Choosing a player
Every screen that shows Casty needs a player. This page explains the kinds of player and what each screen needs, so you can plan a new screen or check that an existing TV will work. The supported devices page has the full list and our advice for each one.
What a player is
Section titled “What a player is”The player is the app that plays your content on the screen. It checks in with the Casty CMS, downloads the layouts and media scheduled for that screen, plays them at the right times and reports back what it’s doing. In the CMS, each player is a display.
You can mix kinds of player in one account and manage them all from the same CMS.
The kinds of player
Section titled “The kinds of player”A stick or box behind a TV
Section titled “A stick or box behind a TV”A small device plugged into the HDMI port of a TV you already have.
- The Amazon Signage Stick is a supported Casty player. You set it up with the Amazon Signage phone app, then it shows a pairing code to connect it to Casty.
- Android media players and Android TV boxes run the Casty Android player, which needs Android 7 or later. Android players can play in sync with each other for video walls, and support touch for interactive layouts.
This is the low-cost way to get one screen going, such as a TV over the bar or in a cafe window.
A Windows PC or mini PC connected to the screen. The Windows player needs Windows 10 or later and an Intel or AMD processor (it doesn’t run on ARM-based PCs). It’s the player to choose if you want to show PowerPoint files, provided PowerPoint is installed on the PC.
There’s also a community-maintained Linux player for 64-bit PCs running Ubuntu, best for people comfortable looking after a Linux machine.
A display with the player built in
Section titled “A display with the player built in”Commercial signage displays can run the player themselves, so there’s no box to hide and only one power lead.
- Samsung smart signage displays (Tizen, SSSP 6 or later)
- LG webOS signage displays (webOS 3.2 or later)
- Sony Bravia, Philips and Hisense professional displays, which run the Android player
The CMS can send these displays built-in commands such as reboot and screen power (see Send a command to a screen).
ChromeOS
Section titled “ChromeOS”Chromeboxes and other ChromeOS devices run Casty as a web app in kiosk mode, set up through the Google Admin console. Google requires a Kiosk and Signage upgrade licence for each device.
What each screen needs
Section titled “What each screen needs”- A screen, a player for it and an internet connection.
- Power for the screen, plus the player if it’s a separate stick, box or PC. Players start on their own after a power cut, with no login needed.
- A wired network connection if you want several Android screens to play in sync. Sony Bravia displays also need a wired connection while they’re being set up.
Players download content ahead of time and store it, so a screen keeps playing what it has if the internet drops. Anything that needs a live connection, such as a web page, waits until the connection returns.
Commercial displays and ChromeOS devices have their own requirements, such as firmware versions or licences from the manufacturer. We check these with you before you buy.
Portrait screens
Section titled “Portrait screens”Every player can run in landscape or portrait, set for each display. If a screen hangs on its side, tell us when we set it up. Design its layouts at a portrait resolution, such as 1080p HD Portrait, so they fill the screen (see Design a layout).