BrightSign’s XT1144 media player is ideal for systems integrators with the long-term interests of their clients in mind. With a vast range of content and input/output options, the XT1144 has the flexibility and features to continue to meet clients’ evolving needs.
The BrightSign XT1144 media player is said to deliver unsurpassed performance for enterprise applications with a powerful 4K video engine, BrightSign’s fastest HTML and graphics engine and BrightSign’s most powerful CPU. In an interview with AV News, BrightSign CEO Jeff Hastings explained that the XT1144 represents a platform with longevity that will extend until the next major shift in display technology – the emergence of 8K, for example.
The platform embodied by the XT1144 incorporates “state-of-the-art technology for leading-edge digital signage installations,” supporting “H.264 and H.265 decoding, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ media profiles, Full HD and 4K playback including Mosaic Mode.” It offers a hardware accelerated HTML5 rendering engine that enables flawless playback of multiple modular HTML5 assets including JavaScript, CSS animations, WebGL and even swipe/gesture interactivity. BrightSign XT1144 offers Gigabit Ethernet, and it is the only product line offering PoE+ as well as HDMI In for Live TV playback.
High performance
BrightSign XT1144 standard I/O media player offers BrightSign’s most powerful H.264/H.265 4K and Full HD video engine with Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, 4K upscaling and dual decoding of two 4K p60 videos simultaneously. BrightSign XT1144 is said to deliver the best HTML5 rendering performance The XT1144 also supports live TV playback via the HDMI 2.0a input to play content from any broadcast channel – even protected HDCP content.
XT1144 has the video, graphics processing capabilities, interactivity to create an immersive digital signage experience. Customers can elect to integrate live TV, flawless 4K video with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, streaming social media and swipe/gesture interactivity to deliver a high-end corporate lobby experience. For an experience that’s just like being there, the XT1144 can deliver a live TV broadcast as it’s happening surrounded by immersive HTML5 and social media experiences.
Image and video quality
With image and video quality available from fine pixel pitch LED displays the quality available from the media player is essential. To that end, BrightSign has opted for Dolby Vision to display vibrant colours in highlights and detail in shadows. The technology supports up to 12-bit colour depth and HDR content with dynamic metadata
Enterprise HTML5 support comes in the form of hardware-accelerated Chromium HTML5 rendering engine brings powerful content development tools to developers. They can also elect to play industry standard HTML5 content (including JavaScript, CCS animations, transitions and more). WebGL video support is included, as is improved HTML graphics performance with a dedicated GL compositor Highly complex and memory intensive HTML5 content such as swipe/pinch/zoom interactive, streaming social media and multiple modular HTML5 assets layered with live TV and video are all possible with the XT1144.
Both 4K and Full HD content encoded with H.265 results in super quality at half the file size and double the bandwidth with memory savings. Only H.265 supports 10-bit colour and high dynamic range of colour. The XT1144 offers native 4K CEA HDR10, H.265 decoding via HDMI 2.0a at 60fps. Dual video decoding: one 4K (3840 x 2160 p60) video and one Full HD (1080p 60) video simultaneously. But what if the 4K content is unavailable? Scaling technology in the unit delivers pristine video quality for any screen or zone size including upscaling of Full HD video to 4K BrightSign upscaling is said to offer far better quality than the upscaling built into screens
If the 4K is available, the XT1144 is designed for optimal playback of native 4K content on a 4K/UHD display at True 4K: 3840 x 2160 resolution @ 60p frame rate. H.265 HEVC (high efficiency video coding) enables delivery of high-quality 4K content at about the same file size and data rate as HD content at H.264. Only the new HDMI 2.0 standard can support 60p playback at 4K
Streaming
Live streamed video is an increasingly popular option in digital signage, with everything from a retail fashion show to the Chairman’s annual address being streamed. BrightSign’s XT1144 supports Full HD video, MPEG and audio IP streaming, including: HLS (the standard for public internet streaming (YouTube, etc.); UDP/RTP/RTSP streaming from head-end real-time encoders; HTTP, including SHOUT cast.
The device allows streaming media to play in HTML5 assets or in BrightAuthor video, audio or MPEG stream states. Clients can stream, buffer and play content from IP cameras supporting the RTSP unicast streaming protocol, and even multiple video streams simultaneously.
Beacons
Another emerging trend in digital signage is interaction with beacon technology to deliver highly personalised and location dependent messages to individuals or groups. BrightBeacon supports highly targeted audience engagement with Bi-directional communication between BrightSign Digital signage and mobile devices It improves the overall digital signage experience by increasing audience engagement and creating a highly targeted, personal experience on two screens. Using Bluetooth and beacon technologies, with 2-way communication between BrightSign digital signage and mobile devices is achieved and allows for the delivery of highly targeted promotions based on location as well the ability to control digital signage playback from a mobile device
Integrated beacon and BTLE technology is available on the BrightSign player with no batteries required. The solution senses nearby BTLE enabled mobile devices and sends highly targeted content based on location-awareness. The XT!1144 offers a fully programmable solution with multiple beacon UUIDs supported, and easy repurposing of beacon and app associations using BrightAuthor and the BrightSign Network.
Video Walls
Another far more prescient technology, perhaps, that beacons for the majority of applications than that of beacons is that of the video wall comprised of multiple displays. BrightWall is a powerful drag-and-drop BrightAuthor tool that makes building video walls simple in any size and layout.
The XT1144 supports separate videos per display or stretches a single video across all the displays. You can build video walls by simply choosing the number of displays, specifying the layout of the displays, and dragging the video(s) into BrightAuthor. It utilises the BrightSign Ethernet port and a common clock to achieve frame-accurate synchronization
As an alternative, you can playback multiple content files on a single screen with zones – even with dual videos. Content supported includes Full HD video, images, HTML5, Live TV, audio, text tickers, Live Text, RSS feeds, date/time widgets and more. Each zone can have its own playlist. You can play video and audio independently.
Interactivity
Interactivity is known to make digital signage more interactive. We even have one display manufacturer combing a digital display with physical controls. With XT1144, playback can be triggered from virtually any type of interactive device you like using Interactive Playlists in BrightAuthor or HTML5
Connect virtually any type of interactive device to a multitude of interactive ports (GPIO, IR, UDP), using the digital sign to demo product operations, deliver coupons and pricing on demand. You also have the option to link to any live data and media feed available to display in your signage – for example, keep your signage up to date by linking to MRSS feeds and displaying popular news, finance, weather, and sports feeds.
Or, connect to virtually any database to display up to the minute details – perfect for flight timetables, event schedules, corporate statistics, etc. Or, link to social media feeds such as twitter and Flickr to keep your signage relevant and fresh
Government agency version
When considering a technology for a global signage roll-out, it is important that the technology meets all the legislative requirements for each territory. Some US installations, in government agencies, require that the solution if manufactured in accordance with the Trade Agreements Act
The BrightSign XT1144-T, which sells for $850, is a variant of the XT1144 which meets this requirement. The new media player’s performance and specifications are identical to the XT1144, however the manufacturing process is Trade Agreements Act compliant, paving the way for sales into government agencies within the United States.
As for what it means to be TAA compliant, the law is intended to preserve fair and open international trade and it can restrict the purchase for certain products for federal contracts.
