Google Chrome for Digital Signage
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10 Digital Signage Topics You Need to Digital Signage Guide Know Before Buying 7 Google Sales [email protected] Chrome for Phone Toll Free: 855.383.4518 Local: 612.260.7327 Digital Address 420 N 5th Street Sig Minneapolis, MN 55401 n www.s a kykit.co ge m Chapter 7: Google Chrome for Digital Signage players and give you a leg-up in deciding which is right for you. Get Google your PDF here. The Hardware Chrome for The hardware required to complete a digital signage solution is typically a commercial-grade screen and Digital Signage a media player . There are lots of options out there for displays, which we explored in Chapter 5, but now it’s time to look at the media players . There are also lots of options out there for media players, and for Google, that includes the Chromebit, Google has been making waves in Chrome bypasses all those concerns Chromebase, and Chromebox . We’ll the digital signage market for about that are very real for other platforms . also enlighten you about Chromecast, two years . They’ve made it clear that but Chromecast is not recommended You can choose for your Chrome is here . Chrome OS as a commercial-grade digital media players, manage those devices signage tool . The Google ecosystem has from the Chrome Management compelling hardware / media players Console (CMC), and control your It can be confusing to determine which available to run your digital signs . content using a CMS from one of device you need if you’re considering Chrome provides a platform for Google’s partners . Chrome for digital displays . innovation . All your software runs in the Cloud . What’s the difference between the Chrome-based digital signage All your data is stored there safely . three? What are the pros and cons of solutions are by far the most secure, Plus, you get to harness the cloud for each? easy to manage, scalable, and easy collaboration . We’re about to end any confusion you to implement . And among their many product might have regarding these three Here’s why: options, there’s solutions for everyone options, giving you clear definitions on Digital signage through Chrome is from SMBs to enterprises . In this what each does, how the hardware a truly end-to-end cloud-based chapter, I’m going to walk you options can best serve you, and solution . Chrome takes care of it all . through each of Google’s media what the pros and cons are of each . Remember what I talked about in Chapter 6 about the dangers of the “fake cloud” and not updating new versions and security patches? 79 Chapter 7: Google Chrome for Digital Signage The Chromebox syncs and locally 2955U ($179 MSRP), i3-4010U ($369 Chromebox caches the content (so it can still run MSRP)[95] . The i3 model comes with a if the connection is choppy) . keyboard and mouse . You probably remember the Chromebox from Chapter 5, but we’re Instead of tasking someone to code Acer going to take another look and see an application, it’s just a matter of Acer’s Chromebox CXI models are how it measures up to other Chrome using CMC and your preferred CMS also aimed at the consumer market, solutions . to push the desired content to the with all-plastic casing and a noisy appropriate devices . fan . They’re still solid products . The Chromebox, born in 2012 , is small form-factor computer box that runs Cost and Models At 1 .3 x 5 .1 x 6 .5”, it’s compact, though on Chrome’s OS . not the smallest . There’s options with $159 – $675 (depending on model) processors and memory[97] . The CXI The idea is that you can set the box has a 1.4GHz Intel Celeron 2957U on your desk, plug in a screen, mouse, processor and a choice between 2GB and keyboard, and set up your own There’s not just one ($179) and 4GB ($219) RAM . little desktop computer… or skip the sort of Chromebox— mouse and keyboard, plug it into a There’s options with an Intel i3 in fact, there’s one to commercial-grade screen, and use processor, able to play up to 4K Chrome’s kiosk mode to lock-down suit the needs of just video. The first, Acer CXI-i34GKM, has functionality and now you have a fully about anyone. 4GB RAM ($349); the second (CXI- functioning digital sign . i38GKM) has 8GB RAM for $399 . How it Works Worth noting: If you’re hoping to That makes it a little tricky to sum up Chromeboxes primarily support a upgrade the memory or hard drive the Chromebox’s stats, since there single application at a time . yourself, you’re out of luck—the case are many models made by different is hard to open without damage and They rely heavily on an Internet companies . parts difficult to extract[98] . connection for software functionality Standard features include a 16 GB and data storage . That connection, AOPEN SSD, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4 .0, at least via a local area network, can be AOPEN offers a robust (if pricey) 4 USB ports, Ethernet, DisplayPort, [99] wireless or through an Ethernet port . commercial Chromebox option . HDMI, and an SD card reader . The user hooks up their Chromebox to In fact, it’s currently the only Below, you’ll find a rundown of the the display via HDMI and connects to commercial Chromebox designed for offerings from a number of major the Internet . digital signage use . original equipment manufacturers If the user subscribes to Chrome (OEMs) . With three and five year warranty Management Console, he or she options, a wide temperature operating Asus can take a few seconds to enroll the tolerance range, metal casing, a solid Asus is known for consumer media device to allow it to be configured state drive, and fanless construction, players, but they perform well and remotely . the Chromebox Commercial is built are commonly found in commercial to withstand stressful environments settings . Part of this is due to the small After that, if working with a digital that might cause consumer-grade form factor, a compact 4 .88 x 4 .88 x signage CMS (one of Google’s Chromeboxes (with their fans 1 .65” . partners might be able to provide an and plastic construction) to fail attractive solution) once the player is You can choose between several prematurely . connected to the network, the visual different processors: Intel® Celeron display shows the content . 80 Chapter 7: Google Chrome for Digital Signage Who uses Chromeboxes for And while the device isn’t pretty, at ◊ Intel Celeron (2955U 1.4 GHz) Digital Signage? only 25 mm thick it’s easy to hide . with 4GB RAM, $199 Because of the Chrome Management Console, it’s easy to use Chromeboxes On the technical side, it boasts a Intel® ◊ Intel Haswell (4600U) Core i7 to control many screens on a large Quad Core N2930 processor with 4GB processor with 4GB or 8GB RAM, scale . It’s a true enterprise-grade memory, plus dual screen support . starting at $629 solution. The price may be a barrier, though: with The last option has the same specs You’ll find Chromeboxes behind digital an MSRP of $429 a pop, you’re definitely as Asus’s Core i7 offering, but it’s signage everywhere from retail stores paying for that commercial quality . available on its own, rather than in a to universities . bundle[102] . Lenovo Here’s just one example . Lenovo was a Chromebox latecomer, It’s often described as blazingly fast. but brought its own twist with the Clothing retailer Chico’s had a [100] And this is just the tip of the iceberg . ThinkCentre Chromebox Tiny , massive project in mind: deploying which is small compared to a desktop Samsung also offers a Chromebox, up to 5,000 screens at some 1,500 computer, though not quite tiny for a [103] and that’s not even to mention locations . Chromebox, at 7 x 7 .2 x 1 .4” . Chromebases . (Don’t worry, we’ll get Built of aluminum with a plastic to them .) Plus, there may be models front panel, the Tiny has some great we’ve missed . security features, like data encryption You’ll have to do some comparison- and a way to disable USB ports to shopping of your own, but this should prevent unauthorized access. be a good start . Technical specs include an Intel Core But none of the options are terrible . i3-5005U Dual-Core processor with Like every other aspect of signage, it’s 2GB memory ($240 on Amazon), about which one’s right with you . or a Intel 3205U processor with 2 or 4GB memory (both about $150 on Pros: Amazon). ◊ Central Management Lenovo also offers the ThinkCentre They envisioned personalized content ◊ Kiosk Mode Tiny-In-One, which is a tool-free way down to the store level, and control to convert the Tiny into a 23” All-In- ◊ Upgradable RAM over each individual screen . They One display . settled on HP Chromeboxes, because, ◊ Automatic software upgrades according to CIO Eric Singleton, HP ◊ Various models to choose The HP offerings match Asus in terms “Since they’re cost-effective, we can from that support different of tiny size: 4.88 x 4.96 x 1.54”. afford to outfit more of our stores with requirements like 4k more displays . Since they’re small, HP aims its models at enterprise they don’t take up valuable space buyers, offering rack mounts and ◊ Security and virus protection in stores and they are unobtrusive .