Digital signage style device on the cheap.

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Digital signage style device on the cheap.

Gozer

185 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 32

#209146 14-Mar-2017 15:49

Current situation is powerpoint 97 running on a P4

This need an upgrade and the initial thought is chromecast or raspberrypi or similar.

looking around for options the "digital signage" options are quite pricey, raspberrypi's are a little fragile with not being shutdown properly.

All I need is MP4 in (preferable reading from network share)

and full screen hdmi out.

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1041

Trusted

Vocus

#1736394 14-Mar-2017 16:09

"raspberrypi's are a little fragile with not being shutdown properly"

You can fix this - configure linux to mount root as read only once you've got it all configured.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150101110424/http://raspberrycenter.de/forum/umruestung-raspberry-pi-read-only-root-filesystem

(needs translation from German but gives you the rough idea)

tchart

2396 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 577

ID Verified

Trusted

#1736395 14-Mar-2017 16:14

Why not look at TV's with a USB? I've seen several that can just loop the content on the USB drive.

In fact usually at the "As Seen on TV" section in the Warehouse they have a 19" TV with a USB stick on a loop.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2638
Inactive user

#1736425 14-Mar-2017 17:30

Intel Compute Sticks are pretty good. Pick them up cheap at PB with Win 10 Home on them.

richms

29098 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10208

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1736439 14-Mar-2017 18:00

TV's tend to keep popping up filenames as they change between videos, and last I checked wouldnt auto start on the USB drive, instead always going to that "tuner" thing in them and saying that you have to autoscan for "channels"

Richard rich.ms