It is also worth of mentioning that built-in DS compatible displays are built especially for this purpose, unlike traditional LCD TVs. For instance, you might not be able to remotely change TV’s volume or shut it down with the external player. Also access to TVs software development kit (SDK) and native features are limited. For example, remote device access does not work as well with the external player. From the customer perspective, built-in player can enable some features that are not possible with external player. Also faster and easier installation compared to external players. To tackle problems like that, it is recommended to use built-in players (SoC) and single-point-of-contact service. One common issue is that cables will get loose and it will affect drastically on the downtime of the player.
![external player external player](https://www.barrons.com/asset/external-media/afp/AFP4131905808440482831465391273351140985860---1.jpg)
Also, the troubleshooting is time consuming because it needs to be done on-site. The problem is, that there are various components that could break and a lot of things to troubleshoot, if the player does not work properly. For example, the player can be Linux, Android or Chromebox based individual component with third party software. The external player setup contains multiple parts including the cables for power, display, network and the player itself.
![external player external player](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nlsAAOSwtYpixZxs/s-l500.jpg)
![external player external player](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/8619130a-d475-4813-b961-8cb1e1618cbc.52c91cff3efb03bd33036eaa40c3834b.jpeg)
The most carefree Digital Signage (DS) setup is to use the manufacturers’ System-on-a-Chip (SoC) players instead of external players.
#EXTERNAL PLAYER HOW TO#
Currently, there are a couple of different options out there on the market and here is how to understand the differences and make a comparison. Digital Signage systems are becoming increasingly common as companies are realising its huge positive effect on sales and less expensive management compared to traditional prints.