The player is the small computer that turns a screen into a sign. Get it right and you forget it exists. Get it wrong and you spend Monday mornings walking round the building unplugging things. These eight checks are what decide it.
Still choosing between a screen with the player built in, an Android box and a Windows PC? Start with Tizen vs webOS vs Android, then come back here.
The checklist
It runs all day
A home TV or media box is built for four to six hours an evening. A shop window runs twelve to sixteen. Look for a stated 16/7 or 24/7 rating.
It comes back after a power cut
When the power returns, the screen must switch on and play by itself, with no remote. Most home TVs wait on standby for someone to press a button.
Commercial screen, not a TV
A home LG or Samsung TV cannot run the signage player, and its warranty often excludes all-day use. A commercial screen is brighter, rated for portrait and built to stay on.
Fire TV sticks: avoid
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select runs Amazon’s new Vega OS, not Android, so signage apps will not install. Older sticks can, but show Amazon’s adverts and never start into the app reliably.
Cheap boxes cost more
A 35€ marketplace box often runs an old system with no updates and wears out within months. Look for at least 2GB of memory, 16GB of storage and a known brand.
Heat and mounting
Heat kills players. Choose a fanless metal box, leave a few centimetres of air behind the screen, and fix it to a VESA plate so it cannot walk off.
A network cable if you can
Wired Ethernet removes a whole family of faults. If Wi-Fi is the only option, test the signal where the screen will hang. See network requirements.
Raspberry Pi: not with us
A Pi is a fine tool for technical teams, but no longer cheap: about $120 in parts for a usable build. We do not offer a Pi player, so pick a system that supports it.
What the usual options cost
Typical prices for the player only, not the screen or the software. Use them to budget, not as quotes.
| Option | Typical cost per screen | Fit for all-day use? |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose-built Android player | €150–€400 | Yes |
| Cheap consumer Android box | €35–€80 | Testing only |
| Windows mini-PC | €300–€700 | Yes, if fanless |
| Player built into an LG or Samsung signage screen | Included in the screen | Yes |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Select (Vega OS) | €30–€60 | No: signage apps do not run |
Two settings that save call-outs
- Switch screens off at night. It lengthens the screen’s life, saves electricity and keeps the player cooler. Most commercial screens have a timer for it.
- Keep content on the box. easyCMS players keep a copy of everything they show, so a dropped connection does not mean a blank screen. More in digital signage without internet.
The easy way out
If you would rather not compare chipsets, our Android player is 499€. It arrives set up, includes the licence for its screen and is built for 16 to 24 hours a day. Plug in power and HDMI and it plays.
Prefer your own box? The app is free to install: on most Android boxes you just type one address. Guides for Android, Windows, LG webOS and Samsung Tizen cover the rest.
Questions people ask
Can I use the smart TV I already have?
Usually not directly. Put an Android box on its HDMI input and it works, but a home TV is not built to run all day.
Which platforms does easyCMS support?
Android, Windows, LG webOS and Samsung Tizen. The full list is on the players page.
Is the player the big cost?
No. The screen almost always costs more. See what a professional player costs over five years, and the whole picture in cost per screen.
Unsure about a model? Email info@myeasycms.com before you buy. Telling you it will not work costs you nothing.