changelog-episode-3/Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 2 Industry News:</strong> New digital signage market entrant Unify</p> <p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 2 Feature Releases:</strong> Security personal support PIN feature, iFrame Edge App, Screenly’s API Platform</p> <p>Welcome back to the Screenly Changelog! We were very pleased with the response to our first episode, and it was great to get feedback from Screenly customers and the Screenly community at large. As you can tell, we are back again, and we are more encouraged than ever to keep building this video web series for the digital signage industry.</p> <p>Learn more about what’s been happening in digital signage and at Screenly in our post below.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-industry-news">Digital signage industry news</h2> <p>We’ll keep this section brief during this episode. The big news is that <a href="https://ui.com/">Ubiquiti</a>, the company behind UniFi networks, has recently released a digital signage solution that includes both hardware and software components. Ubiquiti is known for its access points and switches, and its product design is beautiful. Their new digital signage software is PoE-driven, and while their first digital signage offer is really geared towards smaller deployments, it’s always interesting to see new offerings in the digital signage marketplace.</p> <h2 id="whats-been-happening-at-screenly">What’s been happening at Screenly</h2> <p>In this episode, we are excited to announce that our <a href="/blog/2024/03/18/digital-signage-personal-support-pin/">security personal support PIN</a> feature is now live. This feature provides a changing security PIN code that is unique to each account. Our support team can now request this PIN code to add an extra verification layer when helping customers sort through account questions.</p> <p>Next, we have a few comments on Screenly’s <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a> and the concept of a headless CMS for digital signage. Our goal is to enable developers to deploy custom digital signage applications at scale quickly and easily. With our digital signage API, Screenly Edge Apps, and headless CMS infrastructure, developers are empowered to focus on building what drives business value while Screenly takes care of the headaches behind the scenes.</p> <p>We mentioned our new Screenly Edge App Store in our last episode, and we are working to build out a large collection of ready-to-go digital signage applications. We also launched our <a href="/edge-apps/countdown-timer/">countdown timer app</a>, which does just as you expect. Many teams use countdown times to motivate employees or build excitement among customers. With our new Edge App, customers can get a beautiful countdown visual on their screens in just a few clicks.</p> <p>Another recent release is our <a href="/edge-apps/iframe/">iframe Edge App</a>, which allows anyone to easily display iframe content on their digital sign. This Edge App is extremely useful, as many dashboard tools use an iframe to share content.</p> <h2 id="thats-all-for-now">That’s all for now</h2> <p>That’s all for now with our second episode of the Screenly Changelog! We are really enjoying these discussions and recaps, and we hope you are, too.</p> <p>If you are interested in getting started with Screenly, you can right now for free with our <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. We do not require a credit card at sign up, and we look forward to seeing you on the other side!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/03/26/screenly-changelog-episode-2/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/03/26/screenly-changelog-episode-2/Tue, 26 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>At Screenly, <a href="/secure-digital-signage">digital signage security</a> is at the forefront of everything we do. We believe that security is often an afterthought in the digital signage industry, and this reality often leads to serious consequences for business owners. These consequences can include hacks that compromise customer data and seriously damage brand value.</p> <p>To enhance security, we recently released our new personal support PIN feature. This feature enhances the Screenly support experience and allows our Customer Success team to more quickly engage with customer queries.</p> <p>This new feature provides each user with a unique six-digit PIN code that is only accessible via their Screenly web app interface. This system-generated PIN code is unique to their account and automatically changes every 24 hours.</p> <p>This new feature helps both users and the Screenly team verify that the person requesting support is the person whom they say they are. Not only does this feature enhance security, but it also helps streamline the support process. Customers do not have to answer security questions or wait for verification codes on their phones.</p> <h2 id="how-to-use-our-new-personal-support-pin-feature">How to use our new personal support PIN feature</h2> <p>To use our new personal support PIN feature, users simply need to navigate to the Settings tab in their online Screenly account. The feature is automatically enabled with each account.</p> <p>Once on the Settings page, click the Security tab. Next, click Show in the Personal Support PIN row. Then, click View to fully see your code.</p> <p>That’s it! You now have your personal support PIN. When you engage with Screenly support and customer success representatives, they may ask you for this code to verify your identity. Remember, this code automatically changes every 24 hours.</p> <p>If you have any questions or need assistance troubleshooting, contact Screenly support at the link here.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly">Getting started with Screenly</h2> <p>If you are new to Screenly or even new to digital signage as a whole, the first step is to get started with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/login">14-day free trial</a>. You can look inside Screenly and get started right now. With our virtual screens, you can get your content up and running on a browser-based demo screen right now.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/03/18/digital-signage-personal-support-pin/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/03/18/digital-signage-personal-support-pin/Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 1 Industry News:</strong> Amazon Firestick digital signage, headless CMS signage, digital signage zones</p> <p><strong>Screenly Changelog Episode 1 Feature Releases:</strong> Screenly’s new UI, BYOD program, Edge App Store, security enhancements</p> <p>We are very proud to announce our first episode of the Screenly Changelog! This web series has been in the plans for a while, and our goal is to create a monthly video conversation on all things digital signage and Screenly. We’ll cover industry happenings, company news, and exciting product updates for digital signage software and hardware.</p> <p>Take a look at our first episode to learn more about our goals for this web series, some notes on digital signage hardware and the Amazon Firestick, headless CMS and API-driven signage, and our thoughts on zones on digital signage displays. On the product side, you can see our new UI, learn more about our bring-your-own-device (BYOD) program, and get the latest on our Edge App Store. We also cover Screenly’s latest security enhancements, including penetration testing and SOC 2 certification efforts.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-industry-updates">Digital signage industry updates</h2> <p>First, we cover the Amazon Firestick and its positioning in the digital signage marketplace. Many companies and startups have built digital signage products on the Amazon Firestick ecosystem. A key component of these solutions is bypassing the Amazon Firestick home screen. Overnight, Amazon made this bypassing impossible, leaving many providers empty-handed without a solution.</p> <p>Next, we cover <a href="/blog/2024/02/22/headless-cms-digital-signage/">headless CMSs for digital signage</a>. In the past, content in digital signage had to be scheduled piece-by-piece and screen-by-screen. Modern digital signage platforms, like Screenly, have worked hard to disentangle scheduled content so that it can be used anytime and anywhere. Some of the most innovative digital signage solutions, such as sensors at supermarkets triggering new content on products that the customer is looking at, require <a href="/api/">API-driven content scheduling</a>. Headless CMS digital signage systems make this possible.</p> <p>Lastly, we discuss digital signage zones. This concept means splitting the image on a digital signage display into several sections on one screen. This feature is often seen on news broadcasts, and many people search for this concept online in an attempt to replicate it in their business. Our view is that, while this feature is interesting, it creates a screen that is too distracted and too hard to maintain.</p> <h2 id="screenly-company-updates-and-feature-releases">Screenly company updates and feature releases</h2> <p>In this episode, we share more information on the new Screenly user interface. We have worked on this facelift and redesign for a while, and we are proud of the results. Screenly should now be both easier to use and have a more modern look.</p> <p>We also cover Screenly’s new <a href="/blog/2024/02/13/screenly-byod/">bring-your-own-device BYOD program</a>. The goal here is to allow companies with a cache of existing hardware to be able to use it in their digital signage deployments. This program should allow companies to get started with digital signage more quickly and at a lower cost than it would take to purchase entirely new hardware.</p> <p>We are also proud to announce that the <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly Edge App Store</a> is now live. In the Screenly interface, users can select and deploy digital signage applications. Our goal is to make our <a href="/blog/2024/03/05/digital-signage-app-store/">developer-friendly digital signage applications</a> also available for non-technical users. In this Changelog episode, we demo our weather and clock applications.</p> <p>Lastly, we discuss Screenly’s recent <a href="/blog/2024/05/23/security-update/">security enhancements</a>. These enhancements include work on penetration testing as well as our current push for SOC 2 certification. Security is at the heart of Screenly’s digital signage architecture, and as developers know, security is a job that always has tasks to complete. Our goal is to build the most secure digital signage platform on the market so that our customers can feel confident that their screens and business data are secure.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-digital-signage">How to get started with digital signage</h2> <p>We hope you enjoyed our first episode of the Screenly Changelog! We’ll be doing these episodes every month, and we look forward to sharing the next one.</p> <p>If you are new to digital signage or Screenly, you can get started right now for free. Screenly has a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>, and we do not require a credit card at sign-up.</p> <p>Questions? Reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a> anytime. We are always happy to help.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/03/07/screenly-changelog-episode-1/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/03/07/screenly-changelog-episode-1/Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Today, we’re thrilled to introduce something extraordinary for the digital signage industry: our brand-new Screenly Edge App Store. Before you dismiss this launch as just another app store, let me assure you, it’s anything but that.</p> <p>At first glance, the Screenly Edge App Store offers familiar tools – a digital clock, weather forecasts, and news streams, all ready-to-go for you to enhance your screen content. However, the real innovation is hidden behind these simple applications.</p> <p>Remember our <a href="/developers/edge-apps/">Edge App platform</a> launch last fall? That innovation, combined with our <a href="/developers/cli/">user-friendly CLI</a>, has already set us apart as the most developer-friendly digital signage platform. Now, the real story is how these innovations integrate with the new Screenly Edge App Store.</p> <p>Behind the scenes, we have already seamlessy migrated all our legacy App Store installation of clock and weather apps to new Edge Apps.</p> <h2 id="going-beyond-typical-digital-signage-apps">Going Beyond Typical Digital Signage Apps</h2> <p>Our Edge App Store isn’t just another set of web apps. It’s a groundbreaking collection of Edge Apps. Edge Apps are unique in the digital signage industry in that they can run directly on the device, integrate with device meta-data and peripheral sensors, and allow developers to fully customize how digital signage content interacts with their business. Many of these Edge Apps are open-source and available on <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/tree/master/edge-apps">GitHub</a>, which encourages community collaboration and continuous enhancement.</p> <p>Starting with this launch, this revolutionary app infrastructure will soon redefine the digital signage industry. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for developers to ideate, test, and launch a digital signage application. We want developers to be able to focus on the unique use cases that drive value for their businesses while we focus on all the behind the scenes work, such as device management, security, and playback stability. In other words, Edge Apps makes for the perfect headless CMS.</p> <h2 id="whats-next-and-how-to-get-started">What’s Next And How To Get Started</h2> <p>Also, our Edge App Store launch is just the beginning. Our roadmap includes an expanding array of apps designed to address the varied needs of our customers. While developers can fully develop apps for any business need right now, we will soon have fully built-out apps with open-source code bases for all popular use cases.</p> <p>Importantly, you can be part of this revolution. You can develop and deploy your own Edge Apps today and leverage the same advanced and secure platform that powers our entire app range. To get started, register for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> and check out the new Screenly App Store from the main user dashboard. You can also explore and customize existing Edge Apps on GitHub at the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/tree/master/edge-apps">link here</a>.</p> <p>Welcome to the Screenly Edge App Store, where innovation meets practicality, and welcome to the future of digital signage.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/03/05/digital-signage-app-store/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/03/05/digital-signage-app-store/Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>Managing digital content at scale is difficult. This statement is true both in terms of managing content on a website and managing content on a digital sign. In the past, online content was often commingled with code, and it was difficult to deploy and manage content across multiple digital touchpoints. Every time a team member wanted to edit content, they would have to also edit the code base, and they would have to do so everywhere they wanted this content to display.</p> <p>Likewise, it was difficult in the past to manage digital signage content across multiple digital screens. Screen content management in the past involved physically visiting each screen, one by one, and updating content manually with a USB drive and keyboard.</p> <p>To combat these similar problems, businesses started using headless content management (CMS) systems. In the article below, we’ll cover the difference between traditional CMS and headless CMS systems. We’ll discuss traditional CMS systems in digital signage, and we’ll cover how Screenly brought the concept of headless CMS systems to the digital signage industry.</p> <p>Additionally, we will discuss the future of headless CMS systems in digital signage and how this new frontier can benefit your business. Edge Apps, the next generation of headless CMS systems for digital signage, allow developers to quickly build and deploy custom digital signage apps at scale.</p> <h2 id="the-difference-between-headless-cms-and-traditional-cms-systems">The difference between headless CMS and traditional CMS systems</h2> <p>A content management system is exactly what it says it is—software to manage your content. Content management systems allow multiple parties to draft, edit, and publish content as a team. However, there are, of course, many ways to manage content, and some are better than others.</p> <p>Traditional CMS systems typically build content for just a single web page or digital instance. Often, this content is tangled in HTML and CSS, and the content only lives on that one web page.</p> <p>Headless CMS systems store content in a way where the content can be used multiple times on different pages or digital instances. This content lives outside of the code for one page, and it is instead injected from the main content repository to wherever the user wants the content to show. With the content existing separately from each display instance, it can be easily integrated into new pages and use cases.</p> <h2 id="bringing-content-management-systems-to-digital-signage">Bringing content management systems to digital signage</h2> <p>In the past, <a href="/blog/2022/12/14/digital-signage-content-management-software/">digital signage content management</a> was a very manual and physically involved task. Often, businesses would change out content on screens one by one by putting in a new USB drive or DVD into the screen’s media player. This task became increasingly difficult when businesses had multiple locations. An employee would have to travel to each screen whenever there was a content change request, and there was also limited visibility on if a screen malfunctioned.</p> <p>Businesses like Screenly made it easier for companies to deploy content on their digital signs with a cloud-based CMS. With Screenly, users can upload content to their online account and deploy it to one or multiple screens remotely, from anywhere with an internet connection, via a web interface.</p> <h2 id="key-features-of-a-traditional-cms-for-digital-signage">Key features of a traditional CMS for digital signage</h2> <p>A user interface for cloud-hosted content and managing multiple digital signs at once can be thought of as a traditional CMS system for digital signage content.</p> <p>To get started using a digital signage content management system, users first upload images or video content that they want to display. After users upload content to their content library, they can then organize this content into playlists, and the user can then assign playlists to one or multiple screens.</p> <p>The playlist then acts as a reusable building block of content that can be federated out to one or more screens. That same playlist, when edited, results in content on multiple screens being updated as well. These edits can include added or removed content, and they can also include edits such as transitions, display priority settings, or scheduling.</p> <p>Being able to share a playlist across multiple screens becomes increasingly important as a digital signage deployment grows. If a business has only three digital signs, it may be unpleasant but not a big deal to update the content on each screen manually. However, if a business has a deployment of three dozen screens or three hundred screens, it is imperative that the business can update content on multiple screens at the same time.</p> <h2 id="moving-to-a-headless-cms-for-digital-signage-with-apis">Moving to a headless CMS for digital signage with APIs</h2> <p>The digital signage CMS described above is certainly an improvement over manually updating content on each screen, but it has important limitations.</p> <p>The above-listed digital signage CMS is best described as a traditional CMS. While it has components of a headless CMS, such as being able to federate content across multiple digital instances through playlists, the content itself and the content scheduling is not an easily adjustable or editable building block.</p> <p>A key limitation with traditional digital signage CMS systems is that content is limited in its customization and integration with outside data sources. Users can upload photo and video content, but that content must be built manually and scheduled manually as well. The content production and scheduling cannot occur programmatically or incorporate input from other data sources, such as weather data or business inventory data.</p> <p>Enter Screenly’s <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>. With our API, digital signage users bring in data from third-party data sources or their existing tech stack and business systems with ease. This data can be used to select which content displays and when it is displayed. Importantly, these selections can occur instantly across hundreds of screens, without manual intervention from team members.</p> <h2 id="how-edge-apps-bring-the-next-generation-of-headless-cms-digital-signage">How Edge Apps bring the next generation of headless CMS digital signage</h2> <p>Using cloud-hosted content, feeding in data via API, and federating it across multiple screens is one version of a headless CMS for digital signage. However, this concept is expanded further with Edge Apps.</p> <p>Screenly Edge Apps launched in 2023, and it is a solution for developers to build and deploy custom digital signage apps quickly and easily. Edge Apps allow users to move beyond federating only content across multiple screens and into also being able to federate custom applications across multiple screens.</p> <p>These content applications can do whatever the developer wants them to do. Custom digital signage apps may integrate with and use data from existing business databases, such as inventory or billing systems. Additionally, the application can use data that is local to the digital signage hardware, such as location or connectivity data.</p> <p>The central concept behind Edge Apps is that they leave the transactional and presentation layer of what a digital sign displays entirely up to the end user and developer. The transactional and presentation layers are entirely customizable. What Edge Apps take care of is all the dirty work that is required to get a digital signage content management system up and running. Developers can focus on the parts of their app that truly drive business value, and they can leave thorny issues such as security, device management, and content rendering to Screenly.</p> <h2 id="additional-features-of-edge-apps-and-why-they-are-important">Additional features of Edge Apps and why they are important</h2> <p>In addition to providing a digital signage headless CMS system that goes beyond content and into custom applications, Edge Apps have several other key features.</p> <p>First, it is important to highlight that Edge Apps do not require hosting. The entire application runs directly on digital signage hardware. This design removes a single point of failure from a hosting setup, and it also allows applications to run with much faster load times than cloud-hosted apps. Instead of thinking of load times in seconds, you can think of load times in milliseconds.</p> <p>Second, Edge Apps is a product built by developers for developers. Screenly provides a modern workflow with a <a href="developers/cli/">command-line interface (CLI)</a>. This way, developers can build, test, and push apps as they are used to in typical development environments. Additionally, developers can easily integrate Edge App build workflows into their CI/CD pipelines.</p> <p>Lastly, beyond being able to integrate with existing business systems and databases, Edge Apps can integrate with peripheral hardware. This hardware can include sensors, switches, buttons, or even more complex devices like a POS device.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-a-headless-cms-system-for-digital-signage">How to get started with a headless CMS system for digital signage</h2> <p>Getting started with Screenly is easy. We want users to have a seamless experience from the start and get their content on a digital screen as efficiently as possible.</p> <p>The first step is to register for a Screenly <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a>. It’s a 14-day free trial, and we do not require a credit card to sign up. You can check out the Screenly platform, add content, organize playlists, and assign playlists to your screens. If you don’t have a digital signage player, you can launch a virtual screen and display content on your web browser.</p> <p>You can also get started on building your first Edge App. Check out the developer documentation at the <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/edge-apps/">link here</a> and play around with existing apps on the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/playground">Edge App playground on GitHub</a>.</p> <p>Questions? Reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>. Get your own digital signage up and running with Screenly at the <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">link here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/02/22/headless-cms-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/02/22/headless-cms-digital-signage/Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p><em>Derived from my recent talk at the <a href="https://stateofopencon.com">State of Open Con</a> ‘24 in London, this blog post chronicles Screenly’s evolution from its initial days utilizing Raspberry Pi to its pioneering status in the digital signage industry, with a forward-looking perspective on open hardware.</em></p> <h2 id="the-inception-of-screenly">The Inception of Screenly</h2> <p>Our adventure began in 2012 in Sweden, where my co-founder and I acquired a digital signage business facing closure. Armed with several screens but devoid of software, we embarked on a mission not just to salvage this business but to innovate within the digital signage space. Initially relying on the Asus EEE PC, we quickly identified the need for a more cost-effective, scalable solution.</p> <h2 id="the-raspberry-pi-era">The Raspberry Pi Era</h2> <p>The introduction of Raspberry Pi was a game-changer for us, dramatically lowering costs and offering the flexibility we needed to scale our solution. This period was marked by significant growth and learning, as we navigated the capabilities and limitations of the Raspberry Pi. We faced challenges, notably in storage reliability and security, underscoring the need for a more robust solution.</p> <h2 id="expanding-beyond-raspberry-pi">Expanding Beyond Raspberry Pi</h2> <p>The global pandemic highlighted the vulnerabilities in our supply chain, prompting us to explore alternatives to Raspberry Pi. The development of the Screenly <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Player Max</a>, a NUC-style computer, was a direct response to these challenges, offering improved performance and security features necessary for our platform’s growth.</p> <h2 id="looking-ahead-coreboot-and-sbom">Looking Ahead: Coreboot and SBOM</h2> <p>As we plan for the future, <a href="https://www.coreboot.org/">coreboot</a> and the concept of a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) are at the forefront of our exploration. While we have not yet adopted these technologies, their potential for enhancing security and transparency in our operations is clear. Coreboot offers an open-source alternative for BIOS, promising greater control and security at the hardware level. Similarly, SBOM presents an opportunity to better understand and manage the software components we rely on, ensuring our platform remains secure against emerging threats.</p> <h2 id="the-quest-for-open-hardware">The Quest for Open Hardware</h2> <p>The journey towards open hardware is complex and filled with challenges, particularly as we consider the limitations of current RISC-V offerings for our needs and the broader goal of achieving a fully open-source hardware platform. Despite these challenges, our exploration continues, with MediaTek and Rockchip emerging as promising alternatives that align with our cost and performance criteria.</p> <h2 id="conclusion-a-path-forward">Conclusion: A Path Forward</h2> <p>Screenly’s journey from using Raspberry Pi to exploring the cutting edge of open hardware is a narrative of innovation, resilience, and the pursuit of security and efficiency in digital signage. As we look to the future, our commitment to the open-source community and the principles of openness and transparency remains unwavering. We are excited about the possibilities that coreboot, SBOM, and open hardware hold for our platform and the industry at large.</p> <p><em>Our journey is far from over. Join us as we explore these new frontiers in digital signage, striving to make it more secure, efficient, and impactful.</em></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/02/20/openuk-talk/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/02/20/openuk-talk/Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for our community: the beta launch of Screenly’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program! Designed to make digital signage more accessible and cost-effective, this program invites you to leverage your own hardware to run Screenly’s powerful digital signage software.</p> <p><strong>Why BYOD with Screenly?</strong></p> <p>At Screenly, we’re always looking for ways to lower the barriers to adopting and deploying digital signage solutions. We understand that every organization has unique needs and resources. That’s why we’re introducing our BYOD program, allowing you to bring your own PCs to power your Screenly displays. This initiative not only helps to reduce upfront costs but also enables brownfield deployments, making it easier to integrate Screenly into your existing setups.</p> <p><strong>Technical Requirements:</strong></p> <p>To ensure a smooth and reliable experience, we’ve established the following minimum technical specifications for BYOD participants:</p> <ul> <li>SSD: 128GB or larger</li> <li>RAM: 8GB or more</li> <li>CPU: Intel i3 or faster (or equivalent AMD)</li> <li>TPM 2.0 support</li> <li>Secure Boot support</li> </ul> <p>While the BYOD program is hardware-agnostic, we’ve found that newer generation Intel NUCs work particularly well with Screenly.</p> <p><strong>Program Details:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Minimum License Requirement:</strong> 50 licenses</li> <li><strong>Beta Program:</strong> Selected participants will receive a disk image to install on their devices.</li> <li><strong>Support:</strong> All BYOD hardware will initially run as unsupported. However, we’re excited to announce plans for a certified program where users can have their hardware officially certified for use with Screenly, for a fee.</li> </ul> <p>This beta program is a unique opportunity to shape the future of digital signage and enjoy the flexibility of using your own hardware. Whether you’re looking to deploy Screenly in your business, educational institution, or public space, the BYOD program offers a cost-effective and customizable solution.</p> <p>Interested in joining the beta? Sign up <a href="https://forms.gle/wQSvzrWg1KyRnGVdA">here</a>.</p> <p>Got questions? Reach out to our <a href="https://support.screenly.io">support team</a>.</p> <p>We’re looking forward to seeing how you bring your digital signage projects to life with your own devices. Let’s innovate together with Screenly’s BYOD program!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/02/13/screenly-byod/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/02/13/screenly-byod/Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000<!-- markdownlint-disable MD029 --> <p>Onsite marketing and advertising methods can greatly take advantage of digital advertising screens. Digital signage has revolutionized how businesses engage with their customers, enhancing customer engagement and recall rates. In the post below, we’ll cover several ways that digital signage for marketing can be used for on-site advertising and on-site marketing.</p> <ol> <li>Creating an immersive on-site marketing experience with digital signage</li> </ol> <p>On-site marketing with digital signage isn’t just about selling products; it’s about creating an immersive experience. Digital screens strategically placed around a business can communicate promotions, new products, and more, making every visit a new experience for the potential customer.</p> <ol start="2"> <li>Communicating your brand to your customers</li> </ol> <p>The key to effective digital signage lies in crafting content that resonates with your audience. This involves understanding the customer journey and creating personalized experiences. By using images and videos that reflect your brand’s personality, you make customers feel connected, thus enhancing brand loyalty.</p> <ol start="3"> <li>Engaging customers in real time</li> </ol> <p>Digital signage offers the ability to update content in real time. Digital signs can display content that is relevant to your customers shopping experiences in real time, such as showing related products or showing product information. Whether it’s showcasing new products and services or reacting to current events, this immediacy keeps your content fresh and relevant. For developers interested in making real-time software applications for digital signage, check out <a href="/blog/2023/08/30/introducing-edge-apps/">Screenly Edge Apps</a>.</p> <ol start="4"> <li>Communicating with employees</li> </ol> <p>Beyond customer interaction, digital signage is an excellent tool to communicate with employees. It can be used for internal communications, training, and keeping everyone in the loop about company news and events.</p> <ol start="5"> <li>Running Third-Party Ads</li> </ol> <p>An often-overlooked benefit of digital signage is the ability to run third-party ads. This can turn your digital signage into a revenue-generating asset. With the right digital ad campaign manager, you can balance your content with ads that complement your offerings.</p> <ol start="6"> <li>Delivering tailored messaging to your target audience</li> </ol> <p>Digital signage allows for tailored content to different segments of your customer base. Knowing your target audience and adjusting the content accordingly can significantly improve customer satisfaction and help in building loyal customers in the long term.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-digital-signage-for-onsite-advertising-and-marketing">How to get started with digital signage for onsite advertising and marketing</h2> <p>Investing in the right digital signage solution is crucial. This includes not just the digital signage display but also the digital signage software that powers it. The software should be intuitive, easy to update, and capable of handling various types of content.</p> <p>Screenly provides both the hardware and software that you need for initial digital signage setup and ongoing management. With Screenly, you can turn almost any screen into a digital sign in minutes.</p> <p>To get started with Screenly digital signage, register a free 14-day trial account at the <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">link here</a>. You can get started without hardware. To test out our digital signage players, learn more at the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">link here</a>.</p> <h2 id="next-steps-for-digital-signage-at-your-business">Next steps for digital signage at your business</h2> <p>Digital signage is a versatile and powerful tool for onsite marketing and advertising. When used effectively, it can create an engaging and personalized experience for customers, promote customer service excellence, and even offer additional revenue streams.</p> <p>Questions? Reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>. Get your own digital signage up and running with Screenly at the <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">link here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/01/08/onsite-marketing-and-advertising/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2024/01/08/onsite-marketing-and-advertising/Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000<p>As the year draws to a close, many companies tend to highlight their achievements, often with great enthusiasm. At Screenly, we’re also reflecting on our progress, but this year has been genuinely transformative for us.</p> <p>Over the last few years, we’ve engaged in extensive soul searching at Screenly, culminating in a clear vision for the future. Our vision crystalized into a transformative goal: evolving Screenly into a versatile screen operating system designed by and for developers, transcending traditional digital signage boundaries.</p> <p>A pivotal achievement in August was the launch of our innovative <a href="/blog/2023/08/30/introducing-edge-apps/">Edge Apps</a>, in tandem with our advanced <a href="/developers/cli/">CLI</a>, propelling us toward our ambitious vision. These innovations have already garnered industry recognition, setting the stage for further exciting developments in 2024.</p> <p>Our commitment to enhancing user experience led to a comprehensive overhaul of our marketing site and web interface. Looking ahead, we’re excited to introduce even more improvements.</p> <p>A significant addition to our product lineup was the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Player Max</a>, a custom-built digital signage player. Designed with enterprise needs in mind, it combines robust performance with enhanced security, perfectly complementing our Edge Apps.</p> <p>Reflecting on 2023, these milestones are what I’m most proud of. It’s been a year of significant progress and groundbreaking developments at Screenly. We are also tremendously grateful for our team, both the longstanding members and the new hires, whose dedication and talent have been a driving force behind our success. This year’s annual team summit in Turkey was not only a celebration of our achievements but also a testament to our strong, collaborative spirit.</p> <p>As we celebrate these achievements, we’re also thrilled to announce the launch of ‘Nerding Out with Viktor,’ a podcast sponsored by Screenly. Starting January 1st, join us for in-depth technical conversations with industry leaders, available on <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nerding-out-with-viktor">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nerding-out-with-viktor/id1722663295">Apple Podcast</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR-LxfLLDsk0JuhhbVbHjLCnW6OAboi5m">YouTube</a>.</p> <p>Stay tuned for more updates as Screenly continues to redefine the digital signage landscape!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/12/29/year-in-review/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/12/29/year-in-review/Fri, 29 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>We are thrilled to share that Screenly has successfully completed its inaugural penetration test, a crucial step in reinforcing our commitment to robust security measures. This test, conducted by ethical hackers, was an intensive examination of our systems to identify and rectify any potential vulnerabilities.</p> <p>At Screenly, security is not just a feature; it’s a cornerstone of our philosophy. We understand that the digital landscape is constantly evolving, and staying ahead in terms of security is paramount. That’s why we engaged <a href="https://control-plane.io/">ControlPlane</a>, a world-renowned leader in Cloud Native security, for this critical task. Their impressive roster of clients includes major institutions (such as, PWC, JP Morgan & Chase and Capgemini), made them the ideal partner for this endeavor.</p> <p>Our partnership with ControlPlane involved unleashing some of the UK’s top security experts on our system, seeking out any possible weaknesses. The results? A resounding validation of our system’s security. This achievement is a testament to our team’s dedication and the robust architecture of our digital signage solutions.</p> <p>Looking ahead, we plan to make penetration testing an annual event. This proactive approach ensures that we not only maintain but also continuously enhance the security standards of our systems. As always, we are committed to providing our users with the most secure and reliable digital signage solutions available.</p> <p>Stay updated on our security initiatives and learn more about our digital signage solutions by visiting our website. Your trust and security are our top priorities, and we are here to support you every step of the way.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/11/27/pentest-completed/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/11/27/pentest-completed/Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>Hey there, Screenly fans! We’re buzzing with excitement to announce our latest partnership with <a href="https://www.tracx.com/">Tracx</a>, a dynamo in customer satisfaction. This collaboration introduces an Edge App to our digital signage solutions that’s set to transform how businesses gather customer feedback.</p> <h2 id="say-hello-to-the-tracx-edge-app">Say Hello to the Tracx Edge App</h2> <p>The Tracx Edge App is a breakthrough in customer feedback technology, making it super easy for customers to share their experiences just by scanning a QR code on your digital signage screens.</p> <h2 id="qr-codes-a-familiar-tool-for-todays-customers">QR Codes: A Familiar Tool for Today’s Customers</h2> <p>The widespread adoption of QR codes in recent years, accelerated by changing habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, has made them a familiar and convenient tool for most users. This familiarity ensures that customers can engage with the Tracx Edge App effortlessly, making the feedback process straightforward and accessible.</p> <h2 id="feedback-goes-next-level">Feedback Goes Next-Level</h2> <p>The Tracx Edge App doesn’t just collect feedback; it provides a context for each response. By tracking the location of every QR code scan, it offers valuable insights into how customer experiences vary across different areas of your business. Why You’re Going to Love This</p> <ul> <li>In-Depth Insights: Gain a deeper understanding of customer sentiments.</li> <li>Real-Time Responses: Address feedback promptly and effectively.</li> <li>Location-Specific Data: Tailor strategies based on specific customer interactions.</li> <li>Ease of Use: Utilize the widespread familiarity with QR codes for easy engagement.</li> </ul> <h2 id="how-this-magic-happens">How This Magic Happens</h2> <ol> <li>QR Codes on Display: Interactive QR codes become a part of your digital signage.</li> <li>Scan and Share: Customers scan the code to share their feedback effortlessly.</li> <li>Intelligent Data Collection: Capture the specifics of each interaction.</li> <li>Informed Decision Making: Turn feedback into actionable insights with an intuitive dashboard.</li> </ol> <h2 id="about-tracx">About Tracx</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/tracx-logo_hu_c7788e7715914213.webp 480w, /images/blog/tracx-logo_hu_f8354d7eec4acb10.webp 768w, /images/blog/tracx-logo_hu_54e6b31e76604d8.webp 1024w, /images/blog/tracx-logo_hu_bd64eb80478b6120.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/tracx-logo_hu_201213b049c87ebf.webp 480w, /images/blog/tracx-logo_hu_4cb467bbc654a3ad.webp 768w, /images/blog/tracx-logo_hu_db36183e9339555b.webp 1024w, /images/blog/tracx-logo_hu_b5166177e1254393.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/tracx-logo_hu_54e6b31e76604d8.webp" alt="Tracx Edge App" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="410" > </picture> <p>Tracx is revolutionizing the way businesses understand customer satisfaction. Their innovative platform turns customer feedback into actionable insights, enhancing how businesses connect with their audience. Their focus on intuitive and impactful solutions makes them an ideal partner for our digital signage technology.</p> <h2 id="elevating-customer-connections">Elevating Customer Connections</h2> <p>This partnership with Tracx is more than just a collaboration; it’s a step forward in enhancing digital customer engagement. By marrying our digital signage expertise with Tracx’s advanced feedback solutions, we’re poised to offer unparalleled insights into customer experiences.</p> <p>To get started with the Tracx integration, you can <a href="https://support.screenly.io">get in touch</a> or learn more about Tracx <a href="https://www.tracx.com/surveys/">here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/11/21/tracx-edge-app/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/11/21/tracx-edge-app/Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="elevating-your-power-bi-access-introducing-the-power-bi-edge-app">Elevating Your Power BI Access: Introducing the Power BI Edge App</h2> <p>Greetings, data enthusiasts! Today, let’s explore Power BI, a formidable tool for data visualization. It’s the trusted choice when you aim to make your data shine. However, sometimes, it’s not just about the data; it’s about having a secure and reliable means to access it. That’s where we come into the picture.</p> <p>Our story takes a thrilling turn when a Fortune 500 client enters the scene. They expressed their intent to expand their usage of Screenly to include Power BI. However, here’s the crux of the matter – their security needs were exceptionally high. We’re talking about security standards that would put even Fort Knox to the test. This marked the moment for us to assemble our team, roll up our sleeves, and set off on a mission to develop a security solution that not only met but exceeded their expectations.</p> <h2 id="meet-the-power-bi-edge-app-where-accessibility-meets-security">Meet the Power BI Edge App: Where Accessibility Meets Security</h2> <p>And here it is, the fruit of our labor – the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/tree/master/edge-apps/powerbi">Power BI Edge App</a>. This is no ordinary application; it’s a game-changer. It’s akin to having a sophisticated key that unlocks Power BI access, all while ensuring the highest level of security.</p> <h2 id="how-it-works-keeping-it-simple-and-secure">How It Works: Keeping It Simple and Secure</h2> <p>The best part? We’re making the Power BI Edge App available to everyone. And guess what? It’s remarkably straightforward to use. You can find comprehensive guidance in <a href="/tutorials/powerbi/">our Power BI tutorial</a>.</p> <h2 id="setting-new-accessibility-and-security-standards">Setting New Accessibility and Security Standards</h2> <p>So, what sets the Power BI Edge App apart from the rest? Allow us to clarify:</p> <ol> <li> <p><strong>Encrypted Secrets</strong>: Say goodbye to unprotected secrets. Thanks to advanced technologies such as the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) within our Screenly Max Player and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), your secrets are securely safeguarded. Only the designated player can access these secrets, and they are never left exposed on some random storage medium. Your data is held under the highest security.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Write-Only Secrets with RLS</strong>: All our secrets are akin to confidential agents – they are write-only and shielded by Row Level Security (RLS) within our database cluster. Neither our team nor users can access these secrets. Only our ultra-secure backend can retrieve them when required.</p> </li> </ol> <h2 id="conclusion-elevating-your-power-bi-accessibility">Conclusion: Elevating Your Power BI Accessibility</h2> <p>With the Power BI Edge App, you can now access your Power BI data with confidence and convenience. It has been tailor-made to meet the most demanding accessibility and security standards, just like our Fortune 500 partner required. So, let’s transform Power BI data access into a secure and straightforward experience. Place your trust in Screenly and the Power BI Edge App – it’s a partnership designed for seamless accessibility!</p> <p>For comprehensive insights, delve into <a href="/tutorials/powerbi/">our Power BI tutorial</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/10/16/introducing-powerbi-edge-app/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/10/16/introducing-powerbi-edge-app/Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000<section class="mentions cpt-4"> <h6 class="text-center">As mentioned in</h6> <div class="text-center"> <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2023/08/30/screenly-makes-it-easier-to-build-interactive-apps-for-its-digital-signage-platform/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <img class="techcrunch-logo" src="/assets/images/site/homepage/techcrunch-logo.webp" alt="Techcrunch logo" /> </a> </div> </section> <p>Today, we’re thrilled to announce a groundbreaking new product: Edge Apps. A completely new developer framework, custom built for screens. Think of it like a turnkey screen operating system in a way.</p> <p>Unlike traditional web content, Edge Apps operate directly on the device, ensuring seamless playback. Even when the internet is down. Additionally, the locally served content delivers exceptionally fast loading times.</p> <p>But the benefits of Edge Apps go beyond their fundamental features. Let’s explore some key advantages:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Rich Metadata</strong>: Edge Apps automatically incorporate unique metadata, enabling logic based on precise GPS coordinates, screen names, or tags.</li> <li><strong>No Hosting Required</strong>: Edge Apps run directly on the device, eliminating the need for hosting servers, associated costs and perhaps equally importantly, removing a critical Single Point of failure (SPoF).</li> <li><strong>Hardware Integration</strong>: Unlike regular web pages, Edge Apps allow interaction with the physical world. You can interface with hardware like buttons, sensors, and local services like your own ERP system. (Coming Soon)</li> <li><strong>Modern Workflow</strong>: Developed with modern developers in mind, Edge Apps offer an effortless workflow. You can build, test and push apps using our <a href="https://github.com/screenly/cli">Command-Line Interface</a> (CLI). This is then easily integrated directly into your <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/cli/#github-action">CI/CD pipeline</a>.</li> </ul> <h2 id="lets-talk-screens">Let’s talk screens</h2> <p>Screens are everywhere. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a digital signage screen, a self check-out counter, kiosks, wayfinding screens or even vending machines. They’re all just screens with a set of peripherals plugged in. In the case of a self check-out counter, it’s some sort of computer equipped with a touch screen, a credit card reader and receipt printer.</p> <img src="/assets/images/blog/check-out-counter.svg" alt="Anatomy of a self checkout-counter."> <p>If you are building one of these devices, you will need to not only write your custom application (where your business value lives), but you must also need to solve for a plethora of other problems, including app distribution, device management, operating system and even picking hardware. None of this actually contributes to your business value. However, if you were not to solve it properly, it’s just a matter of time before your devices gets compromised either “for fun” or “for profit” through Ransomware or Botnets. (We’ve explored this in detail in <a href="/blog/2023/04/13/a-false-sense-of-security/">A False Sense of Security</a>, as well as on our <a href="/security/">Security</a> page.)</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/edge-app-top_hu_482efbeb17f20267.webp 480w, /images/blog/edge-app-top_hu_c2d1a34906e50e91.webp 768w, /images/blog/edge-app-top_hu_b004f2fc03e6b2e4.webp 1024w, /images/blog/edge-app-top_hu_2c89034ee34a8f95.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/edge-app-top_hu_21eeef6a5db1059e.webp 480w, /images/blog/edge-app-top_hu_b1e8b5169c6f899f.webp 768w, /images/blog/edge-app-top_hu_634e35fe5de3ac93.webp 1024w, /images/blog/edge-app-top_hu_8aca7b29369406c.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/edge-app-top_hu_b004f2fc03e6b2e4.webp" alt="Top of Edge App hierarchy." class="no-border" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="512" > </picture> <p>Now here is the good news. We’ve already solved all of these problems. Over the last decade, we’ve built what is arguably the most secure digital signage platform in the industry. It has always been severely over-engineered for just showing images, videos and web pages. Which is why we are able to enter the next phase of Screenly: opening up our screen platform to developers.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/edge-app-bottom_hu_8f308d5fada629b1.webp 480w, /images/blog/edge-app-bottom_hu_d24ffd8030e20c9f.webp 768w, /images/blog/edge-app-bottom_hu_8da93810067423f6.webp 1024w, /images/blog/edge-app-bottom_hu_4413cdb45a26e6df.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/edge-app-bottom_hu_ce59ed8c2fd49444.webp 480w, /images/blog/edge-app-bottom_hu_d091450bd9d88166.webp 768w, /images/blog/edge-app-bottom_hu_c4336224d897138a.webp 1024w, /images/blog/edge-app-bottom_hu_db991bfe3dae7a58.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/edge-app-bottom_hu_8da93810067423f6.webp" alt="Bottom of Edge App hierarchy." class="no-border" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="512" > </picture> <p>With Edge Apps, you can focus on what actually matters to your business: namely the application and business logic. Everything else can be delegated to us. You can sleep soundly knowing that security updates are applied automatically, and you can invest all of your resources in driving customer value rather than figuring out how to manage all these devices in the wild.</p> <p>The best part? Your Screenly Players are fully compatible with Edge Apps right now. If you’ve deployed our demo assets, you’re already experiencing the power of Edge Apps on your displays. Embrace the future of screen management with Screenly’s Edge Apps and take your content to new heights!</p> <h2 id="what-weve-already-built">What we’ve already built</h2> <h3 id="a-clock-app">A clock app</h3> <p>Our <a href="/edge-apps/">clock app</a> has been part of our demo assets for years now. It was an obvious candidate for an Edge App. We’ve now ported this to an Edge App and it is now part of our demo assets, completely seamless to our users. In the near future, we will even migrate all existing instances of our clock app to leverage the Edge App version instead.</p> <p>The clock app uses device metadata (more precisely, the latitude and longitude) to determine what time to use.</p> <p><a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/tree/master/edge-apps/clock">Source code</a></p> <h3 id="a-weather-app">A weather app</h3> <p>Much like the clock app, our <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">weather app</a> has been part of our demo assets for years. It was the next obvious candidate that we used to dogfeed the Edge App framework.</p> <p>This app is slightly more complicated than the clock app, as it relies on 3rd party services to retrieve weather data. Similarly to the clock app, it is using the location data to determine the weather. It is then using a <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/edge-apps/#secrets">secret</a> to read the API token for the weather service. Once the app has successfully retrieved weather data, it then caches this data locally (for 15 minutes) in order to both reduce the amount of necessary API calls, but also to ensure that the app works even if there is a temporary outage.</p> <p><a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/tree/master/edge-apps/weather">Source code</a></p> <h3 id="an-rss-reader">An RSS reader</h3> <p>Ah, RSS. It has been declared dead as many times as email, but is still around. Regardless if you like to get your news from <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/">BBC</a>, <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/">Hacker News</a> or even <a href="https://www.techcrunch.com">TechCrunch</a>, RSS is your friend.</p> <p>With this RSS reader, you can just tell it where to consume the RSS feed using a <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/edge-apps/#settings">setting</a> and it will display a the news for you in bite-sized chunks in a form that makes sense for a screen.</p> <p><a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/tree/master/edge-apps/rss-reader">Source code</a></p> <h3 id="a-qr-code-library">A QR code library</h3> <p>Whilst QR codes been widely used in Asia for the greater part of a decade, it really wasn’t until COVID they were normalized in retail and hospitality in Europe.</p> <p>With QR codes now being first-class citizens on iOS and Android, most consumers are used to scanning them to jump to a menu or to find out more information about something. With the new QR code library, we can offer marketeers something they usually miss in the real world: attribution.</p> <p>With online marketing, you can easily track what keyword or campaign that drove a click. However, in the real world, this is much more challenging. Or at least used to be. Thanks to Edge Apps, we can generate enriched QR codes that gives you attribution back to a particular screen, and even location. This is done using standard <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTM_parameters">UTM parameters</a> that is automatically applied based on the screens unique metadata. This in turn means you can slice and dice the data and measure effectiveness of various screens/campaigns in your analytics tools.</p> <p><a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Playground/tree/master/edge-apps/qr-code">Source code</a></p> <h2 id="getting-started">Getting Started</h2> <p>Using Edge Apps is very similar to working with Heroku or Cloudflare Workers.</p> <p>The easiest way to get started with Edge Apps is to check out our <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/playground">Playground</a> on GitHub. It includes a number of Edge Apps (including the ones listed above).</p> <p>For more details, check out the <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/edge-apps/#edge-apps">developer documentation</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/08/30/introducing-edge-apps/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/08/30/introducing-edge-apps/Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>I recently had the pleasure of joining the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUi7R_pBc8g">Default Global</a> podcast to discuss Screenly’s journey as a remote-first company. While the conversation was comprehensive, some topics were left unexplored. This article aims to delve deeper into those areas, providing additional insights into the complexities and opportunities of managing a remote workforce in today’s tech landscape.</p> <h3 id="the-challenges-and-opportunities-of-global-talent-acquisition">The Challenges and Opportunities of Global Talent Acquisition</h3> <p>We adhere to the principle that talent is globally distributed, but we also recognize that access to quality education and cultural norms can be limiting factors. The rise of AI tools like ChatGPT has added an unexpected layer of complexity to our screening process. Specifically, candidates have begun to use these AI platforms to craft answers to our screening questions. This has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuinely qualified candidates and those who are merely good at leveraging technology to get through the initial rounds. To counteract this, we’ve started incorporating real-world coding tests available on platforms like HackerRank.</p> <p>As we navigate this challenging landscape, a robust GitHub profile has emerged as an invaluable asset for both hiring managers and candidates. Aspiring tech professionals can demonstrate their skills and collaborative abilities through open-source contributions, offering a practical portfolio that goes beyond mere resumes. In this way, open-source platforms like GitHub are playing an increasingly vital role in the identification and evaluation of global talent.</p> <h3 id="regulatory-considerations">Regulatory Considerations</h3> <p>The legal landscape of international hiring has evolved, complicating what used to be more straightforward processes, such as hiring contractors. Especially in countries like the UK (with IR35), new regulations have forced us to consider alternatives like incorporating within a specific jurisdiction or utilizing an Employer of Record (EoR), each with its own set of financial and legal challenges.</p> <h3 id="talent-retention-strategies">Talent Retention Strategies</h3> <p>Attracting talent is just one facet of the challenge; retaining that talent is equally critical. Our approach has been to set a high-performance bar, serving as a self-regulating mechanism that fosters an environment where dedicated and gifted individuals can excel. Additionally, we’ve been influenced by Sloothman’s concept of “Mercenaries” vs “Missionaries,” as articulated in his book “Amp it Up.” The idea is to assemble a team deeply invested in the mission and purpose of the product, as opposed to individuals solely interested in remuneration. When you build a team of such committed “Missionaries,” you set in motion an unstoppable flywheel of talent and motivation.</p> <h3 id="remote-work-best-practices">Remote Work Best Practices</h3> <p>Managing a remote team comes with its own set of unique challenges. We initially underestimated the need for well-documented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and a robust onboarding process. With experience, we’ve learned these are foundational elements for remote work success. Adopting asynchronous work allows for greater flexibility and productivity, in line with our philosophy of hiring talented individuals and then stepping back to let them excel. Video calls and annual team summits have become indispensable tools in building and maintaining team cohesion.</p> <h3 id="the-importance-of-mindset">The Importance of Mindset</h3> <p>Finally, in the fast-paced, highly competitive tech industry, mindset and habits are often as important as skills and experience. Qualities like patience and resilience can be even more indicative of long-term success than any temporary setbacks or achievements.</p> <hr> <p>In summary, the landscape for acquiring and retaining global talent is fraught with challenges, yet ripe with opportunities. With the right strategies, technologies, and mindset, these challenges can be transformed into catalysts for both individual and organizational growth.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/08/23/decoding-global-talent/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/08/23/decoding-global-talent/Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>Testing software is hard. Testing software <strong>and</strong> hardware together is even trickier. In this article, we’ll discuss the various approaches to quality control (QC) that we’ve tried at Screenly over the years. It has been an interesting journey, and each iteration of our setup has taught us new things.</p> <h2 id="qc-rig-v1">QC Rig v1</h2> <p>Back in 2018, we built our first dedicated test rig. When we took this live, we wrote <a href="/blog/2018/07/13/building-a-raspberry-pi-test-rig/">an article</a> with photos and details. The setup was very primitive, and we used one of the “tiles” from Balena’s <a href="https://blog.balena.io/the-evolution-of-the-beast-continues/">The Beast</a> to fit as many Pi 3s as possible into a small amount of space.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_3e4fab224aee4bdc.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_2e6f6b6759ba57f7.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_175f5cd542412a16.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_608063fcc1ef0041.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_b1130a40fbb8a67e.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_98826ffaee831c22.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_3e7c4bcbee862a48.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_5f2f160727c0f85d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_175f5cd542412a16.webp" alt="Screenly QC Rig v1" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1102" > </picture> <p>This setup served us well for a while, but we identified two issues with the setup:</p> <ul> <li>The screens were not connected to any displays, making it hard to diagnose visual issues.</li> <li>We weren’t able to easily add more devices to the setup physically.</li> </ul> <p>As we started to move to Pi 4 in 2020, we decided it was time to overhaul our QC setup.</p> <h2 id="qc-rig-v2">QC Rig v2</h2> <p>In the next iteration of our QC Rig, we took an entirely new approach. Instead of running it ourselves, we reached out to the fine folks over at <a href="https://www.mythic-beasts.com">Mythic Beasts</a> to see if they could host this for us.</p> <p>For those of you not familiar with Mythic Beasts, these are the guys who host the Raspberry Pi website (on Raspberry Pis), among other things. What they do is pretty impressive. They’ve managed to build a custom rackmount case (3U) that fits no fewer than 48 Raspberry Pis. In addition, they also allow you to individually power cycle devices through their web interface.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/mythic-beasts-rack_hu_b2f1ca42ce2a9374.webp 480w, /images/blog/mythic-beasts-rack_hu_c6b2ea5c54ff51c4.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/mythic-beasts-rack_hu_4b81d5482874b4f2.webp 480w, /images/blog/mythic-beasts-rack_hu_d5edba9da7c029db.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/mythic-beasts-rack_hu_a06b58e07ad7a0b2.webp" alt="Screenly QC Rig v2" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="769" > </picture> <p>After a number of conversations with Mythic Beasts, we decided to work with them to deploy a custom ‘Screenly’ cluster that sat directly in one of their data centers.</p> <p>With almost 4x the number of Raspberry Pis as the previous version, we were able to catch a number of issues before they affected customers.</p> <p>While the setup certainly helped us scale up the number of devices we ran on, we still had an issue with a certain category of bugs that was hard to catch without a physical screen.</p> <h2 id="qc-rig-v3">QC Rig v3</h2> <p>In 2023, it was time again to revisit our QC rig. By now, we had added yet another hardware player (<a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player Max</a>) that needed to be covered in our test rigs.</p> <p>This time, we decided that we really wanted a real physical screen for each device. Given how much space this took up, we had to rent an office space just to host all these screens (remember, we’re a remote-only company). The initial deployments consist of 12 screens, spread across various brands of monitors and resolutions. To increase the test surface, we also decided to distribute the devices equally between Ethernet and WiFi.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/qc-rig-v3-front_hu_1925dacee474b8d0.webp 480w, /images/blog/qc-rig-v3-front_hu_28097b50de175677.webp 768w, /images/blog/qc-rig-v3-front_hu_a21d6a7d51581b02.webp 1024w, /images/blog/qc-rig-v3-front_hu_bf714feb8af848a3.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/qc-rig-v3-front_hu_c91d1914e1891533.webp 480w, /images/blog/qc-rig-v3-front_hu_6f3164449284107f.webp 768w, /images/blog/qc-rig-v3-front_hu_7decb4e3b779cbe8.webp 1024w, /images/blog/qc-rig-v3-front_hu_b376e186449d112e.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/qc-rig-v3-front_hu_a21d6a7d51581b02.webp" alt="Screenly QC Rig v3" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" > </picture> <p>Now, setting screens that show content on a loop is a great test, but we wanted to push our devices even further. To do that, we created <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Quality-Control">automated tests</a> that randomly change the content for all of these screens every hour using our <a href="https://github.com/marketplace/actions/screenly">GitHub Actions plugin</a>.</p> <p>In order to get even more insights, we are also using Prometheus’ <a href="https://github.com/prometheus/node_exporter">Node Exporter</a> to expose various metrics from the devices to better monitor changes in both network and performance over time.</p> <p>Finally, we’re also using our <a href="/tutorials/pagerduty/">PagerDuty Integration</a> to raise alerts (via email, mobile and Slack) if one of our test devices goes offline.</p> <h3 id="going-forward">Going forward</h3> <p>Having 12 screens allows us to have multiple monitors for each of our supported hardware platforms (Pi 3, Pi 4 and Screenly Player Max) for both staging and production environments. When building the setup, we ensured that we had enough physical real estate to scale up our QC Rig further with additional hardware platforms, or just adding more of the existing devices.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/05/25/updated-qc-rig/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/05/25/updated-qc-rig/Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>Security is one of those things that most people don’t think about until it is too late and they’re left with a mess to clean up. At best, you’ll get a slap on the wrist from your boss, and at worst, you’re left with a costly PR problem that will linger for years to follow.</p> <p>Since most people don’t get out of bed in the morning thinking about security (I’m one of the oddballs that do), let’s debunk a few common myths to save digital signage buyers from a potential security disaster.</p> <h2 id="we-offer-bank-level-security">“We offer bank-level security”</h2> <p>You often come across this phrase when web services are describing their security efforts. Now, don’t get me wrong, banks are regulated and need to adhere to very strict compliance rules.</p> <p>However, this is rarely what this tagline references. More often than not, this description is used when they use TLS/SSL encryption for data in transit. That “security language” might sound impressive to a layman, but it really shouldn’t be. This blog has “bank-level security” too, as do most modern websites. If your address starts with “https://” instead of “http://”, you too offer “bank-level security.”</p> <h2 id="not-exposing-devices-to-the-internet-makes-them-more-secure">“Not exposing devices to the internet makes them more secure”</h2> <p>A long time ago, this was considered best practice. Times have changed, but many companies (particularly traditional enterprises) haven’t kept up.</p> <p>The logic goes as follows: if the device can’t communicate with the internet and/or is isolated on a separate network, the device is more or less unhackable.</p> <p>At face value, this might seem reasonable. However, this also means that these devices are most likely not receiving any security updates and are thus most likely vulnerable to an increasing number of attacks as the months pass by. What happens when the network is accidentally connected to another network or an attacker plugs their laptop into the network? Game over.</p> <p>Modern security practice dictates that you should assume the worst possible scenario, meaning that the device should not only be able to connect to the internet but also should be exposed on the public internet. This philosophy comes from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_trust_security_model">Zero Trust</a> movement that Google started when they overhauled how they secure their entire internal IT infrastructure. Today, this overhaul means they don’t even use VPNs to access internal services, but that’s a bigger topic for another article.</p> <p>At Screenly, we’ve adopted this approach. Our digital signage players are assumed to be in a ‘hostile’ environment, and we’ve designed all the security around our players accordingly. (You can read more about this on our <a href="/security/">security page</a>.)</p> <h2 id="on-prem-is-more-secure-than-cloud">“On-prem is more secure than cloud”</h2> <p>Some companies take pride in running everything “on-prem” (usually meaning on servers in their office somewhere) rather than in the cloud. The arguments are much like the arguments for isolating devices.</p> <p>On-prem servers are generally considered less secure than cloud-based infrastructure for several reasons. First, the physical location of on-prem servers means that they are vulnerable to a wide range of risks, including natural disasters, theft, and unauthorized access. Additionally, maintaining and securing on-prem servers requires significant time, effort, and expertise.</p> <p>Cloud providers like Google and Microsoft have armies of world-class Site Reliability Engineers (SREs) who are responsible for managing and maintaining their cloud infrastructure. These SREs have extensive experience in designing and implementing security measures, monitoring for potential threats, and responding to incidents quickly and effectively. This level of expertise and attention to detail is difficult, if not impossible, to replicate for an on-prem operation. As a result, organizations that opt for cloud-based infrastructure can benefit from the expertise and resources of these dedicated security teams, which ultimately enhances their systems’ overall security and reliability.</p> <p>Why people argue for on-prem over cloud often really boils down to something completely different: job security. Someone argued for running things in-house some time ago, and now they need to justify their job. Don’t confuse this with security.</p> <h2 id="were-iso27001soc2-so-our-security-is-stellar">“We’re ISO27001/SOC2, so our security is stellar”</h2> <p>Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of good things in both ISO27001 and SOC2, and any company going through the certification process will have to ask itself a lot of great questions about how various processes are performed (such as backups and disaster recovery), and then make them document this.</p> <p>This self-reflection is great, and I’m in no way saying these certificates don’t matter. However, they are mostly about processes for running your technical operations with some security sprinkled over it.</p> <p>For users who really are looking for security, look at <a href="https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework">NIST</a>, for instance. This has a far bigger focus on real security.</p> <h2 id="so-what-should-i-be-looking-for-as-a-buyer">So what should I be looking for as a buyer?</h2> <p>The problem with security is that you need to understand security in order to assess if something is or isn’t secure. Thus, it is hard for non-security-oriented buyers to assess a vendor’s security posture. This reality is why things like ISO27001 or SOC2 are often used as a proxy for security.</p> <p>To help with this, I’ve created a quick checklist that can be used when assessing the security of a potential vendor.</p> <h3 id="how-and-when-are-updates-and-security-updates-performed">How and when are updates and security updates performed?</h3> <p>There are two things to consider regarding updates: application updates (i.e. the digital signage software) and the operating system itself (e.g. Linux or Windows).</p> <p>A term you will frequently run into when talking about updates is “over-the-air” (frequently abbreviated OTA) updates. This term simply means that the devices themselves will automatically receive updates over the internet. An example is how your phone will automatically (at least Apple devices) update at night when a new security update comes along.</p> <p>If the proposed vendor doesn’t offer automatic OTA and instead requires you to do some manual intervention to update the operating system and/or software, you should move on. You’re dealing with a legacy vendor that is yet to see the light. What you want is automatic updates of both the operating system and software during a maintenance window (normally during the night local time) to minimize the operational impact.</p> <p>Beyond this, you need to also inquire about how updates are downloaded and applied. A common attack vector for IoT devices is to try to inject a “rogue update” with a backdoor by abusing the update mechanism.</p> <p>To mitigate this, most sophisticated vendors will send their updates over an encrypted channel (remember “bank-level security”) and cryptographically sign these updates. Thus, even if an attacker somehow manages to sneak in an update, the system should reject the update.</p> <p>You might also want to make sure that the updates for both the operating system and software are what’s called “transactional.” This term means that if an upgrade fails for whatever reason, the device will automatically revert to the last known “good state” such that the device resumes normal operations until the next update attempt.</p> <h3 id="are-you-using-secure-boot">Are you using Secure Boot?</h3> <p>Secure Boot is a feature that most operating systems support. In simple terms, this means that if the operating system has been tampered with, the system will refuse to boot. This is important because it removes a lot of avenues for a potential attacker (such as rogue kernel modules).</p> <h3 id="do-you-support-device-encryption">Do you support device encryption?</h3> <p><em>Device encryption is mostly important if you are storing sensitive data (e.g. credentials to dashboards) or sensitive content on the digital signage players. If you are only displaying public content in a store front, you can safely skip this section.</em></p> <p>This is an area where there is a lot of vaporware. A lot of vendors will say that they have ‘device encryption,’ but it won’t really hold up to proper scrutiny. The reality is that unless the device has a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and this is used for the disk encryption, it’s probably vaporware.</p> <p>The way encryption works is that you need a key (or passphrase) to unlock the encryption. This is the primary objective of a TPM. The TPM will perform these operations without leaking the actual key to what’s called user space (roughly speaking what’s running on the device). This rules out a lot of players, such as the Raspberry Pi (which is why we offer the Screenly Player Max).</p> <p>If this key is stored anywhere other than in the TPM, the encryption is essentially void. Many operating systems support what’s called Full Disk Encryption (FDE). If FDE is used, with the TPM storing the key, this is more or less the north star for device encryption.</p> <p>It’s also possible to encrypt partial things on the disk using the TPM (say secrets for accessing a dashboard), but this is where it gets a bit more complicated.</p> <h3 id="what-is-the-operating-system-life-cycle">What is the operating system life cycle?</h3> <p>Every digital signage player needs to run on an operating system. In 99.9% of the cases, this is either a direct version, or slightly modified version, of something like Android, Windows or some flavor of Linux. Nobody writes their own operating system (unless you’re Google). Thus every digital signage vendor will have an operating system vendor that they may or may not have a commercial agreement with.</p> <p>Every operating system has what’s called a life cycle. This means that the operating system vendor will support this operating system for a certain period of time. In most cases, this is something like five years from release, but can in some cases be longer. In the case where it is longer, this is frequently referred to as a Long Time Support (LTS) release. Once this is up, you’ll reach what’s called the End of Life (EoL) of the operating system. After the EoL date, the operating system vendor will stop providing security updates. You can see an example of this in action on the <a href="https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle">Ubuntu Release Cycle</a> page.</p> <p>Android devices (in particular budget ones out of China) are notirous for being sold close to, or after, the end of the maintenance window. As of this writing, anything older than Android 11 (“Red Velvet Cake”) is unsupported by Google, and thus will not receive any security updates. You can find the the release cycles for Android <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_version_history">here</a>.</p> <p>The reason why this is important to know is that it has a big impact on your deployment. Imagine this, you’re rolling out several thousand screens, but the EoL is just a year or two away. This means that once this has passed, you’re on your own. The operating system vendor did their part of the deal. Now you’re left hanging.</p> <p>In some cases you can pay (usually vast sums) to extend the life cycle of an operating system, but unless you have huge operations and are unable to upgrade for whatever reason, this is unlikely to be financially viable.</p> <p>It’s very important to understand this before you roll out your devices. Otherwise you might be stuck with either outdated software or needing to manually upgrade all your devices before they are due to be replaced. In either case, it can be a costly endeavor.</p> <p>Note that your digital signage vendor can’t magically extend the life cycle of the operating system (unless they have enormous engineering resources to back-port security updates, or are paying the operating system vendor for an extended life cycle).</p> <h3 id="can-you-enforce-2famfa-for-the-web-interface">Can you enforce 2FA/MFA for the web interface?</h3> <p>This should really be table stakes today, but it should go without saying that two/multi factor authentication (2FA/MFA) should always be used for accessing the web interface. Better yet, use Single Sign On (SSO) or SAML and make sure you have your policies defined in your authentication provider.</p> <p>Most vendors should be able to support common platforms such as Google or Azure.</p> <h3 id="when-was-your-last-pentest">When was your last pentest?</h3> <p>The only proper way to independently assess the security posture of a service is by performing an independent penetration test, commonly known as a “pentest,” by a reputable industry player.</p> <p>A pentest is when a company is paid to try to break into a system and then provide a report on their findings. Normally, a follow-up test is performed once the company has had the time to resolve the issues outlined.</p> <p>The scope and scale of a pentest will vary a lot depending on the “rules of engagement” (meaning what attack vectors and targets the hacker-for-hire is allowed to go after). At minimum, this pentest should cover the company’s web infrastructure, but it should ideally also cover the digital signage players itself along with “social engineering” attacks on the company’s staff and facilities.</p> <p>Because these pentests can vary a lot, the price for a pentest ranges from a few thousand up to 100s of thousands (or more). As such, it would be unrealistic for a smaller vendor to perform a fully extensive test that covers all avenues.</p> <p>There are a number of services that can perform “automated pentests.” These will not be nowhere as extensive as a manual test, but is a good starting point for even a smaller vendor.</p> <h2 id="thats-a-wrap">That’s a wrap</h2> <p>Hope these pointers were helpful. We’ve barely scraped the surface of security, but by asking a potential vendor the above questions should help you differentiate vaporware from proper security.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/04/13/a-false-sense-of-security/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/04/13/a-false-sense-of-security/Thu, 13 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>Screenly is exploring new frontiers with space station digital signage. We are very excited for this pioneering project.</p> <p>That would be very cool, but no. April Fools!</p> <p>However, what is not an April Fools joke is that we doing a 10% off sale for all digital signage player purchases.</p> <p>To get 10% off your purchase, find a digital signage player for your deployment at the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">link here</a>. Then, just enter code <b>APRIL10</b> at checkout for 10% off the list price.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly-for-free">Get started with Screenly for free</h2> <p>Are you not looking to purchase a digital signage player just yet and want to learn more about digital signage?</p> <p>You can get started with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial account</a> right now. No credit card is required to get started.</p> <p>Inside your trial account, you can add content, build playlists, and launch a virtual demo screen on your laptop or mobile device in minutes.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/04/01/space-station-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/04/01/space-station-digital-signage/Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>In today’s world, technology has become an integral part of our daily lives. It has revolutionized the way we interact with the world around us, and retail businesses are no exception. With the increasing popularity of digital store signs, retailers can now share product information and brand stories with customers in an engaging and interactive way.</p> <p>Retail digital signage refers to the use of digital signs to display content in retail stores. These digital signs can be used in various ways to enhance customer engagement and increase sales. Here are some of the benefits of using signage in retail:</p> <h3 id="grab-the-attention-of-window-shoppers">Grab the attention of window shoppers</h3> <p>Window shoppers are people who pass by a retail store without any intention of making a purchase. However, with the right signage display, retailers can capture their attention and entice them to enter the store. By displaying special offers and promotions on digital displays, retailers can attract window shoppers and convert them into paying customers.</p> <h3 id="cross-sell-and-up-sell-products">Cross-sell and Up-sell Products</h3> <p>Digital store signs can be used to showcase related products and cross-sell or up-sell to customers. For instance, a clothing store can display a digital sign with accessories that complement the outfits on display. This can encourage customers to purchase additional items, increasing sales for the store.</p> <h3 id="share-product-information">Share product information</h3> <p>One of the primary benefits of digital store signs is the ability to share product information with customers. By viewing a display screen, customers can learn more about the features and benefits of a product. This can be especially helpful for complex or technical products, where customers may need more information before making a purchase.</p> <h3 id="tell-your-brand-story">Tell Your Brand Story</h3> <p>Digital signage also enables retailers to showcase their brand story and values. By displaying videos or images that highlight the company’s history, mission, or vision, retailers can build a stronger connection with customers. This can help to differentiate the brand and increase customer loyalty.</p> <h3 id="real-time-display-content">Real-Time Display Content</h3> <p>Digital signs can be updated in real-time, allowing retailers to showcase new products or promotions as they become available. This can help to create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to make a purchase. For instance, a grocery store can display digital signs with daily deals or new product arrivals, attracting customers to make a purchase.</p> <h2 id="key-factors-to-consider-when-launching-digital-store-signs">Key factors to consider when launching digital store signs</h2> <p>To implement a successful digital signage system, retailers need to consider a few key factors. These include the digital signage media player, display screen, and digital signage software. Let’s take a closer look at each of these elements:</p> <h3 id="digital-signage-media-player">Digital signage media player</h3> <p>A <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage media player</a> is a device that connects to a display screen and renders content to that screen. Retailers can choose from various media players, depending on their needs and budget. Some media players are standalone devices that can be connected to any display, while others are integrated into the display itself. Retailers should choose a media player that supports the type of content they want to display and has sufficient processing power for their needs. Learn more about Screenly <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a>.</p> <h3 id="display-screen">Display screen</h3> <p>A display screen is arguably the most important part! Retailers should choose a display screen that is appropriate for their store layout and customer needs. Main considerations include the display’s size, brightness, resolution, cost, and whether the display will be outside or inside. Learn more about the main considerations when purchasing a digital signage display screen.</p> <h3 id="digital-signage-software">Digital Signage Software</h3> <p>Digital signage software is used to create and manage the content displayed on digital signs. This software enables retailers to schedule content, update displays in real time, and track the screens that need troubleshooting. Retailers should choose <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage software</a> that is easy to use and provides the features they need to manage engaging and effective content across their deployment.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-digital-store-signs">Getting started with digital store signs</h2> <p>In conclusion, digital store signs are an effective way for retailers to engage with customers and increase sales. By using interactive displays, retailers can share product information, cross-sell related products, and showcase their brand story. To implement a successful digital signage system, retailers need to consider the media player, display screen, and digital signage software that best fit their needs and budget. With the right setup, digital store signs can help retailers grab the attention of window shoppers, provide customers with useful information, and ultimately increase sales.</p> <p>To get started with digital store signs, <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a free trial</a> with Screenly. No credit card is required.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/03/03/digital-store-signs/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/03/03/digital-store-signs/Fri, 03 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>As technology continues to evolve, businesses are constantly looking for new ways to improve internal communication and increase employee engagement. One effective tool for achieving these goals is digital signage displays, which are increasingly being used in office environments to promote company culture, boost employee engagement, and enhance productivity.</p> <p>In this post, we’ll explore the many benefits of <a href="/blog/2021/08/12/digital-sign-display-setup/">digital signage displays</a> in the office and why businesses should consider implementing them in their workplace. We’ll also discuss some of the key use cases for digital signage displays in the office and how they can help businesses achieve their goals.</p> <h2 id="why-digital-signage-displays-are-a-great-fit-for-the-office-environment">Why digital signage displays are a great fit for the office environment</h2> <p>Digital signage displays offer numerous advantages for businesses looking to improve communication, engage employees, and promote company culture. These advantages include:</p> <p><strong>Real-time updates</strong>: Digital signage displays allow businesses to display real-time updates on company news, events, and projects. This keeps employees informed and engaged and helps ensure that everyone is on the same page.</p> <p><strong>Increased engagement</strong>: By displaying multimedia content such as videos, images, and social media feeds, digital signage displays can help boost employee engagement and create a more dynamic and interactive workplace.</p> <p><strong>Improved productivity</strong>: Digital signage displays can be used to showcase important data and metrics, such as sales figures, which can help teams make informed decisions and improve overall productivity.</p> <h2 id="use-cases-for-digital-signage-displays-in-the-office">Use cases for digital signage displays in the office</h2> <p>There are numerous use cases for digital signage displays in the office, each with its own unique benefits. Here are some of the most common use cases:</p> <p><strong>Internal communication</strong>: Digital signage displays can be used to display real-time company information to employees. This ensures that all employees are informed and aware of the latest developments and can help to <a href="/blog/2020/10/27/improve-internal-communications-digital-signs/">improve overall communication</a> within the workplace.</p> <p><strong>Promoting company culture</strong>: Digital signage displays are an effective way to promote company culture and values and to highlight employee achievements. This can help create a sense of community and increase employee satisfaction.</p> <p><strong>Social media feeds</strong>: Digital signage displays can be used to showcase social media feeds, promoting the company’s online presence in the real world and encouraging people to engage with the company’s social media accounts.</p> <p><strong>Wayfinding</strong>: Digital signage displays can be used to display wayfinding information, such as maps and directions, helping visitors and employees navigate large corporate campuses more easily.</p> <h2 id="choosing-the-right-digital-signage-solutions-for-your-office">Choosing the Right Digital Signage Solutions for Your Office</h2> <p>When choosing digital signage solutions for your office, it’s important to consider your specific needs and requirements. Factors such as the size of the office, the number of screens required, and the type of information that needs to be displayed should all be taken into account.</p> <p>Screenly.io is an excellent platform to consider for digital signage displays in the office. Screenly offers a range of features and solutions to help businesses create and manage digital signage displays with ease. With Screenly, businesses can easily deploy and <a href="/blog/2021/08/02/manage-digital-screens/">manage digital signage displays</a> in multiple locations, ensuring that employees are always informed and engaged.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-digital-signage-in-your-office">Get started with digital signage in your office</h2> <p>Digital signage displays are an effective tool for improving internal communication, promoting company culture, and increasing employee engagement in the office environment. By using digital signage displays, businesses can ensure that employees are informed, engaged, and motivated, leading to a more productive and connected workplace.</p> <p>If you’re interested in exploring digital signage solutions for your office, get a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a> with Screenly. Screenly offers a range of features and solutions to help businesses set up and manage digital signage displays at scale.</p> <p>You can get started today with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/02/22/office-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/02/22/office-digital-signage/Wed, 22 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>From the perspective of the people viewing your digital sign, the display is the most important part. Of course, there is a lot going on behind the scenes, digital signage players, digital signage software, content production, and more, but the end result is all your viewers care about.</p> <p>That being said, it is important to have a digital signage display that both gets the job done and wows your audience. Learn more about what to consider when buying a digital signage display in the article below.</p> <h2 id="inside-or-outside-displays">Inside or outside displays</h2> <p>Where is your display screen going to be? If it is inside, you can go with just about any display that accepts HDMI input. Just make sure to get a display that is large enough so that your viewers can see your content from whatever distance they will be passing.</p> <p>If your display screen will be outside, you will have to deal with a few important issues. First, if your display will be in direct sunlight, you will need to ensure that the display is bright enough for the image to be viewed easily. Also, some displays need an enclosure unit to protect them from precipitation. When the screen is inside an enclosure unit, there can be several issues that arise from moisture and heat inside the unit.</p> <h2 id="mounting-your-digital-signage-display">Mounting your digital signage display</h2> <p>Consider not just where your display screen will be but how you will put it there. When purchasing a display screen, make sure that the display accepts VESA-standard mounts. With a VESA-standard mount, you can easily set your screen at a variety of viewing angles, and rest assured that your screen will stay secure with industry-standard and regulation-tested mounting hardware.</p> <p>Also, be sure to encourage communication between your content production team and whoever is doing the installation. Your content team needs to know the environment they are designing content for so that they can produce the most engaging and readable content possible for your digital signs.</p> <h2 id="display-resolution-for-your-digital-sign">Display resolution for your digital sign</h2> <p>One big decision when launching your first digital signage deployment is whether to have 1080p Full HD or 4K content. Of course, 4K content is crisper and visually stunning, but the tension is that this content is more expensive to produce and purchase.</p> <p>On the other hand, 1080p Full HD content can often get the job done just as well, as screens are usually displaying content at a distance where the finer details of 4K content cannot be appreciated anyways. Additionally, when content is less expensive to produce, businesses are able to produce more content and regularly refresh what they display on their digital signs.</p> <p>While Screenly supports both 4K and 1080p Full HD content, we typically recommend that companies go with 1080p resolution. There are cheaper production costs and 1080p digital signage displays are less expensive than 4K displays.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-digital-signage-today">Get started with digital signage today</h2> <p>Take the first step for your digital signage deployment. Get started today with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. No credit card required.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/02/06/buy-digital-signage-display/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/02/06/buy-digital-signage-display/Mon, 06 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>When launching your business’s first digital signage deployment, it can be overwhelming trying to piece together all the necessary parts. Users have to deal with compatibility issues, inventory issues, and more. One of the best ways to deal with these issues is to use an all-in-one digital signage platform that can provide both the hardware and software you need for your deployment. In the article below, we cover the main components you need for your digital sign and where to get them.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-players">Digital signage players</h2> <p>Digital signage players are small physical devices that render content to your screen. Much like a DVD player renders a movie to a home entertainment system, a digital signage player renders your business’s content to your screens.</p> <p>Digital signage players come in a variety of sizes and specifications. Screenly offers both the Screenly Player and Screenly Player Max. The Screenly Player is built on open-source Raspberry Pi hardware, and it is ideal for small, cost-sensitive deployments that may only have a few screens.</p> <p>The Screenly Player Max is a more robust digital signage player that is built on x86 architecture. The Screenly Player Max can handle heavy web pages and 4K image and video content with ease. It is best suited for enterprise-level deployments where screen reliability is key.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-software">Digital signage software</h2> <p>Digital signage software helps users manage what displays on their screens from anywhere. With digital signage software, users can log in to an online account and edit the content on their screens. This editing can include adding new content, removing old content, and creating and scheduling organized content playlists.</p> <p>Digital signage software then communicates the changes to the user’s digital signage player, and the digital signage player then renders those content changes to the screen. In the past, users would have to visit each screen in person when making content changes. This process was laborious and very time-consuming, especially when deployments had screens across multiple business locations or large corporate campuses.</p> <h2 id="selecting-a-tv-screen">Selecting a TV screen</h2> <p>The last part that your need to source for your digital signage solution is the actual TV screen. The screen for your digital signs can be anything that accepts HDMI input and can display content at your desired resolution of either 1080p Full HD resolution or 4K. Make sure that the TV accepts VESA-standard mounting - most do - so that you can fix your TV to the desired location.</p> <p>If your digital signage is outdoors, understand that this may have some challenges. You will need a screen that has enough brightness (measured in nits) to be visible in the daylight. Additionally, if you have a screen enclosure, you will need to sort out issues regarding heat and moisture that may be damaging to your digital displays.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-digital-signage-today">Get started with digital signage today</h2> <p>Screenly provides all necessary hardware and software for a digital signage deployment. To learn more, get started today with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. No credit card is required.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/01/30/digital-signage-supplier/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/01/30/digital-signage-supplier/Mon, 30 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signs help businesses communicate with their customers and employees. This medium is unique in that it can provide communication without requiring any input from the target audience. The viewer does not have to attend a meeting, open an email, or enter their contact details - they can see the message immediately.</p> <p>Accordingly, digital signage design is an important part of any deployment. The content businesses display must be engaging and eye-catching enough to command the attention of passing traffic. In the article below, we cover top considerations for digital signage design.</p> <h2 id="choosing-a-resolution-for-your-tv-screens">Choosing a resolution for your TV screens</h2> <p>Many first-time digital signage users spend a lot of time worrying about content resolution. Specifically, they wonder if the investment for 4K-compatible hardware and content is worth the effort and expense over 1080p Full HD content.</p> <p>Generally, we have found that 4K content, while stunning, is not worth the cost involved. Typically what happens is that this cost results in businesses and organizations producing or purchasing less content than they would if they were OK with 1080p resolution. While Screenly supports both 4K and 1080p digital signage content, it is our opinion that 1080p resolution is often the best way to go for cost-sensitive deployments.</p> <h2 id="font-sizes-and-amount-of-text">Font sizes and amount of text</h2> <p>Do not overwhelm your viewer! While digital signs are great in that they put your message directly in front of the viewer, understand that the viewer owes you zero attention. They have not engaged with your content or message whatsoever before viewing it, so do not expect them to fully engage and read a whole paragraph of text.</p> <p>Stick to the basics. Make sure that your font size is large enough to be read at a distance. Ideally, test the creative out in the field - put them on the digital sign, go to the sign location, and see if you can read it from the distance where your viewers will be. Make adjustments if necessary. Also, do not have loads of text. We recommend having three lines of text at most. Be sure to use contrasting colors with your text color and background so that your text is easily visible. Text highlighting can be a helpful strategy here.</p> <h2 id="have-a-clear-call-to-action">Have a clear call-to-action</h2> <p>What do you want your viewers to do? You need to lead them to the next step. Do you want them to enter your store? Make a purchase? Attend an event?</p> <p>It is your responsibility to do the thinking for your viewers. Do not expect them to deal with a ton of friction and work through the maze of your user-acquisition funnel for whatever your goal may be. Have a clear call to action that your viewers can take easily.</p> <p>One method that our customers have found useful is displaying QR codes on their digital signs. Scanning a QR code is a low investment for your viewers, and when you have viewers go from passerby traffic to the web, you have a ton of options for how to engage them next.</p> <h2 id="images-videos-and-animation">Images, videos, and animation</h2> <p>Displaying static content can work, but animated and video content is much more engaging. The motion on your digital sign can help your message stick out from the environment and help win the eyeballs of your target audience.</p> <p>Of course, it is more time-consuming, expensive, and difficult to produce video content compared to image content. However, you can get much of the same effect of video content by converting images to animated images. This method works by adding enter and exit animations to each layer or component of the image. You then download the animated image as an .mp4 video file and include it as a video on your digital sign. The design platform Canva makes it easy to add animations to an image - it can be done in just a few clicks.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-digital-signage">Getting started with digital signage</h2> <p>While the above tips are helpful, the best way to improve your digital signage design is to get started and iterate. Screenly makes it easy to launch your digital signs and provides both the necessary digital signage player hardware and digital signage software to get your screens up and running ASAP.</p> <p>You can get started today with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. No credit card is required.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/01/23/digital-signage-design/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/01/23/digital-signage-design/Mon, 23 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>When a team has its first digital sign, it is easy to troubleshoot and manage. Typically, the digital sign is in a central office, and stakeholders see the screen every day. This situation ensures that the team always has a visual on whether the screen is working, and the team can decide together what content needs to show.</p> <p>However, when teams have dozens of digital signs, managing the digital signage fleet can become overwhelming - especially when the signs are spread out across multiple locations. For this reason, Screenly has a suite of features to help your team manage digital signage at scale. Check out our article below for how Screenly can help you manage a large digital signage fleet.</p> <h2 id="remote-content-management">Remote content management</h2> <p>Screenly allows users to add, remove, and change out digital signage content from anywhere with an internet connection. Using our cloud-based <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage software</a>, users can simply log in to their laptops and update the content on their screens in just a few clicks. This feature saves hours of labor since staff members do not have to physically visit each screen when changing content.</p> <h2 id="screen-labels-and-grouping">Screen labels and grouping</h2> <p>When a team <a href="/blog/2019/08/08/digital-screens/">remotely manages content</a>, a user sometimes wishes to change the same content for several dozen screens. Instead of updating the content on each screen one at a time, the user can change the content on all screens in one go. For example, the user may want to change the store hours at all retail locations in a particular city. The user simply needs to tag their screen with a label, such as a city name, and apply changes to all screens with that label.</p> <h2 id="screen-health-monitoring-and-pagerduty-integration">Screen health monitoring and PagerDuty integration</h2> <p>Even the most robust digital signage systems need occasional troubleshooting. The differentiating factor is how quickly teams can identify and triage these issues. With Screenly, teams can review the health of all of their screens at a glance on our central map dashboard. Additionally, if a screen does have an issue, you can receive custom email alerts from us or our <a href="/blog/2022/06/06/digital-signage-pagerduty-integration/">PagerDuty integration</a>.</p> <h2 id="subteams-and-user-permission-levels">Subteams and user permission levels</h2> <p>Another important feature set for managing digital signs at scale includes our sub-teams and <a href="/blog/2019/03/21/multi-user-digital-signage/">multi-user permission</a> functionality. If you have dozens of screens, some will be for the marketing department, and others will be for the IT team, etc. Screenly allows you to assign one or multiple screens to subteams and limit user access to those subteams. Users can also control user access levels within each subteam granularly, including screen edit access and billing access.</p> <h2 id="screenly-api">Screenly API</h2> <p>Part of managing digital signs at scale is updating content automatically via API. With the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>, users can have business data trigger changes to digital signage content. For example, if a retail store’s inventory system shows that a product is out of stock, their digital sign can stop showing offers for that item as soon as it is sold out. Additionally, users can use the Screenly API to feed new content dynamically to their digital signs.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly">Getting started with Screenly</h2> <p>Getting started with Screenly is easy with our <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. Register now and get a virtual demo screen up and running in minutes. Ready to get your content showing on the big screen? Purchase one of our <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/01/08/digital-signage-management-at-scale/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/01/08/digital-signage-management-at-scale/Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>Often, people think of senior living communities as calm, slow-paced environments. However, this idea is often far from reality. Senior living communities are typically a flurry of activity, with residents, healthcare providers, family, and staff mixing together. In this environment, information-sharing is key, and digital signs can help provide everyone with the information they need when they need it.</p> <p>In the post below, we cover how senior living communities can use digital signs and how their IT staff can set up digital signs quickly and easily. Read on for details.</p> <h2 id="what-is-a-digital-sign">What is a digital sign?</h2> <p>A digital sign is any TV or monitor that displays custom content. This content can include images, videos, web pages, and even audio content. The main components of a digital sign include the screen, a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>, and <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>. The digital signage player is a physical device that connects to the screen via HDMI and renders content to that screen. Much like a DVD player renders a movie to a home TV, a digital signage player renders content to a digital sign.</p> <p>Digital signage software often exists as cloud-based SaaS and helps users manage the content on their screens. In the past, users would have to visit each screen in person with a <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">USB drive and keyboard</a> to change screen content. With today’s digital signage software, users can easily change out, add, or remove content on their screens from the comfort of their laptops. Modern digital signage software also includes features such as content playlist building and scheduling, screen uptime monitoring, and alerts for malfunctioning screens.</p> <h2 id="top-use-cases-for-digital-signs-in-senior-living-communities">Top use cases for digital signs in senior living communities</h2> <p>Digital signs can help senior living communities achieve smoother interactions between residents, visitors, and staff. Since many residents may not be comfortable using smartphone technology, digital signs are a great communication medium for real-time visual information sharing. Top use cases include:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Displaying daily schedules and timetables.</strong> When there are speakers and social events, digital signs can help inform residents of these events and ensure that everyone knows when and where they are happening.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Displaying upcoming meal menus and specials.</strong> The restaurant and cafeteria are often senior living communities’ main gathering spots. Digital signs can help inform everyone of upcoming meal info, including any necessary dietary information.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Displaying community member information.</strong> Part of what builds community ties at senior living centers is making sure that people are familiar with each other. Management can help build these ties by sharing resident birthdays, resident fun facts, and employee-of-the-month information on digital signs.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Displaying visiting hours and visiting rules.</strong> Family visitations are a key part of any senior living community, but they are also one of the most significant friction points. Using digital signs, management can help ensure that family members are aware of visitation hours, visitation areas, and guest check-in protocols.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Without digital signs, senior living communities would have to communicate this information through printed visual posters. Of course, changing our printed media requires new printouts, which costs both time and money. With digital signs, senior living communities can easily publish and change key information on their screens.</p> <h2 id="how-senior-living-communities-can-get-started-with-digital-signs">How senior living communities can get started with digital signs</h2> <p>Getting started with digital signs is easy. Senior living communities can now get started for free with Screenly’s <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p> <p>In the trial, team members can display demo content on a virtual web-browser demo screen. This tool is excellent for helping communicate digital signage to all stakeholders and getting the senior living community’s management team on board.</p> <p>To get the senior living community’s custom content up and running on a screen, the next step is to purchase a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>.</p> <h2 id="have-questions-about-digital-signs-at-your-senior-living-community">Have questions about digital signs at your senior living community?</h2> <p>We are always happy to help answer your questions. If having a chat about deploying digital signs at your senior living community would be helpful, we want to talk with you. Reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a> at any time.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/01/03/digital-signage-senior-living-communities/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2023/01/03/digital-signage-senior-living-communities/Tue, 03 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage content management software allows businesses and organizations to easily create, manage, and publish digital content to one or more digital signs. With this software, businesses and organizations can quickly deploy engaging and dynamic content that can be used to communicate with customers, employees, or other audiences. Read more in the article below on key use cases for digital signage content management software.</p> <h2 id="communication-with-customers-via-digital-signs">Communication with customers via digital signs</h2> <p>One of the main uses of digital signage content management software is to display information and advertisements to customers. This communication includes <a href="d">sales and promotions</a>, product information, menus, and store maps. When customers are better aware of what the business has to offer and which products meet their needs, the company can increase revenue.</p> <p>Businesses can easily and quickly update the displayed information by using digital signage. Due to this ease of updating, companies can more easily maintain fresh content than if they were reliant on printed signs. Additionally, digital signage content can include videos, motion graphics, and sound, which provides a more engaging experience than traditional print signs.</p> <h2 id="using-digital-signs-to-communicate-with-employees">Using digital signs to communicate with employees</h2> <p>Another use of digital signage content management software is to display information to employees. This information can include company announcements, schedules, and other information relevant to the workplace. By using digital signage, businesses can ensure that their employees have access to the information they need when they need it.</p> <p>Some digital signage content management software can work with third-party tools that help with employee communications. One example is using <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/grafana/">Grafana data dashboards</a> to display company KPIs on digital signs. When all team members are aware of company KPI data, they can more reliably focus on the business items that matter most. Another example is displaying <a href="/apps/google-calendar/">Google Calendar</a> information on digital signs. Displaying Google Calendar data on digital signs can help keep a team more closely in sync.</p> <h2 id="integrating-with-a-companys-full-workflow-via-digital-signage-api">Integrating with a company’s full workflow via digital signage API</h2> <p>In addition to displaying third-party data via integrations or public URLs, some digital signage content management software can connect with other products via <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>. This feature is helpful as it allows more granular connections between a company’s digital signs, workflows, and tools.</p> <p>With a digital signage API, companies can display third-party data in a more customized way and also use this third-party data as a trigger for when content displays. When a company metric falls below or above a certain threshold, this can trigger the company’s digital signs to display relevant information. For example, if inventory is out, the company’s digital signs can automatically remove promotions for that item via digital signage API.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly-digital-signage-content-management-software">Get started with Screenly digital signage content management software</h2> <p>Screenly has been providing digital signage content management software since 2012, and it is now easier than ever to get started.</p> <p>To get started immediately, register for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. You can interact directly with the Screenly interface in the free trial and get your content running on a demo virtual screen in minutes. When you are ready to get your content displaying on the big screen, purchase a digital signage player.</p> <p>Need help or have questions about our digital signage content management software? Reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>. We are always happy to help.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/12/14/digital-signage-content-management-software/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/12/14/digital-signage-content-management-software/Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re excited to announce that both Anthias and Screenly are now featured in the official <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/">Raspberry Pi Imager</a> software. For those not familiar with Raspberry Pi Imager, it is the official disk SD Card imaging tool from the Raspberry Pi Foundation used to distribute Raspberry Pi OS.</p> <p>Prior to this, our recommended method for building your own player was to first download the disk image, then manually validate the download using the MD5 hash, and then finally flash it out to an SD card using <a href="https://www.balena.io/etcher/">Balena Etcher</a>.</p> <p>With Raspberry Pi Imager, you can now skip the first two steps, as validation and download of the latest disk image is built into the software.</p> <p>You can find Anthias under <code>Other specific-purpose OS</code> and Screenly under <code>Freemium and paid-for OS</code> -> <code>Digital Signage OS</code>.</p> <p>After you’ve selected your system, Imager will then automatically download the latest disk image, cryptographically verify that the download was correct, and then finally flash it out to your SD card.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/12/13/anthias-and-screenly-now-in-rpi-imager/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/12/13/anthias-and-screenly-now-in-rpi-imager/Tue, 13 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>We are today super excited to announce the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/cli">Screenly CLI</a>. While the CLI is still in beta, we have big plans for it. As developers ourselves, we frequently use CLIs when interfacing with developer focused products. Regardless if it is a cloud vendor (Google, Amazon etc) or a payment provider (Stripe), a CLI makes it easy to both document and apply changes.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-cli_hu_1f490d188cc09f59.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-cli_hu_a8bb9c737187949f.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-cli_hu_d9a4b7e514b7674c.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-cli_hu_2c6f6aba7ac295b0.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-cli_hu_7ab390ef08d02f73.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-cli_hu_8f0e13ebf597e78f.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-cli_hu_29f0489d335ecf30.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-cli_hu_583c0d70a73b721c.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-cli_hu_d9a4b7e514b7674c.webp" alt="iTerm running Screenly CLI" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="870" > </picture> <p>As we are starting to roll out features that we have been working hard on behind the scenes, it will become evident why the CLI is so important.</p> <p>A CLI provides a happy medium between manual (e.g. a web interface) and fully programmatic (API). Interfacing with an API directly is often too complicated when you just want to automate a simple task. However, firing off a few commands in a terminal that can later be automated in a simple shell script is far quicker even for seasoned developers.</p> <h2 id="technical-details">Technical Details</h2> <p>When we started scoping out the CLI internally, we quickly made a few decisions:</p> <ul> <li>The CLI should be fully <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/cli">open source</a> and available on GitHub.</li> <li>We should write the CLI in <a href="https://www.rust-lang.org/">Rust</a> such that it can be distributed in a single binary and easily be cross-compiled for multiple platforms.</li> <li>We should use the CLI to dog-feed our v4 API (based on <a href="https://postgrest.org/en/stable/">PostgREST</a>) to the greatest extent possible.</li> </ul> <h2 id="current-status">Current Status</h2> <p>At this point, you’re able to log in and interact with screens and assets using the CLI.</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>$ screenly </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Command line interface is intended <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">for</span> quick interaction with Screenly through terminal. Moreover, this CLI is built such that it can be used <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">for</span> automating tasks. </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Usage: screenly [OPTIONS] <COMMAND> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Commands: </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> login </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> Logins with the token and stores it <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">for</span> further use <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">if</span> it<span style="color:#a61717;background-color:#e3d2d2">'</span>s valid. You can <span style="color:#24909d">set</span> API_TOKEN environment variable to override used API token </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> screen </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> Screen related commands </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> asset </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> Asset related commands </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#24909d">help</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> Print this message or the <span style="color:#24909d">help</span> of the given subcommand(s) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Options: </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> -j, --json </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> Enables json output </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> -h, --help </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> Print <span style="color:#24909d">help</span> information (use <span style="color:#ed9d13">`</span>-h<span style="color:#ed9d13">`</span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">for</span> a summary) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> -V, --version </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> Print version information </span></span></code></pre></div><p>What you might have spotted the built-in <code>--json</code> feature. By default, the CLI will output human readable content. However, should you want to parse the content programmatically, using JSON is much more reliable. For instance, you could pipe the output to <a href="https://stedolan.github.io/jq/"><code>jq</code></a> and extract a particular value (such as the UUID of a given screen).</p> <p>Moving on to the actual screen verb, we can perform some handy operations:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>$ screenly screen </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Screen related commands </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Usage: screenly screen <COMMAND> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Commands: </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> list Lists your screens </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> get Gets a single screen by id </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> add Adds a new screen </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> delete Deletes a screen. This cannot be undone </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#24909d">help</span> Print this message or the <span style="color:#24909d">help</span> of the given subcommand(s) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Options: </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> -h, --help Print <span style="color:#24909d">help</span> information </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> -V, --version Print version information </span></span></code></pre></div><p>For instance, you could easily add a new screen, or perhaps clean up older unused screens directly from your terminal.</p> <p>As mentioned above, you can use the <code>--json</code> argument to easily parse ouput wiht <code>jq</code>. Let’s say we want to list all our screens but only show the status, name and what hardware they are running on. Not a problem.</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>$ screenly screen list --json | jq <span style="color:#ed9d13">'.[]|[.status, .name, .hardware_version]'</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>[ </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Offline"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"My Lab Screeen"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Raspberry Pi 3B+"</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>] </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>[ </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Online"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Another Lab Screen"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Raspberry Pi 3B+"</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>] </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>[ </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Online"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Dashboard Screen"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Screenly Player Max"</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>] </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>[ </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Online"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Pi 4 Test Screen"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Raspberry Pi 4B (2GB)"</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>] </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>[ </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Online"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"x86 Test Screen"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Screenly Player Max"</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>] </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Next, we have assets. With the asset verb, we’re able to do neat things like uploading assets.</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>$ screenly asset </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Asset related commands </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Usage: screenly asset <COMMAND> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Commands: </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> list Lists your assets </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> get Gets a single asset by id </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> add Adds a new asset </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> delete Deletes an asset. This cannot be undone </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#24909d">help</span> Print this message or the <span style="color:#24909d">help</span> of the given subcommand(s) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Options: </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> -h, --help Print <span style="color:#24909d">help</span> information </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> -V, --version Print version information </span></span></code></pre></div><p>To upload an image, you can just run:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>$ screenly asset add ~/Desktop/My-image.webp <span style="color:#ed9d13">'My Image'</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>[...] </span></span></code></pre></div><h2 id="going-forward">Going Forward</h2> <p>While the CLI is still very much in beta, we would love to get your input. If you find any bugs, please <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/cli">open up an issue</a> on GitHub.</p> <p>To get started, see the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/cli#download">download</a> section.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/12/12/introducing-the-screenly-cli/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/12/12/introducing-the-screenly-cli/Mon, 12 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>Our company would not have existed without Screenly OSE. This is where it all began, and we’ve always committed to maintain it at our best capacity.</p> <p>At inception, Screenly OSE was the first (and only) digital signage tool for the Raspberry Pi. Fast forward ten years, and Screenly OSE is still by far the most popular digital signage project on GitHub. In fact, it is larger than the next three projects combined.</p> <p><a href="https://star-history.com/#Screenly/Anthias&xibosignage/xibo&concerto/concerto&colloqi/pisignage&Date"><img src="https://api.star-history.com/svg?repos=Screenly/Anthias,xibosignage/xibo,concerto/concerto,colloqi/pisignage&type=Date" alt="Star History Chart" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy"></a></p> <p>A lot of things have changed over the years. When we first started out, we built Screenly OSE to solve our own needs while running a small digital signage network in Sweden. After receiving a large number of requests for a “managed version” of Screenly, we eventually gave in and started building this. This was launched under the product Screenly Pro. To make matters even more complicated, Screenly OSE was initially called just Screenly, but was renamed Screenly OSE (for Open Source Edition) later when we launched Screenly Pro.</p> <p>In the early days, Screenly Pro was essentially just Screenly OSE with a central management layer. That all changed when we launched <a href="/blog/2018/03/08/screenly-2-part-1-security/">Screenly v2</a>. This version was a full rewrite from scratch, and didn’t share any code base with Screenly OSE.</p> <p>Yet, the names remained remarkably similar. This understandably confused a lot of our users. We then made an even more silly thing and dropped the ‘Pro’ from Screenly, and our commercial version became just Screenly. In retrospect, this renaming was foolish.</p> <p>As we are now starting to funnel more resources into Screenly OSE, we feel that now is the time to finally clear up this confusion once and for all.</p> <h3 id="going-forward-screenly-ose-will-be-renamed-to-anthias">Going forward, Screenly OSE will be renamed to Anthias</h3> <p>In the near future, we will launch a <a href="https://anthias.screenly.io">dedicated website</a> for Anthias, a new logo, along with a new branding.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/anthias-wide_hu_96c71d6dcbb907b2.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-wide_hu_863075ad19f424d3.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-wide_hu_fb33db9fbd498f4f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-wide_hu_c4e92418ba83160.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/anthias-wide_hu_b7edf62cc3b7da1f.webp 480w, /images/blog/anthias-wide_hu_b0a095079e79fc24.webp 768w, /images/blog/anthias-wide_hu_d510666720837a03.webp 1024w, /images/blog/anthias-wide_hu_3d3adfbb8ca76e6a.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/anthias-wide_hu_fb33db9fbd498f4f.webp" alt="The new Anthias logo." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="288" > </picture> <h2 id="why-anthias">Why Anthias?</h2> <p>After weeks of discussing names internally, we failed to come up with a name we were all excited about. Then one weekend while visiting a local aquarium, Viktor spotted a fish with a Screenly purple-like color with a yellow back. The name of the fish? Yellowback Anthias.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/yellowback-anthias_hu_bbe9704dddea5ce4.webp 480w, /images/blog/yellowback-anthias_hu_b302a556ae266048.webp 768w, /images/blog/yellowback-anthias_hu_6d326c3c31c6828.webp 1024w, /images/blog/yellowback-anthias_hu_aa0014f7e9afa8b5.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/yellowback-anthias_hu_9f949b6d2716cd3b.webp 480w, /images/blog/yellowback-anthias_hu_5025a2e632222d78.webp 768w, /images/blog/yellowback-anthias_hu_f93631fdea60a938.webp 1024w, /images/blog/yellowback-anthias_hu_26566ed2225a6090.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/yellowback-anthias_hu_6d326c3c31c6828.webp" alt="A Yellowback Anthias (Pseudanthias evansi) - the inspiration for the new name and logo" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="691" > </picture> <p>The name was brought forward to the team, and we quickly decided to go ahead with this name in the last All-Hands.</p> <h2 id="why-now">Why now?</h2> <p>In short, it was overdue. We’ve not always been able to allocate the resources Anthias deserves. There have been times where the project almost wasn’t actively being developed at all. This is about to change.</p> <p><a href="https://github.com/nicomiguelino">Nico</a> recently joined us to work full-time on making Anthias even more amazing, and together with our amazing open source community and contributors, we are looking forward to seeing how far we can take open source digital signage.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/12/06/screenly-ose-now-called-anthias/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/12/06/screenly-ose-now-called-anthias/Tue, 06 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signs are an increasingly popular tool among lawyers looking to improve communication and engagement in their law offices. In the article below, we detail ways that lawyers can use digital signs to enhance their offices.</p> <h2 id="displaying-information-about-their-services">Displaying information about their services</h2> <p>Digital signs allow lawyers to easily display information about the services they offer and any specialization or expertise they may have. In addition to sharing info about the particular areas of law the lawyer focuses on, the firm can also display prebuilt packages, such as packages for estate planning documents or other matters. This capability can help clients quickly understand what the lawyer can do for them and can help differentiate the lawyer from other firms in the city.</p> <h2 id="sharing-news-and-updates">Sharing news and updates</h2> <p>Digital signs provide a convenient way for lawyers to share news and updates with clients and other visitors to their law offices. For example, lawyers can use the signs to announce upcoming firm events, share news about recent cases or developments in the law, or provide other relevant information that clients might find helpful. The displayed news and updates can also be lighthearted, such as employee birthdays and work anniversaries.</p> <h2 id="displaying-client-testimonials-awards-and-settlements">Displaying client testimonials, awards, and settlements</h2> <p>Testimonials from satisfied clients can be a powerful way to build trust and credibility with potential new clients. Digital signs make it easy for lawyers to display these testimonials prominently in their law offices, which can help to build confidence and establish the lawyer’s reputation as a trusted and capable professional. In addition to client testimonials, lawyers can display favorable information on recent awards or settlement offers.</p> <h2 id="promoting-social-media-accounts">Promoting social media accounts</h2> <p>In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is essential for lawyers who are looking to grow their business. Digital signs provide a convenient way for lawyers to promote their social media accounts and other online presences, which can help to increase their visibility and reach. After potential new clients and existing clients see the lawyer’s social media information in the office, they can connect and continue to engage with the lawyer’s content on an ongoing basis.</p> <h2 id="setting-up-your-law-offices-first-digital-sign">Setting up your law office’s first digital sign</h2> <p>The first step toward setting up your law office’s first digital sign is to get a Screenly account. You can get started immediately with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p> <p>Within your online Screenly account, you can add content, organize the content into playlists, and display this content on a demo virtual screen. A demo virtual screen mimics a digital sign TV screen on your laptop, phone, or tablet.</p> <p>When you are ready to get your content displaying on an actual TV screen, the next step is to order a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a small, physical device that renders content from your online Screenly account to your screen.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly-today">Get started with Screenly today</h2> <p>Overall, digital signs can be a valuable tool for lawyers looking to improve communication and engagement in their law offices. By using digital signs to display important information, share news and updates, and promote their online presence, lawyers can better connect with clients, build their reputation, and grow their business.</p> <p>Take the first step and register for a free <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a> today. Need help? Don’t hesitate to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/12/04/digital-signs-law-office/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/12/04/digital-signs-law-office/Sun, 04 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>I recently traveled to lovely Prague for the resurrection of <a href="https://events.canonical.com/event/2">Ubuntu Summit</a>. As it turns out, I attended the final <a href="https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DeveloperSummit">Developer Summit</a> in Copenhagen back in 2012, which was the last Developer Summit prior to this event.</p> <p>The reason why I attended was to give a talk titled Five Years of Ubuntu Core, where we reflect on our journey from the very first release of Ubuntu Core (then called Snappy) to where we are today. If you would rather watch the recording, this can be found <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVkDqJzXKa0">here</a>.</p> <p>Part of this talk was taken from the article <a href="/blog/2018/03/08/screenly-2-part-1-security/">Screenly 2 Player under the spotlight</a>, where we outlined the selection criteria we had set out for the foundation of our big overhaul of Screenly’s player infrastructure.</p> <p>It is also worth noting that the list below relates to Ubuntu Core as of 2022. We are not even going to pretend that things were smooth from the start. As with all bleeding edge technology, the road was very bumpy early on. As early adopters, we paid the price for this. Much has changed since, and the Ubuntu Core today is a much more polished product than it was five years ago. Ubuntu Core today is perhaps far from perfect, but it has come a long way.</p> <p>Today, Screenly is the largest commercial deployment of Ubuntu Core in the world.</p> <h2 id="what-do-we-really-like">What do we really like?</h2> <h3 id="ota-is-very-reliable">OTA is very reliable</h3> <p>Over-the-Air (OTA) updates “just work”. We’ve had very few instances where this doesn’t work. The most common scenario where this happens is when customers build their own players and try to skimp on cost by selecting a non-industrial SD card.</p> <h3 id="security-is-very-solid">Security is very solid</h3> <p>We’re a big fan of the security model in Ubuntu Core. Sure, as with anything security related, it does add friction. However, that is the price you pay for good security.</p> <p>Some things we really like include the use of <a href="https://gnupg.org/">GPG</a> for cryptographically signing (and validating) software, along with the sound and granular sandboxing available.</p> <p>Lately, with our <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player Max</a>, we have also enabled <a href="https://ubuntu.com/core/features/secure-boot">Secure Boot</a>, to ensure the operating system is cryptographically solid before booting.</p> <h3 id="interfaces-slotsplugs-cover-most-use-cases">Interfaces (slots/plugs) cover most use cases</h3> <p>In the early days, we had to do a lot of work with slots/plugs to interface with particular hardware on the system. Those days are now largely over, and the built-in slots/plugs are easy to work with. For instance, when we started using <a href="/blog/2022/06/18/digital-signage-mTLS-TPM-security/">TPMs with our mTLS setup</a>, this was readily available.</p> <h3 id="snapcraft-is-easy-to-work-with">Snapcraft is easy to work with</h3> <p>We’re not going to lie, in the early days of <a href="https://snapcraft.io/docs">Snapcraft</a> was <em>very</em> rough. It frequently broke and was causing us a lot of pain. Those days are now largely over, and the tooling works well. Granted, there is a learning curve with the tooling, but it is a lot better these days.</p> <h3 id="disk-image-builds-work-well">Disk image builds work well</h3> <p>Again, in the early days, this was rough. These days it just works. We build all our disk images directly in our CI/CD pipeline. Whenever we do a manufacturing batch in the factory, we are able to use an up to date disk-image. This disk-image of course self-updates once the device is powered on, but the more recent the disk image, the faster the update will be.</p> <h3 id="ability-to-mix-and-max-core-versions-as-dependencies">Ability to mix and max Core versions as dependencies</h3> <p>This is perhaps something that one doesn’t appreciate until a few years into running Core. When we started using Core, the latest version available was Core 16. We’re now up to Core 22. Core 16 is still fully supported by Ubuntu, so it’s not a security issue. However, if we were limited to software from this release, we’d be very constrained in our software stack. Fortunately, this is not true. With Core, we are able to run Core 16 as the OS, but still use Core 22 as a building block for our software.</p> <p>This is a powerful concept. This means that we can use Core 22 and Core 16 as the OS side-by-side, without having to maintain separate software stacks for them.</p> <h3 id="debugging-has-gotten-a-lot-better">Debugging has gotten a lot better</h3> <p>Last but not least, debugging is a lot better these days. In the early days, we were limited in how we could debug software. This has gotten a lot better. We’re now able to use tools like <a href="https://sourceware.org/gdb/">GDB</a> to debug our software stack directly in core. What’s perhaps even cooler is that we can also use <a href="https://ebpf.io/">eBPF</a> tools, like <a href="https://www.parca.dev/">Parca</a> to do real-time profiling on devices to zoom in on bottlenecks directly in Core.</p> <h2 id="what-still-need-work">What still need work</h2> <h3 id="documentation-is-getting-better-but-still-not-great">Documentation is getting better but still not great</h3> <p>Documentation used to be one of the biggest issues with Core. It was a fast moving project and some argued that the best way to keep this up to date was to use the <a href="https://forum.snapcraft.io/">Snapcraft Forum</a> as the source of truth for documentation. While we are active users of the Snapcraft Forum, we see this as a complement, rather than a substitute for official Core documentation.</p> <p>Things have improved a fair bit, and the official documentation is a lot better than it used to. However, it still requires a fair bit of work.</p> <h3 id="boot-time-is-still-very-slow">Boot time is still very slow</h3> <p>This is perhaps our biggest issue with Ubuntu Core. Boot time is still painfully slow. In particular for the first boot. There are good reasons for this, but as an end-user, you really don’t care.</p> <p>The good news is that this is a top-priority within Canonical. The Core engineers are hard at work trying to speed up this process, so we are hopeful that this will change soon.</p> <h3 id="no-ota-between-releases">No OTA between releases</h3> <p>A large part of our fleet is using Ubuntu Core 16. This release is still <a href="https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle">maintained until 2026</a>, so our devices will still receive security updates from Ubuntu until then. However, it would be nice if we could update these devices remotely to a more recent version.</p> <p>We get it, it’s a complicated thing to do, since it requires rewriting the whole partition system (since that has changed). However, if we put aside the technical complexity involved, this would be a nice feature.</p> <h3 id="network-stability-has-been-an-ongoing-issue">Network stability has been an ongoing issue</h3> <p>We’ve been chasing this problem for a long time. There appears to be a small set of devices that periodically drop off the network. While we suspect that it is a network issue, we cannot be certain. All we know is that devices stop sending data to us and they also stop responding to <code>ping</code> on the local network.</p> <p>To debug this, we’ve read more gigabytes of logs that we care to admit. We’ve even applied machine learning on said logs to see if we could find patterns. So far we’ve come up short. We will keep at this, but it is something that we didn’t see on Rasbian, but are seeing on Ubuntu Core. That said, it is an issue that is very hard to reproduce, which makes it very hard to debug.</p> <h3 id="unable-to-easily-set-resource-constraints-per-service">Unable to (easily) set resource constraints per service</h3> <p>It’s very straightforward to apply resource limits to a snap. This is very handy if you have a single app in snap. In our case, we have a lot of services running within the same snap. This is where it becomes a bit tricky. We are able to set a ‘global’ resource limit, but there is no way to set resource limits <em>per service</em>.</p> <p>We’ve worked around this using <code>systemd</code>’s <a href="https://www.freedesktop.org/software/systemd/man/systemd.resource-control.html">resource control</a>. It would have been much cleaner if we could have used the native Snapcraft features for this, but we’re at least able to work around this for now.</p> <h3 id="hardware-support-is-limited">Hardware support is limited</h3> <p>One of the biggest limitations in Core is the supported hardware. Granted, you <em>can</em> run Core on more or less any x86 hardware, but Core may or may not include the required drivers (WiFi in particular springs to mind). This is where it gets tricky. You can’t just include new kernel drives to Core without having to jump through <em>a lot</em> of hoops and essentially build your own Kernel Snap (this is where the kernel lives). However, if you do this, you lose out on things like native Secure Boot.</p> <p>There has been talk about improving this by being able to side-load kernel modules, but this isn’t available yet.</p> <p>For non-x86 hardware it gets trickier. It took Canonical painfully long to enable support for the Raspberry Pi 4 (close to a year). As an end-user, this was very painful as we couldn’t support it on our end before Canonical had fully enabled it. This was part of the reason why we were so late in adding support for the Raspberry Pi 4 in Screenly.</p> <p>Having spoken to a number of engineers and managers at Canonical at Ubuntu Summit, I’m hopeful that this is changing going forward. The Core team has been scaled up and some very talented engineers joined the Core team.</p> <h2 id="what-was-surprising">What was surprising</h2> <h3 id="all-tpms-are-not-created-equal">All TPMs are not created equal</h3> <p>When we introduced our first x86 player (Screenly Player Max), a hard requirement was to have a TPM on board. The reason was largely that we wanted to be able to use the TPM for things like mTLS, Secure Boot and Full Disk Encryption (FDE).</p> <p>The first two of these use cases worked like a charm. We’ve used Secure Boot since the start and are migrating to use mTLS for our internal authentication shortly.</p> <p>FDE has been a lot more challenging. In the process, we’ve learned a lot about the inner workings of TPMs. As it turns out, while TPM 2.0 is a <em>standard</em>, it is a standard that is poorly implemented in many TPMs. The particular TPM we use didn’t follow the standard for the particular operation that Canonical relied on for FDE in Ubuntu Core. We are still hopeful that this can be worked around, but this is really the reason why we haven’t rolled out full FDE in our players yet.</p> <p>For those who want to nerd out over the details, you can read all about it in the <a href="https://bugs.launchpad.net/snapd/+bug/1953632">bug report</a> on Launchpad.</p> <h3 id="splash-screens-is-a-hack-at-best">Splash screens is a hack at best</h3> <p>While giving my talk, I learned from Ogra that this now has been resolved. There is now an official way to <a href="https://ubuntu.com/core/docs/splash-screen">display a splash-screen</a> on Core as of a few weeks ago. Until then, adding a splash-screen was a very convoluted hack that required manually tweaking the bootloader.</p> <p>What isn’t a solved problem however is using a splash-screen on x86 while using Secure Boot. There are good reasons for this. In short, you need to inject your custom splash-screen into where the kernel lives. By doing so, you of course alter the cryptographic signature, which in turns breaks Secure Boot.</p> <p>One can of course work around this by doing Secure Boot with your own keys, but that has its own set of drawbacks</p> <h2 id="summary">Summary</h2> <p>In all, it has been a bumpy ride. However, looking back at it, Core was still a good choice. Had we rolled our own solution with Yocto (which we explored), we would have run into another set of issues and we would be nowhere as secure as we are with Core.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/11/29/five-years-of-ubuntu-core/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/11/29/five-years-of-ubuntu-core/Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage is a powerful tool that can help golf courses improve the customer experience and increase revenue. In the post below, we detail ways that golf clubs can use digital signage on their courses. We also detail how golf club staff and management can deploy their own digital signs quickly and easily.</p> <h2 id="what-is-digital-signage">What is digital signage?</h2> <p>Digital signage refers to using electronic displays to show custom content. Digital signs include the actual TV screen that users look at, and they also have a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a> device and <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage management software</a> behind the scenes.</p> <p>A digital signage player is a small, physical device that renders content to the TV screen. A digital signage player renders a business’s custom content to the digital sign, much like a DVD player renders a movie to a household TV.</p> <p>Digital signage management software allows users to add content to their digital signs remotely. Typically, digital signage management software communicates with the digital signage player over an internet connection. Teams can use this software to schedule content, organize content into playlists, and keep track of screen playback statuses across the fleet.</p> <h2 id="how-can-golf-clubs-use-digital-signs">How can golf clubs use digital signs?</h2> <p>Check out the examples below to learn how you can make the most of digital signage at your golf club. Ways to use digital signs in golf clubs include:</p> <h2 id="displaying-real-time-information">Displaying real-time information</h2> <p>Digital signage can display real-time information about the course, such as the current weather conditions and the status of individual holes. This information can help golfers plan their rounds and decide which clubs to use. For example, if the greens are wet and slow, golfers may plan to use a higher-lofted club to compensate for the conditions.</p> <h2 id="promoting-upcoming-events-and-offers">Promoting upcoming events and offers</h2> <p>Digital signage can also be used to display promotional information, such as content on upcoming events, special offers, and new services at the golf club. Sharing this content can help the golf club increase attendance at events and increase sales at its stores and restaurants. For example, if the golf course hosts a charity tournament, the golf club can use digital signage to promote the event to club members.</p> <h2 id="displaying-course-rules-and-tee-times">Displaying course rules and tee times</h2> <p>Digital signage can display important information, such as course rules and regulations, emergency procedures, and other helpful tips for golfers. This information can help ensure that everyone on the course can enjoy their round safely. Additionally, golf club digital signage can display tee time schedules to help ensure that busy days run smoothly.</p> <h2 id="displaying-advertisements-from-sponsors">Displaying advertisements from sponsors</h2> <p>Golf courses can earn additional revenue by displaying advertisements on digital signs. These advertisements can be part of paid sponsorship packages for local businesses or larger national brands. With digital signage management software, golf courses can schedule and ensure screen time for each business’s advertisements.</p> <h2 id="create-a-sense-of-community-with-user-generated-content">Create a sense of community with user-generated content</h2> <p>Another exciting way for golf courses to use digital signs is to show user-generated content. This content can include photos and videos submitted by golfers, as well as messages and other content that showcases the golfers’ experiences and feelings about the course. By displaying this content on digital signs, golf courses can create a more personal and engaging experience for golfers, which can help to foster a sense of community and connection among members of the course.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-digital-signage-at-your-golf-club">Getting started with digital signage at your golf club</h2> <p>Getting started with digital signage is quick and easy. With Screenly, users can get started immediately with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. New users do not need to purchase and wait for a digital signage player - they can use Screenly’s demo virtual screens to get content up and running in minutes.</p> <p>Have questions about deploying digital signs at your golf club? Reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>. We are always happy to help and plan custom installations with new customers.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/11/25/digital-signage-golf-courses/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/11/25/digital-signage-golf-courses/Fri, 25 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>At Screenly, we have a long track record of adopting new technologies (where it makes sense). For instance, we were both early adopters of <a href="https://www.docker.com/">Docker</a> back in 2014 (we even later wrote a <a href="https://www.docker.com/blog/compiling-qt-with-docker-multi-stage-and-multi-platform/">guest post</a>), and then later <a href="https://kubernetes.io/">Kubernetes</a> back in 2016.</p> <p>Behind the scenes, we keep improving our software stack. In more recent time, we’ve adopted <a href="https://www.rust-lang.org/">Rust</a> for certain workloads on our digital signage players and <a href="https://postgrest.org/en/stable/">PostGREST</a> to power parts of our API (more about this in a later blog post).</p> <p>In today’s article we’ll discuss another piece of technology that we recently adopted, namely <a href="https://workers.cloudflare.com/">Cloudflare Worker</a>. For those not familiar with Cloudflare Workers, it’s a serverless framework that allows you to easily deploy simple services to Cloudflare’s edge workers. This does not only improve the performance to the end user, but in our case, radically reduces the cost of hosting the app.</p> <h2 id="background">Background</h2> <p>Some time ago, we created a set of sample apps for Screenly. These apps were intended to help our customers with some nice looking demo content for their screens when they first got started. However, we also open sourced these apps such that customers could modify them to their own needs if they so desire. We got a collection of apps like this in our <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/playground">Playground</a> on GitHub.</p> <p>Two of the most popular apps were our <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/clock-app">clock</a> and <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/weather-app">weather</a>. To give you a sense of how popular these are, the weather app alone generates about 360M requests per month to the backend (that serves and caches weather data). Prior to moving to Cloudflare Workers, we had a dedicated Kubernetes cluster just to serve this backend.</p> <h2 id="the-move-to-workers">The Move to Workers</h2> <p>During the summer, we decided that it was time to give both the clock app and weather app some overdue TLC. A new design was created, and we decided to take the opportunity to reassess the hosting of our apps. After exploring multiple options, we decided to move the backend to Cloudflare Workers.</p> <p>Rewriting the previous Python/Flask app into JavaScript/<a href="https://honojs.dev/">Hono</a> took a bit of effort, but the result was well worth it.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/weather-backend-on-cloudflare-worker_hu_727f707663a6eb4a.webp 480w, /images/blog/weather-backend-on-cloudflare-worker_hu_34a0a5e5c894239e.webp 768w, /images/blog/weather-backend-on-cloudflare-worker_hu_ababc267e5600256.webp 1024w, /images/blog/weather-backend-on-cloudflare-worker_hu_5ad79eca90ffec1b.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/weather-backend-on-cloudflare-worker_hu_bd916be733e3828a.webp 480w, /images/blog/weather-backend-on-cloudflare-worker_hu_faab588472c8cc58.webp 768w, /images/blog/weather-backend-on-cloudflare-worker_hu_7a44a6a7ab829f8e.webp 1024w, /images/blog/weather-backend-on-cloudflare-worker_hu_a26efbdca1654750.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/weather-backend-on-cloudflare-worker_hu_ababc267e5600256.webp" alt="Statistics of Cloudflare Workers for our Weather backend" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="691" > </picture> <p>Not only did migrating to Workers save us money, it also significantly reduced the operational overhead. We were able to sunset the old Kubernetes cluster, while still serving content to our customers at <em>lower latency</em>.</p> <p>One tricky part when running a workload like this on edge servers is caching. While Workers do support central caching through <a href="https://developers.cloudflare.com/workers/learning/how-kv-works/">Key Values</a>, when we thought about it, we realized that this wasn’t necessary in our case. Instead, we decided to just cache on the actual edge node. The reason for this is that if a screen requests the weather for say LA, it’s highly probable that they also <em>are</em> in LA and thus will be served by the closest datacenter from there. This meant that we could simplify our app a bit further.</p> <p>If you’re curious about how this all worked out, or want to modify our weather or clock apps to your own needs, the full source code is available on GitHub under the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/">Screenly</a> organization.</p> <p>As we keep building out more examples in our <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/playground">Playground</a>, Workers will likely be our new go-to when we write anything that requires a simple server-side component.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/10/25/app-store-on-workers/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/10/25/app-store-on-workers/Tue, 25 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>A digital signage controller, also known as a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>, is a physical device that renders digital signage content to a screen. Most digital signage solutions require a digital signage controller, and some solutions are compatible with multiple controller types. In the article below, we cover key considerations when purchasing a digital signage controller.</p> <h2 id="consider-digital-signage-controller-connectivity">Consider digital signage controller connectivity</h2> <p>Digital signage controllers must communicate with your <a href="/blog/2019/09/30/top-features-digital-signage-content-management-software/">digital signage content management system</a> and your screen. Most digital signage controllers communicate with content management systems over the internet, and this internet connection often comes via Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi connection. In some cases with remote digital signage, this internet connection comes via SIM cards and data plans. Users will need to consider the internet-connection capabilities of the controller and the internet setup at their place of business.</p> <p>For communicating with the screen itself, most digital signage controllers connect via HDMI cable. When purchasing a digital signage controller, be sure to consider the needed cables and cable-management accessories.</p> <h2 id="get-a-reliable-digital-signage-controller">Get a reliable digital signage controller</h2> <p>By their nature, digital signs are placed in high-traffic areas and are meant to be seen. This characteristic means that content is highly visible, and it also means that digital signage outages are highly visible, too. Having a non-functioning screen or screen that displays an error message is not a good look for a company to its customers.</p> <p>Be sure to consider reliability when selecting a digital signage controller. Reliability features with Screenly digital signage controllers include automatic software updates, heat sinks, and content caching. Content caching is important as even the most reliable internet connections will intermittently go out. With content caching, digital signage content is stored locally on the digital signage controller and can continue to play even when the device loses connection to the internet.</p> <p>Additionally, if a digital signage controller goes offline, Screenly users receive email notifications about the outage. Similarly, they can see a map of all their digital signage controller and if any are malfunctioning on the main dashboard map.</p> <h2 id="security-is-key-with-digital-signage-controllers">Security is key with digital signage controllers</h2> <p>Digital signage controllers are often left in public areas, next to the digital sign. This reality means that non-employee individuals can easily access and tamper with the device. Accordingly, to avoid devastating <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">digital signage hacks</a>, security is highly important when selecting a digital signage controller.</p> <p>To enhance device security, Screenly deploys software updates automatically. This work ensures that each device is protected from fixed vulnerabilities without the user needing to take action and update each device manually. Additionally, Screenly uses <a href="/blog/2022/06/18/digital-signage-mTLS-TPM-security/">mTLS with TPM</a> for even greater hardware security.</p> <h2 id="learn-more-about-screenly-digital-signage-controllers">Learn more about Screenly digital signage controllers</h2> <p>Screenly offers two digital signage controllers, the Screenly Player and the Screenly Player Max. The Screenly Player is built on open-source Raspberry Pi 4 hardware, and it is a great low-cost option for smaller digital signage deployments. The Screenly Player Max is a more powerful digital signage player, and we recommend it for large-scale commercial deployments. You can compare our two digital signage controllers at the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">link here</a>.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly">Getting started with Screenly</h2> <p>In addition to learning more about our digital signage controllers, you can also learn more about our digital signage content management system. You can get started now with our <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>. No credit card required.</p> <p>Need support? Our team is always ready to help. Feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a> with any questions.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/10/10/digital-signage-controller/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/10/10/digital-signage-controller/Mon, 10 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000<picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/digital-signage-demo_hu_6ac5a03e3078593e.webp 480w, /images/blog/digital-signage-demo_hu_73cd4f7dcfb75fa5.webp 768w, /images/blog/digital-signage-demo_hu_6b53f1ff42af4af5.webp 1024w, /images/blog/digital-signage-demo_hu_694224cbc2d8dce6.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/digital-signage-demo_hu_d4a88f2f0fd8e37a.webp 480w, /images/blog/digital-signage-demo_hu_eeaf451602456048.webp 768w, /images/blog/digital-signage-demo_hu_4a4ad56c6a319ddf.webp 1024w, /images/blog/digital-signage-demo_hu_bacd810f95bd8ceb.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/digital-signage-demo_hu_6b53f1ff42af4af5.webp" alt="The laptop of a prospective customer who is ready for a digital signage demo." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" > </picture> <p>When a company is looking for a digital signage solution, the first step is for a team member to schedule a digital signage demo. During the demo, teams can learn more about key features and see if a particular digital signage solution makes sense for their company. In the article below, we cover key questions and considerations that will help your team get the most out of a digital signage demo.</p> <h2 id="be-sure-to-consult-with-all-stakeholders-beforehand">Be sure to consult with all stakeholders beforehand</h2> <p>A company’s digital signage strategy always involves multiple teams. IT needs to set up and manage the digital signs, marketing teams need to develop a digital signage content strategy, and designers need to produce digital signage content. When teams use <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">digital sign data dashboards</a> to share KPIs, each sub-team at a company will have requirements and preferences for their digital signs.</p> <p>To get the most out of the digital signage demo, be sure to consult with each team that will be involved with the company’s digital signage rollout. Some teams may have specific feature requests, and others may have hard requirements, such as compatibility with mission-critical software and workflows. When an individual comes to a digital signage demo with a list of the above needs, they can more comprehensively evaluate the proposed digital signage solution.</p> <h2 id="understand-key-features-of-digital-signage-content-management">Understand key features of digital signage content management</h2> <p>At its core, <a href="/blog/2019/09/30/top-features-digital-signage-content-management-software/">digital signage content management software</a> helps users put their content on a screen. However, there are multiple ways to achieve that goal, and each digital signage solution has its own process and user interface. When individuals grasp how <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> works, they can assess a new digital signage solution more critically.</p> <p>To show content on a screen, digital signage solutions all have some variation of the following: content, playlists, and screens. With Screenly, users upload their digital signage content to our interface via the Screenly web app. This content can include images, videos, audio files, and website links, and content can even be fed into our system with the Screenly <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>.</p> <p>Next, users can arrange and schedule that content via playlists. When users have arranged and organized their content into playlists, they can assign playlists to a screen. With assigned and scheduled playlists, screens then play the desired content at the designated times.</p> <h2 id="ask-about-what-hardware-is-required">Ask about what hardware is required</h2> <p>To display content on a screen, each digital signage solution has some version of a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a physical device that renders content to your screen, much like a DVD player renders movie content to your home TV.</p> <p>Digital signage players come in various shapes, sizes, operating systems, and price points. Some digital signage players can be self-built with open-source hardware, such as our Raspberry Pi 4 Screenly Player. Some digital signage players are better suited for large-scale, commercial deployments, such as our Screenly Player Max. You can learn more about the Screenly Player and Screenly Player Max at the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">link here</a>. Be sure to cover the costs and features of needed digital signage player hardware during your digital signage demo.</p> <h2 id="consider-how-your-digital-signage-solution-will-scale">Consider how your digital signage solution will scale</h2> <p>During your digital signage demo, it’s important to consider if the solution will work for your company well into the future. How well will the digital signage solution scale? Will it be easy to manage a large fleet of digital signs with the proposed solution?</p> <p>For managing digital signage at scale, Screenly has several key features. First, our tagging feature allows users to manage multiple screens at once. This is much easier than making the same edits to each screen individually, especially when a deployment has dozens or even hundreds of screens. Screenly also makes it easy to update and trigger content automatically with the <a href="/api/">Screenly digital signage API</a>. For large teams, Screenly has multi-user permissions and team management functionality.</p> <h2 id="scheduling-a-digital-signage-demo">Scheduling a digital signage demo</h2> <p>Ready to learn more about Screenly and how digital signage can work for your company?</p> <p>You can schedule a demo with a Screenly team member at the <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">link here</a>. Before your demo, be sure to sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> to familiarize yourself with the Screenly interface.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/09/28/digital-signage-demo/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/09/28/digital-signage-demo/Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>It is now possible for users to upload and manage audio files with Screenly. This new capability means that users can now enjoy all the <a href="/blog/2019/08/08/digital-screens/">content management features</a> of Screenly with audio files, in addition to image, video, and website content. Check out our post below to learn more about this feature.</p> <h2 id="what-type-of-audio-files-does-screenly-support">What type of audio files does Screenly support?</h2> <p>Screenly supports MP3 files at 320kbps and FLAC (lossless) files. This support ensures that users can use both common audio file formats and achieve the sound quality they need for their installation. Crystal-clear audio management is possible with Screenly.</p> <h2 id="what-are-typical-use-cases-for-audio-files--screenly">What are typical use cases for audio files & Screenly?</h2> <p>Many businesses and organizations wish to manage audio playlists at their locations. Audio can help set the ambiance of the place of business and provide an important customer touchpoint with the business’s overall brand.</p> <p>For some local businesses, audio-management needs can be taken care of by having an individual connect an AUX cable to their phone and personal Spotify account. However, while that solution is simple and easy, it does not work at scale.</p> <p>Key capabilities that audio management with Screenly enables include:</p> <ul> <li>Allowing audio content playlists to be built and edited</li> <li>Allowing audio content playlists to be scheduled and play regularly at particular times of day and days of the week</li> <li>Allowing an off-site employee to manage audio for multiple locations</li> <li>Facilitating an audio-approval process where businesses have vetted each file that will play</li> <li>Managing different audio playlists for franchise locations or areas of a single location</li> </ul> <p>The above audio-management capabilities are often important for <a href="/blog/2019/06/21/hotel-digital-signage/">hotels</a>, <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">department stores</a>, and <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">corporate campuses</a>. For example, with hotels, teams can create and manage separate playlists for the hotel lobby, hallways, gym, and conference rooms, and team members can manage those playlists for multiple hotel locations.</p> <h2 id="how-do-users-manage-audio-files-with-screenly">How do users manage audio files with Screenly?</h2> <p>Audio files with Screenly work like normal digital signage content. Users can upload their audio files in the Content tab and then assign this content to a new or existing playlist. Users then assign their audio content to a “Screen” that will act as the speaker for that content.</p> <h2 id="what-is-coming-next-with-screenly-audio-management">What is coming next with Screenly audio management?</h2> <p>Right now, it is only possible to play one asset at a time. This configuration means that users cannot have a separate audio track overlaid on another digital signage image, video, or webpage content item. In future iterations, we plan to allow audio overlaying on top of other playlists and content.</p> <p>Also, audio files now have a Screenly-set default image. This image will display on the screen while the audio file plays. The next version of our audio-file support will allow users to set a custom image for each audio file. Typical use cases include displaying a company logo or generic content such as weather or time while the audio file plays.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-screenly">How to get started with Screenly</h2> <p>Getting started with Screenly is easy. New users can try out Screenly right now for free with our <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>). No credit-card is required.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/09/14/digital-signage-audio-management/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/09/14/digital-signage-audio-management/Wed, 14 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>Particularly with small companies, developers work on two types of features. One type is customer-facing features, and the other type is features for internal tools and systems. Features for internal tools and systems are necessary for keeping the company running smoothly and allowing the team to reach maximum productivity. With the Screenly <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>, developers can assist marketing and sales teams by streamlining several time-consuming data-entry processes.</p> <h2 id="what-is-the-screenly-digital-signage-api">What is the Screenly digital signage API?</h2> <p>Digital signage allows users to display the content that is important to their business when and where they need it. This content can include images, videos, webpages, and even audio content. Users can then organize this content into playlists and schedule it to run on screens throughout their organization. Additionally, users can change out and schedule content remotely with digital signage management software.</p> <p>While users can achieve most of what they need through Screenly’s easy-to-use interface, users can run into problems managing screens this way at scale. It is one thing to update content on ten screens once a week, but updating 100 screens multiple times daily is a different story.</p> <p>With the Screenly digital signage API, users can integrate their Screenly digital signage with their existing <a href="/use-cases/">tools and databases</a>. These integrations allow users to automatically add, schedule, and change content based on predetermined data thresholds and events.</p> <h2 id="allowing-marketing-and-sales-teams-to-focus-on-marketing-and-sales">Allowing marketing and sales teams to focus on marketing and sales</h2> <p>In some organizations, digital signage management becomes a significant burden. Many hours that could otherwise be put towards more productive, revenue-generating activities are put towards data entry and manually updating digital signage content.</p> <p>With the digital signage API, developers can help marketing and sales teams automate those tasks so that the teams can focus on what they do best.</p> <p>Common use cases for the Screenly digital signage API with marketing teams:</p> <ul> <li>Automating digital signage specials and promotions based on inventory levels</li> <li>Integrating with POS systems to display custom offers based on item popularity</li> <li>Displaying and updating campaign performance metrics in real-time and providing visual alerts to team members when they reach or miss goals</li> </ul> <p>Common use cases for the Screenly digital signage API with sales teams:</p> <ul> <li>Integrating with sales CRMs to display real-time pipeline data</li> <li>Alerting team members of quota targets and progress towards those goals</li> <li>Calendar alerts for upcoming sales meetings</li> </ul> <p>Instead of marketing and sales teams performing data-entry tasks and manually updating digital signs, developers can use the digital signage API to get that work done automatically.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly-and-the-digital-signage-api">Getting started with Screenly and the digital signage API</h2> <p>It’s free to get started with Screenly. Both technical and non-technical users can get started now with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>. No credit card is required. Non-technical users can get started with our easy-to-use interface and virtual demo screens, and developers can read more about our <a href="/api/">digital signage API here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/08/20/digital-signage-api-marketing-sales/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/08/20/digital-signage-api-marketing-sales/Sat, 20 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>Most digital signage companies provide a user interface for updating and changing content. However, while a user interface is excellent for non-technical users and customers with just a few screens, it is not ideal for developers who want to deploy custom solutions at scale.</p> <p>That is why we developed the Screenly <a href="/api">digital signage API</a>. With the Screenly digital signage API, developers can build custom solutions that fully integrate into their existing tools. Additionally, they can create solutions that can manage hundreds or even thousands of screens automatically. Check out some everyday use cases for our digital signage API below.</p> <h2 id="content-scheduling-with-a-digital-signage-api">Content scheduling with a digital signage API</h2> <p>Automated content scheduling is one of our digital signage API’s most common use cases. For example, restaurants can use our API to schedule breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. In addition to scheduling, restaurants can easily change the menu content depending on daily specials and inventory levels. Additionally, Screenly user <a href="/blog/2022/05/03/digital-sign-api-case-study-infoplay/">InfoPlay</a> uses content scheduling via the Screenly API to sync pre-departure and arrival content with the trip schedule of large ferry ships.</p> <h2 id="custom-triggers-using-our-api">Custom triggers using our API</h2> <p>Another use case for the digital signage API is displaying content based on custom triggers. For example, teams can display reminders and set times before calendar events and meetings. Relatedly, factories and warehouses can display custom content when their databases register inventory levels above or below certain preset thresholds.</p> <h2 id="content-updating-with-the-screenly-digital-signage-api">Content updating with the Screenly digital signage API</h2> <p>A common use case for the digital signage API is updating content quickly and at scale. For example, teams can use the digital signage API to display updated <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">data dashboards</a> at regular intervals. Also, <a href="/use-cases/bus-stop-digital-signage/">bus stop digital signage</a> and <a href="/use-cases/airport-digital-signage/">airport digital signage</a> can use the Screenly API to receive new content whenever there is a change to bus or plane times.</p> <h2 id="interactive-digital-signage-with-our-api">Interactive digital signage with our API</h2> <p>Some Screenly customers use the Screenly API to update screen content based on user interactions. For example, Screenly user <a href="/blog/2018/10/17/vending-machine-digital-signage-apis/">SMRT1 Technologies</a> uses Screenly to update content on vending machine screens. When the customer makes a selection, new content shows based on what the customer bought. Similarly, users with retail digital signs can use the Screenly API to update content on screens next to the checkout counter with special offers related to individual customer purchases.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly">Getting started with Screenly</h2> <p>Screenly makes it easier than ever for users to show their content on a digital sign. With the Screenly digital signage API, users can create custom digital signage solutions that integrate with their existing tools and tech stack.</p> <p>You can get started with Screenly right now for free. Just sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>. No credit card required.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/07/21/digital-signage-api-use-cases/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/07/21/digital-signage-api-use-cases/Thu, 21 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>Our development team is currently in the process of switching to Django. Read more below on our experience, learnings, and what’s next for the dev team at Screenly.</p> <h2 id="what-is-the-background-behind-the-django-switch">What is the background behind the Django switch?</h2> <p>Currently, most of Screenly’s code base is written on a self-written framework. This framework primarily sits on top of <a href="https://bottlepy.org/docs/dev/">Bottle</a>.</p> <p>The major problem with self-written code is, well… you have to write it. In addition to writing the code from scratch, you need to maintain it, and this work can unnecessarily eat into your team’s ability to ship new features.</p> <h2 id="what-is-our-goal-with-the-django-switch">What is our goal with the Django switch?</h2> <p>With <a href="https://www.djangoproject.com/">Django</a> and the <a href="https://www.django-rest-framework.org/">Django Rest Framework</a>, our goal is for Screenly to move to a mature framework. These frameworks have large communities that maintain the code and regularly <a href="/secure-digital-signage/">push security updates</a>. Additionally, Django and Django Rest are easy to extend, if needed.</p> <p>With a mature framework, our team can move faster. This capacity means we can release more features, make more security improvements, and respond more quickly to our customers’ needs.</p> <h2 id="challenges-we-have-encountered-when-switching-to-django">Challenges we have encountered when switching to Django</h2> <p>The primary challenge of switching core frameworks is that it is extremely time-consuming. While we are confident that the benefits of Django will lead to a positive ROI in the future, we will only see those benefits after committing many hours to the switch.</p> <p>Screenly has not made a complete migration to Django, as our development team still needs to release new features and cannot commit 100% of all sprints to the migration. However, at the moment, all new code we write is with Django.</p> <p>As far as challenges with the framework itself, we have not experienced any. We can quickly achieve what we need, and there have not been any surprises. Additionally, anytime we have questions, it is easy to find a discussion on the topic online.</p> <h2 id="what-is-next-with-screenly-and-django">What is next with Screenly and Django?</h2> <p>We hope to complete our transition to Django in the next several months. At the moment, we are about halfway through our migration, and once we complete the migration, we will stay with Django as long as it fits our needs. Considering the time involved in switching frameworks, there would have to be a very unique and compelling reason to make a switch to another framework in the future.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly">Getting started with Screenly</h2> <p>With Screenly, developers can create custom digital signage solutions that integrate with their existing tools and processes. By using our <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>, developers can focus on the tasks and integrations that are unique to their business, and they can offload the technical details of <a href="/blog/2021/02/03/device-management/">digital signage management</a> to us.</p> <p>You can see inside Screenly and get started now with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day trial</a>. No credit card required.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/07/11/switching-to-django/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/07/11/switching-to-django/Mon, 11 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>We often see that security is an afterthought in the digital signage industry. At Screenly, security is front-and-center of everything we do. Learn more about our recent work on <a href="/secure-digital-signage/">digital signage security</a> and how we use mTLS with TPM to make our customers’ digital signs more secure than ever.</p> <h2 id="why-hardware-security-is-important-for-digital-signs">Why hardware security is important for digital signs</h2> <p>Digital signs are highly visible and out in public. These two features of digital signs present unique security concerns. Hardware is often physically exposed, and employees cannot monitor each digital sign around the clock.</p> <p>Because digital signs are visible to the public, hackers can easily advertise successful hacking attempts. In some <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">digital signage hacks</a>, hackers display inappropriate images or even ransom notices. For the company that owns the digital sign, these hacks can cause significant reputational harm and damage to the company’s brand.</p> <p>Additionally, hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in digital signs as a gateway into a company’s protected network. Using a weakly protected player as a springboard, they might go from there to access company databases. These databases may include user registration data, health data, and other personal identifiable information (PII). Data leaks often lead to a breakdown in company-customer trust, and, in some cases, data leaks can lead to expensive fines.</p> <h2 id="so-what-are-mtls-and-tpm">So, what are mTLS and TPM?</h2> <p>Mutual TLS, <a href="https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/access-management/what-is-mutual-tls/">mTLS</a>, is a mutual authentication protocol that is common in zero-trust security frameworks. mTLS uses private keys to ensure that users are who they say they are.</p> <p>TPM stands for “trusted platform module” and is a dedicated hardware chip that can generate private and public keys. These keys can then be used with the mLTS protocol. The TPM chip protects the keys with an additional level of hardware-based, extra hardened security. Barring a flaw in the TPM chip, it’s not possible for hackers or anyone else to extract the keys. Since the keys are only stored on the TPM they become intrinsically associated with the device.</p> <p>In short, the TPM provides a verifiable, secure digital identity that can’t be cloned or copied.</p> <h2 id="setting-up-mtls--tpm">Setting up mTLS & TPM</h2> <p>While mTLS is a commonly used protocol and easy to implement, getting started with TPM is a bit more involved. Common HTTP frameworks and libraries do not know how to work with TPM out of the box, and there is no explicit solution on developer forums online.</p> <p>For the client-side, our development team used the tpm2ss engine and wrote our own HTTP adapter. For mTLS itself, we use Google Certificate Authority to implement it.</p> <p>To generate the tss key, we use the following command:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>$ tpm2tss-genkey <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> -a ecdsa <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> key.tss </span></span></code></pre></div><p>We generate the CSR when we register the screen using the following code. Please note that we omitted <code>-subj</code> as it contains our internal data.</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>$ openssl req <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> -engine tpm2tss <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> -new <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> -key key.tss <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> -keyform engine <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> -out client.csr </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Successful registration will return an issued certificate to the client (Google Certificate Authority service is an issuer). Lastly, below is how to use the certificate with cURL:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>$ curl <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> --engine tpm2tss <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> --key-type ENG <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> --cert our_issued_certificate.crt <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> --key key.tss <span style="color:#ed9d13">\ </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"></span> -v https://api.screenlyapp.com/api/v2/screens/playlist </span></span></code></pre></div><h2 id="which-screenly-digital-signage-players-use-mtls-and-tpm">Which Screenly digital signage players use mTLS and TPM?</h2> <p>Right now, we only use TPM for our Screenly Player Max digital signage player, which is built on x86 architecture. Accordingly, our Screenly Player Max is our most secure digital signage player, and we recommend the Screenly Player Max for most corporate deployments.</p> <p>The standard <a href="/blog/2019/06/18/raspberry-pi-digital-signage-player/">Raspberry Pi-based Screenly Player</a> does not use TPM. Using TPM with Raspberry Pi devices is possible, and our development team may work on this in future sprints.</p> <h2 id="advice-to-developers-that-want-to-use-mtls-and-tpm">Advice to developers that want to use mTLS and TPM</h2> <p>After our work with mTLS and TPM, we have some general words of advice to fellow developers. First, thoroughly test the entire scheme you plan to implement before rolling it out to devices. Another hour of testing can save you a dozen hours of reviewing mistakes post-implementation.</p> <p>Secondly, ensure that your library and tools can work with mTLS and TPM. Otherwise, you may need to create many components from scratch.</p> <h2 id="interested-in-getting-started-with-screenly">Interested in getting started with Screenly?</h2> <p>Screenly provides developer-friendly digital signage software and hardware. With Screenly, you can display the content you want on your screens with our user-friendly interface, and you can develop custom solutions with our <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>.</p> <p>Get started today for free with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day trial</a>. No credit card required.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/06/18/digital-signage-mtls-tpm-security/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/06/18/digital-signage-mtls-tpm-security/Sat, 18 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>Screenly Open Source Edition is an excellent way for developers to get started with digital signage quickly and easily. However, it is not a great solution for large-scale digital signage deployments. In this post, we highlight when it makes sense for developers to switch from <a href="/ose/">open-source digital signage</a> to a <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">paid digital signage solution</a>.</p> <h2 id="when-is-screenly-ose-a-good-choice-for-developers">When is Screenly OSE a good choice for developers?</h2> <p>Screenly OSE is a great choice when developers want to get started with digital signage quickly and easily. <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a> is free, and users can run it on open-source Raspberry Pi hardware.</p> <p>In many situations, a developer needs to show a demo to other stakeholders in their company before the company commits to rolling out dozens or hundreds of digital signs. Screenly OSE allows developers to run this demo same-day. With Screenly OSE, developers can show their team custom content on a digital sign - this content may include images, videos, or web page visualizations. Developers can also demonstrate content scheduling capabilities and schedule content to run at certain times, such as with lunch menus changing to dinner menus at a specific time.</p> <h2 id="when-do-developer-teams-outgrow-screenly-ose-and-need-to-move-to-a-paid-digital-signage-solution">When do developer teams outgrow Screenly OSE and need to move to a paid digital signage solution?</h2> <p>With Screenly OSE, teams can only manage one digital sign at a time with each Screenly OSE instance. When teams roll out their digital signage deployment and manage many screens, Screenly OSE becomes inefficient.</p> <p>With the paid version of Screenly, developers can manage multiple digital signs more easily. Developers can see all their screens on a single dashboard and quickly catch any screens that need troubleshooting.</p> <p>With the paid edition of Screenly, users can also create screen groups with our tagging feature. If a user wants to update all screens at a single business location, the user can tag those screens with the same tag (for example, tag “Location A”). The user can then add content to all screens with a single tag in one click.</p> <p>Other limitations of Screenly OSE that users can solve by upgrading to the paid version of Screenly include:</p> <ul> <li>The paid version allows cloud storage. With Screenly OSE, teams need to host all content locally.</li> <li>The paid version includes automatic video encoding. With Screenly OSE, teams need to encode each video manually.</li> <li>The paid version includes screen status alerts and a PagerDuty integration. With Screenly OSE, teams need to manage each screen’s status manually.</li> <li>The paid version supports 4K content. With Screenly OSE, teams can only display content in 1080p Full HD resolution.</li> <li>The paid version allows multi-user accounts with user permission controls and SAML authentication. Screenly OSE does not offer those features.</li> </ul> <p>Learn more about the differences between Screenly OSE and the paid version of Screenly at the <a href="/screenly-ose-vs-pro/">link here</a>.</p> <h2 id="automating-digital-signage-with-the-screenly-api">Automating digital signage with the Screenly API</h2> <p>For developers, the most important reason for upgrading from Screenly OSE to Screenly’s paid version is accessing the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>. The Screenly API is only available for the paid version of Screenly, and it allows users to control their digital signs programmatically, all outside of the Screenly web app.</p> <p>The Screenly API is most useful when developers are deploying digital signs with regularly changing content or content schedules. Instead of having to update this content and content schedules manually, developers can use the Screenly API to have these changes happen automatically.</p> <p>To learn more about how customers use the Screenly API, check out our <a href="/blog/2022/05/03/digital-sign-api-case-study-infoplay/">case study on InfoPlay</a>, a company that uses the Screenly API to run digital signs on a fleet of massive cruise ships. You can learn more about the Screenly API <a href="/api/">here</a> and see the full Screenly API documentation <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/api">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-digital-signage-for-developers">Get started with digital signage for developers</h2> <p>Developers who are ready to jump into digital signage can get started today. To get started with Screenly OSE, check out our page on <a href="/ose/">open-source digital signage</a>. To see inside the paid version of Screenly, you can get started now with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>. No credit card required.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/05/26/developers-switch-open-source-signage-paid/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/05/26/developers-switch-open-source-signage-paid/Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>Businesses can display custom content to their customers and employees with digital signs. For many businesses, a drag and drop interface is ideal for <a href="/blog/2019/09/30/top-features-digital-signage-content-management-software/">digital signage content management</a>. However, other businesses with IT and developer resources may want to build a more custom solution. In this post, we provide an overview of resources that IT and development teams can use for deploying digital signage.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly-open-source-edition-ose">Get started with Screenly Open Source Edition (OSE)</h2> <p>Users who are comfortable working with open source code can use <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a> to launch their first digital signs. Screenly OSE was Screenly’s first digital signage product, and it is now the most starred digital signage product on GitHub.</p> <p>With Screenly OSE, users can get a digital sign up and running on their own Raspberry Pi hardware for free. Users can display images, video, and web page content and schedule when that content displays on a screen.</p> <p>To use Screenly OSE successfully, users must be comfortable working with Linux and GitHub. Additionally, Screenly OSE only allows users to manage one digital sign at a time.</p> <p>You can learn more about the differences between Screenly OSE and the paid version of Screenly <a href="/screenly-ose-vs-pro/">here</a>. You can find Screenly OSE on <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose">GitHub</a>.</p> <h2 id="open-source-digital-signage-forum">Open-source digital signage forum</h2> <p>Screenly OSE has an active forum where community members help each other with questions. While Screenly does not offer direct support for Screenly OSE, you will likely be able to find or source a solution for any issues from the Screenly OSE community.</p> <p>To check out the Screenly OSE forum, <a href="https://forums.screenly.io/">click here</a>.</p> <h2 id="screenly-api-and-digital-signage-api-documentation">Screenly API and digital signage API documentation</h2> <p>When IT and software development teams want to build a custom digital signage solution, they need a <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>. With a digital signage API, developers can focus on integrating digital signs with their software and build on top of an existing digital signage management solution.</p> <p>With the Screenly API, users can automatically add, remove, and schedule content on one or many digital signs. This content can include images, videos, and web pages, such as live data dashboards and business intelligence visualizations.</p> <p>To learn more about the Screenly API and get started, <a href="/api/">click here</a>. The Screenly API has full documentation. You can see the full Screenly API documentation <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/api">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-website-automation-playground-on-github">Digital signage website automation playground on GitHub</h2> <p>A key feature of Screenly digital signage is that developers can customize web content on their digital signs through Javascript injection. This feature allows users to display content that is behind authentication walls and remove pesky popups from the screen. The <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/playground">Screenly Playground</a> on GitHub provides pre-built code examples for using website automation with popular tools.</p> <h2 id="developer-friendly-digital-signage-support">Developer-friendly digital signage support</h2> <p>Screenly provides digital signage tools for developers, and accordingly, we offer developer-friendly digital signage support. If you are having trouble with a custom digital signage solution that you are building on top of Screenly, we are here to help. Complicated code is not going to scare our support team! You can reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a> anytime.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-developer-friendly-digital-signage-today">Get started with developer-friendly digital signage today</h2> <p>It has never been easier for developers to get started with digital signage. To get started today, check out <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a> or the <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/api">Screenly API documentation</a>. You can also register for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial</a> of Screenly’s paid version and see inside - no credit card required.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/05/15/developer-digital-signage-resources/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/05/15/developer-digital-signage-resources/Sun, 15 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>InfoPlay manages the screens for a large ferry company in Sweden, and Screenly’s <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a> is at the center of InfoPlay’s workflows. In this case study, we detail InfoPlay’s current operations and how they use Screenly’s API to service their customers.</p> <h2 id="what-is-infoplays-history-with-digital-signage">What is InfoPlay’s history with digital signage?</h2> <p>InfoPlay started working with digital signage as early as 2014. They realized that many companies needed to present content on digital signs and that few companies had the time or technology infrastructure for proper content management.</p> <p>InfoPlay first attempted to create its own <a href="/blog/2021/08/16/choosing-digital-signage-platform/">digital signage content management system</a> on the Raspberry Pi. While this solution had initial success, they turned to Screenly’s existing <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>. This business decision allowed them to focus more on developing custom solutions for their customers while Screenly’s infrastructure and software handled core functionality.</p> <p>Also, since Screenly’s system was compatible with the Raspberry Pi, InfoPlay did not need to buy new hardware. They simply reflashed and repurposed the Raspberry Pi devices they purchased for their in-house digital signage solution.</p> <h2 id="how-has-infoplay-grown-with-screenly">How has InfoPlay grown with Screenly?</h2> <p>InfoPlay now has hundreds of screens and uses the Screenly API to manage those screens. The Screenly API allows InfoPlay to set up and manage complex scheduling and content changes quickly.</p> <p>InfoPlay’s main client, a large ferry company in Sweden, has dozens of screens on multiple ships. Challenges with this use case include matching screen content with changing arrival and departure times and managing numerous content playlists for different areas of each ship.</p> <p>For example, the ferrys’ 14 restaurants have different menu content for different times of the day and days of the week. There is also unique content for customer cabins, including safety videos that need to display at specific time intervals. Building rules for these screens and scenarios would be impossible to do reliably and at scale on a consumer-level user interface. With Screenly’s digital signage API, this work is both easy and efficient.</p> <h2 id="what-is-the-core-value-that-infoplay-provides-to-customers-how-does-screenly-enable-this-core-value">What is the core value that InfoPlay provides to customers? How does Screenly enable this core value?</h2> <p>InfoPlay’s ferry client originally came to InfoPlay because it wanted to offload responsibility for digital signage. The ferry company tried a few DIY signage solutions, but none could deliver the reliability, flexibility, or quality that they were seeking.</p> <p>InfoPlay offered a full-service package where they would both produce content designs for the ferry company and take care of all technical details and management responsibilities for the ferry’s digital signs.</p> <p>InfoPlay knew they needed a robust API to deliver on the project requirements. That’s why InfoPlay partnered with Screenly. With Screenly’s digital signage API, InfoPlay could plug into existing systems, add content, and schedule that content at the right time and on the right screens at scale.</p> <h2 id="why-does-infoplay-use-the-raspberry-pi">Why does InfoPlay use the Raspberry Pi?</h2> <p>The main reason that InfoPlay uses the Raspberry Pi for their digital signage deployments is the <a href="/blog/2021/05/21/digital-signage-price/">price level of Raspberry Pi-based players</a>. There is a significant price difference between the Raspberry Pi and the cheapest computer system, and this price difference is amplified when there are dozens or hundreds of screens.</p> <p>However, in the future, InfoPlay may upgrade its fleet of digital signage players to more powerful devices like the Screenly Player Max. More robust players, while more expensive, do have their advantages. In particular, InfoPlay’s digital signage deployment on ferries is subject to regular dips in electricity and internet connectivity. Having players that have stronger wireless capabilities and can more reliably deal with repeated restarts will help address those challenges.</p> <h2 id="what-is-the-future-of-infoplays-digital-signage-offerings">What is the future of InfoPlay’s digital signage offerings?</h2> <p>Right now, InfoPlay is looking to develop a custom digital signage “channel” feature. For the ferry company in Sweden, InfoPlay wants to develop this channel feature so that viewers can switch between entertaining video content and journey progress updates with ease. With multiple channels, viewers will be able to access different content on their own and change back to previous content when needed.</p> <p>In the coming months, InfoPlay will use its experience with Screenly’s digital signage API to develop custom signage solutions and management packages for other large companies. One use case that is top-of-mind is producing custom <a href="/use-cases/lobby/">digital signage for hotels</a> and conference centers, where clients can display ads and welcome material for visiting companies.</p> <p>Now that InfoPlay has built its system on Screenly’s digital signage API, the company can quickly expand its solution to other use cases. Right now, branching out into other industries just means plugging in new data sources into their existing stack.</p> <h2 id="what-does-infoplay-have-to-say-to-other-companies-considering-digital-signage">What does InfoPlay have to say to other companies considering digital signage?</h2> <p>InfoPlay’s co-founder, Andreas Sallmunds, emphasizes the utility of Screenly’s digital signage API when managing digital signs at scale. For companies looking to get into digital signage, Andreas states, “If they have the data, it is easy to control the screens with that data.”</p> <p>Looking toward the future, Andreas asserts that, “If we find new customers now, we will use Screenly. For our system, we need Screenly.”</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenlys-digital-signage-api">Get started with Screenly’s digital signage API</h2> <p>The Screenly API is a <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/api">fully documented digital signage API</a>, and users can complete all interface actions via API. These actions include adding and removing content, building content playlists, and scheduling content. To learn more about Screenly’s digital signage API, <a href="/api/">click here</a>).</p> <p>If you have any questions on Screenly digital signage solution, please do not hesitate to reach out. To contact Screenly Support, <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">click here</a>.</p> <p>If you do not have a developer and you are interested in contacting InfoPlay for custom digital signage work via Screenly API, reach out to <a href="mailto:andreas@infoplay.se">Andreas Sallmunds</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/05/03/digital-sign-api-case-study-infoplay/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/05/03/digital-sign-api-case-study-infoplay/Tue, 03 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>On first pass, displaying website content on a digital sign is easy. Simply load the web page and display the content, right? It sounds simple enough, but anyone who has worked with digital signs can tell you that it can become very complicated very quickly.</p> <p>When a website requires users to get past login and authentication walls, post-login click paths, and cookie-consent popups, getting past these steps poses a challenge to displaying the content you want. In the article below, we cover our new website automation feature. This feature allows users to use JavaScript to automatically log in and navigate to their desired content on any webpage.</p> <h2 id="how-to-use-website-automation-with-javascript-injection">How to use website automation with JavaScript injection</h2> <p>To use our website automation feature, the first step is to have a web asset. A web asset is a URL for any web page you want to display on your digital sign. It’s possible to add a web asset manually via the Screenly user interface, and it’s also possible to add a web asset to your account via our digital signage API.</p> <p>After you create your web asset, Screenly will assign an Asset ID. You can find the Asset ID at the end of the added URL in the user interface or in the response from the API call.</p> <p>You can then apply the JavaScript code using a PATCH request with your Asset ID. Please see the example Python snippet below:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-python" data-lang="python"><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">import</span> <span style="color:#447fcf;text-decoration:underline">requests</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>headers = { </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Authorization"</span>: <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Token <TOKEN>"</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Content-Type"</span>: <span style="color:#ed9d13">"application/json"</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>} </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>asset_id = <span style="color:#ed9d13">"<ASSET_ID>"</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>js_code = <span style="color:#ed9d13">""" </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13"><YOUR_JS_CODE> </span></span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ed9d13">"""</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>response = requests.patch( </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> url=<span style="color:#ed9d13">f</span><span style="color:#ed9d13">'https://api.screenlyapp.com/api/v3/assets/</span><span style="color:#ed9d13">{</span>asset_id<span style="color:#ed9d13">}</span><span style="color:#ed9d13">/'</span>, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> json={<span style="color:#ed9d13">'js_injection'</span>: js_code}, </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> headers=headers </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>) </span></span></code></pre></div><p>There are a few things to keep in mind when writing your script. First, ensure that the script is idempotent, as it can run multiple times.</p> <p>Second, your script should execute with an interval or wait for a specific element to appear on the page. This point is to ensure that your web asset is sufficiently loaded before the script runs.</p> <p>Third, please note that Screenly digital signage players maintain cookies until there is a playlist change or device reboot.</p> <p>Lastly, if your page includes a redirect, please note that your script will execute on each page.</p> <h2 id="use-cases-for-our-website-automation-feature">Use cases for our website automation feature</h2> <p>Below, we go into popular use cases for our website automation feature in more detail.</p> <h2 id="scroll-to-the-part-of-a-webpage-you-are-interested-in">Scroll to the part of a webpage you are interested in</h2> <p>One of the most common use cases for our website automation feature is scrolling to a particular part of a web page. For example, imagine you have a sales data chart that only displays on the bottom half of a report web page. In this case, you will need to scroll down to that section to only show the chart you are interested in. You can use the Screenly website automation and the <em>window.scrollBy()</em> function to automatically navigate to the content you want to show.</p> <h2 id="sign-in-to-screenly-and-display-your-screen-map">Sign in to Screenly and display your screen map</h2> <p>The Screenly dashboard has a helpful map that displays the location of the user’s screens and the status of those screens. Being able to see this dashboard on a digital sign can be helpful to IT teams that want to know the status of their digital signage fleet at a glance.</p> <p>You can use our website automation to sign in to Screenly via cookies with your digital signage player. Signing in via cookies will allow you to display content on your digital sign that authentication would otherwise block.</p> <p>To do this, the first step is to sign in to your Screenly account. Next, retrieve the beaker.session.id from your browser.</p> <p>Once you have your beaker.session.id, download the <em>screenly-signin-via-cookies.js</em> script linked here and modify it with your <em>beaker.session.id</em>. Next, PATCH the asset.</p> <h2 id="sign-in-to-tableau-via-cookies-and-display-your-data">Sign in to Tableau via cookies and display your data</h2> <p>Tableau is one of the most popular business intelligence and data visualization tools on the market. With Screenly website automation, you can display Tableau dashboards on your digital signs.</p> <p>To display authentication-protected dashboards on your digital signs, the first step is to sign in to your Tableau account. The next step is to extract the cookie SESS[…] from your browser. Then, download the <em>tableau-via-cookies.js</em> file and modify it with your cookies. Lastly, PATCH the asset.</p> <h2 id="sign-in-to-power-bi-via-cookies-or-credentials">Sign in to Power BI via cookies or credentials</h2> <p>You can also display authentication-protected web pages from Microsoft’s Power BI on your digital signs.</p> <p>To sign in to Power BI via cookies, log in to your Power BI account. Next, extract the following cookies from your browser:</p> <ul> <li><em>.AspNet.CookiesC1</em></li> <li><em>.AspNet.CookiesC2</em></li> <li><em>.AspNet.Cookies</em></li> </ul> <p>Next, download <em>powerbi-signin-via-cookies.js</em>, and modify the script with your cookies. To finish, PATCH the asset.</p> <p>You can also sign in to Power BI on your digital signs via credentials. To do so, download the <em>powerbi-signin-via-credentials.js</em> script and modify it with your credentials. Lastly, PATCH the asset.</p> <h2 id="close-cookie-consent-popups-engadget-example">Close cookie-consent popups, Engadget example</h2> <p>Another important use case for Screenly website automation is closing popup windows. Popup windows can take away from your web page content, and with website automation, you can close them automatically.</p> <p>To close the cookie-consent popup with Engadget, download the <em>engadget-cookies-consent-closing.js</em> file linked here. Next, PATCH the asset.</p> <p>You modify the above example to close popup windows on any website.</p> <h2 id="website-automation-is-part-of-the-screenly-developer-playground">Website automation is part of the Screenly Developer Playground</h2> <p>We hope you found the above use cases and examples for Screenly website automation useful. Our goal is to make displaying your most important content as easy as possible - no log-in screen, click path, or popup window should get in the way!</p> <p>This feature is part of the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/playground">Screenly Developer Playground</a>, where you can find a variety of projects and code samples that can give your digital signs superpowers. We’ll continue adding to the Screenly Developer Playground each month and adding developer-friendly features, so stay on the lookout! We also have a fully-documented <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>, be sure to check it out.</p> <p>If you have any trouble with our website automation feature or getting your screens up and running, don’t hesitate to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/04/25/screenly-developer-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/04/25/screenly-developer-digital-signage/Mon, 25 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000<p>Many businesses are now transitioning from print-based signs to modern digital signs. Businesses are looking for new ways to hold each customer’s attention and more easily change out promotional content, and digital signs are a great tool to achieve that goal. The post below covers important points that businesses must consider when choosing their digital signage platforms.</p> <h2 id="key-features-of-digital-signage-software">Key features of digital signage software</h2> <p>When businesses launch a <a href="/blog/2018/10/04/diy-digital-signage/">DIY digital sign</a>, they quickly run into difficulties with content management. Often, changing out content on a DIY digital sign involves visiting each sign in person and manually <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">changing out content with a USB drive</a> and keyboard. This process can quickly become unmanageable at scale. With digital signage software, users can log in to an online account and change content from anywhere via a web browser.</p> <p>When choosing a digital signage platform, businesses must review the platform’s digital signage software features thoroughly. Typically, <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> has a range of features that allow users to organize and deploy content at scale.</p> <h2 id="playlist-building">Playlist-building</h2> <p>One of the most important digital signage software features is playlist building. With a playlist, users can arrange the order of their content and save this ordered content for reuse. Instead of uploading individual content items to each screen, users can simply assign a playlist to a screen and repeat this process with ease.</p> <h2 id="content-scheduling">Content scheduling</h2> <p>A second important feature is content scheduling. With content scheduling, users can select the time and date that their content plays. Users can also set up playlists to repeat on regular schedules, like showing breakfast menus during breakfast hours and lunch menus during lunch hours on restaurant menu boards. With content scheduling, users can take care of their digital signage content needs for the entire month in a single sitting.</p> <h2 id="screen-grouping">Screen grouping</h2> <p>A third feature to look for when choosing a digital signage platform is screen grouping. Some signage software solutions allow users to create a group of similar screens, such as all the screens in a particular city. Users can then manage the content on all of those screens at once. Instead of assigning the relevant playlist to each screen one-by-one, users can assign the playlist to all relevant screens at once.</p> <h2 id="selecting-hardware-for-your-digital-signage-platform">Selecting hardware for your digital signage platform</h2> <p>In addition to selecting digital signage software, users will also have to choose a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a> and display screen. A digital signage player is a small, physical device that renders content from the user’s digital signage software to the user’s screen.</p> <p>One of the main considerations when choosing a digital signage media player is the type of content it can support. Modern digital signage players can display images, videos, and even web page content. Web page content enables digital signs to display regularly changing content, such as weather forecasts and traffic updates. Most digital signage players support content in 1080p HD resolution. A few media players support 4K content. However, <a href="/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/">4K content is expensive</a> to purchase and produce, and it is often an unnecessary expense for most businesses.</p> <p>A second key consideration for digital signage players is stability. A digital signage platform can have every feature in the world, but if a screen is not working, all those features are useless. Modern digital signage players and associated hardware often have uptime monitoring features, including alerts for when a player is experiencing issues. These alerts allow IT teams and businesses to be proactive and ensure maximum screen uptime.</p> <p>Last but not least, it is essential to consider <a href="/blog/2021/05/21/digital-signage-price/">media player cost</a>. Ideally, businesses can select a device that meets its requirements and does not have a collection of unnecessary features or processing power. Often, businesses use what are essentially full computers for digital signage players. When digital signage deployments scale, these hardware costs can quickly get out of hand. Most companies can cover their needs with a media player that costs around $150.</p> <h2 id="start-testing-a-digital-signage-platform-sooner-than-later">Start testing a digital signage platform sooner than later</h2> <p>The best way to learn more about a digital signage platform is to open it up and see what is inside. Screenly is a powerful digital signage platform with an integrated cloud-based software solution and digital signage player. To learn more about our digital signage platform and remote management features, <a href="/digital-signage-players/">sign up here</a>. To sign up for a free 14-day trial account, click <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">here</a> for a free 14-day trial.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/08/16/choosing-digital-signage-platform/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/08/16/choosing-digital-signage-platform/Mon, 16 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signs displays are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to printed signs. Businesses can more easily test and change out content on digital sign displays, and this capability often leads to businesses saving money on their advertising and marketing costs in the long term.</p> <p>In the post below, we cover the main steps for setting up a digital sign display and the components involved. We also cover how teams can easily manage digital signs displays with digital signage management software. Read below to learn more.</p> <h2 id="the-hardware-required-for-digital-sign-displays">The hardware required for digital sign displays</h2> <p>The first required hardware item is, of course, the digital display itself. The digital display can be any screen or monitor that can display images in 1080p Full HD resolution. Most businesses can get by using an existing TV screen or purchasing a TV screen at their local electronics store for around $200 US.</p> <p>Some businesses may opt for a commercial-grade display. Commercial digital signage displays often have high brightness capabilities, <a href="/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/">4K UHD picture quality</a>, and additional features, like a higher refresh rate. Commercial-grade screens typically cost thousands rather than hundreds of dollars, and they are generally unnecessary for most businesses’ needs.</p> <p>The second required hardware item is a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a palm-sized, physical device that renders content to the digital sign display. The media player sources content from the user’s content management system and then displays that content to the user’s screen. Digital signage players connect to the screen via HDMI cable and connect to the internet via ethernet cable, Wi-Fi, or mobile data network.</p> <p>When purchasing a digital signage player, important topics include the media player’s upfront costs, stability, power draw, and electronic waste footprint. Raspberry Pi players are typically a cost-effective media player solution.</p> <p>The screen itself and the digital signage player are the two main hardware components of a digital sign display. For more complicated deployments, such as <a href="/apps/raspberry-pi-video-wall/">multi-screen video walls</a> for wide viewing angles or coordinated screen images, users may need to purchase additional hardware, such as a video wall controller.</p> <h2 id="software-for-managing-digital-sign-displays">Software for managing digital sign displays</h2> <p>In the past, managing digital sign displays was often time-consuming and challenging. To change out content, users would have to visit the sign in person and upload content via a USB drive and wire-connected keyboard. While this was only a minor inconvenience, this process made managing digital sign displays at scale impossible.</p> <p>To solve this content management problem, signage solutions began adding <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage management software</a> to their offerings. With digital signage management software, users can log in to an online account and change content from anywhere with an internet connection. Instead of visiting each screen in person, users can manage the content on dozens or even hundreds of screens from their office or home.</p> <p>In addition to allowing users to upload and change out content from anywhere, digital signage software often has a variety of content organization features. Users can often organize their content into playlists and schedule the time and date that each playlist will play. Some solutions allow users to group screens and manage the content on multiple screens at once. For example, if a user wanted to change all the content on each of the six screens on a company floor, the user could change the content on all screens in the “Floor 1” group at once.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-your-first-digital-display">Getting started with your first digital display</h2> <p>Getting started with your first digital display is easy. Screenly offers a comprehensive digital display solution with integrated hardware and software. For hardware, the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a> is a stable and powerful digital signage player. Users can display images, video content, and even web pages with the Screenly Player.</p> <p>Screenly’s digital signage software provides users with advanced playlist-building, content-scheduling, and screen-grouping features. Screenly also provides real-time media player health monitoring, allowing users to be proactive about screen uptime management.</p> <p>To get started, sign up for Screenly’s free 14-day trial <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/08/12/digital-sign-display-setup/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/08/12/digital-sign-display-setup/Thu, 12 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000<p>Price is often a significant factor when a company is deciding on a digital signage solution. While digital signage prices can vary widely depending on the complexity and scale of the project, there are some general cost estimates that one can expect when choosing a digital signage solution. In the post below, we highlight the major components of a digital signage deployment and detail how much a company should expect to pay for each part.</p> <h2 id="the-cost-of-a-display-screen-for-your-digital-sign">The cost of a display screen for your digital sign</h2> <p>Digital signs can use any TV or monitor that accepts HDMI input as a display screen. Fortunately, the cost of display screens has plummeted in recent years. Anyone can go to their local electronics store or even a supermarket and pick up a large TV screen for around $200.</p> <p>Some specialty screens may cost more. For example, users who wish to display content in 4K resolution should expect to pay more. Also, users who need commercial-grade screens that will show content 24/7 should expect each display screen to cost around $1,000 or more. Commercial-grade screens, such as <a href="/nec/">NEC screens</a>, may feature high brightness levels for displaying content outdoors, and they may feature enclosure units to protect the screens against rain and humidity.</p> <p>However, in many cases, companies have TV screens that are unused from previous projects. IT departments can often use existing equipment for their deployment and cut out the cost of new display screens entirely.</p> <h2 id="the-cost-of-a-digital-signage-player">The cost of a digital signage player</h2> <p>In addition to a display screen, each digital sign needs a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a physical device that renders content to a user’s screen. Most digital signage players can display images, videos, and even webpages.</p> <p>Digital signage players become more expensive when users require features such as touch-screen compatibility, 4K or 8K content support, and video-wall compatibility. While these features are often impressive, they are unnecessary for many use cases.</p> <h2 id="the-cost-of-digital-signage-software">The cost of digital signage software</h2> <p>In addition to a display screen and digital signage player, users need <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> to manage and schedule their content. Most digital signage software bills as a monthly SaaS product for around $30 a month per screen. With digital signage software, users can log in to their online accounts and manage their content from anywhere with an internet connection.</p> <p>Key features of digital signage software include content scheduling capabilities and screen health monitoring. With content scheduling, users can take care of their digital signage content for a month or more in a single sitting. Users can create a custom playlist and set the playlist to display at the desired time. With screen health monitoring, users can receive notifications when a screen requires troubleshooting. This capability helps reduce screen downtime and helps teams respond to issues more quickly.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly">Getting started with Screenly</h2> <p>You can learn more about our digital signage software on our <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">Features</a> page, and you can learn more about our digital signage player, the Screenly Player, on our <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Players</a> page. Also, if you have a large digital signage deployment, be sure to check out the <a href="/enterprise/">Screenly Enterprise</a> page.</p> <p>If you have any questions about digital signage costs and prices, do not hesitate to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/05/21/digital-signage-price/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/05/21/digital-signage-price/Fri, 21 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000<p>Screenly makes it easy to display the content you care about on a digital sign. A digital sign can be any TV, monitor, or LED display. If you are looking to get started with LED digital signage, Screenly can help you get started quickly. In the post below, we cover important steps and considerations for setting up a digital signage LED display. The content below is quite technical, so if you need assistance with your LED display, do not hesitate to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>.</p> <h2 id="how-screenly-works-with-led-digital-signage">How Screenly works with LED digital signage</h2> <p>Screenly provides both the digital signage player and software that are necessary for a person to deploy and manage an LED digital sign. For <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player hardware</a>, Screenly offers the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>, which is a small, palm-sized device that renders content to your LED screen. The Screenly Player is Raspberry Pi-based and can render images, videos, and even webpage content in beautiful Full HD resolution.</p> <p>Screenly also provides LED digital signage software. With <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>, users can manage the content on their signs remotely. This feature means that users can log in to their online Screenly accounts from anywhere with an internet connection. Users can then change out the content that shows on each sign. Users can also organize content into playlists and set schedules for each playlist.</p> <p>Unlike a regular TV, a billboard style LED panel is a bit more complicated to setup. In the case of a regular monitor, you simply connect the Screenly player directly to your monitor using an HDMI cable. This is not the case for an outdoor LED screen.</p> <p>To drive an LED panel, you usually need the following:</p> <ul> <li>A digital signage player (such as the Screenly Player)</li> <li>A video processor unit (also called Video Control Box)</li> <li>One or more LED panels (such as a P10 LED panel) <ul> <li>P10 means that distance between each LED pixel (pixel pitch) is 10mm</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>The digital signage player is connected to the video processor unit over HDMI, which is then responsible for sending the signal out to the LED panel(s). Since you can configure this in a large number of ways, this setup requires a fair bit of configuration. You will normally need to configure your video processing unit for your LED configuration (e.g. 1x2 or 2x2) using the accompanied software.</p> <p>Once you have configured the processor unit, you should be able to connect your digital signage player and see the picture. Depending on the setup, you might only see part of the picture (e.g. if you are inputting a 1080p feed, but your have less screen real estate than this on the LED panels).</p> <p>Working with an LED panel setup may also require a bit of manual configuration on the digital signage player side too. If you have any questions, our support is happy to help.</p> <p>Do note that most LED panels will not offer the resolution anywhere near a regular monitor. While even an entry level desktop monitor will support resolutions like 1920x1080 pixels (1080p), an LED panel might have a resolution of 192x192 pixels.</p> <p>This means that if you are sending a 1080p signal to the video processor the video processor with a single LED panel attached, you will most likely see the left-hand side of the picture. Also, since the video processor had to scale down the signal, this also means that you are losing a lot of details. It is therefore very important that you design your content for this setup rather than for what looks good on your desktop screen.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-led-digital-signage-and-screenly">Getting started with LED digital signage and Screenly</h2> <p>LED screens are great options for large displays where high screen resolution is not a necessary feature. Also, exterior LED signs work great for <a href="/blog/2019/01/29/outdoor-digital-signage/">outdoor digital signs</a> and displaying content in extremely bright environments.</p> <p>To get started with LED screen digital signage, the first step is to <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> with Screenly. You can check out our LED digital signage software for yourself and take a look at our advanced digital signage management features. The next step is to <a href="/digital-signage-players/">purchase a Screenly Player</a> and make the necessary adjustments so that is compatible with your LED digital sign.</p> <p>If you are technically proficient, feel free to use the above steps to deploy your LED digital signage. If you need assistance or have questions about using Screenly with your LED signs, feel free to reach out to Screenly Support <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a> at any time.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/04/12/set-up-and-deploy-led-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/04/12/set-up-and-deploy-led-digital-signage/Mon, 12 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital display screens help businesses and organizations grab the attention of the audiences they care about most. Compared to static, printed signs, digital display screens are often more engaging, as they can display motion graphics, videos, and dynamic content. The post below details how businesses can get started showing content on a digital display screen. Some methods are easier than others, and modern digital signage platforms make content management for digital display screens easier than ever.</p> <h2 id="what-hardware-renders-content-to-your-screen">What hardware renders content to your screen?</h2> <p>Digital display screens do not display content by themselves. They need to have additional hardware that renders the content to the screen. For example, with home TV screens, a DVD player renders DVD content to the TV.</p> <p>Today, almost all screens feature HDMI ports and accept HDMI input. Users can pair almost any hardware that displays content via HDMI output with their screens. However, important considerations include the cost of that hardware and ongoing electricity costs. When a person uses a desktop computer to render content to their digital display screen, they typically spend too much on upfront hardware costs and electricity. Additionally, they most likely cannot use the desktop computer for other tasks while displaying content to their screen.</p> <p>The modern solution for rendering content for a digital display screen is a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a small, physical device with the dedicated purpose of rendering content to your display screen. These devices are often far cheaper than a full computer, and they typically have <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">very low power draws</a>. These savings are important for cost-conscious organizations, especially as the organizations scale digital display screen deployments across multiple locations.</p> <h2 id="how-do-users-manage-content-on-their-digital-display-screens">How do users manage content on their digital display screens?</h2> <p>In the past, content management for display screens was a difficult and time-consuming task. If a user wanted to change the content on their screen, the process almost always involved the person physically visiting the screen. The individual would then have to add content using a <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">USB drive and wired keyboard</a>.</p> <p>Today, users can manage the content on their digital display screens using <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>. Digital signage software typically exists as a SaaS product that users can access from anywhere using a modern web browser. The user’s digital signage player communicates with the digital signage software and receives directions on what content to display.</p> <p>Some digital signage software equips users with advanced content management features. These additional features can include playlists features that help users organize their content and scheduling features to help users set when they want their content to display. Other features include screen grouping features that allow users to control the content on multiple screens at once. With digital signage software, users can control the content on their digital display screens in just a few clicks.</p> <h2 id="how-can-people-launch-their-first-digital-signage-display-screen">How can people launch their first digital signage display screen?</h2> <p>Screenly provides both the necessary hardware and software for users to launch a digital display screen. Screenly is compatible with almost any screen that accepts HDMI input.</p> <p>Screenly’s digital signage media player device is the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>. The device draws only 3 watts of power and can render content in beautiful Full HD resolution. This content can include images, videos, and even webpage content.</p> <p>Screenly Players then communicate with Screenly digital signage software. Users can log in to their online Screenly account to change out content, schedule content, and manage their screens’ health. Users can manage their content remotely from anywhere with an internet connection.</p> <p>While Screenly is compatible with almost any screen that accepts HDMI input, some users require commercial-grade screens. These commercial displays often feature high-brightness capabilities for outdoor use and stunning picture quality. In some cases, users can combine their displays into a multi-screen video wall for a stunning viewing experience. Screenly is compatible with <a href="/nec/">NEC commercial grade screens</a>.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly-digital-display-screens">Getting started with Screenly digital display screens</h2> <p>To get started with Screenly, the first step is to check out our digital signage software. You can sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> and see inside Screenly right now.</p> <p>If you have any questions about setting up and launching your first digital display screen with Screenly, feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/04/05/show-content-digital-display-screens/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/04/05/show-content-digital-display-screens/Mon, 05 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000<p>“Menu costs” is a term in economics that refers to expenses associated with switching prices. While this term applies only metaphorically in most industries, menu costs in the food and beverage industry include the costs of changing actual physical menus. The article below details how food and beverage businesses can use digital signs to decrease menu costs and change prices quickly.</p> <h2 id="the-old-way-of-changing-menu-item-prices">The old way of changing menu item prices</h2> <p>Businesses that use physical handheld menus or printed menu boards must reprint their menus each time prices change. Reprinting menus and menu boards can easily cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and the reprint process may take several weeks.</p> <p>During the reprint process, prices may change again. In some cases, the costs associated with changing prices may be less than any potential revenue gains. This friction results in many businesses updating prices infrequently, even as input costs and other expenses change.</p> <h2 id="changing-menu-item-prices-via-digital-signs">Changing menu item prices via digital signs</h2> <p>Digital signs include any TV or monitor that people use to display custom content. A common <a href="/use-cases/">use case for digital signs</a> in the food and beverage industry is displaying digital menus.</p> <p>With digital menus, businesses can change menu item prices in just a few clicks. Instead of taking weeks of reprinting and potentially thousands of dollars in costs to change prices, businesses with digital menus can change prices in just a few minutes without any additional expenses.</p> <p>The ability to change prices quickly, inexpensively, and easily allows food and beverage businesses to achieve more predictable profit margins. As input costs and other expenses increase, businesses can update their prices quickly to reflect those changes. Additionally, businesses can use digital menus as a revenue generator by pricing items more competitively during busy hours or displaying upsell items.</p> <h2 id="other-important-uses-cases-for-digital-signs-in-the-food-and-beverage-industry">Other important uses cases for digital signs in the food and beverage industry</h2> <p>Food and beverage businesses can use digital signs in a variety of ways beyond digital menus. Digital signs can display marketing and branding content, such as information on the business’s history and values. Also, businesses can display a range of real-time media content. For example, bars can display sports headlines, and cafes can display news headlines. During the current business environment with COVID-19, businesses can <a href="/blog/2020/08/05/display-health-and-safety-policies/">display health and safety protocols</a> and <a href="/blog/2020/09/27/display-QR-codes-on-digital-signs/">QR codes for smartphone menus</a>.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-digital-signage-for-menu-boards">Getting started with digital signage for menu boards</h2> <p>Getting started with digital signage for menu boards is easy. Digital signs require a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>, an online management account, and a screen. Digital signage players communicate with the user’s online management account and render content to each screen. Professional-grade installations often use <a href="/nec/">NEC screens</a> with built-in digital signage players.</p> <p>You can take the first step towards getting started with digital signage by signing up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a> with Screenly. At Screenly, we build content management software for digital signs and supply a cost-effective and energy-efficient digital signage player, the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/03/15/digital-signs-decrease-menu-costs/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/03/15/digital-signs-decrease-menu-costs/Mon, 15 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000<p>ScreenCloud is a digital sign management solution, and until recently, ScreenCloud supported Raspberry Pi-based digital signage players. Unfortunately, ScreenCloud no longer supports the Raspberry Pi, and some users are looking to migrate to Raspberry Pi-compatible platforms, like Screenly. In the post below, we provide an overview on how ScreenCloud customers can migrate to Screenly.</p> <h2 id="using-an-existing-raspberry-pi">Using an existing Raspberry Pi</h2> <p>Screenly is compatible with the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+. Screenly can also run on the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 (CM3) that is compatible with commercial-grade NEC displays.</p> <p>Users with existing compatible Raspberry Pi hardware can self-build a Screenly-compatible digital signage player. The first step is to download our latest disk image and flash that image to your Raspberry Pi. Learn more about the process in our support article on <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360040933174-How-can-I-self-build-a-Screenly-Player-">how to self-build a Screenly Player</a>.</p> <h2 id="transferring-media-and-content-files">Transferring media and content files</h2> <p>Screenly supports image, video, and web page content, and it is easy to add content to your online Screenly account. Through your online Screenly account, users can easily build playlists and manage the content on each of your screens.</p> <p>While there is no way to migrate ScreenCloud content to Screenly automatically, users can transfer their content in no time. This process involves downloading ScreenCloud content and uploading it to Screenly, but the process should only take a few minutes. Learn more about <a href="https://youtu.be/HZUJWLsTVmU">adding content to Screenly here</a>.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly">Getting started with Screenly</h2> <p>ScreenCloud users who would like to learn more about Screenly can get started with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. Users can deploy their first screen with their existing Raspberry Pi hardware and see if Screenly fits their needs.</p> <p>If you have any trouble setting up Screenly and migrating from your ScreenCloud account, reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/02/22/migrate-from-screencloud-to-screenly/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/02/22/migrate-from-screencloud-to-screenly/Mon, 22 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000<p>Managing hardware devices can be a difficult task, especially when devices are across a corporate campus or multiple business locations. IT teams and developers often struggle to maintain communication with each device and keep each device up-to-date, and these issues affect hardware fleets across almost every industry.</p> <p>One area where remote device management is particularly relevant is digital signage. Digital signage refers to the associated hardware and software that companies use to display custom content on screens. In the post below, we describe key topics in digital signage device management, including updating software, maintaining security, and monitoring device health.</p> <h2 id="what-are-the-main-components-of-digital-signage">What are the main components of digital signage?</h2> <p>Each digital sign requires a screen and a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. The screen can be any TV or monitor that accepts HDMI input. Digital signage screens that use other input methods do exist, but HDMI-compatible screens are most common. A digital signage player is a small, physical device that renders content to the screen via HDMI. Much like a DVD player renders content to a home TV, a digital signage player renders content to a digital sign.</p> <p>After launching a digital signage deployment, IT teams need to manage their digital signage fleets out in the field. Without proper management, digital signs can easily break or fall victim to hackers and other bad actors. Maintaining each digital sign and associated hardware is particularly important because errors often have high visibility - people passing by the screen are sure to notice when the screen is off or is displaying non-loading content.</p> <h2 id="how-can-teams-manage-their-digital-signage-fleet-remotely">How can teams manage their digital signage fleet remotely?</h2> <p>Today, IT teams can manage their digital signs remotely from an online dashboard. Modern <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> can monitor each digital signage player in the field and display relevant data on an intuitive user interface. Users can log in to their online accounts and see the statuses of their screens across multiple locations.</p> <p>This process is markedly different from digital signage management workflows of the past, which often required users to visit each digital sign in person for regular management tasks. In the past, IT teams would only learn about a non-functioning screens during a scheduled visit or from an unhappy customer or team member. Additionally, to update content in the past, users would have to connect to each screen and digital signage player with a keyboard and <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">update content using a USB drive</a>. This manual process involved a lot of travel and employee time.</p> <h2 id="automatic-security-updates-for-remote-digital-signs">Automatic security updates for remote digital signs</h2> <p>A critical aspect of digital signage device management is maintaining security through software updates. As with any software, developers improve the codebase over time, and some of these improvements include addressing security vulnerabilities. A common attack vector for hackers is exploiting known and published security vulnerabilities in devices with outdated software.</p> <p>For a business to <a href="/security/">keep its digital signs secure</a>, it must ensure that each digital signage player runs the latest software versions. This task can be difficult when fleet management includes hardware across multiple business locations, as is the case with many digital signage deployments. An additional challenge occurs when digital signage solutions place the responsibility for patching and updating devices on the user. Modern digital signage solutions address these problems by taking responsibility for device security and d automatically pushing software updates to digital signage players.</p> <h2 id="checking-the-health-of-digital-signs-remotely">Checking the health of digital signs remotely</h2> <p>As mentioned, non-functioning digital signs are highly visible issues, and they can be embarrassing for IT teams. A key part of digital sign fleet management includes being able to tell when a screen is malfunctioning immediately as the problem arises. IT teams cannot depend on employees from other departments or customers to alert them of non-functioning screens in a timely manner. Everyone assumes that the IT team is aware of the issue, and unknown to the IT team, the screen remains non-functioning for days or weeks.</p> <p>Modern digital signage solutions can alert IT teams as soon as a digital sign experiences issues. This monitoring works by sending pings to the digital signage player, and when servers can no longer communicate with the digital signage player, IT teams then get an email alert. Additionally, teams with large digital signage deployments can review all of their screens’ health statuses via a live map view. Screen icons that are in red require further attention.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-player-security-and-the-ability-to-revoke-devices-remotely">Digital signage player security and the ability to revoke devices remotely</h2> <p>Most digital signage hacks result in bad actors displaying inappropriate content on a business’s digital signs. Usually, this content is embarrassing or inappropriate. However, other <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">digital signage hacks</a> result in bad actors accessing a business’s servers and business data. In these cases, hackers exploit vulnerabilities in a business’s digital signage hardware that is accessible in public locations.</p> <p>When IT teams become aware of vulnerable digital signs and associated hardware, users must quickly revoke the device’s access to their business’s networks and servers. With modern digital signage solutions, teams can revoke device access immediately without traveling to the device in person.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly-digital-signage">Getting started with Screenly digital signage</h2> <p>Screenly is an advanced and easy-to-use solution for digital signage fleet management. Teams can manage one or hundreds of screens using an online Screenly account and a Screenly Player for each screen. Key Screenly features include:</p> <ul> <li>Remote content management.</li> <li>Content scheduling.</li> <li>Automatic software updates.</li> <li>Screen health monitoring.</li> <li>Functionality for revoking device access remotely.</li> </ul> <p>To get started with Screenly, teams can <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a free 14-day trial</a>. If you have any questions regarding your digital signage needs, please reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/02/03/device-management/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/02/03/device-management/Wed, 03 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="developing-programmable-digital-signage-with-the-screenly-api">Developing programmable digital signage with the Screenly API</h2> <p>By using a <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>, IT teams can deploy programmable digital signage content across their business, organization, or client sites. Programmable digital signage content allows teams to show context-specific content that is responsive to a range of data inputs. In the post below, we provide an overview of programmable digital signage content and detail common use cases.</p> <h2 id="when-do-digital-signs-become-programmable-digital-signs">When do digital signs become programmable digital signs?</h2> <p>Broadly speaking, a digital sign is any screen that displays custom content. Typical use cases for digital signs include displaying <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">special offers</a>, <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">digital menus</a>, and <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">data dashboards</a>. You can learn more about how businesses are using digital signs on our digital signage use cases page.</p> <p>Digital sign screens can be any TV or monitor, and each digital sign requires a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a palm-sized, physical device that renders content to the screen. Most digital signage players can display a range of media types, including images, videos, and even live web pages.</p> <p>A digital sign becomes a programmable digital sign when users execute detailed controls over when content displays. At the simplest level, users can control when content displays with content scheduling functionality. For example, a restaurant can display a lunch menu or dinner menu depending on the time of day.</p> <p>More advanced programmable digital signs involve input from third-party services via API. Using a digital signage API, users can trigger content to display based off of changes in outside programs and databases. Back to the restaurant example, a restaurant can use a digital signage API to remove menu items based on item availability. Another example is that <a href="/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/">digital signage ad networks</a> can automatically remove or add advertising content depending on the status of client payments.</p> <h2 id="how-can-teams-use-programmable-digital-signs">How can teams use programmable digital signs?</h2> <p>Programmable digital signage allows developers to integrate their existing software tools into their digital signage deployments. Typical set-and-forget content workflows do not allow teams to get the most out of their digital signs. Other use cases for programmable digital signs include:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Using weather data to update transport times.</strong> If it is raining and traffic delays will delay transport schedules, digital signs can show updated transport times.</li> <li><strong>Showing retail promotions based off of inventory availability.</strong> Retailers can integrate digital signs with their inventory systems and only show product promotions for available items.</li> <li><strong>Showing reminders before upcoming meetings.</strong> Teams can display meeting reminders at predetermined times before each event.</li> </ul> <p>To learn more about programmable digital signage use cases, check out the <a href="https://developers.evrythng.com/docs/screenly">documentation on using EVRYTHNG with Screenly</a>. EVRYTHNG allows developers to integrate data from IoT devices into their digital signage deployments.</p> <h2 id="deploying-programmable-digital-signage-content">Deploying programmable digital signage content</h2> <p>Programmable digital signage relies on custom programs using APIs. Screenly’s digital signage API allows teams to connect their digital signs to their existing software tools and workflows. With the API, teams can programmatically edit content, playlists, and screen group tags. Check out our <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/api">digital signage API documentation</a> to learn more about building programmatic digital signs.</p> <h2 id="using-screenly-to-deploy-digital-signage">Using Screenly to deploy digital signage</h2> <p>Screenly <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> and <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage players</a> allow developers to deploy digital signs in minutes. Users can then manage their digital signs remotely and integrate their digital signs into their existing programs with <a href="/api/">Screenly’s digital signage API</a>.</p> <p>To get started with Screenly, developers can <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a free 14-day trial</a>. If you have any questions about implementing programmable digital signage with Screenly, reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>. We are always happy to help.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/01/31/programmable-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/01/31/programmable-digital-signage/Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signs have the power to enhance your business’s communications with your customers and employees. While digital signage software and digital signage hardware are important choices, a digital signage deployment can only be successful with engaging content. In the post below, we cover key points on digital signage content design. These tips will ensure that your signs are legible, attention-grabbing, and impactful.</p> <h2 id="make-sure-that-people-can-read-your-content">Make sure that people can read your content</h2> <p>Packing your digital signage content with text, infographics, and special offers is a big mistake. It is important to keep your content design simple and prioritize legibility. To do so, use the <a href="https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/powerpoint-tips/simple-rules-for-better-powerpoint-presentations/1/">5x5 rule</a>, which states that you should have no more than five lines of text with five words each on any content slide.</p> <p>Also, try adhering to an <a href="https://instapage.com/blog/f-pattern-layout">F pattern</a> for your content layout. Imagine a large “F” filling your screen. Align important content layers along the X-axis lines of that imaginary letter. Additionally, be sure to arrange content left to right so that people can read it with a natural left-right gaze.</p> <p>When it comes to fonts, use legible fonts. The most legible fonts, like Arial, are in the Sans Serif family. You can further enhance legibility by using <a href="https://www.lifewire.com/contrasting-colors-in-design-1078274">contrasting colors</a>. This practice makes it easier for people viewing your digital signs to read what you have to say from a distance or in low light or extreme brightness.</p> <h2 id="remember-ratios-in-digital-signage-content-design">Remember ratios in digital signage content design</h2> <p>Consider the ratios of your digital signage content. What often happens is that teams try to repurpose content from other mediums for their digital signs quickly. This process often results in content that is not optimized for the screen dimensions of the digital sign. It then becomes stretched and low resolution when teams upload the content to their screens.</p> <p>Most digital signage screens and digital signage players optimize for content with an aspect ratio of 16:9. Flipping that, you get 9:16, which is the aspect ratio for content that displays on a vertical screen. When designing content, design specifically for the aspect ratio of your digital sign. Also, consider the pixels that your screen supports. Most digital signs support 1920 x 1080 pixels on 16:9 aspect ratio screens. Be sure to design 1920 x 1080 pixel content to ensure that your digital signage content looks sharp. Content from word documents or PDF’s does not necessarily adhere to 1920 x 1080 pixel dimensions. Digital signage applications may then stretch this content to fit the screen and display content that looks blurry.</p> <h2 id="consider-context-for-digital-signage-content">Consider context for digital signage content</h2> <p>It sounds like simple advice, but people often forget to follow it. Be sure to consider the context of your digital sign when designing digital signage content. Will your digital sign be in front of customers, employees, or specific teams within your company? Will your digital sign serve multiple audiences? Be sure to consider where your sign will be and who will be looking at it. You can then design your digital signage content with that target audience in mind.</p> <h2 id="think-about-the-distance-between-your-digital-sign-and-viewers">Think about the distance between your digital sign and viewers</h2> <p>Before designing digital signage content, consider the placement of your digital sign in relation to the people who view it. Designing content for a digital sign that is meant for viewing up close is much different than designing content for a screen that is 25 feet away from viewers. On this point, teams should also consider their screen’s pixel pitch. A screen’s pixel pitch is the measurement from the center of one pixel to the center of a neighboring pixel. The smaller the pixel pitch, the more detail the screen has when people view it up close. However, small pixel pitches also make the screen more expensive.</p> <p>To get the optimal viewing distance between your screen and viewers, calculate the visual acuity distance for your screen. This measurement states the distance a person with 20/20 vision must stand away from your screen in order not to see a pixelated image. To get the visual acuity distance, multiply the pixel pitch in millimeters by 3,438. This calculation will produce the visual acuity distance for your screen in millimeters. Place screens somewhere in between the visual acuity distance and half of that distance to provide an ideal viewing experience.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-digital-signage">Getting started with digital signage</h2> <p>Screenly makes it easy to get started with digital signage. To launch your first digital sign, sign up for an online Screenly account with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. Next, purchase a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>. A Screenly Player is a palm-sized, physical device that renders content to your screen. You will need one Screenly Player per screen. Lastly, to design digital signage content, check out <a href="/use-cases/applications/canva/">how to use Screenly with Canva</a>.</p> <p>If you have any questions on how to get started with Screenly, reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a> for help!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/01/27/digital-sign-content-design/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/01/27/digital-sign-content-design/Wed, 27 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000<p>In recent years, parking lot operators have become more sophisticated with the help of parking lot management technology. Operators have taken advantage of software and hardware solutions to improve communications with customers and increase revenues.</p> <p>One important technology for parking lot operators is <a href="/digital-signage-university/">digital signage</a>. In the post below, we provide an overview of digital signage, and we list several ways that operators can use digital signs in their parking lots.</p> <h2 id="what-is-digital-signage-for-parking-lots">What is digital signage for parking lots?</h2> <p>Digital signage refers to the hardware and software that allow businesses to display custom content on their screens. For hardware, a digital sign can use almost any TV or monitor as a screen. In addition to a screen, a digital sign also requires a media player to render content to the screen. People often refer to this media player as a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>, and the device typically connects with the screen via an HDMI cable.</p> <p>Most digital signage systems also feature <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>. This software is often accessible as a SaaS product, and it allows users to manage the content on their digital signs from anywhere. Users can add content, edit content, build playlists, and control their screens in just a few clicks. This remote management functionality is a massive improvement from previous workflows, which often required a user to visit each screen in person to make content changes.</p> <h2 id="ways-that-parking-lots-can-use-digital-signs">Ways that parking lots can use digital signs</h2> <p>Parking lot operators use digital signs to replace existing printed signs and for a range of other creative use cases. Ways that parking lots can use digital signs include:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Showing parking lot maps.</strong> Digital signs can show drivers a map of the parking facility. Maps can include the number of aisles, the name and number of each section, and the number of floors in multi-level parking garages.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Displaying security notices.</strong> Parking lots can be the place of serious crimes, including theft, break-ins, and assaults. Digital signs can help reduce crimes by displaying security-related notices. For example, notices may include warnings that the parking lot has 24/7 surveillance and security personnel on duty.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Showing speed limit warnings.</strong> Car accidents in parking lots often occur when drivers do not respect speed limits. Parking lot operators can use digital signs to display speed limit warnings throughout the facility.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Display parking lot fees and operating hours.</strong> Parking lot management staff can use digital signs to display parking lot fees and operating hours. Staff can easily change fees and operating hours for special events or high-volume weekends.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Show advertisements.</strong> Parking lot operators can show advertisements from local stores and businesses on digital signs. This use case can provide an additional revenue stream to the parking lot facility and help promote local businesses.</p> </li> </ul> <p>The above uses for digital signs in parking lots are just some of many. Digital signs can show images, motion graphics, videos, and even live web pages. There are dozens of ways that parking lots can use digital signs to improve the customer experience.</p> <h2 id="showing-parking-lot-availability-with-a-digital-signage-api">Showing parking lot availability with a digital signage API</h2> <p>IoT connected parking lots can display detailed availability data for parking spaces. With a <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>, parking lot operators can connect their digital signs with their parking space availability systems. The facility’s digital signs can then display real-time data on what spots are available and direct drivers to those spaces. With a digital signage API, parking lot operators can program those content changes to occur automatically based on predetermined triggers.</p> <p>Check out our <a href="https://developer.screenly.io/api">digital signage API documentation</a> to learn more. With the Screenly API, users can edit content, playlists, and screen group tags automatically.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-parking-lot-digital-signage">Getting started with parking lot digital signage</h2> <p>To get started with digital signage for your parking lot, <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a free trial</a> with Screenly digital signage software. Screenly allows users to manage content, create playlists, and group similar screens remotely from an online dashboard. In addition to an online Screenly account, users also need one <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a> per screen.</p> <p>If you have any questions about deploying digital signs at your parking lot, reach out to our team at <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a> anytime. We are always happy to help.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/01/24/parking-lot-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/01/24/parking-lot-digital-signage/Sun, 24 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000<p>Ensuring a consistent experience across franchise locations can be a difficult task. Customers want a product and service that they know and love, and it is up to franchise corporate offices to ensure that all branches meet those customer expectations. One aspect of maintaining consistency across the franchise portfolio includes a consistent digital content.</p> <p>In this article, we cover how franchise businesses can maintain consistent digital content across branches by using digital signage. We cover the high-level strategic benefits of digital signage, and we also discuss some of the key features that customers can use to manage digital signs across the enterprise. Lastly, we cover how franchise businesses can get started with digital signage today.</p> <h2 id="what-is-franchise-digital-signage">What is franchise digital signage?</h2> <p>First, a digital sign is any TV or monitor that displays custom content for a user or business. Digital signs involve a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>, which is a small, physical device that renders content to a screen. Digital signs typically also involve <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>, which allows a user to add, remove, and manage content from anywhere using a web browser. Lastly, the actual screen can be any TV or monitor that accepts HDMI input.</p> <p>Franchise digital signage refers to digital signs used across multi-location businesses. These businesses can be across town, across the country, or even across many locations internationally. With digital signage software, a user can manage the content of one or multiple screens at once, all from a laptop.</p> <h2 id="key-benefits-of-franchise-digital-signage">Key benefits of franchise digital signage</h2> <p>When individual franchise branches are responsible for their own digital content, both quality and consistency often suffer. These issues can harm a franchise’s brand image. The brand image can suffer both in terms of the customer experience and customer perception regarding the company’s professionalism.</p> <p>With modern digital signage, franchise corporate offices can create and deploy the same quality content to all franchise branches or just franchise branches within a particular region. Importantly, technicians do not have to visit each screen location physically to update content. Instead, even non-technical users can easily manage content in just a few clicks from anywhere with an internet connection.</p> <p>In addition to removing and adding content at scale efficiently, franchise headquarters can ensure that content plays at the right time. This ability is essential to ensure that limited time offers and promotions only display when they are appropriate. Without proper and timely management of special offers and discount codes, both customers and employees can become confused quickly.</p> <p>Modern digital signage software also makes it easy to manage the health of a franchise’s screens. A central IT department and regional IT technicians can receive notifications whenever a screen fails and needs attention. This experience differs from IT departments only hearing about a failed screen after a customer or employee complaint.</p> <h2 id="important-features-for-franchise-digital-signage">Important features for franchise digital signage</h2> <p>One important feature for franchise digital signage is playlist scheduling functionality. With playlist scheduling, users can plan content for months in advance in just a single sitting. This feature saves franchise content managers from having to interrupt their daily workflows to manage digital signage content.</p> <p>Another important feature is that franchise users can group related screens with labels. For example, users can label screens with a unique location or region number. Then, users can manage all screens with a particular label at once. This feature can help users save hours by not having to adjust content on one screen at a time.</p> <p>Also, some franchise users wish to connect their digital signs with their business databases, and users can meet that requirement by using a <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>. With a digital signage API, users can program automatic content changes based on database values and events. For example, if a fast-food franchise location runs out of a specific menu item, that location’s digital signs can automatically stop showing offers for that item.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-franchise-digital-signs">How to get started with franchise digital signs</h2> <p>Getting started with digital signs at your franchise is easy. We recommend that you <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">schedule a demo</a> with a member of the Screenly team as your first step. We can help answer any questions you have and help ensure that Screenly is a good fit for your franchise’s use cases. If you have any questions with an existing deployment, please reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new/">Screenly Support</a>.</p> <p>If you would like to see inside Screenly right now, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial of Screenly here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/12/15/franchise-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/12/15/franchise-digital-signage/Tue, 15 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000<p>It is hard to imagine that the holiday season is upon us again. Retailers this year may be looking for new ways to win more sales from holiday shoppers. Of course, retailers are always looking to increase sales. However, this year, they may also be looking to cover losses from pandemic-related slowdowns over the past few months.</p> <p>One way for retailers to increase sales this holiday season is by using digital signs. Read our post below to learn more about how retailers can get the most out of digital signs during the 2020 holidays.</p> <h2 id="ways-that-retailers-can-use-digital-signs">Ways that retailers can use digital signs</h2> <p>A digital sign is any TV or monitor that displays custom content. Digital signs often replace physical posters as a more engaging alternative, as digitals signs can display dynamic images, videos, motion graphics, and even website content. Ways that users can get the most out of <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail store digital signs</a> this holiday season include:</p> <p><strong>Attracting passerby shoppers.</strong> Shoppers may only be searching for one item and intend to be in and out of a mall or department store quickly. Digital signs can help attract those shoppers to your store or other product sections.</p> <p><strong>Displaying promotional offers.</strong> Everyone loves a good deal during the holidays. Retailers can use digital signs to share promotional offers and special sales.</p> <p><strong>Showing product demonstrations.</strong> Sometimes, one of the best ways to sell a product is to show it in action. Retailers can use digital signs to show product demonstrations right next to their existing product displays.</p> <p><strong>Displaying COVID-19 safety information.</strong> This year has certainly been unique with the COVID-19 pandemic. Retailers can use digital signs to display COVID-19 safety information and protocols. Using a digital sign to show shoppers that your store follows federal and local COVID-19 guidelines can help shoppers feel more comfortable to enter your store.</p> <p><strong>Showing programmatic advertisements.</strong> Retailers can show programmatic ads that are specific to their store location’s current inventory. Retailers can use Screenly’s <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a> to coordinate their digital signage content automatically with their backend inventory systems.</p> <p>The above use cases are just a few of the many ways retailers can use digital signs to increase sales. If there is a particular use case you are wondering about that we have not included, <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new/">let us know</a>! We are always happy to help. Check our out <a href="/use-cases/">digital signage use cases page</a> to learn more about the many ways businesses can use digital signs.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-digital-signage-for-retail-stores">Getting started with digital signage for retail stores</h2> <p>Retail stores can get started with digital signage quickly and easily. Digital signs do not require a several month installation process, and retailers who are new to digital signage can have something up and running in less than a day. Simply pair your <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a> with your online Screenly account, and plugin your digital signage player into your screen.</p> <p>To get started, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial of Screenly here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/11/25/increase-sales-retail-digital-signs/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/11/25/increase-sales-retail-digital-signs/Wed, 25 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000<p>As an organization grows, it can be increasingly challenging to communicate with the entire team effectively. Sure, there is always email, but email can become noise at a certain point, and employees start to ignore it. After an organization grows to dozens or hundreds of people, departments need to reimagine their internal communication strategies in order to share their messages and essential information effectively.</p> <p>One increasingly popular internal communication tool is a <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital sign</a>. With a digital sign, users can display key messages on a TV or monitor in a central location. Employees do not have to read long emails - which are usually only skimmed, at best - or attend unproductive meetings. Instead, digital signs can enable employees to see internal communications at a glance.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-content-for-internal-communications">Digital signage content for internal communications</h2> <p>Of course, posters have existed long before digital signs, and they serve much the same purpose: display relevant content to people nearby. However, with digital signs, teams can display much more engaging and interactive multimedia content. This content can include images, videos, and even live web pages of a team’s favorite online dashboards and tools.</p> <p>With a digital sign, teams can display multimedia content for:</p> <ul> <li>Company-wide announcements, such as upcoming events</li> <li>HR and policy updates</li> <li><a href="/blog/2020/08/05/display-health-and-safety-policies/">COVID-19 precautions and guidelines</a></li> <li>Friendly messages for birthdays or work anniversaries</li> <li><a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">Data dashboards for metrics and KPIs</a></li> </ul> <p>One of the key benefits of digital signs over other internal communication tools is that users can change content quickly and easily. Teams do not have to schedule a meeting, print out material, or call other team members. Instead, teams can update the content on their digital signs in seconds and instantly <a href="/blog/2019/01/14/communication-in-the-workplace/">get their messages out to their teams</a>.</p> <p>With digital signage software, teams can update content remotely from a central web interface. Users do not have to make a physical visit to each digital sign to update content. This ability is particularly useful for companies with large corporate campuses or many national or international locations. A user can upload new content to his online account from anywhere and assign that content to one or multiple screens.</p> <h2 id="where-to-put-a-digital-sign-in-an-office-or-corporate-campus">Where to put a digital sign in an office or corporate campus</h2> <p>Digital signs belong in places with high-foot traffic and high-visibility, and users should focus on having their digital signs enable interruption-free information sharing. A team’s goal with a digital signage deployment should be enabling employees to consume important internal communication content on-the-go.</p> <p>However, the content on each digital sign does not have to be for everyone. Users can set up digital signs for particular locations at their offices and curate each digital sign’s content for specific audiences. Examples include:</p> <ul> <li>Department-specific digital signage. Users can set up digital signs in the office space for each department and display information that is most useful to that subset of employees. For example, digital signs in the sales department can <a href="/blog/2018/08/14/digital-signage-dashboard-sales-kpi/">display sales KPIs</a>, and digital signs in the IT department can <a href="/use-cases/applications/datadog/">display infrastructure uptime data</a>.</li> <li><a href="/use-cases/lobby/">Lobby digital signage</a>. Users can set up digital lobby signs to display relevant and appropriate information for both employees and customers. This content can include corporate branding assets and public company updates.</li> <li>Breakroom digital signage. Users can set up digital signs in break rooms and assign less formal, friendly content to those screens. Content can include birthday messages, recent team successes, or the latest sports updates.</li> </ul> <p>With <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>, managing these multiple screens and location-specific content is easy. Users can organize content into unique playlists, such as a “Sales team content” playlist. Next, users can assign tags to each associated screen, such as a “Sales team” screen tag, and a user can then trigger the sales team playlist to only play on sales team screens. Users can then repeat the process for each screen group in their organizations.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly-digital-signage">Get started with Screenly digital signage</h2> <p>To start improving your organization’s internal communications with digital signs, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial with Screenly</a>. Screenly provides the <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage management software</a> and <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage players</a> you need to transform any TV or monitor into a beautiful digital sign. Simply create an online account, connect your Screenly Player to your TV, and start displaying internal communication content to your team in minutes.</p> <p>That’s all for now. If you have any questions about getting started with digital signs in your organization, don’t hesitate to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new/">Screenly Support</a>. We’re here to help.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/10/27/improve-internal-communications-digital-signs/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/10/27/improve-internal-communications-digital-signs/Tue, 27 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000<p>Product/market fit is often tossed around as a buzzword in the technology industry, and many conversations that include product/market fit fail to define the term. Such conversations leave teams with a labeled yet unclear goal. As a result, efforts to achieve product/market fit are often disorganized, unmeasured, and, ultimately, unsuccessful.</p> <p>Below, we detail how you can implement a disciplined process in your business to achieve product/market fit. We also describe how businesses can use digital signs to communicate with team members at each step along the way.</p> <h2 id="what-is-productmarket-fit">What is product/market fit?</h2> <p>In the summer of 2017, Rahul Vohra struggled to develop a data-driven roadmap to help his email-client startup <a href="https://superhuman.com/">Superhuman</a> achieve product/market fit. Part of his struggle in developing that roadmap was that he could not find a clear definition for product/market fit. Notably, he could not find a definition that allowed his team to quantify the extent to which they were (or were not) achieving product/market fit.</p> <p>To address this struggle, Rahul built off the findings of Sean Ellis, who used to run growth at Dropbox during the company’s early days. Sean defined product/market fit as having 40% or more of users respond “Very disappointed” when asked, “How would you feel if you could no longer use the product?”</p> <p>Rahul then rolled out a process at Superhuman to prioritize product development tasks in a way that would increase the percentage of users who would be very disappointed if they could no longer use the product. With a measurable definition of product/market fit, Rahul could now assess and optimize his team’s development efforts.</p> <h2 id="what-is-the-process-for-achieving-productmarket-fit">What is the process for achieving product/market fit?</h2> <p>Below we’ll list the step-by-step process that the Superhuman team used to achieve product-market fit for their product. You can find the original article with more nuances and backstory on each step of the process on <a href="https://firstround.com/review/how-superhuman-built-an-engine-to-find-product-market-fit/">First Round Capital’s blog</a>. Here’s the process:</p> <h2 id="step-one">Step One</h2> <p>Ask your customers the following questions:</p> <ol> <li> <p>How would you feel if you could no longer use our product? (Multiple choice answers include, very disappointed, somewhat disappointed, and not disappointed.)</p> </li> <li> <p>What type of people do you think would most benefit from our product?</p> </li> <li> <p>What is the main benefit you receive from our product?</p> </li> <li> <p>How can we improve our product for you?</p> </li> </ol> <p>Make sure that you only ask customers who have experienced the benefits of your product. Do not ask the above questions to every new sign up.</p> <h2 id="step-two">Step Two</h2> <p>Record the percentage of respondents who stated that they would be “Very disappointed” if they could no longer use your product. That percentage is your baseline product/market fit score.</p> <h2 id="step-three">Step Three</h2> <p>Assign a persona to each user who completed the survey. If you do not have much information on each user in your CRM, you can take the user’s response to question two in step one. In most cases, the user describes themselves in the answer. If you wish, you can include a fifth question on the user’s job description or role in his company to collect further information for use in this step.</p> <h2 id="step-four">Step Four</h2> <p>List all personas of users who responded, “Very disappointed.” Next, remove users who are not of one of the listed persona types from your survey data. You will then have a list of users from a narrowed list of persona types who would be either “Very disappointed,” “Somewhat disappointed,” or “Not disappointed,” if they could no longer use your product.</p> <p>From this new, smaller list, calculate the percentage of users who responded “Very disappointed” to question one. You will notice that you have increased your product/market fit score by simply limiting your list considered user personas.</p> <h2 id="step-five">Step Five</h2> <p>For users who answered, “Very disappointed,” make a <a href="https://www.wordclouds.com/">Word Cloud</a> out of their answers to the third survey question, “What is the main benefit you receive from our product?” From this exercise, you will be able to see which features your enthusiastic customers love the most.</p> <h2 id="step-six">Step Six</h2> <p>Select users on your narrowed persona list from Step Four, who answered that they would be “Somewhat disappointed” if they could no longer use your product. Make a <a href="https://www.wordclouds.com/">Word Cloud</a> out of their answers to the fourth survey question, “How can we improve our product for you?” From this exercise, you will be able to see which features are likely to convert users in the “Somewhat disappointed” group to users in the “Very disappointed” group. The more users in the “Very disappointed” group, the higher your product/market fit score.</p> <h2 id="step-seven">Step Seven</h2> <p>Create a product road map where fifty percent of the tasks double down on features from Step Five. These tasks will have the goal of making users who answered “Very disappointed” be even more disappointed if they could no longer use your product. The other fifty percent of tasks should focus on tasks to build features from Step Six. These tasks will have the goal of making users who answered “Somewhat disappointed” become users who answer “Very disappointed.”</p> <h2 id="step-eight">Step Eight</h2> <p>Prioritize your product road map developed in Step Seven. You can prioritize this road map by categorizing each development task as low, medium, or high impact and as low, medium, or high cost. Focus on the high-impact, low-cost tasks first to have the most significant effect on your product/market fit score in the least time possible.</p> <h2 id="thats-it">That’s it</h2> <p>Sure, the process outlined above has quite a few details. However, it is a complete, step-by-step system to help your team achieve product/market fit. Importantly, this process is data-driven, and teams can track their improvements on product/market fit over time. If you have any questions on some of the finer details of this process, please take a look at the original article <em><a href="https://firstround.com/review/how-superhuman-built-an-engine-to-find-product-market-fit/">How Superhuman Built an Engine to Find Product/Market Fit</a></em>. It’s a great read!</p> <h2 id="how-can-i-use-digital-signs-to-help-my-team-achieve-productmarket-fit">How can I use digital signs to help my team achieve product/market fit?</h2> <p>Once your team starts collecting survey data from your customers and measuring your business’s product/market fit score, you need to communicate this data with your team. It is not enough to develop a product road map based on the above process and tell the team what to do next.</p> <p>Each team member needs to review and understand the data that comes out of the surveys, and each team member needs to understand the motivations and customer needs behind each new development task. With this communication, teams will feel motivated to develop the product in a way that generates the most value to customers.</p> <p>One tool that businesses can use to help with that communication is a digital sign. A digital sign is any TV or monitor that plays relevant and often repeated information to an audience. Digital signs are usually in high-visibility areas, like on a central wall in the office.</p> <p>With a digital sign, teams can display the Word Cloud from Step Five or Step Six on a digital sign. Additionally, teams can display the business’s product/market fit score over time and data on each task’s progress in the product road map. With this information easily visible, the business’s product/market fit score and efforts to improve the score will remain top-of-mind for each member.</p> <h2 id="how-can-i-build-my-first-digital-sign">How can I build my first digital sign?</h2> <p>To build your first digital sign, you will need a few components. First, you will need <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>, which allows you to upload and schedule content to display on your digital sign. You can upload images of your business’s <a href="https://www.wordclouds.com/">Word Clouds</a> or even a URL link for a live graph of your business’s product-market fit score over time.</p> <p>You will also need a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a> and a TV or monitor that accepts HDMI input. A digital signage player pulls content from your digital signage software and renders the content to your TV or monitor. When these three components come together, you will have your first digital sign! You can then use this digital sign to communicate key information from each step of the product/market fit process.</p> <p>We hope this article was both informative and helpful! If you have any questions about setting up your first digital sign, feel free to reach out to us at <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>!</p> <p>To get started with Screenly digital signage, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/10/13/digital-signs-product-market-fit/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/10/13/digital-signs-product-market-fit/Tue, 13 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000<p>Over the past few months, many businesses and their customers have increased their usage of QR codes. QR codes are the small black-and-white patterned squares that you can scan with your smartphone to trigger an action, such as loading a website. Today, most customers are familiar with QR codes, and most smartphone cameras automatically scan any QR code in the field of view.</p> <p>In this article, we discuss why businesses should use QR codes as part of their digital signage strategies. We also detail how businesses can get started with QR-code-enabled digital signage today.</p> <h2 id="make-your-digital-signs-interactive-with-qr-codes">Make your digital signs interactive with QR codes</h2> <p>Capturing and holding a potential customer’s attention is difficult. While digital signage is a great way to grab a customer’s attention using a beautiful image, video, or animated graphic, many customers only view digital signs for a moment in passing. One way to hold a customer’s attention is by making your digital sign interactive.</p> <p>With QR codes, users can make their digital signage campaigns interactive by providing the customer with clear instructions on what to do next. For example, instead of a <a href="/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/">digital signage advertisement</a> only showing a discount offer, a business can instruct customers to “Scan the QR code for your personal discount code.” When customers interact with your digital sign, they are more likely to remember your company and your offer.</p> <p>Businesses can further increase customer touch-points by collecting customer contact information on the QR-code directed web page. In the example above, the business could have potential customers enter their email addresses to claim their personal discount codes. With the customer’s consent, the business can add that individual to its mailing list and send him new promotions in the future.</p> <h2 id="qr-codes-can-help-businesses-during-covid-19">QR codes can help businesses during COVID-19</h2> <p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, QR codes help businesses communicate information without requiring customers to touch a shared surface. Reducing the number of times that customers must touch shared surfaces can help limit the spread of COVID-19.</p> <p>For example, instead of a restaurant passing out physical menus to customers, a restaurant can place a QR code on a digital sign. Customers can then scan the QR code and view the restaurant’s menu using their smartphones instead via physical menus that multiple people touch each day. In addition to reducing the spread of the virus, fewer shared surfaces can help customers feel more comfortable when visiting your business.</p> <h2 id="measure-the-impact-of-your-digital-signage-campaigns-with-qr-codes">Measure the impact of your digital signage campaigns with QR codes</h2> <p>Many businesses wonder about the return-on-investment for their digital signage campaigns. With QR codes, businesses can direct potential customers to visit a web page, and businesses can then track the source of web page visitors using UTM codes. A UTM code is a small add-on to a web address that helps track where the web user originated. Businesses can then isolate website visitors by their associated UTM code and track what those visitors do on the business’s website, including what purchases those users complete.</p> <p>For example, if the web page address is <em>yourbusiness.com</em>, you could add the <a href="https://buffer.com/library/utm-guide/">UTM code</a> <em>utm_campaign=digitalsignage</em> to the end of that URL. To join a UTM code to a URL, use a question mark at the end of the URL address and before the UTM code. In the example above, the final URL address with the UTM code is <em>yourbusiness.com?utm_campaign=digitalsignage</em>.</p> <p>The business can then use its web page analytics software to see the total number of purchases from users who navigate to the website using the above link. If the business only uses that link with the QR code on their digital signs, purchases from users with that UTM code originated from the business’s digital signage campaign. The business can then use that information to calculate the return on investment of their digital signs.</p> <h2 id="how-to-show-a-qr-code-on-your-digital-sign">How to show a QR code on your digital sign</h2> <p>To use QR codes with your digital signs, the first step is to create the QR code. You can do so with one of the dozens of <a href="https://www.qr-code-generator.com/">free QR code generators online</a>. Some QR code generators like <a href="https://bitly.com/blog/how-to-make-a-qr-code-using-bitly/">Bitly</a> have a built-in interface for tracking the total amount of link clicks. Whichever tool you use, creating a QR code is a straightforward process. Just paste in the URL link, and the generator will create the unique QR code image.</p> <p>If you wish to use UTM codes to track visitors on your website from the QR code, you will need to create a single URL link with all associated UTM codes. The free <a href="https://ga-dev-tools.appspot.com/campaign-url-builder/">Campaign URL Builder</a> tool from Google is excellent for creating a single URL with UTM codes. Put in your web page URL and any UTM data, and the tool will join the data for a final URL with correctly formatted UTM data at the end.</p> <p>Next, insert the QR code JPG or PNG image into your digital signage content. Note that many free QR code generators allow users to download the QR code image in SVG format, which can be useful when working with design files.</p> <p>Once you have your digital signage content, the next step is to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZUJWLsTVmU">add the content file to your online Screenly account</a>. Screenly allows users to manage their digital signs and digital signage content remotely. Within your online Screenly account, you then must <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmY0q-s_3pY">add the content to a playlist</a> and assign that playlist to a screen or group of screens. Once you complete those steps, your QR-code-enabled content will then display on your digital signs.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly-digital-signage">Get started with Screenly digital signage</h2> <p>We hope that the above content was educational and that you now know how to add QR codes to your digital signs. If you do not already have an online Screenly account, you can get started with <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Screenly’s free 14-day trial</a>. Note that each screen requires one <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly player</a>, which renders content from your online Screenly account to your screen.</p> <p>If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>. We are always happy to help.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/09/27/display-qr-codes-on-digital-signs/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/09/27/display-qr-codes-on-digital-signs/Sun, 27 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000<p>The current public health crisis has had a massive impact on most people’s personal and professional lives. As businesses start to reopen, a top priority is keeping customers and employees safe and healthy. One way to achieve that priority is by following <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">CDC guidelines</a>, including regularly washing one’s hands and adhering to social distancing. With Screenly, users can display their company’s health protocols and recommendations on a digital sign.</p> <h2 id="ready-to-go-health-and-safety-content">Ready-to-go health and safety content</h2> <p>To make things easy, we have a collection of ready-to-go health and safety image content for our users. Images include messaging on important health guidelines, including content on:</p> <ul> <li>Keeping a social distance</li> <li>Washing hands regularly</li> <li>Not sharing personal items</li> <li>Cleaning all high-touch surfaces</li> <li>Avoiding touching one’s face</li> </ul> <p>We have built content for both portrait and landscape-mode oriented screens. Of course, our ready-to-go health and safety content is only to help your team get up and running as quickly as possible. It is not medical advice, and you should adhere to local officials for the most up-to-date information for your area.</p> <h2 id="how-to-display-health-and-safety-content-on-your-screen">How to display health and safety content on your screen</h2> <p>Screenly provides the hardware and software that one needs to create a digital sign. Users can then display health can safety content on their Screenly digital sign, and they can change, remove, or add content remotely.</p> <p>To get started with Screenly, you will need a Screenly Player and an online Screenly account. A Screenly Player is a physical device that renders content from your online Screenly account to your TV. Check out our page on <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a> to learn more about Screenly Players.</p> <p>Next, sign up for an online Screenly account and <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/">log in</a>. If you do not have an online Screenly account, you can <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a 14-day free trial</a>. You must now pair your Screenly Player and TV to your online Screenly account. To do so, follow our video guide on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VWtcbsI8PA&t=9s">how to add a new screen with Screenly</a>.</p> <p>For new Screenly accounts, you can access our health and safety content by navigating to the <em>Content</em> tab on the left-hand menu. On the new page, you will see our health and safety content pre-loaded in the <em>Sample COVID-19 Content</em> folder. If you have an existing account and cannot find our health and safety content, download the image files from the folder <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16p0rcRF0169WE422jksm8tTSBxgIZn0T?usp=sharing">linked here</a>. Next, follow our video guide on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZUJWLsTVmU">how to add content with Screenly</a>, and add the image files to your online Screenly account.</p> <p>Next, you must create a playlist that includes the health and safety content that you wish to display. The next step is to assign that playlist to your screen. For a step-by-step walkthrough on how to create a playlist and assign that playlist to your screen, check out our video guide <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmY0q-s_3pY&t=1s">linked here</a>.</p> <h2 id="take-precautions-and-be-safe">Take precautions and be safe</h2> <p>It has certainly been an eventful and unexpected last few months. However, if we all adhere to guidelines and take proper precautions, we can get back to normal. You can <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16p0rcRF0169WE422jksm8tTSBxgIZn0T?usp=sharing">download our ready-to-go health and safety content here</a>. If you have any questions on how to access our ready-to-go health and safety content or on how to display that content on a digital sign, please reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>. We are always happy to help.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/08/05/display-health-and-safety-policies/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2020/08/05/display-health-and-safety-policies/Wed, 05 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000<p>How are we almost midway through the fourth quarter again? The months have been flying! The Screenly team has had an exciting past few months, and we’d like to share some details on our progress!</p> <h2 id="were-back-from-screenly-summit-2019">We’re back from Screenly Summit 2019</h2> <p>The Screenly team attended the annual Screenly Summit this October in beautiful Lisbon, Portugal. Almost all of the team could make it, and the team had a great time together. We spent a week living and working together, and we are all excited about the year ahead.</p> <p>Screenly is a fully remote team, and we typically only see each other on video calls. For remote teams, an annual summit meeting can be extremely valuable, as it allows the team to interact face-to-face in an informal setting. During Screenly Summit 2019, our team grew closer together, and we will continue into the upcoming year as a stronger and more collaborative unit.</p> <p>To learn more about Screenly Summit 2019, check out our full recap <a href="/blog/2019/10/25/screenly-summit-2019-lisbon-portugal/">linked here</a>!</p> <h2 id="check-out-our-latest-must-read-blog-posts">Check out our latest must-read blog posts</h2> <p>We’ve added some exciting and hopefully useful content to our blog. If you haven’t already, check out the following articles:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/blog/2019/09/09/display-traffic-digital-sign/">How to display and avoid traffic with digital signage</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2019/09/16/digital-signage-content-design/">Points to keep in mind when designing digital signage content</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2019/09/23/improving-employee-engagement-digital-signage/">Increasing employee engagement with digital signage</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="get-an-early-briefing-on-our-upcoming-features">Get an early briefing on our upcoming features</h2> <p>We’re always working on new features, and we have some exciting releases coming out shortly. Our team made a ton of progress during our time together at Screenly Summit 2019, and we are excited to share these product updates with you soon! Here’s an early briefing:</p> <ul> <li>We’re giving a full revamp to the Screenly web interface. Users will be able to manage their screens and digital signage content more intuitively and efficiently. Additionally, the new interface looks gorgeous!</li> <li>We’re improving the process for adding a screen. After we deploy our changes, the add screen process will feature notifications that update the user at each step of the pairing process.</li> </ul> <h2 id="were-hiring-a-projectcommunity-manager-for-screenly-ose">We’re hiring a Project/Community Manager for Screenly OSE</h2> <p>Screenly OSE is the most popular open source digital signage solution on GitHub, and were looking for an individual to take Screenly OSE to the next level. Visit the Screenly OSE GitHub repository <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose">here</a> to learn more about the project.</p> <p>A big part of the role will be to stay on top of conversations on GitHub and on our forum. The individual will also be responsible for monitoring and engaging with conversations on other channels, such as Reddit and Twitter. The ideal candidate has a background in computer science and is interested in open source community building and helping users out with their problems!</p> <p>Learn more about this position with Screenly OSE on UpWork <a href="https://www.upwork.com/jobs/~019a0273335ccfc639">here</a>!</p> <h2 id="thats-all-for-now">That’s all for now</h2> <p>We hope you enjoyed this update on where we are and where we’re going! We have big plans on the Screenly roadmap, so stay on the lookout!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/11/12/screenly-november-2019-newsletter/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/11/12/screenly-november-2019-newsletter/Tue, 12 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p><em>A photo of most of the Screenly team! A few team members weren’t able to make it to this year’s Screenly Summit, but we look forward to seeing them next year!</em></p> <p>Wow! Just last week, we wrapped up this year’s Screenly Summit in beautiful Lisbon, Portugal. For an entire week, the Screenly team met up to strategize, ideate, and discuss plans for Screenly’s direction over the coming year. We got a lot of work done, and we had a lot of laughs too. In this article, we’ll provide a quick recap of our time together!</p> <h2 id="the-purpose-of-the-screenly-summit">The purpose of the Screenly Summit</h2> <p>As many of you know, Screenly is a fully remote company. Our team is spread out across the world, and Screenly does not have a central office. We’ll brag here too – Screenly was a remote company before remote was cool. Since Screenly’s first days in 2011, the company has had a distributed team. Today, large tech companies, such as <a href="https://zapier.com/learn/remote-work/">Zapier</a>, <a href="https://www.invisionapp.com/inside-design/studio-remote-design-team/">InVision</a>, <a href="https://www.toptal.com/insights/distributed-teams/building-culture-in-distributed-teams">TopTal</a>, and <a href="https://about.gitlab.com/company/culture/all-remote/">GitLab</a>, boast remote work environments, too. However, we’ll point out that we were here first! Read more about how Screenly’s <a href="/blog/2016/11/23/how-we-work-at-screenly/">distributed team works together</a>.</p> <p>There are many <a href="https://blog.viktorpetersson.com/remote-work/2019/05/18/a-decade-of-remote.html">advantages to having a remote team</a>. Screenly can hire the best talent, regardless of where that talent lives. Team members can devote what would be soul-crushing commute time towards their health and their families. Additionally, Screenly does not have to deal with the overhead of expensive office space. Instead, Screenly can devote those resources to hiring more team members and improving the product.</p> <p>While there are many amazing benefits of being a remote company, there are downsides to being remote too. Put simply, video conferencing and instant messaging can never match the experience of speaking with someone in-person and face-to-face. Without being together in-person, learning each team member’s personality and mannerisms can be a difficult task.</p> <p>To address the communication limitations of remote work, we host a Screenly Summit each year. During each Screenly Summit, the entire team comes together to live and work under the same roof for an entire week. Going from remote working to living with each other is undoubtedly a quick change of environment. However, the experience is amazing for team building, improving communication, and, of course, having a great time!</p> <h2 id="what-we-worked-on-during-the-screenly-summit">What we worked on during the Screenly Summit</h2> <p>We all arrived late on a Wednesday night, and we began the Screenly Summit with a quick meet and greet. Although some of the team members had met at previous summits, several of Screenly’s new team members were just meeting everyone in-person for the first time. Over the last year, Screenly has grown quite a bit, so there were a lot of new faces at our 2019 summit! That first evening, we were all quite tired from a long day of traveling, so after a quick chat, we called it a night!</p> <p>The next morning, we had a quick breakfast and planned out our work for the following week. During the planning session, we aimed to pick tasks that both required collaboration from multiple team members and would be visible to the end-user once completed. From the couple of dozen tasks that we listed, we chose to focus on (1) launching a redesign of the Screenly web interface, (2) improving the player boot process, and (3) redesigning the user onboarding experience.</p> <p>During the summit, we made a ton of progress on each of the chosen tasks. With the redesign of the Screenly web interface, we worked to simplify user workflows so that Screenly users can now <a href="/blog/2019/08/08/digital-screens/">manage their digital signs</a> more easily than ever before. We also made the Screenly web interface a lot more beautiful! We will be rolling out these design changes over the coming weeks – be on the lookout!</p> <p>Regarding improvements to the <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a> boot-up process, our team worked on adding notifications and other on-screen communications to the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a> boot-up screens. With these added notifications, users can more easily understand their Screenly Player’s loading progress during boot-up. Our goal was to prevent a scenario where a user is unsure if the player is working correctly or is instead malfunctioning during the boot-up process. As a result of our work, the boot-up process will soon be much more user-friendly for people who are just getting started with Screenly!</p> <p>For redesigns to the user onboarding experience, we reimagined our current onboarding workflow to provide a custom first-time experience to users. In our new onboarding workflow, <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Screenly free trial</a> users will get to see and interact with a demo screen that is custom for their customer persona and intended use cases. Our goal during the redesign was to deliver value to our users in the quickest and most customized experience possible.</p> <p>Additionally, we did a ton of work to streamline our billing and payments interface. With that work, we aimed to make <a href="/pricing/">Screenly’s billing and payment options</a> easily accessible and extremely intuitive. We’ll also be rolling out these changes soon, and we’re excited to deliver an improved billing and payments experience to our new and existing users!</p> <p>At the end of the Screenly Summit, we each gave a presentation of our work. It was a great way to finish off the week and to celebrate our accomplishments. Also, the presentations were an excellent opportunity to solicit feedback from each of the Screenly team members for further refinements. We’re excited about these product improvements, and we’re confident that once you see them, you’ll be excited too!</p> <h2 id="team-excursions-and-activities-during-the-screenly-summit">Team excursions and activities during the Screenly Summit</h2> <p>The week wasn’t all work; we also had a ton of fun. Lisbon is a beautiful city, and we were lucky to be able to call it home for a week.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-summit-walk_hu_9cf75e9e533ee28f.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-walk_hu_2e2b0ced10a7b02e.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-walk_hu_d30770cdb649cb38.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-walk_hu_c844a6618d540198.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-summit-walk_hu_301b47288c3cc379.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-walk_hu_79ace8df01399231.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-walk_hu_27be080831874095.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-walk_hu_b28d7eec4a62de22.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-summit-walk_hu_d30770cdb649cb38.webp" alt="The Screenly team walking along the Tagus River in Lisbon." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>On one excursion, we had a great trip to the city center and Lisbon’s old town. We parked near the water near the <a href="https://lisbonlisboaportugal.com/belem-lisbon/Padrao-Descobrimentos-Monument-Discoveries.html">Padrão dos Descobrimentos</a> statue, and we then walked along the Tagus River to a great burger restaurant under the <a href="https://www.golisbon.com/sight-seeing/25-abril-bridge.html">25 de Abril Bridge</a> (the one that looks like San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge). We then road <a href="https://www.li.me/electric-scooter">Lime scooters</a> – a must-do activity for any tech company – from the bridge to the historic <a href="https://www.lisbonguru.com/terreiro-paco-lisbon-gateway/">Terreiro do Paço</a> square in the heart of the old town. We had a great walk around, and we saw some great sights. For arguably the best part of the city excursion, we finished off our walking tour with delicious Portuguese custard pies from the famous <a href="https://pasteisdebelem.pt/">Pastéis de Belém</a> bakery. Yum!</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-summit-lisbon_hu_21120d30e3ecb70c.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-lisbon_hu_d9c3bce2478c051d.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-lisbon_hu_e83cd29645dc8f37.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-lisbon_hu_be49c8cbe157ce4a.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-summit-lisbon_hu_484b8554c2faa2e8.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-lisbon_hu_8569925c065c4eb6.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-lisbon_hu_b8423af318a95c43.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-lisbon_hu_596eef421b979dc0.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-summit-lisbon_hu_e83cd29645dc8f37.webp" alt="The street near the Pastéis de Belém bakery and a Lisbon cable car." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="577" > </picture> <p>Another exciting excursion was our trip to <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1022768-d3873281-Reviews-Fonte_da_Telha_Beach-Almada_Setubal_District_Alentejo.html">Fonta da Telha</a> beach. The Portuguese coastline has some stunning beaches, and while we didn’t have summer weather, the weather was still beautiful for October! One afternoon, the team made it down to the beach for a relaxing walk in the sand and a bite at <a href="https://www.kailua.pt/">Kailua</a>, a great local restaurant. We had a fantastic time at the beach! A couple of members of the Screenly team even returned to the beach a few days later for a 9 AM swim. At that hour, the swim was very refreshing, to say the least!</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-summit-fonta-da-telha-beach_hu_a28152a3a6c8f6a0.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-fonta-da-telha-beach_hu_d0ea4ca09b452060.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-fonta-da-telha-beach_hu_8d102eb521ee238f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-fonta-da-telha-beach_hu_2b97eb1d9577a6ba.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-summit-fonta-da-telha-beach_hu_e62f9c45912150a2.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-fonta-da-telha-beach_hu_e3f79dfe6f736d08.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-fonta-da-telha-beach_hu_808127460bd3049c.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-summit-fonta-da-telha-beach_hu_418a5f606f341081.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-summit-fonta-da-telha-beach_hu_8d102eb521ee238f.webp" alt="An October afternoon at the beautiful Fonta da Telha beach near Lisbon." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>We had a lot of fun just hanging out together at the house, too. The house was massive – 12 bedrooms, a pool, and a table tennis and billiards table. Sessions hanging out by the pool and getting to know each other better created some of the best times of the trip. We also had some great meals together. We shared Cajun dishes, Kansas-City style barbeque, and homemade pancake desserts. Sharing meals and spending time together in an informal setting was great for bringing the Screenly team closer together.</p> <h2 id="were-looking-forward-to-next-year">We’re looking forward to next year</h2> <p>The Screenly Summit 2019 was a fantastic experience for the Screenly team, and we are all looking forward to the year of growth ahead. The week went by incredibly quickly – we were busy, and we were having fun! However, in the short time that we were together, we certainly strengthened as a team, and it was great for the Screenly team members to get to know each other on a more personal level.</p> <p>We all have a lot of work to do, and we are excited. We will follow our North Star of providing the <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">best digital signage product</a> and user experience to our customers. Over the next year, our team will expand rapidly, and we look forward to meeting the new faces on our team in-person at the Screenly Summit 2020!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/10/25/screenly-summit-2019-lisbon-portugal/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/10/25/screenly-summit-2019-lisbon-portugal/Fri, 25 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Users can <a href="/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/">display advertisements</a>, special offers, and notices to customers, employees, and other foot-traffic using a digital sign. This digital content is often much more engaging than static, printed posters. Additionally, users can change the content on their digital screens by simply swapping out the digital content rather than printing and replacing a physical poster.</p> <p>In the past, managing media content on digital screens was as difficult as replacing printed posters. With digital signage of the past, users would have to physically travel to each display screen and <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">manually upload content with a USB drive and keyboard</a>. This process was particularly time-consuming when a user was responsible for multiple screen locations and complex media schedules.</p> <p>Today, most digital signage deployments have digital signage content management software. This software allows users to manage their signage content from a single web interface. There are many providers of <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>, and each has its own collection of features. In this article, we will run through the top 10 features that your digital signage content management software must have so that you can optimize your digital signage content workflow.</p> <h2 id="remote-content-management">Remote content management</h2> <p>Digital signage software should allow you to manage your content from anywhere. This feature means that you can upload and change-out digital content using a web browser on your computer. You shouldn’t be limited to software that only works on the company intranet or requires cabling from your computer to the digital display screen. While a remote content management capability is standard with almost all digital signage content management software today, make sure that your chosen solution also has this crucial feature.</p> <h2 id="support-for-a-variety-of-media-formats">Support for a variety of media formats</h2> <p>Make sure that your digital signage software supports more than just images. Today, the best digital signage management software allows users to upload photos, videos, and even URL addresses for live web pages. A digital sign should be eye-catching and attention-grabbing. One of the best ways to make your digital signs have those characteristics is to vary your content media formats.</p> <h2 id="great-display-resolution">Great display resolution</h2> <p>Poor display resolution is a killer for digital signage deployments. If you’re going to go through the effort to deploy a digital sign, create content, and display this content to your customers, you need to make sure that your content looks beautiful. When selecting your digital signage software, make sure that it supports 1080p Full HD resolution content. Some digital signage software supports 4K resolution. However, <a href="/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/">4K resolution is costly and unnecessary</a> for most digital signage deployments.</p> <h2 id="advanced-content-scheduling">Advanced content scheduling</h2> <p>Make sure that your chosen software solution allows you to schedule digital signage content in advance. This feature is useful, as it enables users to plan a month or more worth of digital signage content in a single sitting. The user can then set-and-forget their digital signage content, and they don’t have to allocate time each day to deal with content updates.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-content-playlists">Digital signage content playlists</h2> <p>Another essential feature is the ability for users to build content playlists within the digital signage software. Users can group and organize similarly themed content or content for particular occasions into a single playlist. Instead of scheduling each piece of content one-by-one, users can select a playlist and assign it to a specific screen in just a few clicks.</p> <h2 id="screen-grouping-functionality">Screen grouping functionality</h2> <p>For users that have multiple screens, digital signage content management can be a lot of work. Screen grouping allows users to organize multiple screens into a single unit. For example, for <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail store digital signage</a>, a user may want to make a group of screens for each region of stores. Once a user groups multiple screens, the user can then update the content on each screen within that group at the same time. If there is a special offer that is only applicable to a particular region of retail stores, this special offer can be pushed out to all relevant screens at once rather than screen-by-screen.</p> <h2 id="multi-user-support">Multi-user support</h2> <p>Most businesses have multiple individuals who work on their digital signage strategy. Multi-user support is a crucial feature for digital signage management software for these businesses. With <a href="/blog/2019/03/21/multi-user-digital-signage/">multi-user support</a>, businesses can easily assign accounts with varying permission levels to relevant employees. Additionally, when an employee changes roles or leaves the company, management can easily remove that employee’s account while keeping top-level administrative access.</p> <h2 id="remote-screen-monitoring-and-health-checks">Remote screen monitoring and health checks</h2> <p>The individual responsible for digital signage content management may not be close to each sign that they manage. Some digital signage users may not see the screens that they manage for weeks at a time. These screens may be miles or even cities away from the user’s workplace. Accordingly, it is important that users can remotely monitor the health and playback status of their screens. The best digital signage content management software provides users with the last image displayed on each screen and information on whether the screen is reachable. Ensure that your digital signage software also has this feature, especially if the user managing your screens may not regularly see each screen.</p> <h2 id="integration-with-an-energy-efficient-digital-signage-player">Integration with an energy-efficient digital signage player</h2> <p>Digital signage software works in conjunction with a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. The software allows users to manage their digital signage content, and the digital signage player then renders this content to the display screen. Make sure that your digital signage player integrates with an <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">energy-efficient digital signage player</a>. Some digital signage players are much more advanced and require much more power than is necessary for your digital signage needed. If their chosen digital signage content management software does not integrate with a digital signage player that is appropriate for their needs, businesses can significantly overpay for their digital signage deployment.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-api-integration">Digital signage API integration</h2> <p>Perhaps you want your digital signage content to display dynamically based on changes in other datasets. For example, maybe you only want your digital signs to show special offers for in-stock products. To do this, you must use a <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a> do integrate your digital signage content management software with your inventory database. If you can see your business using dynamic digital signage content, make sure that your chosen digital signage software features an API.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-your-own-digital-sign">How to get started with your own digital sign</h2> <p>Getting started with your own digital sign is easy. Check out Screenly’s options for digital signage content management software for free with our <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day, no-credit-card-required free trial</a>. Also, learn more about our energy-efficient digital signage player <a href="/digital-signage-players/">here</a>. If you have any questions about getting started, feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/09/30/top-features-digital-signage-content-management-software/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/09/30/top-features-digital-signage-content-management-software/Mon, 30 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>An engaged employee is one who is excited about their job, knows the goals of the company, and has a clear plan for achieving those goals. In addition to these characteristics, an engaged employee works collaboratively with their team members and continuously brings creativity and passion to the firm. They are excited about their job, and they find their role purposeful and motivating.</p> <p>Sounds ideal, right? Every company wants high levels of employee engagement, and many “talk the talk” when it comes to discussing their desire and need for engaged employees. However, when it comes to actionable strategies and efforts for increasing employee engagement, many companies show up empty-handed.</p> <p>The issue of disengaged employees is an issue that firms must address – it is prevalent and extremely costly. A <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/241649/employee-engagement-rise.aspx">recent Gallup Poll</a> finds that only 34% of employees in the United States are engaged in their jobs (an improvement from previous years!). Additionally, <a href="https://news.gallup.com/businessjournal/162953/tackle-employees-stagnating-engagement.aspx">another Gallup study</a> estimates that disengaged employees cost the economy between $450 billion to $550 billion per year. So, what can a company do to increase employee engagement among their team members?</p> <p>In this article, we discuss how companies can use digital signs to increase employee engagement. Deploying digital signage with an integrated communication plan is a real, actionable strategy that firms can use to increase employee engagement. Below we show you what to content to display and the technical details of how to display it. <br/><br/></p> <h2 id="why-is-digital-signage-a-great-tool-for-increasing-employee-engagement">Why is digital signage a great tool for increasing employee engagement?</h2> <p>First, you may be wondering, What is a digital sign? A digital sign is any display screen or monitor that shows media content. This content can include <a href="/blog/2018/12/17/in-store-advertising/">in-store advertisements</a>, <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">data dashboards</a>, <a href="/blog/2019/09/09/display-traffic-digital-sign/">live traffic updates</a>, or a <a href="/apps/google-calendar/">team’s Google Calendar</a>. Check out our page on <a href="/use-cases/">digital signage use cases</a> to learn more.</p> <p>One way to think of a digital sign, especially in the corporate office environment, is as a modern-day bulletin board. Instead of pinning up paper print outs of announcements and other messages, teams can now display engaging 1080p Full HD images, videos, and live web page content on a digital screen. Digital signs are a visual communication medium, and with the right content, they can be extremely engaging.</p> <p>Another positive characteristic of digital signs is that they are a direct communication channel between the company and employees. Everyone can see the same message at the same time. This medium is different from non-direct communication methods where managers and middle-managers pass on a company-wide message to their respective employees. The practice can result in inconsistent messages, rumors, and misunderstandings.</p> <p>Additionally, a digital sign is a time-efficient communication medium that does not require participation from the message recipient. An employee can simply walk by the digital sign, glance at the content, and go on with their day. This communication method is ideal for displaying simple notices, such as HR updates, or for <a href="/blog/2019/06/07/grafana-dashboard/">displaying real-time business data</a>. With digital signs, teams can communicate more efficiently and reduce the amount of time that employees spend in meetings. <br/><br/></p> <h2 id="what-content-should-teams-display-on-digital-signs-to-increase-employee-engagement">What content should teams display on digital signs to increase employee engagement?</h2> <p>To effectively increase employee engagement, teams will need an integrated content plan for their digital signs. Below we list several content ideas and use cases that will help you get the most out of your digital signage deployment.</p> <p>One content idea is to use digital signs for public recognition of individual and team achievements. Great work needs to be recognized, and it needs to be recognized publicly. This content is sure to make the recognized employee feel valued, and this content may also inspire other employees to go the extra mile on their own tasks.</p> <p>Even if there is not a huge win or particular achievement, teams can use digital signs to feature team members and projects of various departments within the organization. This content idea is great for large corporations, where one department may rarely interact with another department. Such content can help with team-building and creating a more collaborative work environment.</p> <p>Another team-building content strategy for digital signage is to display content that features and welcome new employees. This strategy will help create a more friendly work culture, where new employees feel like part of the team rather than like outsiders. This content can feature fun facts or background information on the new employee – the content should be more than just his name, title, and photo! Companies can likewise feature fun facts and background information on company executives to provide a more human element to possibly distant executive leadership.</p> <p>Tracking, reviewing, and hitting team goals is an essential part of fostering employee engagement, and digital signs can help on this front as well. Teams can use digital signs to <a href="/blog/2019/06/07/grafana-dashboard/">display business KPI metrics</a> so that everyone is on the same page regarding the team’s progress. When numbers are on track, teams can celebrate their success. Additionally, when numbers could be improved, teams can work together to identify and solve any issues or roadblocks.</p> <p>Lastly, companies must build a culture of purpose and mission to keep employees engaged. People need to know not only what they are trying to achieve but also why it is important and who it will impact. To help build this culture, teams can use digital signs to communicate the company’s mission and impact in the world. One way to communicate this message is by displaying customer success stories that feature how the company has improved the customer’s life or business. Additionally, companies can display content features on recent corporate social responsibility efforts or community engagement projects.</p> <p>As you can see, teams have a wide variety of content strategies that they can implement to have digital signs improve employee engagement. One piece of advice here is that imperfect content that is on your screen is better than half-finished content that sits on a hard drive forever. Sometimes, teams will take forever to reach perfection at the expense of not completing the task. Make content and show it! <br/><br/></p> <h2 id="what-software-and-hardware-do-i-need-to-launch-a-digital-sign">What software and hardware do I need to launch a digital sign?</h2> <p>To launch your first digital sign and implement these content strategies, you will need a few different components. First, you will need a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a physical device that renders digital signage content to your display. Any screen or monitor can work as a display screen, so long as it accepts HDMI input. Most digital signage players use an HDMI connection to connect to display screens.</p> <p>Next, you will need <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage management software</a>. This software allows you to upload, schedule, and manage content on a screen from a central web interface. This software makes digital signage content management easy and efficient, especially compared to the content management processes of the past. Before digital signage software, users would have to physically visit each display and <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">manually upload content with a USB drive</a> to each digital signage player.</p> <p>Check out Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage solution</a> to learn more about setting up your first digital sign. <br/><br/></p> <h2 id="a-final-thought-increasing-employee-engagement-with-digital-signs">A final thought increasing employee engagement with digital signs</h2> <p>Engaged employees help companies achieve their goals more effectively than disengaged employees do. When companies increase levels of employee engagement, they also improve in other areas as well, such as decreasing employee turnover, increasing customer satisfaction, and increasing revenue. While we listed many content ideas above on how to use digital signs to increase employee engagement, there are plenty of other content ideas out there!</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130211005999/en/Dale-Carnegie-Training-Uncovers-Major-Drivers-Employee">Dale Carnegie study</a> found that improving an employee’s confidence in leadership, pride in the organization, and their relationships with supervisors has a positive impact on employee engagement. Create content that impacts those areas, and get that content displaying on your digital signs!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/09/23/improving-employee-engagement-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/09/23/improving-employee-engagement-digital-signage/Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>To have a great digital sign, you need great digital signage content. Without great content, your digital sign can quickly fade into the background. In the worst cases, viewers regard a digital sign with poor content as an eyesore and annoyance. Below we detail several points to keep in mind when designing digital signage content. If implemented, these tips will help you get the most out of your screen deployment. <br/><br/></p> <h2 id="keep-in-mind-the-viewers-proximity-to-the-sign-and-their-time-spent-in-front-of-the-sign">Keep in mind the viewer’s proximity to the sign and their time spent in front of the sign</h2> <p>As with all design tasks, the designer must keep in mind the individual who will be using their designs. With digital signage content, the individual that designers need to focus on is, of course, the viewer.</p> <p>Time and space are important factors to consider when designing digital signage content. Sometimes, digital signage content is viewed up close; on other occasions, it is viewed from far away. Also, digital signage content can be viewed in passing for just a few seconds. In other cases, a digital sign is seen for minutes, such as when an individual views a <a href="/blog/2019/03/17/medical-office-digital-sign/">digital sign in a doctor’s office</a> as they wait for their appointment.</p> <p>Accordingly, digital signage content must be designed to match the users’ temporal and spatial relationships to the content. Don’t display complicated spreadsheets and data visualizations when viewers will only see the sign for a few seconds, such as in a busy hallway. On a similar note, make sure to enlarge headlines and use minimal text if viewers will only see your content from far away (10 feet or more). <br/><br/></p> <h2 id="make-your-content-eye-catching-and-adhere-to-basic-design-principles">Make your content eye-catching and adhere to basic design principles</h2> <p>Your digital sign is a communication medium, and to actually communicate with viewers, your digital sign needs to attract and hold each viewer’s attention. The best way to do that is by taking full advantage of the digital sign’s technology and capabilities.</p> <p>With the right digital signage player, your digital sign can display stunning image and video content in 1080p Full HD resolution. Display images that pop, and display animated video content that steals potential viewers away from whatever it is that they are doing near your digital sign. Once a viewer engages with your content, be sure that your content provides value and speaks to the viewer. You want their eyes to stay on your screen rather than revert to their smartphones.</p> <p>To create eye-catching content, you can use some basic design principles to guide your content creation. For example, remember to kern your text. Kerning it is the action of properly spacing and aligning your text. You can learn more about kerning <a href="https://www.canva.com/learn/kerning/">here</a>.</p> <p>Secondly, don’t be afraid of using contrasting colors. For digital signage content, contrasting colors can enhance your content’s visibility and legibility.</p> <p>Additionally, be sure to take full advantage of your digital sign’s ability to display 1080p Full HD content. Be sure to use vector graphics rather than vector images, and fit your designs to a 1920x1080 pixel grid. Take full advantage of the screen’s space and resolution! <br/><br/></p> <h2 id="have-a-purpose-for-your-digital-signage-content">Have a purpose for your digital signage content</h2> <p>Lastly, it is essential to have a definition of success when it comes to your digital signage content. What impact do you want to have on your viewers? Perhaps you are trying to make viewers aware of a new HR policy with a <a href="/use-cases/corporate-campus-digital-signage/">corporate campus digital sign</a>. Alternatively, perhaps you are trying to upsell a customer on a food-and-beverage combo using a <a href="/use-cases/coffee-shop-digital-signage/">digital sign in a coffee shop</a>.</p> <p>Whatever is the case, take time to think about success metrics for your digital signage content. Measure what you are trying to achieve and adjust your digital signage content strategy over time to optimize for your goal.</p> <p>Relatedly, be sure to leave enough space for your logo when designing digital signage content. For some display screens, such as <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">in-store digital signs</a>, it is clear that the sign and its content is associated with the particular company. However, for digital signs that are in public places, be sure to place your logo on all digital signage content. You want customers to be able to attribute your content and offers to your brand. <br/><br/></p> <h2 id="ideas-on-sourcing-digital-signage-content">Ideas on sourcing digital signage content</h2> <p>Sometimes companies become overwhelmed when it comes to creating digital signage content. They don’t know how to do it, and they don’t know where to go. These difficulties can lead to long delays in the company launching their digital signs.</p> <p>Digital signage content creation doesn’t have to be a major pain point, as there are a ton of ways to create beautiful content. For starters, you can always outsource digital signage content design to designers on popular freelancing sites such as <a href="https://www.upwork.com/">UpWork</a> and <a href="https://www.fiverr.com/">Fiverr</a>. You can find a great designer for almost any budget on these platforms.</p> <p>Another option is to use layman design tools such as <a href="https://www.canva.com/">Canva</a>, <a href="https://www.designwizard.com/">DesignWizard</a>, or <a href="https://snappa.com/">Snappa</a>. These tools have prebuilt designs that non-designers can customize with their own text, images, graphics, and color schemes. Almost anyone can create beautiful content with these tools.</p> <p>Lastly, be sure to check out our article on finding <a href="/blog/2018/06/20/stock-images-for-digital-signage/">free stock photos for digital signage content</a>. With a beautiful stock photo and some overlaid text, you can get great looking digital signage content in no time. <br/><br/></p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-digital-signage">Getting started with digital signage</h2> <p>If you don’t already have a digital sign of your own, you will need a display screen, a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>, and <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>. To get started, <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> with Screenly’s digital signage management software. Next, select a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player option</a>. If you have any questions on getting started, reach out to us at <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/09/16/digital-signage-content-design/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/09/16/digital-signage-content-design/Mon, 16 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>If you live near a major city and commute to and from work, dealing with traffic congestion is likely an all-too-frequent and dreaded event. Technologist <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/his-tunnel-nixed-elon-musk-doubles-down-subterranean-dream-n941981">Elon Musk described traffic congestion</a> as “soul crushing.” Additionally, in an attempt to reduce traffic congestion in Los Angeles, he founded <a href="https://www.boringcompany.com/">The Boring Company</a>, which aims to build a massive network of underground transportation tunnels.</p> <p>Not only is traffic soul-crushing, but it is also wasteful. In the <a href="https://static.tti.tamu.edu/tti.tamu.edu/documents/mobility-report-2019.pdf">2019 Urban Mobility Report</a> from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, researchers found that the American commuter spends an extra 54 hours commuting each year due to traffic congestion. That’s a lot of time and a lot of lost productivity.</p> <p>So, what is a commuter to do? In this article, we’re not going to teach you how to wipe out traffic in your city for good. We’re keeping our blueprints on how to build a network of underground transportation tunnels to ourselves (sorry!). However, we will teach you how to use digital signage to avoid traffic during your commute.</p> <h2 id="what-does-digital-signage-have-to-do-with-traffic">What does digital signage have to do with traffic?</h2> <p>A digital sign is any display screen that shows content to viewers. Digital signs can show <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">advertisements in retail stores</a>, <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/grafana/">business metric dashboards in offices</a>, or <a href="/use-cases/gyms/">fitness class schedules in gyms</a>. That’s just a few of the many possibilities for <a href="/use-cases/">digital signage use cases</a>.</p> <p>Digital signs can also show live traffic information that is local to your city and office location. Imagine a beautiful display screen on a central wall at your workplace with live traffic data for each employee’s commute. When teams display this information on a digital sign, individuals can stay up-to-date with traffic changes and adjust their schedules and commuting routes accordingly. Also, individuals can view these traffic updates at-a-glance, as a digital sign is an always-on communication medium and doesn’t require login or authentication details for access.</p> <p>Note that this traffic information can be visual too – it doesn’t have to be just boring text. For example, you can display a map of the major roadways in your area colored by each road’s relative traffic speeds. From the fastest to the slowest traffic, you can see roads colored green, orange, red, and dark red, respectively.</p> <p>In addition to live data, you can also display historical (and potentially predictive) information that shows the typical traffic patterns for any time on any day of the week. This information can help you plan and schedule commuting times for meetings and other events that happen during the workday.</p> <h2 id="setting-up-a-digital-sign-to-display-traffic-information">Setting up a digital sign to display traffic information</h2> <p>If you’re sold and you want to display traffic data on a digital sign, this section is for you. First, we’ll go over the components you need for your first digital sign. Second, we’ll discuss how to find and display traffic data on your sign.</p> <p>To build your first digital sign, you will need a digital signage player, digital signage software, and a display screen. A <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a> acts as the brains behind your screen and works to process and render your media content. Check out our page on <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player options</a> to learn how to purchase a device or build your own.</p> <p>The next step is getting started with <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> that is compatible with your digital signage player. Digital signage software allows users to schedule and manage content on their digital sign from anywhere via a web interface. Before digital signage software, users would have to <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">manually update digital signage content</a> by physically visiting each sign with a USB drive and keyboard. Digital signage software has made this manual-update process a thing of the past. With modern digital signage software, teams can dramatically reduce the number of labor hours that they need to devote to digital signage content management.</p> <p>Lastly, you’ll need to source the actual traffic data. The best way to do this is by using <a href="https://www.google.com/maps">Google Maps</a>. With a quick setting change, Google Maps can display live traffic data that is superimposed on the map image. Google Maps highlights streets with different colors to indicate different traffic speeds. Importantly, this tool is free to use!</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/digital-screen-traffic_hu_1c36af5a60f485bd.webp 480w, /images/blog/digital-screen-traffic_hu_ebb94ada4a2b0814.webp 768w, /images/blog/digital-screen-traffic_hu_53b3e8c5396dde86.webp 1024w, /images/blog/digital-screen-traffic_hu_e8f92b5618b90668.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/digital-screen-traffic_hu_9ad4422827db4981.webp 480w, /images/blog/digital-screen-traffic_hu_f544466349923d0d.webp 768w, /images/blog/digital-screen-traffic_hu_cdf3657d64a08228.webp 1024w, /images/blog/digital-screen-traffic_hu_f1971c338f901ccd.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/digital-screen-traffic_hu_53b3e8c5396dde86.webp" alt="A screenshot of the Google Maps interface with a traffic-enabled map of New Orleans." class="center" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="557" > </picture> <p>To get a link to a traffic-enabled Google Map for your area, go to Google Maps and fit the screen to your desired location area. This area should be big enough to include the office location and the residential addresses for each employee. Next, click the top-left hamburger menu (the three horizontal lines). Then, click “Traffic” from the pop-out menu, and the live traffic data will display on your map! At the bottom of the traffic-enabled map, you can set a day of the week and time to view historical traffic trends. To get the share link for the traffic-enabled map, click the top-left hamburger menu again and select the “Share or embed map” option. Then, in the following pop-up box, click “Copy Link” to copy the link for later use.</p> <p>To deploy your first digital sign, <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a free trial account</a> with Screenly’s digital signage software, and set up your first screen. You’ll need a digital signage player to set up your first screen, and you can review your <a href="/digital-signage-players/">options for sourcing a digital signage player here</a>. Learn more about setting up a screen with Screenly in the video below:</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3VWtcbsI8PA" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div> <p>Once your screen is set up and you’re logged in to the Screenly web interface, click the Assets tab in the top menu and click the “+ Add Asset” button. Next, click the URL tab and paste the share link for your traffic-enabled Google Map. Then, click “Save” to add your map to your Screenly account. You will then need to add the URL asset to a playlist and assign the playlist to your screen. Once you assign the playlist to your screen, the map will start displaying on your digital sign!</p> <p>For step-by-step instructions on how to add a URL asset and other content to your Screenly account, take a look at the following video:</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HZUJWLsTVmU" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div> <p>For instructions on how to create a playlist with your Screenly account, check out this video:</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CmY0q-s_3pY" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div> <p>If you watched each of the videos above, you should be a Screenly expert!</p> <h2 id="save-yourself-from-soul-crushing-traffic">Save yourself from soul-crushing traffic</h2> <p>That’s all for now! You should now be able to display live traffic data on a digital sign. Use this data to optimize your commutes and save yourself from soul-crushing traffic! You can also use your digital sign to display other useful information, such as <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/grafana/">Grafana data dashboards</a>, <a href="/use-cases/applications/security-camera-display/">security camera footage</a>, or <a href="/apps/google-calendar/">Google Calendar schedules</a>. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/09/09/display-traffic-digital-sign/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/09/09/display-traffic-digital-sign/Mon, 09 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p><em>This image is from the <a href="https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/dorian-slows-crawl-over-grand-bahama">NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory</a>.</em></p> <p>If you’re on the east coast of the U.S., you’ve likely been keeping track of Hurricane Dorian. At the time of this writing, it is a Category 5 storm with sustained winds over 157 mph. For Category 5 storms, the <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php">Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</a> states that “catastrophic damage will occur” and “most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.” [Updated: Hurricane Dorian is currently a Category 3 as of 10:30am EST on Tuesday, September 3rd.] Once, Dorian only threatened the Bahamas and Florida. However, its path has changed, and the storm now poses a risk to the Carolinas as well.</p> <p>Given the changing nature and unpredictability of this storm, those in its potential path understandably want to keep an eye on its every move. In this article, we’ll show you how to use Raspberry Pi digital signage to stay informed on Hurricane Dorian’s path. With a Raspberry Pi digital sign, users can stay up-to-date on Hurricane Dorian without having to tune into the distracting news cycles on TV.</p> <h2 id="how-to-set-up-a-raspberry-pi-digital-sign">How to set up a Raspberry Pi digital sign</h2> <p>To get started with a Raspberry Pi digital sign, you will need to enable your Raspberry Pi to render content to a digital screen. This process involves flashing your Raspberry Pi’s SD card with a new disk image. You can download the Screenly disk image for Raspberry Pi digital signage by signing up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free trial account with Screenly</a> (no credit card required!). Note that Screenly only works with the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B/B+ and the Raspberry Pi CM3, however our open-source version will work with any Raspberry Pi model. If you prefer to work with our open-source edition, see the bottom of this article for more information.</p> <br /> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-add-screen-interface_hu_6fd969d14071b7ba.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-add-screen-interface_hu_e61cd90ebde2b3a8.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-add-screen-interface_hu_9e3e32901611c83f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-add-screen-interface_hu_7e02918ce8a8df3b.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-add-screen-interface_hu_1056a58bc1f817eb.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-add-screen-interface_hu_b1caacea633e9fd3.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-add-screen-interface_hu_3d213a48c0260bb2.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-add-screen-interface_hu_840d2f25df292969.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-add-screen-interface_hu_9e3e32901611c83f.webp" alt="This is the Screenly web inteface page for adding a new digital signage screen." class="center" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <br /> <p>To get started, log in to your Screenly account, and click the “Screens” tab on the top menu bar. Then, on the top right, click the “+ Add Screen” button. There you can find a “Screenly disk image” button. Click it to download the disk image. Once you have the disk image downloaded to your desktop, use a tool like <a href="https://www.balena.io/etcher/">Balena’s Etcher</a> to flash the new disk image to your SD card.</p> <p>Next, place the newly flashed SD card into your Raspberry Pi and plug it into a power source. Then, connect your Raspberry Pi via HDMI to a digital screen or monitor. Expect the bootup process to take a few minutes. Once your Raspberry Pi is on and displaying the Screenly splash screen, pair your screen with your Screenly account. You can do this by entering the PIN displayed on your screen in the “Step 4” box on the Screenly web interface.</p> <p>If the setup went smoothly, congratulations! You now have a Raspberry Pi digital sign. If you had any trouble, check out our more detailed video on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE_C_n6dhyo">how to install Screenly on your Raspberry Pi</a>.</p> <h2 id="adding-hurricane-dorian-content-feeds-to-your-digital-sign">Adding Hurricane Dorian content feeds to your digital sign</h2> <br /> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/hurricane-dorian-digital-sign_hu_69fedad4cde9cfd3.webp 480w, /images/blog/hurricane-dorian-digital-sign_hu_86476865bfa889d.webp 768w, /images/blog/hurricane-dorian-digital-sign_hu_d45cdee59ac4c1ad.webp 1024w, /images/blog/hurricane-dorian-digital-sign_hu_79a8fae1d41e1dcb.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/hurricane-dorian-digital-sign_hu_51ba1430eae773d1.webp 480w, /images/blog/hurricane-dorian-digital-sign_hu_d261ea86f84eed45.webp 768w, /images/blog/hurricane-dorian-digital-sign_hu_35258d2a5f71caec.webp 1024w, /images/blog/hurricane-dorian-digital-sign_hu_19891316613f95a8.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/hurricane-dorian-digital-sign_hu_d45cdee59ac4c1ad.webp" alt="A satellite image of Hurricane Dorian displayed on a digital sign." class="center" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="833" > </picture> <br /> <p>Once you successfully pair your screen with your online account, you will need to add Hurricane Dorian content feeds to your digital sign. To do this, you will need to add URL links to your Screenly digital signage account and display live webpages on your screen.</p> <p>One of the best sites for monitoring hurricane activity is <a href="https://www.cyclocane.com/">Cyclocane</a>. The website compiles great weather and prediction data from a variety of sources and displays it in a clutter-free, intuitive layout. Check out their <a href="https://www.cyclocane.com/dorian-storm-tracker/">Hurricane Dorian storm tracker</a> for the latest details on the storm.</p> <p>Next, depending on what Hurricane Dorian content you want to display, check out the links below.</p> <p>To add land hazard updates and a live spaghetti-model map, use this URL:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-shell" data-lang="shell"><span style="display:flex;"><span>https://www.cyclocane.com/dorian-storm-tracker/#section_0 </span></span></code></pre></div><p>To add a satellite loop (this looks amazing), use this URL:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-shell" data-lang="shell"><span style="display:flex;"><span>https://www.cyclocane.com/dorian-storm-tracker/#section_2 </span></span></code></pre></div><p>To add watches, warnings, and time estimate data, use this URL:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-shell" data-lang="shell"><span style="display:flex;"><span>https://www.cyclocane.com/dorian-storm-tracker/#section_5 </span></span></code></pre></div><p>To add these web pages to your digital sign, navigate to the “Assets” page on the Screenly web interface. Next, click the “+ Add Asset” button and select the “URL” option to add each URL. Then, add each URL one-by-one and be sure to click “Save.”</p> <p>With the URLs added to your Screenly account, the next step is to add these URLs to a playlist. To do so, click on the “Playlists” tab on the top menu. Then, click the “+ New Playlist” button. Name the playlist “Hurricane Dorian,” and select the name of your recently added screen. Next, click the “+ Add” button to add each URL to the playlist. To finish up, click “Save” to add each URL to the playlist.</p> <p>After a few moments, you should then see the added Hurricane Dorian content on your Raspberry Pi digital sign! If you have any trouble adding content to you Raspberry Pi digital sign, check out our detailed YouTube video on the topic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZUJWLsTVmU">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="stay-safe-out-there">Stay safe out there</h2> <p>Now that you have a Raspberry Pi digital sign with several Hurricane Dorian content feeds, you should be well aware of the storm’s every move. Remember that mother nature is powerful and unforgiving, so be sure to abide by any evacuation orders for your area. Also, be sure to follow any recommendations from local emergency services, such as having enough water for a few days. Stay safe!</p> <p>If you have any trouble setting up your Raspberry Pi digital sign, don’t hesitate to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>.</p> <p>– Note that we do have an open-source edition of Screenly called Screenly OSE. If you prefer to work with our open-source software, check out our page on <a href="https://www.screenly.io/ose/">Screenly OSE</a> to learn more about getting started. Note that this article references the paid version of Screenly, which has a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/08/30/hurricane-tracking-weather-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/08/30/hurricane-tracking-weather-digital-signage/Fri, 30 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p><em>This <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lenovophotolibrary/5881677462">image</a> is from Flickr.</em></p> <p>To deploy a digital sign, you will need to mount the sign in place. Many individuals treat this aspect of digital signage installation as an afterthought. However, proper planning for your digital signage mount is critical for a successful and safe deployment. In this article, we’ll get you up-to-speed with everything you need to know for a successful digital signage mount. We’ll discuss VESA-mounting standards, hardware options, and hardware management tools.</p> <h2 id="what-is-vesa-and-why-is-it-important-for-digital-signage">What is VESA, and why is it important for digital signage?</h2> <p>VESA is an acronym for the <a href="https://vesa.org/">Video Electronics Standards Association</a>. VESA is a non-profit that “supports and sets industry-wide interface standards for the PC, workstation, and consumer electronics industries.” In other words, VESA dictates the measurements for 4-hole attachments and screws that are used to mount display screens.</p> <p>To individuals deploying digital signage, VESA is an extremely useful set of standards. Not only does VESA help ensure compatibility between display screens and mounting hardware, but it also helps ensure safety. Digital signage users need to ensure that screens are properly secured and not at risk of falling. This practice is especially necessary when users mount display screens in public places.</p> <p>When choosing a digital display screen and mounting hardware for digital signage, make sure that the components are VESA compliant and compatible with each other. VESA has several standards, so know that “VESA compliant” labels on a screen and mounting apparatus does not guarantee that the two are compatible.</p> <p>For most digital signage deployments, users will work with VESA’s FDMI MIS-F standard. This standard has specifications for mounting monitors over 31-inches and up to 250 lbs. For the FDMI MIS-F standard, hole patterns have 200mm spacing, and compliant screw types include M6 x 8mm or 10 mm and M8 x 15 mm screws. You can read more about VESA standards <a href="https://vesa.org/vesa-standards/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="types-of-mounting-hardware-and-placement-options">Types of mounting hardware and placement options</h2> <p>When it comes to the actual mounting hardware for your digital sign, there are endless options on the market. While it is easy to get overwhelmed, differences in digital signage mounting hardware can be categorized into just three groups: (1) mounting locations, (2) screen movement features, and (3) the number of screens supported.</p> <p>For mounting location, users have a variety of options. Screens can be attached to static mounts or free-standing mobile mounts. For static mounts, users can choose between wall, ceiling, and even static floor-based mounts. For free-standing mobile mounts, screens attach to a mobile cart that users can wheel from location to location.</p> <p>The next area to consider when purchasing a digital signage mount is screen movement. Screens can either be mounted flat, tilted, or with the ability to move with full motion on multiple axes. Users must consider screen movement features in conjunction with their desired screen-mounting location. For example, ceiling mounts will need to allow for tilting functionality, as viewers will need to look up at the screen from ground-level. Similarly, depending on the use case for the digital sign, the display screen may need to be mounted on an articulated-arm mount that allows the screen to display from different angles and directions. For example, the screen may need to be angled towards a conference table during meetings and later pushed against the wall for general-purpose events.</p> <p>Lastly, individuals deploying digital signs will need to consider the number of screens that they wish to feature on each mount. For example, restaurants using <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">digital menu boards</a> will need mounting hardware that supports several display screens. Also, <a href="/apps/raspberry-pi-video-wall/">digital signage video walls</a> will need mounting hardware that supports multiple display screens in stacked configurations. With video walls, users must also consider the bezel size of their digital screens and the minimum spacing between screens that the mounting hardware allows. For a video wall to achieve a “wow-factor” with viewers, users must keep bezel size and screen separation distances to a minimum.</p> <p>Also, when mounting your digital sign, be sure to consider local laws on screen mounting. Depending on the size of the installation and the type of building, you may need to consider fire-codes and other construction-related rules for your area. Additionally, for U.S.-based individuals, consider laws such as the <a href="https://adata.org/learn-about-ada">American Disability Act (ADA)</a>. For digital signs in public buildings, the ADA requires that the signs are placed between 27 and 80 inches above the ground and protrude no more than four inches from the wall. These requirements help ensure that digital signs are both safe and accessible for building visitors with disabilities.</p> <h2 id="considerations-when-dealing-with-your-mounting-surface">Considerations when dealing with your mounting surface</h2> <p>Once you purchase mounting hardware and a compatible display screen, you will need to perform the installation. Whether you do the installation yourself or hire a professional, several components must be considered.</p> <p>If you’re using a static mount, consider the material of the wall, ceiling, or floor where you plan on installing your mount. It’s certainly not a good idea to hang a heavy screen and mounting apparatus on drywall. You may need to use a stud-finding device to locate studs that can support the weight of your digital sign. Additionally, you should consult your building’s blueprints to ensure that you do not drill into electric or plumbing work within the wall. For brick or cement walls, be sure to use a compatible drill, drill bits, and screws.</p> <p>You will want to use proper technique for the material you’re drilling into, including pilot holes and wall anchors. If you’re thinking of cutting corners when it comes to installing your screen mount, remember that your screen and associated hardware represent a significant investment. Also, no one wants to deal with a broken screen and an unsightly hole in the wall. Dealing with the consequences of a poorly-done screen installation can take much longer than the time required to do the job properly in the first place.</p> <p>Remember that free-standing mobile mounts are an option, and going this route can save you the time and hassle of dealing with a wall-mounted screen.</p> <h2 id="hardware-and-cable-management-with-mounted-digital-signs">Hardware and cable management with mounted digital signs</h2> <p>One crucial component of a digital sign is a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. This device is a small computer (some can fit in the palm of your hand) that renders content to your digital screen. This device will need to be placed next to your digital screen, as a digital signage player connects directly to the display screen via HDMI cable.</p> <p>Some digital signage players are small enough and light enough to attach to the back of your display screen with Velcro. Users can connect the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Raspberry Pi based Screenly Player</a> to a display screen with Velcro, as the Screenly Player only weighs 0.45 lbs. For larger digital signage players, you will need to purchase a mountable computer holder. Note that if your digital sign is in a public location that is unattended by company staff, you may want to consider purchasing lockable computer holder.</p> <p>You will also need to spend some time considering cable management. For a single screen digital sign deployment, this won’t be a huge hassle. Look online for “cable management covers” or “cable concealers,” and you will be able to find a wide range of products. With a few Zip Ties and cable covers, you can ensure that your digital sign will look great and stay organized.</p> <h2 id="where-can-i-buy-vesa-mounts-for-my-digital-sign-display-screen">Where can I buy VESA mounts for my digital sign display screen?</h2> <p>Purchasing a VESA mount is easy, as there are a ton of online retailers and resellers. Remember that there are multiple VESA standards, and you will need to make sure that your VESA hardware is compatible with your display screen. To find out which VESA standard your display screen is compatible with, measure the distance between screw holes on the back of your screen. You can then match these sizes with the appropriate VESA standard and compatible mounting hardware. If your display screen is not compatible with any VESA standard hardware, know that VESA adapters do exist.</p> <p>To buy a VESA mount, check out the hundreds of VESA mount listings on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a>. If you want to discuss VESA mount options in-person, your local electronics or hardware store should have a selection of VESA-compliant mounts. The store should also have several knowledgeable employees to help you with your purchase. Another seller with multiple VESA hardware products is <a href="https://www.ergotron.com/en-us/support/vesa-standard">Ergotron</a>. While we at Screenly don’t recommend any particular VESA-compliant hardware, know that there are a ton of great products to choose from on the market.</p> <p>That’s all for now! Hopefully, this article has provided a useful overview of mounting hardware and related considerations for installing your first digital sign. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>. We’re here to help!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/08/19/vesa-mount-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/08/19/vesa-mount-digital-signage/Mon, 19 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p><em>This <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wfryer/8170055444">image</a> is from Wesley Fryer on Flickr.</em></p> <p>In the past, content management on digital screens was a time-consuming and involved process. A user would have to physically visit a digital screen and <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">manually swap out a USB stick</a> or DVD to change or update the screen’s content. Because of this difficulty, many digital screens would play the same content for weeks at a time.</p> <p>In recent years, <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> has dramatically improved the workflow for managing content on digital screens. With a combination of hardware and software, digital signs are now easier to manage than ever before. In this post, we’ll detail how modern companies manage content for both a single digital screen or an entire fleet of digital screens.</p> <h2 id="what-can-i-do-with-digital-signage-software">What can I do with digital signage software?</h2> <p>To easily manage content on a digital screen, digital signage software is the tool you need. Digital signage software allows users to upload, organize, and schedule content on their digital signs from a central web interface. This web interface is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection via a web browser. Instead of needing to visit the digital screen physically, users can now update content in just a few clicks from the comfort of their laptop or office computer.</p> <p>Digital signage software works by communicating with a screen’s <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a small physical device that functions as the brains behind the screen. The digital signage player receives digital media content and playlist schedules via an internet connection, and the device then formats and renders this content to the display screen. Digital signage players come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and some even operate on the <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi computer-on-a-chip</a>.</p> <p>Modern digital signage software allows users to display a variety of content formats. These formats include image, video, and even live web page content. Additionally, screens can show this content in stunning 1080p HD resolution on a compatible digital signage display. Users can then organize this content into curated playlists and assign these playlists to individual screens. If a user is working with a large digital screen deployment, the user can assign a single playlist to multiple screens at once.</p> <p>Another useful feature of digital signage software is the ability for users to monitor a screen’s playback status remotely. If a screen experiences playback issues, a user can see this remotely on the software’s web interface. Before digital signage software, a screen could malfunction for days or weeks before an assigned employee would notice and fix this issue. Remote screen monitoring allows the relevant employee to identify and fix malfunctioning screens quickly and easily.</p> <h2 id="why-security-matters-with-digital-screens">Why security matters with digital screens</h2> <p>Teams must consider security when deploying digital screens and working with associated content management systems. By their nature, digital screens display content to large audiences. If hackers gain access to a screen, they can display embarrassing content to employees, customers, or the general public. Check out our article on <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">digital signage hacks</a> to learn more.</p> <p>Additionally, hackers can use unsecured digital screens as a backdoor to business servers and critical IT infrastructure. These attacks can come via vulnerabilities in the screen’s digital signage software or via physical vulnerabilities in exposed digital signage players. Often, public-facing screens are left unattended during all hours of the day and night, and hackers can use these unsupervised hours to gain physical access to the digital screens.</p> <p>To protect digital screens from hackers, teams must ensure that both the screen’s digital signage software and digital signage player have a variety of security features. When choosing digital signage software, make sure that software updates occur automatically so that you are protected against known vulnerabilities as soon as the software company releases a fix. Additionally, ensure that there aren’t any open network ports that can be exploited by a hacker.</p> <p>Lastly, when it comes to the digital signage player, make sure that the media player uses a secure operating system, such as <a href="https://ubuntu.com/core">Ubuntu Core</a>. Additionally, check that all communications between the player and server are fully encrypted. This last point should go without saying; however, it is amazing how many digital signage solutions do not use encryption! To read more, check out our article on <a href="/secure-digital-signage/">digital signage security</a>.</p> <h2 id="running-a-digital-advertising-campaign-on-digital-screens">Running a digital advertising campaign on digital screens</h2> <p>Many advertising and marketing firms offer digital advertising opportunities on digital screens. Firms place screens in public spaces with high foot traffic, such as shopping centers, and advertisers pay for screen time. The advertising and marketing firm liaises with advertisers to design, schedule, and deploy new content.</p> <p>Digital signage software greatly assists firms that run digital advertising campaigns on digital screens. With digital signage software, firms can easily change out content without ever having to physically visit their screens. Content can be updated in just a few clicks via the software’s web interface for existing advertising clients as well as for newly on-boarded clients. Without digital signage software, this content updating process would be incredibly time-consuming as these advertising firms often have dozens of screens spread throughout a city or region.</p> <p>Check out our article on how to make a <a href="/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/">digital advertising network</a> to learn more on this topic.</p> <h2 id="advanced-digital-screen-content-management-via-api">Advanced digital screen content management via API</h2> <p>Depending on the digital signage software’s capabilities, advanced users can manage a digital screen’s content automatically via a <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>. Via API, a user can connect their screen’s content management system to their business databases or other data sources. The screen can then automatically change its content depending on preset parameters.</p> <p>One use case for digital signage APIs is with <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail store digital signage</a>. Retail stores may have sales or seasonal offers with a limited inventory. If the retail store’s digital screen connects to the store’s inventory database, the API can automatically pull content that features sold-out items in real-time. This automatic content management is useful, as it allows stores to be accurate with their offerings without dedicating unnecessary employee hours to content management duties.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-your-first-digital-screen-up-and-running">How to get your first digital screen up and running</h2> <p>You’ll need a few components to get your first digital screen up and running. Of course, you’ll need the electronic display screen. This screen doesn’t have to be anything particularly fancy - you can use a standard TV available at your local electronics store. However, if you’re planning to install a commercial-grade screen, <a href="/nec/">NEC</a> has a wide range of durable LED displays. These display screens feature high brightness, warranties for 24/7 display times, and other commercial-grade features.</p> <p>Next, you’ll need to select <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> so that you can easily manage content on your digital screen. Screenly offers a 14-day free trial for its digital signage software, which supports image, video, and live web page content formats. Additionally, Screenly digital signage software is highly secure and supports advanced features such as remote screen health monitoring and content management via digital signage API. To get started with Screenly digital signage software, <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for your free trial here</a>.</p> <p>Lastly, you’ll need a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. Make sure that your digital signage player is compatible with your chosen digital signage software. Screenly’s digital signage player, the Screenly Player, is built on top of the Raspberry Pi system-on-a-chip computer. One can buy this device as a pre-built set with all necessary components or you can self-build a Screenly Player yourself. Learn more about your options with the Screenly Player <a href="/digital-signage-players/">here</a>.</p> <p>If you have any questions about getting started with your first digital screen, know that we are here to help! We love talking with new customers who are just getting started in the world of digital signage. Whether you’re launching a single digital screen or a large fleet of digital screens, feel free to reach out anytime to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/08/08/digital-screens/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/08/08/digital-screens/Thu, 08 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>The above <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-touch-display/">image</a> is from the Raspberry Pi Foundation.</p> <p>When people ask us what screens to use for their digital signage, people often expect to hear a make and model number for a standard TV screen. However, we sometimes recommend a Raspberry Pi display. In this article, we highlight your options for using a Raspberry Pi display. Ideally, the information below will help you choose which type of display screen to use with your digital signage deployment.</p> <h2 id="what-can-i-use-as-a-display-for-my-raspberry-pi-besides-a-tv">What can I use as a display for my Raspberry Pi besides a TV?</h2> <p>A Raspberry Pi display is your alternative to a TV screen for a digital display. The official Raspberry Pi display is the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s 7” touch screen monitor, aptly named the <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-touch-display/">Raspberry Pi Touch Display</a>.</p> <p>The Raspberry Pi 7-inch Touch Display is an 800x400 LCD screen that resembles a tablet to the everyday user. The Raspberry Pi display connects to <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi devices</a> via the Pi’s GPIO port (for power) and the Pi’s DSI port (via ribbon cable for media data).</p> <p>At just 7 inches, this screen is smaller than a standard TV screen. However, it is excellent for certain digital sign deployments, such as <a href="/blog/2018/11/06/digital-signage-grafana-dashboard/">desk digital signs</a> or small digital signs that <a href="/use-cases/coworking/">display meeting room schedules</a>.</p> <h2 id="where-can-i-find-a-13-inch-screen-for-my-raspberry-pi">Where can I find a 13-inch screen for my Raspberry Pi?</h2> <p>You may want a bigger Raspberry Pi display for your digital sign. People often search for compatible 13-inch screens for their Raspberry Pi. This screen size is a typical size for most laptop computers, and it provides a bit more area compared to the Raspberry Pi Touch Display.</p> <p>To find a Raspberry Pi display that is 13 inches or more, search on <a href="https://www.amazon.com">Amazon</a>. While we do not recommend any particular display, there are dozens of options to choose form. Any screen that accepts HMDI input (almost every screen) will be compatible with your Raspberry Pi.</p> <h2 id="where-can-i-buy-a-45-inch-display-thats-compatible-with-a-raspberry-pi">Where can I buy a 4.5-inch display that’s compatible with a Raspberry Pi?</h2> <p>For a variety of reasons, some people prefer a smaller Raspberry Pi display. One popular dimension is 4.5 inches. Note that there are more 4.3-inch Raspberry Pi displays on the market than 4.5-inch displays. However, both sizes are available for purchase.</p> <p>As with the larger screens, visit <a href="https://www.amazon.com">Amazon</a> to find a supplier. Any display screen that can connect via HDMI or DSI-port ribbon cable will be compatible with your Raspberry Pi device.</p> <h2 id="is-the-raspberry-pi-3-compatible-with-any-hdmi-touch-screen">Is the Raspberry Pi 3 compatible with any HDMI touch screen?</h2> <p>Compatibility between Raspberry Pi devices and Raspberry Pi display screens comes down to the available ports. The list of compatible devices includes the popular Raspberry Pi Model 3 Model B and Model B+, as these devices feature an HDMI port. To display content on an HDMI touch screen, all users have to do is connect their Raspberry Pi 3 device to their HDMI touch screen. The connection requires nothing more than a standard HDMI cable. Note that the new Raspberry Pi 4 is also compatible with HDMI touch screens.</p> <h2 id="using-a-raspberry-pi-display-for-digital-signage">Using a Raspberry Pi display for digital signage</h2> <p>To make a digital sign from a Raspberry Pi and Raspberry Pi display, you need <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>. Digital signage software will allow you to manage, schedule, and display content easily on your Raspberry Pi display screen.</p> <p>Users can install <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">Screenly digital signage software</a> on Raspberry Pi Model 3 devices via flashing Screenly software to the Raspberry Pi’s SD card. The software then runs on the Raspberry Pi device and allows the device to process content and render it to the Raspberry Pi display screen. Users can show image, video, and even live web-page content on a Raspberry Pi display with digital signage software.</p> <p>A component of Screenly’s digital signage software is the Screenly web interface. Using the Screenly web interface, users can upload and schedule content from anywhere with an internet connection. Users can also view each Raspberry Pi display’s playback status and quickly see if any of their screens are malfunctioning.</p> <p>For larger digital signage deployments, users can group multiple Raspberry Pi displays using our tag feature. Users can then change the content all at once for screens with the same tag. Additionally, larger teams can set up multi-user accounts. This feature allows teams to give each employee an account with a particular permission level.</p> <h2 id="raspberry-pi-display-use-cases">Raspberry Pi display use cases</h2> <p>There are several <a href="/use-cases/">digital signage use cases</a> where a Raspberry Pi display screen is the perfect choice.</p> <p>One of these use cases is with desk digital signage. The Raspberry Pi 7-inch touchscreen display fits perfectly on any desk or workstation. The screen is small enough not to be a nuisance and large enough to display detailed content. With desk digital signage, users can <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">display company metrics</a>, meeting times, and important company updates to employees. At Screenly, we are a remote team, and team members use <a href="/blog/2018/11/06/digital-signage-grafana-dashboard/">Raspberry Pi displays on their desks</a> to stay up-to-date and in-the-loop on company metrics and upcoming meetings.</p> <p>Another excellent use case for Raspberry Pi displays is for <a href="/use-cases/coworking/">co-working space digital signage</a>. For large shared workspaces, coordinating meeting room bookings is always a hassle. To address this pain point, users can mount a Raspberry Pi display outside of each meeting room. Users can then display the schedule for each room in real-time via Screenly.</p> <h2 id="whats-next-where-do-i-get-a-raspberry-pi-display">What’s next? Where do I get a Raspberry Pi display?</h2> <p>If you think a Raspberry Pi display might be right for you, the first step is purchasing your hardware. You can buy Raspberry Pi display screens via suppliers listed on the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-touch-display/">official page for the Raspberry Pi Touch Display</a>. For Raspberry Pi displays with more unique dimensions, simply search online for the dimensions that you need.</p> <p>Next, to set up your Raspberry Pi display as a digital sign, get started with Screenly. You can <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a 14-day free trial of Screenly</a>. In addition to a Screenly subscription, you will also need a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. You can buy Screenly’s digital signage player, the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>, on <a href="https://go.srly.io/screenlyplayer-us">Amazon</a>. If you have any questions or have trouble getting started, please <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">reach out to Screenly Support</a>. We are always happy to help!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/07/17/raspberry-pi-display/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/07/17/raspberry-pi-display/Wed, 17 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Hello again from our team to yours! It’s hard to believe that the second quarter has come to an end. However, when we look back, it’s also hard to believe all the progress we have made! We’ve launched a ton of new features and software improvements recently, and we’re excited to share them with you in this newsletter.</p> <h2 id="new-reads-from-screenly">New reads from Screenly</h2> <p>We’ve added some great content to <a href="/blog/">our blog</a>! If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the following posts:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/blog/2019/06/07/grafana-dashboard/">How to display a Grafana dashboard on a digital sign</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2019/06/01/enterprise-digital-signage-software/">How can enterprise digital signage software benefit my company?</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2019/05/13/call-center-kpi/">Displaying call center KPIs with digital signage</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="the-changelog">The Changelog</h2> <p>We are continuously improving Screenly and iterating based on customer feedback. Here are some of the most recent additions and improvements to Screenly:</p> <ul> <li>You can now connect your audio system via the Raspberry Pi 3.5mm audio jack.</li> <li>New accounts now have a demo playlist of preloaded images. This addition is great for users who want to launch their digital sign and are yet to upload any content.</li> <li>We’ve rolled out multi-user support as a standard feature for all Screenly accounts. Now, everyone can provide unique logins with specific permission levels for each of their team members.</li> <li>New screens now automatically receive a unique name. This feature is useful for teams who are setting up multiple screens and need to be able to refer to each screen individually.</li> <li>Users can now click a toggle button to enable or disable a playlist rather than having to remove or add the playlist for each screen or group.</li> <li>Users can now enter Basic auth credentials for supported web assets without having to encode the credentials in the web asset header. This feature provides a more user-friendly experience for web asset authentication.</li> </ul> <p>We think you’ll love these new features! Let us know if you have any feature requests or improvements in mind. If so, send a line to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>. Our job is to provide you with the best digital signage on the market, and we love hearing from our customers!</p> <h2 id="whats-next-at-screenly">What’s next at Screenly?</h2> <p>For the third quarter, we have a ton of product improvements on our roadmap. Keep an eye on <a href="/blog/">our blog</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/screenlyapp">Twitter feed</a> to find out when new features launch!</p> <p>Also, coming up this July, our CEO <a href="https://twitter.com/vpetersson">Viktor Petersson</a> will be participating in the <a href="https://action.org.uk/events/cycling/london-paris">Action Medical Research for Children</a> cycling event from London to Paris! It’s a great event for a great cause! If you’re keen to donate to medical research for children, check out this <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vpetersson">link here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/07/15/screenly-newsletter-july-2019/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/07/15/screenly-newsletter-july-2019/Mon, 15 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Lots of things have happened to Anthias (formerly known as Screenly OSE) recently. The project is increasing in popularity and it is <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/anthias">approaching 1,000 stars on GitHub</a> (help us break into the four-digits club by staring the project). Part of the raise in popularity comes from the fact that Anthias is now a featured project in the popular tool <a href="https://www.balena.io/etcher/">Etcher</a>.</p> <p>Anthias is also now <a href="https://github.com/topics/digital-signage">the most popular digital signage project</a> on GitHub, with twice as many stars as the second most popular project (Xibo).</p> <p>While we’re busy working on the next release, I wanted to share an update on things that I’m excited about that is currently in the master branch (and will make it into the next release). These two things are:</p> <ul> <li>Our new integration with <a href="https://wott.io">WoTT</a></li> <li>Our new deeper Balena integration</li> </ul> <p>Let’s start with the <a href="https://wott.io">WoTT</a> integration. For those of you not familiar with WoTT, the idea behind WoTT is to make it easier for fleet owners to secure their IoT devices. In addition to ongoing security audits, WoTT also makes it easy to manage credentials at scale. With the Anthias integration, we’ve integrated WoTT’s credential management directly into Anthias, which will allow users to centrally manage credentials to the Anthias web interface, while also tapping into the ongoing security audits that are accessible from the dashboard. You can find detailed instructions on how to use the WoTT integration for Anthias <a href="https://wott.io/blog/tutorials/2019/06/25/screenly-ose">here</a>.</p> <p>Next up is the Balena integration. We have had support for Balena for some time, but unfortunately due to some changes in Balena, the support broke sometime back. We have now finally fixed this, and done more. In addition to adopting Balena’s multi-container support, we’ve also added a new a deeper integration, which will allow you to see things like seeing the Balena ID directly from the Anthias interface. Details on this new support for Balena can be found <a href="https://www.balena.io/blog/deploy-free-digital-signage-software-screenly-ose/">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>Disclosure:</strong> I’m also the co-founder of WoTT.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/07/10/new-integrations-for-screenly-ose/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/07/10/new-integrations-for-screenly-ose/Wed, 10 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p><em><a href="https://www.army.mil/article/163765/ward_facelift_reflects_changing_times">Image source.</a></em></p> <p>Digital signs are an excellent tool for hospitals to communicate with medical professionals, patients, and visitors. A hospital can have thousands of people pass through its halls each day, and hospital digital signage can keep these people informed and up-to-date. In this post, we’ll discuss how a hospital IT staff can launch a hospital’s first digital sign.</p> <h2 id="selecting-hospital-digital-signage-software">Selecting hospital digital signage software</h2> <p><a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">Digital signage software</a> is important, as it allows hospital staff to schedule and manage content efficiently. In the past, hospital employees would have to physically visit each of the hospital’s digital signs and <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">upload new content with a USB drive</a>. Hospital digital signage software allows IT staff to manage a screen’s content in just a few clicks from anywhere via a central web interface.</p> <p>When selecting hospital digital signage software, you should make sure it has a few key features before purchasing. First, make sure that the software allows you to schedule content in advance. With these features, hospital IT staff can dedicate a set amount of time each week to digital signage content. For the remainder of the week, the IT staff can then focus on other projects without distractions from content management duties.</p> <p>Secondly, make sure that hospital digital signage software allows users to manage multiple screens as a single group. Hospital campuses often have floors or even entire buildings dedicated to a particular purpose or medical specialty. Accordingly, these locations will have unique digital signage content. With screen grouping functionality, hospital IT staff can edit the content for all screens in a particular group together. This method saves a ton of time when compared with editing the content of each screen one screen at a time.</p> <h2 id="selecting-hospital-digital-signage-hardware">Selecting hospital digital signage hardware</h2> <p>Hospital signage systems also require several hardware components, such as a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a> and, of course, a digital display screen. For a digital signage player, it is essential that hospital staff select a player that is not more powerful than they need it to be.</p> <p>Often, teams select a digital signage player that has more processing power than is required for the job. This choice ends up costing the hospital more money than it needs to pay for upfront hardware fees and ongoing <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">digital signage electricity costs</a>. To display image, video, and even live web page content in 1080p Full HD, a Raspberry Pi digital signage player will do just fine. A <a href="/blog/2019/06/18/raspberry-pi-digital-signage-player/">Raspberry Pi digital signage player</a>, such as the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>, only 3 watts of electricity.</p> <p>For a digital display screen, a hospital can use any TV screen that accepts HDMI input and displays in at least 1080p Full HD resolution. Today, almost every TV sold meets those requirements. Hospitals also have the option of purchasing commercial-grade digital signage displays, which will have a longer lifespan than a typical mass-market TV screen. One great option for commercial-grade displays is an NEC display with a built-in Raspberry Pi digital signage player. You can purchase <a href="https://mentor-distribution.com/digital-signage/solutions.html">digital signage NEC displays here</a>.</p> <h2 id="healthcare-digital-signage-and-security-concerns">Healthcare digital signage and security concerns</h2> <p>Healthcare IT professionals must be sure that hospital digital signage software does not present additional security vulnerabilities for hospital IT systems. Most <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">digital signage hacks</a> result in hackers displaying inappropriate content on digital signs. However, some digital signage hacks result in hackers gaining access to hospital backend systems and databases. These hacks can put sensitive patient health information and other personally identifiable information (PII) at risk.</p> <p>When selecting a healthcare digital signage solution, it is important for IT teams to ensure that the hospital digital signage system has a variety of security features. Security features can include using a secure operating system such as Linux-based Ubuntu Core and having no open network ports. Another useful security for medical digital signage is to encrypt all communication between servers and digital signage hardware. Additionally, software updates should occur automatically with each digital signage player to ensure that teams protect each device against patched vulnerabilities. Check out our article on <a href="/secure-digital-signage/">digital signage security</a> to learn more.</p> <h2 id="content-ideas-for-hospital-display-boards">Content ideas for hospital display boards</h2> <p>Once a hospital display board is up and running, the next step is to populate the screen with useful and engaging content. Fortunately, there are a ton of great content opportunities for digital signage in the healthcare industry.</p> <p>One popular use case for hospital digital signage is reducing perceived waiting times in visitor waiting rooms. In waiting rooms, digital signs can display content on the hospital’s history, hospital cafeteria specials, and interesting healthcare facts. This <a href="/blog/2019/03/17/medical-office-digital-sign/">waiting room digital signage</a> can help make the visitor experience more enjoyable.</p> <p>Another use case for hospital digital signage is to display content in patient rooms. This content can include upcoming hospital events, doctor and staff biographies, as well as recent patient success stories. This content can keep patients entertained and help in reducing stress for patients.</p> <p>For more about content ideas and use cases for hospital digital signage, check out or <a href="/use-cases/hospitals/">hospital digital signage case study</a> that features an actual Screenly-powered hospital.</p> <h2 id="using-digital-signs-for-healthcare-digital-advertising">Using digital signs for healthcare digital advertising</h2> <p>One use case for digital signs is healthcare digital advertising. With healthcare digital advertising, businesses can buy screen time on hospital digital signs. Advertisers can then use this screen time to display image and video ads to hospital visitors. These advertisements can feature promotions from local businesses or even healthcare advertising content from private clinics and other healthcare marketers.</p> <p>Hospital waiting rooms are an excellent location for healthcare digital advertising, as visitors often have hours of idle time without anywhere to direct their attention. Check out our article on setting up a <a href="/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/">digital signage advertising network</a> to learn more.</p> <h2 id="where-to-get-your-hospital-digital-signage-software-and-hardware">Where to get your hospital digital signage software and hardware</h2> <p>To get started with hospital digital signage software, <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up</a> for Screenly’s online digital signage software. Screenly digital signage software includes content scheduling, screen grouping, and digital signage API features that are important for a successful hospital digital signage deployment.</p> <p>To purchase a digital signage player, visit our <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a> page to find an option that works for you. Many hospital IT teams are interested in our Raspberry Pi self-build option. This option is attractive to hospital IT teams, as it allows them to build a large number of digital signage players in a cost-efficient manner.</p> <p>If you have any questions regarding a hospital digital signage deployment, feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>. We’re always happy to talk with customers regarding upcoming hospital digital signage deployments - there is never a project that is too big or too small!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/06/28/hospital-digital-signage-software/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/06/28/hospital-digital-signage-software/Fri, 28 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p><em>The above image is from author Ngsyatowuahg on <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HK_Yau_Ma_Tei_%E5%AE%8F%E5%88%A9%E5%85%AC%E7%A9%8D%E9%87%91%E5%A4%A7%E5%BB%88_Manulife_MPF_Place_lift_lobby_n_office_sign_%E7%A2%A7%E6%A1%82%E5%9C%92_Country_Garden_April_2013.webp#filelinks">Wikimedia Commons</a>. Image edits were made.</em></p> <p>By their nature, hotels are a place for people who are new to a location or who are just visiting for a short time. Accordingly, these people are often in search of information. They are unsure where to go and what to do while they are at the hotel. Hotel digital signage can be a useful medium in such environments, as it provides an easy and accessible way for hotel guests and visitors to access relevant information. In this post, we will discuss how you can get started with hotel digital signage as well as several ideas on how you can use hotel digital signage to serve your guests.</p> <h2 id="what-do-you-need-for-a-hotel-digital-signage-display">What do you need for a hotel digital signage display?</h2> <p>Hotel digital signage displays come in a variety of shapes and sizes. However, they each require several of the same components. Below, we’ll discuss each of these components and how they are essential for your hotel displays.</p> <p>First, a hotel digital signage display is going to need a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a small, physical device that processes your digital content and renders it to your hotel display. When choosing a digital signage player, be careful not to select a device that is more powerful than you need. To display image, video, and even live web pages in 1080p Full HD resolution, you do not have to break the bank. A simple <a href="/blog/2019/06/18/raspberry-pi-digital-signage-player/">Raspberry Pi digital signage player</a> will allow you to do everything you need. By choosing the right digital signage player for your needs, you’ll be able to save on upfront purchasing costs as well as on ongoing <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">digital signage electricity costs</a>. Additionally, at the end of your digital signage player’s lifecycle, you’ll produce less electronic waste.</p> <p>Next, you’ll need <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>. This software allows you to manage your digital signage content easily. With digital signage software, you can organize content into playlists and schedule this content to play at predetermined times. Additionally, you can schedule content for one screen or a group of screens, all in just a few clicks. Before digital signage software, many hotels managed <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">digital signs with USB drives</a>. To upload new content, an employee would have to physically visit the digital sign and manually upload new content by plugging in the USB drive to the digital display. This process was extremely time consuming and costly in terms of employee hours, especially when the hotel had multiple digital signs across the property. With <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">modern digital signage software</a>, employees can now manage the content on all of their company’s digital signs from the comfort of their office desk.</p> <p>Lastly, digital signage hotel solutions require a digital display screen, of course. For a display screen, you can use a large computer monitor or a TV screen. Note that this display screen doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars, and a flat-screen TV display from your local electronics store will be all you need. Just make sure that your digital display accepts HDMI input and can display at least 1080p HD resolution. Today, almost every digital display fits these requirements.</p> <h2 id="what-can-you-do-with-hospitality-digital-signage">What can you do with hospitality digital signage?</h2> <p>Once you have your hotel digital signage displays up and running, you’ll need to populate each hotel display screen with content that is useful and engaging for your hotel guests and visitors. Read below for some ideas on how to get the most out of your hospitality digital signage.</p> <p>First, digital displays work great as <a href="/use-cases/lobby/">hotel lobby digital signage</a>. Lobbies are the central passageway for a hotel, and thus, they are an excellent location for a hotel digital sign. In a hotel lobby, digital signs can display information on upcoming events at the hotel and information on hotel amenities such as fitness classes and restaurant specials. Lobby digital signs can also display more logistical information, such as notices for hotel construction or information on room service hours. Lobby digital signs look great near entrances, seating areas, or even behind the front desk.</p> <p>Second, another use case for hotel digital signage is internally <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">displaying KPI metrics</a> to the hotel management staff. With hotel digital signage, management can display hospitality industry business metrics such as average daily rate, revenue per available room, and customer satisfaction ratings. Keeping this data easily viewable on a digital sign can help focus and motivate a hotel’s entire staff.</p> <p>Another use case for hotel digital signage is advertising in hotel lobbies. Given the exposure to area visitors, hotel digital signage can be an effective advertising medium for tour companies and local restaurants. Hotel guests are always looking for something to do, and they are the perfect captive audience for many local business ads. Advertisers or the hotel itself can sell screen time to local businesses, and this activity can become a significant revenue stream. Check out our article on how to set up a <a href="/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/">digital signage advertising network</a> for more information.</p> <h2 id="whats-the-first-step-to-launch-a-hospitality-digital-signage-solution">What’s the first step to launch a hospitality digital signage solution?</h2> <p>To launch your first hotel digital sign, begin by <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">signing up</a> for an online digital signage software account. This account will allow you to manage your hotel digital signage from anywhere using your laptop. Next, order your first digital signage player. Note that you will need one digital signage player per hotel display screen. You can order your digital signage players on <a href="https://go.srly.io/screenlyplayer-us" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. Also, check out our <a href="/digital-signage-players/">self-build digital signage player</a> option.</p> <p>Once your hotel display screen is up and running, be sure to populate your digital sign with great content. Note that content doesn’t have to be time-consuming or costly to produce. For starters, you can get content up quickly by <a href="/apps/google-slides/">displaying Google Slides</a> on your digital sign. Also, know that there are a ton of excellent <a href="/blog/2018/06/20/stock-images-for-digital-signage/">stock image sites for digital signage</a>, and many of these stock image sites are entirely free. Additionally, if you’re interested in doing video content (which we recommend), there are a ton of useful <a href="/blog/2018/07/04/ten-great-video-creation-tools-for-digital-signage-video-walls/">video editing tools for digital signage</a>. When planning your first month of digital signage content, remember to keep content focused on the customer and what is interesting to them. That may sound like an obvious point; however, many people often forget it!</p> <p>If you have any questions on hotel digital signage solutions, feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>. We’re always happy to help new and existing customers with their digital signage needs.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/06/21/hotel-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/06/21/hotel-digital-signage/Fri, 21 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>“The bigger, the better,” is a common sentiment among consumers. Often, their thinking is that they will have more capabilities and fewer compromises when they purchase a bigger product. While this feeling may be correct for some products, it is certainly incorrect with others. One such product where bigger is not necessarily better is a digital signage player.</p> <p>A <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a> is a physical device that renders content to your digital sign, much like a DVD player renders a movie to your home TV. When selecting a digital signage player for your business or organization, it is essential that you first sit down with your team and detail your digital signage plans. If you are planning a 36 screen video wall in Times Square, you will definitely need some serious processing power. However, if you are just trying to power a single screen for a <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail store digital sign</a>, a smaller, simpler, and more cost-effective digital signage player will meet your needs.</p> <p>In this article, we list three reasons why bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to a digital signage player. Additionally, we detail why the Raspberry Pi, a system-on-a-chip hardware solution, may be the ideal hardware for your digital signage needs.</p> <h2 id="unnecessary-processing-power-means-unnecessary-costs">Unnecessary processing power means unnecessary costs</h2> <p>All too often, we see companies investing in digital signage players with computing resources that far exceed their needs. In this case, the purchased digital signage players are certainly “bigger,” but it is hard to say that they are also “better” for each user’s unique situation. Even if a digital signage player has more processing power and can power multiple screens, the processing power will sit idle if the user has only one digital signage screen.</p> <p>In short, you don’t need a digital signage player with the processing power of an entire desktop computer. You don’t need to shoulder the upfront costs of such a powerful digital signage player either. Choosing an over-capable digital signage player can cost your business hundreds of dollars or more in unnecessary hardware expenditures. Additionally, hese costs can quickly multiply if your business requires multiple digital signage players for multiple display screens.</p> <h2 id="dont-use-more-electricity-than-you-need">Don’t use more electricity than you need</h2> <p>Larger digital signage players also consume larger amounts of electricity than smaller digital signage players. This extra electricity consumption costs your business extra money. While extra electricity costs may not be all that significant if your business only has one digital signage player, these extra costs become a lot more burdensome if you have a larger deployment and look at these costs across a few years. Depending on the size of your deployment, choosing an unnecessarily large digital signage player could cost your business tens of thousands of dollars more than it needs to pay in electricity costs alone.</p> <p>Also, this electricity needs to come from somewhere, and your local electric company may not produce electricity using the most environmentally friendly methods. Accordingly, you and your business should do everything you can to cut down on unnecessary power draw. Sometimes, companies make the transition to digital signage to reduce paper usage and CO2 emissions. However, if these companies are not careful in choosing an energy efficient digital signage player, <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">environmentally friendly digital signage</a> efforts can result in the company emitting more CO2 than it did before deploying digital signs.</p> <h2 id="bigger-digital-signage-players-produce-more-electronic-waste">Bigger digital signage players produce more electronic waste</h2> <p>Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to the remaining components of thrown out electronic products. This waste includes processors, cords, and enclosure casings, and these waste products contain harmful chemicals and heavy metals that are difficult to dispose of properly. If disposed of improperly - which is often the case - the toxic components of e-waste materials end up in our soil, aquifers, and atmosphere.</p> <p>As <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/01/how-a-circular-approach-can-turn-e-waste-into-a-golden-opportunity/">estimated by the World Economic Forum</a>, humans produce approximately 50 million tons of e-waste each year, and this number is expected to rise to 120 million tons per year by 2050. Additionally, “only 20% of global e-waste is formally recycled.” Environmentally friendly businesses must be careful not to produce more electronic waste than they need. If your business can get the job done via a digital signage player with less potential e-waste, this is certainly the route you should take!</p> <h2 id="using-the-raspberry-pi-as-a-digital-signage-player">Using the Raspberry Pi as a digital signage player</h2> <p>One hardware option for a digital signage player is the Raspberry Pi. With the right disk image and <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>, a <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi digital signage player</a> has enough processing power to display image, video, and live web pages in 1080p Full HD to your digital sign. The device can handle seamless transitions between multiple asset types as well.</p> <p>The Raspberry Pi is perfect for most consumer and enterprise applications. Put simply, if your display screen can feature 1080p Full HD content, you can use a Raspberry Pi for your digital signage player. In reference to processing power, the Raspberry Pi’s latest model uses a “Broadcom BCM2837B0, Cortex-A53 (ARMv8) 64-bit SoC” processor that is capable of running at 1.4GHz. As mentioned, this processor is more than capable of running media files in 1080p Full HD. Importantly, this processor is cost effective as well. A <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-b-plus/">Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+</a> will cost you under US $35. To be fair, you will likely end up spending around US $150 in total when you factor in other needed components such as power cords and HDMI cables. However, even at US $150, the Raspberry Pi is an extremely affordable digital signage player.</p> <p>In terms of electricity costs, a Raspberry Pi digital signage player requires just 3 watts to run. This electricity requirement means that you will have only US $3.40 in electricity per year (approximately) for each of your digital signage players. When you compare this cost to standard PC-based digital signage players, your company can save up to $269 per year in electricity costs per player. Multiply these savings by the number of digital signage players your company needs (one per digital signage screen) to get your company’s potential annual savings in electricity costs.</p> <p>The Raspberry Pi also excels with regard to minimizing e-waste. At just 0.45 lbs, the Raspberry Pi has much less mass than other digital signage players. When compared to HP’s rp5800 device, you can save more than 14.5lbs of future e-waste per digital signage player.</p> <p>You can find more details on these calculations in this article on <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">green digital signage</a>.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-a-raspberry-pi-digital-signage-player">How to get started with a Raspberry Pi digital signage player</h2> <p>If you are looking to get started with a Raspberry Pi based digital signage player, you will need a few components. First, you will need to purchase the actual Raspberry Pi device. For the best digital signage experience, go with the latest version of the Raspberry Pi, the <a href="/blog/2018/11/12/Screenly-support-Rasberry-Pi-3B-plus/%7D">Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ digital signage player</a>. You’ll be able to integrate this device with the latest digital signage management software.</p> <p>Next, you need to sign up for <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage management software</a>. This software is essential for your digital signage, as it allows you to upload and schedule content to one or multiple screens easily. Before this software, businesses would have to engage in the time-consuming activity of <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">updating digital signage content via a USB stick</a>. This manual process required a lot of employee hours, and as a result, many businesses rarely updated their digital signage content.</p> <p>For those on tighter budgets, note that <a href="/blog/2019/01/24/free-digital-signage-software/">free digital signage software</a> options do exist, such as open-source <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a>. Check out this <a href="/screenly-ose-vs-pro/">digital signage software comparison guide</a> to learn more about the differences between paid and free digital signage software solutions.</p> <h2 id="a-raspberry-pi-digital-signage-player-may-be-perfect-for-your-business">A Raspberry Pi digital signage player may be perfect for your business</h2> <p>We hope this article was useful in highlighting why bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to digital signage players. Bigger digital signage players have more processing power than you need, consume larger amounts of electricity than Raspberry Pi digital signage players consume, and produce more electronic waste at the end of their lifecycle. Most importantly, bigger digital signage players result in unnecessarily bigger bills for your business. A Raspberry Pi based digital signage player provides a cost-effective solution that will enable your business to display beautiful digital signage content without breaking the bank.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/06/18/raspberry-pi-digital-signage-player/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/06/18/raspberry-pi-digital-signage-player/Tue, 18 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p><em>The above <a href="https://flic.kr/p/QhFE3x">image</a> is from Holly Hudson on Flickr.</em></p> <p>If you had data that could transform your business and allow your team to make smarter decisions, what would you do with it? Your answer most likely isn’t that you would make the data hard to access and only glance at it once or twice per month. However, many businesses do just that. They build beautiful Grafana dashboards, and, after the first few days, they rarely look at the dashboards again. Teams get stuck in the day-to-day activities of their businesses, and data takes the back seat. Instead of using data to inform business strategy, teams hide their data behind a username and password, and this data does not become a part of daily workflows.</p> <p>So, how can teams combat the common problem of underutilized business data? The answer is simple: Show the data! If you want data to inform every decision, you need to make your data easily accessible. Teams can use digital signage to share their Grafana dashboards on beautiful, always-on <a href="/blog/2018/12/11/office-tv-display-software/">display screens throughout the office</a>. In this article, we show you how you can get the most out of your Grafana dashboards with digital signs.</p> <h2 id="what-components-do-i-need-to-launch-a-digital-sign-for-my-grafana-dashboard">What components do I need to launch a digital sign for my Grafana dashboard?</h2> <p>A digital sign requires three key components: a digital signage player, a display screen, and digital signage management software.</p> <p>A <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a> is a physical device with custom software that will enable you to display your Grafana dashboard. The device processes and renders content to your display screen. When choosing a digital signage player, you need to make sure that the player can render live web pages to a display screen, as you want your digital sign to display your Grafana dashboard in real time. On a similar note, you need to make sure that there is a way for your digital signage player to <a href="/blog/2018/11/27/website-auth-with-pro/">access password protected web pages</a>. This feature will allow you to display your Grafana data on your digital sign while simultaneously allowing you to keep your Grafana data private and secure. As always, you want to keep costs in mind when choosing a digital signage player. While there are digital signage players that cost thousands of dollars, you do not need to pay for unnecessary computing power. For displaying a live Grafana dashboard, a <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi</a> based digital signage player will be able to serve your needs.</p> <p>For your display screen, you can use any screen or monitor that is compatible with your digital signage player. For your display screen to be compatible with most digital signage players, choose a screen that accepts HDMI input and can display content at <a href="/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/">1080p HD resolution</a>. Also, when selecting a screen, you must think about where you want to place the screen. You may need to purchase VESA-compliant mounting hardware. VESA is a set of standards for screen and monitor hardware. Note that a display screen doesn’t have to break the bank. You don’t need to purchase a new 65” smart TV to get your data in front of your team (although that would be nice!). An old screen or monitor you have lying around will work just fine.</p> <p>Finally, you will need <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage management software</a> to complete your digital sign deployment. This software enables you to manage your digital signage content from anywhere via a web interface. This software is useful as it allows you to change out your display content quickly and easily. If you want to add another Grafana dashboard to your display, you can log in and add the web page to your content playlist in just a few clicks. This software is particularly important to users who need to manage multiple screens in multiple locations. Without digital signage software, these users have to travel to each screen and <a href="/blog/2018/12/07/diy-digital-signage-issues/">update their content manually</a>. This process requires a ton of labor hours that businesses can easily avoid with the right software.</p> <h2 id="why-cant-i-just-plug-in-a-secondary-display-to-my-computer">Why can’t I just plug in a secondary display to my computer?</h2> <p>You may be wondering if plugging in a secondary display to your PC will do the trick for your Grafana dashboard. In some cases, this solution will work just fine. After all, you can still show your Grafana dashboard on the big screen. However, this simpler solution has a few drawbacks when compared to a proper digital signage set up.</p> <p>First, using a secondary display with your existing computer can be quite a hassle. You need to ensure that the computer is always on for your Grafana dashboard to display. Also, you need to be careful to not slide private information onto the secondary display. This misstep can be easy to make after your secondary display is up for a few days. If you allocate a separate PC for your Grafana display to avoid these issues, you also allocate a lot of unnecessary processing power for your display. This additional processing power can yield significantly higher electricity costs over time when compared to the <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">electricity costs of a dedicated digital signage player</a>.</p> <p>Secondly, if you use a standard PC, you forgo the ability to manage your display screen easily. Digital signage management software allows you to organize assets, group screens, and build playlists all from a single interface. If you use a standard PC, managing what shows on the display will consist of dragging images, videos, and web pages onto the secondary display by hand. This manual management can be very time consuming, especially if your business has Grafana dashboard displays in multiple locations. Any content scheduling or playlist building will require constant attention if it is done manually with a standard PC.</p> <p>Third, a standard PC will become another machine that you and your IT team have to manage. You will need to maintain security and software updates for this machine just as you need to with an employee’s computer. With a dedicated digital signage player, these security and software updates are done over-the-air and automatically. These automatic updates allow you and your team to focus your energy and attention on more important tasks for your business.</p> <p>Budget-constrained teams may attempt to save money by forgoing a dedicated digital signage solution for their Grafana dashboard display. However, these teams must factor in the cost of labor hours that employees will need to spend on less sophisticated digital signage solution, such as <a href="/blog/2018/12/07/diy-digital-signage-issues/">using a USB drive with a smart TV</a>. When teams consider the cost of these hours, a <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">professional digital signage solution</a> is almost always the most cost-effective option for setting up a Grafana dashboard display.</p> <h2 id="connecting-your-grafana-dashboards-to-your-digital-sign">Connecting your Grafana dashboards to your digital sign</h2> <p>Once you have your digital signage solution set up and ready to go, you will need to connect your Grafana dashboards to your digital sign. Of course, the steps for this process vary depending on your digital signage hardware and software. Below, we detail the steps you need to take when using the Screenly Player and Screenly digital signage management software.</p> <p>The easiest option for displaying your Grafana dashboards with Screenly is to make your dashboards public. This step will provide you with a URL link to your live Grafana dashboard. Next, simply add this URL as an “Asset” within your Screenly account, and assign this asset to one of your screens. Your live Grafana dashboard will then start playing on your digital sign. It’s that easy.</p> <p>Connecting a password-protected Grafana dashboard to your digital sign is a more complicated process. However, these extra steps are often necessary for Grafana dashboards that display sensitive business information. A public URL link can easily fall into the wrong hands, and the <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">business’s critical data could thereby be exposed</a>. If you want to keep your Grafana dashboards private, you will need to authenticate your digital signs with your Grafana account. You can do this by using bearer tokens or by using basic auth. Read more details on each of these solutions below.</p> <h3 id="authentication-with-a-bearer-token">Authentication with a bearer token</h3> <p>To <a href="/blog/2018/11/27/website-auth-with-pro/">connect your Grafana dashboard to your digital sign</a> using bearer tokens, you first need to get an API key from Grafana. Note that you don’t need a separate API key for each screen. One API key will work just fine for multiple screens. You can find this API key by logging in to your Grafana account and navigating to the “Configure” tab on the left-hand menu. Next, click the “API Keys” button. Then, create a name for your API key. Select the “Viewer” role, and finish the process by clicking “Add.”</p> <p>You will then see similar text to the following appear in a dialogue box:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-shell" data-lang="shell"><span style="display:flex;"><span>curl -H <span style="color:#ed9d13">"Authorization: Bearer abc123= [Your Token]"</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>https://grafana.yourdomain.com/api/dashboards/home </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Next, you will need to append “&kiosk” to the end of the URL for the Grafana dashboard or chart that you wish to display. This edit will disable menu bars from showing on your digital sign and allows you to have more room for your data on your Grafana screen.</p> <p>Once you have your Grafana bearer token and amended URL, head over to your Screenly account. Within your Screenly account, navigate to the Assets tab, and then click the “Add Asset” button. Then, add the amended URL as a web page asset.</p> <p>With the URL added as an asset within your Screenly account, you now need to provide your bearer token. This step enables Screenly to access your password protected Grafana graphs and dashboards. To add your bearer token, navigate to the recently added URL asset. Then, select “Advanced” and then select “Add.” Type “Authorization” in the “Header” field and then type your bearer token in the “Value” field. To finish, click “Save.”</p> <p>After completing these steps, you can add this URL asset to a playlist within your Screenly account. You can then add individual screens to the playlist. That’s it! You now have password-protected Grafana dashboards and graphs on your Screenly powered digital signs!</p> <h3 id="authentication-using-basic-auth">Authentication using basic auth</h3> <p>You can also authenticate your screens using Basic Auth. This method uses a base64 hash of your credentials instead of a bearer token. To generate this string locally using Python, use the code below:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-python" data-lang="python"><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">import</span> <span style="color:#447fcf;text-decoration:underline">base64</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>auth = base64.b64encode(<span style="color:#ed9d13">b</span><span style="color:#ed9d13">"YourUsername:YourPassword"</span>) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#24909d">print</span>(<span style="color:#ed9d13">"Basic </span><span style="color:#ed9d13">{}</span><span style="color:#ed9d13">"</span>.format(auth.decode())) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Basic WW91clVzZXJuYW1lOllvdXJQYXNzd29yZA== </span></span></code></pre></div><p>You can also generate the string using Bash via the code below:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-shell" data-lang="shell"><span style="display:flex;"><span>$ <span style="color:#24909d">echo</span> Basic <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">$(</span><span style="color:#24909d">echo</span> -n <span style="color:#ed9d13">"YourUsername:YourPassword"</span> | base64<span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">)</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Basic <span style="color:#40ffff">WW91clVzZXJuYW1lOllvdXJQYXNzd29yZA</span>== </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Next, enter the generated string into the “Value” field in the advanced settings for the URL asset in your Screenly account.</p> <h2 id="how-to-use-grafana-dashboards-and-digital-signs-with-remote-teams">How to use Grafana dashboards and digital signs with remote teams</h2> <p>Having a remote-only team is a growing trend among startups and established businesses alike. With high-speed internet, team members located across the world can collaborate as if they are each located in the same building. Businesses can save money on avoided rent and utility costs, and employees can save time by avoiding workplace commutes. Additionally, businesses can benefit from being able to hire talent from anywhere.</p> <p>Remote teams need to pay attention to business data just as much as a centrally located team does. However, remote teams are not able to place a Grafana display screen on their office wall, as, of course, remote teams don’t have a central office. So, what is a remote team to do?</p> <p>At Screenly, we are a <a href="/blog/2016/11/23/how-we-work-at-screenly/">remote-only team</a> ourselves. Being the Grafana fans that we are, we wanted to build a Grafana display solution that works for our team, which is spread out across the world. We wanted to have the same benefits of an always-on data dashboard, but we also wanted the benefits of a remote team. So, to solve this problem, we provided each team member with a 7” desktop display screen. We then assigned each display to the same Screenly playlist, so each team member sees the same data. While we don’t have a central display screen, each team member has a live feed of Screenly’s business metrics on their home desk at all times. These displays enable Screenly to keep its business data top-of-mind for each team member around the world.</p> <h2 id="remember-that-measurement-doesnt-imply-management">Remember that measurement doesn’t imply management</h2> <p>“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” You’ve likely heard this popular business adage in the workplace. Maybe you have even said it yourself. Many people credit Austrian-American management theorist Peter Drucker with this insight, and many consider this phrase to be at the foundation of modern management practices. However, as we have discussed above, measuring data isn’t the end of the story. If businesses don’t enable their team to interact with the measured data regularly, the collected data will have little effect on business outcomes. Far too often do teams sit on a trove of useful business data only to give it an occasional glance and continue things as usual. When teams do not regularly interact with the data behind their business, teams lose opportunities, continue mistakes, and leave significant revenue on the table.</p> <p>Once your business has your Grafana dashboards displayed on a digital sign, be sure to put these tools to work. You and your team should <a href="/blog/2019/01/14/communication-in-the-workplace/">regularly discuss this data</a> and use it to track the team’s progress over time. If your team sees poor results for a particular business metric, your team must have an immediate meeting and make a plan on how to address the issue. Likewise, if your team is excelling on a particular metric, your team should take a moment to celebrate this success. The Grafana display in your office should be a source of useful information both when times are good and when times are bad, and your team should constantly use the display to keep a pulse on the health of your business.</p> <p>Put simply, you and your team must remember that measurement doesn’t imply management. Additionally, even if you have a stunning Grafana display, constantly showing your team the business’s critical data won’t result in optimal business outcomes either. Team’s need to review, discuss, and regularly work with their data in order to remain agile and competitive in today’s marketplace.</p> <h2 id="i-want-a-grafana-display-screen-for-my-business-what-next">I want a Grafana display screen for my business. What next?</h2> <p>Congratulations! You made it to the end. So, you’ve read about Grafana dashboards and digital signage, and you want to launch a Grafana display for your business. First, you need a great Grafana graph or dashboard. If you don’t have a Grafana account already, <a href="https://grafana.com/get">get one for free</a> and connect your data sources! For a digital signage player, check out the Screenly Box 0. This product contains a Screenly Player and all the hardware you need to launch your first digital sign. Next, <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">register for a 14-day free trial</a> of Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage management software</a>. With that, you will be able to launch your first Grafana display!</p> <p>If you have any questions on displaying Grafana graphs and dashboards with digital signs, feel free to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">reach out to us at Screenly</a>!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/06/07/grafana-dashboard/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/06/07/grafana-dashboard/Fri, 07 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>At its core, a digital sign is simply a display screen that shows content. In this function, a digital sign must regularly display new content to remain relevant and exciting to viewers. A digital sign that consistently displays the same content week after week will quickly lose its appeal, and viewers will learn to disregard the digital sign entirely.</p> <p>For an enterprise’s digital sign deployment to regularly display new and fresh content, the business must pair their digital signs with <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>. Digital signage software enables digital sign operators to quickly and easily update content for a single digital sign or a group of signs. With digital signage software, businesses can keep their digital signage content fresh without dedicating a ton of labor hours to manual content updates.</p> <h2 id="how-does-enterprise-digital-signage-software-work">How does enterprise digital signage software work?</h2> <p>Most modern enterprise digital signage software is offered via an online SaaS model. This model means that users access the software via a web browser, and users store their digital signage content on the platforms central servers. To access the “software-as-a-service,” users pay a monthly subscription fee. This fee varies depending on the number of screens the user has and the amount of data storage the user needs for his or her digital signage content.</p> <p>Within digital signage software’s online web interface, users can upload and schedule content to run on one or several screens. This content can include images, videos, motion graphics, and even live webpages. With scheduling functionality, enterprise digital signage software allows users to set up a month’s worth of digital signage content in a single sitting. For the rest of the month, the user can focus on other tasks that are more crucial for their business without the distraction of needing to update digital signage content regularly.</p> <p>The software then communicates with each sign’s <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>, which then renders the desired content onto the selected display screens. Digital signage players can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and some, such as the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>, are built on top of power-efficient and cost-effective <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi hardware</a>.</p> <h2 id="how-else-can-enterprise-digital-signage-software-benefit-my-company">How else can enterprise digital signage software benefit my company?</h2> <p>The right enterprise digital signage software provides superpowers for your digital signs. In addition to being able to schedule and change content remotely, enterprise digital signage software enables companies to do a whole lot more with their digital signs.</p> <p>For example, with the right digital signage software, users can <a href="/blog/2018/11/27/website-auth-with-pro/">display web pages that exist behind an authentication page</a>. This feature means that web pages that require a username and password are no longer off-limits in terms of showing them on your digital sign. This feature is particularly relevant for those who wish to use their digital sign as a <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">business data dashboard</a>. Most business data applications keep your business data behind a username and password (as they should!). You can now keep your business data secure and simultaneously <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/grafana/">display business data</a> on a beautiful dashboard display.</p> <p>Secondly, with enterprise digital signage software, you can hook up a digital sign to your backend systems via a <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>. This feature means that you can have your digital signage content change automatically depending on preset rules and inputs from your databases. For example, if it is currently raining outside, a digital sign for a clothing retailer could automatically display rain-compatible clothing options.</p> <p>With enterprise digital signage software, your digital sign will also be able to access a suite of user applications. For example, with the right digital signage software, you can display a digital signage clock or the digital signage weather forecast using the <a href="/edge-apps/clock/">Screenly Clock App</a> and <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">Screenly Weather App</a>, respectively. Additionally, you can display your personal or business calendar using Screenly’s <a href="/apps/google-calendar/">Google Calendar digital signage integration</a>. This integration is great for an office wall digital sign, as it allows an individual or an entire team to keep upcoming deadlines and meetings top-of-mind.</p> <p>Lastly, enterprise digital signage software allows users to check in remotely on the health of each screen. If a screen is down or is experiencing playback issues, users will be able to see this issue on a central dashboard within their business digital signage software’s web interface. This feature allows teams to quickly address any problems with their digital signage deployment and achieve maximum screen uptime.</p> <h2 id="what-about-enterprise-digital-signage-software-security">What about enterprise digital signage software security?</h2> <p>For enterprise teams, security is always an important concern. Enterprises rely on complex IT networks and private company databases to keep operations running on a day-to-day basis. Accordingly, enterprise IT professionals must protect this infrastructure from hackers and other bad actors, and they must ensure that a digital signage deployment does not expose the company to any additional risks.</p> <p>With a digital signs, hackers can force the signs to <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">display embarrassing or inappropriate content</a>. If hackers show such content on customer-facing digital signs, the PR team is sure to have a busy day. Additionally, hackers can use vulnerable enterprise digital signage software to access company servers and steal or alter sensitive data.</p> <p>Unfortunately, many digital signage provides treat <a href="https://www.ravepubs.com/not-talking-digital-signage-security/">digital signage security as an afterthought</a>. When selecting enterprise digital signage software, be sure to check out the steps that the developers have taken to ensure that the software is secure. These steps can include using a secure Linux-based operating system, such as Ubuntu Core, and ensuring that there are no open network ports. Additionally, it is important that digital signage software has automatic updates so that your digital signs are secure against patched vulnerabilities. Lastly, be sure that all communications between your digital signage software and digital signage players are encrypted to prevent Man-in-the-Middle attacks. Check out our page on <a href="/secure-digital-signage/">digital signage security</a> to learn more on how Screenly keeps your digital signage software protected.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-get-started-with-enterprise-digital-signage-software">How do I get started with enterprise digital signage software?</h2> <p>If you know that enterprise digital signage software can benefit your company, you’re probably wondering how you can get started with your first digital signage deployment. Getting started with business digital signage software is easy! All you have to do is <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up online</a> for Screenly’s business digital signage software. It just takes a few clicks. If you have any questions or if you have any trouble signing up for Screenly, feel free to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>. We’re always happy to help.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/06/01/enterprise-digital-signage-software/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/06/01/enterprise-digital-signage-software/Sat, 01 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) over time is vital for managing a successful call center. A call center can be a hectic environment – a lot of noise, a lot of agents, and the ever-present demand of the telephone. Without call center KPI tracking, the call center environment can quickly devolve into a frustrating mess where neither customers nor employees are happy. In this article, we detail several KPIs that are useful for running a successful call center. Additionally, we also detail how you can display these call center KPIs on a <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital sign</a> in order to keep business metrics top-of-mind for your entire team.</p> <h2 id="average-time-in-queue">Average time in queue</h2> <p>When a customer calls your business’s number, they wait in a queue before an agent handles their call. We’ve all waited on a call center queue, and sitting on the phone listening to recycled elevator music is certainly not an enjoyable experience. Measuring the average time in queue can help your team address common call center management questions such as, “Do I have enough agents?” and “Are my agents as productive as they can be?” If your call center’s average time in queue is increasing, perhaps it is time to hire more agents or time to provide your existing agents with more tools to help them be more productive. If your call center’s average time in queue increases and management does nothing about this change, customers will grow frustrated with your call center, and they may take their business elsewhere.</p> <h2 id="call-abandonment-rate">Call abandonment rate</h2> <p>The call abandonment rate is the number of calls where a customer hangs up before reaching an agent divided by the total number of calls that come into a call center. The call abandonment rate typically has a direct relationship with the average time in queue, and this makes sense, as more customers will hang up the longer they have to wait. In an ideal world, the call abandonment rate would be zero. In practice, it is important to get this number as close to zero as possible, as an abandoned call is likely a customer that is lost forever. Management can address a high call abandonment rate by reducing the average time in queue or by implementing a more robust automated help desk solution.</p> <h2 id="average-calls-per-agent">Average calls per agent</h2> <p>The average calls per agent is a great metric to help assess the productivity of each team member. There will inevitably be an agent with more calls than everyone else, and there will also inevitably be an agent with fewer calls than everyone else. The agent with the lowest call volume likely needs to pick up the pace, and the agent with the highest call volume probably needs to spend more time on the phone with customers. Tracking the calls per agent and comparing this data across team members will help teams identify outliers and provide needed coaching when an agent’s numbers cross particular thresholds.</p> <h2 id="average-call-time-per-agent">Average call time per agent</h2> <p>Management can use the average call time per agent in conjunction with the average calls per agent for assessing an agent’s productivity. For example, if an agent has a low average call volume and a high average call time, then the agent may need to speed up their conversations with customers. On the other hand, if an agent has a low average call volume and also a low average call time, the agent may be less productive and more easily distracted. As with average calls per agent, use average call time per agent to help address differences in call center agent performance.</p> <h2 id="call-resolution-rate">Call resolution rate</h2> <p>Of course, the main goal of a call center is to assist customers. Even if agents answer every call within a second and each agent performs at peak productivity, a call center does not fulfill its function if it does not provide resolutions to customer problems. One way to track a call center’s performance on this goal is by tracking the call resolution rate. This KPI is simply the number of calls where agents and customer reached a resolution divided by the total number of calls. If your call center’s call resolution rate is decreasing over time, perhaps employees have not received enough training on how to solve common customer problems. Ideally, your call center agents will be able to address and solve the problems of each customer who calls.</p> <h2 id="how-to-display-call-center-kpis-on-a-digital-sign">How to display call center KPIs on a digital sign</h2> <p>To get the most improvement to your team’s performance by measuring call center KPIs, you must ensure that call center agents regularly see these KPIs and are always aware of the team’s collective performance. One way to do this is by installing a digital sign in a common area within your office. This way, your team can assess performance at a glance. To set up a digital sign in your office, you will need a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. This device renders your digital signage content to your display screen. You will also need <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>, which allows you to update your digital sign’s content easily.</p> <p>Next, you will need a data visualization tool to calculate and display your KPI data. <a href="/apps/google-slides/">Google Sheets for digital signs</a> and <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/grafana/">Grafana for digital signs</a> are great data visualizations tools that are compatible with digital signs. Take a look at our page on <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">digital signage dashboards</a> to find a variety of other useful tools for KPI dashboards. To get started with your call center KPI digital sign, <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a Screenly cloud account</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/05/13/call-center-kpi/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/05/13/call-center-kpi/Mon, 13 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Screenly originally started as our founders’ side project with the <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi</a>, and that project, <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a>, has since grown to become the most popular open source digital signage solution on GitHub. While Screenly has evolved into a commercial digital signage company since that original project, we love our open source community, and we are committed to providing the best open source digital signage available. For those who are unaware of what “open source” means, it is simply a term to describe free software that is “open” to the public. Anyone can access, use, or modify this software as they please.</p> <p>We’re always learning from user feedback and improving Screenly OSE, and we’re proud to announce that we recently released <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose">Screenly OSE v0.17</a>. In this post, we’ll detail the exciting new features from this latest build.</p> <h2 id="whats-new-with-screenly-ose-v017">What’s new with Screenly OSE v0.17</h2> <p>Screenly OSE v0.17 has two main categories of updates: (1) improvements to the user interface and (2) improvements to the software’s technical usability. Improvements to the user interface include:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Redesigned hotspot and splash pages: The hotspot page now shows the IP address for the device and allows users to more easily configure their WiFi connectivity. We previously had IPv6 displayed on the splash page, however, users were having trouble connecting to the admin web interface. As a result, we are now displaying IPv4 information on the splash page.</p> </li> <li> <p>More detailed asset endpoints: Assets endpoints now show on the user interface, which allows users to determine remotely what content is displayed on their screen. This is useful when a user’s digital sign may be in a different area from them in their business office or facility.</p> </li> <li> <p>Additional information on the system info page: Users can now view their Raspberry Pi model, Screenly OSE software version, and MAC address on the system info page. This was a direct request from our users, and it is important as it allows users to view relevant information without a direct connection to the device.</p> </li> <li> <p>Perfect Paper Password is now used on the hotspot page: Perfect Paper Password is now implemented, and it generates more readable passwords for WiFi setup that are easier to use.</p> </li> <li> <p>Large asset names are now truncated: Previously, asset names were too large to work with efficiently, as they were a large string of file path information and other attributes. Large asset names are now truncated, and they are now much easier to deal with.</p> </li> <li> <p>Extended character names: Previously, you could not upload files with certain characters or symbols (e.g. æ, ø and å). This issue is now resolved.</p> </li> </ul> <p>While the above changes improved the user interface, i.e. what the user sees and how they interact with the software, we also released a variety of technical usability improvements. These technical changes improve the functionality and performance of Screenly OSE:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Optimized usability for large asset counts: Previously, users were running into issues when they attempted to load and save a large number of assets. Additionally, large asset collections could not be downloaded previously, as the user would experience a timeout error. These issues have since been fixed, and users can now work with hundreds of assets at a time.</p> </li> <li> <p>Improved WiFi connection and WiFi reset process: Users were having trouble resetting WiFi connections and changing WiFi connections when the device was moved to a new location. We improved this process for a more hassle-free and intuitive WiFi connection experience.</p> </li> <li> <p>Backup authentication is now implemented: Screenly OSE backups now use authentication for improved security. Previously, if a user installed Basic authentication, anyone could download a backup without a login and password. This vulnerability has been patched.</p> </li> </ul> <p>We’re proud of our recent release, and we know that these updates and improvements will greatly enhance the digital signage experience of our open source community. As always, let us know if you have feature requests of your own! We base our open source development work off of user requests, so remember that the squeaky wheel gets the grease!</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-stated-with-screenly-ose">How to get stated with Screenly OSE</h2> <p>Screenly OSE is available to the public for free, and you can <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose">download Screenly OSE on GitHub</a>. You will also need a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">Raspberry Pi digital signage player</a>. After downloading the Screenly OSE disk image on GitHub, you will need to flash this disk image to an SD or microSD card that is compatible with your Raspberry Pi model. This <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE_C_n6dhyo">instructional video</a> walks you through the process on how to flash the disk image. Additionally, you can find detailed instructions for the entire Screenly OSE setup process <a href="/ose/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="the-difference-between-screenly-ose-and-paid-screenly-software">The difference between Screenly OSE and paid Screenly software</h2> <p>Before you go, note that Screenly offers a paid digital signage software solution. The paid version of Screenly, of course, has more features than Screenly OSE, as the paid version is supported by a full-time development team. However, Screenly OSE can certainly get the job done for single screen deployments. Your choice of Screenly software really depends on your individual situation and needs, and you can find a great comparison of these two software types in our article: <a href="/screenly-ose-vs-pro/">“The Layman’s Guide - Screenly OSE vs. Paid Screenly Software.”</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/05/07/open-source-digital-signage-screenly-ose/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/05/07/open-source-digital-signage-screenly-ose/Tue, 07 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Hey there from the Screenly team! Things were busy during the first quarter of 2019! Read more below on what we’ve been up to in the world of digital signage.</p> <h2 id="general-updates">General updates</h2> <p>One of our biggest updates is our MASSIVE facelift for our website’s main page. Take a moment and <a href="/">check it out</a>! With this redesign, we aimed to emphasize our strongpoints of (1) having a secure digital signage solution, (2) having an energy-efficient digital signage player, and (3) having a digital signage player that will have minimal electronic waste when it is disposed. We also wanted to make it clear to our first time customers that one needs both a digital signage player and digital signage software to launch their first digital sign. In the past, we found that this requirement wasn’t always clear to those who are new to digital signage.</p> <p>Another important update is that the Screenly 1 Player is now in end-of-life status. This update means that we no longer offer support or maintenance for the Screenly 1 Player, our first digital signage player. You can keep using your Screenly 1 Player until it fails, and at that time, you will need to upgrade to our Screenly 2 Player (now just referred to as the “Screenly Player”). The new Screenly Player is more powerful and more robust, and it will be a great improvement to your digital signage deployment.</p> <p>In other news, we’re launching an overhaul of our Screenly Partner Program. Previously, our Partner Program only included Screenly product distributors. We are now expanding our Partner Program to include service providers who can help with digital sign installations and digital signage content creation. If you know a service provider who would be a good fit with our Partner Program, be sure to send them our way. Our goal is to build an international network of digital signage service providers who can help our customers anywhere (you!) with installations, content, and special projects.</p> <h2 id="new-reads-from-screenly">New reads from Screenly</h2> <p>We’ve added some great content to <a href="/blog">our blog</a>! Check our some of our most recent posts below:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/blog/2019/02/28/IoT-security-digital-signage">Security with IoT devices and digital signage</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2019/03/17/medical-office-digital-sign/">How digital signs in medical offices can improve the patient experience</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2019/03/04/Screenly-1-player-end-of-life/">Screenly 1 Player is now end-of-life</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="the-changelog">The Changelog</h2> <p>This newsletter features our second round of “The Changelog.”" Here’s what’s new with Screenly software and hardware:</p> <ul> <li>As mentioned, the Screenly 1 Player is now end-of-life. All good things come to an end, however they are usually replaced by something better! You’ll love the Screenly 2 Player, which we now refer to simply as the “Screenly Player.”</li> <li>We made significant improvements to content transitions. Transitions between multiple asset types now occur faster and more smoothly. These improvements help provide a more seamless digital signage experience.</li> <li>We made general robustness improvements to our <a href="/blog/2019/03/21/multi-user-digital-signage/">multi-user digital signage</a>. We acquired a lot of data from teams using our new multiuser functionality, and we made important improvements and bug fixes based on this data.</li> </ul> <p>We’re always adding new features and making improvements to the Screenly platform. Our favorite builds are requests from our users. If you have a feature request, reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a> and let us know!</p> <h2 id="get-featured-in-our-screenly-snapshot-campaign">Get featured in our Screenly Snapshot campaign</h2> <p>We’re launching a new content series called “Screenly Snapshot.” In this series, we will feature snapshots and stories of Screenly being used by our customers. We’ll share this content to our thousands of social media followers and customers to help grow the Screenly community and get traffic for your business. To participate, simply send us photo of your Screenly digital sign and a few lines on how you use Screenly. You can send this info via our <a href="https://forms.gle/HtAaKixRTBqrcPgF8">Screenly Snapshot form</a>.</p> <h2 id="whats-next-at-screenly">What’s next at Screenly?</h2> <p>Keep your eyes peeled for new updates with Screenly! As mentioned previously, we are going to deploy a new look and feel for Screenly software. We’re also working on “Digital Signage University,” a guided web app that will teach you and your co-workers everything they need to know about launching and managing digital signage!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/04/25/april-2019-newsletter/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/04/25/april-2019-newsletter/Thu, 25 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>First, the marketing team supplies the sales team with leads. Next, the sales team converts these leads into paying customers. Lastly, the customer success team ensures that these customers derive value from your product and stay with your company.</p> <p>Customer success teams have been a relatively recent addition to the revenue-generating arm of businesses. For businesses with monthly subscription business models, customer success teams are particularly important, as these teams work to ensure that monthly revenue continues to grow over time. When customer success teams reduce churn, the sales and marketing teams stop trying to fill a metaphorical leaking bucket.</p> <p>For any team to be successful, team members need to be focused on improving specific, measurable key-performance-indicators (KPIs). Additionally, data on these KPIs must be easily accessible and constantly displayed so that team members can track their progress over time. One way to keep your team up-to-date on their KPIs is by displaying them on a <a href="/blog/2019/01/11/smart-signage/">digital smart sign</a>. This digital sign can be placed on a wall in the team office, and team members can track their progress with relevant KPIs at a glance. Below, we will review several important KPIs for customer success teams, and we will discuss how you can display these KPIs on a <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">digital signage dashboard</a> with <a href="/blog/2018/12/11/office-tv-display-software/">office TV display software</a>.</p> <h2 id="1-rate-of-cross-sells-and-upsells">1. Rate of cross-sells and upsells</h2> <p>This metric is the number of successful cross-sells or upsells as a percentage of the total number of cross-sell or upsell attempts. For example, if a company has a 50% rate of cross-sells and upsells, this means that one successful cross-sell or upsell occurs for every two attempts. This metric is one way to telling how much value your customers receive from your product and how easy it is for them to interact with your product. If your customer has a valuable and seamless experience with your product, they are more likely to continue to buy from your company and contribute to your company’s revenue growth.</p> <h2 id="2-customer-effort-score-ces">2. Customer Effort Score (CES)</h2> <p>Another important KPI is the Customer Effort Score (CES). Put simply, this metric measures how easy it is for a customer to use your product. To measure CES, simply ask your customer on a five-point scale whether it was “Very Easy” or “Very Difficult” to complete a recent action. You can have CES scores for actions such as purchasing a subscription plan or finalizing account setup. Whatever process you measure with a CES score, be sure to ask the customer immediately after they complete the action. An immediate response will help provide your business with more accurate CES data.</p> <h2 id="3-product-stickiness">3. Product stickiness</h2> <p>For your customers to stay with your company, it is important that they consistently receive value from your product and (ideally) come back to your product each day. Product stickiness is a broad term that describes how frequently your customers use your product. One way to quantify “product stickiness” is by dividing the number of daily active users by the number of monthly active users. You want this number to be as large as possible, as a larger number indicates that a higher percentage of your users interact with your product daily. One way to improve this metric is by sending reminder emails to customers who have not recently used your product. These emails can include product tutorials and tips on how customers can get the most use out of your product.</p> <h2 id="4-most-common-issue">4. Most common issue</h2> <p>While customer support teams focus on dealing with everyday bugs and customer questions, customer success teams must pay attention to overall trends in this customer support activity. One important exercise for customer success teams is categorizing and tallying similar customer support issues. While every customer issue is not exactly the same, these issues can be grouped into buckets of related issues. For example, issues with the sign-up process can be grouped together. Teams can then analyze this data and examine where their customers are having the most issues. The customer success team can then coordinate with the company’s software developers to address the root cause of these reoccurring issues.</p> <h2 id="5-time-to-value">5. Time to value</h2> <p>Another important metric for customer success teams is time to value, which simply measures the time from a customer purchasing your product to when they actually derive value from your product. Ideally, your team will reduce this metric over time. If the time to value is too long, perhaps customers are not clear on how to use your product and need some additional guidance or support calls. If a long time to value is not addressed, customers will churn unnecessarily without ever having used your product.</p> <h2 id="displaying-these-kpis-with-a-digital-sign">Displaying these KPIs with a digital sign</h2> <p>Tracking these customer success KPIs is one thing, however, this tracking is meaningless if the data is not shared with your team frequently. Often, teams hide this data behind a sign in page or in hard-to-navigate software. In these cases, KPIs can quickly become out-of-sight and out-of-mind for your team. To avoid this problem, you can display your KPIs on a digital sign in your office so that your team’s KPIs are always clearly visible to everyone.</p> <p>To launch a digital sign, you will need <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> and a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. You will also need a data visualization tool such as <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/grafana/">Grafana for digital signs</a> or <a href="/apps/google-slides/">Google Slides for digital signs</a>. To learn more about digital signage, check out our <a href="/features/">features page</a>. If you’re ready to get started now, sign up for an account with Screenly <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/login">here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/04/16/digital-signage-kpi-customer-success/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/04/16/digital-signage-kpi-customer-success/Tue, 16 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Enclosures are a key asset to any <a href="/blog/2019/01/29/outdoor-digital-signage/">outdoor digital signage installation</a>. They combat the challenges of taking digital displays outdoors. Digital signage enclosures come in all shapes, sizes and materials. Here are some of the best options on the market that combine style and robustness to give you a cost-effective solution.</p> <h2 id="mild-steel-lcd-enclosures">Mild steel LCD enclosures</h2> <p>A typical LCD enclosure is made using mild steel, which is powder coated for a durable finish. LCD enclosures protect outdoor digital signage displays from the weather, vandalism and theft.</p> <p>They are versatile and can be mounted on a wall, stand or from a ceiling. They protect screens as small as 19 inches and displays as big as 85 inches or more. <a href="https://www.armagard.co.uk/lcd-enclosure/">LCD enclosures</a> are available in landscape and portrait orientation to suit any application. Plus, they are equipped with the universal VESA mounting bracket to accommodate any screen.</p> <p>LCD enclosures lower the cost of outdoor digital signage maintenance, reduce screen downtime and provide an alternative to inflexible, integrated digital displays. They enable you to replace or upgrade screen technology and media players as and when you need to.</p> <p>To protect screens used outdoors, sealed LCD enclosures prevent water penetration, condensation, and stop the entry of dust and airborne debris. To combat the effects of external and internal environmental conditions, LCD enclosures are equipped with hi-tech components designed to minimise the impact of extreme temperatures.</p> <p>LCD enclosures regulate temperature changes via the use of filter fans, air curtains, plenum chambers, internal heating and cooling systems, air-conditioning and insulation. You can manage components remotely via a smart, in-built microprocessor controller board inside the LCD enclosure.</p> <p>Tip: When researching LCD enclosures for your outdoor digital signage application, look for an IP rating or NEMA rating if you’re in the USA.</p> <h2 id="stainless-steel-lcd-enclosures">Stainless steel LCD enclosures</h2> <p>A <a href="https://www.armagard.com/lcd-enclosure/waterproof-lcd-enclosure.html">stainless steel outdoor digital display enclosure</a> is made using food-grade (316) stainless steel, which is naturally anti-bacterial. A stainless steel enclosure is less prone to corrosion compared to their mild steel counterparts, which makes them ideal for protecting screens installed in coastline locations, where there is high salt and sand content in the air.</p> <p>Stainless steel enclosures provide all the protective qualities of mild steel LCD enclosures. <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/stainless-steel-lcd-enclosures_hu_76fbe025cccc61ab.webp 480w, /images/blog/stainless-steel-lcd-enclosures_hu_89fccb6d99909732.webp 768w, /images/blog/stainless-steel-lcd-enclosures_hu_77d884909e0e2700.webp 1024w, /images/blog/stainless-steel-lcd-enclosures_hu_242a13f13f1a6.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/stainless-steel-lcd-enclosures_hu_3dddb90bdb48c012.webp 480w, /images/blog/stainless-steel-lcd-enclosures_hu_98cad20fa1da11d4.webp 768w, /images/blog/stainless-steel-lcd-enclosures_hu_ece924c19539c54f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/stainless-steel-lcd-enclosures_hu_8a830f56214795dc.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/stainless-steel-lcd-enclosures_hu_77d884909e0e2700.webp" alt="A stainless steel LCD enclosure unit." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" > </picture></p> <h2 id="slimline-enclosures">Slimline enclosures</h2> <p>If you want space saving, outdoor digital signage protection that looks good aesthetically, slimline enclosures are perfect for your application. Slimline enclosures offer all the protective qualities of other enclosure units while enhancing the look of your digital signage in customer-facing environments.</p> <p><a href="https://www.armagard.com/lcd-enclosure/slim-profile-professional-outdoor-led-display-enclosure.html">Slimline enclosures</a> can accommodate ultra-thin and standard LCD and LED screens. <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/slimline-enclosures_hu_d78dd8abcfa6d628.webp 480w, /images/blog/slimline-enclosures_hu_34ced0c1f261df5e.webp 768w, /images/blog/slimline-enclosures_hu_6ba8419e9906530f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/slimline-enclosures_hu_dddea81dbca046a3.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/slimline-enclosures_hu_e4424e2a206aa029.webp 480w, /images/blog/slimline-enclosures_hu_75f60cc2d95370fd.webp 768w, /images/blog/slimline-enclosures_hu_1c2722b7ba3ee9a7.webp 1024w, /images/blog/slimline-enclosures_hu_b2084ae06e820de5.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/slimline-enclosures_hu_6ba8419e9906530f.webp" alt="A slimline enclosure unit." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" > </picture></p> <h2 id="single-screen-totem-enclosures">Single screen totem enclosures</h2> <p>Floorstanding, single screen <a href="https://www.armagard.com/outdoor-digital-signage/outdoor-digital-display.html">totem enclosures</a> enable you to mount outdoor digital signage displays without using a wall. Totem enclosures give you the flexibility to position screens in any outdoor location for maximum impact. <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/dual-screen-enclosures_hu_ef9460444aaca1a2.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/dual-screen-enclosures_hu_1a1b0443154fd802.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/dual-screen-enclosures_hu_45916f2565646021.webp" alt="A dual screen enclosure unit." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1121" > </picture></p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/single-screen-totem-enclosures_hu_e5387adb4e08ebf7.webp 480w, /images/blog/single-screen-totem-enclosures_hu_32e735ff846a1e2b.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/single-screen-totem-enclosures_hu_81483369b3ddae54.webp 480w, /images/blog/single-screen-totem-enclosures_hu_160adba9a528c180.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/single-screen-totem-enclosures_hu_38c95daef254fdc1.webp" alt="A single screen totem enclosure unit." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1821" > </picture> <h2 id="dual-screen-enclosures">Dual screen enclosures</h2> <p>Dual screen totem enclosures enable you to position two screens outdoors. Bolted to the floor, dual screen totem enclosures provide robust protection for digital displays installed in outdoor locations.</p> <h2 id="triple-screen-enclosures">Triple screen enclosures</h2> <p><a href="https://www.armagard.com/totems-and-wall-mounts-for-samsung-oh-screens/mount-your-samsung-outdoor-display-on-a-dedicated-totem.html">Triple screen enclosures</a> enable you to create stunning outdoor digital signage displays. You can take up to three screens outdoors and communicate multiple messages. Plus, you can customise triple screen enclosures to feature company branding. <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/triple-screen-enclosures_hu_29f5d2df5e049f50.webp 480w, /images/blog/triple-screen-enclosures_hu_b3d5b66c79629d50.webp 768w, /images/blog/triple-screen-enclosures_hu_8072bb228cf4320f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/triple-screen-enclosures_hu_aa124eda60926d2c.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/triple-screen-enclosures_hu_5288726e97281efc.webp 480w, /images/blog/triple-screen-enclosures_hu_250ae91aee81948.webp 768w, /images/blog/triple-screen-enclosures_hu_7475c15e5163b267.webp 1024w, /images/blog/triple-screen-enclosures_hu_934d3ee9368439ee.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/triple-screen-enclosures_hu_8072bb228cf4320f.webp" alt="A triple screen enclosure unit." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1043" > </picture></p> <h2 id="touch-screen-enclosures">Touch screen enclosures</h2> <p><a href="https://www.armagard.com/touch-screen/digital-signage-touch-screen.html">Touch screen enclosures</a> can transform your outdoor digital signage into an interactive display. Touch screen enclosures use projected capacitive (PCAP) foil to convert your ordinary monitor into an intuitive touch screen.</p> <p>PCAP technology works in wet conditions, is reliable in extreme temperatures, operates through thick glass and works through gloved hands. <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/touch-screen-enclosures_hu_2b9e52cfffafcf9d.webp 480w, /images/blog/touch-screen-enclosures_hu_76271365b44b382b.webp 768w, /images/blog/touch-screen-enclosures_hu_9ed7e7f6fba338c8.webp 1024w, /images/blog/touch-screen-enclosures_hu_e47fbfb17eb6e212.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/touch-screen-enclosures_hu_71191aee0d64b74e.webp 480w, /images/blog/touch-screen-enclosures_hu_d4e8c1edfd419f1a.webp 768w, /images/blog/touch-screen-enclosures_hu_83c620a8007fd74b.webp 1024w, /images/blog/touch-screen-enclosures_hu_7fdd8c77777bb63b.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/touch-screen-enclosures_hu_9ed7e7f6fba338c8.webp" alt="A touch screen enclosure unit." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="614" > </picture></p> <h2 id="sunlight-readable-high-bright-enclosures">Sunlight readable (high bright) enclosures</h2> <p>The viewing screen of a <a href="https://www.exportworldwide.com/en/company/armagard-ltd/sunlight-readable-digital-signage-by-armagard">sunlight readable enclosure</a> features an anti-glare or anti-reflective coating to maintain screen visibility in bright sunlight. The technology helps to reduce solar load too, stopping outdoor digital displays from overheating.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-enclosures-give-you-value-for-money">Digital signage enclosures give you value for money</h2> <p>Digital signage enclosures give your outdoor digital displays the protection they need while giving you the flexibility to upgrade hardware at your convenience. As a solution for protecting your <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital signage</a>, they are excellent value for money, and you will certainly see a return on your investment.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/04/12/digital-signage-enclosures/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/04/12/digital-signage-enclosures/Fri, 12 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>If you’re new to digital signage, there’s a good chance you’re learning quite a few industry terms. A <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">digital sign</a> requires several different components, and you need to put them together in just the right way. In this article, we define some of the most common and important terms in digital signage. Hopefully, this article will provide you with an at-a-glance guide for your digital signage needs and will help you get your digital signs up and running in no time.</p> <h2 id="advertising-network">Advertising network</h2> <p>In the digital signage industry, an advertising network refers to a collection of screens that display advertising content in a coordinated way. Advertising networks are typically set up by marketing or advertising agencies. The agency purchases the necessary display screens, digital signage players, and digital signage software. The agency then sells time on their screens to businesses that wish to display advertisements. Check out our blog post on setting up a <a href="/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/">digital signage advertising network</a>.</p> <h2 id="apex-awards">APEX Awards</h2> <p>The <a href="https://www.digitalsignageexpo.net/apex-awards-ceremony">APEX Awards</a> competition is part of the annual <a href="https://www.digitalsignageexpo.net/">Digital Signage Expo (DSE)</a> conference. The APEX Awards recognizes “achievement in the installation of digital displays and interactive technology and the creation of compelling viewer content.” If you’re involved in the digital signage industry, you should definitely check it out and consider submitting your own work! Regardless of your involvement in the industry, check out the <a href="https://www.digitalsignageexpo.net/dse-apex-awards-winners-2019">2019 APEX Award winners</a> to see some of the latest and greatest in digital signage technology.</p> <h2 id="asset">Asset</h2> <p>Within your online Screenly account, you will be able to upload digital signage content in a variety of media formats. An “Asset” is simply a piece of content that you plan to display on your digital sign. An Asset can be an image, video, motion-graphic or live webpage. You can play all Asset types in 1080p Full HD resolution.</p> <h2 id="attack-vector">Attack vector</h2> <p>An attack vector is any method that a hacker can use to gain access to a device. Attack vectors can include human deception, viruses, phishing, bugs in operating system software, or physical access to a device’s hardware. Like any IoT device, digital signs are vulnerable to a variety of attack vectors. Learn more about <a href="http://www.ravepubs.com/not-talking-digital-signage-security/">digital signage attack vectors</a>.</p> <h2 id="audiovisual">Audiovisual</h2> <p>Audiovisual is a comprehensive term that describes any medium with an audio and visual component. Audiovisual can be used to describe film, TV, and, of course, digital signage. You can find an active community of professionals and enthusiast of audiovisual media on Twitter under the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/av?lang=en">#AV</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/audiovisual?lang=en">#AudioVisual</a> hashtags.</p> <h2 id="creative-commons-cc0-license">Creative Commons CC0 license</h2> <p>Digital signs need great visual content, and one way to source great content is by using stock image and video files. There are a variety of <a href="/blog/2018/06/20/stock-images-for-digital-signage/">stock content websites for digital signage</a>, and content from these sites can greatly speed up your content creation process. One item to keep in mind is that each image and video file will have a usage license. This license determines what an individual can do with the image or video content. In many cases, a individual will need to purchase a usage license. In other cases, the stock image or video content will have a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/choose/zero/">Creative Commons CC0 license</a>. This license allows an individual to use the image or video for free for personal or commercial purposes. Additionally, users do not need to attribute the author, and users can edit the media content however they like.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-enclosure-unit">Digital signage enclosure unit</h2> <p>For <a href="/blog/2019/01/29/outdoor-digital-signage/">outdoor digital signage</a>, you will need a digital signage enclosure unit. This product is simply a large case for your digital sign. An enclosure unit will protect your digital sign from rain, humidity, harmful temperatures, damage, and even theft. There are a variety of different digital signage enclosure units available on the market. Make sure that the product you end up purchasing works for the specific weather environment of your digital sign. Some enclosure units only protect your digital sign for limited temperature ranges and humidity levels.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-expo-dse">Digital Signage Expo (DSE)</h2> <p><a href="https://www.digitalsignageexpo.net/">DSE</a> is an annual conference for the digital signage industry. The conference is typically held in March, and it attracts approximately 4,000 attendees. At DSE, attendees can see and review the newest technology and innovations in the digital signage industry. In addition to networking, attendees can learn from “75 unique education sessions, workshops and panel discussions.”</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-player">Digital signage player</h2> <p>A digital signage player is a necessary component for any digital signage installation. <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">What is a digital signage player?</a> It’s simply a media player for your digital sign. The device provides the computing power to process and render content to your digital sign. You can think of the device as the brains behind your display screen. <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Digital signage players</a> come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and one thing to note is that companies often select a digital signage player with an unnecessarily high-level of computing power. This practice leads to higher costs, <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">wasted electricity</a>, and unneeded electronic waste. Screenly’s digital signage player is called the Screenly Player, and the device can render content in 1080p Full HD while consuming just 3 watts of electricity.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-software">Digital signage software</h2> <p>Your team needs to manage your digital signs. This necessity means that someone needs to create, upload, and schedule content for each screen. In the old days, users would have to physically visit each sign and <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">upload content manually via a USB drive</a>. This process was tedious, and it required a lot of labor hours. This process is where modern digital signage software comes into play. <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">What is digital signage software?</a> Digital signage software enables users to manage their digital signage content remotely. With digital signage software, users can now log in to a central web interface to upload and schedule content from anywhere.</p> <h2 id="digital-out-of-home-dooh">Digital-Out-Of-Home (DOOH)</h2> <p>DOOH refers to digital media that – you guessed it – appears out of home. DOOH can apply to digital signs of all sizes, including complex installations such as video walls and <a href="/use-cases/new-vending-machines/">digital signs for vending machines</a>. DOOH media can be extremely useful for marketing professionals, as DOOH media can target consumers at moments when they are otherwise not preoccupied. Such use cases include lobby digital signs, waiting room digital signs, and elevator digital signs. Follow <a href="http://www.dailydooh.com/about">DailyDOOH</a> for recent happenings in the exciting field of DOOH.</p> <h2 id="hdmi">HDMI</h2> <p>HDMI stands for “High-Definition Multimedia Interface,” and it is now a global standard for transmitting video. One key feature of HDMI is that is can transmit uncompressed video as well as uncompressed or compressed audio. Additionally, HDMI uses a standard connection interface, so HDMI cables and devices work across brands and devices. Most <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a> are HDMI compatible and feature HDMI output ports.</p> <h2 id="internet-of-things-iot">Internet of things (IoT)</h2> <p>IoT refers to the growing number of physical devices that can transmit and receive data from the internet. IoT includes many smart home devices and health-monitoring wearables. IoT also includes digital signage. One issue in the IoT industry is <a href="/blog/2019/02/28/IoT-security-digital-signage/">keeping IoT devices secure</a>. As the devices have an internet connection, they are vulnerable to hackers. Since the IoT industry is relatively young, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmWYTjr_Xso">security is often just an afterthought with IoT products</a>.</p> <h2 id="integrated-systems-europe-ise">Integrated Systems Europe (ISE)</h2> <p><a href="https://www.iseurope.org/">ISE</a> is a massive event for “AV and systems integrations” professionals from around the world. ISE features over 1,200 exhibitors and over 80,000 attendees. At ISE, attendees can see the latest tech from exhibiting companies in all areas of the AV ecosystem. Additionally, attendees can learn about changes and innovations in AV via seminars from industry thought leaders. The event is typically held in Amsterdam, however the event will be held in Barcelona in 2021. You can watch an interview with Screenly CEO Viktor Petersson and <a href="http://www.dailydooh.com/">DailyDOOH</a> at ISE 2018 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtFCOHrgvs4">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="led">LED</h2> <p>LEDs stand for “light-emitting diode.” An LED contains semiconductor material, and an LED emits light when electricity runs through this LED material. LED displays use an array of LEDs to display images. LEDs are a preferred light source for digital displays, as they are energy efficient and only release <a href="https://www.sepco-solarlighting.com/blog/bid/145611/the-advantages-of-led-lights-for-the-environment">about 5% of their power as heat</a>.</p> <h2 id="microsd-card">MicroSD card</h2> <p>A MicroSD card is a memory chip that fits inside your Raspberry Pi device. The card stores your <a href="/blog/2018/07/24/building-screenly-disk-images/">Screenly Player disk image</a>, which instructs the Screenly Player how to process and render your content. The MicroSD card also stores your digital signage content locally, so you don’t have to allocate bandwidth to stream content to your digital signage player(s) continuously.</p> <h2 id="nec-display-solutions">NEC Display Solutions</h2> <p><a href="https://www.necdisplay.com/">NEC Display Solutions</a> (“NEC” for short) is a prominent display screen manufacturer in the digital signage industry. NEC previously operated under Mitsubishi, but it now operates as its own independent brand. NEC is known for its high-quality and durable display solutions. Some <a href="/nec/">NEC displays include a digital signage player</a> within the display screen itself.</p> <h2 id="open-source-digital-signage-software">Open-source digital signage software</h2> <p>Open-source software is software that is freely available for the public to view, copy, edit, and reuse. Screenly Open Source Edition (Screenly OSE), an <a href="/ose/">open-source digital signage solution</a>, is one option for digital signage software. You can <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose">download Screenly OSE on GitHub</a>. To run Screenly OSE, you will need a bit of a technical background, and Screenly OSE does not have as many features as paid digital signage software from Screenly. However, if you’re tech-savvy and just need one digital sign, Screenly OSE may be an excellent option for you.</p> <h2 id="power-over-ethernet-poe">Power-over-Ethernet (PoE)</h2> <p>Power-over-Ethernet refers to the ability to turn on a device via an Ethernet connection. PoE works by transmitting positive and negative voltage along an Ethernet wire to “wake up” a given device. Via <a href="/blog/2017/07/08/simplify-your-screenly-deployment-with-power-over-ethernet-poe/?tap_a=1398-9a4f08&tap_s=282651-f4057b/">digital signage PoE</a>, individuals can turn on their device remotely. For example, a user can turn off their device overnight and power the device back on in the morning without having to visit the device physically.</p> <h2 id="raspberry-pi">Raspberry Pi</h2> <p>The Raspberry Pi is a System-on-a-Chip computer that fits in the palm of your hand. It is known for its versatility, low power consumption, and low cost. The Screenly Player is built using Raspberry Pi hardware. Check out our recent post to learn more about the <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">uses for Raspberry Pi devices in digital signage</a>.</p> <h2 id="raspberry-pi-hat">Raspberry Pi HAT</h2> <p>HAT refers to “Hardware Attached on Top.” An individual can add a HAT to their Raspberry Pi device for additional functionality. This hardware can include Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) attachments that allow users to turn on their device remotely. This hardware can also include camera attachments for <a href="/use-cases/applications/security-camera-display/">digital signage security cameras</a>. You can learn more about <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/introducing-raspberry-pi-hats/">Raspberry Pi HATs here</a>.</p> <h2 id="rave-publications">rAVe Publications</h2> <p><a href="http://www.ravepubs.com/">rAVe Publications</a> is a popular blog and content production company in the digital signage industry. rAVe Publications started in 1998, and it brands itself as providing useful content for “AV insiders.” rAVe Publications features a curated list of <a href="http://www.ravepubs.com/rave-pubs/ds-digital-signage/">digital signage industry updates</a>, which is very helpful for staying informed on the latest <a href="/blog/">digital signage news</a>.</p> <h2 id="ubuntu-core">Ubuntu Core</h2> <p><a href="https://www.ubuntu.com/core">Ubuntu Core</a> is a light version of <a href="https://www.canonical.com/">Canonical’s</a> Linux-based Ubuntu operating system. Ubuntu Core emphasizes security by using “persistent digital signatures” and confining apps so that “one bad app [doesn’t] compromise the whole system.” Ubuntu Core is a great lightweight operating system for IoT devices, including many digital signage players. Learn more about <a href="/blog/2018/02/28/screenly-2-is-here/">Ubuntu Core based digital signage</a>.</p> <h2 id="video-wall">Video wall</h2> <p>A video wall is a collection of individual screens that display a single video. Some video walls operate by fragmenting the video into multiple sections. Each screen then displays a fragment of the video, and, when put together like pieces of a puzzle, the screens display a single video. Other video walls operate by having multiple screens each display the entire video in unison. Check out our post on building a <a href="/apps/raspberry-pi-video-wall/">Raspberry Pi video wall</a> to learn more.</p> <h2 id="169">16:9</h2> <p>16:9 refers to the aspect ratio of most display screens. This ratio means that the screen measures 16 units across and 9 units vertically. Over the last few decades, this aspect ratio has become the standard ratio for digital displays. <a href="https://www.sixteen-nine.net/">SixteenNine</a>, a popular “online news and analysis publication” for the digital signage industry, derives its name from the 16:9 aspect ratio.</p> <h2 id="1080p-full-hd-resolution">1080p Full HD resolution</h2> <p>Even if you do not have a technical background, you have almost certainly heard of “1080p Full HD resolution” in an advertisement for a TV or movie. However, what exactly is 1080p Full HD resolution? Resolution is simply a term to measure a screen’s display quality. Specifically, it is a measure of the amount of pixels on a screen. With 1080 Full HD resolution, the screen will have 1,920 pixels horizontally and 1,080 pixels vertically. For the non-technical user, 1080p Full HD refers to “very good” image quality. When selecting a digital signage solution, make sure that your chosen hardware and software supports 1080p Full HD resolution. With 1080p Full HD resolution, your digital signs will look beautiful.</p> <h2 id="4k-resolution">4K resolution</h2> <p>Similar to 1080p Full HD resolution, 4K resolution is also a measurement of the pixels on your screen. With 3,840 pixels horizontally and 2,160 pixels vertically, 4K screens have more pixels than 1080p Full HD screens. It’s true, more pixels means that a 4K image or video will look clearer than a 1080p image or video. However, don’t assume that having a 4K screen will simply make your images and videos look better by itself. The image or video will have to be shot in 4K resolution. This means that in order to display 4K content, your team will need a camera, computer, and editing software that is capable of shooting and processing 4K content. This equipment is considerably more expensive than equipment that is only compatible with 1080p Full HD resolution. Many businesses find that <a href="/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/">4K digital signage content</a> is not worth the added costs.</p> <h2 id="8k-resolution">8K resolution</h2> <p>If 4K isn’t enough, you can always go to 8K resolution. However, note that you will definitely have to fork over some cash for an 8K display. For example, a 32 inch 8K display will cost you several thousand USD. The arithmetic holds, an 8K display has the same amount of pixels as two 4K displays. An 8K display has 7,680 pixels horizontally and 4,320 pixels vertically. 8K displays do look stunning, but it is safe to say that they aren’t necessary for almost all digital signage installations.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-get-a-digital-sign">How do I get a digital sign?</h2> <p>Hopefully, this content helped you get more acquainted with common terms in the digital signage industry. Of course, there is always more to learn, but you should be good to go if you have an understanding of each of the items above. To get started with a digital signage deployment for your business, visit our <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up page</a>.</p> <p>If you have any questions regarding setting up your first digital sign, feel free to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">reach out to Screenly Support</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/03/25/digital-signage-industry-terms/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/03/25/digital-signage-industry-terms/Mon, 25 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re constantly working on new features at Screenly. We aim to provide our users with all the features they need to manage their digital signs as easily as possible. In this spirit, we are proud to announce that Screenly now supports multi-user digital signage accounts. This feature is a key point on our roadmap for developing a more robust feature set for <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">enterprise digital signage</a>.</p> <h2 id="why-multi-user-accounts-for-digital-signage-are-important">Why multi-user accounts for digital signage are important</h2> <p>Multi-user accounts are important for several reasons. First, multi-user accounts allow large organizations to grant different permission sets to different employees. This ability is important as account administrators can now place limitations on an employee’s actions within the company’s digital signage account. For example, junior employees should not be able to add or delete user accounts or authorize plan upgrades. Multi-user accounts and different permission levels help reduce the risk of mistaken or unauthorized account changes.</p> <p>Multi-user accounts also help make employee transitions more seamless. If an employee leaves the company, you do not want your Screenly account access to go with them. Instead of having to chase the employee for their username and password credentials to access the company’s Screenly account, management can access the company’s Screenly account via a master administrator login. Additionally, multi-user account functionality allows IT managers to quickly and easily terminate a former employee’s access to the company’s digital signs.</p> <p>A third reason why multi-user accounts are important is that they minimize password sharing among multiple individuals. If employees can only access the company’s online account via a single login, employees will likely share the username and password via unsecure methods. Some companies even post the username and password on their company bulletin board that is easily viewed by all customers. This practice is risky, as the login credentials can be obtained easily by bad actors. These individuals may direct your screen to display inappropriate content as part of a practical joke, or these individuals may use your login credentials to steal sensitive business data. To learn more on what’s possible when <a href="/blog/2019/02/28/IoT-security-digital-signage/">digital signage security</a> is compromised, check out our blog post on <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">digital signage hacks</a>.</p> <h2 id="whats-next-for-screenly-multi-user-accounts">What’s next for Screenly multi-user accounts</h2> <p>In the coming months, we will improve our multi-user account functionality with some exciting new features. One additional feature we have in the works is a user activity log. This activity log will show each user’s time-stamped activity within the company’s Screenly account. This log is useful, as teams will be able to see which employee was responsible for each change. With this user-specific tracking, companies will be able to more easily <a href="/blog/2018/11/22/raspberry-pi-troubleshooting/">troubleshoot digital signage issues</a> and diagnose when a particular employee needs more training.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-multi-user-functionality-for-you-digital-signs">How to get multi-user functionality for you digital signs</h2> <p>To get access to multi-user support for your existing Screenly account, please <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">send a note to Screenly Support</a>. We will get you up and running in no time! If you are new to Screenly and do not yet have a paid account, you can <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up here for a free trial</a>. Additionally, if you have any feature requests, be sure to let us know. We keep track of inbound feature requests, and we focus our efforts on the features our customers want most!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/03/21/multi-user-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/03/21/multi-user-digital-signage/Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>One of the most unpleasant parts of healthcare is the waiting room experience. Believe it or not, it can be as miserable to physicians as it is to patients. When patients face a series of delays, they become difficult to speak with and frustrated. However, these delays are sometimes unavoidable, regardless of how much work goes into creating the perfect schedule.</p> <p>For example, a medical assistant may call in sick. In this scenario, each appointment will then take longer than usual, as there is one less person on the metaphorical production line. Similarly, doctors may have to tend to an emergency, and this emergency can cause the entire day’s schedule to get shifted by thirty minutes or even an hour. During these delays, patients are stuck in the practice’s waiting room, and the practice’s staff must do all they can to make the waiting room as enjoyable as possible.</p> <p>One way to improve the waiting room experience is with <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage</a>. Of course, installing a digital sign does not suddenly change a medical office’s waiting room into an environment that people come to for fun. However, digital signs can make the waiting room experience much more bearable.</p> <h2 id="using-digital-signs-in-medical-office-waiting-rooms">Using digital signs in medical office waiting rooms</h2> <p>Below we list a few ways in which <a href="/blog/2018/07/20/healthcare-kpi-dashboard-digital-signage/">digital signage for doctors</a> can improve the waiting room experience.</p> <h3 id="1-educate-your-patients">1. Educate your patients</h3> <p>You have patients in your waiting room, and they are looking for a place to direct their attention. Educate them! Patients often forget the details regarding their diagnoses and treatments. You can use a medical office digital sign to display graphics and videos that educate patients on what will happen in each procedure. You can also display educational content what the patient can expect afterward. In addition to reducing perceived wait times, this education-based expectation management can increase overall patient satisfaction.</p> <h3 id="2-remind-your-patients">2. Remind your patients</h3> <p>The healthcare industry is full of ever-changing regulations. It can be challenging to stay on top of these many regulations and implement these changes into your workflows. Has a patient’s insurance company changed its covered procedures? Does the patient need further documentation or diagnostic tests? Keep your patients informed of any changes, and remind them of any actions they need to take via your medical office digital sign.</p> <h3 id="3-show-off-your-team">3. Show off your team</h3> <p>Patients need to trust the doctor and the doctor’s staff. You can help build this trust by introducing your patients to your team via your digital sign. Show profiles of each team member, and keep it fun! Share some details on what each team member enjoys doing in their time off, and share information on their background and education. This use of your digital sign will help establish a more personal rapport between your staff and your patients.</p> <h3 id="4-share-patient-success-stories">4. Share patient success stories</h3> <p>Sometimes patients are nervous when they need a new treatment. You can help combat this anxiety with digital signs by displaying patient success stories. These stories can be a video testimonial or a simple image with text that describes the diagnosis, treatment, and treatment outcome. These stories provide valuable social proof for your practice, and they can help patients feel more relaxed and optimistic regarding their own treatment needs.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-medical-office-digital-signs">Getting started with medical office digital signs</h2> <p>As described, digital signs can improve the waiting room experience in a medical facility by providing attention-grabbing content for your patients. Remember to be authentic with your content and show your patients content that is targeted and relevant for their particular situation. To get started with digital signage in your practice, you will need a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a> and <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a>. You can learn more about these particular components and how to get started on our <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">features page</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/03/17/medical-office-digital-sign/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/03/17/medical-office-digital-sign/Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage software is a tool that enables users to manage their digital signage content and screens. With digital signage software, users can schedule content, create playlists, organize their screens into groups, and even diagnose playback issues that occur with remote screens. Digital signage software is typically sold via a Software-as-a-Service model, and the software typically costs around $10 a month per screen.</p> <p>To learn more about digital signage software and how it can be helpful for your business, take a look at our article below.</p> <h2 id="why-cloud-based-digital-signage-software-is-important">Why cloud-based digital signage software is important</h2> <p>In the early days of digital signage systems, users would have to <a href="/blog/2018/12/07/diy-digital-signage-issues/">physically visit each sign</a> in order to change the displayed content. Users would first have to hook up a keyboard and storage device (such as a USB drive) to a digital signage player. Next, users would have to stand there as they transferred each piece of content. The process was labor-intensive and could require more than 30 minutes per screen.</p> <p>For many businesses, digital signage of the past was too high-maintenance. Many businesses simply did not have the employee resources to run a digital signage deployment. In such cases, digital signage was either never deployed or it was deployed and content was rarely updated. Businesses needed a more efficient way to manage their digital signs.</p> <p>Cloud-based digital signage software addresses this market need. The software allows users to manage their digital signs and update content from the comfort of their laptop. As this software exists on the cloud, users can change their digital signage content from anywhere. Users no longer need to physically visit each screen and manually update their signage screens. Instead, users can drag and drop their content onto the software’s web interface.</p> <h2 id="what-are-some-important-features-of-digital-signage-software">What are some important features of digital signage software?</h2> <p>Of course, the main feature of digital signage software is enabling users to remotely manage their digital signage content. This feature enables employees to more efficiently manage the company’s digital signs and focus their time on more productive tasks. However, the best digital signage software offers a variety of other features too.</p> <p>With digital signage software, users can also create playlists with multiple pieces of content and schedule these playlists to run at predetermined times. This feature is key for teams who want to get the most out of their digital signs. With robust content scheduling abilities, users can devote a single session for content scheduling and then not have to deal with their digital signs until the scheduled content ends. With this feature, teams can set and forget their digital signs for as long as they have their content scheduled.</p> <p>A third important feature is enabling users to manage multiple screens at once. With some digital signage software, users can organize related screens into groups. These grouped screens can then be managed together. For example, instead of having to assign a playlist to each screen one at a time, users can assign a playlist to a group. The playlist will then play on each of the screens in the group.</p> <h2 id="real-time-monitoring-of-your-digital-signage-network">Real-time monitoring of your digital signage network</h2> <p>Some digital signage deployments span across several locations within a city. Other digital signage deployments can span across multiple cities or even countries. For these large-scale deployments, the employees who are responsible for managing the company’s digital signs may go for weeks without seeing a screen.</p> <p>In such a scenario, the employees rely on feedback from customers or other employees to learn when a <a href="/blog/2018/11/22/raspberry-pi-troubleshooting/">screen is having playback issues</a>. However, without an individual assigned responsibility for this feedback, this feedback loop often fails. This failure results in unnecessary screen downtime.</p> <p>To address this issue, some digital signage software allows teams to monitor the status of their digital signs remotely. The software displays the status of each screen on a central dashboard via a map visualization. Teams can then see the status of their entire deployment in real time, and any screens that experience playback issues can be quickly identified and fixed.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-get-digital-signage-software-for-my-business">How do I get digital signage software for my business?</h2> <p>Screenly is a web-based digital signage software that you can get started within minutes. With Screenly, users can schedule image, video, and even <a href="/blog/2018/11/27/website-auth-with-pro/">live web page content</a> from anywhere. Screenly enables users to create an unlimited number of groups and playlists, so managing a large deployment is just as easy as managing a single screen. To get Screenly, simply visit our <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up page</a>.</p> <p>Note that you will need a digital signage player to run Screenly. Screenly is compatible with the Screenly Player, a <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi based media player</a>. To learn more about digital signage players, check out our article on <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">“What is a digital signage player?”</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/Thu, 07 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Our first media player, the Screenly 1 Player, is now in end-of-life (EOL) status. This status means that we no longer provide support or maintenance for the product. We launched the Screenly 1 Player in 2013, and the product quickly became a market leader for <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">Raspberry Pi based digital signage</a>. In 2018, we transitioned the device to “maintenance status.” During this time, we stopped building new features for the Screenly 1 Player. However, we still provided support and fixes. A year later, in February 2019, we stopped providing maintenance of any kind for the Screenly 1 Player.</p> <h2 id="what-replaces-the-screenly-1-player">What replaces the Screenly 1 Player?</h2> <p>All good things come to an end, right? They are also usually replaced by something better, and this is certainly the case with our first <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. The Screenly 1 Player is replaced by - you guessed it - the Screenly 2 Player.</p> <p>Since the Screenly 2 Player is now the only media player we offer, we refer to this new and improved device simply as the Screenly Player. This improved digital signage player has new, reimagined software that enables users to get the most out of their <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi digital signage</a>.</p> <p>The Screenly Player supports gapless transitions for multiple digital signage content formats. This feature means that you won’t have any unsightly pauses or black screens between different pieces of content. The Screenly Player supports image, video, and motion-graphic content in 1080p Full HD resolution.</p> <p>You can <a href="/blog/2018/11/27/website-auth-with-pro/">display content from websites that require a username and password</a> too. This feature is useful for <a href="/blog/2018/11/06/digital-signage-grafana-dashboard/">displaying live dashboards for business KPIs</a>. Keep in mind that website authentication with the Screenly Player only works for some websites, so be sure to check that this feature works with the websites that you want to display.</p> <p>Another improvement is that the new Screenly Player is built using an <a href="https://www.ubuntu.com/core">Ubuntu Core operating system</a>. Ubuntu Core is a stripped down version of Ubuntu, a Linux-based operating system by <a href="https://www.canonical.com/">Canonical</a>. This operating system is known for its <a href="/blog/2019/02/28/IoT-security-digital-signage/">secure architecture for IoT devices</a>.</p> <p>The Screenly team is continuously adding new features and capabilities to the Screenly Player. You can learn more about our recent updates in the <a href="/blog/2019/02/28/IoT-security-digital-signage/">Screenly February 2019 Newsletter</a>.</p> <h2 id="is-the-screenly-player-hardware-or-software">Is the Screenly Player hardware or software?</h2> <p>If you’re just getting started with digital signage, you have likely noticed that there is quite a bit of industry-specific terminology. One point in this terminology that may cause some confusion is on whether the Screenly Player is a hardware or software solution.</p> <p>The Screenly Player is both hardware and software. Regarding the hardware, the Screenly Player uses a Raspberry Pi system-on-a-chip (SoC). Most Screenly Players use a <a href="/blog/2018/11/12/Screenly-support-Rasberry-Pi-3B-plus/">Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+</a>. However, some Screenly Players use a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B. Regarding the software, Screenly provides a custom disk image for the Raspberry Pi device. This disk image contains the software that allows your hardware to process and render digital signage content.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-upgrade-my-old-screenly-1-player">How do I upgrade my old Screenly 1 Player?</h2> <p>If you’re not sure whether or not you have a Screenly 1 Player, simply navigate to the screen within your Screenly account. Screens that are using a Screenly 1 Player will display a yellow warning box at the top of the webpage. To upgrade your old Screenly 1 Player, you will need to reflash the SD card for your Raspberry Pi device with the new Screenly Player disk image. You can find this new disk image within your online Screenly account. Next, reflash the SD card with the disk image using a flashing tool such as <a href="https://www.balena.io/etcher/">Etcher from Balena</a>. With that, you should now have your very own Screenly Player! If you don’t have a compatible Screenly 1 Player to update, you can purchase a Screenly Player from one of our <a href="/distributors/">distributors</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/03/04/screenly-1-player-end-of-life/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/03/04/screenly-1-player-end-of-life/Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="security-with-iot-devices-and-digital-signage">Security with IoT devices and digital signage</h2> <p>The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the growing network of physical devices that can now transfer data to and from the internet. The <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/semiconductors/our-insights/security-in-the-internet-of-things">McKinsey Global Institute estimates</a> that IoT technology will impact the world economy by US $3.9 trillion to US $11.1 trillion annually by 2025. Popular consumer products such as <a href="https://nest.com/">Nest home management systems</a> , <a href="https://www.irobot.com/">Roomba vacuum robots</a>, and self-driving cars are each part of the Internet of Things, and businesses are now in fierce competition to create the next IoT innovation.</p> <p>However, despite the popularity of IoT products, the IoT industry does not come without its fair share of problems. The most pressing of these problems is arguably the lack of robust security features with many IoT devices. In this article, we list several reasons <a href="http://www.ravepubs.com/not-talking-digital-signage-security/">why the state of security in IoT is a problem</a>, and we detail what we are doing at Screenly to secure our own IoT devices.</p> <h2 id="why-is-security-important-for-iot-devices">Why is security important for IoT devices?</h2> <p>One of the key value-propositions of IoT technology is that it allows consumers to connect and interact with physical devices. This value-proposition is important because it enables the benefits of the internet to transcend the computer monitor. Instead of only interacting visually with a web page, consumers can now interact with real devices in their physical environments.</p> <p>For example, IoT technology enables users to turn on their air conditioning system as they drive home and arrive at an optimally cooled or heated living room. One can find more consequential examples in medical IoT technology, where patients use IoT glucose monitors to report their blood sugar levels to their doctor in real time.</p> <p>IoT’s benefit of connecting physical devices also produces one of the technology’s most significant risks. Much like hackers can access and compromise your PC, hackers can also access and compromise your IoT devices. It is likely not a huge deal if a hacker manages to access your thermostat and mess with your home’s temperature. However, if a hacker accesses your glucose monitor and reports incorrect medical data to your doctor, IoT vulnerabilities can lead to adverse impacts on your healthcare.</p> <h2 id="what-factors-contribute-to-poor-security-in-the-iot-market">What factors contribute to poor security in the IoT market?</h2> <p>A recent KPMG report, <a href="https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/xx/pdf/2017/04/risk-or-reward-what-lurks-within-your-IoT.pdf">“Risk or reward: What lurks within your IoT”</a> notes several startling figures regarding IoT security and its expected impact in coming years:</p> <ul> <li>According to Gartner Inc., the IoT industry is expected to have 20.4 billion connected devices by 2020.</li> <li>In IDC’s Worldwide Security Predictions report, experts predict that by 2020 over 25 percent of enterprise hacking will target IoT devices.</li> <li>As detailed in AT&T’s Cybersecurity Insights Report, only 10% of companies implementing IoT devices “feel confident” that the devices are secure from hackers.</li> </ul> <p>There are several factors in the IoT industry that contribute to these alarming figures. One factor is that the IoT industry is relatively immature. At this stage, companies are fiercely competing with each other in order to release new products and gain marketshare. To be first-to-market, companies often prioritize speed, ease-of-use, and visual design over device security. As a result, security in IoT hardware and software is usually just an afterthought. Companies then ship IoT devices with significant vulnerabilities that can be exploited by amateur and experienced hackers alike.</p> <p>A second factor that contributes to the poor state of IoT security is a general lack of awareness of security best-practices among everyday consumers. Standard security best practices, such as keeping software up to date and resetting default passwords, are often ignored by IoT consumers. One can attribute these bad habits to a lack of consumer education regarding IoT security risks. Ideally, IoT device manufacturers should produce plug-and-play solutions that do not require customer intervention to remain secure.</p> <p>Lastly, IoT security is also negatively impacted by the limited computing power of many IoT devices. These devices often have a small form factor, and they do not have a surplus of processing resources. Accordingly, many IoT devices do not have computing resources to allocate towards background security processes. These IoT devices are then left exposed to attack vectors that a company could otherwise secure if the devices had more processing power.</p> <h2 id="the-importance-of-iot-security-with-digital-signage">The importance of IoT security with digital signage</h2> <p>At Screenly, we build digital signage solutions. To operate a digital sign, one needs a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a physical piece of hardware that renders content to a display screen, and it is an IoT device itself. The device can connect to the internet to source content from cloud-based content management systems.</p> <p>Accordingly, digital signage players are vulnerable to IoT hacks, and digital signage companies must take precautions to keep their devices secure. When digital signage players are not secure, hackers can force the screens to display embarrassing content or use the devices as a backdoor to access private servers. Take a look at some of the most noteworthy <a href="/digital-signage-hacks/">digital signage hacks</a>.</p> <p>Our digital signage player is called the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>, and we have taken several steps to keep the Screenly Player secure. Our engineering team regularly updates the software powering the Screenly Player in order to reduce security vulnerabilities. Screenly Players then automatically upgrade to the latest software version. These automatic updates are essential, as they prevent a scenario where a digital signage player sits on the shelf for years and remains vulnerable to known attack vectors.</p> <p>Secondly, the Screenly Player runs on Canonical’s secure <a href="https://www.ubuntu.com/core">Ubuntu Core</a> operating system. Ubuntu Core is a lightweight version of Linux-based Ubuntu. Canonical recently <a href="https://blog.ubuntu.com/2019/01/22/ubuntu-core-18-released-for-secure-reliable-iot-devices">released Ubuntu Core 18</a>, and the operating system maintains security by using “immutable, digitally signed snaps [to] ensure that devices built with Ubuntu Core are resistant to corruption or tampering.”</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-secure-digital-signage">How to get started with secure digital signage</h2> <p>To get started with secure digital signage, you can purchase our Screenly Player via our <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Box 0</a> product. The Screenly Box 0 comes with one Screenly Player, a universal power cord, and an HDMI cable. To manage the content that your Screenly Player displays, you will need a subscription to Screenly’s digital signage software. You can learn more about Screenly on our <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">features page</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/02/28/iot-security-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/02/28/iot-security-digital-signage/Thu, 28 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Hello again from the team! A lot has happened since our last update. Take a look below to see what we’ve been up to at Screenly.</p> <h2 id="general-updates">General updates</h2> <p>We’re making some name changes at Screenly. First, we’re now calling our Screenly Pro software “Screenly.” The software will be the same. We’re just taking the “Pro” off of the end. This change helps make our messaging clearer, and it adheres to the majority of SaaS software that goes by the business’s name.</p> <p>Likewise, we’re making a change to the naming of our digital signage player. We’re no longer calling our digital signage player the Screenly 2 Player. Instead, we will refer to our digital signage player as the “Screenly Player." As we are now making regular updates to the Screenly Player, it no longer makes sense to refer to our player by the release version.</p> <p>For customers with the much older Screenly 1 Player (which is <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360001351494-How-long-will-the-Screenly-1-Player-be-supported">end-of-life on February 28th</a>), we will refer to this legacy product as the Screenly Legacy Player.</p> <h2 id="new-reads-from-screenly">New reads from Screenly</h2> <p>If you are following us on social media, you’ve seen some of our latest blog posts. If you haven’t, then get reading! Here are some of our favorite posts from our blog:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/blog/2019/01/14/communication-in-the-workplace/">How to improve communication in the workplace</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2019/01/29/outdoor-digital-signage/">Key points to consider when launching outdoor digital signage</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/">How to make a digital signage advertising network</a></li> </ul> <p>Also, be sure to check out one of the most exciting use cases of Screenly to date: <a href="/blog/2019/02/15/digital-signage-for-blind/">digital signs for the blind and visually impaired</a>.</p> <h2 id="the-changelog">The Changelog</h2> <p>This section is new to the Screenly newsletter. “The Changelog” will be a dedicated space where we post recent software and hardware updates. We’re always making changes to improve Screenly, and we want to be sure that we share these changes with you! Here are some of our most recent updates and improvements to Screenly:</p> <ul> <li>Users can now have a separate billing email. This new feature is useful as teams can have their bills sent to the team member who manages payables.</li> <li>Users can now give a screen a custom name at the time the user creates the screen. Previously, users would have to scroll down their list of screens to name a newly created screen.</li> <li>Users are no longer logged out of their account if they visit login.screenlyapp.com instead of their custom account domain. Now, if a logged in user visits the login page, they are simply redirected to the Screens page of their account</li> <li>We removed the limit on the number of assets you can upload at a time. If you have a bunch of new digital signage content to upload, you can now do it all at once.</li> <li>Screenly Players (with the most recent disk image) now automatically restart their network connection if the device loses its network connection. This change helps improve screen uptime in areas with poor WiFi signal. Existing players should automatically receive this update, so there’s no need to reflash your devices.</li> <li>Users can now view their screens in DHCP networks by the screen’s unique ID. Screens will display in the network with “srly-[unique-id]” as the hostname. This change enables users to identify screens much more easily. This change is particularly useful for large digital signage deployments.</li> </ul> <p>One of our most significant updates is multi-user support. This means that large businesses and organizations can now have unique login credentials for multiple employees. This feature is useful as large teams can now distribute workloads and track changes from multiple team members. If you’re interested in multi-user support for your team and you do not have it already, reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>.</p> <h2 id="whats-next-at-screenly">What’s next at Screenly?</h2> <p>Stay on the lookout for some exciting changes. We are currently working on a significant overhaul of our user interface, and we will start rolling it out soon. We’re pretty excited about it, and we think you’re going to love it.</p> <p>That’s all for now!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/02/22/screenly-newsletter-february-2019/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/02/22/screenly-newsletter-february-2019/Fri, 22 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>A digital signage player, also known as a media player, is a small, physical device that renders content to a TV, monitor, or other digital display. A digital signage player is a crucial part of any digital signage system, and the device is used across a variety of different <a href="/use-cases/">industries and use cases</a>. Depending on your particular requirements, a digital signage player can cost as low as US $35 or more than US $1,000.</p> <p>Read more below on <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage players</a> and how they can be useful for your business or organization.</p> <h2 id="why-does-a-digital-signage-player-matter">Why does a digital signage player matter?</h2> <p>A digital signage player matters because it gives computing power to your digital sign. Without it, your screen or monitor would not be able to display content. Also, most digital signage media players connect to the internet. This feature enables you to hook up your display screens to a web-based digital signage content management system (CMS). Digital signage CMS platforms allow users to store, schedule, and update their digital signage content.</p> <h2 id="what-are-the-key-features-of-a-digital-signage-player">What are the key features of a digital signage player?</h2> <p>Digital signage players come with a variety of features. Take a look below to review several important features of digital signage players. These features include support for multiple content formats, built-in security, multi-screen support, and internet connectivity.</p> <h3 id="support-for-multiple-content-formats-and-resolution-capabilities">Support for multiple content formats and resolution capabilities</h3> <p>The most important feature of a digital signage player is its ability to process and render content to your digital signage screen. When choosing your player, check out what type of content it can display. For most use cases, make sure your selected player can render image, video, motion-graphic, and web-page content. If you have a special content format in mind, be sure to ask about that content specifically.</p> <p>Also, be sure to look into the display resolution capabilities of your selected player. Many players display in 1080p HD resolution, and this resolution should be fine for most business use cases. Other use cases require 4K resolution. If you decide to go with 4K resolution, be sure that you really need it. There are a variety of <a href="/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/">extra costs and complications with 4K resolution digital signage</a>. Some digital signs now feature 8K resolution, but this resolution is certainly not needed for your business. At this point, 8K resolution digital signage is mostly limited to industry showcases and special events.</p> <h3 id="digital-signage-player-security">Digital signage player security</h3> <p>Security is another key feature that you should consider when selecting your player. Often, <a href="http://www.ravepubs.com/not-talking-digital-signage-security/">security precautions are only an afterthought</a> in the digital signage industry. This sloppiness results in vulnerabilities in your digital signage hardware and software that can be exploited by hackers.</p> <p>If hackers gain access to your digital signage player, they can force your <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">player to display embarrassing or inappropriate content</a>. Additionally, hackers can exploit hardware vulnerabilities to access private information on your business’s servers. When considering a digital signage player for your business, be sure to research the security features of the product.</p> <h3 id="support-for-multiscreen-digital-signage">Support for multiscreen digital signage</h3> <p>Another feature to consider is multi-screen support. Some digital signage players can render content to more than one screen at a time, and this may be something that you need for your business.</p> <p>However, note that multi-screen support can have a variety of different meanings. Multi-screen support can mean that the player can display different content to different screens simultaneously.</p> <p>Another type of multi-screen support is when the player can display the same, synched content to multiple screens.</p> <p>Alternatively, multi-screen support can refer to a player’s ability to display the same piece of content cut across multiple screens. When one arranges these screens next to each other, the screens form a single piece of content.</p> <p>Spend some time thinking about whether or not you need multi-screen support for your digital signage. While it may be exciting to think about a floor-to-ceiling video wall, these larger installations come with larger problems. These problems include higher costs and more frequent maintenance needs.</p> <h3 id="internet-connected-digital-signage-players">Internet-connected digital signage players</h3> <p>Another important feature to consider is whether or not your digital signage player can connect to the internet. Today, most digital signage players can connect to the internet, so what you really need to consider is the type of internet connectivity you need.</p> <p>Some digital signage players connect to the internet via a wired Ethernet connection, while others can connect wirelessly via a WiFi connection. Some digital signage players can connect via both Ethernet and WiFi.</p> <p>We recommend that you connect your digital signage players to the internet via Ethernet. A cabled connection typically has fewer malfunctions than a WiFi connection. Additionally, cabled connections are often faster than WiFi. However, sometimes WiFi connections are necessary depending on the placement of the digital sign.</p> <h2 id="what-type-of-digital-signage-player-do-you-need">What type of digital signage player do you need?</h2> <p>For any business, it is important not to have unnecessary expenditures. Businesses can easily spend more than they need to when it comes to digital signage players by paying for features and capabilities that they really don’t need. Be sure to consider the key features of digital signage players as described above to determine which type of digital player you need for your particular situation. Most businesses are not trying to build a 20 screen video wall for the lobby of a corporate campus. Instead, many businesses need a digital signage player only to display marketing or informational content on a single screen.</p> <p>Note that the costs associated with your digital signage player extend beyond the cost of the physical device. Of course, these devices consume electricity to run, so there will be <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">ongoing electricity costs associated with your digital signage player</a>. While these electricity costs can seem insignificant on a month-to-month basis, these extra costs can add up over time. If your business has a digital signage deployment with multiple screens, the costs associated with a single screen start to matter a lot more.</p> <h2 id="consider-a-raspberry-pi-based-digital-signage-player">Consider a Raspberry Pi based digital signage player</h2> <p>One option for your media player is a Raspberry Pi based digital signage player. A <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi</a> is a mini-computer that is about the size of a credit card. This device is built on open-source technology and has an extremely active community of developers and enthusiasts. A Raspberry Pi only draws 3 watts of electricity to run, so you will be able to keep your electricity costs down.</p> <p>With the right digital signage software, a Raspberry Pi player supports full HD content for images, video, motion-graphic, and even live web-page content. Users can also build <a href="/apps/raspberry-pi-video-wall/">multi-screen video walls with a Raspberry Pi</a> player.</p> <p>Also, Raspberry Pi players can have robust security features. These security features can include the Raspberry Pi using a secure operating system and automatically downloading the latest and most secure software versions.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-get-a-digital-signage-player-for-my-business">How do I get a digital signage player for my business</h2> <p>One option for a Raspberry Pi based digital signage player is the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>. Here are a few key features of the Screenly Player:</p> <ul> <li>It supports image, video, motion-graphic, and live web-page content.</li> <li>It can display content in 1080p Full HD resolution.</li> <li>With the right accessories, the Screenly Player can support a <a href="/apps/raspberry-pi-video-wall/">multi-screen digital signage video wall</a>.</li> <li>It is one of the most secure digital signage players on the market. The device is built using a <a href="/blog/2017/09/14/nec-display-solutions-partners-with-canonical-and-screenly-on-ubuntu-core-based-digital-signage/">secure Ubuntu Core operating system</a>, and the device regularly and automatically downloads security and software updates.</li> <li>It can connect to the internet via both ethernet and WiFi.</li> <li>It can connect to <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">Screenly’s digital signage content management system</a>.</li> </ul> <p>You can buy the Screenly Player with all necessary connection cords on <a href="https://go.srly.io/screenlyplayer-us">Amazon</a>. Also, be sure to check out Screenly’s digital signage management software. Please note that the Screenly Player requires a paid subscription to an online Screenly account. If you are looking for a free open source digital signage solution, check out [Screenly OSE]((/ose/)</p> <p>If you have any questions regarding digital signage players or using a Raspberry Pi based digital signage player for your business, feel free to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">reach out to Screenly Support</a>).</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/Sat, 16 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p><em>We have redacted names in this article for privacy.</em></p> <p>At Screenly, we are consistently amazed and surprised by our users’ innovative applications of <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi</a> based digital signage. Recently, we covered digital sign innovations in the <a href="/blog/2018/10/08/real-estate-digital-signage/">real-estate industry</a> and also in the <a href="/blog/2018/10/17/vending-machine-digital-signage-apis/">vending machine market</a>. In this post, we focus on another unique use case: digital signs for the blind and visually impaired.</p> <p>A school for the blind and visually impaired first pioneered the use of digital signs with this demographic. The school started with just eight students and a single schoolhouse. Today, the school has grown to include early childhood, K-12, college, and career-readiness programs. One of the school’s major strong points is its focus on technology, and, in the spirit of this focus, the school launched its first digital signage deployment.</p> <h2 id="the-digital-signage-solution">The digital signage solution</h2> <p>One of the school’s web developers, a former student of the school himself, spearheaded the school’s digital signage deployment. To make digital signage accessible to the blind and visually impaired, the developer placed a small QR code in the same position on the side of each screen. The QR code serves as the primary interaction point between the blind and visually impaired students and the actual digital sign. Otherwise, the digital sign deployment is a standard setup with a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a> and <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">Screenly software</a>.</p> <p>When visually impaired or blind students want to interact with the digital sign, they simply scan the QR code with their smartphone. Once the student scans the QR code, the student’s smartphone then opens the same <a href="/apps/google-slides/">Google Slides</a> that are displayed on the digital sign. Visually impaired students can then magnify the contents of the digital sign on their smartphone, and blind students can have their smartphone read them the content out loud.</p> <h2 id="an-exciting-use-of-digital-signage">An exciting use of digital signage</h2> <p>According to the school’s internal research (and our research too), this application of digital signage appears to be unique to the school. This exciting use of technology follows previous technology efforts from the school for their visually impaired and blind students. These past efforts include deployments of voice-activated computers and screen magnifiers. Students have adapted to the digital signs well, and many students get excited to scan the QR code each time the school updates their digital sign content.</p> <p>The school believes that technology helps its students better access their world. At Screenly, we share this belief. We hope that through innovative solutions like those described in this article, all people can benefit from digital signage, regardless of any disabilities.</p> <h2 id="benefits-of-digital-signage-for-school-administrators-and-staff">Benefits of digital signage for school administrators and staff</h2> <p>Just as Screenly is helpful for students, Screenly is also helpful for school administrators and staff. Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage content management platform</a> enables school employees to quickly and easily change their digital sign content from a central web interface. Those responsible for managing the school’s digital signs only need to upload content and assign it to their desired screens. The content then displays on the school’s screens in minutes. This process is much easier when compared to the alternative process of <a href="/blog/2018/12/07/diy-digital-signage-issues/">changing out content by hand with a USB drive</a>. This manual process for digital signage management takes a lot of unnecessary labor hours from school employees, and this unnecessary time can become quite burdensome when there are multiple digital signs that need to be managed.</p> <p>Screenly also makes it easy for school employees to manage multiple screens at a time. For example, perhaps there is separate content for the <a href="/blog/2018/08/03/digital-signage-schools-universities-educational-institutions/">elementary school digital signs</a> and <a href="/blog/2018/08/23/library-digital-signage/">library digital signs</a>. Screens in these different sections of the school can be put into separate “Groups” within the Screenly interface. Those managing the school’s digital signs can then update content once for each group, and this updated content will then populate to all the screens that are in the group. With this feature, school employees no longer need to update each screen one by one.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-get-a-digital-sign-at-my-school">How do I get a digital sign at my school?</h2> <p>To launch a digital sign at your school, you need three components. First, you need a digital signage player. This device renders your digital sign content to your screen. Screenly’s digital signage player, the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>, can be purchased with our <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Box 0</a> product. This product bundles a Screenly Player with all required connection cords into a single, convenient box. Next, you need a subscription to <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage management software</a>. You can register for Screenly’s digital signage management software <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">here</a>. Lastly, you need an actual screen for your digital sign. You don’t have to purchase anything fancy. All you need is a TV or monitor that can display 1080p HD content and accept HDMI input.</p> <p>If you have any questions regarding setting up a <a href="/use-cases/education/">digital sign at your school</a>, don’t hesitate to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">reach out to us</a>!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/02/15/digital-signage-for-blind/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/02/15/digital-signage-for-blind/Fri, 15 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Of course, you have seen massive billboards on the side of the road. They catch your eye, and they get the message across in just a few words. They are everywhere too, and that is because they are a proven marketing channel that works. However, in recent years, marketing and advertising agencies have started using much smaller digital signs to display their clients’ messaging and promotions. In this post, we walk you through how your agency can offer digital signs as an advertising medium. By the end of this article, you’ll know how to launch your very own digital signage advertising network.</p> <h2 id="what-is-a-digital-signage-advertising-network">What is a digital signage advertising network?</h2> <p>A digital signage advertising network is a collection of digital signs that display image, video, and motion-graphic advertising content to a given audience. These digital signs are typically found in <a href="/use-cases/lobby/">lobbies</a>, waiting rooms, and other public spaces such as <a href="/blog/2018/08/23/library-digital-signage/">libraries</a> and <a href="/blog/2019/01/21/digital-poster/">bus stops</a>. The ideal location for a digital advertising sign is a place where there is heavy foot traffic and a reason for people to slow down. When people have a short pause in their route, they have a chance to observe your digital advertising sign.</p> <p>Display screens for digital signage advertising networks are typically the size of a large TV - say around 40 to 65 inches when measured diagonally. Larger digital advertising screens certainly do exist. However, these larger sizes are less common. The takeaway here is that these screens are much smaller than the typical billboard on the side of the road. This smaller size allows companies to <a href="/blog/2018/12/17/in-store-advertising/">display their messaging indoors</a> and in more crowded areas than they were able to previously.</p> <p>Marketing and advertising agencies now operate fleets of these digital advertising signs across cities and sell display time on these screens to advertisers. The agency takes care of managing the screens and deploying the advertising content. All the companies that are advertising have to do is pay their monthly advertising fee. Once your agency pays for the initial startup costs, a digital signage advertising network can be a profitable revenue stream.</p> <h2 id="what-do-i-need-in-terms-of-digital-signage-advertising-software-and-hardware">What do I need in terms of digital signage advertising software and hardware?</h2> <p>If you are going to launch a digital signage advertising network, you need to invest in hardware and software that will make screen management as easy as possible. Managing remote devices is a difficult undertaking for any team. Remote device management is even more difficult when you have client contracts to fulfill and expectations to meet. To launch a smoothly operating digital signage advertising network, you need digital signage hardware and software that is intuitive, secure, and reliable. Nobody wants to get a late-night call from a client who is upset that the agency’s digital advertising screens are down.</p> <p>To get started, you first need to select <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage advertising software</a>. This software will help you manage your screens and schedule your clients’ advertising content. You need to look for software that is both easy to use and robust enough to work well across many different scenarios and <a href="/use-cases/">digital signage use cases</a>.</p> <p>In terms of features, make sure that your selected digital signage advertising software allows you to manage the content of your digital signage advertising screens remotely. This feature is essential, as, without it, an employee of the agency will have to <a href="/blog/2018/12/07/diy-digital-signage-issues/">visit each screen in person</a> and <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">update the content manually with a USB drive</a>.</p> <p>Secondly, make sure that you can set advertising content to play for a set duration at predetermined times. This feature is key, as your clients pay your agency for this display time. You need to make sure that you have the necessary technology to fulfill these contract requirements.</p> <p>Lastly, be sure that your digital signage advertising software allows you to check your screens’ playback statuses remotely. You need to know if any of your screens are down or experiencing playback issues. This feature will enable you to tackle any problems with your displays immediately so that you can provide maximum screen uptime for your clients.</p> <p>You will also need a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. This device is a media player that runs your digital signage advertising software and pushes your advertising content to the display screen. You’ll need one digital signage player for each display screen in your advertising network.</p> <p>When choosing your digital signage player, make sure that you do not select one with unnecessary processing power. Purchasing a digital signage player that has more processing power than you need will result in unnecessary expenses. In addition to high initial hardware expenses, you will also have <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">unnecessarily high electricity expenses for your digital signage player</a>. As your digital signage advertising network will have multiple display screens, it is essential to pay close attention to your costs. What seems like a small expense for one screen can quickly add up when you multiply this cost by the total number of screens in your deployment.</p> <p>Also, make sure that the operating system and software for your digital signage player are secure. Bad actors can easily <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">hack remote digital advertising signs</a> that are out of sight from your agency’s employees. Hackers can force your screens to display embarrassing content or use your screens as a backdoor to access sensitive business data.</p> <h2 id="what-are-the-benefits-of-digital-signage-advertising">What are the benefits of digital signage advertising?</h2> <p>A digital advertising sign is a unique advertising channel with unique advantages. Digital signage advertising’s primary benefit is that your agency can serve eye-catching and dynamic content to your clients’ potential customers. Given the size and portability of digital signs, your agency can serve this content to your clients’ potential customers in a wide variety of locations. Other advantages include the ability to change content quickly and expand the network’s size easily. Another benefit is the ability to hookup custom software applications to your digital advertising signs via API. Read more on each of these additional advantages below.</p> <p>One of the most important advantages of a digital advertising sign is that an agency can quickly change the displayed advertising content. Billboards, static signs, or other print media such as brochures or direct mailings do not share this important advantage. Once an agency prints content on those mediums, the only way to change the content is to print new content. With digital signage, an agency can change advertising content in just a few clicks.</p> <p>With the ability to quickly and easily change-out content, marketing and advertising agencies can offer added flexibility to their clients. If a client wants to change their ad copy and creative, an agency can make these changes the same day that the client makes the request. If your agency and a client need to part ways, you can get a new client’s advertising content up and running quickly.</p> <p>Another benefit of digital signage advertising is that agencies can quickly scale their digital sign deployment. With the right digital signage advertising software, agencies can add a new screen to their network in minutes. The agency can then direct this screen to show new, original advertising content or the same advertising content as other screens. This benefit is important, as, once an agency’s digital advertising network begins to gain traction in the community, the agency will not be held back by hardware or software limitations.</p> <p>For the more tech-savvy agencies, another significant benefit is that users can hook up digital signage advertising networks to databases and software tools. An agency can make this connection via a <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>. This feature enables agencies to build custom software for their digital signage advertising network. For example, agencies can develop a custom web interface that allows clients to design advertising content themselves and upload it to the agency’s servers. Via a digital signage API, users can push content to the agency’s screens in real-time.</p> <h2 id="some-tips-for-the-business-side-of-digital-signage-advertising">Some tips for the business side of digital signage advertising</h2> <p>As an agency, you need to master both the technology and business of digital signage advertising. You need the technology to work, and you also need the economics of the technology to work to stay profitable and keep your business running. Below are some useful tips.</p> <p>First, be sure to offer a design-as-a-service package. Many of your digital signage advertising customers will be mom-and-pop shops that do not have the resources to employ an in-house designer. Accordingly, the design of their digital signage ads is a significant hurdle. If they have to take care of design tasks themselves, they may forgo digital signage advertising altogether. Make the onboarding process easy for these businesses. Offering design services for digital signage ads can help you sign up more clients and bring in more revenue. For digital signage ad design, check out our posts on <a href="/blog/2018/07/04/ten-great-video-creation-tools-for-digital-signage-video-walls/">stock images for digital signage</a> and <a href="/blog/2018/07/04/ten-great-video-creation-tools-for-digital-signage-video-walls/">digital signage video creation tools</a>.</p> <p>Secondly, be sure to reach out to franchises! While many of your customers may be one-location businesses, keep knocking on the doors of franchise chains. Sooner or later, you will land a franchise client. These clients are great as they often have a trove of professional marketing collateral that you can use for digital signage advertising. With the collateral already designed and made, you can get ads for franchise clients up in no time. Of course, franchises have multiple locations, and, once you are in with one of the franchise’s stores, it’s easy to expand to other locations quickly.</p> <p>Third, you need to schedule display times and set pricing options for your digital signage ad space. We’ve found that around five to seven seconds is an ideal display time for a digital signage ad. This duration setting gives viewers enough time to read and comprehend your ad while also keeping your digital sign active. You can read more about engaging digital signage viewers and best practices for digital signage content duration in Dave Hayne’s article, “<a href="https://www.sixteen-nine.net/2016/06/23/how-much-time-do-digital-signage-displays-really-have-with-viewers/">How Much Time Do Digital Signage Displays Really Have With Viewers?</a>”</p> <p>The pricing of these time slots depends on many factors, including where you place your digital signs and the amount of foot traffic that these signs receive. There isn’t a standard pricing scheme for digital signage ads, so we suggest you experiment with a few different pricing options in your local market. Just make sure that your digital signage advertising agreements detail when and where your clients’ ads will display. Clients often want this “proof-of-play” information to make sure their ads have guaranteed showtimes.</p> <p>Also, when scheduling your digital signage advertising content, be sure to display more than just ads. For example, you can display weather information, recent news updates, and public transit notifications. This use of informative, non-advertising content will help ensure that walk-through traffic pays attention to and engages with your digital signage ads. For an easy digital signage weather solution, check out the <a href="/blog/2018/11/30/digital-signage-weather-app/">Screenly Weather App</a>.</p> <h2 id="what-do-i-need-to-do-next-to-launch-my-digital-signage-advertising-network">What do I need to do next to launch my digital signage advertising network?</h2> <p>Alright, you want to get started with your digital signage advertising network. The first step is selecting the required components for your digital signage deployment. For digital signage advertising software, check out <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">Screenly</a>. Screenly is a robust solution with a variety of useful features for remotely managing digital advertising signs. You can find pricing information <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">here</a>. You can get started wiht a free 14-day trial of Screenly <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">here</a>.</p> <p>Next, check out the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>. You will need one Screenly Player per screen. The Screenly Player displays image, video, and live website content to your screen at <a href="/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/">1080p full HD resolution</a>. Also, it is one of the most cost-effective and <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">energy-efficient digital signage players</a> on the market. You can purchase a Screenly Player on <a href="https://go.srly.io/screenlyplayer-us">Amazon</a>.</p> <p>The next item you need is the actual display screen for your digital advertising sign. The type of display screen you purchase depends on the environment where you will place your screen. Check out options from <a href="https://www.necdisplay.com/">NEC Display Solutions</a> for commercial-grade screens. These screens come with a variety of multi-year warranty and service plans. If you plan on placing your digital advertising screen outside, check out our post on <a href="/blog/2019/01/29/outdoor-digital-signage/">outdoor digital signage</a>. Whichever screen you choose, make sure the screen accepts HDMI input, as this ability will make the screen compatible with most digital signage players.</p> <p>That’s it! You should be ready to launch your very own digital signage advertising network. Should you have any questions about getting started with Screenly, don’t hesitate to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">reach out to us</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/Mon, 11 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signs have become a popular <a href="/blog/2019/01/14/communication-in-the-workplace/">communication channel</a> between businesses and customers. Just as businesses can use digital signs to communicate with customers for <a href="/blog/2018/12/17/in-store-advertising/">in-store advertising</a>, digital signs can also be used to communicate with customers who are outside the store. Businesses can use this outdoor digital signage to attract potential customers to come inside the store. Businesses can also use remote outdoor digital signs located in bus stops and metro stations to build their brand and advertise special offers. In this post, we discuss some key points you must consider when launching outdoor digital signage for your business.</p> <h2 id="weather-concerns-with-outdoor-digital-signs">Weather concerns with outdoor digital signs</h2> <p>Since you will expose your outdoor display to the elements, you must choose an outdoor signage display that can withstand a variety of weather types. Importantly, your screen must be able to withstand water from humidity, rain, and snow. Some displays feature a weatherproofing seal while others will require a separate weatherproof casing.</p> <p>If you go the casing route, you will need to be sure to manage the temperature within the screen enclosure. Screens generate heat, and, if the temperature inside the enclosure becomes too hot, your outdoor display screen may be damaged. Note that freezing temperatures can also damage your outdoor sign. If your display screen is in an environment with occasional freezing temperatures, you will likely need to add a heat source to your screen enclosure. Be sure to check and comply with the requirements of your chosen display screen.</p> <p>Nowadays, more and more outdoor display screens can withstand water exposure and a variety of weather conditions on their own. These screens do not need a secondary protective enclosure. This feature is important, as matching a secondary enclosure with a display screen is quite difficult. There compatibility issues concerning size, and temperature and moisture management within these enclosures is a real headache. Stand-alone outdoor digital signage screens are more expensive than screens that require a protective enclosure. However, the added convenience and avoided maintenance issues are often worth the price.</p> <h2 id="dealing-with-the-effects-of-sunlight-on-your-outdoor-digital-signage">Dealing with the effects of sunlight on your outdoor digital signage</h2> <p>Another environmental consideration for outdoor digital signs is the effect of sunlight. For people to be able to see your LED sign, it must compete with the brightness of surrounding sunlight. To be seen in sunlit conditions, a display screen needs to be capable of displaying at approximately 700 nits or more. A “nit” is a measure of brightness. Of course, the screen will need to display at different brightness levels in different levels of sunlight. If a screen displays more brightly than required, the <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">screen consumes unnecessary electricity</a>. If a screen is not displaying brightly enough, potential customers will have a hard time viewing your outdoor advertising. Many outdoor digital signage displays have an ambient light sensor to deal with varying brightness levels. This sensor allows the screen to automatically adjust its brightness based on the lighting conditions of the environment.</p> <h2 id="making-things-easy-with-outdoor-digital-signage-software">Making things easy with outdoor digital signage software</h2> <p>Once you set up your outdoor digital sign, you need to populate this <a href="/blog/2018/06/20/stock-images-for-digital-signage/">sign with content</a>. Given the nature of outdoor digital signs, these screens are often hard to access. Outdoor digital signs can be elevated and hard to reach without a ladder, or they can be spread out across a city. Outdoor advertising management software allows users to change the content of their outdoor digital signs from anywhere. With these software platforms, users can change the content of their screens using a simple web interface on their laptop. Without such a content management system, users have to physically travel to each outdoor digital sign and <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">upload new content via a USB drive</a>. This process is unnecessarily time-consuming, and, in many cases, it is also dangerous.</p> <p>When you are choosing a media management tool for your outdoor digital signage, make sure it has a few key features. First, ensure that the software allows you to manage multiple screens at once. If you are managing multiple screens, you do not want to have to upload new content to each screen individually. Some outdoor advertising management software will allow users to place screens into groups, and users can update the content for each of the screens in this group together via a single workflow.</p> <p>Second, make sure that your digital signage software allows you to schedule assets to show at predetermined times. This feature is useful for <a href="/blog/2018/07/12/how-to-increase-restaurant-sales-with-digital-menu-boards/">outdoor digital signs with restaurants</a>, as the restaurant can show different menu promotions for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This feature is also useful for <a href="/use-cases/cinemas/">cinema digital signage</a>, as the theater may want to display content for a particular movie just prior to the movie’s show time.</p> <p>Another useful feature is the ability to manage the status of your outdoor digital signs remotely. Particularly for outdoor digital sign deployments that are spread out across a city, teams that manage these signs must be quickly alerted of any playback issues. If teams are not informed, malfunctioning digital signs could be down for days or weeks before the team learns of the problem. Some outdoor advertising management software provides a useful dashboard that reports the display status of each screen in real time. If a screen experiences any issues, teams that are alerted of the issue can quickly visit and fix the outdoor digital sign.</p> <p>Lastly, you will need to sort out internet connectivity for your outdoor digital sign. In many cases, it is not feasible to run an ethernet cable to your digital sign. Accordingly, you will need to connect your outdoor digital sign to the internet wirelessly in order to use outdoor digital signage management software. One option is to connect your outdoor sign to a WiFi connection. This option works well if your sign is located directly outside of your place of business and is well within the range of your store’s WiFi network. If you have outdoor signs that are spread across your city, you will need to connect these signs to a cellular network. Some outdoor digital signs have built-in hardware that enables the sign to connect to a mobile network.</p> <p>If your screen does not have a built-in solution, you will need to buy an add-on device for your digital signage media player. Screenly’s <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage media player</a> uses a <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi mini-computer</a>. <a href="https://altitude.tech/">Altitude Technology</a> offers a variety of Raspberry Pi HATs that allow your Raspberry Pi to connect to a cellular network. A Raspberry Pi HAT is a physical device that you simply attach to your Screenly Player. Altitude Technology has options for <a href="https://altitude.tech/product-category/iot-bit/">3G and 4G/LTE connectivity</a>. Do check out the price points of these Raspberry Pi HATs before considering them as part of your solution. These add-ons can be quite expensive! You can find a <a href="https://sixfab.com/product/raspberry-pi-3g-4glte-base-shield-v2/">cheaper option from SixFab</a>, but read the product description as SixFab’s add-on will require a few additional components that will cost you another US $100. If you are using a cellular network to connect your outdoor digital sign to the internet, you need to manage data usage carefully. If you download an image or video file each time you display it on your outdoor digital sign, this activity will quickly use up your data plan. To address this issue, Screenly Players automatically cache your digital signage content so that it only needs to be downloaded once.</p> <h2 id="outdoor-digital-signs-and-security-concerns">Outdoor digital signs and security concerns</h2> <p>Developers often overlook security when it comes to IoT devices, and this phenomenon is certainly the case with outdoor digital signage. In fact, Screenly CEO <a href="https://twitter.com/vpetersson?lang=en">Viktor Petersson</a> wrote an article addressing this issue titled, “<a href="http://www.ravepubs.com/not-talking-digital-signage-security/">Why Are We Not Talking About Digital Signage Security</a>.” Additionally, Viktor Petersson gave a lecture on the status of security in IoT at <a href="https://2018.container.camp/au/">Container Camp Australia 2018</a> titled, “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmWYTjr_Xso">The ‘S’ in ‘IoT’ stands for Security</a>.”</p> <p>Outdoor digital signage is particularly vulnerable to attacks as these devices are often off-premise and unattended. Hackers can thereby access a device’s software and physical hardware. Businesses with outdoor digital signs must ensure that they choose software and hardware solutions with built-in security precautions and safeguards. If businesses deploy vulnerable outdoor digital signs, hackers make take over these outdoor signs and <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">display unwanted content</a>. Additionally, hackers may use outdoor signs as a backdoor to your company’s servers and access sensitive business data. To learn more on how to protect your outdoor digital signage, check out our article about how Screenly focuses on <a href="/blog/2017/09/14/nec-display-solutions-partners-with-canonical-and-screenly-on-ubuntu-core-based-digital-signage/">digital signage security</a>.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-outdoor-digital-signage">Getting started with outdoor digital signage</h2> <p>To get started with outdoor digital signage solutions for your business or organization, you will need to purchase an outdoor display screen that can withstand the weather conditions of your environment. As mentioned earlier, the easiest route is to purchase an outdoor digital display screen that does not require a separate enclosure.</p> <p>One option for a standalone weatherproof sign is <a href="https://www.sunbritetv.com/49-pro-series-outdoor-digital-signage-ds-4917p">SunBrite TV’s 49" Pro Series</a>. This screen displays at 700 nits and is viewable in direct sunlight. Regarding temperature, the screen can operate between -40°F to 122°F (-40°C to 50°C). That should be fine for this planet! Importantly, the 49" Pro Series has a large media bay at the bottom. This space is important, as it provides an area for you to store your outdoor digital sign media player. Note that we are not a reseller of any of SunBrite TVs, so we cannot endorse or guarantee these solutions.</p> <p>If you chose a display screen that needs an enclosure, <a href="https://www.av-iq.com/">AV-IQ</a> will help you in your search for the best enclosure unit for your business. The website brands itself as “the largest database of professional AV, residential, production & video products.” Two solutions to check out are the <a href="https://www.av-iq.com/avcat/ctl1642/index.cfm?manufacturer=its-enclosures&product=vsa-1x1-46-p">one screen</a> and <a href="https://www.av-iq.com/avcat/ctl1642/index.cfm?manufacturer=its-enclosures&product=vsa-2x1-46-p">two screen ViewStation QSR Enclosure units</a>. These enclosures work great for <a href="/blog/2018/07/12/how-to-increase-restaurant-sales-with-digital-menu-boards/">outdoor menu boards</a> for fast food drive-throughs. The <a href="https://www.av-iq.com/avcat/ctl1642/index.cfm?keywordsearch=t&searchstring=display%20shield">Display Shield</a> is another option to check out. It is a simpler enclosure, and it can support horizontal screen orientations. We are not a reseller of these enclosure units, so we can’t guarantee these solutions either. Before purchasing, double check with your screen manufacturer an enclosure provider to see if the two items are compatible and if they will suit your weather conditions.</p> <p>For outdoor digital signage software, check out Screenly’s <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage solution</a>. Screenly software runs on the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a>, and you will need one Screenly Player for each of your outdoor digital signs. If you have any questions regarding your outdoor digital signage needs, <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">send us a note</a>. We’re always happy to help.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/29/outdoor-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/29/outdoor-digital-signage/Tue, 29 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Since Screenly’s founding, one of our goals is to make digital signage accessible to everyone. To achieve this goal, we offer a free digital signage software solution, <a href="/ose/">Anthias</a> (formerly known as Screenly OSE). During our journey with Anthias, we learned that users have some common questions when getting started with free signage software. They want to know what it is, how to set it up, and what they can expect going forward. In this post, we answer those common questions.</p> <h2 id="what-does-open-source-mean-and-what-is-github">What does “open source” mean, and what is GitHub?</h2> <p>Anthias stands for Anthias (formerly known as Screenly OSE - Screenly Open Source Edition). “Open source” describes software that has its code open to the public. Being “open to the public” means that anyone can copy, use, and edit the software for free. Accordingly, anyone can use Anthias to power their digital signs at no cost.</p> <p>You can find Anthias’s code for <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/anthias">free on GitHub</a>. GitHub is a website that brands itself as the “world’s leading software development platform.” GitHub allows software developers and companies (like Screenly!) to share their software code with the world. Other software developers can then review, download, and use this code for their own programs and use cases.</p> <p>At the time of writing this post, Anthias has over 700 stars on GitHub - 702 stars to be exact. This exposure makes Anthias the most popular digital signage solution on GitHub. At Screenly, we are proud of this accomplishment, and we are excited to continue providing open-source digital signage software for thousands of screens around the world.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-set-up-free-signage-software">How do I set up free signage software?</h2> <p>Setting up free signage software is easy, and anyone can do it. You need a few key components to get started. First, you will need to get a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. This device is a physical piece of hardware that will render content to your digital sign. Just like a DVD media player renders a movie to your TV, digital signage players render content to your digital signs. The Raspberry Pi only draws 3 watts of electricity. This <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">low power requirement for digital signage</a> allows users to avoid high electricity costs in the long run.</p> <p>Next, you will need to install Anthias on the microSD card for your Raspberry Pi digital signage player. To install Anthias, first download the free software from the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/anthias">Anthias page on GitHub</a>. Next, you must burn Anthias onto the microSD card for your Raspberry Pi. You can complete this step using a free tool such as <a href="https://www.balena.io/etcher/">Balena’s Etcher</a>. Once you install Anthias, boot up your Raspberry Pi. The device will automatically connect to any connected network. If it does not connect, follow the on-screen instructions. For more detailed installation instructions on setting up Anthias, visit our <a href="/ose/">Anthias page</a> or watch the instructional video below:</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://youtube.com/embed/FQte5yP0azE" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div> <p>Of course, you will also need a display screen for your digital signage content. Fortunately, using the Raspberry Pi for your digital signage player gives you almost unlimited display screen options. The Raspberry Pi uses HDMI output to display your digital signage content. So, any display screen with an HDMI input will be fine. Just make sure your display screen can feature 1080p HD content. Nowadays, it is rare that a screen does not display in 1080p Full HD resolution, but it never hurts to check.</p> <h2 id="what-can-digital-signage-free-software-do-for-me">What can digital signage free software do for me?</h2> <p>So, you have Anthias set up on your Raspberry Pi digital signage player. You connected the device to your display screen, and you are ready to go. What can you do with your digital signage software free solution?</p> <p>Anthias allows users to display 1080p HD video and image content. Users can also show live web pages using Anthias. Importantly, Anthias enables users to manage their digital signs from an intuitive web interface. This feature allows users to avoid having to physically visit the device and <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">upload new content via a USB drive</a> each time the screen needs a content update. This web-based digital signage management will save your team a lot of labor hours.</p> <p>Users can also create playlists of multiple content types and schedule these playlists to display at predetermined times. This feature allows a digital sign to change content throughout the day automatically. This feature is useful for restaurants, for example, that need to display different <a href="/blog/2018/07/12/how-to-increase-restaurant-sales-with-digital-menu-boards/">digital menu boards</a> during breakfast, lunch, and dinner hours. With digital signage free software such as Anthias, teams do not have to spend time changing their digital signage content throughout the day.</p> <h2 id="will-free-digital-signage-do-the-trick-or-do-i-need-a-paid-solution">Will free digital signage do the trick, or do I need a paid solution?</h2> <p>Screenly’s popularity on GitHub is a testament to the capabilities and strength of free signage software. It works great for displaying beautiful image, video, and web content on your digital screen. However, some users might need a more robust solution for their digital signage needs. While Screenly offers Anthias, a free digital signage software solution, Screenly also offers <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">a paid, commercial digital signage software</a>. Anthias is free and will be free forever. Screenly’s paid version, on the other hand, is a paid solution for digital signage.</p> <p>Anthias works great for one display screen, but it is not as useful for cases where a team needs to manage multiple screens. It is possible to manage multiple screens with Anthias using VPNs and SSH, but this workaround will require quite a bit of time from you and your team. To make management for a multi-screen digital signage network easier, your business or organization should <a href="/pricing/">get started with Screenly’s paid version</a>.</p> <p>Screenly’s paid version provides a plug-and-play web-based management solution for an unlimited number of screens. Users can enjoy all the benefits of free digital signage solution Anthias and more with Screenly’s paid version. Screenly’s paid version provides users with cloud storage to host their digital assets and a robust digital signage content management system. Users of Screenly’s paid version can schedule digital signage content to play on just one screen or on multiple screens at once.</p> <p>Users of Screenly’s paid version also enjoy automatic updates and managed digital signage security. If you are using digital signage for business purposes, you should pay attention to <a href="http://www.ravepubs.com/not-talking-digital-signage-security/">digital signage security</a>. Hackers can <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">exploit vulnerabilities in insecure digital signage solutions</a> to access and steal valuable company data. Screenly’s paid version updates your Raspberry Pi digital signage players automatically with new software features and security updates so that you don’t have to worry.</p> <h2 id="what-do-i-do-next-to-get-started-with-free-digital-signage">What do I do next to get started with free digital signage?</h2> <p>To get started with free digital signage, <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/anthias">download Anthias</a> and follow the steps detailed above. If you are unsure if free Anthias or paid Screenly is right for you, check out our page on the <a href="/screenly-ose-vs-pro/">differences between Anthias and Screenly</a>. If you have any questions, feel free to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">reach out</a>!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/24/free-digital-signage-software/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/24/free-digital-signage-software/Thu, 24 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>A digital poster is a digital image or motion graphic that displays relevant information to an audience. It is simply what the name implies. Information displayed on a digital poster can include start times and ticket availability for an upcoming event, public service announcements, or advertisements for new product lineups. These are just a few examples of the many use cases for digital posters.</p> <p>Digital posters are part of today’s frontier in <a href="/blog/2019/01/14/communication-in-the-workplace/">business communication tools</a>. Compared to traditional static signs, digital posters are cheaper, better at engaging customers, and easier to manage. Many businesses each year make the switch to digital posters and never look back. In this article, we show you how to make a digital poster for your business or organization. If your team is considering a digital poster deployment, you’re in the right spot!</p> <h2 id="what-you-need-for-a-digital-poster">What you need for a digital poster</h2> <p>To make a digital poster for your business, you will need three vital components. First, you need to choose a display screen. This screen can be a simple TV display that you pick up from your local electronics store. It doesn’t have to be anything that breaks the bank. Just make sure that the display screen accepts HDMI input. We’ll have more on why this feature is important later in this section.</p> <p>Keep in mind that your business may need a more heavy-duty, commercial-grade solution for your display screen. This type of screen may be necessary if your digital poster needs to be displayed outside or needs to be on reliably for 24 hours a day. For commercial-grade displays, be sure to check out screens from <a href="https://www.nec-display-solutions.com/">NEC</a>, such as those in the <a href="https://www.nec-display-solutions.com/p/eeme/en/Launch.xhtml?id=PandVSeries">NEC P-series an NEC V-series</a> lineups.</p> <p>Next, you need to get a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">media player</a>. This device is a physical piece of hardware that renders your digital poster to your display screen. Your media player must be affordable both in terms of upfront costs and ongoing electricity costs. One great option for businesses is a <a href="/blog/2018/11/12/Screenly-support-Rasberry-Pi-3B-plus/">Raspberry Pi media player</a>. Importantly, the Raspberry Pi has <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">very low ongoing electricity costs</a> as it runs on only 3 watts of electricity. These media players display content via an HDMI output port, which is why it is important for your screens to accept HDMI input.</p> <p>Finally, you need <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital poster management software</a> for your media players. The primary feature of this software is enabling your screens to display your posters. This feature includes displaying your posters in the proper size for your screen and ensuring smooth transitions among multiple posters. The secondary feature of this software is enabling users to manage their digital posters remotely. This secondary feature allows users to avoid traveling to each media player to change the screen’s content. Instead, users can change their poster content from anywhere via a web interface on their laptop computer. While remote management may seem like a simple feature, it will save you and your employees a ton of time, especially if your business has multiple digital posters.</p> <h2 id="tools-for-creating-your-digital-poster-content">Tools for creating your digital poster content</h2> <p>Once you set up the necessary hardware and software for your digital poster, you are halfway to the finish line. Next, you need to make the actual poster, and to make your poster stand out in today’s attention economy, your poster needs to be beautiful and engaging. Fortunately, there are a variety of online tools that allow almost anyone to start creating beautiful posters in minutes. Check out some of our favorite tools below.</p> <h3 id="canva">Canva</h3> <p><a href="https://www.canva.com/create/posters/">Canva</a> is a great online tool for jaw-dropping poster designs. To create posters with Canva, just visit their website and pick out a free poster template that best fits your needs. There are dozens of poster templates to choose from for a variety of different use cases, including fundraising posters, concert posters, and retail posters. If you can’t find a free poster template that fits your needs, Canva also has a selection of paid poster templates. Once you select your poster template, you can then drag and drop custom images and insert custom text. With Canva you can have a custom poster for your business in no time!</p> <h3 id="piktochart">Piktochart</h3> <p>Another useful tool for drag and drop poster design is <a href="https://piktochart.com/formats/posters/">Piktochart</a>. Like Canva, Piktochart has both free and paid poster templates. Piktochart has valuable features such as enabling users to change a poster’s entire color scheme (rather than just a single color) with a simple click. Piktochart also features dynamically scaling text, so your poster text looks great even as you add and remove media items on your poster. Users can also share custom posters to their social media accounts directly from the Piktochart interface.</p> <p>One of the main advantages of digital posters over traditional static posters is that they can feature motion graphics and videos. This ability allows users to design posters with animation and movement in the frame. With movement, a digital poster is far more effective at grabbing the attention of your customers than a static digital poster. Below are a couple of great tools that make it easy to build an animated digital poster.</p> <h3 id="crello">Crello</h3> <p><a href="https://crello.com/create/posters/">Crello</a> has a variety of animated poster templates for users to choose. Crello also has a great inspiration page that will help you get your creativity flowing when you are brainstorming your first poster. Just as with Canva and Piktochart, users can customize text and a variety of visual components in each template. As Crello’s poster templates include motion, there are fewer components of the template that you can customize than with Canva and Piktochart. However, users are still able to customize these templates quite a bit. Once you have your custom animated poster just right, you can download the poster as a .mp4 file. This format is a standard video file format that is compatible with most media players.</p> <h3 id="tyle">Tyle</h3> <p>We also love using <a href="https://tyle.io/">Tyle</a> to make animated posters. Tyle organizes its poster templates by mood, and this ability allows users to capture their brand’s look and feel within their poster design. Once you select your poster design, Tyle has an excellent UI interface for users to edit their posters. Tyle also boasts over 1.5 million free media assets for users to chose from when they create their animated digital posters. Users can then share their Tyle posters to their social media channels from directly within the Tyle web interface.</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-your-digital-poster-deployment">Get started with your digital poster deployment</h2> <p>We hope this article was useful and informative, and we hope you are excited to deploy a digital poster in your business. To get your digital poster hardware and software, check out the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Box 0 media player</a> and <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">Screenly digital poster software</a>. Then, design your poster content with one of the tools described above, and you’re all set!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/21/digital-poster/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/21/digital-poster/Mon, 21 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Communication is key to a successful team and to a successful business. Without proper communication in the workplace, individuals are not optimally effective in coordinating their efforts to achieve a common goal. Even with a team of extremely talented individuals, the team’s efforts will not produce optimal results for the business if each employee is working in isolation. In this article, we describe one actionable step that teams can take to help ensure effective communication in their workplace.</p> <h2 id="why-is-communication-in-the-workplace-so-important">Why is communication in the workplace so important?</h2> <p>When employees work in isolation, teams miss deadlines, teams drop balls, and sometimes employees unnecessarily repeat work that has already been completed by someone else. As <a href="https://hbr.org/2009/11/new-study-how-communication-dr">described by the Harvard Business Review</a>, “companies that communicate effectively had a 47% higher return to shareholders over a five-year period (mid-2004 to mid-2009).” However, despite this significant link between effective communication and company performance, communication issues are a frequent complaint among employees. In fact, in a <a href="https://hbr.org/2015/06/the-top-complaints-from-employees-about-their-leaders">poll of 1,000 participants</a> conducted by <a href="https://theharrispoll.com/">Harris Poll</a>, “91% of employees say communication issues can drag executives down.” In today’s competitive marketplace, how can business leaders best foster effective and open communication among team members?</p> <h2 id="an-effective-communication-tool-that-you-can-implement-this-week">An effective communication tool that you can implement this week</h2> <p>One of the best ways to improve communication in the workplace is by frequently sharing information with your team. This information can include business metrics, updates on customer accounts, progress on team goals, and even fun information such as wins that employees have each week. However, business leaders may be unsure of the best method in which to share this information with their team. Should you share information over face-to-face meetings or via frequent all-employee email blasts?</p> <p>While the jury may still be out on what the best method is for sharing information, one communication tool teams must have is a <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">digital dashboard</a>. A digital dashboard is just what it sounds like: a digital display that shows important company information on a centralized dashboard. On a digital dashboard, teams can display key business metrics so that everyone is on the same page regarding company performance. Digital dashboards can also display <a href="/apps/google-calendar/">live Google Calendars</a> so that teams can keep track of upcoming meetings, client onboardings, and team building events. Teams can also display information from <a href="/apps/powerpoint/">PowerPoint</a> or <a href="/apps/google-slides/">Google Slides</a> on their digital dashboards. This method is great for displaying general announcements, notices, or even a “Happy Birthday” message on a team member’s birthday. A digital dashboard can be installed quickly, and it can help your team quickly improve communication in the workplace.</p> <p>Digital dashboards are an excellent device for improving communication in the workplace because they make information extremely accessible to everyone. With a digital dashboard, employees do not have to read memos or attend unproductive meetings to be up to date with the latest company information. Instead, employees can simply glance at the <a href="/blog/2018/12/11/office-tv-display-software/">office’s digital display</a> and quickly be in-the-loop regarding recent happenings in the company. Digital dashboards are often always-on and displayed prominently in an office space, and these features enable digital dashboards to democratize data access for employees across an organization.</p> <h2 id="how-to-implement-a-digital-dashboard-in-your-office">How to implement a digital dashboard in your office</h2> <p>To build a digital dashboard for your organization, you will need a few components. First, you will need a media player that will render the dashboard data to your display. Secondly, you will need software that allows your media player to display live dashboard information. Lastly, you will, of course, need a display.</p> <p>For a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">media player</a>, the Raspberry Pi can render high-definition 1080p HD image, video, and live URL links to your digital dashboard display.</p> <p>For software, <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">Screenly offers a SaaS solution</a> for digital dashboard content management. Screenly allows users to quickly change and schedule digital dashboard content from anywhere via a single web interface. This feature is particularly useful if your business needs multiple digital dashboards in several business locations. With Screenly, users do not have to visit each screen in person to update or change content. Also, Screenly will alert users if a digital dashboard experiences any playback issues. This way, your team can quickly fix issues and keep your digital dashboards up and running.</p> <p>For your digital dashboard display, you can use any TV or monitor that accepts HDMI input. Most displays from your local electronics store will do the trick. Just make sure your display is compatible with VESA mounts, the industry standard for mounting displays to walls and other surfaces. Also, if you need to display your digital dashboard outside, be sure to check out more commercial grade solutions such as <a href="https://www.necam.com/">displays from NEC</a>.</p> <h2 id="the-limits-of-digital-dashboards-in-improving-communication-in-the-workplace">The limits of digital dashboards in improving communication in the workplace</h2> <p>While digital dashboards are an excellent tool for improving communication in the workplace, managers must remember that a digital dashboard is only a tool. A tool is not effective unless one uses it properly. Rather than seeing a digital dashboard as a replacement for existing communication methods, team leaders must incorporate a digital dashboard into their existing lines of communication. For example, team meetings can occur in front of the digital dashboard so that teams can view company data in real-time. When teams are in the middle of problem-solving, teams can view and discuss the business metrics together from the same screen. In this way, teams should view digital dashboards as tools that assist existing communication methods rather than as replacements to these methods.</p> <h2 id="whats-the-next-step-to-improve-communication-in-the-workplace">What’s the next step to improve communication in the workplace?</h2> <p>To get started with improving communication in the workplace, you need to get your first digital dashboard up and running. You can do this quickly and easily with the <a href="/products/box0/">Screenly Box 0</a>. Other than the actual display, the Screenly Box 0 contains everything you need to get started with your first digital dashboard. These contents include as Raspberry Pi media player and Screenly’s digital dashboard management software. Once you install your Raspberry Pi media player and Screenly software, your next step is to display your business data on a dashboard interface. This step can be done simply via regularly updated <a href="/apps/powerpoint/">PowerPoint slides</a> or <a href="/apps/google-slides/">Google Slides</a>. Alternatively, you can set up your dashboard interface using tools like <a href="/blog/2018/11/06/digital-signage-grafana-dashboard/">Grafana</a> or <a href="/blog/2018/11/20/digital-signage-tools-partnership/">Screenful</a>. Next, add your slides or live dashboards as an asset within your Screenly account, and schedule these assets to play on your digital dashboard. That’s it! You’re now well on your way to improving communication in the workplace via a beautiful digital dashboard for your team.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/14/communication-in-the-workplace/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/14/communication-in-the-workplace/Mon, 14 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Your business may be considering an installation of digital signs. Perhaps, you have seen digital signage displays in other businesses, and you want to be sure that your company doesn’t miss out on the action. Static signs are boring, and they do not engage customers as effectively as digital signs. If you have spent time researching digital signage solutions, you have likely noticed that many digital signage solutions brand themselves as a “smart signage” platform. However, as with many products in the IoT industry, consumers are left unclear as to how exactly a particular product is “smart.” A smart product must do more than simply connect to the internet to be considered smart. A smart product must provide customers with a wide range of useful and innovative features. In this article, we describe the key features that make smart signage smart. As you search for smart signage solutions for your business, you should make sure they have the important features described below.</p> <h2 id="remote-management">Remote management</h2> <p>One of the most exciting benefits of digital signage is that users can quickly change the content displayed on their digital sign. This ability is not shared by static signs, as users must reprint and reinstall a static sign each time they want to change the displayed content. With a digital sign, users can simply upload a new image, motion-graphic, video, or URL link in minutes. However, digital signage platforms that do not allow remote content management can hinder a user’s ability to change content quickly. For some digital signage platforms, users must physically visit each digital sign and its respective media player to <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">upload new content from a USB drive</a>. This requirement is problematic, as it costs companies valuable employee time that could otherwise be spent on more productive tasks.</p> <p>Smart signage differs from standard digital signs in that it typically features <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">remote content management software</a>. This software allows users to change their smart signage content from anywhere by using a web interface on their personal computer. This ability enables users to spend less time managing their digital sign content and spend more time focusing on more mission-critical tasks for their business.</p> <h2 id="asset-scheduling">Asset scheduling</h2> <p>With basic digital signage solutions, users play content in a repeating loop. This content continues to play until a user goes into the system and either stops or changes the looped content. Smart signage platforms instead allow users to schedule content for particular times of the day. The ability to schedule digital sign content can be extremely useful for a business’s smart sign deployment. For example, <a href="/blog/2018/07/12/how-to-increase-restaurant-sales-with-digital-menu-boards/">restaurants can use smart signage</a> to schedule their breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus to change automatically at a predetermined time. This feature allows smart signs to be a “set-and-forget solution,” whereas more basic digital signs require time-consuming, continual management.</p> <h2 id="issue-diagnostics">Issue diagnostics</h2> <p>Many businesses have a digital signage deployment that includes more than just a single <a href="https://www.screenly.io/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail store digital sign</a>. The business may have digital signs deployed in multiple stores across a city or even around the world. This distance presents a difficulty for IT teams who must ensure that each digital sign is up and running in order to provide the best customer experience to shoppers. When basic digital signs encounter playback issues, it can be days or even weeks before a business employee reports this issue to a relevant member of the IT team.</p> <p>Smart signage addresses this problem by providing a real-time dashboard that displays each smart sign’s current status. If a smart sign goes offline, an IT team can see this issue immediately and quickly assign a team member to address the problem. Also, for issues with content playback, smart signage provides users with a time-stamped log of previously played content. This smart sign content log is extremely useful in helping teams sort out any content playback issues.</p> <h2 id="connectivity-to-business-applications-and-data">Connectivity to business applications and data</h2> <p>One of the hallmarks of any smart device is that the device connects to the internet. While this is an essential feature of a smart device, what really matters is what the smart device can do with its internet connection. Many digital signage applications depend entirely on user intervention to change content.</p> <p>Smart signage, on the other hand, can change content automatically depending on a variety of data inputs from business applications and other data sources. Smart signage can receive data input via <a href="/api/">smart sign APIs</a>, and this received data can trigger automatic changes in the content that the digital sign displays. For example, <a href="/use-cases/lobby/">digital lobby signs</a> can automatically promote activities and events that need more attendees based off of live sign-up information in the hotel’s database. This automatic content change can help fill events and activities that may otherwise be underutilized by hotel guests. Another example is with vending machine smart signage, where companies such as <a href="https://smrt1.ca/">SMRT1 Technologies</a> are <a href="/blog/2018/10/17/vending-machine-digital-signage-apis/">using smart sign APIs for vending machines</a> to enhance the customer experience with their touch-screen vending machines.</p> <h2 id="security">Security</h2> <p>Basic digital sign platforms are a notorious target of hackers. This fact is in part because digital signs are set up to display media in highly visible locations. Hackers can <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">exploit this feature of digital signs</a> by programming digital signs to display political messages or lewd content to a large audience. The other reason hackers often target digital signs is that many digital signage platforms do not treat security as a top priority. As a result, a large population of amateur hackers can easily compromise many digital signs. These hackers can also use vulnerable digital signs as a backdoor to access sensitive business data.</p> <p>Smart signage combats these security vulnerabilities by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmWYTjr_Xso">making security a top priority</a> in the development of smart signage software and smart signage hardware. Smart signs reduce security vulnerabilities even at the operating system level by <a href="/blog/2017/09/14/nec-display-solutions-partners-with-canonical-and-screenly-on-ubuntu-core-based-digital-signage/">using secure Linux operating systems such as Ubuntu</a>. When choosing your smart signage solution, be sure to investigate the <a href="http://www.ravepubs.com/not-talking-digital-signage-security/">steps your smart signage provider has taken</a> to protect your smart signs from hackers.</p> <h2 id="so-how-do-i-get-started-with-smart-signage-for-my-business">So, how do I get started with smart signage for my business?</h2> <p>To get started with a smart signage deployment for your business, you will need smart sign hardware and smart sign software that has the features described above. To make things simple, the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Box 0</a> contains all the hardware components you need for your first smart sign. The smart signage media player comes with <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">smart signage software</a> pre-installed on the device. All you need to do is plug in the device to any display that accepts HDMI input and upload your smart signage content! Hopefully, this article was informative, and you now have a better idea of what makes smart signage smart. <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Let us know if you have any questions</a> regarding launching smart signage in your business or organization. We’re always happy to help!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/11/smart-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/11/smart-signage/Fri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>Wow - We cannot believe it is 2019 already. It feels like New Year’s Day 2018 was just weeks ago. However, when we take a moment to think of the last year, there has been quite a bit that has transpired over the previous twelve months at Screenly. When we are in the thick and thin of sprints and business development, it can be hard to zoom out and consider the bigger picture. New Year’s provides a time for needed reflection and for considering our efforts in a broader context.</p> <p>From the software side of Screenly, we <a href="/blog/2018/02/28/screenly-2-is-here/">launched the Screenly 2 Player</a> in 2018. This updated Raspberry Pi media player features gapless playback for media assets and support for NEC’s P and V series monitors. The Screenly 2 Player also <a href="/blog/2018/03/08/screenly-2-part-1-security">introduced significant security improvements</a> provided by Canonical via Ubuntu Core. Today, the Screenly 2 Player is compatible with the latest version of the Raspberry Pi, the <a href="/blog/2018/11/12/Screenly-support-Rasberry-Pi-3B-plus/">Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+</a>.</p> <p>For our popular open source digital signage software, Anthias (formerly known as Screenly OSE), we also made significant strides in 2018. In our latest build, <a href="/blog/2018/12/04/digital-signage-open-source-update/">Anthias v0.16</a>, we now feature a useful column for asset times and the ability for users to uniquely name assets. We also added a feature for users to download assets and a tool for quickly migrating Anthias assets to a Screenly (paid version) account.</p> <p>The past year was also jam-packed from a business development perspective. Screenly participated in a variety of conferences around the world. In February, we were at <a href="https://iseexpo.com/">ISE 2018 in Amsterdam</a>. You can watch an interview we had with DailyDOOH at ISE 2018 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtFCOHrgvs4">here</a>. In March, we participated in the <a href="https://www.digitalsignageexpo.net/">Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada</a> with our partners at NEC. Later, in May, we traveled to Melbourne, Australia to deliver the lecture <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmWYTjr_Xso">“The ‘S’ in IoT stands for Security”</a> at Container Camp Australia. We then headed to the other side of the world and participated in the <a href="https://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/open-source-summit-north-america-2018/">Open Source Summit North America in Vancouver, Canada</a>. These trips required a lot of traveling! However, these trips are always worth the effort as we are able to meet with and learn from members of the Screenly community.</p> <p>Other 2018 updates from the business side of Screenly include an overhaul of our website and <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/">blog</a>. We are now regularly publishing company updates and content on topics regarding digital signage, IoT, and the Raspberry Pi. Be sure to <a href="https://twitter.com/screenlyapp">follow us on Twitter</a> to stay up to date with our latest posts. For new users, we regularly offer live video content that includes demos and training on how to best use Screenly software. We announce these live sessions on social media and in our newsletter a week or two before the event, so be on the lookout! You can watch a recording of one of our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Screenly/videos/1050471708436112/">live demo sessions on Facebook</a>.</p> <p>Also regarding 2018 business development updates, Screenly has added some great use cases and partnerships for Raspberry Pi based digital signs. This activity includes support for <a href="/blog/2018/11/06/digital-signage-grafana-dashboard/">data dashboard software Grafana</a>. Screenly has also added the ability for <a href="/blog/2018/11/27/website-auth-with-pro/">users to log in to password-protected websites with Screenly</a>. This feature is important as users can now display data from a variety of SaaS products that require user authentication. Also in 2018, <a href="/blog/2018/11/20/digital-signage-tools-partnership/">we partnered with Screenful</a>, a SaaS product that provides teams with productivity data for tools such as Trello, Jira, GitHub, Pivotal Tracker, and Asana.</p> <p>Another important business update is Screenly’s launch of the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Box 0</a>. This product is quite literally a single box that comes with all a user needs to get started with digital signage. This product is part of Screenly’s effort to simplify digital signage and grow our user base of non-technical people.</p> <h2 id="must-read-new-posts-from-our-blog">Must-read new posts from our blog</h2> <p>Since our last newsletter in November, we’ve published several interesting and useful blog posts. Take a look below at some of our best pieces!</p> <ul> <li><a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">The most noteworthy digital signage hacks</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2018/11/22/raspberry-pi-troubleshooting/">Troubleshooting with the Raspberry Pi</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2018/12/07/diy-digital-signage-issues/">Why DIY digital signage doesn’t make sense for your business</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2018/12/11/office-tv-display-software/">Ideas and use cases for office TV display software</a></li> </ul> <p>Also, be sure to check out our guide on <a href="/blog/2018/12/22/virtual-fireplace-raspberry-pi/">how to set up a virtual fireplace this winter with your Raspberry Pi</a>!</p> <h2 id="looking-forward-to-2019">Looking forward to 2019</h2> <p>We are excited and motivated by our progress in 2018, and we look forward to a productive 2019. We will continue to improve Anthias (formerly known as Screenly OSE) and Screenly (paid version) software, and we will work hard to bring our digital signage platform to more and more users around the world. To stay updated with news from Screenly and the digital signage industry, be sure to follow the <a href="/blog/">Screenly Blog</a>. Also, we are currently planning our 2019 development roadmap. If you have any particular feature requests, please feel free to <a href="mailto:hello@screenly.io">reach out</a>!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/03/screenly-year-in-review-2018/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2019/01/03/screenly-year-in-review-2018/Thu, 03 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000<p>The holidays are here! Yes, while it is hard to believe, it’s that time of year again. Loved ones are traveling, and Christmas shopping is in full swing. Depending on where you are, it’s either snowing or very cold outside. One thing that is likely missing, however, is a warm, crackling fireplace. While central heating and strict fire codes have significantly lowered the number of fireplaces in homes and apartments, you do not have to go without a fireplace during this holiday season. In this article, we will show you how to set up a virtual fireplace with a Raspberry Pi and your home TV. Perhaps most importantly, if you’ve ever used your Smart TV or Apple TV/Chromecast to display a fireplace video from YouTube, you know that even those long 1 hour videos do come to an end. When they do, you need to dig out the remote to resume it. Using the technique in this article, that is solved problem as your fireplace video(s) in a loop without requiring manual interaction so that you can focus on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygge">Hygge</a>.</p> <p>To build your virtual fireplace using with a Raspberry Pi HDMI display, you will first need digital signage software. This software allows your Raspberry Pi to process and render video via HDMI output to your TV or display screen. You can get this needed software for free with Screenly’s open source digital signage software <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a>. Screenly OSE will work on any version of the Raspberry Pi. In this article, we’ll show you how to build a virtual fireplace with your Raspberry Pi and Screenly OSE for the 2018 holiday season.</p> <h2 id="step-one---flash-digital-signage-software-to-your-sd-card">Step One - Flash digital signage software to your SD Card</h2> <p>To get started with Screenly’s open source digital signage software, first <a href="https://github.com/screenly/screenly-ose/releases">download the Screenly OSE disk image from GitHub</a>. Once you download the disk image, flash your Raspberry Pi’s SD card with the disk image using open source software such as <a href="https://www.balena.io/etcher/">Etcher</a>. You can then boot up your Raspberry Pi device and connect it with your screen using each device’s HDMI ports. Next, follow the on-screen instructions to connect your Raspberry Pi to your local WiFi network or connect directly using an ethernet cable. You can find a step-by-step video on how to flash Screenly OSE digital signage software to your SD card below:</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RE_C_n6dhyo" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div> <p>You can also download Screenly OSE using <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/noobs/">NOOBS</a> or with <a href="https://www.balena.io/">Resin.io (now named Balena)</a>, and you can find more information on how to do that <a href="/ose/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="step-two---find-your-ideal-virtual-fireplace-video">Step Two - Find your ideal virtual fireplace video</h2> <p>Next, you will need to find your ideal virtual fireplace video. There are a variety of different fireplace styles you can choose from on the stock photo and video site Pixabay. There are videos of roaring fireplaces with multiple logs and intense, crackling fire sounds. There are also videos of more subdued indoor fires with just a few embers and the occasional “pop.” You can browse a number of these <a href="https://pixabay.com/en/videos/list/fireplace/">fireplace videos that are free for download on Pixabay here</a>.</p> <p>A key feature of these Pixabay videos is that they are each under a CC0 Creative Commons license. This license means that you are free to use the videos for personal or commercial use, and you do not have to attribute the original author. This license is important with digital signage on the Raspberry Pi as video assets are locally cached on your Raspberry Pi device. This local cacheing is done to minimize internet usage and allow video playback even during network downtime. While the local cacheing is useful from a technical perspective, storing videos can be problematic with a variety of media licenses. Additionally, it is often unsightly and challenging with a digital sign to source the author in the corner of your screen. Accordingly, it is best to stick with CC0 Creative Commons licensed video, and Pixabay has a wide selection for you to choose from on their website.</p> <p>If you are using the screen for personal use, you could also use a YouTube video. There are a lot of them available, and Screenly OSE does support playing YouTube videos natively.</p> <h2 id="step-three---add-your-virtual-fireplace-video-to-your-digital-sign">Step Three - Add your virtual fireplace video to your digital sign</h2> <p>Once you select and download the video for your indoor virtual fireplace, you need to add this video as an asset to your Screenly OSE account. To complete this step, navigate to the Screenly OSE web interface and click the “+ Add Asset” icon. Next, click the “Upload” tab to upload your selected video. Set the video asset length to zero seconds as this will trigger Screenly OSE to play the entire video. You can view a step-by-step video on how to add a digital signage asset below:</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://youtube.com/embed/FQte5yP0azE" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div> <p>Next, you will need to click the “On” icon to move the video to the “Active Assets” list. Once this step is completed, you will see the active assets display on your screen.</p> <h2 id="you-have-a-virtual-fireplace-on-your-raspberry-pi-hdmi-display">You have a virtual fireplace on your Raspberry Pi HDMI display</h2> <p>You did it! You are now ready for the 2018 holidays with your new virtual fireplace powered by your Raspberry Pi. If you want to change the style of your TV virtual fireplace, simply remove the current virtual fireplace video and follow step two and three with the new video. Once you have your virtual fireplace up and running, be sure to share your Raspberry Pi fireplaces with <a href="https://twitter.com/screenlyapp">@ScreenlyApp</a> on Twitter.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/12/22/virtual-fireplace-raspberry-pi/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/12/22/virtual-fireplace-raspberry-pi/Sat, 22 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>When retailers plan their advertising budgets, their plans typically focus on advertising initiatives that occur outside the store. These typical advertising initiatives include TV commercials, print advertising, or digital marketing strategies. Few brick and mortar stores focus efforts on advertising within the physical space of their store. While in-store advertising is an often overlooked channel, it is nonetheless important, and store owners cannot neglect this channel in a competitive marketplace. Customers that are in your store location are high-quality “leads” who are obviously very interested in your products. Effective in-store advertising can increase each customer’s likelihood of purchase and total purchase amount.</p> <h2 id="ideas-for-in-store-advertising-with-video-content">Ideas for in-store advertising with video content</h2> <p>One way for retailers to advertise in-store is to use video content. Video is a particularly engaging medium as motion helps capture customer attention, and a captivating storyline keeps customers watching. Video is becoming increasingly less expensive to create too, as store owners can now use a variety of <a href="/blog/2018/07/04/ten-great-video-creation-tools-for-digital-signage-video-walls/">off-the-shelf video creation tools</a>. Store owners can use video to show the latest product lines or seasonal specials. Additionally, store owners can use multi-screen campaigns to target specific customer segments in different areas of the store, such as men, women, and children in different areas of a clothing store. Another idea for store marketing is to display content of customer using and enjoying your products or services. For example, this strategy can be used by home furniture stores with content of customers and their families enjoying their newly styled homes.</p> <p>While there are dozens of engaging ways store owners can use in-store advertising to increase sales, store owners may be a bit overwhelmed by the technical details of how to pull off an in-store video campaign. While store owners can experiment with <a href="/blog/2018/12/07/diy-digital-signage-issues/">DIY solutions</a>, these “solutions” can often become a real headache at scale. Store owners need a reliable, secure, and cost-effective solution if they want to maintain their video in-store advertising efforts in the long term.</p> <h2 id="how-to-display-in-store-video-advertising-messages">How to display in-store video advertising messages</h2> <p>One solution for in-store advertising with video is for <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retailers to use digital signage software</a>. Users often refer to this software as <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">video display software</a>, and it allows store owners to quickly launch, update, and change a video advertising campaign. Importantly, digital signage software allows users to manage all video display screens from a central web interface. This central management enables users to change video content with just a few clicks instead of having to physically visit each screen and manually update each screen’s content. Avoiding this manual-update process is important for store owners as a manual update process can take valuable time away from store-clerks who should be entirely focused on serving customers.</p> <p>Digital signage software requires a media player to display video on your screens. In the digital signage industry, such a media player is (we admit, rather uncreatively) referred to as a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. The best media players for digital signage are both cost effective and energy efficient. These shared features are important as they can lead to <a href="/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/">significant savings over time</a>, particularly with multi-screen deployments. One type of media player that shares these features is a Raspberry Pi based digital signage player. The <a href="/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/">Raspberry Pi is a mini-computer</a> and only draws 3 watts of electricity. This electricity draw is respectively much cheaper and more efficient than a standard single PC. If you end up using a Raspberry Pi based digital signage player, it is crucial for you to use digital signage software that is <a href="/blog/2018/11/12/Screenly-support-Rasberry-Pi-3B-plus/">custom built for the Raspberry Pi</a> to ensure reliability and security. <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">Hackers can access and exploit</a> unprotected digital signs and video displays, so it is important to always keep security as a key priority.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-in-store-advertising">Getting started with in-store advertising</h2> <p>To get your in-store advertising campaigns started, you must figure out what technology you will use to display your advertising messages. For digital signage software, you can learn more on our <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">features page</a> or get started with a trial of our <a href="/pricing/">professional video display software</a>. For a digital signage player, you can get everything you need in a single box with the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Box 0</a>. If you have any questions regarding how to implement in-store advertising in your store or chain of stores, feel free to <a href="mailto:hello@screenly.io">reach out to our experts</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/12/17/in-store-advertising/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/12/17/in-store-advertising/Mon, 17 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>A business office is more than just a location to carry out day to day tasks. An office is a place for your team to collaborate, build a bond, share plans, and diligently work together towards company goals. To help teams achieve company goals, teams can use the office space as a communication channel. Through effective communication, team members can ensure that they work in tandem with maximum productivity.</p> <p>One method to improve team communication is using a digital signage solution. A digital sign is simply a screen such as a TV, computer monitor, or commercial display that shows relevant images, videos, or even live web pages. A digital signage TV typically plays continuously in a location with high foot traffic. Via a digital signage platform, each employee can frequently see the company’s most important messages and data in real time. In this post, we detail four important ideas and uses cases for your office’s digital signage content.</p> <h2 id="four-digital-signage-content-ideas-and-use-cases-for-your-office">Four digital signage content ideas and use cases for your office</h2> <h3 id="1-display-company-metrics-and-kpis">1. Display company metrics and KPIs</h3> <p>One great use case for office digital signage is to <a href="/blog/2018/11/20/digital-signage-tools-partnership/">display company metrics and KPIs</a>. Keeping this data clearly in view can help ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding the company’s progress. When team members are not achieving KPI targets, the team can quickly identify and fix relevant problems. When the team is achieving KPI targets, the company can recognize and celebrate significant successes. Using data dashboard tools such as <a href="/blog/2018/11/06/digital-signage-grafana-dashboard/">Grafana with office TV display software</a>, teams can beautifully display company metrics from multiple data sources.</p> <h3 id="2-use-digital-signs-to-show-company-policies-and-procedures">2. Use digital signs to show company policies and procedures</h3> <p>Another use case for office digital displays is to show relevant company policies and procedures. Depending on your local business laws, companies must prominently display a variety of HR-related information. Companies can also display changes to important standard operating procedures to ensure that each team member is up-to-date with the company’s SOPs.</p> <h3 id="3-digital-signage-to-advertise-company-events-and-happenings">3. Digital signage to advertise company events and happenings</h3> <p>Offices can also use digital signage to show useful information regarding company events. This content can show information for upcoming meetings, client tours, or training events. Digital signs can display scheduling details, registration information, and even live social media feeds for each event. If your company is making an effort to go green or have a paperless office, <a href="/blog/2018/11/06/digital-signage-grafana-dashboard/">digital signage can help reduce your office’s carbon footprint</a>.</p> <h3 id="4-show-customer-testimonials-on-a-display-screen">4. Show customer testimonials on a display screen</h3> <p>In addition to displaying images with high picture quality, digital sign hardware can also <a href="/blog/2018/07/04/ten-great-video-creation-tools-for-digital-signage-video-walls/">display 1080p HD video content</a>. One great use of video content for business digital signage is to show customer success stories. These success stories can come in the form of a video customer testimonial. This digital sign content is useful as it can motivate team members to feel good about their work and their impact on customers’ lives.</p> <h2 id="what-digital-signage-tools-do-i-need-to-get-started">What digital signage tools do I need to get started?</h2> <p>To set up a screen at your office, you will need a few digital signage tools. First, you will need a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. This media player is a physical device that displays content to your office tv display. The digital signage player operates similarly to the way a DVD player displays a movie to your home TV. It is best to use a device that is built specifically for digital signage. A purpose-built device is <a href="/blog/2018/12/07/diy-digital-signage-issues/">more reliable and secure from hackers</a> than a <a href="/blog/2018/10/04/diy-digital-signage/">do-it-yourself digital signage solution</a>.</p> <p>Next, you will need <a href="/getting-started/">digital signage software</a>. This software allows web-based management of your digital sign content. Users can change a sign’s content all from the convenience of their computer. This functionality is particularly important when a company has a digital signage network with multiple screens. An employee can waste a lot of time managing multiple screens by hand. Manual digital signage management requires an employee to visit each sign and <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">upload new content with a flash drive or USB device</a>. Digital signage software also acts as a cloud-based content management system (CMS) for an office’s digital sign content. Employees can store images and videos for repeated use.</p> <p>Businesses can use paid or free digital signage software. While many business owners will want the cost-savings of free software, free digital signage software can be time-consuming to manage and update. Typically, paid digital signage software is more economical for a business as it requires less employee time to manage. You can review the differences between Screenly’s paid software (referred to simply as “Screenly”), and Screenly’s digital signage open-source software, Screenly OSE, in our <a href="/screenly-ose-vs-pro/">Screenly feature table</a>.</p> <h2 id="lets-get-business-digital-signage-on-my-office-tv">Let’s get business digital signage on my office TV</h2> <p>As discussed, an office can use business digital signage for a variety of applications. Those use cases include displaying company metrics, policies and procedures, events, and customer success stories. If you’re interested in launching digital signs at your office, check out at our <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">features page</a> or <a href="/pricing/">sign up for Screenly</a> to get started as soon as possible.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/12/11/office-tv-display-software/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/12/11/office-tv-display-software/Tue, 11 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>There are a variety of ways that you and your business can create a digital sign. One option is to use a professional, dedicated software and hardware solution. This solution includes a purpose-built <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>, which is a piece of hardware that displays your digital sign content on your screen. Another necessary component of a professional solution includes <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage management software</a>. This software allows you to upload, change, and manage your digital signs all from your computer.</p> <p>Another way to get started with your first digital sign is to use a do-it-yourself (DIY) solution. There are a variety of different ways that you can make a <a href="/blog/2018/10/04/diy-digital-signage/">DIY digital sign</a>. You can use a computer and a PowerPoint presentation. You can use a DVD player and a standard TV. You can also use a <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">USB drive and a smart TV</a>. Another option is to hack something together with your own code for a minicomputer like a Raspberry Pi, Beagelbone Black or an Asus Tinker Board. However, each of these DIY “solutions” most likely is not a good idea for your business. Below we list four reasons why DIY digital signage doesn’t make sense in a business environment.</p> <h2 id="where-diy-digital-sign-solutions-fall-short">Where DIY digital sign solutions fall short</h2> <h3 id="1-diy-digital-signage-doesnt-save-your-business-money">1. DIY digital signage doesn’t save your business money</h3> <p>If you are implementing a DIY digital signage solution in your business to save money, think again. DIY digital signage will cost your business a lot of employee time. Each time you want to change your digital sign content, an employee will have to physically visit each deployed screen and manually upload the new content to the digital signage player. This process can take a half hour multiple times per week. This hassle can become especially time-consuming when your business has multiple screens. The cost of employee time that is required to manage DIY digital signage is often far higher than the <a href="/pricing/">cost of a professional digital signage solution</a>. A professional digital signage solution saves your business money as less time needs to be spent manually dealing with the hardware, and employees can change and update the digital sign content in just a few clicks via their computer.</p> <h3 id="2-diy-digital-signage-is-often-faulty">2. DIY digital signage is often faulty</h3> <p>As with any DIY solution, you will experience errors and hiccups with the technology. In a business environment, a malfunctioning screen can translate to fewer sales and lost business revenue. Additionally, a malfunctioning screen does not portray a professional image of your business to your customers. DIY digital signage solutions experience a range of issues that businesses can avoid with a professional digital sign solution. With a professional solution, an engineering team has bug tested just about every issue that can occur. Additionally, with digital sign management software, businesses can see the status of all of their screens on a central dashboard. This feature is particularly useful if you have screens at multiple business addresses. Instead of IT hearing that a screen is down by way of a passing comment, IT teams can monitor the status of the company’s screens in real time.</p> <h3 id="3-diy-digital-sign-solutions-do-not-have-robust-security">3. DIY digital sign solutions do not have robust security</h3> <p>It’s 2018, and digital security needs to be a priority for businesses. If your business ignores security, <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">hackers will exploit vulnerabilities in your digital signs</a> in an attempt to access your business data. These hacks can come via vulnerabilities in DIY digital sign software and also in DIY digital sign hardware. These hacks can be particularly damaging if your digital signage is used as a backdoor to access central servers that may hold customer ID and payment information. For your business to protect against these threats, it is essential that your business use <a href="/blog/2017/09/14/nec-display-solutions-partners-with-canonical-and-screenly-on-ubuntu-core-based-digital-signage/">digital signage hardware and software that considers security a top priority</a>. DIY solutions typically are not secure, and businesses that use DIY digital signs run the risk of devastating hacks.</p> <h3 id="4-it-is-difficult-to-display-dynamic-content-with-diy-digital-sign-projects">4. It is difficult to display dynamic content with DIY digital sign projects</h3> <p>Many businesses want to display digital sign content that is customized for particular events. For example, a clothing store may want to display deals on jackets on days when it is particularly cold outside. In another example, a retail store may want to display related deals when a customer is purchasing a particular product. To display dynamic, situation-based content on your digital signs, you will need to have your <a href="/blog/2018/10/17/vending-machine-digital-signage-apis/">digital sign management software accessible via an API</a>. Via an API, inputs such as the current weather or product SKUs of a customer’s purchase can trigger your digital sign to display relevant and timely content. Often, DIY digital sign projects do not have this level of sophistication.</p> <h2 id="whats-next-for-your-businesss-digital-signs">What’s next for your business’s digital signs?</h2> <p>As described above, there are several reasons why DIY digital signage is insufficient for a business environment. DIY digital signs are time-consuming to manage, prone to errors and bugs, vulnerable to hackers, and inaccessible via API. For your business to avoid these issues, your business can use a professional digital sign solution such as the <a href="/blog/2018/02/28/screenly-2-is-here/">Screenly 2 Player</a> with <a href="/pricing/">Screenly</a> digital sign management software. To get started, check out our <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage features page</a> to learn more about how digital signs can work for your business.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/12/07/diy-digital-signage-issues/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/12/07/diy-digital-signage-issues/Fri, 07 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000<!-- markdownlint-disable MD029 --> <p>We have some exciting updates for all our Anthias users. If you are unfamiliar with <a href="/ose/">Anthias</a>, it stands for Anthias (formerly known as Screenly OSE - Screenly Open Source Edition). Anthias is Screenly’s free version of digital signage management software. In this post, we’ll take you through the updates from our <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/anthias/releases">latest v0.16 release</a>, so you are in the know on the latest Anthias features.</p> <h2 id="some-updates-to-anthias">Some updates to Anthias</h2> <p>With this most recent build, we made an overall effort to improve the user experience. These changes make Anthias more intuitive for users and make the interface easier to navigate. For features where users (and ourselves as well) have thought, “Oh, that would be nice,” we aimed to add such functionality. These additions include:</p> <ol> <li> <p>Default time for assets: Now, users have the option to select a default duration for an asset in the asset settings. Selectable durations include one day, one week, one month, one year, and no duration limit. This improvement is helpful as users no longer need to set a play duration for each asset manually.</p> </li> <li> <p>Column for asset time: Users can now easily view the duration that is set for each asset. Rather than having to view each asset one by one, users can now easily view the duration of all assets in an organized column.</p> </li> <li> <p>Unique names for assets: Assets now have unique names. This update makes dealing with a large number of assets much easier, as each asset is now individually labeled.</p> </li> <li> <p>Download an asset button: We also added a “Download” button so that users can easily download existing assets. This feature is super helpful as users can now download an asset directly rather than having to find the existing file on their computer.</p> </li> <li> <p>Ability to skip asset checks: This is useful for users who are displaying web pages. This added feature allows users to save time and skip an unnecessary file check on an added URL asset.</p> </li> <li> <p>GUI updates: You’ll also notice some changes to the graphical user interface.</p> </li> </ol> <p>Other than improvements to the user experience, we also fixed various bugs. Hopefully, you haven’t run into these bugs before. However, if you have, you shouldn’t experience these issues again. These fixed bugs include:</p> <ul> <li>Some users experienced a black screen when the system boots. We fixed this bug.</li> <li>Previously, if there was an alert() message, the browser would become stuck. We fixed this bug so that the browser no longer becomes stuck.</li> <li>We also updated the installation script, so that it runs more smoothly than before.</li> <li>Some users had issues with the date and time selection interface not working. We looked into this problem and fixed it by adding a cache buster. You can read more on this <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/issues/861">here on GitHub</a>.</li> </ul> <p>For those following the development of our experimental branch, we have made some updates to the experimental branch as well. In this branch, docker containers are used instead of system services and Qtwebkit is used instead of a uzbl-browser.</p> <h2 id="a-tool-for-migrating-anthias-assets-to-screenly">A tool for migrating Anthias assets to Screenly</h2> <p>For many of our users, Anthias is sufficient for their first screen. However, as they add multiple screens and become more sophisticated with their digital signage, they later prefer to upgrade to Screenly. <a href="/getting-started/">Screenly</a> is our paid version of digital signage management software with added functionality and commercial support.</p> <p>Before our last update, this transfer was a bit of a hassle, as users had to manually migrate their digital signage assets from Anthias to their new Screenly account. Now, with this latest update, we have a tool for our Anthias users to easily and quickly migrate their existing digital signage assets to their new Screenly account. This tool makes the transfer to Screenly easier than ever.</p> <p>If you are wondering if Screenly is right for you, here is a list of some important features that Screenly provides over Anthias:</p> <ul> <li>Management for multiple screens</li> <li>Remote management from a central web interface</li> <li>Cloud storage for digital signage content</li> <li>Status alerts for malfunctioning screens</li> <li>Commercial-grade support</li> </ul> <p>You can read more about the difference between Screenly’s paid version and Anthias in “<a href="/screenly-ose-vs-pro/">The Layman’s Guide: Anthias vs. Screenly (Paid Version)</a>.” Anthias is great for one screen, but if you have a multiple screen deployment, we strongly recommend you go with <a href="/pricing/">Screenly’s paid version</a>. It will save you a ton of time with managing your digital signs and will more than pay for itself each month.</p> <p>To use the migration tool, take the following steps using Python:</p> <ol> <li>Navigate to and launch the tool:</li> </ol> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-shell" data-lang="shell"><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#24909d">cd</span> /home/pi/screenly </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>python tools/assets-migration-to-screenly-pro.py </span></span></code></pre></div><ol start="2"> <li> <p>Choose to use either your API token or your login credentials for your Screenly account.</p> </li> <li> <p>Enter your API token or login credentials and confirm that you want to start your asset migration.</p> </li> <li> <p>Now, just wait for your migration to finish!</p> </li> </ol> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-the-latest-anthias">How to get started with the latest Anthias</h2> <p>If you haven’t flashed your SD or microSD card with the latest version of Anthias, be sure to <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/anthias/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Aclosed">download this version on GitHub</a>. Once you downloaded the latest disk image, take a look at our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE_C_n6dhyo">instructional video</a> to flash this disk image onto your device. Also, be sure to visit our <a href="/ose/">Anthias page</a> with more information on how to get started.</p> <p>We hope this article was helpful and informative, and, most importantly, we hope these latest updates to Anthias improve your digital signage experience!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/12/04/digital-signage-open-source-update/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/12/04/digital-signage-open-source-update/Tue, 04 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signs must display relevant, targeted, and timely information to viewers. Accordingly, displaying local weather is a great use for digital signs. Screenly makes this easy with <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">Screenly Weather App</a> located in the <a href="/edge-apps/">Screenly App Store</a>.</p> <h2 id="what-is-the-screenly-weather-app">What is the Screenly Weather App?</h2> <p>The Screenly Weather App provides users with a simple link that provides real-time weather information for any location. Users simply need to enter their location, and the provided link will automatically update to include this location change. The user then simply pastes this link as a URL asset in their <a href="https://www.screenly.io/getting-started/">Screenly</a> online account. After scheduling the asset to display at a given time, that’s it!</p> <p>The Screenly Weather App is super easy to use, and it provides great content for your digital sign. Additionally, the Screenly Weather App is optimized to run on the low-cost, energy-efficient Raspberry Pi minicomputer. It is also free for all users, regardless of whether or not you are a current Screenly user.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-weather-app-screenshot_hu_bd89357643c18a00.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-weather-app-screenshot_hu_c317321f579ca6c9.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-weather-app-screenshot_hu_94c098bdb89d7720.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-weather-app-screenshot_hu_2c96f9a4e5cc2cdb.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-weather-app-screenshot_hu_ef1c57217c75e4d6.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-weather-app-screenshot_hu_3523728acf11cb5c.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-weather-app-screenshot_hu_18108bcd2cc1d56d.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-weather-app-screenshot_hu_1ce31fe3002b712.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-weather-app-screenshot_hu_94c098bdb89d7720.webp" alt="This image is of a screenshot from the Screenly digital sign weather app." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <h2 id="the-updates">The updates</h2> <p>Recently, we updated the Screenly Weather App to include some useful and exciting features. First, we now support dozens of languages, so you can now use the Screenly Weather App around the world. Considering the Screenly Weather App can provide real time weather information for any location, this multi-language support was a natural and needed update. We also added the current and next-day wind speed to the display. This information is relevant when users are planning what coat to bring, as a heightened wind speed can make a cold day feel much colder. We also added 12H and 24H time format options, so you can display the time in your preferred setting.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started">How to get started</h2> <p>To get started with the Screenly Weather App, make sure you have <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">digital signage management software</a> so that scheduling and displaying the weather app is fast and efficient. Then visit the <a href="/edge-apps/weather/">Screenly Weather App page</a> to get started!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/30/digital-signage-weather-app/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/30/digital-signage-weather-app/Fri, 30 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Update</strong>: Screenly now offers a <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/browser-extensions/">Browser Extension plugin</a> and a <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/04/25/screenly-developer-digital-signage/">JavaScript Injector</a>. These tools simplify adding authenticated web pages, such as dashboards and internal tools, even for sites that do not support basic authentication.</p> <p>One common question we get from customers who use their Screenly deployment to display company dashboards is: How do I make the digital signage player log in to my websites?</p> <p>As much as we would like to say, “Just do this, and it will work,” the reality is much more complicated. There are products out there with significant engineering teams, such as <a href="https://1password.com/">1Password</a>, where one of their main features is to fill in credentials on a website. Even these dedicated teams often struggle with this task. The reason is that, while there are standards for user authentication, few of the top web properties have adopted these standards.</p> <p>That said, I do have some good news. The tech-savvy reader may have noticed the technical details in the link from our recent <a href="/blog/2018/11/06/digital-signage-grafana-dashboard/">Grafana announcement</a>. In order to support Grafana, we had to add support for sending custom HTTP headers with the Screenly 2 Player. We spent a lot of energy implementing this functionality in a way that would work across multiple web properties, as this functionality is useful for more than just Grafana. However, we will start with Grafana in our guide below.</p> <h2 id="authentication-using-a-bearer-token">Authentication using a “Bearer Token”</h2> <p>One of the ways Grafana allows you to authenticate yourself is by using what’s known as a <a href="https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6750">Bearer token</a>. In simplified terms, a Bearer token acts as a combined username and password for web resources. Bearer tokens are more commonly used by programs rather than by end-users. In the case of Grafana, the program can use Bearer tokens to authenticate users and their dashboards.</p> <p>Another common implementation of Bearer tokens is through <a href="https://jwt.io/introduction/">JSON Web Token</a> (JWT). Authentication frameworks such as <a href="https://auth0.com/">Auth0</a> use this implementation.</p> <h3 id="using-bearer-tokens-in-screenly">Using Bearer tokens in Screenly</h3> <p>If you have a web service where you can log in to using a Bearer token, you can display webpages from that service with Screenly. Here’s how:</p> <ul> <li>Add the URL of the page you wish to display to your Screenly content library. If you get an error about the page being unreachable, ignore this error as it is expected if our system receives a 40x status code.</li> <li>After you added the URL to your Screenly content library, click on the content title.</li> <li>In the new page that loads, click the <em>Advanced</em> button.</li> <li>Click the <em>+ Add Header</em> button.</li> <li>Type “Authorization” in the <em>Header</em> input field.</li> <li>Type “Bearer [your token]” in the <em>Value</em> input field. Do not include the brackets.</li> <li>Press <em>Save</em> on the bottom right of your screen.</li> </ul> <p>As soon as your screens have synced up with your updated URL content and Bearer token, your screens should be able to display the webpage.</p> <h2 id="authenticating-using-basic-auth">Authenticating using “Basic Auth”</h2> <p>Long-time internet users probably remember the username/password pop-ups that used to be the standard way of logging into a website. This standard is called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_access_authentication">Basic Authentication</a> or Basic Auth for short. While it is no longer very popular among consumer websites (largely due to the usability and aesthetic elements), it is still widely supported across various web servers and platforms. Notably, the dashboard tool <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/nagios/">Nagios</a> also uses Basic Auth.</p> <h3 id="using-basic-auth-in-screenly">Using Basic Auth in Screenly</h3> <p>As it happens, using Basic Auth is very similar to using Bearer tokens. They both use the authorization header, but the payload differs slightly. The value is simply <code>Basic</code> followed by the base64 hash of the username and password. There are <a href="https://www.blitter.se/utils/basic-authentication-header-generator/">tools out there</a> that can do this for you, but, if you are a bit more careful and would like to do this locally (which yours truly recommends), you can do this using Python:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-python" data-lang="python"><span style="display:flex;"><span>>>> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">import</span> <span style="color:#447fcf;text-decoration:underline">base64</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>>>> auth = base64.b64encode(<span style="color:#ed9d13">b</span><span style="color:#ed9d13">"YourUsername:YourPassword"</span>) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>>>> <span style="color:#24909d">print</span>(<span style="color:#ed9d13">"Basic </span><span style="color:#ed9d13">{}</span><span style="color:#ed9d13">"</span>.format(auth.decode())) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Basic WW91clVzZXJuYW1lOllvdXJQYXNzd29yZA== </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Alternatively, you can accomplish the same thing using good old Bash:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>$ <span style="color:#24909d">echo</span> Basic <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">$(</span><span style="color:#24909d">echo</span> -n <span style="color:#ed9d13">"YourUsername:YourPassword"</span> | base64<span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">)</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span>Basic <span style="color:#40ffff">WW91clVzZXJuYW1lOllvdXJQYXNzd29yZA</span>== </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Once you have the string, complete the following steps:</p> <ul> <li>Add the URL of the page you wish to display to your Screenly content library. If you get an error about the page being unreachable, ignore this error as it is expected if our system receives a 40x status code.</li> <li>After you added the URL to your Screenly content library, click on the content title.</li> <li>In the new page that loads, click the <em>Advanced</em> button.</li> <li>Click the <em>+ Add Basic Auth</em> button.</li> <li>Type “Authorization” in the <em>Login</em> input field.</li> <li>Type “Basic [your hashed credentials]” in the <em>Password</em> input field. Do not include the brackets.</li> <li>Press <em>Save</em> on the bottom right of your screen.</li> </ul> <p>Screens that display the URL content will then be able to access the webpage and display your content.</p> <p>Later on, we are going to implement this natively in the web app, but for now, this should do as a workaround.</p> <h2 id="takeaway">Takeaway</h2> <p>While we are not able to support every type of authentication, we can log in to a large number of providers thanks to the fact that we support authentication using various HTTP Header mechanisms. We will keep looking at ways to improve our authentication mechanisms, and we hope to make additional steps to enable you to use Screenly to render content from even more sources.</p> <p>If you got any questions, feel free reach out to us.</p> <hr> <h2 id="a-simpler-way-to-handle-authenticated-web-pages">A simpler way to handle authenticated web pages</h2> <p>If you need to display web pages that require interactive logins, Screenly’s <strong>Browser Extension</strong> plugin provides a more flexible alternative to basic authentication.</p> <p>The extension allows you to capture authenticated sessions directly from your browser and add them to Screenly as assets, making it easier to display protected web content on your screens.</p> <p>Learn more: <a href="https://www.screenly.io/apps/browser-extensions/">Use our browser extensions to add web page content to your digital signs</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/27/website-auth-with-screenly/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/27/website-auth-with-screenly/Tue, 27 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>The Raspberry Pi is a low-cost and energy-efficient mini-computer that can power your digital signage. In fact, Screenly’s digital signage player, the <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly 2 Player</a>, is built on a Raspberry Pi device. As with all technology, things can go wrong, and the Raspberry Pi is no exception. In this article, we aim to provide a Raspberry Pi troubleshooting guide so that you can quickly address and solve any issues that may arise.</p> <h2 id="what-to-do-when-you-observe-a-yellow-bolt">What to do when you observe a yellow bolt</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/raspberry-pi-yellow-bolt_hu_750acd040604c455.webp 480w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-yellow-bolt_hu_55a06ebebe0cac02.webp 768w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-yellow-bolt_hu_3a707f1504674513.webp 1024w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-yellow-bolt_hu_35b8dc7e0e82ae1b.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/raspberry-pi-yellow-bolt_hu_cbde16c3f1b18e34.webp 480w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-yellow-bolt_hu_1bfefacb337a652f.webp 768w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-yellow-bolt_hu_b9f13f840fb59572.webp 1024w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-yellow-bolt_hu_acdc75f78e7a09bb.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/raspberry-pi-yellow-bolt_hu_3a707f1504674513.webp" alt="This image is of a yellow bolt error with the Raspberry Pi." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>If you see a flashing, yellow, lightning bolt on the screen connected to your Raspberry Pi, your device has insufficient power. More specifically, your Raspberry Pi is not receiving the required voltage. In order to fix this, make sure you have a proper micro USB power cable. Also, make sure your micro USB power supply is 5 volts and 2 amps (depending on the Raspberry Pi version). Typical micro USB cables, such as the ones for charging various electronics (like cellphones) are usually 5 volts and only 1 amp. This can lead to under-voltage for your Raspberry Pi depending on the intensity of the tasks you are trying to run.</p> <p>If you are getting the yellow bolt notification, it is important to fix this issue, as persistent under-voltage can lead to a large range of strange issues ranging from random reboots to SD card corruptions and general instabilities. The best way to avoid these problems is to always use the official Raspberry Pi power supply for the given Raspberry Pi computer board.</p> <h2 id="what-to-do-when-you-are-stuck-on-a-rainbow-screen">What to do when you are stuck on a rainbow screen</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/rainbow-screen-raspberry-pi_hu_10ec81d1e3ed6e39.webp 480w, /images/blog/rainbow-screen-raspberry-pi_hu_e368aef60cbf06b8.webp 768w, /images/blog/rainbow-screen-raspberry-pi_hu_cb6958f472a8e854.webp 1024w, /images/blog/rainbow-screen-raspberry-pi_hu_63ed7288f23d18ff.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/rainbow-screen-raspberry-pi_hu_79f672d66c5a8576.webp 480w, /images/blog/rainbow-screen-raspberry-pi_hu_9b19585064ff601.webp 768w, /images/blog/rainbow-screen-raspberry-pi_hu_b993cc930e987fd0.webp 1024w, /images/blog/rainbow-screen-raspberry-pi_hu_9112397c7e21971f.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/rainbow-screen-raspberry-pi_hu_cb6958f472a8e854.webp" alt="This image is of a rainbow screen error with the Raspberry Pi." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>The rainbow screen appears normally for a brief moment when the Raspberry Pi tests its GPU. However, sometimes the device can become stuck on the rainbow screen. Here’s a list of common reasons why this scenario can occur:</p> <ul> <li>The SD card is corrupted from wear and tear (this happens more often than you’d think).</li> <li>The flashing of the SD card went wrong (or the downloaded disk image was corrupted).</li> <li>You’re using a hardware version that is not supported by the operating system (such as a older version of Raspbian on a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+).</li> </ul> <h2 id="the-importance-of-sd-card-class-rating">The importance of SD card class rating</h2> <p>SD cards come in several variations. There are standard size SD cards and also micro SD cards. Be sure to check your Raspberry Pi version to see which size SD card you need (all recent Raspberry Pis use MicroSD). Another important variation is the class rating for an SD card. Essentially, the class rating describes the <a href="https://www.sdcard.org/developers/overview/speed_class/">rate at which sustained data writing can take place</a>. Class 4 means data can be written at a sustained 4 MB/s, class 6 means data can be written at a sustained 6 MB/s. Likewise, Class 10 means that data can be written at a sustained - you guessed it - 10 MB/s. When using a Raspberry Pi for digital signage, we found it best to use Class 10 SD cards, as performance will suffer if you use an SD card of a lower class rating. Additionally, there are sometimes issues if your SD card is too big (64GB or larger), so we recommend only using an SD card with up to 16GB of storage. This amount of storage is more than sufficient for most use cases.</p> <p>It is also worth noting that all SD cards are not created equal. The brand and model will significantly impact the life span and performance. You will receive the best performance and life span with industrial grade SD cards, but the downside is that they are very expensive. We have found that Sandisk’s Ultra series have worked well for us and for our use case.</p> <h2 id="what-to-do-if-you-see-a-rainbow-square-in-the-upper-corner">What to do if you see a rainbow square in the upper corner</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/raspberry-pi-rainbow-square_hu_b354350a5d0a17e0.webp 480w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-rainbow-square_hu_23685899dd224eb.webp 768w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-rainbow-square_hu_4152413933acebef.webp 1024w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-rainbow-square_hu_fd167aaa6d588088.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/raspberry-pi-rainbow-square_hu_12a0557cb6b0bce7.webp 480w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-rainbow-square_hu_fc89fc7a69119c3f.webp 768w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-rainbow-square_hu_e90de78fc157dbdd.webp 1024w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-rainbow-square_hu_49f83d71a850ae3e.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/raspberry-pi-rainbow-square_hu_4152413933acebef.webp" alt="This image is of a rainbow square alert with the Raspberry Pi." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>Depending on your Raspberry Pi model, this issue can be seen as a yellow or rainbow colored box on the upper right corner. This alert is another way for the Raspberry Pi to indicate low voltage issues. Ideally, your power adapter and cable are able to deliver 5 volts and 2 amps (depending on the Raspberry Pi model). If you are having this issue, make sure your power delivery meets these requirements. Some cheaper power adapters and cables deliver only 1 amp, and this may result in the observed under-voltage alert.</p> <h2 id="why-you-should-disable-swap-space">Why you should disable swap space</h2> <p>Swap space is a way for the operating system to utilize the memory space on your hard drive or SD card as an extension of your RAM. This can be useful on server workstations. For the Raspberry Pi, we strongly recommend disabling the use of swap space (this is the case for all our disk images). We make this recommendation because it will significantly shorten the lifespan of your SD card.</p> <h2 id="what-to-do-if-you-receive-a-temperature-warning">What to do if you receive a temperature warning</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/raspberry-pi-thermometer_hu_859a602cf448f94b.webp 480w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-thermometer_hu_83a2751584195734.webp 768w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-thermometer_hu_b615c4ff02041d71.webp 1024w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-thermometer_hu_8b64d7f72035ee17.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/raspberry-pi-thermometer_hu_eee6ecc021480467.webp 480w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-thermometer_hu_3c27a3775e6da655.webp 768w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-thermometer_hu_3e898ffcc577fb99.webp 1024w, /images/blog/raspberry-pi-thermometer_hu_ad70548245c33f02.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/raspberry-pi-thermometer_hu_b615c4ff02041d71.webp" alt="This image is of a thermometer alert with the Raspberry Pi." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <p>If you see a red and white thermometer alert, this means that you Raspberry Pi device is getting too hot. Of course, this is not good for the health or longevity of your hardware. Your GPU and ARM processing core(s) will slow down in order to produce less heat. If this issue persists, it is best to temporarily stop using your Raspberry Pi until you device can cool down. It should be noted that if you really need to run your Raspberry Pi in a hot environment with little air circulation, you might be able to mitigate overheating by installing a heatsink.</p> <p>We hope this guide has been helpful for dealing with any Raspberry Pi related issues. It is our goal to help you resolve these issues quickly and efficiently, as the less hardware issues you experience the more time you will have to display great digital signs. Also, if you haven’t already heard, <a href="/blog/2018/11/12/Screenly-support-Rasberry-Pi-3B-plus/">Screenly is now compatible with the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+</a> for enhanced digital signage performance. If you have any additional troubleshooting questions, be sure to check out our <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">digital signage FAQ page</a> or <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">submit a new support ticket</a> if you can’t find what you need!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/22/raspberry-pi-troubleshooting/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/22/raspberry-pi-troubleshooting/Thu, 22 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re excited to announce the launch of Screenly’s latest partnership, a partnership with <a href="https://screenful.com/">Screenful</a>. Screenful is a SaaS company that provides beautiful visualization tools for your data dashboards.</p> <h2 id="what-is-screenful">What is Screenful?</h2> <p>Screenful’s mission is to allow companies to “make better decisions based on facts.” Data-based decision making is at the core of any modern organization, and Screenful helps enable this disciplined approach. To do this, Screenful provides a variety of business data dashboards that help teams track the progress and effectiveness of their work.</p> <p>These business data dashboards help teams answer questions like “Which tasks are currently in progress?” and “How much work is done vs still to-do?” Importantly, these dashboards take the next step to answer higher level questions regarding your teams work performance over time. Such questions include, “What is your average lead time for resolving bugs?”, and, “How is your time distributed between different activities?”</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/digital-sign-business-dashboard_hu_311a8c1cd561671e.webp 480w, /images/blog/digital-sign-business-dashboard_hu_94ce5ce678e9fd1b.webp 768w, /images/blog/digital-sign-business-dashboard_hu_91ce8a26124f89ee.webp 1024w, /images/blog/digital-sign-business-dashboard_hu_2215ddcb6ebb3f3c.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/digital-sign-business-dashboard_hu_1132abc98db8be3f.webp 480w, /images/blog/digital-sign-business-dashboard_hu_925dd79057a716ca.webp 768w, /images/blog/digital-sign-business-dashboard_hu_3a45e7ef01525436.webp 1024w, /images/blog/digital-sign-business-dashboard_hu_9684080c0342ca27.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/digital-sign-business-dashboard_hu_91ce8a26124f89ee.webp" alt="This image is of Screenful business data visualization software that integrates with Screenly digital signage." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="541" > </picture> <em>This Screenful dashboard helps teams visualize each team member’s current workload.</em></p> <h2 id="how-do-screenly-and-screenful-work-together">How do Screenly and Screenful work together?</h2> <p>However, great visualization tools need to be, well, visualized. This is where <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">Screenly’s digital signage solutions</a> come into play. Currently, Screenful users view their data visualizations on their computer via a web browser or via a DIY display screen solution. These DIY solutions often perform sub-optimally as digital signage systems. They require a lot of time to set up as well as constant maintenance for reliable performance. To address this issue, Screenly’s Raspberry Pi based digital signage hardware and software provide an easy solution. With Screenly, companies that wish to display content and data visualizations on a digital signs can do so in a flash.</p> <p>The <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Player</a> is a Raspberry Pi digital signage player that acts as the brains behind a digital display. Put simply, the Screenly Player caches digital signage content and renders this content to the display. This piece of hardware works in conjunction with <a href="/pricing/">Screenly</a>. Screenly is digital signage remote management software that allows users to change the content they display via an online portal. Screenful users can now display their <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">business data dashboards</a> on a large TV with a Screenly Player with Screenly remote digital signage software. Set up takes only a few minutes. Importantly, this solution provides a reliable integration between your Screenful dashboards and any large display with an HDMI input.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/digita-signage-business-data_hu_3506523576f2531.webp 480w, /images/blog/digita-signage-business-data_hu_ceca77b6a6369275.webp 768w, /images/blog/digita-signage-business-data_hu_8e745c54dec39297.webp 1024w, /images/blog/digita-signage-business-data_hu_fae18b15dfb681a0.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/digita-signage-business-data_hu_64729acba17684da.webp 480w, /images/blog/digita-signage-business-data_hu_472af371b5cc00f3.webp 768w, /images/blog/digita-signage-business-data_hu_5b2d57155c0b0e0e.webp 1024w, /images/blog/digita-signage-business-data_hu_882310dd9def0171.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/digita-signage-business-data_hu_8e745c54dec39297.webp" alt="This image is of a business dashboard that can be displayed on a digital sign with Screenly remote digital sign management software." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" > </picture> <em>This Screenful dashboard allows teams to view the progress of sprints over time.</em></p> <h2 id="looking-to-the-future">Looking to the future</h2> <p>Screenful is adding custom integrations with a variety of popular SaaS products. Currently, Screenful integrates with <a href="https://trello.com/">Trello</a>, <a href="https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira">Jira</a>, <a href="https://github.com/">GitHub</a>, <a href="https://www.pivotaltracker.com/">Pivotal Tracker</a>, and <a href="https://asana.com/">Asana</a>.</p> <p>We’re excited to be partnered with Screenful, and we look forward to exploring the synergies between our two companies. Together, our solutions provide a convenient and beautiful way for businesses and organizations to bring data into the decision making process. To learn more about Screenful, check out the <a href="https://screenful.com/features/">Screenful Features page</a> and get started with a <a href="https://app.screenful.me/auth/signup">21-day trial</a>.</p> <p>(Image source: <a href="https://screenful.com/">Screenful.com</a>)</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/20/digital-signage-tools-partnership/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/20/digital-signage-tools-partnership/Tue, 20 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>The digital signage industry has a problem with hacking, and, if you think about it, it makes sense. First, the industry is filled with plenty of <a href="/blog/2018/10/04/diy-digital-signage/">digital sign DIY solutions</a> and hardware/software combinations that do not have a focus on security. Secondly, by their nature, digital signs display images and videos in prominent locations. After all, that’s the entire point - digital signs are meant to be seen. This provides a tempting opportunity for hackers to take over a digital sign and display whatever image or video content they want to a large audience.</p> <p>Sometimes, what is meant to be seen can quickly become the obscene. Once the hacker has gained access to the digital sign, the hacker is often in full control – whatever the digital sign displays is entirely up to the hacker. In this article, we take a look at some of the most notable digital signage hacks in recent news.</p> <h2 id="the-hacks">The hacks</h2> <h3 id="1-bristol-airports-flight-information-display-system">1. Bristol Airport’s flight information display system</h3> <p>In September 2018, Bristol Airport suffered a <a href="https://invidis.de/2018/10/digital-signage-security-ransomeware-hack-am-airport-bristol-legt-flight-information-display-system-lahm/">targeted hack</a> on its flight information display systems. Hackers temporarily disabled the system and blackmailed airport authorities to put the system online. As Bristol Airport is the ninth largest British airport, this hack of course had great consequence travelers. However, this attack was also significant in that it demonstrated how easily vital public transportation infrastructure can be impacted by digital signage vulnerabilities.</p> <h3 id="2-union-station-digital-sign-displays-graphic-content">2. Union Station digital sign displays graphic content</h3> <p>In May 2017, hackers accessed a digital sign at Union Station in Washington D.C. and used the digital sign to stream pornographic content. Hackers timed their attack to take place during rush hour traffic so that the highest number of travelers was impacted by the content. While this event only lasted for about three minutes until staff disabled the display, passengers were understandably shocked. Rather than blaming a physical attack on the hardware, <a href="https://www.digitalsignagetoday.com/articles/hacked-digital-signage-displays-porn-in-union-station/">representatives from the digital sign provider</a> suspected that the hacker may have accessed the display via a “non-secured back door or OS vulnerability.”</p> <h3 id="3-a-hack-with-a-friendly-warning-in-liverpool">3. A hack with a friendly warning in Liverpool</h3> <p>While this attack was far more benign than the Union Station attack, hackers were able to taunt their full control over a Liverpool digital sign. In May 2017, hackers accessed an outdoor digital display at a shopping center in Liverpool. The display then showed the message “We suggest you improve your security. Sincerely, your friendly neighborhood hackers.” Shopping center administrators shut down the screen quickly after learning about the hack. However, the hackers were certainly able to make themselves known. Professor Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey poignantly <a href="https://www.digitalsignagetoday.com/news/hackers-target-digital-signage-in-liverpool-england/">commented on this digital sign attack</a>, stating, “You might not think it matters, after all it’s just an advertising billboard, but who knows what else this system is linked to.”</p> <h3 id="4-alabama-digital-billboard-hack-targets-florida-senator-marco-rubio">4. Alabama digital billboard hack targets Florida senator Marco Rubio</h3> <p>In May 2016, in the midst of the heated 2016 U.S. elections, a digital billboard hack took aim at Florida senator Marco Rubio. This hack displayed a photoshopped image of Rubio as a shirtless attendee at a gay pride festival in Spain. The <a href="https://gawker.com/highway-billboard-hijacked-with-candy-penis-licking-rub-1776563497">digital billboard hacker took to Twitter</a> to advertise his successful attack and noted that the digital sign hack was the “easiest exploit in the history of exploits" and that “the amazing thing about this is the gaping hole in security that allowed it the first place.”</p> <h3 id="5-ironman-cyclists-included-in-digital-sign-hack-in-north-carolina">5. Ironman cyclists included in digital sign hack in North Carolina</h3> <p>Cyclists are likely one of the last groups that you would expect to be the victim of a digital signage hack. However, in May 2018, cyclists competing in an Ironman triathlon received some special messages from the digital road sign hackers. On the hacked billboard digital signs, cyclists and pedestrians <a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article212108199.html">saw messages from the digital sign hackers</a>, such as “Expect delays. A–holes on bikes” and “Right lane closed due to idiots on bikes.” Of course, the North Carolina Department of Transportation released a statement that they nor their contractors created the messages.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-security-at-screenly">Digital signage security at Screenly</h2> <p>One of Screenly’s founders, Viktor Petersson, published an article in <a href="http://www.ravepubs.com/">RavePubs</a> entitled <a href="http://www.ravepubs.com/not-talking-digital-signage-security/">“Why Are We Not Talking About Digital Signage Security?”</a> This article discusses how security is often nothing more than an afterthought in the digital signage industry. This low prioritization of security makes digital signs vulnerable to the types of attacks discussed above. More consequentially, however, a company’s digital sign can provide hackers with a backdoor to the company’s entire IT infrastructure and private data. Such risks have motivated Screenly to invest heavily in the security behind our digital signage solutions. As part of Screenly’s dedication to security, the Screenly Player runs on the Ubuntu Core operating system, where each package needs to request permission when installed. You can read more on our blog post on the <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/03/08/screenly-2-part-1-security/">Screenly Player’s Unbuntu Core operating system</a>. We also protect user logins with robust, two-factor authentication.</p> <p>We hope that this article is informative regarding the security risks associated with digital signage. In the best case scenario, digital signs are an easy target for hackers to quite visibly show off their talents. However, in the worst case scenario, digital signs can serve as the starting point for hackers to access your sensitive company data.</p> <p>To get started with secure digital signage, sign up for <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/login">Screenly’s free 14-day trial</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/Fri, 16 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p><em>This image is from the Raspberry Pi Foundation. <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/app/uploads/2018/03/770A5614-1617x1080.webp">Source</a>.</em></p> <p>After much work from the Screenly development team, we are very proud to announce that <a href="/getting-started/">Screenly</a> is now compatible with the Raspberry Pi Model 3 B+. Prior to this announcement, Screenly was only optimized for the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, and it could not take advantage of the more powerful features of the Raspberry Pi’s latest model. Today, our users can experience digital signage with the power of the leading Raspberry Pi hardware.</p> <h2 id="the-improvements">The improvements</h2> <p>The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ is a big improvement to the previous generation in a few key ways.</p> <p>First, the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ has native support for 5 GHz WiFi. This is an upgrade from the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, which only supported 2.4 GHz WiFi. While 2.4 Ghz WiFi is commonly found in homes and smaller businesses, 5 Ghz WiFi is becoming increasingly common since it offers not only improved performance, but also works a lot better in “noisy” public spaces such as conference halls, event centers, hotels and larger retail environments. Previously, a USB WiFi adapter was needed, but with native 5 GHz WiFi support, the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ now provides a seamless, high-speed wireless experience for digital signs. While the native 5 GHz WiFi of the 3 B+ is useful for many digital signage deployments, we still recommend a wired connection for businesses or organizations where digital signage is mission critical.</p> <p>Second, the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ boasts an <a href="https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2018/raspberry-pi-3-b-review-and-performance-comparison">improved Ethernet adapter</a>. Recorded LAN download speeds on the 3 B+ reach up to 11.6 MB/sec, which is a huge step up from the LAN download speed of the 3 B at 3.45 MB/sec.</p> <p>Third, the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ <a href="https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/raspberry-pi-3-model-b-vs-3-model-b">outperforms its predecessor in processing power</a>. While both units use a Broadcom SoC processor, the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ can reach a CPU max MHz of 1400, which is an important improvement from the Raspberry Pi 3 B’s CPU max MHz of 1200. Additionally, the processor is contained within a metal casing on the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+. This casing helps the processor better dissipate heat and continue with optimal performance even under heavy, sustained processing.</p> <p>The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ is also prepared for Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) using the new <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/poe-hat/">PoE HAT</a>. While there have been <a href="https://www.cnx-software.com/2018/09/14/raspberry-pi-poe-hat-power-issues/">reports of issues</a> with the first batches of the PoE HAT, we still think that PoE pairs very well with digital signage, as it can significantly simply deployments as we have outlined in a <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/07/08/simplify-your-screenly-deployment-with-power-over-ethernet-poe/">previous blog post</a>.</p> <h2 id="get-started-and-reach-out">Get started and reach out</h2> <p>For those of you who will upgrade to the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, we are excited to provide Screenly compatibility with this new and improved hardware. To get started with your 3 B+ powered digital signage, you need the latest Screenly disk image. You can find this under ‘Add Screen’ in your management portal Please note that there is no separate disk image. Going forward, the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ will share the same disk image.</p> <p>Do let us know your experiences with digital signage on the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, we’re always keen to hear from our users. As always, if you experience any issues, please reach out to the <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new/">Screenly Help Center</a> for a prompt reply. For more detailed information, please see <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360012037893">this post</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/12/screenly-support-rasberry-pi-3b-plus/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/12/screenly-support-rasberry-pi-3b-plus/Mon, 12 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>As long-time <a href="https://grafana.com/">Grafana</a> users, we’re pleased to announce that Screenly now supports Grafana. Internally, we have used Grafana to visualize both our technical and business metrics. However, until now, there was no easy way to render Grafana dashboards on Screenly powered digital signage. That all changes today. Since Grafana is more or less the de facto standard dashboard for most modern tech companies, we’re excited to be the first digital signage company to add support for Grafana.</p> <h2 id="what-is-grafana">What is Grafana?</h2> <p>(If you’re already familiar with Grafana, you can skip this paragraph.)</p> <p>Grafana allows teams to create dashboard and graph visualizations from their data. In the last few years, it has emerged as the standard for data visualization in the <a href="https://www.docker.com/">Docker</a> and <a href="https://kubernetes.io/">Kubernetes</a> world. Thanks to its broad range of accepted data sources and active ecosystem of dashboard templates, Grafana has positioned itself as a powerful player among dashboard tools. Using Grafana, you can visualize data from sources such as <a href="https://prometheus.io/">Prometheus</a>, <a href="https://graphiteapp.org/">Graphite</a>, <a href="https://www.influxdata.com/">InfluxDB</a>, and <a href="http://opentsdb.net/">openTSDB</a>. You can even overlay data from multiple sources onto the same graph. Also, users can configure Grafana to trigger alerts when metrics rise above or fall below a certain pre-determined threshold. Users can send these alerts to a variety of tools, such as <a href="https://slack.com/">Slack</a>, <a href="https://www.pagerduty.com">Pagerduty</a>, <a href="https://victorops.com/">VictorOps</a>, <a href="https://www.opsgenie.com/">OpsGenie</a>, and also run-of-the-mill email.</p> <h2 id="why-screenly-and-grafana-make-a-great-combo">Why Screenly and Grafana make a great combo</h2> <p>Since this feature is something that we’ve had in the making for a while now, we’ve had a fair amount of time to speak to companies around the globe on how they are using Grafana. We were primarily interested to know how they display Grafana on their office wall screens. As it turns out, most companies are just using a regular PC to push content to the digital display. However, a handful of companies are already using Raspberry Pis.</p> <p>What they all had in common, however, was the fact that they didn’t have a good way to manage their digital screens. Management usually consisted of <code>ssh</code>-ing into the device to change things. Since a regular browser was used to control the player, they either used a physical keyboard/mouse or VNC/TeamViewer to both log in to Grafana and to control what was displayed. Then, every time they got logged out or wanted to change anything, they had to then log into each of their displays to update the content. Needless to say, this wasn’t a great user experience.</p> <p>Enter Screenly. Screenly allows you to manage a fleet of screens displaying Grafana dashboards all from a central web interface. Screenly simplifies how users authenticate their digital signage screens with Grafana. Since Screenly carries out authentication via API tokens (that Screenly pushes out centrally), there is no need to log in to each device manually. If you need to rotate the credentials, you only need to do it once, and Screenly automatically federates the credentials to each screen.</p> <p>Because many Grafana installations are only accessible within the corporate network, it’s important to note that Screenly does support this use case too. As long as the Screenly players can communicate with the Grafana installation, you’re good to go. There’s no need for the Grafana installation to be publicly available (but it works fine even if it is of course).</p> <p>It’s also worth pointing out that Screenly automatically applies security updates to your digital signage players so that you can focus on more important things.</p> <h2 id="how-remote-teams-can-use-grafana-and-screenly">How remote teams can use Grafana and Screenly</h2> <p>As you may know, Screenly is a 100% remote company. We don’t have offices, and our team is literally spread across continents. We use tools like <a href="https://trello.com/">Trello</a>, <a href="https://www.phacility.com/phabricator/">Phabricator</a>, and <a href="https://appear.in/">Appear.in</a> to keep everyone on the same page and working in tandem. Accordingly, we don’t have a centralized location for a digital display dashboard. Instead, everyone has a 7" screen on their desk (we use the 7" official Raspberry Pi touchscreen in our case). On this display, everyone can see his or her relevant metrics in real time. We have some shared graphs that span across the entire company, and we also have specific dashboards for different teams, such as the development and sales teams.</p> <p>For more information, see our article <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/grafana/">How to use Screenly with Grafana</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/06/digital-signage-grafana-dashboard/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/11/06/digital-signage-grafana-dashboard/Tue, 06 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>If you are responsible for a business’ or organization’s budgeting and accounts payable, you know that there is a massive cost associated with printing. Not only are there the paper costs, but there are costs for ink, toner, and the sometimes-all-too-frequent printer repair. However, it is important not to overlook that there is also an environmental cost associated with this printing. Paper production destroys trees, and the disposal of paper products results in unwanted CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. Some have looked towards digital signage as a way of reducing their printing requirements and reducing the environmental impact of their business. In this article, we examine how useful digital signage can be in achieving that goal.</p> <h2 id="does-digital-signage-or-printing-have-a-larger-carbon-footprint">Does digital signage or printing have a larger carbon footprint?</h2> <p>To carry out such an analysis, we must first make an estimate regarding the average printing activity per employee. According to printing company <a href="http://www.raymorgan.com/shocking-office-printing-stats-you-need-to-know/">Ray Morgan</a>, the “typical office worker prints 10,000 pages per year.”</p> <p>Next, we must make an assumption regarding how much of this printing can be replaced by digital signage. Of course, certain printing activities, such as printing contract documents that require signatures, cannot be replaced by digital signage. However, other printing activities, such as printing promotional material and office communication documents, can be replaced by digital signage. Let’s make a conservative estimate that digital signage can replace just 10% of office printing. This translates to 1,000 pages per employee per year.</p> <p>To assess the environmental impact of all this printing, we need to apply an estimate regarding the total CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from this printing. According to <a href="https://www.standardcarbon.com/2008/06/do-you-really-need-to-print-that-the-carbon-footprint-of-copy-paper/">Standard Carbon</a>, 500 sheets of paper produces approximately 4.59 lbs of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. If an employee would otherwise print an additional 1,000 pages per year if their organization did not have digital signage, this would translate to 9.18 lbs of (potentially avoidable) CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per year. So, can an organization produce less CO<sub>2</sub> emissions if they replace these 1,000 pages per employee per year with a digital signage solution? Let’s find out.</p> <p>To run a digital signage display, an employee must power a digital signage player and an actual display screen. Screenly’s <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Raspberry Pi based digital signage player</a> requires approximately 3 watts to run. According to <a href="https://electricityplans.com/kwh-kilowatt-hour-can-power/">ElectricityPlans</a>, a standard 50 inch LED screen requires approximately 16 watts to run. To run together, these devices require a combined 0.019 kilowatts. If these devices are running 24/7, that is for all 8760 hours per year, the devices require a total of 166.44 kilowatt-hours of energy per year.</p> <p>The next step is to determine the CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from 166.44 kilowatt-hours of energy per year. Of course, this is in part a function of the way in which the energy was originally produced. Electricity generated from burning fossil fuels has a much higher CO<sub>2</sub> emission per kilowatt-hour than electricity generated via solar cells! To consider these differences in electricity production, we can simply use an average estimate for the CO<sub>2</sub> emissions generated per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced (in this average, we seek to consider the share of multiple energy production methods that power the current electricity grid). According to <a href="https://carbonfund.org/how-we-calculate/">Carbonfund.org</a>, a reasonable average estimate of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per kilowatt-hour given current, average energy production methods is 1.222 lbs of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per kilowatt-hour. So, our 166.44 kilowatt-hours of energy per year that are consumed by a single digital signage display and a Screenly digital signage player combined result in approximately 203.39 lbs of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per year.</p> <p>Let’s now do some final calculations. Our last step is to make an estimate on how many employees can be served from a single digital signage display and digital signage player - you do not need one setup per employee, of course. Let’s again make a conservative estimate and assume that a single digital signage display and digital signage player can serve the needs of 50 employees. Our 203.39 lbs of CO<sub>2</sub> per year from digital signage then translates to 4.07 lbs of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per year per employee.</p> <p>As stated in the previous paragraphs, businesses would have 9.18 lbs of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per year per employee if digital signage communications were instead passed on via print. In conclusion, according to our estimates, digital signage can cut a company’s CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by over 55%. This is a massive impact, and, if any business is able to achieve a reduction in their CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by over 55%, such an event should be greatly celebrated.</p> <h2 id="applying-the-same-analysis-for-other-digital-signage-players">Applying the same analysis for other digital signage players</h2> <p>It is important to highlight here that the Raspberry Pi is an incredibly energy efficient digital signage player. Requiring just 3 watts to run, the Raspberry Pi has a much lower energy requirement than its rivals. This is why Screenly digital signage players are based off of Raspberry Pi hardware.</p> <p>In order to demonstrate the impressive energy efficiency of Raspberry Pi based digital signage players, we list a few other digital signage players, their corresponding energy usage, and their estimated carbon footprint per year per employee. To arrive at these estimated carbon footprint, we simply plug in the energy requirements for each digital signage player into the analysis performed in the previous section. In the table below, we list five digital signage players, and in the rows we list the watts each one takes to run, the CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per employee per year when these players are used with the aforementioned 50" display, and the percent change in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions when compared to CO<sub>2</sub> emissions that would otherwise come from printing.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/green-digital-signage-environmental-impact_hu_8028f5629209a77b.webp 480w, /images/blog/green-digital-signage-environmental-impact_hu_c332d481bb5d03fb.webp 768w, /images/blog/green-digital-signage-environmental-impact_hu_4d962d3a4f21e8bb.webp 1024w, /images/blog/green-digital-signage-environmental-impact_hu_c332fb731290258e.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/green-digital-signage-environmental-impact_hu_fa98860b614ec6cd.webp 480w, /images/blog/green-digital-signage-environmental-impact_hu_f75edc5a552c3f0e.webp 768w, /images/blog/green-digital-signage-environmental-impact_hu_421ff82ce12bc19c.webp 1024w, /images/blog/green-digital-signage-environmental-impact_hu_c609d45c27620ffe.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/green-digital-signage-environmental-impact_hu_4d962d3a4f21e8bb.webp" alt="This is an image of a table that shows the effect of green digital signage efforts." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="498" > </picture> <p>As seen above, the energy consumption of your digital signage player really matters in determining if your digital signage efforts will help your business “go green.” The <a href="https://www.viewsonic.com/us/nmp-302wx.html">ViewSonic NMP-302WX</a> and <a href="https://www.cayintech.com/digital-signage-products/player/smp-2100.html">Cayin SMP-500</a> digital signage players yield an admirable 48.47% and 34.45% decrease in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions when compared to CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from printing. The popular <a href="https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/nuc/mini-pcs/nuc8i3cysm.html">Intel NUC 8 digital signage player</a>, a Windows 10 supporting mini-computer, yields a 27.35% decrease in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. However, a Raspberry Pi based digital signage player outcompetes all three of the previous players with a 55.47% decrease in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. It is a great accomplishment of the Screenly development team to have pushed the limits of such a simple, low-powered device such that it can support the robust and reliable digital signage solution that is Screenly. The <a href="https://www.viewsonic.com/us/sc-a25x-s.html">ViewSonic SC-A25X-S</a> digital signage player only yields a relatively minimal 6.35% decrease in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, and, importantly the <a href="http://www.hp.com/sbso/solutions/pc_expertise/biz-monitor/rp5800dse.pdf">HP RP5800</a> digital signage player actually yields an <em>increase</em> in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions of 499.6%. Accordingly, you must really dig into the details of the power requirements for your chosen digital signage hardware. If you are not careful, some digital signage solutions can actually result in an increase in your organization’s CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.</p> <h2 id="interested-in-learning-more">Interested in learning more?</h2> <p>If you found this analysis helpful, stay tuned, as we will continue to post similar articles with numbers and calculations that are catered to specific <a href="/use-cases/">digital signage use cases and industries</a>. Additionally, while this article covers the relative CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and environmental costs for digital signage versus printing, be sure to also check out our article that compares the financial costs of different digital signage players.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/10/24/going-green-digital-signage/Wed, 24 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Brad Pommen from <a href="https://smrt1.ca/">SMRT1 Technologies</a>, an innovative company that is revolutionizing the vending machine customer experience. SMRT1 retrofits existing vending machines with an interactive touchscreen display. The customer can then select their preferred items from a stunning digital vending machine interface. SMRT1 provides the hardware, mounting setup, and a full software solution for vending machine management.</p> <p>At its core, SMRT1 is a technology company, and it is second nature to SMRT1 to integrate new components into their digital vending machines. In the past, these add-ons have included thumbprint readers and motion-capture technology. Today, SMRT1 is integrating with <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">Screenly</a> to extend digital signage to its fleet of digitally-enhanced vending machines experience.</p> <h2 id="smrt1s-current-plan-with-screenly">SMRT1’s current plan with Screenly</h2> <p>SMRT1 plans to use Screenly-powered digital signage on screens that operators can attach to the sides of each vending machine. The goal of vending machine digital signage is to add engaging media to each customer’s purchasing experience. For example, with Screenly-powered digital signs for vending machines, vendors show customers a motion-graphic, branded ad for an upsell product on nearby screens.</p> <p>One of the main reasons that SMRT1 chose Screenly to provide its digital signage management solution is the accessibility of the <a href="/api/">Screenly digital signage player API</a>. This functionality allows SMRT1 to quickly and dynamically update content for each screen from the vending machine configuration. At the moment, SMRT1 is integrating their software solution with Screenly’s digital signage open API. Ultimately, SMRT1 plans to use Screenly to introduce digital signs and digital signage content management to their vending machine operators as a simple, add-on component.</p> <h2 id="a-perfect-fit">A perfect fit</h2> <p>Screenly and SMRT1 are in many ways the “perfect fit.” SMRT1 aims to provide a multi-component, digital vending machine solution. Ultimately, SMRT1 will offer a suite of plug-and-play custom integrations for its digital vending machines. Screenly, on the other hand, is a robust digital signage platform that can easily integrate with custom applications via the Screenly digital signage API. Screenly can thereby easily serve as an extension of the core SMRT1 interactive touch screen.</p> <p>SMRT1 has big plans for taking full advantage of the Screenly API, including two-way data flow between the vending machine and SMRT1 servers. In the future, SMRT1 vending machines will be able to display custom content based on data collected by the machine, such as the last item purchased, which items have been popular that day, and how many people are near the machine. Once SMRT1 is collecting this data, SMRT1 software can easily call context-specific content and display it on displayed on Screenly-powered digital signs.</p> <h2 id="going-forward-with-digital-signs">Going forward with digital signs</h2> <p>SMRT1 is excited about the possibilities going forward with Screenly, and we could not be more thrilled to see how an innovative company like SMRT1 will put our Raspberry Pi powered digital signage solutions to use. Going forward, SMRT1 hopes to use add-on digital signs to include more attention-grabbing advertisements. Additionally, SMRT1 hopes to use digital signs to expand vending machine inventory to more than just physical consumables. One idea from SMRT1 is that digital signage tools and electronic signage displays could show paid advertising by a local real-estate agent, and the customer could receive a physical information packet that is released from the vending machine. Another interesting option is that the customer could enter their contact details for the real-estate agent, and, in exchange for his or her contact details, the customer could receive an item of their choice that is paid for by the real-estate agent, such as a soft drink.</p> <h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2> <p>SMRT1 Technologies is pushing the frontier of the vending machine experience, and the company’s addition of digital signage to its suite of add-on functionality will greatly enhance the value that SMRT1 can provide to its customers. As stated, SMRT1 sees itself as developing an integrated system where customers can pick and choose from a variety of customizations. Digital signs now hold a place in that line up, and we look forward to seeing SMRT1’s digital signage innovations.</p> <p>(Image source: <a href="https://smrt1.ca/">SMRT1 Technologies</a>)</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/10/17/vending-machine-digital-signage-apis/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/10/17/vending-machine-digital-signage-apis/Wed, 17 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p><em>Note, we have redacted the described company’s name for company privacy.</em></p> <p>We recently interviewed one of our clients, which is a quickly growing property management group in Canada (we will refer to this company as “the group” throughout this article). From 5,000 units 9 years ago, this group has grown to now manage and operate approximately 10,000 units. In this expansion, the company has grown from 150 clients three years ago to over 500 clients today. One of the group’s strengths is repositioning and renovating unwanted properties into beautiful facilities and communities.</p> <h2 id="the-beginnings-of-the-groups-digital-signs">The beginnings of the group’s digital signs</h2> <p>Three years ago, the group’s IT department consisted of just one person. Their sole IT employee was looking for a digital signage solution for the group, and, as a Raspberry Pi enthusiast himself, he came across Screenly. He set up the company’s first digital sign with Screenly software on the company’s only TV at the time, a unit located directly in the CEO’s office. After implementing digital signage on this first screen, the company was hooked. Given the location of the first screen, it wasn’t hard to get approval to use Screenly throughout the group’s property portfolio.</p> <p>The group now has a variety of use cases for Screenly digital signage. The company uses Screenly software internally to display company events, employee birthdays and career moves, and other general company updates. Within the property buildings, the group uses these digital signs to display building-specific information that is relevant to building residents. For this digital signage displayed within properties, the group displays building and neighborhood specific events, information on property amenities, and welcome messages for new residents. The group will even display package delivery notices to residents so that they can easily know whether or not it’s time for them to visit the mail room. Additionally, the group uses digital signage “in the field” during marketing and recruiting events through the use of a 4G mobile internet stick and mobile display screen.</p> <h2 id="the-current-status-of-the-groups-digital-sign-deployment">The current status of the group’s digital sign deployment</h2> <p>The group currently has approximately 17 screens in operation, and they only started scaling their use of Screenly just 6 months ago. The group now has 10 screens deployed in property buildings, 4 screens deployed internally for company communications, 2 “roaming” screens that are used in marketing and recruiting events, and one projector that is integrated with Screenly. The company is rapidly growing their use of Screenly, and, in addition to scaling their current Screenly use cases, the company is looking to use Screenly for dashboarding company performance metrics in the near future.</p> <p>The group finds the cheaper deployment costs and the ease of implementation of Screenly to be particularly valuable features. In order display relevant and engaging content to both employees and building residents without Screenly, the group would have needed to deploy expensive computers and servers with each remote screen or would have needed to use a <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">suboptimal USB/smart-TV solution</a>. Screenly offered a better and cheaper solution, as it allowed a fleet of screens to be fed content remotely with a simple, cost-effective Raspberry Pi.</p> <h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2> <p>Digital signs have been a great success for the group. The group has received positive feedback from tenants who excitedly state that the group is technologically way ahead of any other property group they have used. The screens and targeted information add a personal touch and sense of community to the atmosphere of each property. The group is also finding increased work engagement with employees, as employees have grown increasingly excited regarding the <a href="/use-cases/">possibilities with Screenly technology</a>. The company states that employees have been “coming out of the woodwork with ideas” for applications of Screenly. We look forward to learning more about these new applications of Screenly in the months to come!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/10/08/real-estate-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/10/08/real-estate-digital-signage/Mon, 08 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>You have heard about digital signage, and you are curious to learn more. Perhaps you are just a techie who loves tinkering. Perhaps you are considering launching digital signs at your business or organization once you figure out digital signage for yourself. Whatever your motivation is for starting with digital signage, this article provides an overview and guide for how to get started with a do-it-yourself digital signage project.</p> <h2 id="what-exactly-is-diy-digital-signage">What exactly is DIY digital signage?</h2> <p>“DIY” or “do-it-yourself” refers to a culture of tinkering and inventing where individuals come up with their own, homemade technology solutions. In the technology space, these terms refer more so to the intersection between software and hardware solutions, rather than just software-only solutions. Software-only DIY is typically just called “hacking.”"</p> <p>Before your start your DIY project, it is important to set the scope of your project and get a handle on what you mean by “DIY digital signage.” To what extent will you be doing this project by yourself? Of course, an out-of-the-box, paid solution will not count as a DIY digital signage deployment. However, on the other hand, you do not need to solder the circuit boards yourself. DIY digital signage is similar to when you “cook from scratch”. You do not need to pick every ingredient from the garden. If you use some pre-packaged spices, that’s fine - it is still “cooking from scratch”.</p> <p>So, what are the bare minimum components that you will need to launch a digital signal solution? There are three must-have parts:</p> <ul> <li> <p>You will need a display to show your digital signage content. This can be a simple TV or monitor that you already own.</p> </li> <li> <p>You will need some type of “brains” to tell the display what to show. This can be an existing computer, a smart TV, a media-player, or a mini-computer such as the Raspberry Pi.</p> </li> <li> <p>You will need some type of storage device to store your digital signage content. This can be a USB stick, a computer hard drive, a DVD disc, or an SD card.</p> </li> </ul> <h2 id="what-are-my-options-for-diy-digital-signage">What are my options for DIY digital signage?</h2> <p>Given the necessary components described above, below are some general options that you have for launching your DIY digital signage.</p> <h3 id="use-an-existing-computer-and-monitor">Use an existing computer and monitor</h3> <p>First, you could simply just use an existing computer and monitor to display your “digital sign.” This setup would literally be an image, collection of images, or a video that you direct your computer to play in full-screen on a selected monitor. This solution is simple, however it is a bit disappointing for a DIY enthusiast, as there is really nothing to figure out or tinker with. All you have to do is place your monitor or secondary screen wherever your target audience is most likely to see it. Another disappointing component of this solution is that you need to use a full-blown computer. This can be frustrating, as the computer will need to be on whenever the digital sign is on. Additionally, if you plan to have multiple digital signs, you will need multiple computers. Any solution that requires multiple computers can get quite expensive.</p> <h3 id="use-a-usb-drive-and-smart-tv-or-a-dvd-disc-and-dvd-player">Use a USB drive and smart TV or a DVD disc and DVD player</h3> <p>Another option is to use a smart TV or a DVD player as the “brains” of your digital signage. For the storage of your digital signage content, you can use a USB stick or a DVD disc, respectively. You can then load your digital signage content onto your USB stick and plug the USB stick into your smart TV. Alternatively, you can load your content onto a DVD disc and insert this disk into a DVD player that is connected to the display screen. While his option will give you a “digital sign,” one issue is that you will need to <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">physically go to the USB stick</a> or DVD player in order to change out your content. While that step may not be a problem if you just have one digital sign in one location, the seeminly simple step becomes a massive hassle if you have multiple digital signs spread across multiple locations.</p> <h3 id="use-a-raspberry-pi-mini-computer-and-open-source-software">Use a Raspberry Pi mini-computer and open-source software</h3> <p>A third option is to use a mini-computer, such as the Raspberry Pi your digital signage player. You will also need an SD card for storage and open source software for your Raspberry Pi signage. This solution is cost-effective. Additionally, Screenly provides open source digital signage management software, Screenly OSE, so that you can run digital signs from a Raspberry Pi for free. Screenly OSE digital signage software allows you to manage your digital signage content over the internet. As such, you do not need to physically visit each digital sign in order to change its content - a feature that makes your DIY project a lot easier to deal with once it is deployed. To get started with Screenly OSE, follow our <a href="/ose/">step-by-step instructions</a> or find <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose">Screenly OSE on GitHub</a>.</p> <h2 id="should-i-go-forward-with-a-diy-digital-sign-solution">Should I go forward with a DIY digital sign solution?</h2> <p>The answer to this question really depends on what your goals are for your digital signage. If you are just trying to have some fun and tinker with a new technology, a DIY digital signage solution is the only way to go! If you are a business or organization that needs multiple digital screens and reliable 1080p Full HD video and image content, you should think twice about implementing a DIY digital sign solution. Instead, you should think about more robust, enterprise-grade digital signage installations and cloud-based digital signage systems, like <a href="/getting-started/">Screenly</a>. You can read more about the differences between Screenly and open source player software such as Screenly OSE in our article on <a href="/screenly-ose-vs-pro/">Screenly OSE vs. Screenly (Paid Version)</a>.</p> <p>While a DIY digital signage platform may not be for everyone, it certainly is the ideal solution for some people. We hope this post has helped inform your understanding of what is involved in a DIY digital signage project.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/10/04/diy-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/10/04/diy-digital-signage/Thu, 04 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>At Screenly, it is fair to say that we are obsessed with digital signage. It’s who we are, and we’re proud of it! Something else we are obsessed with is the Raspberry Pi. After some internal discussions, however, we realized that the Raspberry Pi may not be immediately familiar to everyone who is just getting into digital signage. After reading our website and our blog you may be wondering: What even is the Raspberry Pi? In this blog post, we want to address those in our audience who are unfamiliar with the Raspberry Pi in easy-to-understand, layman’s terms. We want to tell you what it is, why it’s important, and why using the Raspberry Pi for digital signs (as Screenly is doing!) is a great innovation.</p> <h2 id="what-is-it-where-did-it-come-from-and-why-is-it-important">What is it, where did it come from, and why is it important?</h2> <p>The Raspberry Pi is essentially a very small computer. It is commonly categorized as a “mini-computer” or a “single-board computer”. The first iteration of the Raspberry Pi was launched in February 2012 by the UK-based Raspberry Pi Foundation. Initially, the Raspberry Pi was developed for use in educational systems, particularly in the developing world, in order to provide low cost hardware for students to learn valuable computer science and programming skills.</p> <p>As stated, the Raspberry Pi is a mini-computer, and its approximate length and width is that of a standard credit card. As one might expect, a mini-computer of this size does not have the same technical capabilities of a larger computer, such as a standard consumer desktop, and this is the certainly the case with the Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi runs on and ARM chip, which is less powerful than a more advanced chip such an Intel NUC. The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (the Raspberry Pi version used with Screenly software) is equipped with an Ethernet, 3.5 mm audio, and HDMI jack as well as four USB jacks. For memory and storage, the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B accepts a removable Micro SD card.</p> <p>So, why is the Raspberry Pi important? The big picture importance and impact of the Raspberry Pi is that it makes computing and programming accessible to the masses. Instead of needing hundreds of dollars to get started in programming, an individual needs just around $35 with the Raspberry Pi. This low-cost computing has its benefits for education, however, it also has its benefits for technology applications that require multiple low-cost computing devices. This is where Screenly comes in.</p> <h2 id="why-using-the-raspberry-pi-for-digital-signs-is-an-important-innovation">Why using the Raspberry Pi for digital signs is an important innovation</h2> <p>With any digital sign, there needs to be the “brains” behind the screen. In other words, there needs to be a computing device that is able to tell the screen what content to display. An easy way to think about this is by thinking of the process of playing a movie from a DVD disc. To play the movie, you need a computing device (your DVD player) to tell the screen (your TV) what content to display (the movie). Likewise, with digital signs, you need a computing device to tell the screen what content to display on the digital sign. Screenly’s key innovation has been to create software that allows one to use the Raspberry Pi as a computing device for digital signs.</p> <p>When then Raspberry Pi is combined with Sreenly software to act as the brains behind a digital sign, we refer to the device (the Raspberry Pi that is using Screenly software) as a “Screenly Player”. As the hardware behind a Screenly Player is the Raspberry Pi, Screenly Players are much more cost effective devices for digital signs than are more expensive computers with greater processing power. Because of the hardwork of Screenly engineers, this greater processing power is just not necessary to run reliable, smooth, and beautiful digital signage. With software from Screenly, the Raspberry Pi is more than sufficient to display HD image and video content on a digital sign. This is important, as companies and organizations can deploy digital signs without the expense of having to buy a more expensive, high-powered computer for each display. This saves the company and organization money both in terms of less hardware costs and also less ongoing electricity costs. When these costs scale to multiple signs and multiple years, the cost savings associated with using the Rasbperry Pi instead of more powerful computing devices can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.</p> <h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2> <p>So, what is the Raspberry Pi? The Raspberry Pi is simply a low-cost, mini-computer that, when combined with Screenly software, you can use as the brains behind your digital signs. To start using as Raspberry Pi to power your digital signage, you can easily order one from one of our <a href="/distributors/">distributors</a>. Especially if you are unfamiliar with the Raspberry Pi, we suggest you purchase one our <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Starter Kits</a>. This will be a bit more expensive than $35, but it will come with an HDMI cable, power cord, and a Micro SD card that is already loaded with Screenly software. With the Starter Kit, you will have everything you need to get your Raspberry Pi powered digital signage up and running in no time.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/09/20/raspberry-pi-digital-signage/Thu, 20 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>One major benefit of Screenly’s digital signage solutions is the ability to easily display live web pages on your digital signage displays. This feature allows users to display live dashboards, calendars, and website content. However, especially with website content, it can be hard to take advantage of this feature. Often, website designs are not optimized for 1920x1080px resolution, meaning that they will not look good on your screens. It’s common that you will see text blocks or images bleeding over the bottom edge of the screen. To tackle this problem, the team at Screenly developed Screenly Cast for WordPress, a Wordpress plugin to optimize WordPress content for digital signage usage.</p> <h2 id="what-can-screenly-cast-do">What can Screenly Cast do?</h2> <p>Screenly Cast allows you to instantly convert blog content into beautiful content for your digital signage displays. With Screenly Cast you can easily create and display three main types of content:</p> <ul> <li>Display Text: You can display simple text.</li> <li>Side-by-side Text and Image: You can display text alongside an image, this is commonly used to display blog images on the left hand side with accompanying text on the right hand side.</li> <li>Image with Text Overlay: This is used to display blog titles and descriptions on top of a large, beautiful image.</li> </ul> <p>While Screenly Cast is by no means supposed to convert Wordpress into a full-fledged digital signage CMS, it does provide a simple content creation tool that can be used to create beautiful digital signage media assets.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-use-screenly-cast">How do I use Screenly Cast?</h2> <p>First, you need to install and activate the plugin. Screenly Cast can be discovered an installed directly on your Wordpress CMS. After installation, it is of course important to activate the plugin. After activation, simply create and publish your website content as usual. When you are ready to display this content on your digital signage display, simply append “?srly” to the end of the URL for whichever content you would like to display. You can then add this URL as an asset in your <a href="/pricing/">Screenly online account</a>, and that’s it!</p> <p>You can find a <a href="/blog/2017/05/31/introducing-screenly-cast-for-wordpress/">text and image based guide for Screenly Cast</a> on our blog.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-get-started-with-screenly-cast">How do I get started with Screenly Cast?</h2> <p>You can find <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/screenly-cast/#description">Screenly Cast on Wordpress</a> or you can access <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Screenly-Cast-for-WordPress/">Screenly Cast on GitHub</a>. Just download the Wordpress Plugin and enjoy!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/09/13/wordpress-plugin-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/09/13/wordpress-plugin-digital-signage/Thu, 13 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>In a <a href="/blog/2018/08/27/digital-signage-roi/">previous post</a>, we took an honest look at calculating digital signage ROI. We rolled up our sleeves, and we got our hands dirty with the details of these calculations. We discussed considerations and methods for calculating both the costs and revenues associated with digital signage. Also, we made sure to point out that businesses should not stress themselves out trying to make the perfect ROI calculation.</p> <p>However, there was one point that we did not address: how to calculate return on objective (ROO) for digital signage. We stated that we would address this topic in an upcoming blog post, and, well, here we are!</p> <h2 id="what-is-return-on-objective-and-when-should-it-be-used">What is return on objective and when should it be used?</h2> <p>Return on objective is an important and useful alternative to return on investment, and it can be an important tool for calculating the overall impact and effectiveness of your digital signage. Essentially, return on objective comes into play when return on investment simply cannot and should not be used to calculate the effectiveness of a particular activity or “investment.”</p> <p>For example, in our previous post we discussed calculating the return on investment for digital signage menu boards and the promotion of a particular menu item. To do this, the business would need to calculate the cost for this investment and the revenue generated (menu item sales) from this investment. This is all a fine and worthwhile exercise, but business owners will use digital signage to service “objectives” that do not directly lead to revenue generation. Such objectives for digital signage can include improving internal company communication, growing social media followings, or increasing brand awareness. While these objectives are important to achieve, they are difficult to directly link to any changes in revenue. It is in these cases - where it is difficult to link results to changes in revenues - that return on objective is the best tool with which to measure the effectiveness of your company’s digital signage.</p> <h2 id="how-do-you-calculate-return-on-objective">How do you calculate return on objective?</h2> <p>Attempts to measure ROO are attempts to measure these important objectives that are not directly linked to revenue generation. So, how do you actually measure ROO and what numbers and formulas do you use? Here, it is important to note that ROO measures differ from ROI measures in that return on objective digital signage measures will result in an expression of “actions per dollar” rather than a percentage of dollars returned relative to a particular dollar amount invested. For example, a ROO report would state that the company received “6 new social media followers per dollar invested” or improved employee ratings on internal communications by “1.5 stars per $5,000 invested.” There is not a percentage-based return with ROO, as the results are not expressed in the same units as the costs (which are expressed in dollars).</p> <p>While we could construct a formula for a digital signage ROI calculator, there really is not a particular formula for calculating ROO. Well, there is not a formula that is particularly all that complex. To calculate ROO, you simply divide the number of successful objective completions by the total dollar amount invested for the relevant activity. The tricky part here is determining what successful objective completions you should care about and try to influence with your limited resources and time.</p> <p>You must consider which activities will be most beneficial for your business. Is improving internal communications what you need the most? What about increasing Net Promoter Score? Or, should you worry more about metrics surrounding brand awareness? These questions do not have immediately clear answers, but thinking about these questions in the context of your business will help ensure you aim to achieve the most worthwhile objectives.</p> <h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2> <p>With <a href="/use-cases/retail-store-digital-signage/">retail digital signage</a>, there is a relatively easy way to calculate retail digital signage ROI. You simply use the change in sales revenues and the costs of your digital signage deployment. However, digital signage ROI case studies and calculations are difficult to carry out for investments where the main objective cannot be immediately linked to changes in revenues. This is where return on objective comes in as the best tool to calculate the impact of digital signage efforts. We hope this article has been helpful in detailing the differences between ROI and ROO, and we hope that this article has left you with some inspiration for improving the metrics surrounding your own company’s digital signage. By the way, this article is part of a broader push from Screenly to publish more content surrounding metrics and tracking associated with digital signage. So, if you found this interesting, stay tuned!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/09/06/return-on-objective-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/09/06/return-on-objective-digital-signage/Thu, 06 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>If you are considering digital signage for your company or organization, a natural question to ask is, “How do I accurately measure the return on investment (ROI) for my digital signage solution?” A quick survey of existing articles regarding measuring ROI for digital signage will show you that there is not one simple formula or clear answer to this question. In this article, we will review why it is difficult to answer this question, and we will provide you with some useful tips so that you can put your best foot forward in your ROI calculations.</p> <h2 id="what-is-return-on-investment-roi">What is return on investment (ROI)?</h2> <p>Put simply, ROI provides you with a quantification of how much “return” you receive from your “investment”. In other words, ROI helps you determine the quality or effectiveness or any return-generating activity. To calculate ROI, use the following method:</p> <ol> <li> <p style="margin: 0 0 20px;"> Quantify the total revenue generated from a given activity<br> <em>If you sold 10 widgets at $10 a piece, you generated $100 in total revenue.</em> </p> </li> <li> <p style="margin: 0 0 20px;"> Quantify the total cost of engaging in that activity<br> <em>Your cost of producing and selling all 10 widgets was a total of $75.</em> </p> </li> <li> <p style="margin: 0 0 20px;"> Subtract this total cost (from Step 2) from the total revenue generated (from Step 1). This gives you the total profit generated from the activity.<br> <em>$100 in total revenue minus $75 in total cost yields $25 in profit generated.</em> </p> </li> <li> <p style="margin: 0 0 20px;"> Divide the profit (from Step 3) by the total cost (from Step 2). Then, multiply this number by 100 and you have the ROI expressed as a percentage.<br> <em>$25 in profit divided by $100 in total revenue yields an ROI of 25%.</em </p> </li> </ol> <p>You can compare ROI numbers across different activities and products in your business. This comparison will tell you the relative productivity of each activity or product. In difficult times when cash or resources are limited, you can then focus on the activities and products with the highest ROI.</p> <h2 id="difficulties-with-making-a-digital-signage-roi-calculator">Difficulties with making a digital signage ROI calculator</h2> <p>To calculate your ROI for digital signage, you need to use the steps described above in the context of your digital signage network or single display. This is where the difficulty comes in, and this is where many articles that claim to show how you can calculate digital signage ROI lose momentum and become unclear. Below, we aim to embrace and engage with these difficulties in measuring digital sign ROI.</p> <p>First, let’s consider following Step 1 from the previous section. It is difficult to determine the revenue generated from digital signage. For example, if you install digital signage menu boards in a restaurant, it is unclear how much of the following sales of any given menu item are attributable to your digital signage. While you can calculate the change in total revenues before and after your digital signage is implemented, there are often other variables at play such as promotions and special offers that have been introduced, menu changes, seasonal variations in revenue, or just run-of-the-mill month to month variation in sales. With these other variables at play, how much of a change in revenue is attributable to your digital signage? It is difficult to tell.</p> <p>For Step 2, calculating the cost of your digital signage is a bit easier. To run digital signage, you need a display screen, you need a digital signage player that plugs into your display screen, and you need a subscription to digital signage management software. These all have clearly stated costs that can easily be summed. There are also various other costs that are associated with your digital signage that must be considered. For example, when calculating retail digital signage ROI, retail outlets often spend quite a bit in hourly fees for designers to create promotional content and advertising assets. This cost must be considered in your overall digital signage costs.</p> <p>Other costs are more difficult to quantify, such as the cost of staff time deploying digital signage content and otherwise managing the company’s digital signage network. These costs are often difficult to determine, as staff do not use a stopwatch to calculate the time they spend dealing with the organization’s digital signage (nor should they, as this would take up too much time itself to make economic sense). Additionally, there are other unclear costs, such as the cost of digital signage hardware over time. For example, if your company invests in several large HD displays or builds a state of the art video wall, there is a significant upfront investment. In calculating the costs of your digital signage ROI over a given period of time, you must consider the depreciation costs of these display assets in order to quantify how much these displays contributed to your digital signage costs over a given time period.</p> <p>Note that the previous paragraphs aren’t meant to be all doom and gloom. They are simply meant to highlight some important and often understated difficulties in calculating digital signage ROI.</p> <h2 id="so-what-should-you-do-about-digital-signage-roi">So, what should you do about digital signage ROI?</h2> <p>Given these difficulties, what should your company or organization do? Should you just throw up your hands and give up entirely on calculating both short term and long term digital signage ROI? No, you absolutely should not.</p> <p>While it is important to note the difficulties of measuring ROI for your digital signage, it is also important to not beat yourself up in attempt to perfectly calculate the ROI. After all, you are just trying to better manage your business. You are not producing a thesis for a finance or accounting degree. Additionally, you do not want to spent too much time on analysis such that you need to account for your own time as line item in your digital signage costs.</p> <p>The best thing to do when calculating digital signage ROI is to keep things simple. When factoring in the cost of your upfront digital signage hardware and display costs, simply divide these costs over an expected lifespan of 18 months. Is this 100% accurate? No. Is it accurate enough to start generating some decent ROI metrics? Absolutely. When you are calculating the cost of staff time devoted to managing digital signage, simply ask whomever is responsible for your digital signage how much time they spend on digital signage management. This will be an estimate, and you should be comfortable with that. Similarly, when calculating the revenue generated from digital signage, simply do a before and after comparison. If you advertise a particular menu item on your digital signage display, see how much more (or less) of that item was sold after it was displayed and how much was sold when the item was not displayed. Simply use this difference as the revenue generated from your digital signage.</p> <p>Keeping things simple will allow you to use the previously mentioned ROI formula in the context of your digital signage solution. There will always be known and unknown variables that, for practical purposes, cannot and should not be considered in your ROI calculations. Just keep your methodology consistent, and you can then use your digital signage ROI calculations over time to improve your business and digital signage strategy. It’s better to start somewhere with measuring digital sign ROI than getting overwhelmed by the complexity and not starting at all.</p> <h2 id="stay-tuned">Stay tuned</h2> <p>As a provider of <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage hardware</a> and <a href="/screenly-ose-vs-pro/">software</a>, we at Screenly are often asked about ROI for digital signage. Accordingly, we are going to be producing more content on this topic over the coming months. Later this week, we’ll publish an article on the difference between ROI and Return on Objective (ROO), a metric that is best suited for measuring return when the desired improvements are not easily quantified in dollar amounts. For example, ROO is best used when the primary objective of your digital signage is to improve internal communications or to improve the customer experience. We’ll also be publishing digital signage ROI case studies from conversations with some of our users. Stay tuned!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/27/digital-signage-roi/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/27/digital-signage-roi/Mon, 27 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>A typical library user’s experience is quite mundane. The member visits the building, completes research or study work, and leaves. This is often done with minimal interaction with other members. However, library staff would quickly point out that this typical experience is unfortunate, as the member misses out on many of the library’s valuable offerings.</p> <p>To combat this typical experience and better engage library goers, library staff can turn to library digital signage. This is markedly different from static library signage that is often manifested as paper print outs on bulletin boards or, occasionally, on printed posters. These static library signs have disadvantages, as they cannot be updated without a total reprint and their static nature does not capture the attention of library visitors. Library digital signage allows library staff to share dynamic, attention-grabbing photo and video content on beautiful digital displays.</p> <p>For library professionals who are new to the digital signage space, it is often difficult to know where get started. Below, we list several library signage ideas that will be sure to provide great content to your members.</p> <h2 id="library-digital-signage-ideas">Library digital signage ideas</h2> <h3 id="library-branding">Library branding</h3> <p>One great use of library digital signage is library branding. Often, branding activities are on the bottom of the priority list for libraries. However, some simple efforts can go a long way in creating a positive image for your organization. For example, your library could display images and interesting facts regarding the library’s history and founding. Additionally, you could have a “Meet Our Librarians” series where you display interesting and playful interviews from which the public can get to know each librarian.</p> <h3 id="library-event-promotion">Library event promotion</h3> <p>Libraries often have a variety of useful and informative workshops. Unfortunately, these workshops often suffer from low attendance. Whether the workshop is on using the library’s search interface, conducting research with the library’s database tools, or best practices for source citation, you can display these event times, descriptions, and RSVP links on your library’s digital signs.</p> <h3 id="improving-return-times-for-library-materials">Improving return times for library materials</h3> <p>Of course, one of the major issues libraries deal with is the issue of late materials. Improper management of late materials increases instances of materials being lost, and late materials prevent other members from accessing the information they need. Libraries can use digital signage to display the member’s name, the material title, and the amount of days the item is past due on the library’s digital signage display. User privacy can be respected here, as libraries can elect to display only the first letter of a user’s last name. However, displaying this information on a digital sign can help remind members who may need a little nudge to return their late materials. Members might be a bit surprised when they see their name on a library digital display, but it is this feeling of surprise that will likely get them to take action.</p> <h3 id="increasing-organizational-communication">Increasing organizational communication</h3> <p>A library is often part of a larger organization. School libraries are a part of the school, and public libraries are part of the city. Display time on a library’s digital sign can be used to display communications from the library’s parent or partner organization. Elementary school library signage can display information that is useful to parents, such as reminders to complete their child’s annual health checkup or to sign their child’s fieldtrip release forms. You can learn more about <a href="/use-cases/education/">digital signage use cases in education</a> from our previous article. On the other hand, public library digital signage can display city notices such a upcoming road or utility repairs or upcoming town hall meeting times.</p> <h2 id="how-to-implement-these-ideas">How to implement these ideas</h2> <p>If you are the assigned or de facto content manager on your library’s staff, these ideas may make you nervous. While these ideas may sound useful for your library, you are probably wondering how these ideas will actually be implemented.</p> <p>To build your digital signage system at your library, you will need to purchase a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a> for each of your digital signage displays. The digital signage player operates as the “brains” for your digital signage and tells the display what content to show. Note that you will need one digital signage player per display in your digital signage network. You will also need <a href="/screenly-ose-vs-pro/">digital signage software</a> that can remotely manage the content on your digital signage player. This way, you can easily update your library’s digital signage content from your desk in real time.</p> <p>In terms of making digital signage content creation easier, there are a variety of great tools that you can use. For animated or edited video content, check our article on paid and free library signage templates for <a href="/blog/2018/07/04/ten-great-video-creation-tools-for-digital-signage-video-walls/">digital signage videos</a>. Additionally, there are a ton of great <a href="/blog/2018/06/20/stock-images-for-digital-signage/">free stock photo sites for digital signage</a> that you can use to get a head start with any library signage design work for image-based content.</p> <p>To learn more on your digital signage options, check out <a href="/pricing">Screenly’s digital signage offerings</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/23/library-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/23/library-digital-signage/Thu, 23 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>As digital signage becomes more and more popular, it is being increasingly used internally among companies to improve intra-company communications. One of the ways digital signage is used internally is for displaying company dashboards that feature important key performance indicators (KPIs). When KPI metrics are tracked and made known, teams can clearly see where they are on achieving company goals.</p> <p>In this article, we will focus on this use of digital signage for displaying KPI metrics in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry. This article is part of a larger series on the application of digital signage for displaying business dashboards. Relatedly, we recently made published an article on <a href="/blog/2018/07/20/healthcare-kpi-dashboard-digital-signage/">digital signage dashboards in the medical field</a> and an article on <a href="/blog/2018/08/14/digital-signage-dashboard-sales-kpi/">dashboard KPIs for sales teams</a>. As is the case with medical companies and sales teams, there are a variety of metrics that SaaS companies must track, be aware of, and act on in order to stay competitive. SaaS companies are particularly well positioned for using digital signage for KPI dashboard purposes, as many SaaS metrics can be automatically compiled directly from tracking tools within their software or app. These metrics can then automatically be pushed to the company’s digital signage dashboard in real time.</p> <h2 id="1-monthly-recurring-revenue">1. Monthly Recurring Revenue</h2> <p>This metric is arguably the most important for SaaS companies. As the SaaS model relies on monthly, subscription based revenues, companies can predict with reasonable accuracy their expected revenue each month from these subscriptions. Considering that cash flow is just as important to SaaS companies as it is to any other company, SaaS companies must aim to manage their ongoing expenses within the bounds of their projected monthly recurring revenue numbers. By tracking this KPI, teams can keep track of any changes in this monthly recurring revenue, and they can quickly dig deeper and fix issues that may cause drops in this metric.</p> <h2 id="2-monthly-recurring-revenue-growth-rate">2. Monthly Recurring Revenue Growth Rate</h2> <p>A natural next step for monthly recurring revenue metrics is to quantify the changes in this metric. Companies that are on top of their data and metrics will know not only that they are growing; they will also know how quickly they are growing. The monthly recurring revenue growth rate captures this change, and it is simply the month over month percent change of monthly recurring revenue. Knowing this metric helps your team be more sophisticated in measuring growth, and it certainly impresses investors when you and your team knows this metric of the top of your heads.</p> <h2 id="3-churn-rate">3. Churn Rate</h2> <p>While a subscription model can be great for growth, customers can be lost just as quickly as they sign up. Most SaaS verticals have many competitors that offer the same or similar software solutions. If customers aren’t happy with your product, they will quickly jump to your competitors. Churn rate measures the monthly (or any time period) percentage rate of how many customers you are losing over a given period of time. You should measure customer churn each month. If you churn is in the double digits, you may want to focus your company resources on product development and customer onboarding, as your product may have some serious faults. Keeping track of churn rate will help you make sure your hard earned customers are met with a great product that acutely and accurately meets their needs.</p> <h2 id="4-net-promoter-score">4. Net Promoter Score</h2> <p>Net Promoter Score (NPS) has been a real buzzword in the tech space in recent years, however, unlike most buzzword ideas, the NPS is greatly meaningful and useful. In short, NPS measures customer happiness with your product and customer loyalty to your product. To measure NPS, customers are asked: “How likely is it that you would recommend our product to a friend or colleague?” Customers then respond with a number of 1 through 10, with 10 indicated they are very likely to recommend the product. Customers who answer 9 and 10 are considered “promoters”; Customers who answer 7 and 8 are considered “passives”; Customers who answer 0-6 are considered “detractors”. The net promoter score is then the percent of total customers who are promoters minus the percent of total customers who are detractors. The goal for companies is to get their NPS as high as possible, thus having more and more customers be active promoters of their product and less customers who are unenthused or unhappy detractors. Measuring this KPI gives your team another measurement to use as a “warning light” in the case that anything is going wrong.</p> <h2 id="5-customer-acquisition-cost">5. Customer Acquisition Cost</h2> <p>Customer acquisition cost (CAC) is, simply, the cost of acquiring a customer. The CAC can be measured in terms of sales and marketing costs per new customer, and it can also be measured in terms of total company costs per new customer. It all depends on how specific your goals are with this metric. It is important to track changes in your CAC, as it will be the first metric to tell you whether or not your costs are potentially too high. This, of course, depends on the revenue brought in by each customer. If your customer acquisition cost is quickly recouped by new revenue brought in by each customer, you are at the helm of a profitable enterprise. If this is not the case, you may have to do some reworking of your business model or products. Pay attention to the customer acquisition cost, and, all things equal, get this number as low as possible over time.</p> <p>Using digital signage to display a dashboard of KPIs is a great way to lead and manage a data-driven SaaS enterprise. If your team is constantly aware of where your company stands in terms of its KPIs and if your team is constantly working to improve these KPIs overtime, your SaaS company will be more likely to achieve long term success. To read more on dashboard solutions with digital signage, take a look at our several <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">digital signage dashboard use cases</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/20/digital-signage-dashboard-saas-kpi/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/20/digital-signage-dashboard-saas-kpi/Mon, 20 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="using-digital-signage-dashboards-to-track-sales-kpis">Using digital signage dashboards to track sales KPIs</h2> <p>Sales is the central battleground for business competition, and sales teams certainly feel this pressure. Mantras like “always be closing” and ranked monthly quotas make sales a top-of-mind, always-on activity for your team. However, this pressure and competition can often lead to sales teams mistaking disorganized activity and movement with forward motion. In order to better manage a team of sales reps, companies have started increasingly relying on key performance indicator (KPI) metrics. Digital signage can be used to prominently display these KPIs on easily-viewed digital signage dashboard tools in your sales team’s office. Using digital signage displays to show dashboards of KPIs help keep the entire team on track and focused on achieving set company goals. In this article, we will describe five important KPI for your sales team to display on a digital signage dashboard in your office.</p> <h3 id="1-number-of-outreach-actions">1. Number of outreach actions</h3> <p>Rather than complex percentage or ratio relationships between metrics, sometimes simple totals are the best indicators. Your sales team should quantify the number of outreach actions made by each rep each month. The particulars of this metric will differ depending on your particular business, as your business may focus on calls, emails, or even door-to-door visits to increase sales. Whatever your outreach method is, the total number of these actions needs to be measured. Sometimes administrative tasks or activity further down the pipeline can get in the way of sales outreach efforts that fill this very pipeline itself, and any interruption in feeding your pipeline should be tracked and dealt with swiftly. By tracking this metric on a sales dashboard for a digital display, your team can quickly address any sales pipeline issues as soon as they arrive.</p> <h3 id="2-sales-revenue-by-product">2. Sales revenue by product</h3> <p>Obviously, the main goal of sales teams is to make sales and increase revenues. As useful as a wide array of data may be for managing your sales team, don’t lose focus on the main goal. You can analyze metrics and interactions between variables all day, but, if you’re not making revenue hit the account, nothing else matters. On your digital signage dashboard, be sure to display the company’s sales revenue numbers each month (or even each week). Additionally, be sure to segment these revenue numbers by product or service line. A single revenue number can mask poor performance in other product line. As a result, it is best practice for your sales team to disentangle topline revenue and segment this revenue by product. This practice can help your team quickly determine if any particular products are falling behind and need special attention.</p> <h3 id="3-average-lead-contact-time">3. Average lead contact time</h3> <p>Leads can go from “warm” to “cold” very quickly. This is even more so the case with regard to leads sourced online, through channels like social media or online paid advertising. It is imperative that your leads are contacted quickly in order to maintain each lead’s initial interest and enthusiasm for your product. Customers notice this fast response time too, and it makes your company appear more professional and respectful of customer requests. To measure this KPI, your team must source data on the time a lead contacted your company and on the subsequent time the employee was contacted. Admittedly, this can be a huge pain, and, for some channels, this data can be impossible to source. However, the more you are able to track this metric, the less likely you will be to lose leads due to slow follow up.</p> <h3 id="4-time-spent-selling">4. Time spent selling</h3> <p>It’s a nonsensical but all to common phenomenon among sales teams: the best sales reps get promoted to management tasks or training the remainder of the sales team. It’s as if the best performers are selected and removed from their best performing activity. This sidetracking can happen with both your best sales reps and the entire sales team more broadly. A useful KPI to track is the time spent selling per total time worked. This is a useful metric, as sales teams can quickly identify when too much sidetracking activity is occurring and who is suffering from this activity. If these sidetracking tasks are mission critical, your sales team can speak to company leadership about budgeting for more administrative assistance or other help so that your sales reps can spend their time selling. Ideally, this metric should be displayed daily on a digital display dashboard for sales metrics to the entire sales team, including the VP of Sales or equivalent employee.</p> <h3 id="5-percent-of-deals-closed">5. Percent of deals closed</h3> <p>Another important metric is the percent of total deals closed. This metric provides data both on the ability of each sales rep for closing deals as well as on the quality of potential deals that are in the pipeline. Even the best sales rep cannot close a deal that is flawed from the start. Tracking this metric will help measure and hopefully influence your sales reps’ closing activities and abilities, and, similarly, it will also help increase the quality of what is considered a lead or potential deal. No one wants to sabotage this KPI for themselves by sourcing a large amount of unqualified deals. To best measure this KPI, be sure to sit down with your team and parse out what exactly your company considers a “deal”. Once this is figured out, the rest of your work is just tracking and simple arithmetic.</p> <p>When KPIs are tracked, you can use this data to compare sales metrics month over month and even week over week. Ideally, these metrics are tracked at the level of the individual sales rep too so that performance can be compared to the rest of the team and discussed at the end of each period. Digital signage helps this entire process, as measured KPIs are always available to your sales team. End of the month review meetings no longer need to be wasted simply showing and displaying data. This can be done every day by your digital signage displays. These meetings can instead be used to discuss and make decisions from KPI data that has previously been made visible to everyone through your digital signage dashboard. To learn more on your digital signage options, check out <a href="/pricing/">Screenly’s digital signage offerings</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/14/digital-signage-dashboard-sales-kpi/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/14/digital-signage-dashboard-sales-kpi/Tue, 14 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>When businesses are first getting started in digital signage, there are often a lot of questions in need of answers. Implementing a great digital signage deployment requires coordination of multiple people, teams, and motivations, and, to get the most out of your digital signage, this coordination must be done smoothly and successfully. To help out, we detail five important points to consider when getting started with digital signage. Ideally, this article will help you avoid common oversights of digital signage beginners and will allow your first implementation of digital signage to occur without any hiccups.</p> <h2 id="1-your-digital-signage-goals">1. Your digital signage goals</h2> <p>It seems obvious when stated, but this is an important point that many businesses forget to consider. Clearly establishing your digital signage goals is important, as your goals will govern you digital signage customizations and needs going forward. Are you using digital signage to increase sales or are you using digital signage to keep your employees informed of company happenings? Are you using digital signage for a blend of both those needs? How many digital signage screens and displays do you need across how many locations? What is the purpose of each display? It is best to pin down your digital signage goals, as this helps provide clarity and alignment for multiple stakeholders in your company’s digital signage implementation.</p> <h2 id="2-digital-signage-management">2. Digital signage management</h2> <p>One of the biggest points to consider is your company’s plan for digital signage management. Your digital signage is, of course, supposed to display useful, beautiful, and interesting content. However, how is this content going to actually get to your digital signage displays? If you are planning to use a <a href="/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">USB stick and plug it into a smart TV</a> or otherwise manually load your digital signage devices with content, think again. This is a huge mistake, as it will unnecessarily take an enormous amount of valuable time from your employees as they travel to each location and deal with each device and system. The best way (and really only reasonable way) to manage digital signage is to use cloud based digital signage management software. Typical software solutions allow you to manage your digital signage fleet and content from an online dashboard anywhere you have an internet connection. More information on Screenly’s software solution for digital signage management can be found <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software">here</a>. In addition to content management, Screenly provides digital signage managers with the “health status” of their digital signage devices. If your digital signage device loses power or if content files are corrupted and cannot be displayed, Screenly will automatically update managers regarding these issues.</p> <h2 id="3-digital-signage-content">3. Digital signage content</h2> <p>Even if you have a great way to manage your digital signage content remotely, you do need to create or otherwise obtain this content in the first place. Great digital signage software and hardware is nothing without great digital signage content. You and your team must make a content plan for your digital signage, including <em>what</em> content to display, <em>where</em> to display this content, and <em>when</em> to display the content. Regarding how to create and source your content, one option is to create your own engaging video content. On this point, we recently compiled a recommendation list of great video creation and editing software that you can read <a href="/blog/2018/07/04/ten-great-video-creation-tools-for-digital-signage-video-walls/">here</a>. Also, generally speaking, don’t worry too much about creating 4K video content. While it looks great, it is usually not worth the time and expense - you can read our opinion on this in more detail <a href="/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/">here</a>. While video is an eye-catching medium, sometimes it just simply isn’t the best way to display information. Sometimes it is best to go with text layered on static images that show your offers to customers or display internal company announcements. To make these static image assets, one component you will need is a beautiful background image. Additionally, you may need to source several images to use as elements in your static content. One great source for backgrounds and elements is stock content sites. You can read more regarding our recommendations for stock image sites and relevant licensing information on our blog post <a href="/blog/2018/06/20/stock-images-for-digital-signage//">here</a>. To be clear, you will then need to edit and build your content on top of or with these images, however, getting these images in order is already half the battle.</p> <h2 id="4-digital-signage-security">4. Digital signage security</h2> <p>Security is an important component of digital signage that is almost always forgotten or ignored. You can see proof of this fact in our blog post on the <a href="/blog/2018/11/16/digital-signage-hacks/">/most noteworthy digital signage hacks</a>. This all too common lack of concern for security can lead companies into hot water when their data is accessed and stolen via vulnerabilities in their digital signage network. Before implementing digital signage at your company, your team must decide which security vectors from which you will attempt to protect yourselves. When choosing your digital signage management software and hardware, your team must carefully consider what security practices and efforts the providing company is making. We recently wrote on different security-related factors to consider when selecting a digital signage provider, and, in that <a href="http://www.ravepubs.com/not-talking-digital-signage-security/">piece</a>, we detail Screenly’s security efforts for its digital signage players.</p> <h2 id="5-performance-and-improvement">5. Performance and improvement</h2> <p>This point is related to considering your company’s digital signage goals. Once you decide on these goals for your digital display deployment, how do you know if you are achieving them? If your goal is to increase sales, you and your team must compile a list of key performance indicators (KPIs) to help track the link between your digital signage and your sales performance. If your goal is to better communications among your team, test the effectiveness of your digital signage by sending out some well-crafted surveys to your team. In short, one point to consider regarding your digital signage solution is how to track its performance in relation to your set goals for your digital signage. If you track this performance, you can increase the use of digital signage content and strategies that achieve your goals, and you can change and adjust any digital signage practices that do not help achieve your goals.</p> <p>Digital signage is certainly the new frontier for marketing, advertising, and really any use case for displaying information in a large-screen format. Digital signage helps attract new customers, retain old customers, and both engage and update employees. However, to realize these benefits, teams must invest time thinking about their digital signage solution and implementation. We hope this post was helpful and got your ideas flowing regarding important topics and the details surrounding your digital signage needs.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/09/points-to-consider-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/09/points-to-consider-digital-signage/Thu, 09 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage is not only useful for a company’s marketing and advertising needs. In fact, this is a common misconception, and it could not be further from the truth. Digital signage works great in any setting that requires displaying information to a large group of passing people. Explained in these terms, it becomes obvious that schools and other educational institutions are perfect venues for digital signage. Students are constantly on the go and constantly need to be shown information regarding their school and school community. Digital signage is a great way to help service this need. In this article, we will list several different use cases for digital signage in schools.</p> <h2 id="1-notices-for-events-and-happenings">1. Notices for events and happenings</h2> <p>Whether displaying a notice regarding the next school play, book fair, or sporting event, digital signage helps school administrators easily keep students informed. With Screenly, digital signage is particularly useful in this way as changes to event times and venues are easily updated from a central location via Screenly’s online digital signage management portal. Schools can also save a huge amount of money with digital signage that would otherwise be spent on high paper and ink costs. Additionally, schools can easily display important, real-time information, such as the time and weather, using the Clock and Weather app from the <a href="/blog/2017/07/27/introducing-the-screenly-app-store/">Screenly App Store</a>.</p> <h2 id="2-parent-reminders">2. Parent reminders</h2> <p>One of the most frequent requests that school administrators receive from parents is for better communication. One way to help achieve this goal is through digital signage. In addition to standard communication channels, a digital sign display can help improve a message’s reach for parent-related deliverables such as student immunizations, tuition payments, and authorization forms. Digital signage can also display recent announcements and fundraising efforts from your school’s Parent Teacher Association. By clearly detailing announcements and events on large digital displays for your school, school administrators can help ensure that school community members are kept in the loop.</p> <h2 id="3-emergency-communications">3. Emergency communications</h2> <p>Every so often, emergencies happens. Whether due to weather events, fires, or student health concerns, school administrators are tasked with instructing a large group of people on what to do very quickly. In these situations, digital signage can be used to display weather updates, evacuation routes, or other time-sensitive information. With Screenly’s cloud based digital signage management platform, one can easily update the content that is displayed as new information on the emergency is released.</p> <h2 id="4-achievement-announcements">4. Achievement announcements</h2> <p>One of the best ways to motivate students and to instill a sense of school spirit is to publicly celebrate achievement. Digital signage is great for letting the entire campus know of recent school sports victories. With digital signage, highlight video footage of the game can be shown in conjunction with any announcements. Additionally, student academic achievements can also be celebrated. Achievements including honor roll, debate competition wins, and science fair awards are also great to feature on digital signage displays in schools. High definition images of student artwork can also be shown, and this digital signage content for schools can of both image and video artwork. Recognition for one’s achievement can help motivate students to excel further, and digital signage can be an important tool in this effort.</p> <h2 id="5-maps-and-directories">5. Maps and directories</h2> <p>Depending on how comprehensive you want to make your school’s digital signage solution, digital signage displays can be a great solution for displaying maps of larger campuses. In this case, digital signage can help visitors quickly navigate your school. Digital signage displays can also show directory information so visitors, students, teachers, and staff can quickly get in touch with other members of the school community.</p> <p>Digital signage is no longer just in the domain of large enterprises or marketing and advertising campaigns. As digital signage solutions have become more and more affordable, digital signage has become a possibility for schools and other educational institutions. With Raspberry Pi based digital signage players, such as those offered by Screenly, anyone can purchase a digital signage player for approximately $60 and get up and running in no time. To get Screenly for digital signage at your educational institution, check out our <a href="/pricing/">pricing page</a> to see which option best fits your needs.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/03/digital-signage-schools-universities-educational-institutions/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/08/03/digital-signage-schools-universities-educational-institutions/Fri, 03 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>One of the most common uses for digital signage is displaying the local weather. This content works great for digital signage, as it is provides targeted, actionable, and dynamic content to viewers. With easy access to weather forecasts from digital signage displays, viewers can better plan their day by adjusting their schedules for weather related delays, making necessary transport arrangements, or even optimizing their outfit choices.</p> <p>For an organization using digital signage, one must select a weather widget application to use on the organization’s deployed screens. In this article, we detail five weather widget applications and solutions for digital signage, including Screenly’s own digital-signage optimized weather app.</p> <h2 id="screenfeed"><a href="https://www.screenfeed.com">Screenfeed</a></h2> <p>Screenfeed offers over 75 content feeds for digital signage in up to 15 world languages. Several of these content feeds from Screenfeed are, of course, <a href="https://www.screenfeed.com/browse/category/weather">weather related</a>. Weather content feeds include weather forecast videos, weather radar maps, and other weather graphic packages. Screenfeed also offers live weather data in XML and JSON, so you are able to add your own creative designs to Screenfeed weather data. Pricing is between $6 and $24 per player, but there are large discounts for organizations with many digital signage screens.</p> <h2 id="meteotv"><a href="https://content.meteoblue.com/en/products/service-access/digital-signage">MeteoTV</a></h2> <p>MeteoTV is a digital signage weather service from the Meteoblue company. Notably, MeteoTV is an entirely free service. Weather forecasts from MeteoTV are available globally, and you can choose between a standard 5-day daily weather forecast or a more frequent weather forecast with 3-hour intervals. MeteoTV also provides a <a href="https://content.meteoblue.com/en/products/service-access/meteoblue-weather-api">weather API</a> for free, so you can code and design custom weather displays for your digital signage solution.</p> <h2 id="accuweather"><a href="https://www.accuweather.com">AccuWeather</a></h2> <p>AccuWeather was founded in 1962 and is a major provider of weather-related content, with over 40 billion weather related data requests per day. AccuWeather provides data to over 200 TV stations, 900 radio stations, and 700 newspapers. AccuWeather has several digital signage content programs that include advertising networks and even interactive weather content that can feature live polls and social media feeds. While these <a href="https://corporate.accuweather.com/digital-signage">large-scale solutions</a> will need to be done through AccuWeather corporate, AccuWeather also provides a <a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/free-weather-widgets">free weather widget builder</a>. The AccuWeather widget can be customized by location, viewer size, temperature unit, and language. AccuWeather will then provide a code snippet which can be featured on a webpage and displayed using your digital signage player.</p> <h2 id="intelliweather"><a href="http://www.intelliweather.com/">IntelliWeather</a></h2> <p>IntelliWeather provides a variety of weather content and weather widget solutions. Their two main solutions are <a href="http://www.intelliweather.com/Web-Content/">IntelliWeather Web Content</a> and the <a href="http://www.intelliweather.com/NowCaster/">IntelliWeather NowCaster</a>. For IntelliWeather Web Content, IntelliWeather allows users integrate custom, white-labeled weather widgets into their website. These weather widgets can feature customized sponsor logos or advertisements alongside the weather data. However, this service does come at a price and starts at $99 per month. IntelliWeather also offers a digital signage player for its weather widget called the IntelliWeather NowCaster. This device is a simple dongle the plugs into the HDMI port of a TV screen and displays weather content via a WIFI connection. While this digital signage player is limited to displaying weather content, it is certainly an easy “plug-and-play” solution. However, the IntelliWeather NowCaster is a bit price-prohibitive, especially considering its single feature use, as it comes in at a hefty <a href="https://sc.it-techworks.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=870&idcategory=50">cost of $199</a>.</p> <h2 id="screenly">Screenly</h2> <p>Screenly offers a beautiful weather widget in the <a href="/blog/2017/07/27/introducing-the-screenly-app-store/">Screenly App Store</a> for use with <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly Raspberry Pi digital signage players</a>. Screenly’s goal with its digital signage apps is to provide users a way to display third-party content in a way that looks great and works instantly. The Screenly weather app is location-aware and will automatically display the weather associated with your digital sign’s location. Also, you can set custom locations for more advanced weather content needs. Additionally, Screenly’s weather widget app is optimized for the Raspberry Pi, and the Screenly team has focused on a minimalistic design that has great readability from afar. Screenly’s weather widget app is currently free for all users. You can find it in the Screenly App Store <a href="/edge-apps/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2> <p>As shown, companies have several different options for weather content on their digital signage. Companies must measure the pros and cons of each solution, and they must weigh several factors, such as the solution’s ease-of-use, the solution’s design, the solution’s customizability, and, importantly, the solution’s costs. Also, it is important to ensure that the chosen weather widget option works on a versatile digital signage player that can simultaneously cater to your company’s other digital signage needs.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/26/digital-signage-weather-widget/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/26/digital-signage-weather-widget/Thu, 26 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>When you download a disk image, such as Raspbian, for your Raspberry Pi or a for a firmware update for your router, you probably don’t spend too much time thinking about how it was built. Neither did I until I started working on Screenly.</p> <p>I was recently in a workgroup for <a href="https://iotmark.wordpress.com/">IoT Mark</a>, which is a body that tries to create a certificate for good IoT devices. One of the areas IoT Mark sets out to certify is device security. This, of course, is not all that strange given the sad state of many IoT devices. As we were having these discussions, we started talking about the pipeline for creating firmware. During this discussion, I learned a lot about how many companies produce firmware. It’s often built on a developers desktop, with files copied back and forth without proper version control. While I am sure this practice is on the decline, it is still very common among companies today. Additionally, few companies talk openly about how they actually build their firmware.</p> <p>We want to be transparent about how we operate and use technology in general at Screenly, and this philosophy applies to how we build our disk images for Screenly and what we do in order to build and ship secure disk images to our customers.</p> <p>Before we dive into our current process, let’s quickly review where we started. In the beginning, our process was rather primitive and far from ideal. Here’s what we did for our early disk images for Screenly:</p> <ul> <li>Download the latest Raspbian images (and verify the download with the MD5 sum).</li> <li>Flash it out to an SD card and boot the Raspberry Pi.</li> <li>Copy in and run a bunch of Bash script to customize the images (harden security, etc.).</li> <li>Install the Screenly application stack and verify that it worked.</li> <li>Shut down the devices.</li> <li>Mount the SD card on a computer and run a script that made some final changes that couldn’t be done on the Raspberry Pi.</li> <li>Run another script, and copy the SD card to disk and compress it. This generated an ‘official disk image’.</li> <li>Test the disk image on a different SD card.</li> </ul> <p>Since I’ve been involved with the Raspberry Pi community since the very first days, I can justifiably say that this isn’t all that rare. Many disk images are built like this for various projects. So, what’s wrong with this process?</p> <h3 id="its-error-prone">It’s error prone</h3> <p>Every time a build process involves human interaction, there’s a decent chance something will go wrong. It’s easy to miss a step, and, if you don’t have the proper tests in place, this broken disk image will make it all the way to a customer. While all our scripts were version controlled (from a <code>git</code> repository), it was still possible to forget to pull down the latest changes.</p> <p>Moreover, if the SD card that you used got corrupted in the process, it’s likely that would you get a corrupt disk image with strange errors.</p> <h3 id="its-slow">It’s slow</h3> <p>If you look at the steps above, the process requires the use of a physical device and both writing and reading from a disk image. This process could take 30-60 minutes. Just compressing a 4GB disk image after you’ve copied it from the SD card takes a long time even on a modern computer.</p> <h3 id="its-hard-to-track-and-control-changes">It’s hard to track and control changes</h3> <p>Let’s say your previous version was using Raspbian from 2016-06-15 and your new image is 2016-08-12. What changed? Sure, you can probably dig out the changes somewhere, but they’re hardly easy to track.</p> <p>We somewhat mitigated this for future updates by setting up our own apt mirror where we were able to lock down versions. This, of course, came with the downside of having to manage and test changes there too.</p> <h2 id="so-whats-a-better-solution">So, what’s a better solution?</h2> <p>The best solution is to have the process built in a fully automatic build system. Assuming that you have a separate pipeline for the actual application, the build flow would look something like this:</p> <ul> <li>Trigger a build on the Continuous Integration (CI) system.</li> <li>Create a disk image from scratch that copies in the application build</li> <li>Copy the disk image, along with hashes (e.g. MD5) to a remote storage like Amazon S3 or Google Cloud Storage</li> </ul> <p>(In the early days, the process for building a Raspbian image was more or less undocumented. Recently, <a href="https://github.com/RPi-Distro/pi-gen">this changed</a>, and it’s now a lot easier. However, the tooling is still not as good as Ubuntu Core, Yocto or resin.io.)</p> <p>When we started to work on <a href="/2018/02/28/screenly-2-is-here/">Screenly 2</a>, one of the things we wanted to make sure we developed was the ability to build these disk images in a fully automated fashion. This is possible thanks to the <a href="https://docs.ubuntu.com/core/en/guides/build-device/image-building">ubuntu-image tool</a>, which is part of Ubuntu Core. This means that there is no longer any manual intervention in the build process.</p> <p>After we build a disk image, we of course test it in order to ensure that it behaves as expected prior to “promoting” it for public use.</p> <h3 id="where-do-we-go-from-here">Where do we go from here?</h3> <p>We’re pretty happy with our pipeline at the moment. While it still takes some time to build these images, the building process is now done fully automatically, and everything is derived from version controlled software and no untracked changes can make it into the disk image.</p> <p>In the near future, we are intending to improve this workflow further by also running automatic vulnerability scans on these disk images as part of the build pipeline. This will be done in order to proactively catch any vulnerability in the software supply chain.</p> <p>It should also be said that, since we are using Ubuntu Core, devices with the disk image installed will be automatically and remotely updated whenever there is a new release.</p> <h2 id="what-about-screenly-ose">What about Screenly OSE?</h2> <p>The production of disk images with Screenly OSE is unfortunately a bit less sophisticated at the moment. It’s still a very much manual process. The process for creating a disk image is outlined <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/blob/master/docs/create-disk-image.md">here</a>. Once the image has been created, there are then separate steps for <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose-noobs">creating a NOOBS image</a>.</p> <p>If you or someone you know wants to help us improve our build flow for Screenly OSE images, let us know. We would love some community help.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/24/building-screenly-disk-images/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/24/building-screenly-disk-images/Tue, 24 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="in-this-newsletter">In this newsletter</h2> <ul> <li>“Screenly 101” live training webinar</li> <li>A recap of must-read new posts from our blog</li> <li>A review of recent software updates</li> <li>Recent and upcoming events</li> </ul> <h2 id="screenly-101-live-training-webinar">“Screenly 101” live training webinar</h2> <p>On July 19th we hosted two successful webinar sessions where gave a live training session on using digital signage with Screenly. From screen set-up to content management and everything in between, there was a lot to learn about Screenly’s solution.</p> <h3 id="topics-included">Topics included</h3> <ul> <li>Screen deployment and management</li> <li>Assets, playlists, and scheduling</li> <li>Managing content, images, videos, and URLs</li> <li>Networking and WiFi setup</li> <li>A live demo with Q&A</li> </ul> <p>If you missed this webinar, don’t worry! We’ll be hosting more of these in the future.</p> <h2 id="a-recap-of-must-read-new-posts-from-our-blog">A recap of must-read new posts from our blog</h2> <p>At Screenly, we are making a major push towards content production for the digital signage industry. Our plan is to create regular, helpful, and targeted content so that you and your business can get the most out of your digital signage. In today’s newsletter, we provide a brief recap of our most recent posts that you may find useful for your business.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/06/20/stock-images-for-digital-signage/">Where can I find great stock images for digital signage?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/">Why using USB sticks with a smart TV is not recommended for digital signs?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/">Do I need 4K for my digital signs?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/04/ten-great-video-creation-tools-for-digital-signage-video-walls/">Ten great video creation tools for your digital signage and video walls</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/12/how-to-increase-restaurant-sales-with-digital-menu-boards/">How to increase restaurant sales with digital menu boards</a></li> </ul> <p>We hope our recent content is helpful and relevant to your business and its digital signage needs. Follow and keep tabs on our blog, as we’ll be publishing more and more great pieces in the coming months. Also, if there are any burning questions you have in the digital signage space, let us know. We’d be happy to do some research and turn your question into a great post for everyone.</p> <h2 id="a-review-of-recent-software-updates">A review of recent software updates</h2> <h3 id="screenly-2-player-recap">Screenly 2 player recap</h3> <p>Earlier this year, we <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/02/28/screenly-2-is-here/">launched our new digital signage player</a>, Screenly 2. This was a major accomplishment that was over two years in the making. Screenly 2 was a complete re-write from scratch, and one of the areas we particularly focused on in this new player was security. You can read more about this in our blog post <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/03/08/screenly-2-part-1-security/">here</a>. We are also actively shipping updates to Screenly 2 devices (which are automatically deployed every night).</p> <p>We should also say that the move to the new player was not entirely without hiccups. Some users unfortunately experienced issues with <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/05/30/screenly-2-issues/">corruptions</a> (which turned out to be a bug in the operating system), which has since been resolved. To prevent such errors going forward, we have installed new test hardware that you can read more about <a href="https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/13/building-a-raspberry-pi-test-rig/">here</a>. We also encountered a few other bugs, but all-in-all, given the scope and complexity of this roll-out, things have gone well and the feedback from the community has been very positive.</p> <p>If you do however encounter any issues with the new Screenly 2 Player, please reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly support</a>.</p> <p>Please also note that we will stop supporting Screenly 1 Player <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360001351494-How-long-will-the-Screenly-1-Player-be-supported-">early next year</a>. So, if you haven’t upgraded your Screenly Players this year, it’s now time to start migrating your players.</p> <h3 id="retrieve-the-hardware-and-software-version-in-the-cloud-interface">Retrieve the hardware and software version in the cloud interface</h3> <p>Since many users are in the process of migrating their devices to Screenly 2, we received a lot of requests for the ability to remotely detect the hardware and software version of a given device directly in the web interface. We listened, and we added this functionality. Now, when you navigate to a device, you will see the both the hardware version (i.e. what type of Raspberry Pi it is) as well as the software version (i.e. if the device is running Screenly 1 or Screenly 2).</p> <h3 id="new-sign-uplogin-page">New sign-up/login page</h3> <p>If you’ve logged into your Screenly account in the last month, you’ve likely noticed the new look and feel of the login page. This is part of a bigger effort to overhaul the look and feel of all of our web properties. We’ve started with the login page, but we are now moving on to other areas. The next area we will be giving an overhaul is our website (<www.screenly.io>), and, later on, we will overhaul the digital signage cloud interface.</p> <h3 id="lots-of-behind-the-scenes-changes">Lots of behind-the-scenes changes</h3> <p>In the last few months, we have spent a lot of time and energy on improving our infrastructure. We’ve added a lot of redundancy. This means that an entire data center can fall over, and Screenly will still be working. (This, of course, is in addition to the fact that Screenly players will survive an entire infrastructure outage for days). For the tech-savvy reader, we migrated to Kubernetes last year, and we have kept improving in this domain. Most recently, we greatly improved our security by adopting <a href="https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/access-authn-authz/rbac/">RBAC</a> and implementing properly locked down containers with automatic vulnerability scanners across all our services.</p> <h2 id="recent-and-upcoming-events">Recent and upcoming events</h2> <p>This year we’ve teamed up with our friends at the security company <a href="https://control-plane.io/">Control Plane</a> to speak about IoT security. We kicked this off with our talk <a href="https://2018.container.camp/au/schedule/the-s-in-iot-stands-for-security/">“The ‘S’ in IoT stands for Security”</a> at Container Camp Australia in Melbourne earlier this year. The recording from the event is available <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmWYTjr_Xso&list=PLLQemgvrHCSkwalVuq_yN0WG8bE85wixX">here</a>.</p> <p>Next up is <a href="https://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/open-source-summit-north-america-2018/">Open Source Summit North America in Vancouver</a>, Canada on August 29-31, where we will be delivering a <a href="https://ossna18.sched.com/event/FAPG">similar talk</a>.</p> <p>We’re likely to do a few more events this year around the globe, so keep an eye open on our social media channels and in future newsletters if you want to catch us.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/21/july-screenly-newsletter/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/21/july-screenly-newsletter/Sat, 21 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. For businesses to grow and operate effectively, it is important to take notice of several key metrics that can help indicate the health and status of your business. These key metrics, often referred to as “key performance indicators” or “KPIs”, provide an important opportunity for digital signage. Digital signage boards can be used to publicly display these metrics to your employees and staff in the workplace. When things are tough, poor performance metrics can be used to rally the troops and get the team motivated, and, when goals are exceeded, these favorable metrics can be used to congratulate the team and increase morale.</p> <p>KPIs vary across industry, and, in this piece, we will focus on KPIs that are important for the healthcare industry. Keep tabs on our blog too, as we will publish similar pieces for other industries on a regular basis. Below, we describe several important KPIs that you can use with digital signage to help run your healthcare practice (whether you are a single-provider practice or a large, multi-provider physician group).</p> <h2 id="1-new-patients-per-month">1. New Patients Per Month</h2> <p>Of course, this is one of the major north stars for any practice, and practice managers must keep close track of this number. The number of new patients per month is the most important “top of funnel” metric that will give you your primary indication of the marketing and community outreach team’s performance. However, do note that this number can change due to factors other than your marketing and community outreach team’s performance. For example, this number can change greatly surrounding health insurance renewal periods, where many patients more frequently use their health insurance as their deductible has already been paid. If you keep records of these metrics over several years, you will be able to find these seasonal patterns that may be hard to determine over just a few months. Displaying the number of new patients per month on a digital sign dashboard for your healthcare practice will help keep the entire team oriented towards this north star metric.</p> <h2 id="2-percent-of-rejected-insurance-approvals-per-approval-requests-submitted">2. Percent of Rejected Insurance Approvals Per Approval Requests Submitted</h2> <p>Most providers have a love/hate relationship with insurance companies. Of course, insurance companies are how providers and health groups get paid, however insurance companies can often make payment a real pain with a variety of changing standards for documentation of the symptoms and authorization for treatment. If your support staff is not careful with their workflows with insurance claims, important information (such as past medical records, attempts at palliative care, or diagnostic results) can get submitted incompletely or lost in the shuffle entirely. As a result, insurance companies will reject these approval requests. In the best case, this will mean extra paperwork for your office as well as an added several weeks that your practice must wait to provide treatment. In the worst case, your practice may have already provided treatment, and your practice may very well not be paid for these services. Accordingly, one way to take the pulse on the performance of you insurance department is to track the percent of rejected insurance approvals per approval requests submitted. If rejections are too high, you may need to adjust workflows and self-checks within this department.</p> <h2 id="3-days-in-accounts-receivable">3. Days in Accounts Receivable</h2> <p>As with most businesses, the receipt of payment and the rendering of services are often asynchronous events. This is especially the case in healthcare, where “medical billing” is its own profession that uses a complicated set of codes, such as CPT and ICD-10 codes, to explain and bill for the rendered services. The Days in Accounts Receivable KPI will help you measure the effectiveness of your billing department, as it will show the average number of days that your practice has to wait to get paid after rendering a day of medical services. To calculate this metric, simply divide the [Total Accounts Receivable] by [One Year of Gross Charges/365 Days]. Although this metric varies by specialty type, most practice and health groups should aim to keep this metric under 50 days. Relatedly, it is important to pay special attention to billings that have been in accounts receivable status for over 120 days. These billings often require additional medical documentation or a peer-to-peer review with the insurance companies, and this must be done prior to any time-horizon limitations with the insurance carrier.</p> <h2 id="4-free-consult-per-diagnostic-assessment">4. Free Consult per Diagnostic Assessment</h2> <p>Many healthcare practices offer a free educational consultation to prospective patients. This helps get new patients in the door, and it also provides a useful educational service to the community. One important metric regarding the free consultation is the ratio of free consultations per diagnostic assessments. The next step in the funnel after a free consultation is the diagnostic assessment, whether that is blood work, an ultrasound, or some other medical exam. If too few individuals are converting from a free consultation to a diagnostic assessment, this provides insight into the “lead quality” of patients who receive a free consultation. Perhaps your marketing and community outreach department are funneling too many “unqualified” patients into free consultations. The definition of “unqualified” can vary by practice, however this term can be defined as the patient not having any symptoms, the patient not having accepted health insurance, or other features such as the patient being non-ambulatory for procedures that require post-operative ambulation. Keeping track of this KPI on a digital sign dashboard for your medical practice allows health providers to monitor their top-of-funnel performance. By tracking this metric via a digital display in real-time, your team can quickly adjust its marketing practices in order to optimize the patient funnel.</p> <h2 id="5-days-between-ordered-procedure-and-service-rendering">5. Days Between Ordered Procedure and Service Rendering</h2> <p>Another important KPI to measure is the amount of time between when a procedure was ordered by the health provider for a patient and when a patient actually received the procedure. Of course, there will be an amount of time between these two events. Both the healthcare provider and the patient need to coordinate their busy schedules, and processes need to occur in the interim, such as insurance verification and communication with other physicians that follow the patient. Nonetheless, there will be an average amount of time between these two events, and you will be able to respond to any sudden increases in this time gap if this metric is tracked. If the days between ordered procedures and rendered service suddenly increase, perhaps this is due to a sudden influx of new patients and your practice must hire temporary providers and office support in order to help service this demand.</p> <p>Above are just a few of the many KPIs that health providers can use to manage their practice and health groups. Health providers can clearly display these statistics in real-time to the relevant teams and departments with the use of Screenly digital signage. While it is true that if you can’t measure a process, you cannot manage this process, you also cannot change company performance if these measurements are not shared with the relevant people and teams. Using digital signage to dashboard your medical practice’s KPIs with the help of Screenly can help you do just that.</p> <p>Also, if you’re interested in reading more on video content and digital signage, check out our previous general use case on using <a href="/use-cases/dashboard">digital signage for business dashboards</a> or our page on the <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/chartbeat/">useful business dashboard product Chartbeat</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/20/healthcare-kpi-dashboard-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/20/healthcare-kpi-dashboard-digital-signage/Fri, 20 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>Testing software is hard. Testing software that is running on a variety of different hardware is even harder. This is something that we have learned the hard way over the years through building Screenly. We’ve run into a number of issues since we first started working on Screenly that could have been prevented by having a proper hardware test bench. Unfortunately, a proper hardware test bench isn’t something that you can just buy as a service (at least not for the Raspberry Pi).</p> <p>The very first test setup we had for Screenly was a single Raspberry Pi that I carried with me while living as a digital nomad and traveled around the world. This device was used for everything from testing the latest changes to debugging bugs for both Screenly OSE and Screenly (the paid version). Needless to say, it lived a hard life.</p> <p>A few years ago, we built our first real test rig for Screenly. The initial test rig consisted of four Raspberry Pis (of various versions) that ran Screenly 24/7. Two of these Raspberry Pis ran against our staging environment, and the other two Raspberry Pis ran against our production environment. We later upgraded these Raspberry Pis to Raspberry Pi 3 Model B’s. This setup served us well, and we were able to spot a number of bugs over time.</p> <p>However, after an <a href="/blog/2018/05/30/screenly-2-issues/">incident</a> earlier this year, we decided that we needed to step up our Quality Control (QC) efforts and invest in a larger test environment. As a result of these efforts, we now have over 20 different Raspberry Pis running Screenly 24/7.</p> <h2 id="the-new-screenly-test-rig">The new Screenly test rig</h2> <p>The goal of the new Screenly test rig is to have a large number of devices continuously running Screenly in a variety of environments. This allows us to increase the probability of catching bugs.</p> <p>The current Bill of Material (BOM) for the Screenly test rig is:</p> <ul> <li>One “tile” from <a href="https://www.resin.io">resin.io</a>’s <a href="https://resin.io/blog/the-evolution-of-the-beast-continues/">beast</a>, which includes 12 Raspberry Pi 3 Model B</li> <li>Two Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3</li> <li>One 24 port gigabit switch</li> <li>One Intel NUC running <a href="https://www.pfsense.org/">pfSense</a>, which acts as a firewall and VPN gateway</li> </ul> <p>This is just the start of our proper QC journey, and we are planning to add additional hardware going forward.</p> <h2 id="the-new-screenly-ose-test-rig">The new Screenly OSE test rig</h2> <p>Since we need to support more hardware in <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a>, the test setup looks a bit different (and a bit more primitive).</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-test-rig_hu_6708c7f2125269a0.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-test-rig_hu_983572d931d173f2.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-test-rig_hu_de11fcbd3433dabd.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-test-rig_hu_a3825597a5f97ffc.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-test-rig_hu_1c4180c92e1c21ee.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-test-rig_hu_643a1baa0c059b77.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-test-rig_hu_31f9e0d117a75e50.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-test-rig_hu_f2ee1dbedb72c3ab.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-ose-test-rig_hu_de11fcbd3433dabd.webp" alt="This is part of the test rig for Screenly OSE." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="928" > </picture> <p>What you can see in the image above is:</p> <ul> <li>One Raspberry Pi Model B+</li> <li>One Raspberry Pi 2 Model B</li> <li>One Raspberry Pi 3 Model B</li> <li>One Raspberry Pi Zero W+</li> </ul> <p>Each device is remotely accessible to developers on the Screenly team. This means that every new release can be tested on each hardware version. As new hardware versions are introduced, we will add them to the test bench for Screenly OSE too.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/13/building-a-raspberry-pi-test-rig/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/13/building-a-raspberry-pi-test-rig/Fri, 13 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>Static menu boards present a variety of issues and inconveniences to a restaurant. As stated in the name, this menu solution is static. This means that once the menu is installed, the installed menu signage is what will stay for the near future. Restaurants are not able to change the menu on the fly, they are not able to change prices or correct typos, and they certainly are not able to use captivating video content. Some restaurants have implemented multiple backlit posters that are regularly switched out, however, this process is inconvenient, takes time, and interrupts customers who are present in the restaurant if these menus are changed during the day. Today, more and more restaurants are turning to digital signage as a solution for their menu boards.</p> <p>Several studies suggest that digital menu boards can increase sales for restaurants. For <a href="http://mooddesmoines.com/using-digital-signage-as-menu-boards/">example</a>, Burger King found a 64% increase in sales within 12 months of installing digital menu boards in London. Additionally, <a href="http://www.sixteen-nine.net/2016/05/10/projects-uk-burger-chains-switch-to-digital-menus-sees-50-sales-boost/">UK-based Prime Burger increased sales</a> by 50% after implementing digital signage based menus. However, how exactly do restaurants use digital signage to increase sales? There are several ways, indirectly and directly, that digital menu boards can increase a restaurant’s revenue:</p> <h2 id="1-the-ability-to-quickly-adjust-prices">1. The Ability To Quickly Adjust Prices</h2> <p>Input costs change over time. If a restaurant is not careful, they can quickly lose their margins on particular menu items if they do not adjust prices accordingly. With static menu signage, implementing price changes is no small task. This would include the need to get new signs designed, printed, and installed. This process takes time and costs money. As a result, many restaurants simply forgo this hassle at the expense of achieving smaller margins. With digital menu boards, prices can be quickly updated from a central dashboard and restaurants can maintain the margins they need to stay financially healthy.</p> <h2 id="2-display-visually-appealing-images-and-video">2. Display Visually Appealing Images and Video</h2> <p>Static signage simply doesn’t have the visual appeal of digital signage. With digital menu boards, restaurants can offer customers bright and dynamic visuals that can excite a customer’s appetite. Such content can include a cold beverage dripping with condensation or a video of sizzling burger. Digital menu boards allow your restaurant to pair your menu offerings with movement and animation, and this can keep your customer engaged and willing to try new order combinations as they review your digital menu. Relatedly, to find great stock images for your digital menu boards, check out our blog post on <a href="/blog/2018/06/20/stock-images-for-digital-signage/">several great sites for stock images</a>.</p> <h2 id="3-advertise-special-offers-and-promotions">3. Advertise Special Offers and Promotions</h2> <p>With a digital menu board solution, special offers and promotions can be easily integrated directly in your menu. These special offers no longer need to be isolated in a standing poster or other visual that is located away from where the customer is actually looking when they place an order. With digital menu boards, restaurants can be more creative and on-the-fly with special offers that are integrated in their menu, and they can quickly test and remove any promotions that do not cause customers to order. Additionally, restaurants can integrate attractive, animated visuals of up-sells or combo deals directly next to the main food item or meal the customer is ordering. Also, restaurants can integrate their <a href="/api">digital menu board to their backend software via API</a> to promote the most popular items over time.</p> <h2 id="4-temporarily-remove-off-menu-items">4. Temporarily Remove Off-Menu Items</h2> <p>When an item is displayed on a menu and the restaurant is temporarily out of stock of this item or an essential ingredient for it, customers can become frustrated when their order can’t be fulfilled. With static signage, there is nothing a restaurant can do to avoid this issue beyond better supply-chain management. However, with a digital menu board, the restaurant can quickly remove this item from the menu. As soon as the next day when the item is available again, the restaurant can quickly display the menu item again. This ability to quickly and easily remove errors extends to fixing typos as well. While it is a small issue, fixing a single typo would require an entire static sign to be replaced. With a digital menu board, any realized typos can quickly be changed and fixed. Digital menu boards can provide restaurants with the needed flexibility to deal with the unpredictability of everyday business.</p> <h2 id="5-enhance-the-customer-experience">5. Enhance the Customer Experience</h2> <p>As you know, one thing customers hate is waiting. With digital menu boards, restaurants can display engaging content that may reduce the customer’s perceived waiting time. Such content can include videos on how the food is sourced and prepared or fun facts and figures about the restaurant or chain. This provides restaurants an opportunity to not only engage their customers while they are waiting but also to non-invasively communicate their brand and message.</p> <p>In order to implement digital menu boards in your restaurant, you will of course need to design a digital menu to display. There are several great tools that can help you do this. One of these tools is <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html">Adobe Illustrator</a>. Adobe Illustrator will provide you the greatest level of customization to your digital menu board design and will provide you with professional-grade, vector-based editing capabilities. For a more plug-and-play option, you can use tools such as <a href="https://www.dsmenu.com/">DS Menu</a>. DS Menu allows you to edit pre-built menu templates that will look great in your restaurant. While you sacrifice the customization you will find in Adobe Illustrator by using DS Menu, you will find that you will spend much less time designing and editing templates when you use this plug-and-play software. If this easy, pre-built solution seems right for you, you should also check out <a href="http://signagecreator.com">Signage Creator</a>, which is another great digital menu board design option and is a direct competitor of DS Menu. You will then need a digital media player and a cloud-based software solution to display your newly designed digital menus, and, of course, <a href="/digital-signage-players/">Screenly digital signage players</a> are the way to go.</p> <p><a href="https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-digital-signage-market">Grandview Research, Inc. estimates</a> that the digital signage industry will grow to $30.71 billion by 2025 with a compound annual growth rate of 7.9%. This rapid growth of the industry is because many verticals, such as restaurants, are realizing the business process improvements and revenue gains that digital signage can provide. For your restaurant to maximize its bottom line and stay competitive in today’s market, one clear step is to make the move from static menus to digital menu boards.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/12/how-to-increase-restaurant-sales-with-digital-menu-boards/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/12/how-to-increase-restaurant-sales-with-digital-menu-boards/Thu, 12 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>Displaying video content on single-screen digital signage or on a video wall display can be a great way of engaging your customers. Web based software for digital signage, such as Screenly, allows one to easily manage their digital displays and remote content. While this content can be easily managed and deployed by cloud-based management software, one necessary component that is not so easy is the actual creation of this video content. However, to create the best video content for your digital signage solution, there are several software tools that can be extremely helpful. In this article, we will detail ten of our favorite software tools for video creation.</p> <h2 id="video-creation-software-for-recorded-footage">Video Creation Software for Recorded Footage</h2> <p>To create a finished video for use with your digital signage displays or video walls, you will need to use editing software to curate and edit your recorded footage. Here we detail several options on the market that you can use to create your video content.</p> <h3 id="shotcut"><a href="https://www.shotcut.org/">Shotcut</a></h3> <p>Shotcut is a fantastic tool for video editors and creators who are on a budget. The software is open-source, so it is continually improved by a community of developers, and it is entirely free for you to use. Shotcut comes with all the standard video editing features you would expect from a paid option, including copy and paste timeline storyboarding, video color editing, and audio editing features. Shotcut also has a variety of one-click video transitions and footage/audio blending and overlay options. Shotcut really has a dizzying variety of features considering it is entirely free software. The UI may take some time to get accustomed to, however there is always a learning curve with any software. To help you gain familiarity with the software, Shotcut does have a collection of tutorials as well as an active user forum. Also, there are a ton of additional tutorial videos posted by users on Youtube. Additionally, Shotcut can support 4K content editing, and Shotcut is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.</p> <h3 id="imovie"><a href="https://www.apple.com/imovie/">iMovie</a></h3> <p>Mac computers come preloaded with iMovie, Apple’s standard video editing software. iMovie is capable of editing 4K content as well as more standard resolutions, and it comes with animated titles, special effects, and video filters. iMovie also comes with a library of sound effects and soundtracks that you can use without having to worry about licensing. iMovie also makes editing effects such as split-screen or picture-in-picture views doable in a just a few easy steps. Additionally, iMovie has great iPhone and iPad versions, so your video editing can be done on the go and doesn’t have to be restricted to your computer. If iMovie is not enough, you can always upgrade to Apple’s professional grade software <a href="https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/">Final Cut Pro X</a>. Final Cut Pro X has more advanced features, such as side-by-side editing for multi-camera, multi-angle footage and plugins to third party software for a variety of other advanced features.</p> <h3 id="powerdirector-16-ultimate-by-cyberlink"><a href="https://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector-ultra/features_en_US.html?item=3">PowerDirector 16 Ultimate by Cyberlink</a></h3> <p>The PowerDirector 16 Ultimate package by Cyberlink is a powerful tool for video editing and creation. PowerDirector 16 offers a variety of professional-grade features, without the professional grade price. For example, you can easily edit footage from multiple cameras and angles side-by-side in order to best edit and transition between synched, multi-angle footage. Additionally, PowerDirector 16 comes with its “TrueTheater” feature which will automatically enhance the color in each frame in your footage. PowerDirector 16 also allows 360 video editing, that includes features for 360 video footage stabilization. PowerDirector 16 is also really great for editing non-360, standard action footage. The software comes with motion tracking stabilization, stop-motion video options, and slow motion video effects. Also, if PowerDirector 16 doesn’t have a feature you need, the software has a variety of 3rd party plugins that offer premium effects and features you can choose form.</p> <h3 id="adobe-premiere-pro-cc"><a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html">Adobe Premiere Pro CC</a></h3> <p>As we all know, Adobe consistently produces quality media editing products. Adobe Premiere video editing software is no exception. Adobe Premiere works great over a variety of formats, including 4K, 8K, and VR/360. Adobe Premiere also has smart features such as automatic soundtrack volume adjusting when voice or special audio effects are detected. Adobe Premiere also allows you to split your screen with two versions of your video so that you can compare lighting and other effects side by side. Additionally, Adobe Premiere integrates with other popular adobe products like Photoshop, After Effects, and Illustrator. Also, the program can be purchased using Adobe’s monthly Creative Cloud membership.</p> <h3 id="camtasia"><a href="https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.html">Camtasia</a></h3> <p>Camtasia is an extremely versatile tool for PC and Mac that allows professional video editing. Features include on-screen annotations and even integrations with iOS devices so that you can screencast an app demo. Camtasia comes with a suite of editing tools for off-screen recorded content including animations, transitions, and other special effects, and Camtasia can support 4K footage editing. Additionally, Camtasia allows you to record webcam footage in parallel with your video footage. This helps add a human presence to any video. Other video effects include color editing and speed adjusting features. Camtasia also works great with green-screen recorded content so that you can add great custom backdrops to your footage.</p> <h2 id="video-creation-software-for-animated-video">Video Creation Software for Animated Video</h2> <p>Animated video is a great option for video creation, as it is doesn’t require expensive recording equipment or filming sets to look great. Also, you do not have to create your own animations frame by frame either. Today, there are SaaS products that have pre-made characters, actions, and storyboards that can make your video creation process a breeze.</p> <h3 id="powtoon"><a href="https://www.powtoon.com/">Powtoon</a></h3> <p>Powtoon has been around since 2012, and it now boasts 16 million users. Powtoon also has a variety of pre-built storyboards that are industry specific for marketing, HR, IT, and education. This means you can get an animated video up and running quickly, as all you have to do is customize the preloaded text. Powtoon also has a variety of different themed character and object sets, so you can easily customize the look and feel of your animated video. Powtoon brags that you can get “professional looking results in just 20 minutes.” Powtoon also has community of millions “Powtoon Tribe” members that can support you in the video creation process.</p> <h3 id="vyond"><a href="https://www.vyond.com/">Vyond</a></h3> <p>Previously named GoAnimate, Vyond is another great software tool for creating animated videos. Vyond has been available since 2007. Vyond has similar features to Powtoon, such as pre-built, industry-specific storyboards and themed character and object sets. Vyond’s sets of animated content each has their own unique look and feel. You should compare and contrast these styles with those found on Powtoon to see which best fits your brand and goals. Also, Vyond has some great Human Resources themed templates that you can use for company training videos and updates with office-based digital signage.</p> <h3 id="animoto"><a href="https://animoto.com/">Animoto</a></h3> <p>Animoto is a great tool that is a bit different than Powtoon and Vyond. Animoto focuses more on animated text and transitions than on animated characters and scenes. Like Powtoon and Vyond, Animoto features premade storyboards and comes with 2000+ free music tracks. Animoto also has great templates for turning still photos into great looking videos, with over 50 prebuilt storyboards. Additionally, you can easily watermark your company logo on Animoto. For video creation and editing on the go, Animoto also features a native app for iOS and Android devices.</p> <h3 id="biteable"><a href="https://biteable.com/">Biteable</a></h3> <p>Biteable offers animated video templates that are really of a different category when compared with Powtoon, Vyond, and Animoto. Biteable offers pre-made, short-clip templates that feature engaging layouts and animated designs rather than the standard storyboard scenes of human characters. Biteable’s templates look stunning, and they are certain to grab the attention of whoever walks past your digital signs. Biteable particularly offers great video infographic templates for displaying data. All of Biteable’s templates are HD quality and will look great on your digital signage. Biteable also makes it easy to add your own content to its templates, such as the company logo and corporate event photos. You can even optimize and share your Biteable videos to your company’s social media profiles in a simple click.</p> <h2 id="video-creation-software-for-sketch-videos">Video Creation Software for Sketch Videos</h2> <p>You have certainly seen sketch videos before. They are also commonly referred to as “whiteboard videos” or “doodle videos.” Sketch videos are simply videos that feature a hand writing text and making drawings to explain a concept or product. However, did you know you don’t actually have to write and draw the content by hand? Software tools are available that make it look as though an actual hand is drawing the text and content, however this “moving hand” is only a preimaged hand that is paired with computer-generated movement. This saves you tons of time and frustration when compared to actually making a sketch video by hand yourself.</p> <h3 id="videoscribe"><a href="https://www.videoscribe.co/">Videoscribe</a></h3> <p>One great sketch video creation tool is Videoscribe. Videoscribe provides thousands of pre-made images, and it also allows you to convert your own images into a “sketchable” format. Videoscribe also comes with a library of music tracks and sound effects, however you are also free to upload your own audio. Videoscribe also offers a variety of different male and females hand renderings that you can have draw your text. Videoscribe also features a series of online training lectures so you can get your video creation skills up to speed in no time. If you have too much on your plate, you can hire Videoscribe’s in house video production and in-house custom illustrations service.</p> <h3 id="doodly"><a href="https://www.doodly.com/">Doodly</a></h3> <p>Doodly is another great sketch video creation tool, and it has been used to create over 50,000 videos. Doodly advertises thousands of characters, drawings, and sounds to go with your sketch video. Also, Doodly features several background types to choose from beyond a whiteboard, such as a blackboard and glass surface. Doodly also focuses on having the computer generated hand movements draw the image as realistically as possible. This means that images won’t be drawn in simple up and down movements that better resemble a printer printing the image than a human hand drawing the image.</p> <p>As shown, there are several ways to create great video content for your digital signage. There are great tools to create use an animated video, sketch video, and stunning video with standard recorded footage. Take a look at the recommended software tools, and you will be sure to find one that fits your needs. Also, if you’re interested in reading more on video content and digital signage, check out our previous blog post on creating a <a href="/blog/2017/09/05/create-a-cost-effective-digital-signage-video-wall-with-screenly">cost-effective digital signage video wall with Screenly</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/04/ten-great-video-creation-tools-for-digital-signage-video-walls/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/07/04/ten-great-video-creation-tools-for-digital-signage-video-walls/Wed, 04 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>When implementing digital signage for your business, you must make decisions regarding the type of content you want to feature on your digital displays. There are choices, such as displaying photos or videos, going with stock content or in-house content creation, and showing standard quality or 4K quality content. You must align these decisions with your short-term and long-term digital signage strategy. In this post, we will focus on one of those decisions, namely whether or not you need 4K quality content for your digital signage solution.</p> <h2 id="what-is-4k-resolution-anyways">What is 4K resolution anyways?</h2> <p>4K resolution is the older brother of its predecessor, 1080p resolution. 1080p refers to an image or video that is 1080 pixels high by 1920 pixels wide. 4K quality images and videos feature approximately 8 million pixels, which is four times the number of pixels that 1080p displays. As a result, 4K images can appear crisper and provide a “wow” effect to viewers. Depending on the frame rates, 4K videos can also appear much smoother than 1080p videos. The higher number of pixels also allows viewer to read 4K text more easily than 1080p text.</p> <p>Also, it is important to know that for 4K displays to perform optimally, they must display content that creators originally produced in 4K. This 4K produced content is different than “upscaled 4K,” which is simply 1080p produced content that is algorithmically augmented to fit a 4K display.</p> <h2 id="why-would-a-business-not-want-4k">Why would a business not want 4K?</h2> <p>The major drawback of showing 4K content is the higher expense when compared to showing 1080p content. Businesses that wish to have their digital signage content in 4K will need to purchase more expensive displays and media players. For example, businesses who implement a video wall solution may need to invest in more expensive hardware and video wall controllers for signal distribution. This larger investment in hardware is necessary if businesses are to provide the true 4K content experience.</p> <p>If businesses cut corners here, there will be problems with their 4K display. One such problem, particularly on a video wall, is the video not looking smooth if the hardware does not support 60 frames per second. Additionally, 4K does not only refer to the display and associated hardware, it also refers to the content itself. 4K content requires specialized cameras and editing software, and these requirements place additional expenses on businesses that want to display 4k content.</p> <p>Production and post-production costs are higher for 4K content because the required hardware and software needs to deal with much more data than when dealing with 1080p content. First, the camera must be able to capture 4K images, and, understandably, these cameras are more expensive than cameras that capture in 1080p. Second, you must be able to store the 4K data that is recorded. This means you will have to purchase more expensive storage cards and long-term data-storage solutions. Also, because you will need to work with large files, you may need to update your computer processors and combine these processors with solid state hard drives for faster data retrieval and processing.</p> <p>Post-production editing software that is compatible with 4K content will need to be purchased, too. Additionally, working with 4K content typically takes longer than working with 1080p content due to higher load and playback times. Those realities will translate to more billable human hours required to edit the 4K content. Whether you produce 4K content yourself or purchase 4K content from a stock content vendor, the added production and post-production complexities of 4K content will translate to a higher amount of money that you need to pay.</p> <h2 id="why-are-businesses-interested-in-4k-do-they-need-it">Why are businesses interested in 4K? Do they need it?</h2> <p>The advantage of 4K is that it provides a high resolution, beautiful, and often stunning visual experience to your business’s customers. A 4K content experience has the ability to produce a “wow” effect, and this may entice viewers to be more engaged with your business and product offerings. However, due to the expense of producing and displaying 4K content, business owners must decide if an investment in 4K display technologies and content is really worth it.</p> <p>For most businesses, 4K is simply not yet worth the investment. We say “yet” here because the current high cost of implementing 4K digital signage is sure to decrease in the coming years. However, for most businesses today, 1080p will provide the optimal digital signage solution. In fact, most businesses will have a better digital signage deployment if they invest their resources in producing more content for cheaper 1080p displays rather than in 4k hardware. Put bluntly, a 4K display and even 4K quality content will do nothing for your business if the content is not relevant and engaging to your customer base and regularly refreshed. Additionally, there are many use cases where your viewer base will only see the digital signage in passing, such as with <a href="/use-cases/lobby/">digital lobby signage</a> or digital signage kiosks. That viewer would likely not notice the difference between 4K quality and 1080p quality images. To read more on cost-effective digital signage solutions, check out our blog post on creating a <a href="/blog/2017/09/05/create-a-cost-effective-digital-signage-video-wall-with-screenly/">cost-effective digital signage wall with Screenly</a></p> <p>In conclusion, if your business has the budget and cash to spare for 4K, go ahead and do it. However, business owners must realize that the more expensive option is not necessarily the better option in the context of their business. Resources are limited, and business owners must deploy their capital and a employee time wisely. 4K content can look absolutely stunning, if it is done right with the proper hardware. However, for the vast majority of digital signage use cases, 1080p content and displays will cater to your needs perfectly well. It is best to invest your money and time in crafting engaging and dynamic content for your customer base.</p> <p>Screenly supports 1080p Full HD image, video, and web page content for digital signs with a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">cost-effective digital signage player</a>. To see how Screenly can benefit your business and to get started with Screenly, sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/Thu, 28 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>To implement a successful digital signage strategy, business owners must have a way to get digital assets on their display screens. One quick and easy way that businesses can do so is by using a USB drive with a smart TV. For this method, a business employee places photos and videos on the USB drive and then inserts the USB drive into the display screen. The business is then able to show images and videos on their screen. However, while this method is quick and easy, there are several drawbacks. In this article, we discuss problems with using USB sticks for digital signage, and we discuss how modern <a href="/foundations/digital-signage-software/">cloud-based digital signage solutions</a> overcome those problems.</p> <h2 id="1-usb-sticks-require-employees-to-travel-to-the-display-screen-location">1. USB sticks require employees to travel to the display screen location</h2> <p>If a business stores their digital signage content on a USB stick, the only way to update the USB stick with new content is if an employee travels to the USB stick’s physical location. That requirement is particularly problematic for businesses that have multiple screens across several cities or across a large campus. Cloud-based signage software, like Screenly, helps businesses reduce employee travel time to their deployed screens. With cloud-based signage solutions, an employee can update the content at all screen locations with the simple click of a button from his or her computer. Those solutions makes employees’ jobs more streamlined, and it saves your business money as employees can focus their time on more productive tasks.</p> <h2 id="2-difficulty-with-usb-sticks-leads-to-underutilized-digital-signs">2. Difficulty with USB sticks leads to underutilized digital signs</h2> <p>USB sticks take time to manage. As mentioned above, that time may include an employee physically traveling to the location of each screen. In order to change content, an employee needs to remove the USB stick from the digital display, plug the USB stick into a computer, upload the new content, eject the USB stick, and then plug the USB stick back into the digital display. This process takes time, and this time can add up when businesses have several screens to service. As a result of the time it takes to update displays with new content, businesses can fail to take advantage of the full potential of digital signage. For example, daily menu specials, notes for staff birthdays, or reminders for one time events are often not shown on digital signage if it is a hassle to update this content. Cloud-based digital signage solutions, like Screenly, remove the hassles associated with frequent content updates, as employees can update the content for multiple screens in just minutes.</p> <h2 id="3-usb-sticks-cannot-show-live-or-timed-content">3. USB sticks cannot show live or timed content</h2> <p>After a person uploads content onto a USB stick and plugs the USB stick into a display, additional content changes require the person to repeat that process. The content from the USB stick is the content that will display on the screen. Alternatively, cloud-based digital signage software allows a business more flexibility with their content. For example, with cloud-based digital signage, a person can adjust the timing of content, such as only showing a “Good Morning” message during morning hours. Additionally, cloud-based digital signage can show live content, such as changing business metrics on a real-time dashboard. Using a <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>, companies can display dynamic content that changes over time based on various data inputs.</p> <h2 id="4-usb-sticks-to-do-not-tell-you-if-the-display-has-stopped-working">4. USB sticks to do not tell you if the display has stopped working</h2> <p>A common issue with digital signage that uses USB sticks and smart TVs is that there is no way to tell if a display screen malfunctions and stops showing content. This inability can be a real problem, especially for businesses with screens that employees may not frequently see (such as screens in large malls from digital signage advertising companies or <a href="/blog/2019/01/29/outdoor-digital-signage/">outdoor digital signage</a>). Often, a screen can malfunction and not show content for several days before a person notices and reports the problem. Non-working screens make a business look bad, and the problem can cause a business lose opportunities for showing important marketing content and promotions. Cloud-based digital signage solutions can remotely monitor whether or not a digital display is showing content. In the event of a malfunction, these solutions can alert relevant employees so that the employees can quickly troubleshoot the problem. Users can also view logs of which digital signage content was played in the past to help troubleshoot any playback errors.</p> <h2 id="goodbye-usb-sticks">Goodbye USB sticks</h2> <p>As more and more businesses realize the value that digital signage can provide to their bottom line, the digital signage industry continues to grow. Hotels are using <a href="/use-cases/lobby/">digital lobby signage</a>. SMEs are using digital signage to display real-time business metrics. <a href="/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/">Digital signage advertising networks</a> are deploying <a href="/blog/2019/02/11/digital-signage-advertising-network/">medical office digital signs</a> in waiting rooms. Restaurants are using <a href="/use-cases/restaurants/">digital menu boards</a>. Some people use digital signage to construct <a href="/apps/raspberry-pi-video-wall/">digital signage video walls</a> for trade show booths. The list goes on and on.</p> <p>Cloud-based digital signage solutions for the remote management of digital signage content offer much more functionality and USB stick solutions. Without cloud-based digital signage, people will likely spend too much time updating new content. As a result, they will underutilize digital signage strategies, and they will not have access to advanced content management features.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/06/25/why-not-to-use-usb-sticks-for-signage/Mon, 25 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>Great digital signage will not do much for you or your business without great media. One avenue for quality media is, of course, the stock image industry. In this article, we will detail some important licensing terms that are important to know when using stock image providers. Also, we will review several stock image websites that you can put to use with your digital signs and accompanying media players.</p> <h2 id="some-stock-image-legal-terms">Some stock image legal terms</h2> <p>It is important to understand the common legal terms associated with stock images. First, it all revolves around the “<strong><em>copyright</em></strong>.” The term “<em>copyright</em>” refers to the legal ownership that an individual or entity has over their images. This includes the right to sell, license, and distribute their images. Second, the term “<strong><em>license</em></strong>” refers to a contract with the copyright owner. This contract allows one to use the copyrighted content.</p> <p>There are different types of copyright licenses. The two big sub-groups can be labeled as “<strong><em>rights managed</em></strong>” and “<strong><em>royalty free</em></strong>” licenses. Rights managed licenses typically have strict restrictions on how one can use the stock images. Often, rights managed licenses have restrictions on the duration for which an image can be used. Also, rights managed licenses are often only granted to only one individual at a time. Because of this limitation to one individual, rights managed licenses are usually more expensive than royalty free licenses.</p> <p>Royalty free licenses are the licenses typically associated with stock images. Royalty free licenses imply that there is there is no <strong><em>royalty</em></strong>. This means there is no fee associated with <em>each</em> use of the stock image. While there is no cost per use, royalty free licenses sometimes have a one time, upfront fee. Royalty free licenses are often significantly cheaper than rights managed licenses. This is because royalty free licenses for the same image can be sold to thousands of people.</p> <p>You may also hear of “<em><strong>Creative Commons</strong></em>” licenses. This type of license is a type of royalty free license. The special feature of a Creative Commons license is that there is no fee whatsoever. This license allows the unlimited use and alteration to the image by other individuals. Also, the image can be redistributed by others for commercial and noncommercial purposes.</p> <p>There are several types of Creative Commons licenses that each have special limitations. However, one common type is called the “<em><strong>Creative Commons Attribution License</strong></em>”. This license type allows the free use of an image, but it requires the user to “<em>attribute</em>” the image to the source author. You can find the variations of this license <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/">here</a>.</p> <p>Another frequently seen Creative Commons license is the “<strong><em>CC0 License</em></strong>”. The CC0 License permits images to be used for free for noncommercial and commercial use, permits individuals to change and modify the images, and permits individuals to share the image without the need for attribution to the image’s original author.</p> <h2 id="great-stock-image-websites-for-your-screenly-digital-signage"><strong>Great stock image websites for your Screenly digital signage…</strong></h2> <p>Now we understand the different terms and licensing agreements surrounding stock images. It’s now time to discover some websites with the best stock image offerings. Stock images from these websites are sure look great in public spaces for enjoyment by your customers and employees. You can use stock images from these sites for personal or commercial use, be it outdoor advertising, restaurant menu boards, etc. You just cannot resell these photos.</p> <h3 id="unsplash">Unsplash</h3> <p><a href="https://unsplash.com/">Unsplash</a> originally started as a Tumblr blog. The site now boasts a collection of 550,000 photos. These photos are all high-resolution. Each is free for immediate download. Its images all have a unique, modern feel and will look great across your digital signage network. Unsplash also offers an API integration with popular SaaS products, and the website’s image library can likely be integrated into your content management system.</p> <p>You can use these images for free, for commercial and noncommercial purposes, and without attribution. You can find their license details <a href="https://unsplash.com/license">here</a>.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/unsplash_hu_f439018b55aac44f.webp 480w, /images/blog/unsplash_hu_54edd60aa29cb112.webp 768w, /images/blog/unsplash_hu_f2f2b13ff20c7bf9.webp 1024w, /images/blog/unsplash_hu_b9b2bfb297262002.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/unsplash_hu_baa244e5b8986055.webp 480w, /images/blog/unsplash_hu_95c74efe982d012b.webp 768w, /images/blog/unsplash_hu_a56bea8925697dd5.webp 1024w, /images/blog/unsplash_hu_ebeb7c4666bad78a.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/unsplash_hu_f2f2b13ff20c7bf9.webp" alt="This is an image from Unsplash for use with digital signage of man under a waterfall with an orange umbrella." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" > </picture> <h3 id="stocksnap">StockSnap</h3> <p><a href="https://stocksnap.io/">StockSnap</a> also features a wide range of high resolutions photos. They have a vibrant and generous community of contributing photographers. StockSnap also features a very useful “tag-based category system.” This feature allows users to search and find photos based off of mood or environment. For example, users can search tag collections such as “happy” or “people”.</p> <p>These images are all under the Creative Commons CC0 license, and you can find more details from StockSnap <a href="https://stocksnap.io/license">here</a>.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/stocksnap_hu_2fd6ad9d5f3c0d59.webp 480w, /images/blog/stocksnap_hu_544418dfeece5b58.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/stocksnap_hu_77e19a8ea494aed0.webp 480w, /images/blog/stocksnap_hu_61cb7d14363430c9.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/stocksnap_hu_9fc1ee1e514d21e3.webp" alt="This is an image from StockSnap of guitars on a wall that is great for use with digital signage networks." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="681" > </picture> This image is from <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/156466858@N02/40292781013/">Gavin Whitner on Flickr</a>.</p> <h3 id="pexels">Pexels</h3> <p><a href="https://www.pexels.com">Pexels</a> offers a collection of 40,000 free, high-resolution photos. Interestingly, each of these photos has been hand-picked and curated by their team. Pexel aims to add about 3,000 photos a month to its collection. The site is committed to its mission of “empowering creators”.</p> <p>Pexels images are also all under the Creative Commons CC0 license, and their license page can be read <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo-license/">here</a>.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/pexels_hu_a319d63e22d105b4.webp 480w, /images/blog/pexels_hu_47229628d2b4b9d9.webp 768w, /images/blog/pexels_hu_e411ed2fceffd372.webp 1024w, /images/blog/pexels_hu_39377d12240bbc5.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/pexels_hu_8a1740a69628b84b.webp 480w, /images/blog/pexels_hu_5e50c1ae3b9b532d.webp 768w, /images/blog/pexels_hu_7875cee0169cbfdf.webp 1024w, /images/blog/pexels_hu_fd6d3aa571cc6a50.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/pexels_hu_e411ed2fceffd372.webp" alt="This is an image from Pexel of a beautiful coastline with cars on the road. This image iis great for use with digital signage software." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="575" > </picture> <h3 id="istock">iStock</h3> <p><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com">iStock</a> is one of the largest stock image sites. It is powered by the famous Getty Images media company. iStock also offers illustrations, audio, and video clips for your digital displays and digital menu boards. Also, the audio and video content is great for interactive digital signage or video walls.</p> <p>iStock does charge for its stock content, and users will have to purchases website credits in order to download images from iStock. iStock has its own specific licensing for its stock images, however it allows you to use the images much like a CC0 license with some limitations that you can find <a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/au/help/licenses">here</a>.</p> <h3 id="flickr">Flickr</h3> <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/">Flickr</a> is an immensely popular photos sharing site started in 2004. Flicker has “tens of billions of photos,” so you will certainly be able to find something for any digital signage solution. Flicker aims to “help people make their photos available to the people who matter to them.”</p> <p>Flickr has photos under different variations of the Creative Commons license. You can find these photos grouped by license <a href="https://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/">here</a>.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/flickr_hu_19aa453186b45e7.webp 480w, /images/blog/flickr_hu_651ad99f45ce0a25.webp 768w, /images/blog/flickr_hu_433f6ae4b0e6f9d5.webp 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/flickr_hu_88fb30dee1091457.webp 480w, /images/blog/flickr_hu_db7510cb61aab9f3.webp 768w, /images/blog/flickr_hu_102abe295aca5f7f.webp 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/flickr_hu_433f6ae4b0e6f9d5.webp" alt="This is an image from Flickr of a river surrounded by great trees. This image is great for digital signage displays." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="618" > </picture> <h3 id="pixabay">PixaBay</h3> <p><a href="https://www.pixabay.com">PixaBay</a> is a relative newcomer in the stock image space. However, it is certainly a powerful site. Pixabay has 1.4 million photos and videos combined. You’ll find that each photo has a unique, delightful aesthetic.</p> <p>PixaBay’s stock images and videos are royalty free and are all licensed under the Creative Commons CC0 license. You can find PixaBay’s license information and terms <a href="https://pixabay.com/en/service/terms/">here</a>.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/pixabay_hu_9e031b363ace2925.webp 480w, /images/blog/pixabay_hu_78dd82a907c0b520.webp 768w, /images/blog/pixabay_hu_e0b393f56088326.webp 1024w, /images/blog/pixabay_hu_e6e8a0a66198c20d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/pixabay_hu_6b62f20ac786403a.webp 480w, /images/blog/pixabay_hu_9f4ef9288844d5b0.webp 768w, /images/blog/pixabay_hu_868ef73dff4c5c46.webp 1024w, /images/blog/pixabay_hu_7fe49f7a0b5c7c7d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/pixabay_hu_e0b393f56088326.webp" alt="This is an image from Pixabay of fresh blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. This image is great for use with digital menu boards." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" > </picture> <h3 id="negativespace">NegativeSpace</h3> <p><a href="https://negativespace.co/">NegativeSpace</a> is another useful stock image site. All images are free to download and free to use under a Creative Commons CC0 license. You can find the details of NegativeSpace licensing <a href="https://negativespace.co/license">here</a>.</p> <p>NegativeSpace aims to create a community of photographers who want to share their photography with the world. After viewing the quality of the photos on their site, it is clear that NegativeSpace has succeeded in this goal. You can sort through images based on categories, tags, and even color.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/negativespace_hu_75d1c10e769eee07.webp 480w, /images/blog/negativespace_hu_fb621e652c931465.webp 768w, /images/blog/negativespace_hu_348cdcec0d141789.webp 1024w, /images/blog/negativespace_hu_6654ea13a3a57dd9.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/negativespace_hu_f9d6883fb87c5d28.webp 480w, /images/blog/negativespace_hu_aa8ae9a36f991c40.webp 768w, /images/blog/negativespace_hu_120d7abf3d11b844.webp 1024w, /images/blog/negativespace_hu_a2487bffff0d8e4e.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/negativespace_hu_348cdcec0d141789.webp" alt="Image from NegativeSpace of a man in the mountains and his reflection on water." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" > </picture> <h2 id="go-make-your-digital-signage-beautiful">Go! Make Your Digital Signage Beautiful</h2> <p>We hope this post was helpful. We hope that you’ve learned a bit more about legal terms regarding image licensing and where to find royalty-free stock images for your digital signage content. These listed sites are just a few of many stock image websites. However, these sites stand out. These sites will provide plenty of stock images for use with your digital signage software.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/06/20/stock-images-for-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/06/20/stock-images-for-digital-signage/Wed, 20 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="some-screenly-2-player-users-experienced-an-issue-heres-what-happened">Some Screenly 2 Player users experienced an issue. Here’s what happened</h2> <p>About a few weeks ago, we received reports from a few customers about a strange crash affecting some of their displays. We took these reports very serious and started investigate the issue. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the bug, we struggled to reproduce it. This meant that we were unable to fully understand the bug. From the description we received from customers, the devices would simply show a strange black screen showing an ‘initramfs prompt’ after reboot. This, of course, was a very serious issue that and went against our selling point of Screenly being a ‘set-and-forget device’.</p> <p>Since this was a bug in the operating system (Ubuntu Core), and not in our software stack, we escalated the issue to <a href="https://www.ubuntu.com">Ubuntu</a>, which whom we have a commercial contract, we escalated this to their engineers immediately. Again, due to the nature of the bug, it was very hard to properly report the issue to their engineering team.</p> <p>After we finally managed to receive a disk image of one of these broken installations, we we were able to better understand the issue. It turned out to be a rather complex issue to fix. For the tech savvy readers, you can read the technical details in this <a href="https://forum.snapcraft.io/t/snapd-causes-corruption-on-upgrade/5253/51">forum post</a> and <a href="https://bugs.launchpad.net/snapd/+bug/1769669">bug report</a>. In short, an ‘impossible’ condition happened to the boot partition, which subsequently caused the bootloader to fail.</p> <p>Even the engineers at Ubuntu were genuinely surprised by this issue and it took them some time to fully wrap their heads around the issue. After some time, they were finally able to issue a fix. However, since this affected an essential part of the update flow and boot process, these changes needed to be tested thoroughly in order not to introduce new issues.</p> <p>The engineers at Ubuntu issued a fix for the bug in the “beta channel” on May 12. After extensive testing, the fix was promoted to the ‘stable channel’ (i.e. the channel where all our customers receive their updates from) on May 21st.</p> <p>We subsequently released a new disk image for Screenly 2 that includes the new fix with the same date (2018-05-21). As such, if you are using a disk image older than this, we strongly encourage you to switch to the later image for any new images.</p> <p>It is however worth pointing out that all devices that are functioning will automatically receive this update. For those affected by the issue, it is unfortunately required to reflash the device in order to restore it.</p> <p>We sincerely apologize for this issue, but we want to be transparent about what happened.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/05/30/screenly-2-issues/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/05/30/screenly-2-issues/Wed, 30 May 2018 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="screenly-2-player-is-here">Screenly 2 Player is here</h2> <p>In case you missed it, we made a <a href="/blog/2018/02/28/screenly-2-is-here/">major announcement</a> earlier this month when we released the brand new Screenly 2 Player. As mentioned in the announcement, this is something that we have been working on for over two years now, and it paves the way for Screenly’s feature. At a quick glance, here’s what Screenly 2 Player provides:</p> <ul> <li>Full hardware accelerated playback for all supported asset types</li> <li>Gapless playback for images, videos, and web-pages</li> <li>Official support for NEC P- and V- series monitors through the built-in Raspberry Pi SoC</li> <li>Hardened security provided by Canonical through Ubuntu Core</li> </ul> <p>One of the major themes in Screenly 2 Player is security. We outlined some of this in the article <a href="/blog/2018/03/08/screenly-2-part-1-security/">Screenly 2 Player under the spotlight - The operating system and security</a>, and we will share more details about the new player in the near future.</p> <p>To get started with Screenly 2 Player, simply grab the new disk image. For more information, please see <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/115001603993-Screenly-2-player-information">this article</a>.</p> <h2 id="the-brand-new-raspberry-pi-3-model-b">The brand new Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+</h2> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i62xdD4QKtA?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div><br> <p>Last week, the Raspberry Pi Foundation <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspberry-pi-3-model-bplus-sale-now-35/">announced</a> a brand new Raspberry Pi board named Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+. While the new board does bring a number of improvements, the one that we are most excited about is that the new board comes with 5Ghz WiFi support. This is something that will make life easier for a lot of our users who have Screenly devices deployed in crowded environments (such as hotels) where 2.4Ghz WiFi often times will not work.</p> <p>While the new Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ is currently not supported in Screenly, we are working on adding support for it.</p> <h2 id="events">Events</h2> <h2 id="integrated-systems-europe-ise">Integrated Systems Europe (ISE)</h2> <p>Last month, we were at ISE in Amsterdam. Unless you have access to a time machine, you can of course not catch us there, but Adrian Cotterill from <a href="http://www.dailydooh.com">DailyDOOH</a> did record an interview where we discussed Screenly and the future of digital signage. You can watch the interview <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtFCOHrgvs4">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="digital-signage-expo-dse">Digital Signage Expo (DSE)</h2> <p>Don’t miss us at <a href="https://www.digitalsignageexpo.net/">Digital Signage Expo</a> (DSE) on March 27-29 in Las Vegas. We will be exhibiting in NEC’s booth, showcasing Screenly 2 Player running on NEC’s beautiful screens. If you will be at the show, please stop by or get in touch to schedule a meeting.</p> <h2 id="container-camp-australia">Container Camp Australia</h2> <p>On a more technical note, we will also be speaking at <a href="https://2018.container.camp/au/">Container Camp</a> on May 23-25 in Melbourne, Australia. The actual talk is still to be announced, but a clue is that it will be about IoT security.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/03/21/screenly-march-update/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/03/21/screenly-march-update/Wed, 21 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>In this new series of articles we will explore our brand new Screenly 2 Player in detail. This particular article will focus the operating system and security. These are two areas that are hard to get right, but they are essential building a sustainable digital signage platform.</p> <p>To fully understand the reasoning for the decisions we have made in Screenly 2 Player, we first need to take a trip down memory lane and go back to where we started with the very first Screenly release.</p> <h2 id="how-screenly-came-to-be-technical-background">How Screenly came to be (technical background)</h2> <p>At that time, you only had one choice as far as operating system went and that was the official Raspberry Pi Linux distribution called Raspbian (which is a fork of the popular Linux distribution Debian). Raspbian has a lot of benefits. It’s quick to get up and running with and perhaps most importantly, it has a massive community around it. As a result, if you run into any kind of problem, chances are you will find a blog post or forum post from someone who ran into the exact same issue in the past along with a solution.</p> <picture> <img src="/images/blog/raspbian-logo_hu_19e1ae3f820c1017.webp" alt="Raspbian Logo" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="171" > </picture> <p>Starting out, Raspbian served us well. We were able to rapidly build <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a>, and get it out to the market and receive feedback. Given that it was an open source project that people ran and managed by themselves, the task of managing updates and maintaining those devices fell the user. There was no central management system at all. Things just worked and we were able to rapidly grow the install base of Screenly OSE.</p> <p>After launching Screenly OSE, we started to receive customer request for a commercially backed version of Screenly. The main theme of the requests were the ability to have a central management interface and to offer support. This seemed like sensible features so we got busy building what’s now known as Screenly. Since part of the value proposition was to offer a managed solution, this meant that we had to figure out how to keep those devices up to date both in regards to security updates and for our actual software.</p> <p>What we really wanted was some kind of configuration management tool that allowed us to manage these devices remotely in a central fashion. We started evaluate various options, and in the end decided on using <a href="https://puppet.com/">Puppet</a>, which at the time in 2013 was arguably the most innovative configuration management tool. Getting Puppet to work well on a low-powered device such as the early Raspberry Pis ended up being a challenge. The agent (which was written in Ruby) was insanely slow. A single run could take minutes and would consume all resources, which in turn impacted the overall performance of the playback. After a lot of system tweaks and Linux magic, we ended up getting it to a state where it worked well enough to solve the need and to this date, it is what serves updates for the Screenly 1 Player.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/puppet_hu_b26068ee08352045.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/puppet_hu_8993608cf0c5671.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/puppet_hu_42a6ac6faaf0f667.webp" alt="Puppet Logo" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="362" > </picture> <p>As we scaled up the deployment base, we started to run into other Raspbian related issues. One of the early issues we had to address was the fact that there would be breaking changes in apt packages. Since we had no way to properly pin package versions[1], we ended up having to setup our own apt mirror in order to control when updates were being rolled out. That indeed did the trick, but it created a fair amount of overhead to manage and roll out updates[2].</p> <p>Another issue that we ran into with Raspbian was related to the disk images. Since we deliver Screenly in the form of a disk image, we needed to frequently build these images to ensure that the updates were applied and that the latest firmwares were in place to support the latest Raspberry Pi boards. The crux however was that until recently, the documentation for building the Raspbian disk image (the one you can download from the official source) was close to non-existing. That has now improved, and it is now possible to build you own images in a relatively straight-forward fashion, but this is a relatively recent development. Yet, what we wanted was to have these disk images to be automatically built on our CI system such that all we needed to do if we wanted to generate a new image was to push a button rather than having to involve a sequence of manual operations (which is always error prone) [3].</p> <p>Lastly, we recognized that we’re not an operating system company. Building and managing a Linux operating system at the level that is required for mission critical operations such as digital signage, is not a task to take lightly. Raspbian is a great operating system for hobbyists, but when you start to get up to the scale we operate at Screenly, you start to run into its limitations. Our customers frequently deploy these devices in places where they are hard to reach (in the ceiling, public places, remote areas etc). They need to just work. We need to have built-in abilities for devices to automatically roll-back to known-good state if for whatever reason an update fails. Doing this with Raspbian would perhaps be possible, but it would require rewriting large parts of the operating system.</p> <p>In 2016 when we started to the work on what is today known as the Screenly 2 Player, we knew we needed to move away from Rasbian. What we didn’t know where to move to. At the time, Rasbian was really the only widely used Linux distribution for the Raspberry Pi. So we did what geeks do: we started to spec out what out ultimate operating system would look like for this particular use case. We came up with the following criteria (heavily inspired by <a href="https://coreos.com/">CoreOS</a>):</p> <ul> <li>The operating system should be lightweight with only the absolute minimal pieces we need. This was important both because it reduces the attack vector, but also to reduce the disk footprint.</li> <li>We wanted to distribute the operating system as one big file and the application(s) as a separate one. Hence, you wouldn’t be able to get ‘partial update.’ The delivery methods for this would ideally be a binary diff delivered over HTTPS (with <code>gpg</code> verification or similar) to reduce the bandwidth consumption.</li> <li>We would like to have a kind of A/B scheme (much like CoreOS), with known-good states to roll back to if for whatever reason the upgrade fails (both for operating system and applications).</li> <li>It should boot <em>blazing fast</em> (ideally less than 5s from boot to content showing).</li> <li>The system should be fully locked down. There should be no unnecessary processes running and all services shall run at the lowest possible permission (ideally through some kind of isolation, such as Docker).</li> <li>The ability to automatically build disk images on CI.</li> </ul> <p>We were reluctant to build this system ourselves, but at the time we felt that we didn’t really have a choice. We started working on a prototype based on a BusyBox environment where we got an early prototype of the Screenly 2 Player working (that met the boot criteria).</p> <h2 id="enter-ubuntu-core">Enter Ubuntu Core</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/ubuntu-core-2_hu_b2986ec73585063c.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/ubuntu-core-2_hu_b9bc0ff2a56d60a9.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/ubuntu-core-2_hu_3aff7286f23d5bb6.webp" alt="Ubuntu Core" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="326" > </picture> <p>Shortly after we began this work, we heard rumors about Ubuntu Core (then known as Snappy). The design philosophy of Core aligned very well with our criteria, but perhaps the best part was that we didn’t need to develop our own operating system (something we were very reluctant to do). We decided it was our best option. We have since been working closely with Ubuntu and their engineers, and we are very happy that we did not go down this path ourselves. Building an operating system from scratch is not easy. Even with arguably some of the most talented operating system engineers, it has taken Ubuntu a significant amount of time to get to the state where we could fully run Screenly on top of Ubuntu Core. If we would have tried doing this ourselves, it could very well have starved us to (financial) death.</p> <p>Let us revisit our criteria with compare it to Ubuntu Core.</p> <h2 id="lightweight">Lightweight</h2> <p>Check. The disk image is tiny and it doesn’t include anything we do not need (well, almost at least). Currently our disk image (with Screenly installed) is a bit larger than Raspbian Lite. However, we intend to remove some additional components in the future to reduce the footprint even further.</p> <h2 id="transactional-updates">Transactional updates</h2> <p>Check. Ubuntu Core does not use <code>apt</code> at all. Instead, it uses something called Snaps. This is used both for applications and for the operating system. Perhaps more importantly, this is fully transactional. If an update fails, the system will simply revert to a known-good state.</p> <h2 id="blazing-fast-boot">Blazing fast boot</h2> <p>Not yet. The boot is not as fast as we would like it at this point. This is however something that we are working with Ubuntu’s engineers on and we still aspire to get to that 5s boot time.</p> <h2 id="fully-locked-down">Fully locked down</h2> <p>Check. The system is completely locked down. Each package (snap) needs to request permission when installed. As such, even if the Screenly viewer component would be compromised for some reason, it could not mess with the operating system. Moreover, the entire content of the snap is mounted as read-only, making it very challenging to use as an attack vector.</p> <h2 id="automatic-disk-image-build">Automatic disk image build</h2> <p>Check. Using the Ubuntu Core’s toolkit, we are able to build images that we can ship to customers. Moreover, we can set up multiple channels and promote versions across those channels.</p> <h2 id="additional-benefits">Additional benefits</h2> <p>In addition to our the our initial criteria, we also get the following benefits:</p> <ul> <li>Commercial support.</li> <li>Automatic security updates.</li> <li>A service for distributing updates to the fleet.</li> </ul> <p>All in all, the value proposition for Ubuntu Core makes a lot of sense to us. Unfortunately, it took Ubuntu a lot longer than anticipated to get Ubuntu Core ready for prime time. This played a big part in the large delays we had in shipping the Screenly 2 Player. Yet, we are still sold on the benefits for our use case.</p> <p>We’re clearly just scraping on the surface of the security topic in this article as it is a massive area. If you want to take a deep dive into Ubuntu Core’s security, there’s a <a href="https://developer.ubuntu.com/static/resources/ubuntu-core-security-whitepaper.pdf">whitepaper available</a>. There’s also a good overview video on Ubuntu Core and Snaps available <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLxqdf89hRo">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="closing-thoughts">Closing thoughts</h2> <p>We are confident that our move to Ubuntu Core will improve the overall user experience. Security is an essential part of Screenly’s value proposition, and by piggybacking on Ubuntu Core, we are able to get much further than we would be able to do ourselves. Also, by not having to write and manage our own operating system, we can free up resources to build the best digital signage platform on the market and build value for our users.</p> <p>In the following articles, we will explore other parts of the Screenly 2 Player.</p> <p>The upgrade to Screenly 2 Player is a free upgrade for all our users. You can find the instructions on how to upgrade <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/115001603993-Screenly-2-player-information">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>Footnotes</strong></p> <p>[1] It is technically possible to pin packages using Puppet. However, if you don’t control the apt mirror, the pinned version will at some point be deleted form the mirror and upgrades will start breaking.</p> <p>[2] Due to the dependency situation of apt packages, it is hard to only update <em>one</em> package. Instead, you are forced to updated far more packages than you would like (unless you build your own apt packages).</p> <p>[3] We mitigated as much of the manual process as possible and the build process involved fetching the latest Raspbian disk image and then apply a number of bash script, which we then turned into a disk image.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/03/08/screenly-2-part-1-security/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/03/08/screenly-2-part-1-security/Thu, 08 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000<ul> <li>Full hardware accelerated playback for all supported asset types</li> <li>Gapless playback for images, videos, and web-pages</li> <li>Official support for NEC P- and V- series monitors through the built-in Raspberry Pi SoC</li> <li>Hardened security provided by Canonical through Ubuntu Core</li> </ul> <p>Screenly, Inc., the maker of the original and leading digital signage platform for the Raspberry Pi, today announces Screenly 2, the latest generation of their System-on-a-Chip (SoC) digital signage player.</p> <p><em>“We’re very proud to unveil this new release of Screenly. It is the result of over two years of R&D efforts, which includes a complete rewrite to capture the full potential of the Raspberry Pi SoC platform,”</em> said Viktor Petersson, CEO and co-founder of Screenly, Inc</p> <p><em>“Screenly 2 runs on Linux and supports full HD playback of images, videos, and web pages. While the previous releases pushed the boundaries of the Raspberry Pi platform at the time, the new release goes even further by offering smooth, gapless transitions between all supported asset types”</em>, Mr. Petersson continues.</p> <p>In addition to significant playback enhancement, Screenly 2 is also the first commercial digital signage platform to adopt Ubuntu Core. For end-users, this means they can enjoy industry-leading security.</p> <p>Through Screenly’s partnership with NEC, the new release is also available as an official digital signage platform for NEC’s P- and V-series monitors. Since NEC’s products are equipped with all required hardware, end-users can take advantage of a simplified deployment process. This turnkey solution effectively resolves a common technical pain point for end-users</p> <p>Screenly 2 is available today both as a disk image and as a hardware kit from Screenly’s official distributors. You can also see Screenly 2 in action at NEC’s booth at Digital Signage Expo (DSE) in Las Vegas in March.</p> <p>To learn more about Screenly 2 Player, visit <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/115001603993-Screenly-2-player-information">this page</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/02/28/screenly-2-is-here/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/02/28/screenly-2-is-here/Wed, 28 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re happy to announce the availability of the latest release of Screenly OSE, v0.13 (code name Paradise City).</p> <p>This release focused mostly on improving the network configuration experience. In the past, we have experimented with various ways of configuring both static networking and WiFi in Screenly. Some of it ended up being successful, while other experiments were caused some confusion and we will continue to experiment until we’re happy.</p> <h2 id="network-overhaul">Network overhaul</h2> <p>With this release, we have decommissioned the use of Screenly Network Configuration, which means that you can no longer configure the network using a <code>network.ini</code> file in the boot partition.</p> <p>Inspired by the way that most IoT devices configure networking, we have adopted a WiFi hotspot solution with a captive portal (using <a href="https://github.com/resin-io/resin-wifi-connect">Resin WiFi Connect</a>). This, of course, requires a WiFi interface, such as the built-in one on the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B.</p> <p>What this means is that (on the first boot), the device will check if there is any active network connection (such as Ethernet with DHCP). If there isn’t one, instructions for how to connect to the device will appear on the screen.</p> <p>In short, it will look something like this:</p> <ul> <li>You connect to the SSID displayed on your screen using your smartphone or laptop</li> <li>Once you’re connected, you will see a list of all available SSIDs/networks</li> <li>You select one of them and enter the passphrase (if applicable)</li> <li>Once the Raspberry Pi successfully connected to the network specified, it will shut down the hotspot and continue as normal</li> </ul> <p>Behind the scenes, what happens is that a Network Manager configuration is created. This means that upon next reboot, the device will connect automatically to the network without the hotspot being launched.</p> <p>For custom Ethernet configuration and advanced configurations, you can either use <code>nmcli</code> by hand on the device, or configure networking through <code>/etc/network/interfaces</code>.</p> <h2 id="change-in-port">Change in port</h2> <p>In addition to the network changes, we have also decided to change the default port of Screenly. Historically, it has been using port 8080, which can sometime cause some inconvenience when accessing the web interface. As such, this release now uses the regular port 80 for HTTP (and 443 if you’ve enabled SSL).</p> <h2 id="new-api-call">New API call</h2> <p>Another theme as of lately is to improve the API support. In this release, we’ve added a new API call for <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/issues/662">navigating to a specific asset</a>.</p> <p>This can be very useful when Screenly OSE is used with external input. For instance, you could program physical buttons to cause events to happen on the screen. An example for this could be an <a href="/use-cases/modern-art-installations/">art exhibition</a> or a museum, where the visitor can learn more about a given item by pressing a button.</p> <p>For more information, and to download the disk image, visit the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/releases/tag/v0.14">GitHub Release page</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/01/19/screenly-ose-0.13-is-available/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2018/01/19/screenly-ose-0.13-is-available/Fri, 19 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000<p>In a recent <a href="http://www.sixteen-nine.net/2017/10/03/what-iot-can-bring-to-digital-signage-in-retail/">guest post</a> over at Sixteen-Nine, we argued that Internet of Things (IoT) can significantly help improve digital signage. In this article we are going to get our hands dirty and actually implement an example of what we call <a href="/digital-signage-meets-iot/">Reactive Digital Signage</a>.</p> <p>To make things easy to adopt, we will not use a sensor in this example, but rather use the weather as the input. We will read this over the internet, so there is no need to go out and buy a temperature sensor. The end goal of this article is to display an ad for hot chocolate on the screens. <strong>However</strong>, we will <strong>only</strong> display this when the temperature is below 0C/32F.</p> <p>The idea with this article is to show you how to do this end-to-end. The concept could be applied to a number of other situations, such as if it is raining, sunny or similar.</p> <p>Please do note that this article does require a fair amount of technical know-how.</p> <h2 id="big-picture-overview">Big picture overview</h2> <p>There are many ways to accomplish this example. In this article we will rely on a few tools:</p> <ul> <li>We will use Python as the programming language</li> <li>We will use <a href="https://openweathermap.org/">Open Weather Map</a> to get the weather data</li> <li>We will use <a href="https://www.heroku.com/">Heroku</a> to host the micro service <ul> <li>If you prefer to run it on your own servers, <a href="https://cloud.google.com/appengine/docs/flexible/">Google App Engine</a>, or <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/ecs/">Amazon ECS</a>, there is also a <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/api-example-dynamic-content#docker">Docker version available</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>Before you get started, you will need:</p> <ul> <li>A Heroku account (free)</li> <li>A Open Weather Map API key (free)</li> <li>A Screenly account (free trial)</li> <li>The lat/long of the location you want to monitor</li> </ul> <p>The <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/playground/tree/master/dynamic-playlists/">sample micro service</a> that we have written for this article is very simple (~100 lines of Python code).</p> <p>What it does is fairly straight forward. Every five minutes, it will:</p> <ul> <li>Take the lat/long provided and queries Dark Sky’s API to get the temperature</li> <li>It then compares the temperature with temperature threshold (in this case 0C) <ul> <li>If the temperature is above 0C, it disables the playlist holding the asset(s)</li> <li>If the temperature is below 0C, it enables the playlist holding the asset(s)</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <h2 id="configuring-screenly">Configuring Screenly</h2> <p>The first things we need to do is to is to upload the actual asset. Perhaps you have some sleek image illustrating a warm and refreshing hot chocolate for cold winter days with a special promo.</p> <p>Once we’ve uploaded the asset into your Screenly account, you need to create a playlist. Since we are going to use some API magic to manage this playlist, all we need to do is to create the playlist and make sure that it has a some set of variables to make it active (such as the default setting).</p> <p>You now need to save the playlist and take note of the playlist id. You can find this in the URL of the asset when you navigate to it. It will look something like this:</p> <p><code>https://foobar.screenlyapp.com/manage/playlists/**56dd5fb14226bc001a6005b1**</code></p> <p>In this case <code>56dd5fb14226bc001a6005b1</code> is the playlist id. Write this down as we will need it for the micro service configuration.</p> <p>Next we need to get an API key from Screenly. You can do this directly from the webapp. Simply login to your account and navigate to your account settings in the upper right-hand corner. Under the ‘Accounts’ tab, you can generate a new API token.</p> <p>Write down this token as we will need it later.</p> <h2 id="getting-your-latitudelongitude">Getting your latitude/longitude</h2> <p>If you don’t know the lat/long for the city you want the weather for, the easiest way is to simply do a Google search for “lat long for X”.</p> <h2 id="getting-your-open-weather-map-api-key">Getting your Open Weather Map API key</h2> <p>To get your Open Weather Map key, go to <a href="https://home.openweathermap.org/users/sign_up">Open Weather Map</a> and sign up / sign in. You will then see your API key listed on the top.</p> <h2 id="create-the-micro-service">Create the micro service</h2> <p>As mentioned above, we will be running a small micro service on Heroku that will be responsible for this logic. You can find the entire code base on <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/api-example-dynamic-content">GitHub</a>. All you need to do is to click at the button below:</p> <p><a href="https://heroku.com/deploy?template=https://github.com/Screenly/api-example-dynamic-content"><img src="https://www.herokucdn.com/deploy/button.svg" alt="Deploy" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy"></a></p> <p>You will then be presented with this screen:</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/heroku-screenshot_hu_12d7ae7ba07bb17b.webp 480w, /images/blog/heroku-screenshot_hu_e8707641618959e7.webp 768w, /images/blog/heroku-screenshot_hu_7ba9958f4abfd71.webp 1024w, /images/blog/heroku-screenshot_hu_37dcd2e375478594.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/heroku-screenshot_hu_dbf923478ec1b86f.webp 480w, /images/blog/heroku-screenshot_hu_10fe31be8c7b8b69.webp 768w, /images/blog/heroku-screenshot_hu_fb3e9c06d1bd4049.webp 1024w, /images/blog/heroku-screenshot_hu_ab887cdc47823f7d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/heroku-screenshot_hu_7ba9958f4abfd71.webp" alt="Heroku microservice" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="802" > </picture> <p>All you need now is to fill out the information you copied down above and fill it out. When you then press ‘Deploy App’ and you’re good to go!</p> <p>You can follow the logs by navigating to your app and press “More” -> “View logs” to ensure everything is working.</p> <h2 id="closing-notes">Closing notes</h2> <p>The purpose of this article was to illustrate how you can build interactivity into your digital signage deployment. In this article we used temperature as the input, but it could as well have been some other weather condition (such as rain if you’re advertising umbrellas) or something completely different (such as a physical sensor).</p> <p>Hopefully this was useful for you and if you have any questions, drop us a line at <a href="https://support.screenly.io">support.screenly.io</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/12/15/building-intelligent-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/12/15/building-intelligent-digital-signage/Fri, 15 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="design-service">Design service</h2> <p>One common pain point for many digital signage users is that it’s difficult to design professional content. Unless you have a designer in-house, it’s difficult to create that eye catching content.</p> <p>This is why we have teamed up with a company called Screen Kinetics to offer you:</p> <ul> <li>A free social media bundle.</li> <li>An exclusive 20% discount on your initial purchase on bespoke design services.</li> </ul> <p>Their portfolio range from templates for common use cases (such as menu boards) to fully custom content.</p> <p>To learn more about this, visit our <a href="https://learn.screenly.io/digital-signage-content">design service page</a> and fill out the form.</p> <h2 id="screenly-v2-beta">Screenly v2 beta</h2> <p>In case you missed it, the beta of our next generation digital signage software player is now open to the public. We are constantly making improvements to this release and are frequently releasing updates. You can learn more about the beta release <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/115001603993">here</a>. Please do note that this is a completely separate disk image.</p> <h2 id="screenlys-api">Screenly’s API</h2> <p>Our API is right now in private beta mode and we are close to unveiling it to the general public. Keep an eye on our social media accounts and on our blog for updates and content.</p> <h2 id="were-hiring">We’re hiring</h2> <p>Do you want to help shape the future of digital signage? If so, check out our <a href="/careers/">careers page</a>. We’re currently looking for a <a href="/careers/designer/">Designer / Front-end developer</a>.</p> <h2 id="more-screencasts">More screencasts</h2> <p>Since we started publishing our screencasts, we have received great feedback from our users. You can find all of our screencasts on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/screenlydigitalsignage">YouTube channel</a> .</p> <h2 id="screenly-and-screenly-ose-whats-the-difference">Screenly and Screenly OSE. What’s the difference?</h2> <p>As you probably are aware, Screenly is available in two versions: Screenly (the paid version) and Screenly OSE.</p> <p>Screenly is our commercial version of Screenly. It’s offered as a SaaS/cloud service, where we take care of everything from device management to running the back-end. The idea is to create a set-and-forget digital signage solution for businesses. This also allows you to manage all your devices remotely. All you need to do is to tell what should be displayed where, and we take care of the rest.</p> <p>Screenly OSE on the other hand is a fully open source version of Screenly. You install it directly onto a Raspberry Pi. You then navigate to the Raspberry Pi on your local network to manage the content. When you want to update the device (both software and security updates), you need to manually do this. There is no cloud element at all. If you have five Screenly OSE installations, you need to manage them all independently since everything is hosted on the Raspberry Pis</p> <p>Screenly OSE was the original version. We then created Screenly (the paid version) based on customer demand. Ever since we created Screenly, we have been committed to also maintain Screenly OSE. We now have paid developers that keeps working on Screenly OSE. Hence we would not have been able to maintain Screenly OSE if it wasn’t for the revenue from Screenly.</p> <p>You can learn more about the differences between Screenly and Screenly OSE <a href="/pricing/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="screenly-ose-on-resinio">Screenly OSE on resin.io</h2> <p>We recently introduce <a href="/blog/2017/11/27/screenly-ose-0-13-adds-support-for-docker/">Screenly OSE 0.13</a>. One of the major new feature we announced was the support for resin.io. For those not familiar with resin.io, it’s an innovative IoT device management platform. By teaming up with resin.io, we are able to add new functionalities to Screenly OSE, such as remote device management.</p> <p>You can learn more about this in our guest post <a href="https://resin.io/blog/deploy-a-digital-signage-application-with-screenly-and-resin/">Deploy a digital signage application with Screenly OSE and resin.io</a>.</p> <h2 id="get-some-screenly-swag">Get some Screenly swag</h2> <p>We just got a fresh delivery of Screenly stickers and would like to share some of them with you. All you need to take a photo of your Screenly deployment, tweet it and and tag us (@screenlyapp) in it.</p> <h2 id="recent-events"><strong>Recent events</strong></h2> <h2 id="highload">HighLoad++</h2> <p><em>(Moscow, Russia)</em></p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/highload_hu_53bfcedbd4c0aa11.webp 480w, /images/blog/highload_hu_5a21f2bbb2a75322.webp 768w, /images/blog/highload_hu_607832028c6f5a3f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/highload_hu_ad56f6eab111cfcc.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/highload_hu_99d7bb6dd476b840.webp 480w, /images/blog/highload_hu_10a0182e1b79453c.webp 768w, /images/blog/highload_hu_7c103339e2664079.webp 1024w, /images/blog/highload_hu_70f21cb394fde058.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/highload_hu_607832028c6f5a3f.webp" alt="HighLoad++, Moscow" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" > </picture> <p>On November 7-8, we attended the developer conference HighLoad++.</p> <p>Renat, one of our talented developers, gave a presentation at the conference where he shared his experience of IoT security and deployments while working on Screenly. Renat explained Screenly’s decision for using Ubuntu Core and explored the advantages of using Ubuntu Core in IoT devices (and digital signage in particular) where the the ease of updates and the high level of security are essential. As Ubuntu Core promotes ideas of atomic updates, various update methods were compared.</p> <p>You can find the slide deck from the talk <a href="https://speakerdeck.com/renat2017/using-ubuntu-core-os-in-production">here</a>. The recording will be available later.</p> <h2 id="maker-faire">Maker Faire</h2> <p><em>(Rome, Italy)</em></p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/maker-faire-rome_hu_4e35c3bd562d159c.webp 480w, /images/blog/maker-faire-rome_hu_860961ac3507c868.webp 768w, /images/blog/maker-faire-rome_hu_976e2ac3d20b28d5.webp 1024w, /images/blog/maker-faire-rome_hu_addf1659132cbcef.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/maker-faire-rome_hu_9cb0f5924aef5787.webp 480w, /images/blog/maker-faire-rome_hu_947c70c5bdea8c6f.webp 768w, /images/blog/maker-faire-rome_hu_f29a9b09b7245fd8.webp 1024w, /images/blog/maker-faire-rome_hu_cda24c9f56d63b69.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/maker-faire-rome_hu_976e2ac3d20b28d5.webp" alt="Maker Faire, Rome" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" > </picture> <p>On December 1-3, we were at Maker Faire in Rome together with our friends at resin.io. The event was huge and full of exciting projects and aspiring makers. One of the most exciting things at the event was resin.io’s huge new Raspberry Pi cluster (nicknamed The Beast). It’s one of the largest Raspberry Pi clusters in the world, featuring over 360 Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, complete with internal networking and custom power supplies. Needless to say, it’s an impressive accomplishment.</p> <p>During the event, we showcased Screenly OSE running on resin.io (see “Screenly OSE on resin.io” above). We also made things even more interesting by demonstrating how the API in Screenly OSE can be used for building interactive signage through external triggers as part of our <a href="/digital-signage-meets-iot/">reactive digital signage initiative</a>.</p> <p>We also had lots of interesting conversations with both makers and customers and we’re looking forward to see all of the ideas come to fruition over the coming months.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/12/13/design-assistance-and-more/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/12/13/design-assistance-and-more/Wed, 13 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re happy to announce the release of Screenly OSE 0.13 (code name Mr. Brownstone). The release is now available both through <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/noobs/">NOOBS</a> and as <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/releases/tag/v0.13">a disk image</a>. Let’s dive into what’s new in this release.</p> <h2 id="added-support-for-resinio">Added support for resin.io</h2> <p>The biggest focus of this release was to add support for <a href="https://resin.io">resin.io</a>. If you’re not familiar with resin.io, it’s an innovative IoT platform that simplifies deployment and management of IoT devices. We’ve worked with our friends there to add support for Screenly OSE in their platform. To do this, we had to make a fair amount of changes to Screenly OSE, but it was well worth it as it significantly simplifies the deployment and management of Screenly OSE devices, as well as provide remote access to the management interface. As an added bonus, Screenly OSE can now fully run inside Docker (or Moby to be precise)/<a href="https://www.balena.io/">Balena</a> on ARM, which is what resin.io uses as a runtime environment.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-on-resin_hu_2037c56ceca8641a.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-on-resin_hu_a57e41edb6e24c06.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-on-resin_hu_e4c3cf889ebf7f4.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-on-resin_hu_1b59fb9146eff4fc.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-on-resin_hu_561f32b087aecce7.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-on-resin_hu_9ad01580d02a2ffb.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-on-resin_hu_19a28a43c92751d3.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-on-resin_hu_c7d83b3649140732.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-ose-on-resin_hu_e4c3cf889ebf7f4.webp" alt="Screenly OSE running on resin.io" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" > </picture> <p>If you want to learn more about this, we wrote a guest blog post titled <a href="https://resin.io/blog/deploy-a-digital-signage-application-with-screenly-and-resin/">Deploy a digital signage application with Screenly OSE and resin.io</a> that walks you through the process from scratch. The article even includes a screencast.</p> <h2 id="new-navigation-buttons">New navigation buttons</h2> <p>In <a href="/blog/2017/10/26/screenly-ose-0-12-is-out/">0.12</a> we added new API calls for telling the screen to navigate back and forward. This is very handy when you want to extend Screenly OSE with things like physical buttons. In this release we’ve added buttons to the web interface that allows you to fire off these API calls to demonstrate the functionality.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-next-forward_hu_cd93298f0f006c04.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-next-forward_hu_e4c6dc38e1062805.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-next-forward_hu_5cc5873d5f819f45.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-next-forward_hu_2845e466913c1e21.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-next-forward_hu_5564c82b50a46572.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-next-forward_hu_7f14d2af30558fbd.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-next-forward_hu_c61f0f3e06d9d527.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-next-forward_hu_514e4f2a1f15a2cb.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-ose-next-forward_hu_5cc5873d5f819f45.webp" alt="Screenly OSE with navigation buttons" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="668" > </picture> <br /></p> <h2 id="improved-api">Improved API</h2> <p>As you have likely seen, we’ve focused a fair amount over the last few sprints on improving both the API and back-end of Screenly OSE. As part of this, we discovered that the <code>/api/v1/assets</code> API end-point wasn’t well designed as it used <code>Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded</code>. To maintain backward compatibility, we introduced <code>/api/v1.1/assets</code>, which is using JSON payloads instead.</p> <p>You can find the full automated API documentation at <a href="http://ose.demo.screenlyapp.com/api/docs/">ose.demo.screenlyapp.com/api/docs</a>.</p> <h2 id="numerous-bugfixes">Numerous bugfixes</h2> <p>In addition to the above features, the release also includes various bug fixes. You can learn more about the exact changes in this release on the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/releases/tag/v0.13">GitHub Release page</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/11/27/screenly-ose-0-13-adds-support-for-docker/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/11/27/screenly-ose-0-13-adds-support-for-docker/Mon, 27 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="screenly-partners-with-nec">Screenly partners with NEC</h2> <p>We are very excited to announce that Screenly recently <a href="https://www.nec-display-solutions.com/p/hq/en/news/dp/Products/Shared/News/2017/PressReleases/Products/LFD/Ubuntu/Ubuntu.xhtml">partnered with NEC</a> to deliver Screenly to NEC’s P and V series monitors. What makes this unique is the fact that as the first major display manufacturer, NEC has chosen to embed a custom Raspberry Pi Compute Module into its monitors. This means that you can run Screenly directly on this monitor with no additional hardware. This brings the best both worlds: a high quality display with the most innovative digital signage solution out there.</p> <p>If you’re interested in learning more about this, please visit our <a href="/nec/">NEC page</a>.</p> <h2 id="screenly-at-nec-nordic-showcase">Screenly at NEC Nordic Showcase</h2> <p>As part of the partnership with NEC, we were invited to NEC Nordic Showcase in Gothenburg, Sweden. At the event, we showed how Screenly works seamlessly on NEC V and P series monitors. We had lots of interesting conversations with both partners and large companies. This was our first event in the Nordics and we are now working with both partners and clients to roll out our first proof-of-concept deployments there. Exciting times!</p> <h2 id="screenly-v2-player-is-now-in-public-beta">Screenly v2 player is now in public beta</h2> <p>We were overwhelmed by the amount of interest in our Screenly v2 beta sign-up. Hundreds of companies signed up. While we still have some work on the v2 release, we have made significant enough progress that we now want to invite a larger audience of testers to the beta.</p> <p>You can read more about the current status of the beta version <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/115001603993-Screenly-Pro-V2-Beta-Player-information">here</a>.</p> <p>Once the new player becomes the default player, we will start sunsetting the old version over the course of 6-12 months. After that point, we will no longer support the old version. There is no need to panic though. No action is required today, there’s still plenty of time and we will provide every existing customer with a simple upgrade path well ahead of time.</p> <p>If you’d like to get the beta ahead of time you can get the new image right now:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.screenly.io/latest-v2">Disk image</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.screenly.io/latest-v2.md5">MD5 file</a></li> </ul> <p>Make sure that you follow our <a href="https://youtu.be/RE_C_n6dhyo">tutorial</a> on how to flash out the disk image.</p> <h2 id="what-iot-can-bring-to-digital-signage-in-retail">What IoT can bring to digital signage in retail?</h2> <p>We recently wrote a guest post together with our friends at <a href="https://evrythng.com/">EVRYTHNG</a> about how Internet of Things (IoT) can improve digital signage in a retail environment. In short, we believe that the future of digital signage in retail is all about <a href="/digital-signage-meets-iot/">Reactive Digital Signage</a>. What this means is that the content will change depending on external variables. This can be anything from the weather to sensors.</p> <p>You can read the full article <a href="http://www.sixteen-nine.net/2017/10/03/what-iot-can-bring-to-digital-signage-in-retail/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="new-case-study-cinema">New case study: Cinema</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/cinergy-case-study_hu_8f72ccead737c99.webp 480w, /images/blog/cinergy-case-study_hu_b989fa58f09a1223.webp 768w, /images/blog/cinergy-case-study_hu_72bc51bfeb4a188b.webp 1024w, /images/blog/cinergy-case-study_hu_d67093d5f25e5eef.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/cinergy-case-study_hu_784ff931de913234.webp 480w, /images/blog/cinergy-case-study_hu_8bb85ace52e8df90.webp 768w, /images/blog/cinergy-case-study_hu_521ae3ed5f203353.webp 1024w, /images/blog/cinergy-case-study_hu_f9ba55af9887e82d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/cinergy-case-study_hu_72bc51bfeb4a188b.webp" alt="Screenly running at Cinergy" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="415" > </picture> <p>In the next few months, we are planning to create more case studies. Our first case study was developed together with Ubuntu and it targeted the digital signage in cinemas and movie theaters. It explores what is unique about this particular environment and how our customer Cinergy was able to save a large amount of money by switching to Screenly.</p> <p>You can find the case study <a href="/use-cases/cinemas/">here</a>.</p> <p>Are you doing something interesting with Screenly? <a href="https://support.screenly.io">Let us know</a> and perhaps we can do a case study about you too.</p> <h2 id="screenly-ose-012-is-out">Screenly OSE 0.12 is out</h2> <p>While this newsletter mostly focuses on Screenly, this doesn’t mean that we have left Screenly OSE behind. On the contrary. We are deeply committed to maintaining and improving Screenly OSE. While it might not have all the bells and whistles of Screenly (we need to pay our bills and staff after all), we are still actively working on improving Screenly OSE.</p> <p>The latest release of Screenly OSE can be downloaded <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/releases">here</a> and from <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/noobs/">NOOBS</a>. It includes changes such as:</p> <ul> <li>Improved API documentation</li> <li>Migration to Flask (back-end change)</li> <li>Support for Raspbian Stretch</li> <li>Various bugfixes</li> </ul> <p>You can find more detail about the release <a href="/blog/2017/10/26/screenly-ose-0-12-is-out/">here</a></p> <p>In the next sprint (release), we will be working on things like <a href="https://www.resin.io">Resin</a> support, and improving our API. You can read more about it <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/milestone/7">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="are-you-interested-in-a-queue-management-system">Are you interested in a queue management system?</h2> <p>You know those paper numbers you get in stores that you hold on to while waiting for your turn? Those systems are called queue management systems. We looked at this market and noticed that there was no real good open source solution on the market for this (but loads of commercial solutions). Since it ties into digital signage, we are exploring if there is demand for an open source version of this.</p> <p>If you are interested in this, please fill out <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/LokZ8vI5AgkqfFGy1">this survey</a>.</p> <h2 id="were-hiring">We’re hiring</h2> <p>Last, but not least, we’re looking for a <a href="https://angel.co/screenly/jobs/286654-jr-sales-executive">Jr Sales Executive</a>. If you want to be part of shaping the future of digital signage, apply <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/ENSFfaroAYQczhys2">here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/10/27/nec-v2-and-more/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/10/27/nec-v2-and-more/Fri, 27 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re excited to announce version 0.12 (code name Out ta Get Me) of Screenly Open Source Edition (OSE). While this release might not look like a major update on the surface, it does include a large number of changes behind the scenes to ensure a smother path forward.</p> <p>(It should also be said that we released 0.12.1 shortly after the release as we found a bug with the splash screen in 0.12 after we had published the release.)</p> <h2 id="weve-switched-to-flask">We’ve switched to Flask</h2> <p>When we started out with Screenly OSE, we built it on top of a Python based framework called <a href="https://bottlepy.org">Bottle</a>. The main reason for picking this framework was the simplicity. As we grew however, we frequently hit its limitations.</p> <p>We recently had an internal discussion about what framework we should move to. The two runner-ups were <a href="https://www.djangoproject.com/">Django</a> and <a href="http://flask.pocoo.org/">Flask</a>. We ended up going with Flask. While moving to Django would have provided us with a large number of benefits, a migration to Django would require a large amount of the code base to be rewritten. Moving to Flask only required a fairly small rewrite, while still providing us with a much larger set of built-in features and extensions (such as the API documentation below).</p> <h2 id="new-api-documentation">New API documentation</h2> <p>As mentioned in the previous paragraph, one of the reason for moving to Flask was the ability to leverage existing tools better. One of these things we wanted to have support for was automated API documentation. This was completed in this sprint and we now have automatic API documentation thanks to <a href="https://swagger.io/">Swagger</a>.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/ose-api-docs_hu_bcf22f139dba36a1.webp 480w, /images/blog/ose-api-docs_hu_4a7123e388958aba.webp 768w, /images/blog/ose-api-docs_hu_94b4fad7b8e7aee8.webp 1024w, /images/blog/ose-api-docs_hu_b455a7c1dc404772.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/ose-api-docs_hu_75692279bae64050.webp 480w, /images/blog/ose-api-docs_hu_d8f0aa497a3bc88b.webp 768w, /images/blog/ose-api-docs_hu_61ac86e487066bc9.webp 1024w, /images/blog/ose-api-docs_hu_da1832e2e393f9ce.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/ose-api-docs_hu_94b4fad7b8e7aee8.webp" alt="Screenly OSE API documentation" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="686" > </picture> <p>You can view the API documentation directly either using your own Screenly OSE installation (go to /api/docs or simply visit <a href="http://ose.demo.screenlyapp.com/api/docs/">ose.demo.screenlyapp.com/api/docs/</a>)</p> <h2 id="raspbian-stretch-support">Raspbian Stretch support</h2> <p>Since the last release, Raspbian Stretch was released. This required some updates to our installation script to deal with things like the new way that Stretch deals with networking.</p> <p>We also decided to switch to Raspbian Stretch (Lite) as the default disk image.</p> <h2 id="noobs-improvements">NOOBS improvements</h2> <p>Since we <a href="/blog/2017/06/22/screenly-ose-is-now-in-noobs/">added support for NOOBS</a> a few releases back we discovered that there was a bug if you used a custom network configuration (such as static IP) inside NOOBS. To cope with that, we simply disabled our own network configuration tool if we detected the presence of NOOBS.</p> <h2 id="new-api-calls-nextprevious">New API calls: next/previous</h2> <p>We believe <a href="/digital-signage-meets-iot/">Reactive Digital Signage</a> is a critical part of the future of digital signage. This means that we need to integrate with Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors.</p> <p>With these new API calls, we are able to programmatically switch to the next and previous asset. One thing you can do with this is to control the screen using a sensor. As an example of this, we wrote a simple <a href="https://github.com/PiSupply/Flick/blob/master/bin/flick-screenly-ose">example script</a> for the 3D tracker <a href="https://www.pi-supply.com/brand/pi-supply/flick/">Flick</a> that we showed at <a href="http://camjam.me/">CamJam</a>. The script allows you to simply waive your hand back and forth to navigate between assets.</p> <p>We could as well have replaced the Flick with regular buttons. The concept would have been the same. The idea is simply to bring in real world sensors into a digital signage environment without using custom (and expensive) hardware.</p> <h2 id="ssh-is-now-disabled-by-default">SSH is now disabled by default</h2> <p>Recent Raspbian releases now come with SSH disabled by default. We support this move, as it significantly improves the security of devices out in the wild. As such, all disk images starting this release will have SSH disabled (including NOOBS installations). If you want to enable SSH, please follow <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/remote-access/ssh/">these steps</a>.</p> <h2 id="get-started">Get started</h2> <p>If you haven’t tried Screenly OSE yet, you can either fetch the latest disk image from <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/releases">GitHub</a> or you can use NOOBS to install Screenly OSE. Version 0.12.1 is available through both methods right now.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/10/26/screenly-ose-0-12-is-out/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/10/26/screenly-ose-0-12-is-out/Thu, 26 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Munich, 13</strong> <strong>September</strong> <strong>2017</strong> — <a href="https://www.nec-display-solutions.com/p/uk/en/home.xhtml">NEC Display Solutions Europe</a> today announced a collaboration with Canonical, the company behind <a href="https://www.ubuntu.com/core">Ubuntu Core</a> and <a href="https://www.screenly.io/">Screenly</a>, the leading digital signage software solution for Raspberry Pi. This is one of several partnerships NEC has made with digital signage software companies leveraging Raspberry Pi as part of their digital signage solution. The joint collaboration facilitates an innovative digital signage solution which uses NEC’s P and V Series 40–55 inch large format displays and modular <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/">Raspberry Pi</a>Compute Module 3 (CM3) to deliver high impact visual content in an integrated package for professional AV applications.</p> <p>When it comes to deploying signage in professional environments, not only the playback performance is paramount, but also the user experience and the overall platform security, reliability and manageability are vital. This collaboration is a strategic move by NEC to highlight these capabilities within our versatile range of display solutions, and is in line with NEC’s Open Modular intelligent computing strategy.</p> <p>Screenly’s powerful digital signage platform makes it easy to manage both small and large deployments, with targeted sectors such as retail, food and beverage, education, transport, and corporate offices, who will be able to communicate eye-catching content with their customers on this platform. The player enables smooth playback of full HD videos, images and web pages, complete with health checks and remote status monitoring. Moreover, the combination of Screenly’s simple, yet powerful, CMS and the flexible API, means Screenly can be used as a stand-alone solution or integrated with IoT solutions as well as into larger, more complex systems. Sensor triggers can be incorporated to make the signage more context-aware and relevant to the viewer, enhancing the overall experience.</p> <p>Jatin Bhatt, Strategic Alliance Manager at NEC Display Solutions Europe said: “Companies are looking for highly reliable technologies to continue improving their adoption and use of digital signage. The cooperation with Canonical and Screenly enables seamless integration of digital signage functionality and content management features into a single smart device, leveraging the power of the Raspberry Pi CM3 right inside our <a href="https://www.nec-display-solutions.com/p/uk/en/Launch.xhtml?id=PandVSeries">P and V Series</a> displays. Together, this creates a simple but very secure, self-contained and effective solution for digital signage applications, supporting the NEC Open Modular computing strategy.”</p> <p>Ubuntu Core is a minimal version of Ubuntu targeted at IoT and embedded devices offering over-the-air updates, security built-in from the ground up and the opportunity for additional functionality and monetisation through snaps — the universal Linux packaging application format. Automatic updates simplify the update process for businesses that have digital signage installed in numerous and remote locations, while the secure platform ensures resistance to screen takeover and other potential attacks. Ubuntu Core is fully supported on the Raspberry Pi CM3 to deliver a cost effective, secure and extensible platform.</p> <p>Mike Bell, EVP of IoT and Devices at Canonical commented: “Digital signage platforms are now an increasing must-have feature for businesses all around the world. By partnering with the brightest minds in the industry, we can continue to develop enterprise and embedded IoT uses for Ubuntu Core. NEC’s large format displays with their support for Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 running Ubuntu Core, offers a compelling and fully-integrated solution.”</p> <p>Viktor Petersson, CEO of Screenly added: “NEC’s open modular platform approach and IoT focus with Raspberry Pi CM3 allows us to push our software right into the heart of the digital signage hardware platform, providing a vibrant yet secure digital visual proposition that takes full advantage of the opportunities the IoT offers to advertisers and other organisations to personalise content and be more interactive. We look forward to working with NEC and Canonical to deliver the future of CMS digital signage.”</p> <p>For more information about the Screenly signage software and to download a fully featured 14 days trial license, please click <a href="https://www.screenly.io/nec/">here</a>.</p> <p>– ENDS –</p> <p><strong>About Canonical</strong> Canonical is the company behind Ubuntu, the leading OS for cloud operations. Most public cloud workloads use Ubuntu, as do most new smart gateways, switches, self-driving cars and advanced robots. Canonical provides enterprise support and services for commercial users of Ubuntu. Established in 2004, Canonical is a privately held company. For further information please click <a href="https://www.ubuntu.com/internet-of-things">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>About Screenly</strong> Screenly is the world’s most popular digital signage platform for the Raspberry Pi. Since its launch in 2012, Screenly has become a dominant digital signage platform for the Raspberry Pi and powers over ten thousand of screen around the world. Screenly’s wide range of customers include advertising firms, hotels, restaurants, retail chains, offices and universities. For more information on Screenly please visit <a href="https://www.screenly.io/">https://www.screenly.io</a></p> <p><strong>About NEC Display Solutions Europe</strong> NEC Display Solutions Europe GmbH has its European headquarters in Munich, Germany and is responsible for all business activities in EMEA. NEC Display Solutions Europe benefits from the technological know-how and technologies of the NEC Corporation and, with its own Research and Development, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers offering the widest product range of display solutions in the market. The display product portfolio ranges from entry-level to professional and speciality desktop LCDs, via large-size Public Displays for Digital and Retail Signage. The Projector range offers products for all needs, from portable devices via business projectors to products for permanent operation (such as PoS applications) and digital cinema projectors. Bernd Eberhardt is President and CEO of NEC Display Solutions Europe.</p> <p>Further information can be found online at: <a href="https://www.nec-display-solutions.com/p/hq/en/home.xhtml">www.nec-display-solutions.com</a></p> <p>Follow us on our social media channels: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.</p> <p><strong>About NEC Corporation</strong> NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company’s experience and global resources, NEC’s advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at <a href="http://www.nec.com./">http://www.nec.com.</a></p> <p>Based on its Mid-term Management Plan 2015, the NEC Group globally provides “Solutions for Society” that promote the safety, security, efficiency and equality of society. Under the company’s corporate message of “Orchestrating a brighter world,” NEC aims to help solve a wide range of challenging issues and to create new social value for the changing world of tomorrow. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.nec.com/en/global/about/solutionsforsociety/message.html.">http://www.nec.com/en/global/about/solutionsforsociety/message.html.</a></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/09/14/nec-display-solutions-partners-with-canonical-and-screenly-on-ubuntu-core-based-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/09/14/nec-display-solutions-partners-with-canonical-and-screenly-on-ubuntu-core-based-digital-signage/Thu, 14 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/2-by-2-video-wall_hu_9565522f22c1daeb.webp 480w, /images/blog/2-by-2-video-wall_hu_a359102bf0af6e2b.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/2-by-2-video-wall_hu_b3a0484f674f46c1.webp 480w, /images/blog/2-by-2-video-wall_hu_6c7498744657ef73.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/2-by-2-video-wall_hu_d8d6f6f42dd825ca.webp" alt="Create a cost effective digital signage video wall with Screenly" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="499" > </picture> <em>Create a cost effective digital signage video wall with Screenly</em></p> <p>If you’ve ever entered the headquarters for a trendy company or a flagship retail store, you have most likely seen video walls. They come in all shapes and sizes, but what they have in common is that if they tend to stand out. Another thing that they have in common is that they come with a hefty price tag.</p> <p>The traditional signage companies will try to sell you extremely complex solutions that can be configured all sorts of ways. How about a T-shaped sign with 8k resolution? While this might be desirable for 0.01% of the market, such as the flagship store for a luxury brand, the reality is that it isn’t viable for the vast majority of users. Here’s why:</p> <ul> <li>It’s extremely expensive to purchase the hardware and software. On top of that comes the installation, consultants and support contracts to get the system to operate the way you want it to.</li> <li>Creating 4k and 8k content is very expensive. If you’re dealing with non-standard resolutions (i.e. non-16:9 resolutions), it tends to get even more expensive. While 4k and 8k are trendy buzzword in the digital signage industry and bloggers and journalists love to write about it, the reality is that the average business struggles to even get their video content in full HD.</li> </ul> <p>At <a href="/">Screenly</a>, our value proposition is to make digital signage easy. We don’t claim to be able to support every single edge case (but you can do some pretty fancy things with our <a href="/api/">API</a>). What we aim to solve is the needs of 80% of the market. For the vast majority of digital signage users, all they need to do is to manage content for 5–100 screens remotely using a simple interface. Why shouldn’t the same be true for video walls?</p> <p>If you agree with our hypothesis that 4k and 8k content is hard to come by, why would a video wall be any different than a regular player? A video wall is really just a digital signage player projecting content to a grid of screens.</p> <p>We’ve been using the Raspberry Pi for years now as our digital signage player. It’s a great little device that works great for digital signage (and there are over 10,000 Screenly players running around the world).</p> <p>Now you may ask, how would I be able to create a video wall using the Raspberry Pi? After all, it only has one HDMI port. This is a very good question. Fortunately there is an easy answer to this question.</p> <p>As it turns out, there are a vast number of products on the market that can take a single HDMI input and split it out to multiple screens. The <a href="http://www.gefen.com/product/hd-video-wall-controller-EXT-HD-VWC-144">Gefen HD Video Wall Controller</a> is one of these devices, and it <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1029279-REG/gefen_ext_hd_vwc_144_hd_video_wall_controller.html">retails for about $1,300</a> at the moment[1]. If you think that’s hefty, take a look at the pricing for video walls from the traditional digital signage companies. Oh right, they don’t even publish their prices for them…wonder why.</p> <p>It should be said that these configurations would only work in a 2x2 grid configuration. A 4x4 configuration may even work depending on the size of your monitors as you’re pushing the limit where full HD content starts to become pixelated/blurry.</p> <p>From Screenly’s perspective, this would work like any other player. There are no extra licenses to pay, or hidden fees involved. Oh, and did we mention that this works both for Screenly (our commercial version) and <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a> (our open source version)?</p> <p>Don’t have a Screenly account yet? Sign up for one for free <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">here</a>.</p> <p><em>[1] We don’t endorse the Gefen HD Video Wall Controller in particular, it just serves as an illustration.</em></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/09/05/create-a-cost-effective-digital-signage-video-wall-with-screenly/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/09/05/create-a-cost-effective-digital-signage-video-wall-with-screenly/Tue, 05 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>(This is a post includes a fair amount of technical details. If you don’t care about the technical details, then the tl;dr is that we made infrastructure changes that had unexpected side effects, which caused stability issues.)</p> <p>As some users may have noticed, we had stability issues last week. The purpose of this post is to share some technical details on this issue and provide you with what we are doing to ensure this won’t happen in the future.</p> <h2 id="the-background">The background</h2> <p>Until last week, <a href="https://www.screenly.io">Screenly</a>’s backend was hosted on a number of servers on Google Compute Engine (GCE). This has served us well, and we have had a very good track record in terms of uptime. We were however aware of the the setup we were using had a few Single-Point-of-Failures (SPoF), meaning if one server/service could potentially take down the entire infrastructure. This by itself is pretty common across small to medium sized companies. However, as we have seen a rapid growth in Screenly, we wanted to resolve this, while also future proofing our infrastructure such that we could scale horizontally (meaning that we want to be able to add and remove servers easily based on demand).</p> <p>After much research, we decided on <a href="https://kubernetes.io/">Kubernetes</a> and started porting our application stack. This by itself was fairly straight forward, as have already been using Docker for the last few years. We eventually moved our staging environment to Kubernetes and did a lot of testing to make sure everything worked as expected. After confirming that everything worked fine, we scheduled a go-live date, which was on Tuesday of last week.</p> <h2 id="the-outages">The outages</h2> <p>After taking the platform live, we first noticed some strange connection issues from various locations across the globe (we use both <a href="https://www.pingdom.com/">Pingdom</a> and <a href="https://www.statuscake.com/">StatusCake</a> for monitoring the uptime and performance). We initially attributed this to regular routing issues. This is something that you see from time to time, when there are interruptions or issues somewhere between point A and B on the internet. More interestingly, everything worked just fine for the vast majority of our users. However, every Nth visitor, would just get a timeout[1]. We literally spent days trying to figure out where these timeouts came from and even consulted with Kubernetes experts to pin point the issue. We eventually found that it was a configuration in Google’s Cloud Load Balancer that differed a little bit between the staging and production setup[2]. Once we changed this setting, the timeouts went away.</p> <p>This leads us to the big outage that we had that lasted for a few hours on the night between Wednesday and Thursday (UTC). What happened then was that we had a big spike in traffic. That by itself isn’t rare, but what we hadn’t accounted for was the behavior of the memory consumption of one of our back-end components. Normally, the cluster would have auto recovered from this if it wasn’t for that we overloaded the memory consumption had a domino effect, which knocked out some key components.</p> <p>To make matters worse, we discovered the next day that the monitoring system that should have alerted an engineer about the outage didn’t indeed work as expected, which is why the outage lasted for a few hours rather than being remedied quickly.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/status-screenly-io_hu_e93c88d82f2a8487.webp 480w, /images/blog/status-screenly-io_hu_770f4f5ed104006e.webp 768w, /images/blog/status-screenly-io_hu_b097658789bad19f.webp 1024w, /images/blog/status-screenly-io_hu_d6c84411472ce460.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/status-screenly-io_hu_b37aea79ab8c3364.webp 480w, /images/blog/status-screenly-io_hu_42c13cecbf3a42e1.webp 768w, /images/blog/status-screenly-io_hu_6aa7fc98c5575816.webp 1024w, /images/blog/status-screenly-io_hu_e0f45c005085aa68.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/status-screenly-io_hu_b097658789bad19f.webp" alt="Our new public status page that's available at status.screenly.io" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="833" > </picture> <p><em>Our new public status page that’s available at status.screenly.io</em></p> <h2 id="lessons-learned">Lessons learned</h2> <p>There are a number of lessons to learn from this outage, and we are working now on implementing these measures to ensure this will not happen again. Here are some of the measures that we will take:</p> <ul> <li>When making large changes, we need to do try to do more realistic testing to better simulate real workloads. This is a rather tricky thing to do, but if we would have done better load testing, we would likely have caught this issue earlier.</li> <li>We have setup a public status page (<a href="https://status.screenly.io/">status.screenly.io</a>), which shows the status of our systems in real time based on a 3rd party monitoring status of our systems. This also includes information about outages.</li> <li>We have already started to collect more application metrics (using <a href="https://prometheus.io/">Prometheus</a>) such that we both spot trends better and more quickly find bottlenecks.</li> <li>Configure better health checks and resource limitations on our back-end components such that even if a spike hits, the system will automatically cope with this.</li> <li>Set up automatic scaling of the cluster, such that the system can automatically add more resources whenever needed.</li> <li>Ensure that our alerting system works such that an engineer alerted (or even woken up) if there is an issue.</li> </ul> <p>The good news however is that even if our back-end was inaccessible for a few hours, it did not impact the players at all. We designed Screenly from day one to be able to survive outages, so while users were unable to make changes to the content, there was no impact on the actual playback.</p> <p>— — — — — ** **<em>[1] We don’t know exactly what N was, as they never hit our load balancers. All we could see was that we had a good amount of traffic flowing through our load balancers even during this time period. [2] The configuration difference was a missing health check in a TCP load balancer, which was the reason why a percentage of the traffic was incorrectly routed and caused a timeout.</em></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/08/21/a-port-mortem-of-last-weeks-stability-issues/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/08/21/a-port-mortem-of-last-weeks-stability-issues/Mon, 21 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p><strong>Update:</strong> The App Store has been replaced by our <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/playground">Playground</a>.</p> <p>Many Screenly users have requested an app store with applications like a clock, weather, and an RSS reader. We’ve delivered.</p> <h2 id="look-great-out-of-the-box">Look great out-of-the-box</h2> <p>Our apps look great out-of-the box. You do not have to spend time tweaking various configurations in order to make the app look great.</p> <h2 id="location-aware">Location-aware</h2> <p>If there is a location element, such as in a weather app, the app will try to auto-locate your location. We do, however, allow you to override the automatically generated location. That feature can be useful if the location detection fails or if you want to display the result from another location.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/location-for-app_hu_b993ad1b59926aa7.webp 480w, /images/blog/location-for-app_hu_1d1ca1e068894fe4.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/location-for-app_hu_534208bf29cf8e62.webp 480w, /images/blog/location-for-app_hu_a453027e54f281e5.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/location-for-app_hu_331bac090ee5d9a9.webp" alt="Sometimes it is useful to override the geographical location for apps" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="460" > </picture> <em>Sometimes it is useful to override the geographical location for apps</em></p> <h2 id="load-quickly-on-the-raspberry-pi">Load quickly on the Raspberry Pi</h2> <p>Let’s face it. The Raspberry Pi is a remarkable device but isn’t as powerful as your desktop computer. As such, web content must be designed with this in mind. All our app are designed for the Raspberry Pi and will load swiftly.</p> <h2 id="have-good-readability">Have good readability</h2> <p>One of the things we run across frequently with content for Screenly is that people try to squeeze in too much content in a given view. We call this information overload, and it has been <a href="http://www.sixteen-nine.net/2016/06/23/how-much-time-do-digital-signage-displays-really-have-with-viewers/">scientifically proven</a>. It’s far better to have a simple message per slide. This is something we have taken into account with our apps. They will all be simple and easy to read from afar.</p> <h2 id="serve-as-a-good-sample-app">Serve as a good sample app</h2> <p>Last, but not least, our apps are designed to serve as sample applications. That is, there will be numerous use cases for applications that we have not thought of. Perhaps these are internal metrics or perhaps it is an app that you want to sell to other users. In either case, the goal with all our apps is to serve as best-practice examples of how to not only design the look but also how to design the technical side of web assets.</p> <h2 id="looking-forward">Looking forward</h2> <p>For the beta, we have decided to make these apps free to all of our users. In the future, these apps will be available for free for our paying customers and the app store will be more tightly integrated into our regular web interface.</p> <h2 id="getting-started">Getting started</h2> <p>To get started today, all you need to do is to:</p> <ul> <li>Visit <a href="https://app-store.srly.io/">app-store.srly.io</a></li> <li>Select an app and configure it to your needs</li> <li>Copy the URL and add it as an asset to Screenly</li> </ul> <p>If you don’t have Screenly yet, you can sign up for a free account <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/07/27/introducing-the-screenly-app-store/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/07/27/introducing-the-screenly-app-store/Thu, 27 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>We recently had a conversation with a customer where the customer mentioned that he was using PoE to drive his Screenly deployment. Since there are significant benefits with this, we decided to do a quick write-up about PoE and how to use it with Screenly.</p> <p>One of the benefits of the Raspberry Pi is the low power consumption. Because of this, it’s possible to power the entire Raspberry Pi using PoE, a standard used frequently to power network equipment.</p> <h2 id="what-is-poe-and-why-should-i-care">What is PoE and why should I care?</h2> <p>Power over Ethernet, as the name implies, delivers power over Ethernet. In short, this allows you to:</p> <ul> <li>Simplify wiring by combining both power and ethernet in the same cable</li> <li>Remotely power cycle devices through the switch</li> <li>Ensure reliable power by simply putting the switch on a UPS</li> </ul> <p>As you can see, PoE provides a number of benefits that can come in handy for a digital signage deployment. (Please note that you’d still need to power the monitor using another power source.)</p> <h2 id="what-do-i-need-to-get-started">What do I need to get started?</h2> <p>The first thing you need is either PoE enabled switch or a PoE injector (a device that sits between a non-PoE enabled switch and the device that adds PoE support). If you’re lucky, your switch already supports this, but most switches do not come with PoE.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-use-poe-with-screenly">How do I use PoE with Screenly?</h2> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/poe-switch-hat_hu_ffb60c666f6b4267.webp 480w, /images/blog/poe-switch-hat_hu_34e1e0354afc9235.webp 768w, /images/blog/poe-switch-hat_hu_fa7fe7d33db4ab36.webp 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/poe-switch-hat_hu_aa9c5a981d0f96ee.webp 480w, /images/blog/poe-switch-hat_hu_1f676dfb8f2c6b8f.webp 768w, /images/blog/poe-switch-hat_hu_70224d8fcdeb941f.webp 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/poe-switch-hat_hu_fa7fe7d33db4ab36.webp" alt="Pi Supply's Pi PoE Switch HAT" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="582" > </picture> <p>Once you’ve sorted out the power source, you need hardware to drive the Raspberry Pi. You have a two options here. You can either use a PoE enabled HAT, such as the <a href="https://www.pi-supply.com/product/pi-poe-switch-hat-power-over-ethernet-for-raspberry-pi/">Pi PoE Switch</a> from Pi Supply, or you can use a USB PoE adaptor, such as <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019BLMWWW">this one</a>.</p> <p>Finally, you need to ensure that you are using proper network cabling. Assuming you are using CAT5, CAT6 or CAT7 cables (that are using all cable pairs) you should generally speaking be fine.</p> <h2 id="what-else-do-i-need-to-configure">What else do I need to configure?</h2> <p>In short, nothing. Screenly will not be able to tell the difference. If you however are using the Pi PoE Switch, it would be recommended that you set the jumper cable on the board such that it will automatically boot without having to press the power button.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/07/08/simplify-your-screenly-deployment-with-power-over-ethernet-poe/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/07/08/simplify-your-screenly-deployment-with-power-over-ethernet-poe/Sat, 08 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re proud to announce <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/releases/tag/v0.10">Screenly OSE 0.10</a> (code name “Night Train”). The release includes a number of new features that we’ll go over in this brief post.</p> <h2 id="added-support-for-live-streams">Added support for live streams</h2> <p>One feature that we’re excited about is the new support for live streams. To be more specific, we’ve added support for RTSP feeds. This is a common format used for instance network cameras (such as the Axis camera you can see below).</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/axis-network-camera_hu_b073b79b5e47a3.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/axis-network-camera_hu_f740a645bc830ff7.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/axis-network-camera_hu_e0f428921b2f9591.webp" alt="An Axis network camera" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="679" > </picture> <em>An Axis network camera</em></p> <p>In order to use an RTSP feed in Screenly OSE, you need to add it as a regular URL, such as rtsp://192.168.50.25/axis-media/media.amp.</p> <p>Locating the RTSP feed can sometimes be tricky, as it usually varies between models and is often not clearly displayed. Fortunately, you can use the database from <a href="https://www.ispyconnect.com/sources.aspx">iSpyConnect</a> to locate the URL for your particular camera model.</p> <h2 id="backup-and-restore-functionality">Backup and restore functionality</h2> <p>Another new feature in this release is the backup/restore function that you can find in the settings menu. When you download a backup, this will include not only your settings, but also your assets. This means that if you want to switch out your SD card, all you need to do is to do a backup and then restore it on the new installation. Easy as pi(e).</p> <h2 id="batch-uploads">Batch uploads</h2> <p>In previous release, you had to upload images and videos one-by-one. Starting from this release, you can now batch upload assets. To do this, simply drag in the assets into the new drop field inside the ‘add asset’ section.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/batch-add-assets_hu_884736fd0ae35369.webp 480w, /images/blog/batch-add-assets_hu_5f47753723c3d501.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/batch-add-assets_hu_cfd28f73328b5af.webp 480w, /images/blog/batch-add-assets_hu_fd31cc63a2d4a968.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/batch-add-assets_hu_6c755251972073ba.webp" alt="Batch add assets" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="713" > </picture> <em>Batch add assets</em></p> <h2 id="new-authentication-system">New authentication system</h2> <p>One frequently requested feature request we’ve received is to have the ability to restrict access to the admin interface. Starting this release you can.</p> <p>To set this up, open up your ~/.screenly/screenly.conf and locate the [auth] section. You then need to set a username and password there. Once you have done this, you need to restart the server. You can do this by running pkill -f server.py.</p> <p>Next time you access the management interface, you should be prompted to enter the username and password that you specified.</p> <h2 id="no-ssh-by-default">No SSH by default</h2> <p>Starting a few versions back of Raspbian, SSH is no longer enabled by default. Since Screenly OSE is built on top of Raspbian, this is something we inherited too (which is a good thing).</p> <p>If you do want to enable SSH, you can find instructions on how to do that <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/remote-access/ssh/">here</a>.</p> <h2 id="support-for-the-zero-w">Support for the Zero W</h2> <p>Since the previous version of Screenly OSE came out prior to the Raspberry Pi Zero W release, that chipset was not supported. We’re happy to announce however, that this board now supported in this release.</p> <h2 id="display-power-management">Display power management</h2> <p>While it’s not a feature in this release, we recently posted a blog post titled <a href="/blog/2017/07/02/how-to-automatically-turn-off-and-on-your-monitor-from-your-raspberry-pi/">How to automatically turn off and on your monitor from your Raspberry Pi</a>. In this article, we walk over a few ways of how to control the power of the monitor using software.</p> <p>If you’re interested in this, please take a look at that article and let us know what works and doesn’t work for you in the comment section of that article. Once we have a better sense of what works and doesn’t, we can hopefully implement this logic inside Screenly.</p> <h2 id="and-lots-of-bug-fixes">And lots of bug fixes…</h2> <p>In addition to these new features, the release also includes a large number of bug fixes.</p> <h2 id="how-do-i-upgrade">How do I upgrade?</h2> <p>You have a few ways you can upgrade. The easiest way is to SSH into your Screenly OSE device and run:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> bash <(curl -sL [https://www.screenly.io/install-ose.sh)](https://www.screenly.io/install-ose.sh)) </span></span></code></pre></div><p>If you instead prefer to do a fresh installation, you can either:</p> <ul> <li>Grab the latest disk image from <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/releases/tag/v0.10">here</a></li> <li>Use <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/noobs/">NOOBS</a> to install Screenly OSE</li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0px;"></p> ## Other relevant articles <ul> <li><a href="/blog/2017/06/22/screenly-ose-is-now-in-noobs/">Screenly OSE is now available in NOOBS</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2017/05/31/introducing-screenly-cast-for-wordpress/">Introducing Screenly Cast for WordPress</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2017/06/13/how-to-control-screenly-ose-with-gestures-using-the-flick/">How to control Screenly OSE with gestures using the Flick</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/2017/04/10/how-to-add-a-physical-button-to-screenly-ose-using-node-red/">How to add a physical button to Screenly OSE using Node-RED</a></li> </ul>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/07/05/screenly-ose-0-10-is-out/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/07/05/screenly-ose-0-10-is-out/Wed, 05 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>A common question we came across when building Screenly is how to manage the display’s power. When we first started out, we thought that this topic would be a trivial matter. It turned out to be anything but trivial.</p> <p>Of course, different monitors behave very differently. What we discovered was that while most monitors would turn off just fine, many monitors ended up either not waking up at all or, alternatively, waking up in the wrong resolution.</p> <p>This is why we <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/115000898806-Can-I-set-the-screen-to-turn-on-off-automatically-">still do not officially support turning monitors on or off with Screenly’s paid version</a>. If you are running Screenly Open Source Edition (OSE) however, you are free to experiment with what works with your screen.</p> <p>Let’s dive into how you can do power management on your display in Screenly OSE. The three tools that are relevant for this task are vcgencmd, tvservice and cec-client.</p> <p>It is recommended that you test these commands over an SSH session rather than directly on the Pi.</p> <h2 id="vcgencmd">vcgencmd</h2> <p>If you are lucky, your monitor will work well with vcgencmd. All this method does is toggle the power status of the HDMI port. This method will usually turn off the monitor, as most monitors will automatically go down in sleep mode if the HDMI signal is turned off.</p> <p>However, beware that some monitors will switch to the another input when they wake up. Hence, if you have another active input, chances are the monitor will switch to that new input instead of turning off.</p> <p>To see if you get that issue, you can try the following to turn the monitor off:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> vcgencmd display_power <span style="color:#3677a9">0</span> </span></span></code></pre></div><p>You can then turn it back on again with:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> vcgencmd display_power <span style="color:#3677a9">1</span> </span></span></code></pre></div><p>If your monitor turned off and on again with these commands, then congratulations. You can skip to “Automating the power management”. If not, carry on.</p> <h2 id="tvservice">tvservice</h2> <p>Another alternative is to use tvservice. Please note however that this tool often works for turning off the screen, but struggles with getting the monitor back into the right resolution.</p> <p>To turn off your monitor with tvservice, run:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> tvservice --off </span></span></code></pre></div><p>You can then wake the monitor back up with:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> tvservice --preferred </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Alternatively, you can force a resolution with the -e option.</p> <p>If your monitor fails to wake up, do not panic. Simply do a reboot, and the display should come back just fine.</p> <h2 id="cec-client">cec-client</h2> <p>The most powerful option is to use the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Electronics_Control">CEC</a>. This will allow you to not only to toggle the power of the monitor, but also a plethora of other things, like controlling the input and volume.</p> <p>By default, Raspbian does not come with cec-client, so you need to install it first:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> apt-get install libcec3 cec-utils </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Since CEC enables you to do much more than the other tools, it is also a bit more complicated to use. Moreover, the exact commands can vary depending on your particular configuration, but this should give you an idea of how to use get started.</p> <p>Turning your monitor off:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#24909d">echo</span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'standby 0'</span> | cec-client -s -d <span style="color:#3677a9">1</span> </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Turning your monitor on:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#24909d">echo</span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'on 0'</span> | cec-client -s -d <span style="color:#3677a9">1</span> </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Set the Raspberry Pi as input as active (i.e. toggle the TV to switch input):</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#24909d">echo</span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'as'</span> | cec-client -s -d <span style="color:#3677a9">1</span> </span></span></code></pre></div><p>Set the Raspberry Pi input as an inactive input:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#24909d">echo</span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'is'</span> | cec-client -s -d <span style="color:#3677a9">1</span> </span></span></code></pre></div><p>You can learn more about what you can do with CEC by running:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> $ <span style="color:#24909d">echo</span> h | cec-client -s -d <span style="color:#3677a9">1</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> [...] </span></span></code></pre></div><p>You can also find more at <a href="http://www.cec-o-matic.com/">CEC-O-Matic</a> and in the <a href="http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/faq">libcec faq</a>.</p> <h2 id="automating-the-power-management">Automating the power management</h2> <p>Once you have figured out how to turn your monitor off and on, it is time to automate the process. The easiest way to do this is to use a cronjob to schedule this. (If you are not familiar with cronjobs, you can find a quick tutorial <a href="https://www.howtoforge.com/a-short-introduction-to-cron-jobs">here</a>. Use <a href="https://crontab-generator.org/">Cronjob wizard</a> to generate a cronjob.)</p> <p>For instance, if we want to turn off our monitor using vcgencmd at 8PM and turn it back on at 7AM on weekdays, we would create two cronjobs like this:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#999;font-style:italic"># Turn monitor on</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#3677a9">0</span> <span style="color:#3677a9">7</span> * * 1-5 /usr/bin/vcgencmd display_power <span style="color:#3677a9">1</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#999;font-style:italic"># Turn monitor off</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#3677a9">0</span> <span style="color:#3677a9">20</span> * * 1-5 /usr/bin/vcgencmd display_power <span style="color:#3677a9">0</span> </span></span></code></pre></div><p>If you are using a more complicated sequence of commands with cec-client, we advise that you put them in a shell script that you can call on from the crontab.</p> <p>That’s all for now!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/07/02/how-to-automatically-turn-off-and-on-your-monitor-from-your-raspberry-pi/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/07/02/how-to-automatically-turn-off-and-on-your-monitor-from-your-raspberry-pi/Sun, 02 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>Some time ago the Raspberry Pi Foundation introduced NOOBS to simplify the installation of operating systems onto the Raspberry Pi.</p> <p>For those not familiar with NOOBS, it’s an installation tool for the Raspberry Pi that allows you to install one (or many) operating systems onto your Raspberry Pi using a graphical interface directly over the internet. You can even dual-boot multiple Linux distributions.</p> <p>(It’s similar to similar to <a href="http://www.berryterminal.com/doku.php/berryboot">BerryBoot</a>, which we’ve supported in Screenly OSE for some time, and the core developer of BerryBoot works on NOOBS too.)</p> <p>Today, we’re happy to announce that Screenly OSE is available through NOOBS. Simply install NOOBS on your SD card and you will be able to select Screenly OSE from the list of available operating systems.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/noobs-installer_hu_640739513ad0e360.webp 480w, /images/blog/noobs-installer_hu_be9e6c556293f671.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/noobs-installer_hu_a464a52f69d45081.webp 480w, /images/blog/noobs-installer_hu_9dba782de83bd286.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/noobs-installer_hu_71c86893a14f5413.webp" alt="NOOBS Installer. Just pick Screenly OSE and you're ready to go." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="823" > </picture> <em>NOOBS Installer. Just pick Screenly OSE and you’re ready to go.</em></p> <p>We will still keep providing our regular disk images (and installation instructions), but using NOOBS to install Screenly OSE simplifies the process a lot for our users.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-being-installed-in-noobs_hu_1c599d82bb7a398a.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-being-installed-in-noobs_hu_671ca94decad4946.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-being-installed-in-noobs_hu_3790daaecd656f63.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-being-installed-in-noobs_hu_4bd34d0ffcf485b6.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-ose-being-installed-in-noobs_hu_d0805c11a662e296.webp" alt="Screenly OSE being installed in NOOBS." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="823" > </picture> <em>Screenly OSE being installed in NOOBS.</em></p> <p>Going forward, we will likely discontinue our BerryBoot images in favor of the new NOOBS image. With the <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose/milestone/4">next release</a> around the corner, we will try to ship NOOBS image as soon as we ship the regular disk images.</p> <p>You can download NOOBS from <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/noobs/">here</a>. In order to install Screenly OSE, you need to have a functioning internet connection inside NOOBS.</p> <p>Happy Hacking.</p> <p><em>(Please note that the paid version of Screenly is not available through NOOBS.)</em></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/06/22/screenly-ose-is-now-in-noobs/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/06/22/screenly-ose-is-now-in-noobs/Thu, 22 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>Last week our friends over at Pi Supply launched a cool new product called Flick. In short, it’s a HAT (i.e. add-on board) for the Raspberry Pi that enables you to use gestures to control the Raspberry Pi.</p> <p><em>A pi-topCEED running Screenly OSE</em></p> <p>I got my hands on one of these and the first thing that came to my mind was to use it to add gesture controls for <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a>.</p> <h2 id="setup">Setup</h2> <p>First, you need to <a href="https://github.com/PiSupply/Flick">install the driver and Python library for the Flick</a>, this is as simple as typing in one command. Once installed, you can use the test application to ensure that it is working properly.</p> <p>With the Flick installed, <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/screenly-ose">install Screenly OSE</a>. Similarly, it’s just one line of code. This installation will however take a bit longer, as it requires a fair number of dependencies to be installed.</p> <p>In terms of hardware, my particular setup is using a <a href="https://pi-top.com/products/ceed">pi-topCEED</a>, which is a great little hardware kit. It also hides the board behind plexiglass, creating a better looking device. Unfortunately, since I didn’t have any pi-topPROTO, I had to run a separate power cable to power the Raspberry Pi in order to use it with the Flick.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/raspberry-ri-to-fit-the-flick-hat_hu_c57f2980d77326fa.webp 480w, /images/blog/raspberry-ri-to-fit-the-flick-hat_hu_a8ee1b6187017a5f.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/raspberry-ri-to-fit-the-flick-hat_hu_ab24aadba841cf02.webp 480w, /images/blog/raspberry-ri-to-fit-the-flick-hat_hu_4896691be49044b8.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/raspberry-ri-to-fit-the-flick-hat_hu_168727ee8d032a18.webp" alt="I had to disable the pi-top power supply to the Raspberry Pi to fit the Flick HAT." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" > </picture> <p><em>I had to disable the pi-top power supply to the Raspberry Pi to fit the Flick HAT.</em></p> <h2 id="integration">Integration</h2> <p>Since my objective was simply to detect movement, the coding part was very straight forward. In short, the script below simply compares the previous and current state of the sensor to determine if there was a movement. If a movement is detected, the script sends a SIGUSR1 signal to viewer.py which causes it to jump to the next image.</p> <!-- <iframe src="https://medium.com/media/87a5c74f1a3858cef3d1316fd45ceeba" frameborder=0></iframe> --> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-python" data-lang="python"><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#999;font-style:italic">#!/usr/bin/env python</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">import</span> <span style="color:#447fcf;text-decoration:underline">flicklib</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">import</span> <span style="color:#447fcf;text-decoration:underline">subprocess</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">from</span> <span style="color:#447fcf;text-decoration:underline">time</span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">import</span> sleep </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">from</span> <span style="color:#447fcf;text-decoration:underline">copy</span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">import</span> copy </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#ffa500">@flicklib.move</span>() </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">def</span> <span style="color:#447fcf">move</span>(x, y, z): </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">global</span> xyz </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> xyz = [x,y,z] </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">def</span> <span style="color:#447fcf">main</span>(): </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">global</span> xyz </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> xyz = [<span style="color:#3677a9">0</span>,<span style="color:#3677a9">0</span>,<span style="color:#3677a9">0</span>] </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> old_xyz = [<span style="color:#3677a9">0</span>,<span style="color:#3677a9">0</span>,<span style="color:#3677a9">0</span>] </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">while</span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">True</span>: </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">if</span> old_xyz != xyz: </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> <span style="color:#24909d">print</span> <span style="color:#ed9d13">'Detected movement. Sending Bat-signal to Screenly!'</span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> subprocess.call([<span style="color:#ed9d13">'pkill'</span>, <span style="color:#ed9d13">'-SIGUSR1'</span>, <span style="color:#ed9d13">'-f'</span>, <span style="color:#ed9d13">'viewer.py'</span>]) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> sleep(<span style="color:#3677a9">1</span>) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> old_xyz = copy(xyz) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> sleep(<span style="color:#3677a9">0.3</span>) </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span><span style="color:#6ab825;font-weight:bold">if</span> __name__ == <span style="color:#ed9d13">"__main__"</span>: </span></span><span style="display:flex;"><span> main() </span></span></code></pre></div><p>The approach is very much similar to the approach used in the previous article <a href="/blog/2017/04/10/how-to-add-a-physical-button-to-screenly-ose-using-node-red/">How to add a physical button to Screenly OSE using Node-RED</a>.</p> <p>Happy hacking!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/06/13/how-to-control-screenly-ose-with-gestures-using-the-flick/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/06/13/how-to-control-screenly-ose-with-gestures-using-the-flick/Tue, 13 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>This is a legacy project that we no longer support. An overhaul of this project is currently in development. If you have any questions or would like to use this product, please reach out to us at <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>.</p> <h2 id="2016-product-announcement">2016 product announcement</h2> <p>We are excited to announce an entirely new products named Screenly cast for WordPress. The goal is to turn WordPress, the world’s most popular CMS, into a simple content creation tool for digital signage.</p> <p>Contrary to some other WordPress plugins or themes out there, the goal of Screenly Cast for WordPress is not to convert WordPress into a full-fledged digital signage CMS. Instead, the plugin is designed for simple content creation that can be used assets in your digital signage CMS.</p> <p>Also, instead of trying to add support for zones, feeds and all kind of other features, we’ve focused on ensuring a good-end-user viewing experience.</p> <p>(For more on why feeds, zones etc are bad for your deployment, take a look at Dave Hayne’s blog post <a href="http://www.sixteen-nine.net/2015/05/18/attention-spans-study-confirms-multi-zone-digital-signage-layouts-bad-idea/">Attention Spans Study Confirms Multi-Zone Digital Signage Layouts Bad Idea</a>.)</p> <p>Because the goal of Screenly Cast for WordPress is simplicity, it only supports:</p> <ul> <li>Pure text</li> <li>Text with an image next to it</li> <li>Image with a text overlay</li> </ul> <h2 id="text-with-an-image-next-to-it">Text with an image next to it</h2> <p>To give you a better idea of how the plugin works, let’s walk through an example where we create a post with an image next to a block of text.</p> <p>Assuming you have installed and activated the plugin, just go ahead and create a new blog post and enter a short text. Then, upload an image and set it as the <em>Featured Image as you can see below</em>.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/wordpress-content-creation_hu_6bc3caa58fa052c1.webp 480w, /images/blog/wordpress-content-creation_hu_c15d225db0c84f62.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/wordpress-content-creation_hu_3b6467e24edb7510.webp 480w, /images/blog/wordpress-content-creation_hu_f85813a196b844f6.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/wordpress-content-creation_hu_5c149255dc9e8630.webp" alt="WordPress content creation" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1211" > </picture> <em>WordPress content creation</em></p> <p>If you now navigate to this post, you will see something like this (assuming you are using the default theme):</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/adafruit-push-button-that-can-be-bought-at-from-modmypi_hu_f040dd4b20ea30a7.webp 480w, /images/blog/adafruit-push-button-that-can-be-bought-at-from-modmypi_hu_6952b98f46e9e186.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/adafruit-push-button-that-can-be-bought-at-from-modmypi_hu_7f16ec051d724a95.webp 480w, /images/blog/adafruit-push-button-that-can-be-bought-at-from-modmypi_hu_d374210543d44b6a.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/adafruit-push-button-that-can-be-bought-at-from-modmypi_hu_214c7dc97996790d.webp" alt="wordpress-post-without-screenly-cast-for-wordpress.webp" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="780" > </picture> <em>The WordPress post without Screenly Cast for WordPress.</em></p> <p>Wait, that doesn’t look very pretty nor very usable for digital signage. You’re absolutely right. This is because the page is rendered in the <em>norma</em>l mode using the regular theme.</p> <p>To activate Screenly Cast for WordPress, we need to append ?srly (or &srlyif you already have other query arguments) to the address. Once we’ve done this, the page will take a completely new shape:</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/wordpress-post-with-screenly-cast-for-wordpress_hu_60d24456fa0b9ab6.webp 480w, /images/blog/wordpress-post-with-screenly-cast-for-wordpress_hu_2cd63d7c66798edf.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/wordpress-post-with-screenly-cast-for-wordpress_hu_f12199ded99d4678.webp 480w, /images/blog/wordpress-post-with-screenly-cast-for-wordpress_hu_858037579dc2f53e.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/wordpress-post-with-screenly-cast-for-wordpress_hu_5276d937cc9a339.webp" alt="The WordPress post with Screenly Cast for WordPress." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="600" > </picture> <em>The WordPress post with Screenly Cast for WordPress.</em></p> <p>Now that’s much better! Look how nice and clean that is. The text is large, and readable from afar. Super sleek!</p> <h2 id="pure-text">Pure text</h2> <p>If we would like to remove the image and just display text, we can do that by simply not have a featured image set. The post above would then look like this:</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/wordpress-post-with-screenly-cast-for-wordpress-enabled-but-no-featured-image_hu_fd2060b1cba455e9.webp 480w, /images/blog/wordpress-post-with-screenly-cast-for-wordpress-enabled-but-no-featured-image_hu_199aae7181a5df36.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/wordpress-post-with-screenly-cast-for-wordpress-enabled-but-no-featured-image_hu_de588be50e267689.webp 480w, /images/blog/wordpress-post-with-screenly-cast-for-wordpress-enabled-but-no-featured-image_hu_a917ba3e83f3cb09.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/wordpress-post-with-screenly-cast-for-wordpress-enabled-but-no-featured-image_hu_14ff52245da0010a.webp" alt="The WordPress post with Screenly Cast for WordPress enabled, but no featured image." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="600" > </picture> <em>The WordPress post with Screenly Cast for WordPress enabled, but no featured image.</em></p> <p>The screenshots above all show how the screen would look like on a screen with a resolution of 1920x1080, which is the most common resolution for digital signage these days.</p> <p>However, some of our users are using Screenly on the <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-touch-display/">Raspberry Pi Touch Screen</a>, which is a 7" monitor with a resolution of 800x480. We don’t want to leave these guys hanging, so we added support for that too.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-cast-for-wordpress-rendered-in-the-resolution-800x480_hu_740d85a8f552e090.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-cast-for-wordpress-rendered-in-the-resolution-800x480_hu_e95e1ab791084a59.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-cast-for-wordpress-rendered-in-the-resolution-800x480_hu_ecabbc867c6eeaf.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-cast-for-wordpress-rendered-in-the-resolution-800x480_hu_c8f548b81e0a7db0.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-cast-for-wordpress-rendered-in-the-resolution-800x480_hu_a578c3cd09f99f83.webp" alt="Screenly Cast for WordPress rendered in the resolution 800x480" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="664" > </picture> <em>Screenly Cast for WordPress rendered in the resolution 800x480</em></p> <h2 id="image-with-text-overlay">Image with text overlay</h2> <p>Finally, let’s use an image. Simply navigate to the Media Library in WordPress, select or upload an image, and populate the title and caption and select <em>View page attachment page</em>. Append &srly to the end of the URL and you should get something that looks like this:</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-cast-for-wordpress-showing-a-media-attachement_hu_8e823acb0b36aa48.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-cast-for-wordpress-showing-a-media-attachement_hu_d8c78babb619bc7.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-cast-for-wordpress-showing-a-media-attachement_hu_ac05086b76d69bb2.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-cast-for-wordpress-showing-a-media-attachement_hu_c62897eda9860224.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-cast-for-wordpress-showing-a-media-attachement_hu_452ae67b2dafc0ae.webp" alt="Screenly Cast for WordPress showing a media attachement" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="600" > </picture> <em>Screenly Cast for WordPress showing a media attachement</em></p> <p>As you can see, with very little effort, you’re able to design beautiful slides for your screens.</p> <p>We designed Screenly Cast for WordPress to work with both <a href="/">Screenly’s paid version</a> and <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a>, but it should work with many other digital signage players out there too.</p> <p>One more thing. We have decided to make Screenly Cast for WordPress completely free and open source. To get started, simply head over to the plugins <a href="https://github.com/Screenly/Screenly-Cast-for-WordPress">home on GitHub</a> for more detailed installation instructions.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/05/31/introducing-screenly-cast-for-wordpress/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/05/31/introducing-screenly-cast-for-wordpress/Wed, 31 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>tl;dr: We’re going to connect a physical button to a Raspberry Pi that that makes Screenly OSE skip to the next asset using Node-RED.</p> <p><em>Adafruit push button that can be bought at from <a href="https://www.modmypi.com/raspberry-pi/breakout-boards/adafruit/adafruit-push-button-power-switch-breakout/">ModMyPi</a></em></p> <p>The last few years have been amazing in terms of innovation around Internet of Things (IoT). With hardware like the Raspberry Pi, Arduino, BeagleBone et al, the cost of creating a hardware prototype has gone down from $HIGH_NUMBER to $VERY_AFFORDABLE for many hardware projects.</p> <p>I’ve personally never been much of a hardware guy. If someone gave me an Arduino just a few years ago, I would have no idea what to do with it. The Raspberry Pi however changed all of that for me and it opened my eyes to the hardware world and made me realize it wasn’t as complicated as I thought.</p> <p>To illustrate that this isn’t as complicated as many think, I’m going to show you how to build a hardware button that interacts with <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a> (the most popular digital signage player for the Raspberry Pi). The tool we will use to glue all this together is a called <a href="https://nodered.org">Node-RED</a>, which is a visual programming tool.</p> <h2 id="the-hardware">The hardware</h2> <p>Before you begin, you need the following hardware:</p> <ul> <li>A Raspberry Pi (preferably a Model B 2 or 3) complete with power supply, MicroSD card etc.</li> <li>A button or some kind of sensor. I used a button from a <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/SunFounder-Modules-Sensor-Raspberry-Extension/dp/B014PF05ZA/">SunFounder kit</a>. Another example of how to do this can be found <a href="http://razzpisampler.oreilly.com/ch07.html">here</a>.</li> <li>Depending on your hardware, you might also need a breadboard, jumper wires etc.</li> </ul> <p>The wiring to your Raspberry Pi will vary depending on what sensor/button you’re using, but in this example, we’ll use GPIO17 (PIN 11) for the button.</p> <h2 id="installing-screenly-ose">Installing Screenly OSE</h2> <p>Since Screenly requires a fair amount of changes to the system, it requires a dedicated installation. The easiest way to get started is to simply fetch the latest disk image <a href="https://github.com/wireload/screenly-ose/releases">from GitHub</a> and flash it out to an SD card using <a href="https://etcher.io/">Etcher</a> (check out our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE_C_n6dhyo&index=1&list=PLLQemgvrHCSl_WUjAuChZDJpu3wMAfo43">screencast</a> for more information).</p> <p>With Screenly installed, SSH into your the device (the default Raspbian credentials are set) and then run the upgrade script to bring the installation up to date by running <code>./screenly/bin/run_upgrade.sh</code> as show below.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-upgrade-script_hu_569d0bac06bab453.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-upgrade-script_hu_f77b878b646fd6b1.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-upgrade-script_hu_82178ddb8b258337.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-upgrade-script_hu_94e78794dd230ec9.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-ose-upgrade-script_hu_dd1f0896f93a473f.webp" alt="Screenly OSE upgrade script" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="796" > </picture> <em>Screenly OSE upgrade script</em></p> <p>Once you’ve upgraded the system, you can point your browser to port 8080 on the device and start programming the content you want to display on your screen.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/the-digital-signage-control-interface_hu_7b6b793c2df02fc9.webp 480w, /images/blog/the-digital-signage-control-interface_hu_4e34c14765611afe.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/the-digital-signage-control-interface_hu_1d776823d2869aa5.webp 480w, /images/blog/the-digital-signage-control-interface_hu_d0113c95fb2104de.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/the-digital-signage-control-interface_hu_82b87b5969fe4e7a.webp" alt="The digital signage control interface." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="759" > </picture> <em>The digital signage control interface.</em></p> <p>When you’re happy with the content, let’s move on to installing Node-RED.</p> <h2 id="installing-node-red">Installing Node-RED</h2> <p>The installation instructions for installing Node-RED on a Raspberry Pi can be found <a href="https://nodered.org/docs/hardware/raspberrypi">here</a>. This process will take a bit of time (in particular if you’re running on an older Raspberry Pi).</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/node-red-installation-script_hu_8945f68d425016a.webp 480w, /images/blog/node-red-installation-script_hu_b077f804af2af045.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/node-red-installation-script_hu_1033c9866f4c41f1.webp 480w, /images/blog/node-red-installation-script_hu_35be54e6ea3fca28.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/node-red-installation-script_hu_228fb97b66c69f2a.webp" alt="Node-RED installation script" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="796" > </picture> <em>Node-RED installation script</em></p> <p>Once you have Node-RED installed, I’d recommend that you configure it to automatically start on boot. This is done using the command</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span> sudo systemctl <span style="color:#24909d">enable</span> nodered.service </span></span></code></pre></div><p>and then start the service by running</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> sudo systemctl start nodered.service </span></span></code></pre></div><p>You should now be able to access Node-RED on port 1880 on your device.</p> <h2 id="introduce-node-red-to-screenly-ose">Introduce Node-RED to Screenly OSE</h2> <p>This is where the fun begins. You should now be able to see something like this when you point your browser to Node-RED:</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/node-red-interface_hu_1ff2d4cdaddbaf60.webp 480w, /images/blog/node-red-interface_hu_774bfef8311d315a.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/node-red-interface_hu_10873e763b83a9cd.webp 480w, /images/blog/node-red-interface_hu_7a187b74a597a008.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/node-red-interface_hu_e00c146742c19594.webp" alt="Node-RED interface" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="759" > </picture> <em>Node-RED interface</em></p> <p>Here’s a summary of the workflow created below:</p> <ul> <li>Listen when there is the GPIO pin is triggered</li> <li>Log this to the system logs</li> <li>Tell Screenly OSE to skip to the next asset</li> </ul> <p>The first thing you need to do is to configure the button. You’ll find this under the Raspberry Pi section in the left under <em>rpi_gpi</em>. Make sure you use the one with the connector on the right, as we want to use it as a input, not as an output. Drag it out to the workspace and double click on it to bring up the dialogue.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/node-red-dialogue_hu_c440f6f69db83c5b.webp 480w, /images/blog/node-red-dialogue_hu_a36ab9390fb86ea.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/node-red-dialogue_hu_43270e5f2e940395.webp 480w, /images/blog/node-red-dialogue_hu_98698e7e25c1c635.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/node-red-dialogue_hu_d80cda205839ce8.webp" alt="No Image" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="759" > </picture> <p>As you can see, I’ve configured it to use <em>Pin 11 / GPIO17</em>. Depending on the wiring, you will need to modify this.</p> <p>My particular button will fire twice (once when you click and then a reset a few ms later). To remedy that, I’ve added a switch to only listen on everything other than the first click. Otherwise, the workflow would double fire every time the button was pressed. You may or may not need this.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/filter-out-the-initial-click_hu_bc212837e0fbca5.webp 480w, /images/blog/filter-out-the-initial-click_hu_7c1f170d54e54d28.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/filter-out-the-initial-click_hu_117a999613c597ca.webp 480w, /images/blog/filter-out-the-initial-click_hu_743fff127e56c03e.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/filter-out-the-initial-click_hu_98e8c541a85ceac3.webp" alt="Filter out the initial click." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="759" > </picture> <em>Filter out the initial click.</em></p> <p>Next, let’s add some logging to the system so that we have a track record of clicks. To do this, we’ll use the <em>exec</em> functionality in Node-RED to run the command logger command.</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/log-button-clicks-using-the-logger-command_hu_65fdc9843c57d07a.webp 480w, /images/blog/log-button-clicks-using-the-logger-command_hu_9cfdcd4e85538f11.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/log-button-clicks-using-the-logger-command_hu_7de96eff61764c9b.webp 480w, /images/blog/log-button-clicks-using-the-logger-command_hu_80e89d68c167f675.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/log-button-clicks-using-the-logger-command_hu_e206dde56910c2a7.webp" alt="Log button clicks using the `logger` command." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="759" > </picture> <em>Log button clicks using the <code>logger</code> command.</em></p> <p>We can now deploy the workflow using the Deploy button. If you SSH into your Raspberry Pi again now and run <code>sudo journalctl -f</code> you should be able to see the activity from Screenly OSE, along with other system activities.</p> <p>If you press the button, you should be able to see something like:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-sh" data-lang="sh"><span style="display:flex;"><span> > Apr <span style="color:#3677a9">09</span> 20:15:16 raspberrypi logger[18529]: Button pressed </span></span></code></pre></div><p>If you don’t something likely went wrong in either the wiring or the configuration. To troubleshoot this, you can add a output in Node-RED to make sure you can see the activity direct in the web interface.</p> <p>If however, you did get the logging message, we can proceed to the final step that bridges Node-RED and Screenly OSE.</p> <p>To do this interaction, we use the same <em>exec</em> functionality as we used above.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/node-red-exec-pkill-command_hu_7c18a0bdcdc9e609.webp 480w, /images/blog/node-red-exec-pkill-command_hu_ef7427bd6c3576da.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/node-red-exec-pkill-command_hu_b25cef6dff2b4890.webp 480w, /images/blog/node-red-exec-pkill-command_hu_5d87601cae196053.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/node-red-exec-pkill-command_hu_be1970da47a1004b.webp" alt="No Image" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="759" > </picture> <p>The only difference is that we use the <code>pkill</code> command to send the SIGUSR1 signal to the player. This signal tells the player to skip the current asset and move on to the next asset.</p> <p>The final workflow should look something like this:</p> <p><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/final-workflow-in-node-red-for-interacting-with-screenly-ose_hu_c926717f0e1200a8.webp 480w, /images/blog/final-workflow-in-node-red-for-interacting-with-screenly-ose_hu_313fa150844952b2.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/final-workflow-in-node-red-for-interacting-with-screenly-ose_hu_e1f45993b4f1c8b6.webp 480w, /images/blog/final-workflow-in-node-red-for-interacting-with-screenly-ose_hu_666520e33a0ae40.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/final-workflow-in-node-red-for-interacting-with-screenly-ose_hu_dc01a7c70e64795.webp" alt="Final workflow in Node-RED for interacting with Screenly OSE" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="759" > </picture> <em>Final workflow in Node-RED for interacting with Screenly OSE</em></p> <p>See! That wasn’t very hard. In this particular example, I used a button, but that could equally well have been any kind of sensors. Moreover, we’re only scraping on the surface of Node-RED. Within a few clicks, you could add additional actions, such as having a tweet fired, or an LED light up as extensions to the workflow.</p> <p>If you’re interested in a commercial solution, we have created something similar to this with Screenly’s paid version, thanks to our partnership with Evrythng. You can read more about that in the blog post <a href="https://evrythng.com/when-products-and-digital-signage-speak-the-same-language/">When Products And Digital Signage Speak The Same Language</a>.</p> <p><strong>Update:</strong> Since the release of this blog-post, we have updated our API to add better functionalities. You can read more about this in <a href="/blog/2017/10/26/screenly-ose-0-12-is-out/">this article</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/04/10/how-to-add-a-physical-button-to-screenly-ose-using-node-red/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/04/10/how-to-add-a-physical-button-to-screenly-ose-using-node-red/Mon, 10 Apr 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>After a few very intense weeks, things are slowly returning back to normal. We’ve finally been able to carve out the time to write this overdue update.</p> <p>So what have we have been up to since our <a href="/blog/2016/12/20/screenly-december-update/?source=collection_home---4------2----------">last update</a>?</p> <h2 id="screenly-now-powers-over-10000-screens">Screenly now powers over 10,000 screens</h2> <p>We’re incredibly grateful for the uptake we have received with Screenly. We’re excited to announce that Screenly now powers over 10,000 active Screens. When we wrote the very first prototype for Screenly, we had no idea how big it would become. We simply wrote it as a fun hobby project, which then evolved into a business.</p> <p>What we might be seeing now is even more exciting: the beginnings of the legendary <a href="https://davidcummings.org/2010/12/19/hockey-stick-growth-for-startups/">Hockey Stick Growth</a>.</p> <p>We want to thank all of you who helped us get here, and hope that you will be with us for the next chapter of the story.</p> <h2 id="screenly-v2-beta-update">Screenly V2 Beta update</h2> <p>In order to do our demo for Mobile World Congress (see below) we had to work hard to wrap up some missing features in the Screenly V2 beta. The team really did a fantastic job. Now, getting Screenly V2 out the door is the top priority for us. For those of you who have been selected for the invite-only beta program you have, hopefully, noticed that the product is getting closer and closer (not to mention even faster).</p> <p>We are now working closely with Ubuntu to knock-out the remaining bugs before we can open up the beta to a larger audience.</p> <h2 id="video-content">Video Content</h2> <p>Over the years, we’ve received a number of requests for video tutorials for various things around Screenly. While there are already a lot of unofficial Screenly videos and tutorials on YouTube, we have now decided to record a number of official videos. You will find all of them on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp0ExUbXVrip2a0zOiPAIKA">Screenly YouTube Channel</a>.</p> <p>The first tutorial that we published is titled “How do I install Screenly on my Raspberry Pi?” and you can find it below.</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RE_C_n6dhyo" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div><br> <h2 id="events"><strong>Events</strong></h2> <h2 id="mobile-world-congress-2017">Mobile World Congress 2017</h2> <p>For the second year in a row, we exhibited at Mobile World Congress (MWC) together with <a href="https://www.ubuntu.com/">Ubuntu</a>. We thought we had a good event last year, but this year topped that by a long shot.</p> <p>The demo we showed this year was a simulated retail store where we showcased an integration with our new partner <a href="https://evrythng.com/">Evrythng</a>. In the demo, we were able to scan a physical item using an NFC phone (or take a photo). When you scanned the item, more information was displayed on two screens (one showing inventory level and the other showing promotional material).</p> <p>This demo was a teaser of a key element in the future of Screenly, where we see Screenly being part of a bigger equation using various API integrations. In this particular demo a physical item was being scanned, but it could as well have been any external trigger, such as a button pressed or a motion detector being triggered. This is part of what we call Event Driven Digital Signage.</p> <p>During the event, we met with a number of large companies that expressed interest in deploying Screenly around this concept so we are super excited about getting validation from the market.</p> <p>If you’re curious about the demo, you can take a look at our video demo below. However, we’d like to apologize for the poor audio quality in the video as this was recorded on the show floor at MWC.</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jD8PrY5581o" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div><br> <h2 id="raspberry-pi-birthday-weekend">Raspberry Pi Birthday Weekend</h2> <p>This past weekend, the Raspberry Pi foundation celebrated Raspberry Pi’s 5th birthday. We were, of course, there to partake in the celebrations together with our friends from <a href="https://www.pi-supply.com/">Pi Supply</a>. In addition to seeing a lot of exciting projects, we also got to show our demo from MWC to Eben Upton (the creator of the Raspberry Pi), who was very impressed by how far we are able to push the Raspberry Pi.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/03/08/screenly-march-update/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/03/08/screenly-march-update/Wed, 08 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>Last month we conducted a survey to find out what were the popular dashboards people were using. Yes, it was not the best time of the year to do this, but we were able to reach a reasonable sample size of 57 in the end. (Thanks to our friends at Ubuntu for promoting the survey.)</p> <p>The goal of the survey was to find out what the most popular tech dashboards that people <strong>actually</strong> are using on their office walls and here are the results:</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/dashboard-survey-2016_hu_1d23b8b2bbcc8e69.webp 480w, /images/blog/dashboard-survey-2016_hu_d228152e547757ef.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/dashboard-survey-2016_hu_eda77f1297c15a6.webp 480w, /images/blog/dashboard-survey-2016_hu_1b4e8fd88ad472a5.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/dashboard-survey-2016_hu_824286aa50cea89.webp" alt="Dashboard Survey 2016" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="575" > </picture> <p><em>(I’ve uploaded the data to Plotly, so you can explore it yourself <a href="https://plot.ly/~vpetersson/3/">here</a>.)</em></p> <p>Here are some observations:</p> <ul> <li>A lot of people use multiple dashboards. One user reported using six different tech dashboards. On average, people use two dashboards.</li> <li><a href="https://grafana.net/">Grafana</a> is much more popular than I expected. My gut feeling tells me that next year it will have become even more popular and a dominant number one.</li> <li>I’m surprised by the popularity of <a href="https://www.elastic.co/products/kibana">Kibana</a> Dashboard.</li> <li>My gut feeling tells me that a number of users have switched to Grafana from New Relic and Nagios.</li> <li>People who use Zabbix are most likely to <strong>only</strong> use Zabbix whereas users that are using say Grafana are likely to use multiple dashboard software.</li> </ul> <p>From the perspective of <a href="/">Screenly</a>, it looks like we have a bit of work to do. One of our vision is to make it the go-to for displaying dashboards in a cost-effective and convenient way using just a Raspberry Pi.</p> <p>Here’s a current support in Screenly for the top four most popular dashboards:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Grafana</strong>: Currently not supported due to authentication issues. This is outlined in <a href="https://github.com/grafana/grafana/issues/7005">this GitHub issue</a>. We hope to be able to carve out some resources in the near future and contribute to the project.</li> <li><strong>Kibana Dashboard</strong>: Supported depending on your authentication setup. We are looking to add support for Basic Authentication in the near future with Screenly’s paid version (already added in Screenly OSE).</li> <li><strong>Nagios</strong>: Already supported. You can read more about that <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/nagios/">here</a>. This will be improved with added support for Basic Authentication.</li> <li><strong>New Relic</strong>: Already supported. You can read more about that <a href="/apps/new-relic/">here</a>. There’s definitely room for improvement, and we hope to work on this in the future.</li> </ul> <p>Thank you for everyone who have participated in the survey!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/01/04/what-are-the-most-popular-tech-dashboards/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2017/01/04/what-are-the-most-popular-tech-dashboards/Wed, 04 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000<p>Since the last update, we’ve been working mostly behind the scenes to improve the scalability elements of Screenly in order to keep up with our growth. That means spending time improving our server infrastructure. Beyond that we’ve made a few visual updates. Most of the exciting work has gone into the much awaited Screenly V2 player. Let’s dive into what we have done.</p> <h2 id="screenly-v2-alpha-is-a-go">Screenly V2 Alpha is a go</h2> <p>We are currently in the process of testing our Screenly V2 Alpha release with a few clients. In the near future, we will start opening up the to more customers.</p> <h2 id="improved-payment-system">Improved payment system</h2> <p>As mentioned in the <a href="/blog/2016/09/08/screenly-september-update/">last update</a>, we are performing an overhaul to our billing system. There are lots of benefits to the update. Here are some things you may want to pay attention to.</p> <ul> <li>We’ve made numerous visual improvements to our subscription module to make it more intuitive to manage your plans and billing.</li> <li>In the past, additional screens (i.e. screens exceeding the ones included in your plan) were charged retroactively. This caused confusion for some users. Going forward, extra screens are now charged in the same way as the regular plan.</li> <li>When you add a screen that exceeds that number of included screens in your plan, you will be prompted that this will impact your monthly charge.</li> </ul> <p>These updates will go live during December.</p> <h2 id="improved-infrastructure">Improved Infrastructure</h2> <p>Running a large-scale IoT infrastructure isn’t easy, and it requires a lot of engineering resources to work well. This is why a lot of the effort when it comes to building Screenly this month has been dedicated towards the building of a robust and scalable infrastructure.</p> <p>Since the early days of Screenly, we have been using technologies such as <a href="https://www.docker.com/">Docker</a> to build, ship, and test our infrastructure. In recent weeks, we have taken this one step further and have started moving our infrastructure over to <a href="http://kubernetes.io/">Kubernetes</a> hosted on Google Cloud. For those of you not familiar with Kubernetes, it is a cloud orchestration tool that builds upon 15 years of experience of running production workloads at Google.</p> <p>As part of moving to Kubernetes, we have also adopted <a href="https://deis.com/">Deis</a>, which is a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) sitting on top of Kubernetes. By tapping into Kubernetes, we are able to accomplish more with less resources, so that we can focus on building the world’s greatest digital signage platform.</p> <h2 id="screenly-summit">Screenly Summit</h2> <p>Everyone involved with Screenly works remotely. This is a core part of our culture and it works great. While we talk every day, some people have never met in person despite working together for over a year. This year we decided to bring everyone together for a Screenly Summit.</p> <p>We rented a house in Croatia for a week and flew everyone in. It was a great success. After spending a week working and socializing, we were able to improve the team spirit even further. During the Summit, we also drew up the roadmap for the next 12 months. There are lots of exciting ideas on this roadmap and we are excited to share them with you once they are ready.</p> <p>If you’re curious about how we work, read <a href="/blog/2016/11/23/how-we-work-at-screenly/?source=collection_home---4------2----------">our article on just that</a>.</p> <h2 id="update-on-screenly-support">Update on Screenly Support</h2> <p>If you’ve opened a support ticket in the last few weeks, chances are that it was responded to by Screenly’s new community manager Shelly. She will be working on improving both our support, as well as handling part of our social media efforts.</p> <p>As part of this, you may have noticed that we’ve added a number of additional articles to our support portal. We have now successfully moved over all our old FAQ to the <a href="https://support.screenly.io/">support portal</a> and are now starting to add more content including new FAQ entries and articles.</p> <h2 id="screenly-news-archive">Screenly News Archive</h2> <p>We have received a number of questions in the past about where you can read about the latest updates to Screenly. The natural answer was to look in your mailbox for the updates. However, we have now started a posting these updates on our Medium page at <a href="/blog/">news.screenly.io</a>. If you ever want to look up any of our previous updates, or simply prefer to read the updates in the comfort of your browser, head over to <a href="/blog/">news.screenly.io</a>.</p> <h2 id="experimental-support-for-hidden-ssid-and-open-wifis">Experimental support for Hidden SSID and open WiFis</h2> <p>Over the years, we’ve run into a lot of different network configurations. On the WiFi side of things, two common feature requests have been to add the ability for hidden SSIDs as well as open WiFis (i.e. WiFis without passwords). We are now happy to announce experimental support for both <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/218364983-Can-I-connect-to-a-hidden-SSID-WiFi-Access-Point-">hidden SSID</a> and <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/218052563-How-do-I-configure-WiFi-for-an-open-network-">open WiFis</a>.</p> <h2 id="resources">Resources</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.skillshare.com/classes/business/building-an-advertising-network-with-screenly/564268496">Building an advertisement network with Screenly</a> with Philip ‘dm’ Campbell</li> <li>What tech dashboards are you using at your office? Please take our <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzS9nmIo-piVCvExn1A9jo8J3CrO79ZQas3gxL4tPC7bmcNA/viewform">dashboard survey</a>.</li> </ul> <p></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2016/12/20/screenly-december-update/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2016/12/20/screenly-december-update/Tue, 20 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re excited to announce that <a href="/ose/">Screenly OSE</a> 0.9.1 now is out. The release includes everything from <a href="https://github.com/wireload/screenly-ose/milestone/3?closed=1">Sprint 1</a> (codename It’s so Easy), which in turn includes a number of bug fixes and improved tests (to minimize the chance of future bugs).</p> <p>To update your existing player, simply run:</p> <div class="highlight"><pre tabindex="0" style="color:#d0d0d0;background-color:#202020;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;"><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash"><span style="display:flex;"><span>bash <(curl -sL https://www.screenly.io/install-ose.sh) </span></span></code></pre></div><p>For new installations, you can download the latest disk images <a href="https://github.com/wireload/screenly-ose/releases/tag/v0.9.1">from GitHub</a>.</p> <p>In the the <a href="https://github.com/wireload/screenly-ose/milestone/4">next sprint</a> (codename Night Train), we intend to add a number of exciting features, such as supporting basic auth in web pages.</p> <p>(If you haven’t noticed, each sprint is named after a Guns N’ Roses song. In Screenly OSE, we are working our way forward through their discography starting with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appetite_for_Destruction">Appetite for Destruction</a>. In <a href="/">Screenly</a>, we are working our way through the Iron Maiden discography.)</p> <p><strong>Update:</strong> Screenly OSE 0.10 is now out Learn more about it <a href="/blog/2017/07/05/screenly-ose-0-10-is-out/">here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2016/12/01/screenly-ose-0-9-1-is-out/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2016/12/01/screenly-ose-0-9-1-is-out/Thu, 01 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000<h2 id="we-are-fully-distributed">We are fully distributed</h2> <p>From the very first day, <a href="/">Screenly</a> has had a distributed team. It’s in our DNA.</p> <p>For some people, it is still controversial not to have an office where everyone must show up in the morning.</p> <p>For us, this idea of a mandatory office was never appealing. Not only are you adding extra cost for rent, utilities, and transportation, but you are also limiting your talent pool to your local area. Moreover, some people work better from home (such as my co-founder <a href="https://twitter.com/slevenbits">Alex</a>), and others people work better from coffee shops or from a desk at a local office space. Personally, I like to mix it up.</p> <p>The bottom line is that we do not want to force people to work in a specific way. Most experienced people are well aware of how and where they perform their best and are most productive. Our job is to enable them do this and to get out of their way. It is as simple as that.</p> <p>As of right now, our team already stretches across <del>five</del> countless countries, including Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, the UK, and USA.</p> <h2 id="few-meetings-fewer-emails-and-no-phones">Few meetings, fewer emails, and no phones</h2> <p>As much as we would like to have a no-meeting policy, it is not entirely viable. We try to limit our team meetings to our sprint planning/review sessions (which we do every two weeks), along with an all-hands.</p> <p>Granted, if people want to jump on an ad-hoc Hangouts call to discuss something, they are more than welcome to do so, but we don’t want people to get dragged into endless meetings where they are not needed. That is a waste of their time. A meeting is the fastest way to turn a group of productive people into a group of passive listeners. Keep it short and sweet.</p> <p>Another thing that is hard for some people to get used to is the notion of asynchronous communication (i.e. to expect not to get an instant response). However, when you are working with knowledge workers (like we all are), the last thing you want to do is to interrupt someone who is deeply focused on something. The truth is that unless you have managed to bring down the entire production environment, a interruption can wait at least one <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique">Pomodoro</a>, which is usually enough for the other person to wrap up whatever he or she is working on and get back to you.</p> <p>Because of this focus on asynchronous communication, we do not have company phones. If we want to get in touch with someone on the team, we ping them in the company chat.</p> <p>It is also worth noting that we more or less do not use any emails internally. Granted, we do use emails to communicate with external parties. However, we typicall do not use email internally unless there is an external party involved.</p> <h2 id="no-set-hours">No set hours</h2> <p>While this work policy is becoming a less controversial topic, we have been big fans of this for years. In short, we do not have any set hours for anyone involved with Screenly. If you want to take a day off in the middle of the week, go for it. Want to work less during the week and more on the weekend? Go for it. As long as you get your work done in time (which is mostly determined by the sprints), the rest is up to you. The only thing we ask from our team members is to make sure to be online every day such that your colleagues can ask you questions.</p> <h2 id="get-your-sleep">Get your sleep</h2> <p>Sleep is important. Sometimes it is unavoidable to pull an all-nighter, but it should be a rare exception, not a frequent event. For far too long, it’s been viewed as <em>macho</em> in the tech scene (in particular in Silicon Valley) to only sleep 3–4 hours per night. And sure, some <em>very few</em> people can get by with that, but they are outliers. The vast majority of use need 7–8 hours of sleep.</p> <p>This is why we encourage all our team members to get 7–8h of sleep each night. The reason is simple. If you don’t get enough sleep, your performance will decrease. This really comes back to the concept of that it isn’t the number of hours your work that matters, but what you get done. Not only will you be more productive if you get enough sleep, but you will also be healthier.</p> <h2 id="trust">Trust</h2> <p>When you are building a distributed team, trust is one of the most important things. If you don’t trust your team members, you’ve already lost. In our experience, if you hire smart people and get out of their way, they will perform. There are of course people who cannot work in an environment like this, but it usually becomes clear in a sprint or two if they’re not cut out for it. Working remotely is not for everyone, but in our experience, the people who seek out these roles usually are the right type.</p> <h2 id="tooling">Tooling</h2> <p>Lastly, let’s talk a bit about tooling. Since you won’t be interacting with your team members face-to-face on a daily basis, the tooling that you use to collaborate and communicate is essential. Over the years, we’ve tried a lot of them, but we are now very happy with the tools that we are using. Here are the most essential ones.</p> <h2 id="phabricator">Phabricator</h2> <p>While GitHub is somewhat of the go-to for projects these days, we primarily use <a href="https://www.phacility.com/">Phabricator</a> for our project management. (We use GitHub for some open source projects, such as <a href="https://github.com/wireload/screenly-ose/">Screenly OSE</a>).</p> <p>The reason why we like Phabricator is because it is a much more powerful project management tool than GitHub. It also provides us with the option to host our own git repositories. It allows us to do Kanban-style work boards for sprints, as well as code review and other nice functionalities.</p> <h2 id="flowdock-slack"><del>Flowdock</del> Slack</h2> <p>For a long time, we used Flowdock for our internal messaging. However, since the service has been <a href="http://blog.flowdock.com/2022/04/03/flowdock-eol-announcement/">sunset</a>, we have now moved to Slack.</p> <h2 id="google-hangout">Google Hangout</h2> <p>As mentioned earlier, we try hard to minimize the number of team meetings. When we do meet we want it to be face to face though (if virtual) to get a moment of that human connection. We’ve found that Google Hangouts (with video) works very well compared to most other tools we’ve tested (including Skype).</p> <p>The only drawback with Google Hangout is that it is a massive battery drain, but that’s a reasonable price to pay in our opinion.</p> <h2 id="update">Update</h2> <p>Since I first wrote this blog post, I’ve published the article <a href="https://blog.viktorpetersson.com/remote-work/2019/05/18/a-decade-of-remote.html">A Decade of Remote Work</a> on my personal blog. The article provides some additional insights into what I’ve learned over the years both managing myself, as well as building and managing remote teams.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2016/11/23/how-we-work-at-screenly/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2016/11/23/how-we-work-at-screenly/Wed, 23 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000<p>New look, features improved billing and more.</p> <p>Here’s an update from Screenly. Lots of things have happened since the last update, but we’ll try to sum it up in this post.</p> <h2 id="new-email-design">New email design</h2> <p>As part of our effort to constantly improve, we’ve brought on a new team member to lead our design overhaul. We will, in the near future, start to improve the look and feel of all our user elements. First out was our email templates. Soon we will be rolling out updates to other elements too.</p> <h2 id="new-feature-add-assets-in-batches">New feature: add assets in batches</h2> <p>We take much pride in the way our playlist system works. However, there is always room for improvement. One thing that we’ve heard many of you ask for is to make it easier and faster to add multiple assets to a playlist. We listened and we are happy to announce that it is now possible to add multiple assets to the same playlist without leaving the asset popover.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/add-asset-to-playlist_hu_f4935bbdf624ea88.webp 480w, /images/blog/add-asset-to-playlist_hu_757fbbc4c6a33d54.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/add-asset-to-playlist_hu_2c69a617dbfa96b.webp 480w, /images/blog/add-asset-to-playlist_hu_968fe92464976bee.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/add-asset-to-playlist_hu_fdc4260b064145d3.webp" alt="No Image" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="193" > </picture> <h2 id="upcoming-change-improved-billing">Upcoming change: improved billing</h2> <p>Some of you have been a bit confused over the way we do billing for extra screens (i.e. screens exceeding the included number in your plan). The way it currently works is that we will charge your regular plan at the beginning of the month, but we charge you retroactively for extra screens based on the maximum number of screens during the billing cycle.</p> <p>Going forward, we will now make this process easier and more clear. When you add a new screen that exceeds the limit of your plan, you will be asked to confirm that you want to increase your limit and your billing will be adjusted accordingly right away.</p> <p>This will ensure that there will never be any unexpected extra screen charges, as you will be explicitly prompted at the time of adding the screen.</p> <h2 id="screenly-will-become-screenly-inc">Screenly will become Screenly, Inc</h2> <p>Screenly was born out of <a href="https://www.wireload.net">WireLoad</a>, which a software incubator. However, with the success Screenly has seen in the last year, it’s now time to graduate Screenly out of WireLoad and make it into its own company.</p> <p>For all intents and purposes, nothing will change for you as a user. The only thing that will change is that you will see ‘Screenly, Inc’ on your invoices instead of ‘Screenly by WireLoad, Inc’.</p> <h2 id="screenlyappcom-is-now-screenlyio">Screenlyapp.com is now Screenly.io</h2> <p>As some of you may have noticed, we have moved our website to a new domain: <a href="/">Screenly.io</a>. It’s a shorter and easier to remember URL, and a part of our new marketing initiative. In a not too distant future, we will start making improvements to the design of the website.</p> <p>Please note that the actual web interface for interacting with your Screenly devices remains on screenlyapp.com.</p> <h2 id="new-support-portal">New support portal</h2> <p>As part of our domain migration to Screenly.io, we have also migrated our support to <a href="https://support.screenly.io">support.screenly.io</a>. We’ve also migrated our FAQ entries over to this web property in order to make the documentation more closely tied to our support desk.</p> <p>Going forward, we will merge the login between our support portal and our regular interface. This way you will not need to keep two separate logins, but rather be able to use your Screenly login to access our support.</p> <h2 id="what-do-you-think-of-screenly">What do you think of Screenly?</h2> <p>We are always looking to learn more about our users. We would very much appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to fill out this <a href="https://survey.io/survey/19ecb">quick survey</a>. We promise that it won’t take long.</p> <h2 id="new-partner-nexudus">New partner: Nexudus</h2> <p>We’re excited to announce our latest parter, <a href="http://www.nexudus.com/">Nexudus</a>. For those of you not familiar with Nexudus, they are the leading platform for managing coworking spaces, powering the back office of a large number of coworking spaces and shared offices around the world.</p> <p>With our integration with Nexudus, we allow customers to display data directly from Nexudus directly on the screen. For instance, you can display the conference bookings directly on a Screenly powered device.</p> <p>If you’re interested in this, <a href="https://support.screenly.io/">please let us know</a>.</p> <h2 id="screenly-on-the-web">Screenly on the web</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Talk:</strong> Lessons learned from Screenly (<a href="https://speakerdeck.com/vpetersson/lessons-learned-from-screenly-at-linuxing-in-london">slide deck</a>, <a href="https://skillsmatter.com/skillscasts/8872-lessons-learned-from-screenly-and-deploying-thousands-of-linux-based-raspberry-pis-in-production-speaker-viktor-petersson">recording</a>)</li> <li><strong>Podcast:</strong> <a href="http://sixteennine.podbean.com/e/viktor-petersson-screenly/">Sixteeen:Nine interview</a></li> <li><strong>Webinar:</strong> <a href="https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/6793/206421">Digital Signage Meets IoT: building success with a Raspberry Pi!</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="recommended-reading">Recommended reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.sixteen-nine.net/2016/06/23/how-much-time-do-digital-signage-displays-really-have-with-viewers/">How Much Time Do Digital Signage Displays Really Have With Viewers?</a></li> </ul> <p></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2016/09/08/screenly-september-update/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2016/09/08/screenly-september-update/Thu, 08 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000<p>This is the February update for Screenly, where you can read about the latest updates from Screenly.</p> <h2 id="wireless-support">Wireless Support</h2> <p>In the last update, we announced beta WiFi support. Today, we are happy to announce that the beta trial was a success. As a result, we are now extending the feature to general availability. We still strongly recommend that you use a wired connection for any production deployments, but, if that is not possible, you now have the ability to use WiFi.</p> <p>If interested, read more about <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/360044464873-Can-I-use-a-USB-WiFi-adapter">Screenly WiFi support</a>.</p> <h2 id="asset-grouping">Asset Grouping</h2> <p>A number of our users have built successful businesses on top of Screenly. Naturally, many of these companies are starting to have a large repository of assets stored in their Screenly account. Over the past year, we’ve been contacted by a number of these users asking us to add the ability to group assets into folders in order to make their asset repository more manageable.</p> <p>To make our users’ lives easier, we’ve now added functionality so that users can group assets inside their Screenly account.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_3e4fab224aee4bdc.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_2e6f6b6759ba57f7.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_175f5cd542412a16.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_608063fcc1ef0041.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_b1130a40fbb8a67e.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_98826ffaee831c22.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_3e7c4bcbee862a48.webp 1024w, /images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_5f2f160727c0f85d.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-pro-test-rig_hu_175f5cd542412a16.webp" alt="This is part of the test rig for Screenly." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1102" > </picture> <h2 id="lots-and-lots-improvements-behind-the-scenes">Lots and lots improvements behind the scenes</h2> <p>We’ve spent a lot of development time in the last few months improving things behind the scenes. As Screenly grows as a company (and we’ve seen a lot of growth recently), it’s important that we build a solid foundation for Screenly solutions on the back-end. This is exactly what we are working on.</p> <h2 id="pre-flashed-sd-cards-available">Pre-flashed SD cards available</h2> <p>Thanks to our partner Pi Supply, you can now order pre-flashed SD cards with Screenly. These SD cards available for both Screenly and Screenly OSE, and the SD cards can be purchased from <a href="https://www.pi-supply.com/product/screenly-software-sd-cards-pro-and-ose/">Pi Supply</a>.</p> <h2 id="linux-user--digest-coverage">Linux User & Digest coverage</h2> <p>Linux User & Digest (now Gadget) published an in-depth article about Screenly titled “Digital Signage with Screenly”. If you’re in the U.K., you can likely find this magazine at your local store or newsstand. If you don’t feel like leaving your desk, you can also read the article on <a href="https://www.gadgetdaily.xyz/understanding-digital-signage-with-screenly/">the Gadget website</a>.</p> <p>(If you’re thinking that it was a strange interview, you’re right. It was a fully transcribed Skype interview, which explains the casual tone of the text.)</p> <h2 id="screenly-v2-beta-invite">Screenly V2 Beta Invite</h2> <p>For some time, we’ve been working on a new Screenly Player module. We demonstrated the power of the new Screenly player module at TechCrunch Disrupt and received a huge amount of interest. We’re looking to open up the V2 player beta to some beta customers in Q2. If you’re interested in participating in the beta, please fill out <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1fX4zgBC6FrrHJ5VtpmoBXlP90rMc_Gcm04T0OY0yejE/viewform">this form</a>.</p> <h2 id="past-events">Past Events</h2> <p>Since the last newsletter, we’ve been busy attending a lot of events. It has been a lot of fun, and we’ve been able to meet a number of our users in person.</p> <h2 id="bbva-iot-event">BBVA IoT event</h2> <p>The first event was BBVA’s <a href="https://www.bbva.es/eng/particulares/index.jsp">IoT Day</a> in Madrid, Spain. Together with <a href="https://www.canonical.com/">Canonical</a> and Cloud.net, we spent the morning talking about Screenly, Ubuntu Snappy Core, and IoT in general. During the afternoon, we held a hands-on lab where the participants could work on their own projects with our help.</p> <h2 id="betabeers">Betabeers</h2> <p>While in Madrid, we were also invited to speak at <a href="https://betabeers.com/">Betabeers</a>, which is the largest tech meetup series in Spain. We were greeted by an eager group of techies, and we covered Screenly solutions as a use case for IoT.</p> <h2 id="pi-wars">Pi Wars</h2> <p>In December, together with our partner <a href="https://www.pi-supply.com/">Pi Supply</a>, we had a booth at <a href="https://piwars.org/">Pi Wars</a> — the Raspberry Pi robotics challenge competition in Cambridge. Rumor has it that it was the biggest Raspberry Pi event to date, and it surely was a full house. Not only did we get to meet a number of our users, but we also got to hang out with Eben and Liz from the Raspberry Pi foundation.</p> <h2 id="techcrunch-disrupt-london">TechCrunch Disrupt London</h2> <p>Just a few days after Pi Wars, we headed over to <a href="https://techcrunch.com/event-info/disrupt-london-2015/">TechCrunch Disrupt London</a> to join our friends over at <a href="https://arcticstartup.com/">ArcticStartup</a>. At Disrupt London, we gave a sneak-peek of the upcoming version 2 of our Screenly Player module. People who walked by our booth were blown away regarding how far we could push the Raspberry Pi.</p> <h2 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h2> <p>In addition to making Screenly’s digital signage solutions even more awesome, we also booked a packed schedule of events this spring.</p> <h2 id="mobile-world-congress-mwc">Mobile World Congress (MWC)</h2> <p>Later this month, between February 22nd and 25th, we will be at <a href="https://www.mobileworldcongress.com/">Mobile World Congress</a> in Barcelona, Spain. Mobile World Congress is the world’s largest gathering for the mobile industry. You’ll find us in Canonical/Ubuntu’s booth.</p> <h2 id="raspberry-pis-4th-birthday-party">Raspberry Pi’s 4th Birthday Party</h2> <p>During the first weekend of March (5–6th), we will be in Cambridge for the big <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/birthday/">Raspberry Pi’s 4th Birthday Party</a> event. If you’re there, please swing by and say hi.</p> <h2 id="cappcon-2016">CappCon 2016</h2> <p>If you’re into the <a href="http://www.cappuccino-project.org/">Cappuccino</a> framework, you should attend <a href="http://www.cappuccino-project.org/events/cappCon2016/">CapppCon 2016</a> on the 31st of March in Belgium. There, you’ll find <a href="https://twitter.com/slevenbits">Alexander</a> (Screenly’s co-founder) giving the keynote speech.</p> <h2 id="cloud-expo-europe">Cloud Expo Europe</h2> <p>If you’re planning to attend <a href="https://www.cloudexpoeurope.com/">Cloud Expo Europe</a> in London on April 13th, you should head over to the Service Provider & Cloud Ecosystem Technology Theatre at 14:30. If you do so, you’ll find that <a href="https://twitter.com/vpetersson">Viktor</a> (Screenly’s co-founder) will be on the panel <em>“Future containers, virtualization, or both?”</em>.</p> <h2 id="recommended-reading">Recommended Reading</h2> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.sixteen-nine.net/2016/02/16/6-tips-20-tools-for-creating-effective-digital-signage-content/">6 Tips & 20 Tools For Creating Effective Digital Signage Content</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.sixteen-nine.net/2016/02/04/six-great-ways-to-optimize-workplace-communications-using-digital-signage/">Six Great Ways To Optimize Workplace Communications Using Digital Signage</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>That’s it for this time. Hopefully we will see you at one of our upcoming events. Also, as always, if you want to get in touch, don’t hesitate to <a href="https://support.screenly.io">contact us</a>.</p> <p>Still haven’t tried Screenly? <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Sign up now</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2016/02/19/stable-wifi-support-asset-grouping-and-much-more/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2016/02/19/stable-wifi-support-asset-grouping-and-much-more/Fri, 19 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000<p>This is the November update for Screenly, where you can read about the latest updates from our team.</p> <h2 id="join-us-in-madrid">Join us in Madrid</h2> <p>On Monday (November 16th), we’re hosting an IoT event together with <a href="https://www.bbva.com/">BBVA</a>, Canonical (the makers of <a href="https://www.ubuntu.com/">Ubuntu</a>) and Cloud.net in Madrid, Spain. At this event, we will give a talk about <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/">Screenly digital signage solutions</a> and what we have learned so far. We will also be hosting a Raspberry Jam in the evening.</p> <p>The event is hosted at BBVA’s Innovation Center, and is free to attend.</p> <h2 id="experimental-wifi-support">Experimental WiFi support</h2> <p>By far the most popular feature request that we have received for Screenly digital signage solutions has been the ability to use USB WiFi dongles with the Raspberry Pi.</p> <p>After extensive tests here at Screenly HQ, we are today excited to announce experimental support for WiFi. The WiFi support is limited to certain USB Wireless dongles. However, we still recommend wired network connectivity for digital signage deployments, but we understand that there are certain situations where that simply isn’t possible.</p> <p>If you’re interested to enroll in the WiFi beta, <a href="https://support.screenly.io">please let us know</a>.</p> <h2 id="improved-stability">Improved stability</h2> <p>One of the most important priorities for us is to make sure that Screenly is super stable. We truly aspire to make Screenly a <em>set and forget</em> digital signage solution. As such, we closely monitor the uptime of the Screenly deployment base. Thanks improvements made by Screenly’s fine engineers, we have been able to significantly improve this metric over the last couple of months.</p> <p>We’ve also made great improvements to the client logging mechanism, which allows us to solve problems proactively.</p> <h2 id="improved-network-features">Improved network features</h2> <p>Over the last year, we have attracted many large, enterprise customers for our digital signage solutions. These customers tend to have both larger and more complex networks. The most common way to manage and restrict these networks is by using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_address">MAC addresses</a>.</p> <p>We have displayed the MAC address during the pairing process for some time. Many users, however, requested that we make this information available even after the pairing (as it is frequently used for device discovery and identification).</p> <p>We’re happy to announce that we have now made this information available to you after the initial pairing. In addition, we also now expose the local network IP address for the device.</p> <picture> <img src="/images/blog/network-status_hu_e3a93417035841f.webp" alt="This is an image of the network status information for Screenly digital signage players." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="928" > </picture> <h2 id="screenly-sd-cards-are-now-available">Screenly SD cards are now available</h2> <p>Earlier this year, we started to sell <a href="https://www.pi-supply.com/product/screenly-pro-digital-signage-starter-kit">pre-configured Screenly hardware bundles</a> through our partner Pi Supply. This was a huge success.</p> <p>When we later started to announced that we’re <a href="https://screenly.wufoo.com/forms/screenly-pro-hardware-bundles/">giving away free Screenly digital signage players</a> with our annual plans, the demand increased far beyond what we could have imagined.</p> <p>We did, however, receive feedback from a number of users that they already had the hardware and were just interested in buying the actual SD card with Screenly pre-loaded.</p> <p>Today we are happy to announce the availability of Screenly SD cards. These SD cards are available to purchase <a href="https://www.pi-supply.com/product/screenly-software-sd-cards-pro-and-ose/">from our partner Pi Supply</a> for £7.99 each.</p> <p>Thank you for taking the time to read this. As always, please let us know if you have any comments or questions by simply raising a <a href="https://support.screenly.io/">support ticket</a>.</p> <p>Still haven’t tried Screenly? <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Sign up now</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/11/14/wifi-stability-improvements-and-more/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/11/14/wifi-stability-improvements-and-more/Sat, 14 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000<p>This is the May update for Screenly, where you can read about the latest updates to <a href="https://www.screenly.io">Screenly</a>.</p> <h2 id="reseller-program">Reseller Program</h2> <p>Since we first launched Screenly, we’ve received a large number of requests from companies around the globe to resell Screenly solutions.</p> <p>We always planned to work closely with partners around the world in order to get closer to our users. That’s why we’re very happy to announce that we have started to accept applications for our <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/reseller.html">Screenly Reseller Program</a>.</p> <p>The concept is simple: we team up with companies around the globe that can help end-users with everything from installations to content creation. In return, these companies get a cut from the subscription revenue to Screenly, and they also have the opportunity to charge for extra services. The goal is to create a better experience for all involved parties.</p> <h2 id="new-partner-hosted-graphite">New Partner: Hosted Graphite</h2> <p>Earlier this month, we announced a partnership with <a href="http://wireload.net/news/2015/04/screenly_partners_with_hostedgraphite.html">Hosted Graphite</a>. As we are seeing more and more users using Screenly solutions as <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/dashboard.html">digital signage dashboard devices</a>, we want to make this as easy as possible for our users.</p> <p>HostedGraphite offers Graphite and Grafana (among other things) as a service, which makes it very simple to create awesome dashboards for the metrics that you care about. Once you have these dashboards created, Screenly is the ultimate tool for displaying those metrics up on the big screen.</p> <h2 id="improved-network-support">Improved Network Support</h2> <p>As we are growing the user base for Screenly, we run into more and more unique network configurations. We’ve already <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/faq/pro.html#static_ip">supported Static IPs for digital signage</a> for some time. However, we are now happy to announce that our network configuration has become even more powerful.</p> <p>Starting with the <em>2015-05-19</em> disk image of Screenly, we also support the ability to use <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/faq/pro.html#custom_ntp">custom NTP server(s)</a> and <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/faq/pro.html#custom_dns">custom DNS server(s)</a> (even with DHCP).</p> <h2 id="improved-debug-logging">Improved debug logging</h2> <p>After more regularly encountering more complicated networks, we extended our <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/faq/pro.html#debugging">USB debugging tool</a> to perform more tests. As such, most of the situations that we encounter when troubleshooting installations should now be covered by the USB debugging tool.</p> <h2 id="more-use-cases">More use cases</h2> <p>If you haven’t visited our website recently, you’ll be happy to learn that we have added a lot more content. Together with our custoemrs, we have spent a fair amount of time developing content and best practices on <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/">digital signage use cases</a>. You’ll find a lot of industry-specific use cases, including content for the <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/education.html">education</a>, <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/restaurants.html">restaurant</a>, and <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/retail.html">retail</a> industries.</p> <p>Under our use cases section, you will also find a number of application and service specific use cases and how-to guides. For instance, you can find great content for how to use <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/dashboard/geckoboard.html">Geckoboard</a>,<a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/dashboard/google_calendar.html">Google Calendar</a>, and <a href="https://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/applications/powerpoint.html">PowerPoint</a> with Screenly.</p> <p>Still haven’t tried Screenly? <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Sign up now</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/05/29/screenly-may-update/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/05/29/screenly-may-update/Fri, 29 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000<p>One of the most popular use cases for Screenly is to use it to manage <a href="http://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/dashboard.html">digital signage dashboards</a>. A lot of customers are adopting Screenly to display all sorts of dashboards, including dashboards hosted on <a href="http://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/dashboard/chartbeat.html">Chartbeat</a>, <a href="http://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/dashboard/nagios.html">Nagios</a>, and <a href="http://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/dashboard/newrelic.html">New Relic</a>.</p> <p>Because of the popularity of using Screenly digital signage solutions to display dashboards, we’re really excited to announce that we have partnered up with the team at <a href="http://hostedgraphite.com/">HostedGraphite</a>, the leading hosted <a href="https://github.com/graphite-project/graphite-web">Graphite</a> service.</p> <p>For those not familiar with Graphite, it is a very popular tool for graphing all kinds of data, such as Business Intelligence (BI) and application metrics. Simply put, it is a great tool to help you visualize your business and IT data.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/hostedgraphite-graph_hu_1f5bf5bf716bbb8.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/hostedgraphite-graph_hu_15131db0d13956ae.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/hostedgraphite-graph_hu_39299c8a388286a1.webp" alt="HostedGraphite Graph" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" > </picture> <p>In addition to Graphite, HostedGraphite also provides <a href="https://www.hostedgraphite.com/hosted-grafana">Grafana</a>, a separate graphing tool that you can use to more clearly render data sets.</p> <p>Thanks to our partnership with HostedGraphite, it is now super easy to add your dashboards from HostedGraphite to Screenly. We’ve even put up a <a href="http://www.screenlyapp.com/use-cases/dashboard/hostedgraphite.html">quick tutorial on how to display HostedGraphite with Screenly</a>.</p> <p>To get started, sign up for your <a href="https://www.hostedgraphite.com/accounts/signup/">14-day free trial of HostedGraphite</a>.</p> <p><em>Still haven’t tried Screenly? <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Sign up now</a>.</em></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/04/21/screenly-partners-with-hostedgraphite/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/04/21/screenly-partners-with-hostedgraphite/Tue, 21 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000<p>Welcome to this brand new series of Screenly blog posts. In this series, we will interview <a href="http://www.screenly.io">Screenly</a> customers about how they are using Screenly digital signage solutions and why they chose to work with Screenly in the first place.</p> <picture> <img src="/images/blog/international-college-hong-kong-secondary_hu_a92a5eeed8db8b8b.webp" alt="International College Hong Kong Secondary." class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="326" > </picture> <p>Today, we’re talking with Ross Parker (Technology Director) and Isaac Wan (Student and Project Consultant) from <a href="http://www.ichk.edu.hk/">International College Hong Kong Secondary</a>.</p> <h2 id="could-you-describe-the-digital-signage-project">Could you describe the digital signage project?</h2> <p><strong>Isaac:</strong> “I would describe it as definitely a unique and interesting opportunity to do work for the primary school I used to attend. It certainly was interesting putting together a proposal along with the parts which we chose (admittedly, I do this all the time with PC components). We allocated jobs to select the hardware and software and came to a vote on Screenly and the Raspberry Pi.”</p> <p><strong>Isaac:</strong> “Once we sent our proposal, we waited for a response from the school, and we were given the go ahead. So, we waited for them to buy one set of parts to test if our plan would work out, which it did.”</p> <h2 id="what-other-alternatives-did-you-evaluate">What other alternatives did you evaluate?</h2> <p><strong>Ross:</strong> “We didn’t have any other alternatives compatible with the Raspberry Pi. We decided to use the Raspberry Pi because of the low price point, performance and compact form factor.”</p> <h2 id="so-cost-was-a-factor-in-your-decision-making-process">So, cost was a factor in your decision making process?</h2> <p><strong>Ross:</strong> “Cost was definitely a factor, seeing as how we knew we could come up with specs for a signage system which would definitely be cheaper than the quotes received from several other companies.”</p> <h2 id="can-you-describe-your-setup-what-kind-of-monitors-are-you-using-etc">Can you describe your setup? What kind of monitors are you using etc</h2> <p><strong>Isaac:</strong> “We are using Raspberry Pi model B+, the Samsung UN40EH5000 for the initial test run and the 14 day free trial of Screenly. When the trial expired, we upgraded to Bronze plan.”</p> <h2 id="what-type-of-content-are-you-displaying-on-your-screens">What type of content are you displaying on your screens?</h2> <p><strong>Isaac:</strong> “We display videos and images with appropriate captions.”</p> <p><strong>Ross:</strong> “There are two separate systems, one for the teachers and another for the students.”</p> <p><strong>Ross:</strong> “The teachers will receive messages regarding whether a certain member of staff has left or if the school is closed for a certain reason… whilst students will receive messages such as ’too sunny outside’, ‘remember to where your hat’, etc.”</p> <p><em>Still haven’t tried Screenly? <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Sign up now</a>.</em></p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/03/17/interview-with-international-college-hong-kong/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/03/17/interview-with-international-college-hong-kong/Tue, 17 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000<p>We’re excited to announce that both Screenly OSE and Screenly’s paid version now support the new <a href="http://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-2-model-b/">Raspberry Pi 2 (Model B)</a>. Thanks to the performance improvements in the new hardware, Screenly’s digital signage solutions are now faster than ever. The difference is really noticeable on heavier web pages.</p> <ul> <li><strong>To get started with Screenly OSE and the Raspberry Pi 2:</strong> Please visit <a href="http://www.screenlyapp.com/ose">this</a> page.</li> <li><strong>To get started with Screenly’s paid version and the Raspberry Pi 2:</strong> Log into your account, and you’ll find the updated image under ‘Add Screen’.</li> </ul> <p>Still haven’t tried Screenly? <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Sign up now</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/02/26/raspberry_pi_2_supported/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/02/26/raspberry_pi_2_supported/Thu, 26 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000<p>Here is a brief update on what we have been working on and released since our <a href="/blog/2014/12/16/turnkey-screenly-devices-and-more/">last update</a>. First, a quick summary on what we accomplished:</p> <ul> <li>Added support for Composite/RCA</li> <li>Improved the HTTPS/SSL support</li> <li>Enhanced the management of advanced settings</li> <li>Created a new debug tool</li> <li>Rolled out a number of bugfixes</li> </ul> <h2 id="support-for-compositerca">Support for Composite/RCA</h2> <p>We’re happy to announce that Screenly now supports RCA/Composite for video output, a frequently requested feature from our customers. This feature is still considered a <em>beta</em> release.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/composite-pal_hu_70475328f486c0b0.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/composite-pal_hu_8dde1e724b493657.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/composite-pal_hu_98a3aabf4d1b5b78.webp" alt="RCA and Composite" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="211" > </picture> <p><em>These settings are available under “Screen” -> “Manage” -> “Advanced”</em></p> <p>Please note that HDMI is still the preferred video method and that newer Raspberry Pi models forego this connector. However, for many customers who are replacing legacy digital signage solutions, this feature will allow them to get their entire fleet of screens migrated to Screenly.</p> <h2 id="improved-https-support">Improved HTTPS support</h2> <p>We have made improvements for customers who are displaying HTTPS/SSL web pages on their screens. Previously, it was sometimes necessary to disable the SSL verification even for valid certificates. This is no longer the case.</p> <h2 id="better-management-of-advanced-settings">Better management of advanced settings</h2> <p>Customers who have needed to tweak the display and hardware settings will be glad to know that we’ve made significant improvements to how this is handled. The main goal of this update was to make it easy to understand what the default value was, and to make it easier to manage individual values.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/advanced-settings_hu_859929c959c74a4d.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/advanced-settings_hu_806a7ebb7889515d.webp 480w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/advanced-settings_hu_25fe37a97d9c5227.webp" alt="Advanced settings in Screenly" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1401" > </picture> <p>When visiting the advanced settings (under “Screen” -> “Manage” -> “Advanced”), you will now see that there is a checkbox between the value name and the drop-down. When this checkbox is unchecked, the default value will be used (and displayed in the drop-down).</p> <h2 id="new-debugging-tools">New debugging tools</h2> <p>With the rapid growth of the number of Screenly-powered displays, we are starting to see a number of new network and hardware configurations (in particular in enterprise settings). To be able to better troubleshoot these nodes, we’ve built a new debugging tool at Screenly.</p> <p>We are unable to rely on the network to send debug data when we are troubleshooting a networking configuration problem. To remedy this, our new tool uses a regular USB drive and copies debug data to this device. It is designed to run for both shorter and extended periods of time, in case the issue we’re troubleshooting is intermittent.</p> <p>More information can be found <a href="https://support.screenly.io">on the Screenly support page</a>.</p> <h2 id="bugfixes">Bugfixes</h2> <p>In addition to the features and enhancements above, we’ve also rolled out a number of bug fixes which were mentioned in the last newsletter.</p> <h2 id="what-about-the-new-raspberry-pi-2">What about the new Raspberry Pi 2?</h2> <p>We’re as excited as you are about the <a href="http://www.raspberrypi.org/raspberry-pi-2-on-sale/">announcement</a> of the Raspberry Pi 2. With the new, improved hardware of the Rapsberry Pi 2, Screenly’s performance is only going to get better.</p> <p>That said, given the new hardware specs, we are still in the process of officially adding support for this device.</p> <p><strong>Update:</strong> The Raspberry Pi 2 (Model B) is now supported. Please see our <a href="/blog/2015/02/26/raspberry_pi_2_supported/">Raspberry Pi 2 digital signage support</a> page for more information.</p> <h2 id="got-feedback">Got feedback?</h2> <p>We’re always looking for ways to improve Screenly’s digital signage solutions. If you have any feedback or questions, please do not hesitate to <a href="http://support.wireload.net">contact us</a> by opening a support ticket.</p> <p>Still haven’t tried Screenly? <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Sign up now</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/01/04/rca-composite-and-more/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2015/01/04/rca-composite-and-more/Sun, 04 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000<p>Ever since we first launched Screenly, we’ve received requests from customers for turnkey Screenly players. Many customers simply want to order a pre-configured Screenly device, plug it into the wall and be ready to go. Starting today, this is possible.</p> <h3 id="pre-configured-screenly-devices-available-today">Pre-configured Screenly devices available today</h3> <p>In order to offer such a solution, we’ve teamed up with the fine folks over at <a href="https://www.pi-supply.com/">Pi Supply</a>. Together, we have developed a <a href="https://www.pi-supply.com/product/screenly-pro-digital-signage-starter-kit/">Screenly starter kit</a>.</p> <p>The kit includes:</p> <ul> <li>One Raspberry Pi Model B+</li> <li>One protective case for the Raspberry Pi unit</li> <li>One HDMI Cable</li> <li>One Power Supply of your choice (UK/EU/USA/AUS)</li> <li>One 8GB (Class 10) Samsung microSD Card with Screenly pre-installed</li> </ul> <p>These pre-configured Screenly players are available today for just £60, and you can order them <a href="https://www.pi-supply.com/product/screenly-pro-digital-signage-starter-kit">online from Pi Supply</a>.</p> <h3 id="added-support-for-static-ips">Added support for static IPs</h3> <p>Over the last year, we have received several user requests to support static IPs. Up until now, if you wanted to use Screenly, we required a DHCP server to be present on the network (which is the case for the vast majority of all networks). Some customers (particularly enterprise customers) require static IPs for all devices on a network.</p> <p>Today, we are excited to announce that the latest version of Screenly (<em>2014-12-12</em>) supports static IPs. To make things easy, we created a resource on how <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/doc/faq#static_ip">configure static IPs for digital signage</a>. In short, you simply edit a file on the SD card before you boot the device, and the system will automatically configure itself accordingly.</p> <p>Still haven’t tried Screenly? <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Sign up now</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2014/12/16/turnkey-screenly-devices-and-more/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2014/12/16/turnkey-screenly-devices-and-more/Tue, 16 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000<p>Time flies. It has now been almost a year and a half since I wrote the alpha version/prototype of Screenly OSE and Screenly’s paid version. I developed Screenly’s digital signage products to solve a problem that I had myself (and, also, to have an excuse to play with the Raspberry Pi). I had no idea how big this project would become.</p> <p>The announcement <a href="http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=12396">thread</a> from Screenly on the Raspberry Pi forum took off like a rocket, and the announcement is still one of the most popular threads on the entire forum. When I realized that Screenly could turn into something big, I brought it into <a href="http://wireload.net">WireLoad</a> to turn it into a real product with a team of full-time developers. Over the past year and a half, we’ve seen an amazing increase in Screenly users, despite not having done any marketing at all. In fact, we’ve intentionally kept a very low profile in order not to grow too quickly.</p> <p>One thing we haven’t been very good at is communicating with our users regarding new features. We have done occasional Twitter updates, but we haven’t been as frequent as we should be with this communication. To address this, I’m writing here to bring everyone up to speed on what we have been working on at Screenly over the past few months.</p> <h2 id="more-beneficial-plans">More beneficial plans</h2> <p>Some of you may have noticed that we have updated our <a href="http://www.screenlyapp.com/pricing.html">plans</a> since we launched Screenly. In order to make pricing more predictable, we have created pricing packages. These packages include a pre-defined set of screens, as well as other perks and various volume discounts. Each pricing package comes with a free, 14-day trial.</p> <h2 id="faster-updates">Faster updates</h2> <p>One comment we frequently received during Screenly’s early days was that the delay was too long between when a change was made to a playlist and when this change was pushed out to the screen. We agreed with this feedback, and we spent a significant amount of time looking for the best technology to improve this issue. We’re happy to announce that the time for an update in the web UI to take effect on a deployed screen is now often less than one minute (depending on the screen’s internet connection).</p> <h2 id="better-transitions">Better transitions</h2> <p>One of the most challenging parts of developing software for the Raspberry Pi is the hardware constraints. Where this becomes noticeable is in the lag experienced when switching between media assets. We’re happy to let you know that we have been able to significantly reduce this lag when switching between images and web pages (and vice versa). Unfortunately, there is still a bit of gap when switching between images, web pages and videos, but we are continuing to work hard on this.</p> <h2 id="snappier-setup">Snappier setup</h2> <p>One thing that personally bothered me was the time it took to initiate a new screen. We’ve recently invested a lot of time to cut down on this setup time. It still takes longer than I’d like it to take, but we’ve managed to cut down the total setup time by about 50%.</p> <h2 id="thumbnails-for-all-assets">Thumbnails for all assets</h2> <p>When you have a lot of assets, it’s sometimes hard to keep track of all of them. A thumbnail can help you quickly identify a particular asset. Screenly will now automatically generate thumbnails for all type of assets, including web-pages, to make your life easier.</p> <h2 id="multiple-uploads">Multiple uploads</h2> <p>When you first set up your Screenly installation, it’s likely that you are going to upload a lot of images and videos. Wouldn’t it then be great if you could do multiple uploads simultaneously? We thought so too, and we have now implemented this feature directly in the web interface. Just drag (or select) multiple assets, and the web interface will automatically upload and process them.</p> <h2 id="more-advanced-settings">More advanced settings</h2> <p>You can use your Raspberry Pi with more or less any monitor that supports full HD and has an HDMI port. We try our best to preconfigure all types of TVs and monitors, but sometimes it is necessary to fine-tune the settings. On this point, we have introduced advanced settings for each node. This feature is for technical users, and exposes the monitor-related settings from <a href="http://elinux.org/RPi_config.txt">config.txt</a>.</p> <h2 id="partners">Partners</h2> <p>While I cannot really name any of these companies yet, I can say that we are working with some really cool companies and products to integrate directly into Screenly. Expect an update on this in the near future.</p> <p>Do you want your product to integrate with Screenly? If so, please drop us a line at <a href="mailto:hello@screenlyapp.com">hello@screenlyapp.com</a>.</p> <h2 id="want-to-become-a-screenly-reseller">Want to become a Screenly reseller?</h2> <p>We’ve received a lot of requests from companies around the world who want to resell Screenly. We are looking to establish a global network of resellers that can assist customers with value-added services, such as installations and content creation. Is this something you are interested in? If so, please sign up on our reseller <a href="http://eepurl.com/Kd3GD">waitlist</a>.</p> <h2 id="advice-for-creating-content">Advice for creating content</h2> <p>Lastly, I want to leave you with some advice for when creating content for Screenly. First, you need to make sure to optimize all content for 1920x1080px (Full HD). Also, since various TVs can behave differently, you might want to be careful with putting content too closely to the edges of your frames. On a perfectly configured TV, all your content should display fine, but, if you have a diverse set of monitors, you might want to be conservative with edge content.</p> <p>We’ve also been in touch with a few customers who were having issues with web content on their screens. The problem is most often related to the fact that they are trying to use heavy web technologies (such as jQuery slideshows or similar). This is unlikely to work well. You need to keep in mind that the Raspberry Pi’s hardware is roughly equivalent to the very first iPhone. It’s not comparable to your laptop or desktop computer. If you keep this in mind when developing web pages for Screenly, you’ll get a much better result.</p> <p>Still haven’t tried Screenly? <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">Sign up now</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2013/12/20/an-update-on-screenly/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2013/12/20/an-update-on-screenly/Fri, 20 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital Signage is something that has been around for some time. Today, you can find digital signs everywhere. They are used for everything from displaying the menu at your local fast food restaurant to covering buildings with ads to in-store advertisements.</p> <p>When we first analyzed this market, we noticed that most available digital signage products fell into one of two buckets:</p> <ul> <li>Bloated and overpriced embedded solutions with decent functionality</li> <li>Home-made solutions that were often buggy and relied on Adobe Flash</li> </ul> <p>What we wanted was an affordable, modern and lightweight solution, but no such solution existed.</p> <p>When the <a href="http://www.raspberrypi.org/">Raspberry Pi</a> was announced, we had an “aha” moment. This was what was needed to reinvent the industry. At only $35, the Raspberry Pi was accessible to everyone. Additionally, the hardware was powerful enough to support full-HD playback.</p> <p>After spending a few months on the waitlist, we got our Rasperry Pi last summer and got busy cranking out a prototype. The result was a set of a turn-key digital signage solutions and the birth of our company, <a href="http://www.screenly.io">Screenly</a>. All you need to manage Screenly digital signage solutions is your web-browser.</p> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-overview_hu_dfcfa7f84c0591f.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-overview_hu_a52a1ee02398112f.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-overview_hu_bbcc5c0248c3e96.webp 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <source srcset="/images/blog/screenly-ose-overview_hu_1c704ec6232c0118.webp 480w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-overview_hu_15e4925de3f8aaa6.webp 768w, /images/blog/screenly-ose-overview_hu_83c7d66b9fae4ed5.webp 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 480px, (max-width: 768px) 790px, 1200px"> <img src="/images/blog/screenly-ose-overview_hu_bbcc5c0248c3e96.webp" alt="Screenly OSE" class="max-w-full h-auto" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="739" > </picture> <p>Screenly’s digital signage solution is available in two flavors: OSE and Pro.</p> <p><strong>Screenly OSE</strong> is Open Source. Anyone can install, modify and use it free of charge. This edition is available today. All you need to use Screenly OSE is a Raspberry Pi and a TV. The installation instructions can be found <a href="http://www.screenly.io/ose">here</a>. The limitation with Screenly OSE is that it is designed for a stand-alone setup. If all you need is to setup a single screen, Screenly OSE is the perfect fit for you. You can find an online demo <a href="http://ose.demo.screenlyapp.com">here</a>. The full source code for Screenly OSE is available on <a href="https://github.com/screenly/screenly-ose">GitHub</a>.</p> <p>The paid version of <strong>Screenly</strong>, on the other hand, is a commercial solution. It was designed for users who want to manage multiple nodes (or screens). It runs on the same hardware as Screenly OSE, but it provides you with a convenient cloud interface for your digital signage management. Screenly also provides you with other benefits, such as system hardening, node alarm/health monitoring and more. Screenly is currently in beta.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2013/02/21/introducing-screenly-reinventing-digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2013/02/21/introducing-screenly-reinventing-digital-signage/Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/514sid/https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/514sid/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/aljungberg/https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/aljungberg/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/screenly-ose/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/screenly-ose/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/api/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/api/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/app-store/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/app-store/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/dashboards/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/dashboards/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/axis/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/axis/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/balena/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/balena/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/basics/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/basics/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/case-studies/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/case-studies/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/cec/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/cec/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/cms/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/cms/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/common-mistakes/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/common-mistakes/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/continuous-integration/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/continuous-integration/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/culture/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/culture/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/dmountcastle/https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/dmountcastle/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/dashboard/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/dashboard/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/deployment/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/deployment/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/devops/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/devops/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/digital-marketing/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/digital-marketing/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/digital-menu-boards/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/digital-menu-boards/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/digital-nomads/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/digital-nomads/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/category/digital-sign-dashboards/https://www.screenly.io/blog/category/digital-sign-dashboards/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/category/digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/category/digital-signage/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/digital-signage-content/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/digital-signage-content/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000<p>Customers who are visiting a supermarket or grocery store are on the move. In most cases, they have a list or general idea about the items they want, and their goal is to get in and out of the store as quickly as possible. Communicating with these customers needs to be non-intrusive and hyper-relevant to their specific needs and concerns.</p> <p>Digital signs can be an ideal communication medium for supermarkets and grocery stores. In the post below, we detail how these businesses can use digital signs and how to set one up quickly and easily.</p> <h2 id="what-is-a-digital-sign">What is a digital sign?</h2> <p>A digital sign is any TV or monitor that a business or organization uses to display custom information, such as special offers or product testimonials. The main component of a digital sign is, of course, the screen. However, there are a couple of other components that make a digital sign.</p> <p>Each digital sign needs a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a small, palm-sized device that connects to the digital signage screen via HDMI cable. The digital signage player renders custom content to the screen the same way a DVD player renders a movie to a home TV. With a digital signage player, users can display images, videos, and even web pages on their digital signs.</p> <p>The third component of digital signs is <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software">digital signage software</a>. Digital signage software allows users to manage the content on their screen from anywhere with an internet connection. Users can simply log in to their online account and set the content on one or multiple screens. Common features of digital signage software include the functionality to build playlists, schedule content in advance, and notifications when screens require troubleshooting.</p> <h2 id="how-can-supermarkets-and-grocery-stores-use-digital-signs">How can supermarkets and grocery stores use digital signs?</h2> <p>One of the most common use cases for digital signs in supermarkets and grocery stores is displaying special offers. Stores can use digital signs to direct shoppers to another area or highlight an offer on a nearby product. Users can also connect their digital signs to their existing inventory systems and databases via a <a href="/api/">digital signage API</a>. With a digital signage API, users can program their digital signs to stop displaying a special offer for an item when that item is out of stock.</p> <p>Another popular use case is using digital signs to display unique recipes. Stores can use a digital sign to supplement a free sample booth by showing the ingredients involved, the preparation process, and the final food product. Many stores have experimented with “ready-to-go” packages, which include a basket of all ingredients a person needs for a delicious home-cooked meal. These prepared packages can help increase sales by making the shopping experience quick and easy.</p> <p>Supermarkets and grocery stores can also use non-customer-facing digital signs. These digital signs can sit in break rooms or corporate offices to display KPI data, such as sales numbers and revenue projections. Another use case for digital signs at corporate campuses is displaying HR policies or <a href="/blog/2020/08/05/display-health-and-safety-policies/">COVID-19 health and safety information</a>.</p> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-digital-signage-at-your-supermarket-or-grocery-store">How to get started with digital signage at your supermarket or grocery store</h2> <p>Supermarkets and grocery stores can get started with digital signage with very little time or upfront investment. Screenly provides an integrated hardware and software solution for digital signage the users can get up and running in no time. You can check out Screenly’s digital signage software for free with a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">14-day free trial</a>. You can learn more about Screenly’s digital signage player, the Screenly Player, <a href="/digital-signage-players/">here</a>.</p> <p>If you have any questions about launching digital signage at your supermarket or grocery store, please reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us">Screenly Support</a>. We are always happy to help answer questions and consult with you on how to get the most out of digital signs at your store.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/06/07/digital-signage-supermarkets-grocery-stores/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/06/07/digital-signage-supermarkets-grocery-stores/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/digital-signage/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/digital-signage/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/category/digital-signage-use-cases/https://www.screenly.io/blog/category/digital-signage-use-cases/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/disk-images/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/disk-images/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/display-advertising/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/display-advertising/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/diy/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/diy/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/docker/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/docker/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/education/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/education/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/emanns/https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/emanns/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/events/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/events/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/grafana/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/grafana/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/hardware/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/hardware/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/heroku/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/heroku/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital screens help businesses better engage with their customers and employees. People often refer to digital screens as “digital signs,” and common use cases include displaying special offers, showing <a href="/use-cases/dashboard/">data dashboards</a>, and communicating HR policies. In the post below, we cover the key components of digital screens and detail how people can launch digital screens quickly and easily.</p> <h2 id="digital-screen-hardware-requirements">Digital screen hardware requirements</h2> <p>Each screen deployment requires several hardware components. First, of course, there is the screen itself. Businesses can use almost any TV or monitor that has an HDMI port and can display content in at least 1080p Full HD resolution. While professional-grade screens, such as <a href="/nec/">NEC screens</a>, are an option for users with advanced feature requirements, most businesses can purchase a screen from their local electronics store for around $100-$250.</p> <p>The second hardware requirement is a <a href="/digital-signage-players/">digital signage player</a>. A digital signage player is a small, palm-sized device that renders content to the screen. Much like a DVD player renders a movie to a home TV, a digital signage player renders a business’s custom content to the business’s digital screen. Digital signage players connect to the screen via HDMI cable and connect to the internet via ethernet cable or Wi-Fi.</p> <p>While in most cases, each screen requires one digital signage player, there are some exceptions. Some users may elect for a <a href="/apps/raspberry-pi-video-wall/">multi-screen video wall</a>. In this case, one can use the same digital signage player for multiple screens; however, they will need to pair this digital signage player with a separate <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/articles/215089826-Does-Screenly-support-running-in-video-wall-mode-">video splitter</a>.</p> <h2 id="digital-screen-management-software">Digital screen management software</h2> <p>In the past, changing a screen’s content was a time-consuming and challenging task. Changing content often required a person to visit the screen in person and change the content manually. This manual content change involved uploading new content to the screen with a USB drive and keyboard.</p> <p>Today, modern signage solutions include <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage management software</a>. This software allows users to change content on their screens by using their laptops from anywhere with an internet connection. Users simply log in to their online accounts and add, remove, or change out content on their screens.</p> <p>Some digital signage management software solutions include advanced features, such as playlist creation and content scheduling. These features allow users to organize their content and schedule it weeks in advance. Additionally, users can set content pieces to only show at certain times of the day or on certain days of the week.</p> <p>Another advanced feature of digital signage management software is uptime management capabilities. Some software solutions allow users to monitor the health of their digital screens and digital signage players remotely and in real-time. If a screen goes offline and is likely not displaying content as intended, the user receives a notification email. This functionality allows IT departments to be proactive about screens that need troubleshooting, and teams can service screens before customers or coworkers complain about non-functioning screens.</p> <h2 id="managing-digital-screens-at-scale">Managing digital screens at scale</h2> <p>While some screen deployments have just a few screens, other deployments have hundreds of screens across multiple business locations. For users with large screen deployments, it is essential to manage content across these screens at scale.</p> <p>To address this need, some digital screen management solutions offer group editing capabilities. This feature typically works by allowing users to tag screens with labels. Users can then manage multiple screens with the same label at the same time. For example, a user can change the content playlists on all screens with the label “New York Office” in the same workflow.</p> <p>Beyond the software components, users who need to manage digital screens at scale should also pay close attention to the reliability of their digital screen hardware. Large screen deployments often involve screens across multiple cities and countries, and it can be a logistical nightmare to deal with a failing digital signage player. When choosing a <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage player</a> for your digital screen deployment, be sure to select a trusted, reliable, and battle-tested device.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-your-first-digital-screen">Getting started with your first digital screen</h2> <p>It’s easy to get started and deploy your first digital screen. With Screenly, you can <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">sign up for a 14-day trial</a> of our advanced digital signage management software. With an online Screenly account, you can display images, video, and even webpage content remotely. You can also organize content into playlists and even manage similar screens simultaneously with our screen labels and grouping features.</p> <p>You can learn more about the Screenly Player, our integrated digital signage player, <a href="/digital-signage-players/">here</a>. To sign up for a free 14-day trial account, click <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/08/02/manage-digital-screens/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/08/02/manage-digital-screens/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/internet-of-things/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/internet-of-things/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/interview/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/interview/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/iot/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/iot/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000<p>Digital signage cloud software allows users to manage the content on their screens from anywhere. However, beyond this central feature, not all <a href="/blog/2019/03/07/what-is-digital-signage-software/">digital signage software</a> is the same. In the post below, we highlight key features of digital signage software that make content management fast, easy, and scalable.</p> <h2 id="playlist-building-features">Playlist-building features</h2> <p>A common feature with cloud digital signage is playlist building. Playlists allow users to organize and order the content into reusable collections. A business may have a “Weekend Promotion” playlist that has special offers for the weekend. Instead of manually adding each weekend offer to their screens, users can assign the playlist to the screen and reuse it every weekend.</p> <p>Most digital signage cloud software allows users to combine multiple media types in a single playlist. Users can combine images, videos, and even web page content. Most digital signage systems support 1080p Full HD resolution, although some systems can support <a href="/blog/2018/06/28/do-i-need-4k-for-my-digital-signs/">4K digital signage</a>.</p> <h2 id="content-scheduling-features">Content scheduling features</h2> <p>With digital signage cloud software, users can manage the times and dates that their content displays. Users can have content display just once or display regularly each week. For example, users can schedule their “Weekend Promotion” playlist to display every Saturday and Sunday. Users can also change and edit these schedules with ease.</p> <p>Additionally, users can schedule unique weekday content for weeks in advance. Content scheduling features allow users to take care of weeks of content planning in a single sitting. This capability enables teams to manage their digital signage content with minimal administrative overhead and time.</p> <h2 id="screen-grouping-features">Screen grouping features</h2> <p>While some businesses may only have one or two digital signs, other businesses have a dozen digital signs on a single floor of a corporate campus. When digital signage deployments grow, users need to be able to manage multiple screens at once. With screen grouping features, users can add a label to screens and classify those screens as being in a group. For example, users can make a “Floor One” group. If a user wishes to assign a playlist to all “Floor One” screens, the user can do this in a single workflow rather than screen-by-screen.</p> <h2 id="screen-and-digital-signage-player-uptime-monitoring">Screen and digital signage player uptime monitoring</h2> <p>All digital signage deployments eventually need troubleshooting, and digital signage cloud software can help teams be proactive when screens require maintenance. Modern digital signage cloud software can alert users when their screens and <a href="/blog/2019/02/16/what-is-a-digital-signage-player/">digital signage players</a> are malfunctioning. Users can then troubleshoot the screens immediately, rather than waiting for a customer or employee to alert them of a non-working screen.</p> <h2 id="getting-started-with-screenly">Getting started with Screenly</h2> <p>Screenly offers a powerful digital signage solution with integrated hardware and software. To learn more about Screenly and to see our user-friendly digital signage cloud software, sign up for a free trial <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">here</a>.</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/08/08/digital-signage-cloud-software/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2021/08/08/digital-signage-cloud-software/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/kibana/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/kibana/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/kubernetes/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/kubernetes/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/licensing/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/licensing/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/measurement-and-kpis/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/measurement-and-kpis/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/moby/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/moby/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/mwc-2017/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/mwc-2017/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/nec/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/nec/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/newsletter/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/newsletter/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/nmiguelino/https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/nmiguelino/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/node-red/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/node-red/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/noobs/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/noobs/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/open-source/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/open-source/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/partners/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/partners/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/partnership/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/partnership/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/poe/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/poe/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/post-mortem/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/post-mortem/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/use-cases/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/use-cases/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/power-management/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/power-management/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/press-release/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/press-release/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/productivity/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/productivity/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/category/raspberry-pi/https://www.screenly.io/blog/category/raspberry-pi/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/raspberry-pi/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/raspberry-pi/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/raspbian/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/raspbian/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/remote-working/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/remote-working/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/resin-io/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/resin-io/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/salman/https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/salman/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/screenly-app-store/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/screenly-app-store/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/screenly-pro/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/screenly-pro/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/security/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/security/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/security-camera/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/security-camera/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/smart-tv/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/smart-tv/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/soc/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/soc/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/software/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/software/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/startup/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/startup/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/technology/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/technology/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/tips/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/tips/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/tools/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/tools/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000<p>As part of our push for developer-friendly digital signage, we have just launched our <a href="https://www.pagerduty.com/">PagerDuty</a> integration. You can now get alerts about your Screenly digital signs directly in your PagerDuty account.</p> <h2 id="what-is-pagerduty">What is PagerDuty?</h2> <p>PagerDuty helps IT and developer teams with their issue resolution processes. When businesses have issues with mission-critical infrastructure, someone on the team needs to fix those issues. Unfortunately, these issues come in at all hours of the day and night, and someone needs to be responsible for fixing an error or system failure that comes up at 3 AM.</p> <p>With PagerDuty, teams can monitor issues and assign them to team members when they come up. PagerDuty can then alert the team member and document when the issue is resolved.</p> <h2 id="how-is-pagerduty-useful-with-digital-signage">How is PagerDuty useful with digital signage</h2> <p>Even the most stable digital signage deployments will sooner or later have a non-functioning screen. Some of these issues can be from bugs with code built on top of the <a href="/api/">Screenly API</a>, and other issues can be as simple as an unplugged power cord.</p> <p>Digital signs are meant to be seen by employees and customers, which means that errors are visible. When a screen goes down, anyone walking by can immediately see that there is an issue. Without error notifications, IT and developer teams rely on passing foot traffic to relay that there is a problem with the digital sign. Often, people believe that someone else is taking care of the problem, and they do not report the issue. In some cases, this lack of reporting can result in days before a team member goes to fix the issue.</p> <p>With PagerDuty and notifications for non-functioning screens, teams can get an immediate alert about the issue and start troubleshooting as soon as possible. PagerDuty helps manage this issue resolution process, and it is particularly helpful for large teams with digital signage deployments across many locations.</p> <h2 id="how-to-use-pagerduty-in-your-screenly-account">How to use PagerDuty in your Screenly account</h2> <p>Using the PagerDuty integration within your Screenly account is easy. Simply sign in to your Screenly account, and navigate to the “Settings” section on the left side of your screen. Next, click “Notifications” and click the PagerDuty button on the next screen. You can then enter your PagerDuty credentials. That’s it!</p> <h2 id="get-started-with-screenly-now-for-free">Get started with Screenly now for free</h2> <p>If you are new to Screenly, you can get started right now for free. Just sign up for a <a href="https://login.screenlyapp.com/sign-up">free 14-day trial</a>, and see inside the Screenly interface. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to <a href="https://support.screenly.io/hc/en-us/requests/new">Screenly Support</a>. We’re here to help!</p>https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/06/06/digital-signage-pagerduty-integration/https://www.screenly.io/blog/2022/06/06/digital-signage-pagerduty-integration/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/ubuntu/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/ubuntu/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/ubuntu-core/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/ubuntu-core/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/updates/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/updates/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/video-wall/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/video-wall/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/vpetersson/https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/vpetersson/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/weather/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/weather/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/win/https://www.screenly.io/blog/author/win/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/wordpress/https://www.screenly.io/blog/tag/wordpress/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000