Keeping It Simple.

The high cost and complexity of enterprise-level software have been barriers for
many companies looking to deploy a small digital signage network…until now…

The market for digital signage is changing. Many organizations, from retailers to corporations, have discovered the benefits of digital signage as an efficient, cost-effective communications platform. Thanks to a reduction in the basic cost of hardware, combined with advances in software, the user-base for digital signage systems has expanded. No longer the realm of enterprise-level deployment, digital signage systems are finding a place in both large and small organizations.

As one might expect, the increased interest in digital signage has created new opportunities for hardware and software developers to address the “long-tail” of the market by offering solutions tailored specifically for the needs of smaller networks. These solutions are not stripped down versions of enterprise-level software. They are in fact affordable, robust solutions that have been written from the ground up to provide end-users with the ability to drive a single screen or a small multi-screen network.

Over the past year, several developers have changed the landscape for small business by introducing products specifically designed to lower cost and streamlining the management of small-scale digital signage networks. Most solutions are designed to address networks of less than 10 screens. While the majority of solutions are software-based, some include digital signage media player hardware. Recent introductions include Nanonation’s Frameworks DS, X2O Media’s Xpresenter XE, Aerva’s Presto, Ridgelogic’s SceneStudio, and Sedna Presenter Player Lite.

Nanonation is a leading developer of customer experience software with clients in retail, financial services, and hospitality. Nanonation’s FrameWorks DS™ is a robust digital signage solution that blends feature-rich functionality in a simple, easy-to-use interface. The interface is refined, providing users with a highly intuitive experience that includes drag-and-drop functionality similar to Apple’s Final Cut Pro.

FrameWorks DS includes a feature called Natural Language Event Management that provides users with a powerful way to change and schedule content based on events, time, or other external triggers using easy-to-use drop down menus. The software also includes a Single Sign Mode that is ideal for retailers and other businesses that need to schedule, edit, and post digital signage content quickly to one display.

FrameWorks DS also includes high quality templates for creating easy, on-the-fly content, and an array of widgets that make it simple to add in local weather, an RSS feeds, or a web page.

"Retailers and small business owners can now deploy digital signs easier, faster, and with greater results with FrameWorks DS. It’s a sensible solution for everything from promotional signs to menu boards to lobby signs to employee messaging,” said Brian Ardinger, Chief Marketing Officer for Nanonation. “While Nanonation has been providing digital signage solutions to enterprise clients for years, we’re excited to get the benefits of digital signage into the hands of smaller retailers with single sign or single location networks.”

X2O Media is a full-service provider of software, network management, and content services for professional digital signage applications. The company’s roots are in professional broadcast graphics. X2O Media's flagship product, Xpresenter™ is an enterprise-level application that drives several well-known, high-profile networks that include Air Canada’s Global TV network and the Walgreen’s billboard in New York’s Times Square.

While many networks don’t require all the bells and whistles found in X2O Media's enterprise version, they want their content to look just as good. X2O Media has introduced three new cost-effective versions designed specifically for managing small-scale digital signage deployment— Xpresenter™ Xe Digital Poster, Xpresenter™ Xe Video Poster, and Xpresenter™ Xe, Dynamic Digital Signage Edition. All three versions use X2O Media's Content Portal which provides stock backgrounds, animation, and RSS feeds to help streamline the content development process, and all three versions of Xe are scalable, so you can upgrade the software as your needs expand. The three versions can also be mixed-and-matched on one network, resulting in more savings.

Xpresenter Xe Digital Poster is designed for display of high-resolution static images, ideal for businesses that are looking to replace paper posters with digital posters where dynamic motion is not required.

Xpresenter Xe Video Poster adds the ability to display video in addition to images. Options include the ability to add in an RSS-based news ticker and an animated 3D branded logo.

Xpresenter Xe, Dynamic Digital Signage Edition provides everything found in the Video Poster edition and adds in the ability to use dynamic, data-driven content, including real-time alerts and announcements.

“Xpresenter Xe is an ideal solution for the rapid deployment of professional-looking digital displays in a number of applications, such as retail stores, waiting rooms, and more,” stated David Wilkins, X2O Media’s president and CEO. “Xe makes the broadcast-quality playout capability X2O is known for accessible to a much wider range of users, starting at an extremely affordable price point. Plus, users have access to the X2O Portal, the same Web-based content management tool provided with our enterprise-class solutions.”

Aerva's AerWave platform is an enterprise-level application that drives networks and outdoor billboards such as Kodak's Smile Gallery billboard in New York's Times Square.

Aerva's Presto™ uses the same platform as AerWave, but simplifies the task of managing small digital signage networks by using content templates. A unique aspect of Presto is that it uses social media-based widgets to extend the application's content channels to include Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and Facebook content. The Web-based application features a drag-and-drop user interface for ease-of-use.

“Aerva Presto fills a much-needed void in the schools and smaller enterprises. Presto’s usability, reliability, and immediate access to a rich library of widgets, plus connections to social networking apps make it very attractive,” said Sanjay Manandhar, CEO of Aerva.

RidgeLogic Development's SceneStudio drives digital signage systems for major hospitality, corporate, and education-based organizations that include New York's Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex and Yarrow Resort Hotel & Conference Center, Park City, Utah.

RidgeLogic Development's SceneStudio™ Suite of applications is provided in two forms. SceneStudio Pro, a premise-based digital signage application optimized for use in a single location, and SceneStudio Online, a template-based, Web application available for free use (with limited capabilities) and through a subscription plan that offers increased features and capabilities.

The latest version of SceneStudio Pro adds ten transition effects for images, and interactive functionality to enable touch screen interfaces and interactive kiosk applications.

SceneStudio Pro consists of two applications, SceneStudio Editor that enables the creation of content and playlists from any PC on the local network, and SceneStudio Playback that plays the final presentation on screen. The system is capable of driving multiple screens from a single media player with the addition of video distribution hardware. SceneStudio Pro is available as a bundle with an AOpen Mini PC media player for plug-in-play performance.

SceneStudio Online is a template-based Web application that provides end-users with the ability to combine images, movie clips, and text captions on a themed background. The application enables users to customize their presentation using a Web browser and provides instant online previews. When completed, the presentation can be shared through social media channels such as Facebook and MySpace. Presentations can also be downloaded from SceneStudio Online and played using an optional SceneStudio Freedom 720 media player for continuous, looping playback on digital signage displays.

Sedna Presenter is one of the first digital signage applications that enables users to create, manage, and deliver content using Mac OS X. The latest version enables the development of interactive kiosk systems with the addition of a touch screen or other input device. Sedna Presenter can power a single screen or small network by simply extending the network with the addition of a Mac Mini.

Sedna offers a scaled-down version of their Scheduler application called Presenter Player Light that limits the output to one content layer and a single RSS Ticker. Presenter Player Light can support up to 4 screens using one Mac Mini per screen, or up to 4 displays in multi-screen mode Presenter Scheduler enables users to create, manage, and schedule content using a drag & drop interface and it supports a broad range of media formats including support for alpha-channels in QuickTime and in still images. Output resolution is independent enabling the ability to scale varied media assets as needed. Content is distributed to media players using Presenter Publisher, a Web-based system that can send content to a single screen or thousands of screens over the Internet. Individual media players subscribe to a specific URL eliminating the need for a dedicated IP address or VPN. The system can also function over a local area network (LAN). You can even use your iPhone or iPod Touch to control the content on your digital signage displays.

Sedna offers a scaled-down version of their Scheduler application called Presenter Player Light that limits the output to one content layer and a single RSS Ticker. Presenter Player Light can support up to 4 screens using one Mac Mini per screen, or up to 4 displays in multi-screen mode.