CAYIN Technology Co., Ltd.

CAYIN Launches New Dual-Display Digital Signage Player

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, February 4, 2009 CAYIN Technology, the professional supplier of digital signage solutions, releases SMP-WEBDUO, the most advanced model among the web-based digital signage players, at Integrated Systems Europe 2009 in Amsterdam in February. SMP-WEBDUO not only employs most functions from the SMP-WEB series but also has more powerful functions such as supporting full HD video and dual display simultaneously. SMP-WEBDUO is the most up to date and powerful digital signage player in the SMP-WEB series, which is especially designed for DOOH (Digital Out-of-Home) applications that require presenting advanced multimedia content by web language, such as HTML, JavaScript, Flash, etc. The uniqueness of SMP-WEBDUO lies in its capability to control two screens simultaneously and demonstrate more plentiful presentations either in landscape or portrait orientation. Simply by a single click on the Web Manager, the web-based user interface of SMP series player, users can easily choose from 15 display combinations constituted by different screen arrangement and content presentations. SMP-WEBDUO supports four display modes: single, clone, extended, and distinct mode. For single mode, SMP-WEBDUO connects to only one screen and shares similar functions of all the other SMP-WEB series players. SMP-WEBDUO distinguishes itself by managing two screens at the same time. You can choose to display either identical or different contents on these two displays in clone or distinct modes. Above all, SMP-WEBDUO can even support extending multimedia contents from one screen to another and thus, creating more stunning animation effects. A high quality presentation is also one of the main features of SMP-WEBDUO. This new player supports DVI connectors and 1080p Full HD video playback. These features can maximize the quality of digital signage presentations. Moreover, up to 31 playlists for users’ choices can largely diversify digital signage applications. Apart from the above popular functions, SMP-WEBDUO also provides a useful new function, scheduling web playlist on the player directly. They can also choose to schedule playlists of multiple players centrally by CAYIN CMS server. Via this function, users can work more efficiently by sending information to the right customers at the right time automatically. SMP- WEBDUO also features its remote management functions. You can adjust the volume manually from a remote PC or even arrange a schedule to adjust the volume automatically, such as lowering down the volume at night. Remote system recovery is also doable if needed. SMP-WEBDUO can be deployed either as a networked standalone solution or under a server-client structure (incorporated with CAYIN CMS server). It supports to update multimedia contents by FTP, Network Neighborhood, or by CAYIN CMS server with automatic centralized content updated according to the pre-set schedule through the Internet. It can also be easily extended to integrate with customers’ existing network facilities and database. CAYIN Technology has dedicated itself in researching and developing high quality and high technology products to satisfy customers’ demands with better solutions. SMP-WEBDUO, the recently-released media player, with well-designed functions in both hardware and software, is definitely your choice to have a double great visual experience.

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CAYIN Technology Releases New Zone-type Digital Signage Player at ISE 2009

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, February 4, 2009 At Integrated Systems Europe 2009, CAYIN will release SMP-PROPLUS, a new model of CAYIN SMP-PRO series players. This new product employs all the time-proven functions from the SMP-PRO series family, and, furthermore, supports HD video playback and portrait displays thanks to a more powerful display engine with a better performance. SMP-PROPLUS, equipped with CAYIN’s media player, supports most popular image file formats, audio/video codec, such as MPEG 1/2/4, AVI, WMV 7/8/9, WMA, MP3, RAW DV, JPG, GIF, etc. It further supports HD (High Definition) video playback advanced in the SMP-PRO series family. To provide users with a wide variety of display choices for diversified applications, SMP-PROPLUS supports 15 popular screen resolutions for both landscape and portrait displays. Simply by a single click on the Web Manager, the web-based user interface of SMP series player, you can easily rotate your multimedia content clockwise or counter clockwise. SMP-PROPLUS is an advanced zone-type digital signage player. It supports more multimedia presentations to satisfy a broader spectrum of applications’ needs. Users can present up to seven areas for two stored/live videos, two image slide shows, a ticker, a clock, and a theme background. SMP-PROPLUS can also perform as an in-store music player simultaneously. For users who only need to playback one video zone, they can utilize the second video zone as a music channel, and schedule the music files. Combining the background music and the dynamic, rich contents on the screen, SMP-PROPLUS can be used to make a complete in-store multimedia system. To assist users with instant deployment, CAYIN especially provides multiple well-designed skins and stylish clocks for users to create attractive presentations easily. Not being limited to given templates, users can create a new skin that matches the brand image or the theme of the event in five minutes with CAYIN’s Skin Editor, an intuitive, simple drag-and-drop tool. Apart from the above popular functions, SMP-PROPLUS also provides a useful new function, scheduling multimedia playback. Users can edit and schedule playlists for each media source on SMP-PROPLUS player directly. They can also choose to schedule playlists of multiple players centrally by CAYIN CMS server. Via this function, users can work more efficiently by sending information to the right customers at the right time automatically. SMP- PROPLUS also features its remote management functions. It can be deployed either as a networked standalone solution or under a server-client structure (incorporated with CAYIN’s CMS server). It supports updated multimedia contents by FTP, Network Neighborhood, or by CAYIN CMS server with automatic centralized content updated according to the pre-set schedule through the Internet.

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CAYIN Technology to Present Enhanced Digital Signage Solutions and Sponsor the DOOH Conference at Integrated Systems Europe 2009

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, January 22, 2009 CAYIN Technology, the professional supplier of digital signage solutions, will debut SMP-WEBDUO, the first web-based digital signage media player supporting Full HD video playback and dual displays presentation, at Integrated Systems Europe 2009. In addition, CAYIN will demonstrate enhanced comprehensive digital signage solutions including a recently released zone-type media player, web-based media player, the advanced monitoring software with new version, the application software for vertical markets, and content management server. To provide visitors with a more concrete idea about digital signage applications, CAYIN creates a scenario composed with three main themes: fast-food restaurant, school, and hotel. Each area contains diversified and unique contents. SMP-WEBDUO is set in the fast-food restaurant area as it has the capability to control two screens simultaneously and this feature is most suitable for menu board appearance. Two displays put alongside will show static menu items together with price list and vivid promotion video rotating every minute providing viewers brand new visual experiences. In addition, a special content of flight schedule will also be presented through SMP-WEBDUO to highlight the most fantastic function of supporting extended multimedia contents from one screen to another. Flight schedule is fixed on the bottom of screens while on the top a plane flies over creating eye-catching animation effects. SMP-PROPLUS, the recently launched zone-type media player, is the first one which supports HD video playback and portrait displays among all in the SMP-PRO series. CAYIN arranges SMP-PROPLUS in the school area to show how digital signage can be applied as a school bulletin. Within this electronic bulletin, study group information, campus plan, or graduation ceremony announcements will be displayed in either video or text format making more colorful performances. As in the hospitality area, CAYIN will present SMP-WEB3, the web-based media player that enables real-time video playback and live streaming function, together with xPost, the specially designed application software for hotels and convention centers. In addition to live demonstrations through SMP-WEB3, xPost will also be introduced with its three modules: meetingPost, wayfinderPost, and lobbyPost. Informative messages such as weather information, meeting schedule, wayfinding information or promotional messages such as advertisements will be conveyed corresponding to the real hotel applications. Super Monitor, the Windows®-based package software which is used to monitor and manage multiple selected CMS servers and all SMP players, will be shown at ISE 2009 with its brand new user-friendly interface. The whole schedule details can be displayed in calendar view either by daily or weekly and, even better, users can change the schedule time in an instant with an instinct drag-and-drop action. Furthermore, to be better integrated with other solutions, Super Monitor 2.0 is comprised with the central scheduling function which enables all schedule contents to be synchronized with those of the CMS servers. “CAYIN is always devoted itself in research and development and we are achieving a big improvement in products this year so that more sophisticated digital signage solutions will be demonstrated to visitors,” said Ravel Chi, vice president of International Sales Department at CAYIN Technology. “Moreover, to root in the digital signage market and facilitate its development, CAYIN actively sponsors DOOH Conference held during the ISE exhibition for the first time. Overall speaking, I believe that CAYIN’s performance in ISE 2009 is definitely worth expecting.” Welcome to visit CAYIN at Booth 5N90

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CYFRA+ leads digital signage at points of sale in Poland with CAYIN solution

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, January 19, 2009 CANAL+ Cyfrowy, the operator of the CYFRA+ digital TV platform, equipped 188 points of distribution in Poland with CAYIN Digital Signage system. The centrally and remotely managed digital screen network was implemented by NARROWCASTING, a division of KCSP, on the basis of solutions delivered by value-added IT distributor, Veracomp. 300 LCD displays in CYFRA+ points of sale in Poland will be connected to one multimedia network. Thanks to CAYIN Digital Signage system, each or some grouped screens (e.g. divided according to regions) can show multimedia content immediately and simultaneously and all content can be arranged through Internet. “When a customer comes to our point of sale, we only have seconds to catch his attention. Digital signage allows us to grab eyeballs within seconds with dynamic, updated, and interesting content,” said Krzysztof Miodek, Trade Marketing Coordinator of CANAL+ Cyfrowy Sp. z o.o. All content presenting on the digital screens is elaborately designed especially for the digital signage network and centrally managed by CANAL+ Cyfrowy. The display of each screen within the digital signage network is divided into several zones presenting video, image banner, and latest text information on ticker scrolling bar. Viewers can learn about the latest promotions, as well as advertisements from all of the campaigns in Poland. In the first stage, CAYIN digital signage system was rolled out at 188 of the most popular and representative points of sale. In the second stage, CANAL+ Cyfrowy is planning to implement the same system into the other 112 localizations. “This digital signage implementation is not the last of our investments in state-of-the-art audiovisual technologies,” added Krzysztof Miodek. “We are going to expand the system into even more CYFRA+ attractive and interactive broadcast, in order to make our existing and future subscribers feel comfortable and optimal informed and, furthermore, spend more time with us”. “The implementation in CYFRA+ stands is the first digital signage project in Poland with such a large scale, and which has been carried out by the investor him/herself. We are convinced that this project will be a great success for CYFRA+ both in financial and brand image aspects,” added Michal Redziak, Director of Audio-Visual Systems, Veracomp. NARROWCASTING, as the system integrator of digital signage solutions, fulfills the requirements of this project perfectly. With the support from Veracomp, the value-added IT distributor, NARROWCASTING installed 188 SMP-PRO3 digital signage player of CAYIN Technology in CYFRA+ points of sale. SMP-PRO3, the zone-type media player, is responsible for managing and storing multimedia content. In this project, CAYIN CMS PERFORMANCE server is also introduced to centrally manage players, group them, update content, and schedule playlist of multimedia content. All content is being displayed on 37” and 42” LCD screens. “It is one of a few implementations in Europe for a client from the media. It makes us really proud to offer our competence and the appropriate solution to CANAL+. We offer several professional digital signage systems, but CAYIN seems irreplaceable for these implementations,” commented Bartlomiej Gawron, General Director of NARROWCASTING, a division of KCSP. Digital signage is a technology for centrally and remotely managing digital screen network. Thanks to CAYIN’s digital signage solution, all promotional, entertaining, and informing messages can be conveyed simultaneously and catch customers’ attention effectively. "We highly value this project and appreciate the great efforts from all partners," said Ravel Chi, vice president of CAYIN Technology. "We have been attaching importance to and developing the Eastern European market for some time. Since 2005, Veracomp has been one of our most important partners in this region. CAYIN digital signage solution can efficiently help CANAL+ Cyfrowy to manage the scalable digital screen network and maximize the new impact at the points of sale of CYFRA+.” CANAL+ Cyfrowy Sp. z o.o. in Brief CANAL+ Cyfrowy Sp. z o.o. is the operator of the the CYFRA+ digital TV platform, and broadcaster TV channels distributed to more than 350 cable TV networks: CANAL+, CANAL+ Film/CANAL+ Film HD, CANAL+ Sport/CANAL+ Sport HD, serwisu CANAL+ Sport2 and channels ale kino!, ZigZap/Hyper, MiniMini, PLANETE, Kuchnia.tv i Domo. CANAL+ Multipackage (CANAL+, CANAL+ Film, CANAL+Film HD, CANAL+ Sport, CANAL+ Sport HD, CANAL+ Sport2) is accessible also as a separate from CYFRA+ offer. Firm holds leadership position on TV market. It is also expanding its subscribers’ base, and introducing its new services based on new technologies like, DSL, HDTV, PVR cor VoD. http://www.canalpluscyfrowy.pl NARROWCASTING in Brief NARROWCASTING A Division of KCSP is one of the leading distributors and integrators of Digital Signage systems in Poland. It offers a full range of services and solutions for out-of-home digital media like Digital Signage, multimedia stands, interactive systems, large size LED screens, and rear projection. KCSP was established in 1994, and since then, the firm has realized projects with such clients as Deutsche Telekom, Makro Cash & Carry, PepsiCo and others. More about KCSP at www.narrowcasting.pl and www.kcsp.net Veracomp in Brief Veracomp belongs to the largest IT distributors in Poland. Established in 1991, Veracomp has developed into a group of IT companies of international scope. The company operates in 14 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Since 1996, Veracomp has been implementing, both in Poland and on foreign markets, the strategy of value added distribution. The company invests in obtaining know-how information and educational and technical consulting. Presently, to each of the products, Veracomp adds its own value. It offers pre-sales consulting and technical, marketing, and educational support. Veracomp focuses on six specializations: networks, telecommunication, security, servers and storage, IT infrastructure management, and multimedia and peripheral devices. More about Veracomp, please visit: http://www.veracomp.pl

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Monarch Skyline Hotel Enhances High-Quality Brand Image with CAYIN Digital Signage Solution

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, January 7, 2009 Monarch Skyline Hotel, one of the best five star hotels in Taoyuan Taiwan, adopts CAYIN Technology’s digital signage solution to replace the traditional static bulletin boards in lobbies, banquet rooms, and hallways. The new communication platform can convey instant and multimedia information to hotel guests. It not only enhances work efficiency, but also establishes a modern and high-quality hotel image. Monarch Skyline Hotel, located in Taoyuan Taiwan, has been regarded as one of the best five star hotels in the local area. To elevate the quality of ambiance and service, and to build an entrepreneurial image, Monarch decided to replace traditional bulletin boards and information signs with CAYIN Technology’s complete digital signage solutions. This project involves sixteen Signage Media Players and two Content Management Servers installed outside the ballrooms on the 3rd floor, B1 floor and other public areas such as hallways and the reception area. The deployment of digital signage players and servers integrated with high definition displays enables diversified information to be presented through a high-quality public communication platform providing customers with brand new visual experiences. Broadly applicable to different occasions When a ballroom is booked for a wedding, the doorway display can show wedding pictures, the title of this event, or other related information. When it is reserved for a seminar, the display can demonstrate information such as the agenda or main themes of this meeting so that participants can find the room more easily and quickly. To align with the various applications of ballroom, Monarch Skyline Hotel selected the web-based digital signage media player, SMP-WEBPLUS. Users can freely design the webpage layout to create unique and vivid multimedia pictures such as HTML/Flash/JPG, HD (high definition) video and streaming video playback etc. Combining with the display’s landscape and portrait presentations, SMP-WEBPLUS can definitely fulfill demands for different occasions. Easy-to-use public information announcement For displays set in hallways and the reception area, Skyline chose the zone-type digital signage media player, SMP-PRO3, which supports real-time video, playback of image slide show, ticker text, video, clock, and the date in maximum six zones. SMP-PRO3 provides the most user-friendly platform for Skyline to convey the hotel image, an introduction of hotel facilities, and instant information. Moreover, users can adjust the size and location of each zone by using the handy tool, Skin Editor, with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Web-based user interface: easy management via Internet Compared to general PC-based software products, CAYIN’s digital signage media players with web-based user interface are more advantageous due to the fact that users can manage players everywhere and every time swiftly via Internet to change settings or update display’s contents. In addition to digital signage media players, Monarch Skyline Hotel also purchased the Content Management Server, CMS-Mini, to efficiently control all players in the hotel. Therefore, Skyline can achieve its goal of improving efficiency and lowering the personnel cost through central scheduling, streaming broadcasting, and content updating from the servers.

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CAYIN Technology Will Showcase Total Digital Signage Solutions in InfoComm Asia 2008

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, November 12, 2008 CAYIN Technology, the professional supplier of digital signage solutions, will participate in InfoComm Asia 2008 held from November 19th to 21st at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. CAYIN plans to demonstrate comprehensive digital signage solutions in the Digital Signage pavilion and formulate a scenario in the Digital Signage Feature Area for public information displays in hospitality. Digital signage is highlighted as one of the selected main industry trends at InfoComm Asia 2008. CAYIN Technology, as one of the advocators of digital signage development, not only showcases its advanced solution in the Digital Signage pavilion, but also actively sponsors the hospitality theme demonstration in the first-held Digital Signage Feature Area. Aiming to provide visitors with an in-depth view of CAYIN concept of digital signage technology and achievements, CAYIN will exhibit various products including: zone-type (SMP-PRO series) and web-based (SMP-WEB series) media players, content management servers, management software - Super Monitor and Super Reporter, and vertical content-aids software - xPost. In addition, there will be live demonstrations for various applications, such as hotel, convention center, menu board, school, and corporate; these are designed to manifest the versatility of total CAYIN solutions at its booth (5C1-02). At InfoComm Asia 2008, CAYIN will first introduce SMP-PROPLUS, a new model of CAYIN SMP-PRO series players. This new product employs all the time-proven functions from the SMP-PRO series family, and, furthermore, supports HD video playback and portrait displays thanks to a more powerful display engine with a better performance. Besides exhibiting at the Digital Signage pavilion, CAYIN also sponsors the theme topic, Hospitality, in the Digital Signage Feature Area. Here CAYIN xPost software will be used to create the vertical scenario in which visitors can personally experience diversified usage of digital signage in hotels. CAYIN xPost, the web-based application software, currently comprehends three modules: meetingPost, wayfinderPost, and lobbyPost. In the Hospitality Digital Signage Feature Area, visitors can see how informative and promotional messages, such as weather information, meeting schedule, wayfinding information, floor plan, and advertisements, can be conveyed in a hotel and how easy CAYIN xPost can help hospitality venue owners to create a public information display network within an instant. “In the long run, our goal is to expand our business to the whole Asian market. And the participation in InfoComm Asia is regarded as the bridge to this destination.” said Michael Wu, vice president of Greater China Department at CAYIN Technology. “We have determined to be rooted in the digital signage market and are always seeking long-term international partnerships to facilitate the development of this market. We treasure the opportunity to join this great event and are expecting to discover more potential customers there.” InfoComm Asia is the major exhibition targeting the Audio and Video industry in Asia and has provided an efficient trade and communication platform for exhibitors and market players. To response to the trend of the industry, InfoComm Asia 2008 first hosts Digital Signage pavilion and organizes the Digital Signage Feature Area to show how digital signage can be applied in different applications, such as hospitality, retail, and transportation. The great effect of this new event is worth expecting. Welcome to visit CAYIN Technology at: Digital Signage Pavilion: 5C1-02 Digital Signage Feature Area: Hospitality

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CAYIN Technology Makes Its First Exposure in Russia at Integrated Systems Russia 2008

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, October 24, 2008 CAYIN Technology, the professional supplier of digital signage solutions, will soon participate in the ISR (Integrated Systems Russia) 2008 held from October 30th to November 1st at Crocus Expo Convention Center in Moscow. This event will facilitate CAYIN Technology to establish direct contact with European markets, especially Russia and its neighboring countries, where public information display has been gradually introduced to satisfy abundant demands in ubiquitous applications. CAYIN Technology will showcase its sophisticated digital signage media player including model SMP-PRO3 and SMP-WEBPLUS (LB-500) and xPost, the web-based application software, in ISR 2008. SMP-PRO3 features for its zone-type presentation and ease-of-use operation for versatile applications, while SMP-WEBPLUS (LB-500) provides more designable, interactive, and high quality digital signage applications. Cooperated with handy content creation tools powered by xPost, SMP-WEBPLUS can further extend the usage to different vertical markets to meet users’ requirements of instant and frequent daily maintenance. SMP-PRO3, the zone type digital signage player, supports playback of image slide show, ticker text, video, clock, and date in maximum six zones. With AV-in, SMP-PRO3 also supports real-time video through connection to TV tuner, DVD player, camera, etc. Users can easily design presentations through Skin Editor, a handy tool with drag-and-drop interface, enabling users to adjust the size and location of each zone. SMP-WEBPLUS (LB-500), web-based dedicated digital signage player, supports HTML, Flash, JPG, HD (high definition) video, and streaming video playback in both landscape and portrait presentations. Most popular web languages and image file formats including audio/video codec are all acceptable. It is specially designed with DVI support and aims to provide users with pure and high quality digital signage experience. xPost offers a powerful suite of content editing software: meetingPost, wayfinderPost, and lobbyPost, to create rich contents for digital signage in hotels and convention centers worldwide. Users can easily change images or configurations upon their needs with useful icons and symbols as well as pre-designed portrait and landscape templates installed with these modules. Both informative and promotional messages, such as weather information, guest room tariff, meeting schedule, wayfinding information, floor plan, and advertisements can be displayed easily by using respective modules of xPost. In addition, its web-based platform greatly extends the function of SMP-WEBPLUS series players and also enables users to conduct their business frequently and instantly simply through Internet connection. “We have been exploring the Eastern Europe market since quite a while, but we regard ISR 2008 as the campaign of our first official introduction of CAYIN digital signage products to this newly risen territory,” said Ravel Chi, vice president of International Sales Department at CAYIN Technology. “We are excited to make our first exposure in this new market full of potential and expecting to have sparkling results.” Integrated Systems Russia offers the latest AV and electronic systems technologies attracting leading suppliers, manufacturers, and influential visitors from industries including commercial, professional, and residential electronic systems integration to gather and participate in this great exhibition in Russia. Digital signage will be one of the new highlights in the exhibition this year to reflect the rapid growing of the digital out-of-home media industry.

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CAYIN Launches New Players for Interactive and High-Quality Digital Signage Network

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, September 16, 2008 CAYIN Technology, the professional supplier of digital signage solutions, recently released two new products: touch-enabled player, SMP-WEBPLUS-T, and DVI-supported player, SMP-WEBPLUS (LB-500), which have enhanced functions and completed the SMP-WEBPLUS family to satisfy extensive demands from the digital signage market. SMP-WEBPLUS-T has been designed to correspond to the increasing demands of interactive digital signage. As an emerging communication platform, the interactive digital signage can not only arouse customers’ interests, but also keep them better involved. Even better, the interactivities inspire customers to take action to buy and contribute greater sales. SMP-WEBPLUS-T supports HID Compliance touch panel devices and is verified with touch panels from Elo, Lumio, and NextWindow. By incorporating players with compatible touch panels, you can easily create an interactive public display network. In addition to the touch-enabled product, CAYIN also releases another new choice, SMP-WEBPLUS (LB-500), to enhance the web-based digital signage player family for more applications. Compared to the original product, LB-500 is lighter, compacter, and easier to fit into space-limited environment. SMP-WEBPLUS (LB-500) also features for its DVI support to provide you with a pure digital experience. Along with the popularity of digital devices such as LCD screens, DVI has been broadly adopted for getting-fussier demand of video quality. Through DVI, videos or images are uncompressed and delivered to digital display devices without converting to analog signals. LB-500 can maximize the visual quality of the presentation of your digital signage network. The SMP-WEBPLUS family, defined as web-based dedicated digital signage player, supports HTML, Flash, JPG, HD (high definition) video, and streaming video playback in both landscape and portrait presentations. Most popular web languages, such as HTML, JavaScript, Flash, DHTML, CSS, etc. and most popular image file formats including audio/video codec are all acceptable in this family. SMP-WEBPLUS family, designed to be an open platform, is the most flexible multimedia player system that can be easily integrated in various applications. Players can be deployed either as ”a networked standalone solution” and controlled through Internet or in a server-client structure combined with customers’ existing network facilities and database. CAYIN Technology has dedicated itself to satisfy customers’ demands by providing high quality and high technology products. SMP-WEBPLUS-T & SMP-WEBPLUS (LB-500) are very well designed to advance today’s digital signage technology in both hardware and software. SMP-WEBPLUS family players will be your priority choices, if your public display network is intended to have greater image presentations and interactivities with target audience. This announcement demonstrates CAYIN’s commitment to endeavor to reshape the future of digital signage technologies.

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CAYIN launches xPost for instant content creation of niche digital signage
Vertical-market-dedicated application software responses to specific customer needs for modern public information display.

Taipei, Taiwan - July 29, 2008
CAYIN Technology, the professional supplier of digital signage solutions, releases the web-based application software, xPost, which offer a powerful suite of content editing software: meetingPost, wayfinderPost, and lobbyPost, to create rich contents for digital signage in different vertical markets.
CAYIN xPost, the web-based application software, offers a combination of essential tools to create rich contents for digital signage in different vertical markets. At current stage, xPost features three main modules, including lobbyPost, meetingPost, and wayfinderPost, aiming to particularly meet the needs of hotels and convention centers worldwide. It provides an easy-to-use platform for instant data entry and further extends the usage of CAYIN SMP-WEB series players to meet users' requirements of frequent, daily maintenance.
lobbyPost is the application software especially designed for lobby digital signage. Powered by lobbyPost's content and managerial tools, the software can be used to easily display advertisements, corporate image video, guest room tariff, and currency exchange rate. Moreover, weather information can be retrieved from the Internet and automatically displayed on the screen.
meetingPost is dedicated to the needs of meeting rooms and banquet halls that require flexible arrangement on the meeting schedule as well as frequent update on information post. Through the room booking system in meetingPost, administrators can arrange events easily and publish events on the screen automatically.
wayfinderPost is the application software that CAYIN especially develops for public spaces where conveying announcements, promoting events, and direction guiding? frequent and crucial. It provides various templates for a variety of applications, such as the announcement and direction guiding of wedding banquets and conferences, service facility sign and direction, floor plan, etc.
CAYIN xPost features a flexible platform for instant creation of the professional information display. Modules in xPost are installed with various pre-designed portrait and landscape templates, as well as many useful icons and symbols for choices. Users can also create their own signage easily by changing images or configurations based on actual needs.
With the web-based management user interface, administrators can sit in front of any computer and remotely change the information displayed in the lobby, outside meeting rooms, and in the hallway.
As part of the Company's non-stop efforts to cultivate its business in respective vertical markets, CAYIN will continue to enhance the features of the xPost series to better meet the unique needs of different vertical markets.

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CAYIN Digital Signage Successfully Bridges the Communication Gap Between Exhibition Halls at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2008
Collaborative sponsorship marks the country's first use of networked digital signage for information broadcast simultaneously at exhibition sites

Taipei, Taiwan - June 10, 2008
CAYIN Technology, the professional supplier of digital signage solutions, sponsored Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the organizer of COMPUTEX TAIPEI 20008, which was held from June 3 to June 7 in Taiwan, in presenting a full-scale digital signage system to convey exhibition information between three major exhibition sites.
COMPUTEX TAIPEI is the second largest information technology (IT) exhibition worldwide, following CeBIT in Germany. In addition to the original exhibition halls, COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2008 expanded its scale to the brand-new TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, one of the largest exhibition venues in Asia. These exhibition halls are located in two different areas, which are separated from each other by a twenty-minute journey. Therefore, it is a crucial issue for the exhibition organizer to broadcast information instantly to all visitors and exhibitors in different halls.
In this year, TAITRA especially offered the digital signage sponsorship to CAYIN Technology and deployed a system of 15 digital signage at the main entrances and selected areas, including press centers and VVIP lounges, in the main exhibition halls of Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) and the new Nangang Exhibition Hall. This project marks the milestone for a complete display of networked digital signage to broadcast featured exhibition activities simultaneously at three exhibition sites in Taiwan for the first time.
The opening ceremony, one of the important activities of COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2008, was held in the new Nangang Exhibition Hall and the organizer especially invited President Ma to address in the opening ceremony. The whole ceremony was witnessed not only by the press and visitors in the Nangang Exhibition Hall, but also live broadcasted to screens powered by CAYIN's digital signage system in TWTC Hall 1, so that everyone could get involved in the exhibition.
In addition to the live broadcast of the opening ceremony, digital signage screens also reminded visitors of official announcements and useful services, such as free shuttle buses at COMPUTEX. Furthermore, the signage located at different spots also served as an efficient promotional platform, informing and guiding visitors to featured activities and meetings faster and more easily.
Under CAYIN's integral plan, each of the digital signage displays deployed was equipped with an SMP player, and all of the players were linked through the Internet and centrally managed by a CMS server. The CMS server controlled the content of each player and assigned the right messages to the right player at the right time. As the developer of the system, CAYIN was able to monitor the status of each player instantaneously by its Super Monitor to ensure the successful operation of this project.
In addition to CAYIN's digital signage system, co-sponsors of this project included Chi Lin and Modernsolid, which respectively provided LCD screens and mounting solutions to complete the full-scale digital signage system. This joint effort boosted the presence of the three companies in the digital signage industry, both locally and globally.

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CAYIN Technology Showcases Complete Portfolio of Digital Signage Solutions at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2008
Collaborative sponsorship marks the country's first full-scale digital signage display at exhibition sites

Taipei, Taiwan - May 30, 2008
CAYIN Technology, the professional supplier of digital signage solutions, will showcase its complete product portfolio at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2008, which will be held from June 3 to June 7 in Taiwan. As the feature sponsor to glorify this year's major event, CAYIN will sponsor Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the organizer of this major event, in presenting a full-scale digital signage system at three exhibition sites. In addition, CAYIN will launch its brand-new application software, the xPost series, in this year's event.

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CAYIN Technology Enhances Presence in Europe at Digital Signage Expo 2008

Taipei, Taiwan - April 28, 2008
At the Digital Signage Expo 2008, held at Messe Essen in Essen, Germany from May 6th to 8th, CAYIN Technology will demonstrate its sophisticated digital signage solution, including compact media players, powerful central management server, and, furthermore, the professional remote management software, Super Monitor and Super Reporter, especially for larger-scale deployment of the rising out-of-home digital media.
CAYIN Technology considers Europe to be an important market. Digital Signage Expo 2008 is the first Pan-European trade show exclusively focused around Digital Signage, so CAYIN not only actively participates in this exhibition to promote its complete digital signage solution, but also keeps enhancing its presence in Europe.
At Digital Signage Expo 2008, CAYIN will demonstrate the latest zone-type (SMP-PRO3) and web-based (SMP-WEBPLUS) digital signage player. In addition to offering digital signage products, CAYIN also participates in the rollout and management of digital signage projects. We understand the intense needs of monitoring and managing larger-scale digital signage network. So, we would especially recommend our powerful management software: Super Monitor and Super Reporter.
Super Monitor: Powerful Monitoring Software for Large-Scale Digital Signage Network
Super Monitor, the Windows?-based package software, assists administrators to monitor and manage multiple CMS servers and SMP media players by simply clicking, selecting, and drag-n-drop. With Super Monitor, administrators can easily move a SMP player to a different group or a different CMS server by simple drag-n-drop. They can also configure settings of each media player or server in Super Monitor without entering each machine's user interface one by one.
Super Monitor is a handy tool for administrators to monitor the live status of the digital signage network. They can monitor the live playback status of each media player by checking the current playlist and a preview of screen. In addition, they can receive a notification by Email whenever the status of the media player is changed.
Super Reporter: Report Generation for Large-Scale Digital Signage Network
Super Reporter is convenient management software for answering the strong demands of the main-stream commercialized applications of digital signage, especially for advertising purposes. It helps administrators to easily collect multimedia playback information and generate log records. Super Reporter further assists to conduct advance statistical analysis and generate reliable statements. To bill your advertisement sponsors or agents with professional reports, Super Reporter is a must have!
SMP-PRO3: Easy-to-use Zone Type Digital Signage Player
SMP-PRO3 supports various combinations of multimedia presentations, such as video, image slide show, ticker, clock and date. Users can create their own skins in five minutes with CAYIN's Skin Editor, an intuitive, simple drag-n-drop tool. SMP-PRO3 can also play real-time video by connecting to a TV tuner, DVD player, camera, etc. In this new version, SMP-PRO3 creates the Wizard Mode for users to easily configure settings step by step. It also adds more text scrolling effects and includes more stylish clocks for you to choose.
SMP-WEBPLUS: Flexible & Interactive Web-base Digital Signage Player
SMP-WEBPLUS supports most popular web languages, such as HTML, JavaScript, Adobe Flash, DHTML, CSS, etc., and most popular image file formats, audio/video codec, and, furthermore, HD (High Definition) videos. In addition to video, images, animations, and texts, SMP-WEBPLUS can easily extend to provide interactive services incorporating with external devices such as touch screen. Users can also choose to rotate the multimedia content clockwise or counter clockwise to display both portrait and landscape presentations. SMP-WEBPLUS is the best platform for those applications which require presenting advanced and interactive multimedia contents.
At Digital Signage Expo 2008, CAYIN Technology will showcase the complete digital signage solution, including digital signage player, content management server, and the most useful management software, Super Reporter and Super Monitor. We invite you to come to visit us (Stand 11C.06). You will have the opportunity to see all the possibilities of the digital signage platform.

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CAYIN Digital Signage Solution Enriches Exhibitions in National Museum in Poland

Taipei, Taiwan - April 08, 2008
Veracomp and ABEMA Systemy Prezentacyjne installed CAYIN's digital signage system in the National Museum in Krakow, Poland for the exhibition, "The Monumental Theatre of Stanis?aw Wyspiaski" in memory of a famous Polish artist. CAYIN SMP players, LCD displays, projectors, and optical mirrors are used in this project to enhance a rich permanent presentation of the artist's visual works. It was the first use of digital signage on a cultural project in Poland. Furthermore, CAYIN's digital signage solutions are now part of the museum tools for communication.
Veracomp chose CAYIN Technology as the digital signage solution provider and cooperated with the installer, ABEMA Systemy Prezentacyjne, delivered the system in the National Museum in Krakow for the exhibition, "The Monumental Theatre of Stanis?aw Wyspia?ski”, to mark the 100th anniversary of the artist's death. The main goal of the exhibition was to show great achievements of the famous Polish artist by using the newest audiovisual technologies.
It was the first use of digital signage on a cultural project in Poland. In this project, 16 CAYIN's digital signage players, SMP-WEBPLUS and SMP-PRO3, incorporated with multiple Sanyo 42” LCD displays and projectors, were implemented in the museum to become valuable enhancement to a rich, permanent presentation of the artist's visual works. LCD displays were mounted in the walls, while projectors were installed on ceilings and behind walls.
The unique part of this application is the creative visualization system which includes optical mirrors and projectors. Projectors are located vertically, and display contents straight to mirrors, which reflect on the screen with 5-meter-height image. The sound system is also another feature. It was built on more than 20 special speakers that delivered sound just to a specific place.
Content was prepared by the author of the exhibition – Janusz Wa?ek. Projectors showed how Wawel impressed Wyspianski and how he wanted to alive it. LCD displayed episodes from Wyspianski's drama, "Wesele” – the famous Polish national drama. It was a great challenge for installers to synchronize content on different 5 meters displays. Thanks to CAYIN's digital signage system, authors of the exhibition could synchronize content, manage the system remotely, and operate the exhibition 24 hours a day without problems.
National Museum in Krakow is the oldest national museum in Poland. It was established as Poland's first national art collecting institution in 1879. Until the end of World War I, it was the only such large museum accessible to the public in Poland and still today it remains an institution with the biggest number of collections, buildings and permanent exhibitions. The mission of the Museum is to bear testimony to national and human values by promoting world and Polish art, especially the achievements of the Krakow artistic community. In doing that the Museum applies the latest technologies yet not without due respect for tradition. CAYIN's digital signage solutions are now part of the museum tools for communication.

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CAYIN Technology Showcase HD and Interactive Digital Signage Applications at InfoCommAsia China Roadshow

Taipei, Taiwan - March 25, 2008
On 7-11 April 2008, CAYIN Technology will keep extending its market reach into China by joining InfoCommAsia Roadshow in Dalian, Chengdu, and Guangzhou.
Using digital signage as the target marketing media has becoming a hot topic in China. You can see displays playing full-screen advertisements at many places, such as in office buildings, train stations, airports, or chain stores. However, wider applications of digital signage still await further development. Therefore, CAYIN Technology is honored to be the representative of the digital signage solution in InfoCommAsia China Roadshow and will actively introduce more possibilities of digital signage into China.
InfoCommAsia is the professional organization which delivers exhibitions and events for the Pro AV, home automation and systems integration industry in Asia. InfoCommAsia China Roadshow comprises one-day exhibition and seminar in each city: Dalian, Chengdu, and Guangzhou. CAYIN will introduce both zone-type and web-based digital signage players in the exhibition and will demonstrate how CAYIN's digital signage solution can be applied in retail, hotel, school, corporate, and any other out-of-home venues.

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CAYIN Showcases More Possibilities of Integrated Digital Signage Solutions at ISE 2008

Taipei, Taiwan - January 22, 2008
At the Integrated System Europe 2008, held from January 29th to 31st., CAYIN Technology will showcase a series of advanced integrated applications of digital signage and demonstrate how CAYIN's digital signage solution can be highly integrated with CCTV camera, touch screen, automation devices and other AV and IT equipments to expand forms of communication experiences in a variety of vertical markets.
CAYIN always pioneers the latest technologies and concepts to its products portfolio. At Integrated System Europe 2008, CAYIN will release the latest zone-type digital signage player, SMP-PRO3. Furthermore, CAYIN will highlight the great flexibility and integration of CAYIN's digital signage solution and showcase three major applications: integration with touch display, CCTV camera, and xPost, CAYIN's new application software especially designed for hotels.
Integration with CAYIN xPost
CAYIN develops new web-based application software, xPost series, for hotels, convention centers, and meeting rooms. At ISE 2008, CAYIN will showcase how meetingPost and wayfinderPost, integrated with SMP-WEB series digital signage players, can become an efficient platform for administrators to present daily event occupancies, current meeting information, wayfinding signage, and floor plan on the screens easily. xPost can highly improve the efficiency of managing meetings and events of digital signage system.
Integration with Touch Display
CAYIN's web-based digital signage player can be integrated with touch screen for some advanced interactive applications. At ISE2008, CAYIN will demonstrate a scenario in a lighting shop by integrating CAYIN's web-based digital signage player, SMP-WEBPLUS, with a touch screen and auto control devices. Visitors can see Flash advertisements on the upper part of the screen and also turn on or off lamps at the stand by touching the correspondent buttons on the touch screen.
Integration with CCTV Camera
Digital signage can also be integrated with surveillance system. At ISE 2008, CAYIN will integrate CAYIN's web-based digital signage player, SMP-WEB3, with a CCTV camera for scenarios in a convention center and a kindergarten. With SMP-WEB3, users can use HTML, Flash, and Cayin's media player to deliver instant and live messages, such as surveillance signal, commercial films, TV programs, advertisement banners, and tickers to target audiences.
Easy-to-use Zone Type Digital Signage Player
SMP-PRO3 supports various combinations of multimedia presentations, such as video, image slide show, ticker, clock and date. Users can create their own skins in five minutes with Cayin's Skin Editor, an intuitive, simple drag-and-drop tool. SMP-PRO3 can also play real-time video by connecting to a TV tuner, DVD player, camera, etc. In this new version, SMP-PRO3 creates the Wizard Mode for users to easily configure settings step by step. It also adds more text scrolling effects and includes more stylish clocks for you to choose.
At ISE 2008, CAYIN Technology will showcase the complete digital signage solution, including digital signage player, content management server, and the most useful management software, Super Reporter and Super Monitor. CAYIN also demonstrates the application software, xPost series, for hotels and convention centers. We invite you to come to visit us (Hall 1, Stand F102). You will have the opportunity to see all the possibilities of the digital signage platform.

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Express digital signage player shown to increase restaurant sales

26 Mar 2009
SEATTLE, Wash.—.advancedMethod, creator of the Express digital signage player has announced that the newly renovated Silver Cloud Hotel's Seattle Stadium location selected .advancedMethod's express system for their new digital signage solution. The Silver Cloud was previously using PowerPoint to promote its restaurant, Jimmy's on First, on LCD screens located throughout the building. The problems they faced were that PowerPoint does not allow the scheduling of content in advance, the content is low quality and it is not updatable via the Web. Previous systems the hotel looked at included many pieces of hardware, extensive training, or a hefty price tag.
With the express system, the Silver Cloud has been able to turn a tool previously used as a message board into an instrument to promote their menu, daily specials and Happy Hour. They chose from the customizable templates that come with express and designed slides to specifically fit their needs and quickly had unique shows for designated times of the day, making it easy to advertise restaurant offerings and to post different information in individual areas of the restaurant.
Since Jimmy's on First began to utilize express, they have seen a dramatic increase in profit. Bill Weise, general manager of the restaurant has seen the results first hand.
"We have three screens in various areas," he said. "Since we have put them in we have seen a marked improvement in business."
Sources from: http://www.digitalsignagetoday.com/article.php?id=21980

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Making the Right Digital Signage Software Decisions

APRIL 6, 2009
There are some 300 companies out there selling digital signage software, and Lord knows how many more home-grown, in-house solutions. So how do you make sense of it and make the right decision for your company?
I sell the pots and pans for one of those software firms. That means I have a vested interest not only in winning business but also steering people to other solutions when it's clear my pots and pans aren't the ones to use. I can't afford to chase no-hopers. And I have also spent way more time in the industry being on the other side of this–launching and running networks, and sorting out what way to go with my own company's technology choices. I am by no means THE expert on this stuff, but with a new year approaching, tightened budgets and tough, tough investors, this is as good a time as any to provide some guidance.
For the purpose of this exercise, let's talk in terms of real networks with real rollouts, with some complexity in how things need to be done across the estate. If you're going to be putting up three screens in your school or office campus, just get whatever winds your watch.
And let's assume all the platforms do the basics of distributing media content over a network, and playing it back in some sort of order.
1. Avoid relying on reports, ratings and rankings lists
Such reports and lists do not and probably cannot represent objective opinion or thorough research and testing.
They are mightily shaded by sponsors and business partners or by a personal bias or agenda. Thinking logically, how would any company faced with such a wide spectrum of products be able to make a fair, reasoned and thorough assessment?
Trade publishers are not going to bite the hands that feed them. You will see head-scratching news items and opinion pieces posted, at times, for no other reason than the sponsor/advertiser insisted, so any review of "top" or "best" companies or platforms needs to be greeted with suspicion. They may well be the best, but they may also represent business relationships and "understandings".
Consulting and research firms don't do things for giggles, and you will see industry reports and forecasts from them that include references and quotes from companies that, usually, paid to be there. That's why much of their work is sponsored.
And bloggers don't have the time to truly be the last word. It would take a dedicated lab, seasoned, objective technical people, and much, much time for a proper look. I obviously write a blog, and I sell software. As hard as I try here, it's likely my point of view is skewed on this advice without even trying.
2. Look at the track record
What's the company's history? What's the installed base? How many clients does that represent? This is a growth industry, even in this economy, but a LOT of the companies now in this space will either be out of business, hanging on by threads, or in acquisition talks over the next year. This is probably not the time to roll your company dice on a little-known company with no real track record. Their financial problems rapidly become your problems.
Everyone, even companies that just completed fundraising rounds and would seem to have walking around money, is being careful with spending right now. Even a year ago, there were some pretty well-known companies looking to get bought. There are more of them now.
Don't base your research on the rumor mill–which is at best unreliable and lately, a little ridiculous. Ask the vendor directly.
3. Insist on references
Good companies with happy clients will pony them up. And don't be satisfied that the company was comfy enough to pass on names and contacts. Make the calls, and ask real questions. You need to hear much more than how Brand X "has some great guys."
4. Test drive
Get a production account on a managed platform, or an eval license on shrink-wrapped software. Use it, learn it. Think about the resource implications that come with it. Pay attention to the level of support and customer service you get, or don't get. You shouldn't have to pay for that eval if you can provide comfort you are a real company with real prospects. Some companies may try to charge you to keep away the no-hoper nuisance accounts, so you may need to be insistent. If they insist on a fee, there's a red flag for you. 5. Create a minor calamity
Screw something up in your testing and then ask for help and support. Nothing catastrophic, just a problem needing help. Analyze the process involved. Watch who gets involved. Track response times. Consider the quality of care. Keep in mind this is what life will be like post-contract, and if it was frustrating or chaotic, there's a big screaming clue for you. If it was orderly and smooth, there's a better clue.
6. What do they really do
The big thing I hear over and over again is turnkey solution. Find out what that means, and how much is REALLY done in-house and how much turnkey is really just outsourced, with 15% added on. Some companies base a lot of their revenue on margin from hardware and service fees.
7. Is there a development roadmap?
Is there a careful plan that looks ahead and considers the marketplace? You will find a lot of companies, particularly in a tough economy, where the sales tail wags the company dog. In other words, roadmap equates mostly to whatever customers want. NOW! That sort of thing may give the customer short-term goodness, but it's not good for the overall company and customer base.
8. Ask for a current staff list
Seriously. It's a great way to assess how many people really work for the company and what they do. You may find the five-person support team is the same set of people as the five-person software development team, and the same as the five-person IT team.
9. What's the process?
How is the product developed, tested and released. Are there formalized release processes? What's the timing?
10. Forget the shiny buttons and dancing bears
There's usually a reason something is graphically pretty and dead easy to use. It doesn't actually do much. While the user experience is important, and I think sometimes given short-shrift by developers, the real keys to software in this space are:
.stability of the platform and particularly the playback engine
.efficiency for industrial use: as the network gets bigger, does the workload also grow at that rate? If so, move on
.accountability: what reporting can be extracted from the system, and at what level of granularity? Doers that reporting match up with your needs. Your target industry’s needs?
11. Don't get hung up on the gadgets
I remember a Dali-esque episode about five years ago when my fledgling company almost lost a contract because a new competitor came in and said it could do its network delivery using Wi-Fi. I said, "Yeah, so?"
For me it was just one way of doing the network, and definitely not the best. For the other guys, it was their whole pitch, and five years ago, it sounded REALLY cool to my client. Eventually, I talked the client off that particular ledge.
The point is that debates over things like cellular delivery, wireless video, all-in-one panel PCs, interactive screens, Bluetooth and so on are all interesting. But the bigger question needs to be what works for your needs and your budget.
There is a constituency out there, for example, that believes PC-based platforms are old school and prone to failure, and that solid state appliances are the present and future. Trouble is, they are not all that cheap (some are crazy expensive, actually) and most don’t do much. Forget Flash (except transcoded to video). Forget running more than MPEG2 video. Forget flexibility. Forget much in the way of device controls or open architecture. What fails in the field are hard drives and fans. Solid state drives keep dropping in cost and power consumption on CPUs makes fanless much more affordable. And then you have a platform that is not so limited. And frankly, there are a few guys out there with things that are being passed off as appliances or "digital engines," when they are really just PCs in small, industrial packages or set-top box looks. OK, that was a little more hardware-centric, but important.
12. What's your vertical?
As a sales slob, my job is to get people to buy my stuff. But I emphatically believe the best sales people are those who don't mercilessly try to pound their square peg into the round hole of an opportunity.
If your network is all about mapping to an airport departures and arrivals database, look for companies like Omnivex with direct experience in that. Guys like Capital Networks, Chyron and Harris (Infocaster) do great broadcast graphics. A lot of people like Scala because they can do content creation within the application. WireSpring and EnQii are among a short list of companies that are Linux-centric. And so on.
While it's likely any software could pull off the basics, somehow or other of what is needed, there will be quirks and you are far better off with a vendor who's been there and done that, and has a development roadmap focused on that.
13. Does it suit YOUR customers' needs?
The biggest networks out there are supported by advertisers or brands, and prosper or perish at the whim of the media planning and brand communities. They have their own language, and expectations around things like audience measurement. Hospitals and health care facilities have different dynamics and language. So do retailers. We're starting to see companies get more specialized, largely out of necessity. They can get good at certain things, rather than trying to be all things to all prospects.
14. Open sesame
Is the architecture open, so that if you need functionality that the software vendor is not going to get to anytime soon, the tools and hooks are in place to allow you or a third-party to get that bit done? Ask if they have an API, and what it is for.
15. Is it safe?
If your network is compromised, you are either dead or breathing badly. Look for a solution that encrypts all the control data and protects against tampering. And also ask how the playback software handles security. This is the sort of thing best handled by a propeller-head. If you have no idea what you're asking about, find someone who does.
16. What model works for your business?
There are two core approaches to software these days-shrink-wrapped or managed. With shrink-rapped, you buy it once and pay an annual license/support fee. You almost always run the platform on your own servers, and have IT people making things tick. With managed, also known as Software as a Service, you effectively rent the software and the platform, and all the services are covered. Your in-house IT needs are minimal. There are arguments for both models, but the industry is trending towards SaaS because upfront costs are reduced and a lot of the headaches for small media companies are outsourced.
There is also an emerging free or stinkin’ cheap model out there, largely coming from emerging markets. From what I have heard the applications aren’t too bad at all, but like any free model the idea is to get you to upgrade from limited to full functionality.
Suddenly, the free model looks very much like paid subscription models out there. Guys who do the free model need to build market share REALLY fast if they are to hang on and eventually prosper.
17. Player, heal thyself
The big, largely hidden cost with these networks is with field maintenance. Sending a tech on-site to fix a media player is costly and time-consuming, and just a bad thing. Look for software that is largely self-healing, meaning it deals with lock-ups and crashes and codec errors and so on, ideally before they happen and almost always remotely.
18. Future-friendly
This is a very fast-moving industry and the lines with other media are blurring, as well as with other technology. It's very likely you will find requirements come up to enable interactivity and to talk to complementary technologies, like wireless handheld devices and POS systems. And it's very likely there is stuff coming along that hasn't yet been contemplated as part of what's now called digital signage.
19. Consider the circumstances
Are you going to be using cellular for broadband? If so, are the best compression codecs supported by the software? If not, think about what that means for your per site broadband bill (which will be ugly). Do you want to work with GPS? Do you need triggering of content? And on and on. There's often MUCH more involved than getting something to play ads over and over.
20. What does your exit strategy look like?
If your plan involves running out a network and then selling it off to a much bigger media company, so you can spend your days on a beach waving at Paco to bring you two more frosties, your chances are much better if you are running on something the big boys know and like. If you have 1,500 sites running on something they've never heard of, they may walk or at best they will reduce your valuation because they know they are going to have to replace it all with stuff they like or trust. If you are on something they're comfy with, and like what you're doing, the beach beckons.
I could probably add another 20, but this should be some solid grounding for anyone just now wading into this space. The biggest advice I always give people is to put their Bullshit Filters on and set them to High. The competition is very aggressive and the pressure very high on sales people to deliver contracts. The net result is a lot of people saying "Yes" to whatever prospects ask, and then dumping those promises on the poor developers.
This is an industry in which every company seems to somehow or other call itself the global leader. The reality is there are maybe a dozen or so companies who have the great majority of the market share, and maybe, maybe they could be dubbed global leaders. A second tier is carving out a niche (with other services) in things like fast food and wayfinding, and that's a really smart way to go. I have seen some stuff put out by smaller companies that is phenomenal and perfect for the market they are after. And then there's a big wash of smaller guys, or large companies with side projects, scrapping away on a shoestring or with limited corporate buy-in. They either need to get very focused, or figure out that niche.
You can get free networked screensaver software for Windows that will do the very, very basics of digital signage. Some people even use PowerPoint! But if this is your core business, and you are going to place a big money bet on starting a network, don't cheap out on the glue that holds it all together.
These are challenging times, but still full of opportunity when projects are thoroughly planned out and the people behind them take the time to seek advice. Hopefully, I've provided at least a little.
Sources from: http://web2.sys-con.com/node/908153

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Harris Develops Digital Signage Network Channel for McDonald's

April 28, 2009

Harris Corp. is beginning a pilot program with McDonald’s that will launch a branded TV channel, delivered via satellite and powered by Harris digital signage solutions, into 20 of McDonald’s fast-food restaurants in the United States, Harris announced April 27.
    The channel is scheduled for launch in May.
The announcement follows on the heels of two trials at the fast food company’s Viva McDonald’s location on the Las Vegas Strip, and an additional McDonald’s restaurant in Norwalk, Calif.
    Each pilot location will feature Harris digital signage and Harris InfoCaster solutions to manage, monitor and play out digital broadcast-quality video content for the McDonald’s Channel.

Sources from: http://www.satellitetoday.com/st/headlines/

Harris-Develops-Digital-Signage-Network-Channel-for-McDonalds_30783.html

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NAB: How broadcast can impact digital signage

21 Apr 2009

With the National Association of Broadcasters show going on this week, the digital signage industry will be paying close attention to what broadcast exhibitors have to offer them, and its likely broadcasters will be thinking the same about digital signage.

There are a number of companies that over the years have either transitioned fully from broadcast to digital signage or have added digital signage services onto their company offerings.

One such company is Harris Broadcast, which specializes in media workflows for broadcast systems and also develops Harris InfoCaster digital signage software. With feet in both industries, Harris product manager Candy Helgerson thinks digital signage can reap many benefits from broadcast, particularly when it comes to content.

 

Sources from: http://www.digitalsignagetoday.com/article.php?id=22131

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