Review: XMP-3250 Full-HD Digital Signage Appliance

I have recently become interested in non-PC based digital signage appliances so here is a short review of the XMP-3250 Full-HD digital signage player.  

This product has been available for a while now under various brands (IAdea, Viewsonic and others).  It's a small form factor, fanless device that can display content on your screens in full HD (1080p).  The case features VESA mounting holes so you can mount the unit behind a screen or on a wall.  This makes for a very attractive, low-cost/ low-maintenance digital signage solution.

Here are my impressions...

PROS:

• No fan so it's super quiet.  The metal case does get warm to the touch after a few hours but not to the extent it would be a problem.
• Very small external power brick with long cables.
• This solution is quite affordable compared to PC/software based solutions and there is no operating system to buy or maintain.
• Uses solid state memory so the unit is very reliable.
• Can be ordered with built-in WiFi (Model 3350).
• Features VGA and HDMI ports.  Supports 1080p full HD playback.
• Works with HTML5 which is supported by many digital signage SaaS providers.
• Comes with a simple remote scheduling application but for those who require a more complete scheduling/management system, these units are compatible with SaaS products from 42media, CoolSign, Dynamax, Scala, Stinova, signagelive, SignChannel, Rise Vision.
• The unit's firmware can be updated remotely.
• It supports a wide range of file formats: 1080p Full HD video/stills, Streaming H.264 over RTSP multi-casting.  Video codecs: H.264 (1080p), VC-1 (1080p), MPEG-4 ASP (720p), MPEG-2 (1080p), MPEG-1 (720p).  Image codecs: PNG (1920x1080), JPEG (1920x1080).  Audio codecs: MPEG L2/MP3 up to 320Kbps, AAC in H.264 streams.
• PowerPoint is supported but only when managed via the unit's own Manager Express software (PPT files get converted to video on the fly).
• RSS feeds and live web content are supported.
• Remote media triggering is possible using an add-on module.  You can trigger content from motion sensors, keypads, etc...
• Supports landscape and portrait playback.
• Scheduled screen activation/deactivation is supported. 
• The units are delivered with a free management application called Adfotain Manager Express.  The software lets users create continuous loops or schedule playlists over time.  
• Updates and content can be transferred to the device via USB key, Compact Flash card or LAN/internet.  The unit features 2 USB ports and an Ethernet port.
• You can add a module to play Live TV on your screens all managed by this appliance.

CONS:

• No Flash SWF support.
• May see some black frames between video clips depending on the content used.
• This unit's capabilities vary depending on the management application used.  For example, the free software included with the unit lets users select from a list of pre-designed templates and there is no way you can modify the layouts.  You get to pick what plays in each zone but you can't change the zone's size or position on screen. Users who require more flexibility will probably need a third party SaaS provider like Rise Vision, signagelive, or other compatible service to manage their players.  In some cases the service will be free (Rise Vision) but others require a monthly fee.

In summary...

I come from a PC/software background so I wasn't expecting much from this appliance so I was quite surprised with what I found.  Used to be these all-in-one boxes were very basic, single purpose devices much like a digital photo frame.  You could play pictures or videos in a loop but not much more.  Since then things have changed and they have changed a lot...

In my opinion, digital signage appliances that support HTML5 now have capabilities that are on par with many PC based solutions.  The biggest difference remains the lack of Flash SWF support but I suspect this won't be a big issue for most people.  

For example, Flypaper content can be exported to video as well as SWF so animations developed in Flypaper can be shown on any appliance or device.  PowerPoint content can be exported to video and there are many other types of content that you can display without any conversion.  You also get support for data feeds, calendars, clocks, web pages, etc...  Which is essentially what most people want to display on their screens.

Anyone looking for a digital signage solution that is low-maintenance and future-proof should consider these types of appliances.  They are less expensive to acquire and deploy than most PC based solutions.  In many cases the bundled software will be sufficient for your needs and if you require more flexibility you can switch to one of the many SaaS solutions that provide additional features.

Having said that, It's not all perfect.  You may find PC based applications offer smoother transitions between content.  They have more sophisticated playback engines so they provide better image rendering and often support multiple layers and transparency.  I think it's safe to assume high-end digital signage installations will continue to be driven by PCs running specialized software for quite some time.

The type of venue and budget considerations should dictate which option is best for your next digital signage project.  Remember that many PC software solutions carry annual support fees which add costs over time.  Dedicated appliances do not have any recurring fees and unless you sign up with a SaaS provider, you have no additional cost after you purchase the product.  This should be quite appealing to people who are looking  to deploy a few screens on a tight budget.