*********** Update 4/2021 ***********
Please visit our updated hardware page for recommended hardware - https://mangosigns.com/hardware
*********** Update 4/2021 ***********
To ensure that your project is a success and that you get the most out of your digital signage, we have compiled a list of devices to best suit your needs. As always, if there is a particular device you have questions about, feel free to reach out to our team and we would be happy to provide feedback based on our experience.
We have broken down some popular players to use with our MangoSigns player software, along with some of the Pros / Cons associate with each device/OS.
The Fire TV 4K stick is a pretty impressive device for its price. If you are looking for a device that you intend to power on each morning and power off at night, this can be a great and affordable option. The device runs off of the Fire OS operating system, and the MangoSigns player app can be downloaded from the Amazon App store.
Pros:
Decent performance
Cost Effective, available at $25/each a few times a year
Small form factor, Bluetooth remote
Easy to set up and install the MangoSigns player
Cons:
No Ethernet port built in, so needs to run off of WiFi unless a separate adapter is purchased
Application occasionally needs to be launched manually if updates occur
Notes:
This device is a great option when paired with a programmable smart plug like this one , or this one, that will allow you to schedule a time to power off and on the devices, or reboot them at a specific time. Paired with these optional smart plugs you can perform remote actions such as rebooting the device if needed.
** Please note that we do not recommend the earlier generation Basic Fire TV (2017) stick as it does not perform well and has an older OS installed, Fire TV Stick(2020), Fire TV Stick Lite(2020), and Fire TV Stick 4K are recommended instead **
If purchasing a new device, such as a TV with built in Amazon Fire TV, we recommend purchasing a device with Fire OS 7 or greater installed. A full list of devices with Fire OS pre-installed on them can be found here.
** Be sure to use the power supply that is included with the Fire TV stick in an outlet and not connected to the USB power on the TV
The Intel Compute stick is an one of the more affordable Windows devices available. For displaying content that is less demanding, the Intel Compute stick can be a good option. This device runs on Windows 10, and the MangoSigns windows player can be installed on it.
Pros:
Runs on Windows 10 and can be managed by corporate IT groups
Small form factor
Cost effective for applications not requiring high performance devices
Cons:
Somewhat low performance, not suited for HD videos and lots of animations
Some configuration required to automatically log in on startup
No Ethernet port built in, so needs to run off of WiFi or a separate usb adapter is required
Notes:
There is a separate installer available for x86 and x64 Windows versions, please see the Windows installer page to install the appropriate version.
The NVIDIA SHIELD Pro has a high performance GPU making it a great choice for digital signage with the ability to handle HD content, videos and animations quite well. The NVIDIA SHIELD runs off of an Android TV operating system and the MangoSigns app can be installed from the Google Play store on the device by searching for the Mango Sign player.
Pros:
Powerful GPU that can handle HD videos, Video backgrounds and Animations
Ethernet and WiFi built in
Easy to set up and install the MangoSigns player
Cons:
May occasionally have to be restarted after updates are installed.
Notes:
This device is a great option when paired with a programmable smart plug like this one , or this one, that will allow you to schedule a time to power off and on the devices, or reboot them at a specific time. Paired with these optional smart plugs you can perform remote actions such as rebooting the device if needed.
The smaller SHIELD TV device is a good option as well.
The Intel NUC devices are a great option for digital signage with demanding needs to smoothly play back your HD content. The Intel NUC devices run off of Windows 10 Pro and the MangoSigns windows player can be installed on it.
Pros:
Runs on Windows 10 and can be managed by corporate IT groups
Powerful PC with quite a bit of RAM and storage that will likely not have to be upgraded for quite a while.
Once set up, Windows devices are very stable and reliable digital signage devices
Cons:
Somewhat of a larger form factor.
Some configuration required to automatically log in on startup
Notes:
There is a separate installer available for x86 and x64 Windows versions, please see the Windows installer page to install the appropriate version.
The MangoSigns Android box is a small form factor 4K Android TV device that we offer as a convenience for customers that want something already pre-configured with the MangoSigns player software pre-installed. The MangoSign box has moderate performance that is a good all around player at an affordable price point.
Pros:
MangoSign player already installed, just connect to your TV and the internet
Ethernet and WiFi built in
Configured and tested by our team
Cons:
Not meant for lots of HD videos (We offer a higher end version for this)
Notes:
If you are interested in something that has higher performance and is pre-configured, reach out to our team and we can assist based on your needs.
👋 Have a question about or would like to use another device? Feel free to reach out to our team via chat or at info@mangosigns.com and we would be happy to provide some feedback. Chances are we have worked with it before and can help.