Noxel unveils solid-state digital signage player capable of full 1080P video and 3D playback
Tiny non-PC devices use Blu-ray technology to play out perfect video, and operate easily and flawlessly in the field; energy consumption a fraction of typical PC demands
24 AUGUST 2010, AGNO, SWITZERLAND
Summary
TESSIN, Switzerland - Noxel AG has released a tiny new solid-state digital signage player capable of playing out conventional and 3D video at full 1080P, and built to run flawlessly in the field for months or years.Designed and manufactured by Switzerland-based Noxel, the new NXDS600 player couples a Blu-ray video engine with an IPTV-class processor to deliver an ideal hardware solution for the demands of medium to large digital signage networks. The device is not a personal computer, which greatly increases reliability rates in the field and minimizes installation and management requirements.
There is no operating system in the NXDS600 units, and that has many implications, explained Group CEO Farbod Sadeghian. “There’s no extra cost for software or development. Operators will see fast, consistent boot-ups from these devices. And there are no more blue screens. This is part of a robust streamlined, framework designed for and dedicated to digital signage applications.”
The units – measuring just 150mm by 128mm wide and 40mm high, and weighing just 950 grams – use embedded firmware that can be upgraded automatically, and both monitored and managed remotely. Video playback uses the latest Sigma Designs set top box-style video decoder (SMP865X), which can smoothly play out high-definition MPEG-4.10 (H.264), SMPTE 421M (VC-1), AVS, WMV9, MPEG-4.2 and MPEG-2.
The integrated Sigma chip also easily handles 3D MPEG-2/H.264 Side by Side, Over/Under, Anaglyphic 3D, Polarised 3D and Auto-stereoscopic 3D content formats – tasks more typically reserved for costly, high-powered PCs.
The NXDS600 is also designed to both simplify and speed up deployments. “As soon as a device is turned on and establishes an Internet connection, it will recognize the network setting, register itself to a designated server, and that’s it. Nothing else needs to be done locally,” explained Farbod Sadeghian. “People with no IT skills can plug in this unit and get it running.”
The NXDS players are among the first on the market to specifically address the core reliability, maintenance and overall operating cost demands of large-scale digital signage network operators. The units have no moving parts, with industrial cooling fins on the casing dissipating any heat generated by the low temperature processor. The players use solid state SD and internal USB-based memory to remove any needed for a rotating hard disk drive, a common point of failure.
The units also operate well within “green” technology standards. At high bit rate, full HD decoding, the players consume less than 5 watts. In standby mode, consumption is less than 2 watts. Typical PC-based digital signage players, by comparison, require more than 60 watts.
The players are part of the Xtream series of players being developed Noxel, which has been designing, engineering and manufacturing media technology and IT solutions for more than a decade from its base in southern Switzerland.
Though substantially more powerful in play-out capabilities, unit costs for the NXDS600 players are sharply lower than similar solid state devices on the market and in line with the average costs of small-form factor PCs (with moving parts) now commonly used in digital signage projects.
The Xtream series works with Noxel’s proprietary NXCM content management solution for digital signage. A web-based platform, Noxel makes the system available as a fully-managed Software as a Service (SaaS) solution, or network operator can buy the server software solution and host and manage on their own.
Noxel is in the process of building up a global roster of distributors and resellers. For more about Noxel and the Xtream solutions, please visit www.noxelxtream.com
About Noxel AG
Based in Switzerland, NOXEL is a leading technology solution provider and manufacturer, focused on delivering design, engineering and manufacturing of various products, NOXEL also acts as distributor of technology products from leading IT hardware, automation products and software producers.
NOXEL solutions and products simplify the way people interact with technology.
For more information: www.noxel.com
