Here are some tips on what to consider when choosing a new Android device for iNFO DIS slideshow.
Android version: The iNFO DIS slideshow has support for all the way back to Android 5, but not all features are available on this 9-year-old Android version. If you are picking a new box, look for at least Android 7 and newer.
Performance: iNFO DIS slideshow in its base form isn’t a very performance-hungry app; it can run without any problems on a single-core 800 MHz CPU. However, once you start adding many panels, RSS news with moving text, transitions between images, etc., it may start lagging on slow, low-end devices. If you are picking a new device, I would recommend not going lower than a quad-core CPU and 2 GB of RAM
Graphic performance: As there are no 3D effects in the slideshow, the raw performance of the device’s GPU isn’t really important. However, if you are planning to display high-definition videos, it is important to check which video codecs are supported by the GPU. There is usually no problem with H.264 codecs up to 1080p, but 4K H.265 is not supported on some devices.
Video output (only applicable for box or stick): The HDMI output port is basically a standard feature. If you have a 4K display, look out for the HDMI version; only HDMI 2.0 and newer will provide you with real 4K/60Hz output. Note that HDMI 2.0 alone will not guarantee you true 4K output (not up-scaled), as you also need a device with a 4K frame buffer for that, which is still quite rare.
Networking: Connection via wired LAN cable is highly preferred because of its stability, so I suggest using a box with an RJ45 LAN connector. If a wired connection won’t be available at the location, look for a box with stable WiFi; an external antenna is usually a plus. Unstable WiFi connections can cause a lot of headaches if you are using Slideshow’s web interface, synchronizing files over the internet, or playing audio or video streams.
Other ports: Depending on your planned usage, you may want to look for a device with enough USB ports (for mouse, keyboard, remote control, and USB flash storage) and a 3.5 mm audio jack or S/PDIF optical connector (direct output to the speakers instead of sound through HDMI).
Storage: iNFO DIS slideshow stores all files in the device’s memory, even if you are synchronizing the files from the web, Google Drive, or Drop Box, so it’s necessary to have enough memory for all files you would like to display. Don’t forget that some of the storage space will be occupied by Android itself, so for example, if you get a device with 16 GB of storage, you may find that only 12 GB is available for your files. For displaying just images and a couple of short videos, a device with 16 GB of storage should be enough for you. A large amount of long and high-quality videos will require large storage. If you don’t want to be limited by the internal memory of an Android device, look for a device with a micro SD card slot, as the iNFO DIS slideshow can also use a micro SD card for file storage.
Rooted device: If you pick a device with rooted Android, you can access some extra features in the iNFO DIS slideshow, which are very useful for commercial digital signage.
Stability: This is something you won’t find in any specification, but it’s very important for usage as a digital signage device. Many devices on the market are not suitable for 24/7 usage, and they will become unstable after some time, often getting stuck or rebooting. If you are planning a larger deployment of devices for digital signage, don’t forget to thoroughly test the device first.
RTC (Right Time Clock): Android device with a battery for the internal clock (optional).
It is a good idea to use an Android digital signage display instead of an Android or smart TV for our iNFO DIS slideshow software designed for Android. Because it has many advantages, especially over an Android or smart TV. Click here to learn some of the top reasons.
