Devices

Screens and players that run Casty

Every screen needs a Casty player. That can be a small stick or box behind a TV, a PC, or a commercial display with the player built in. You can mix them in one account and manage them all from the same CMS.

Amazon Fire TV
Windows
PHILIPS
Hisense

On every player

Connect a new screen by entering the code it shows on first start
Content is stored on the player and keeps playing offline
Status, check-in time and screenshots in the CMS
Player software updates sent from the CMS
Starts on its own after a power cut, with no login needed
Landscape or portrait, set per display

Platforms

Amazon Fire TV

Amazon Signage Stick and Fire TV

A small HDMI stick behind the TV you already have.

Amazon's Signage Stick is a supported Casty player. Plug it into the TV, set it up with the Amazon Signage phone app, then enter the pairing code it shows to connect it to Casty.

Fire TV Sticks that run Fire OS, which is based on Android, can run the Casty Android player installed by hand. They are consumer devices, so we check the model with you before you rely on one.

Good for a single screen on a small budget, such as one TV over the bar or in a cafe window.

Android players and Android TV

Android media players, Android TV boxes and Android-based displays.

The Casty Android player needs Android 7 or later. It runs on dedicated signage media players and Android boxes, and on commercial displays with Android built in.

Android players support synchronised playback for video walls and mirrored screens, touch for interactive layouts, and remote commands through Android intents and shell commands.

Good for most venues, from one screen to many, and the choice for screens that play in sync.

Samsung smart signage (Tizen)

Runs on the display itself, with no box to hide.

Samsung's commercial signage displays run Tizen, and Casty runs on them as a custom app. The current player needs SSSP 6 or later.

Because the player is built into the screen, there is one power lead and nothing to mount behind it. The CMS can send built-in commands such as reboot and screen power.

Good for new installs where you want a tidy screen with no extra hardware.

LG webOS Signage

LG commercial displays with the player built in.

LG's signage displays run webOS, and the Casty player is installed from the display's own server settings. The current player needs webOS 3.2 or later.

As with Samsung, there is no separate box, and the display can be rebooted or switched on and off from the CMS.

Good for venues standardising on LG commercial screens.

Windows

A Windows PC or mini PC connected to the screen.

The Windows player installs from a standard installer on Windows 10 or later. It does not run on ARM-based PCs, so choose an Intel or AMD machine.

Windows is the player that shows PowerPoint files, provided PowerPoint is installed on the PC. It keeps a local copy of all content for offline playback, and a watchdog can restart the player if it stops.

Good for offices and receptions that already run Windows, or anyone who wants to show PowerPoint.

Linux (Ubuntu)

A community-maintained player for 64-bit PCs.

The Linux player is distributed as a snap package, which makes it straightforward to install on Ubuntu. It needs a 64-bit Intel or AMD processor.

It is maintained by the community and does not have the same support as the commercial players, so we suggest it for people comfortable looking after a Linux machine.

Good for technical teams who already run Linux PCs and want to reuse them.

ChromeOS

Chromeboxes and other ChromeOS devices managed through Google Admin.

On ChromeOS, Casty runs as a web app in kiosk mode. The device is enrolled and set up through the Google Admin console.

Google requires a Kiosk and Signage upgrade licence for each device, bought from a Google reseller.

Good for organisations that already manage ChromeOS devices through Google Workspace.

PHILIPSHisense

Sony Bravia, Philips and Hisense professional displays

Professional displays with Android inside.

Sony Bravia professional displays, Philips professional displays and Hisense commercial displays run Android, so the Casty Android player runs directly on the screen.

Sony Bravia displays are provisioned through Sony's cloud and need a wired network connection during setup. Philips displays install the player from a USB stick. Some models accept extra commands from the CMS, such as backlight control on Philips.

Good for venues buying new professional screens that want Android on board with no box.

Which should I choose?

A starting point for the most common situations. If you are not sure, tell us about your screens and we will suggest a player for each one.

If you want	Choose	Extra hardware	Why
One screen, lowest cost	Amazon Signage Stick or an Android media player	Small stick or box	Plugs into the HDMI port of a TV you already own.
No extra hardware behind the screen	Samsung Tizen (SSSP 6+), LG webOS (3.2+), Sony Bravia, Philips or Hisense professional displays	None	The player runs on the display itself.
Video wall or screens playing in step	Android players on a wired network	One player per screen	Synchronised playback is available on Android. Matching hardware and a wired connection keep the screens in time.
Showing PowerPoint files	Windows 10 or later	Windows PC (Intel or AMD)	PowerPoint needs a Windows player with PowerPoint installed.
Touch screen or kiosk	A touch display with an Android player	Depends on the display	Touch triggers need a touch panel, and are switched on in the display settings.
Already managing ChromeOS devices	ChromeOS	Chromebox or similar	Set up through Google Admin. Each device needs Google's Kiosk and Signage licence.
Reusing Linux PCs	Linux (Ubuntu)	64-bit PC	Community-maintained player installed as a snap.

Commercial displays and ChromeOS devices have their own requirements, such as firmware versions or licences from the manufacturer. We check these with you before you buy. See the features page for what each part of Casty does.

Not sure which player you need?

Tell us about your venue and how many screens you have. We will get back to you by email.

Get in touch Email hello@casty.co.uk

The Android robot is reproduced from work created and shared by Google and used according to the terms of the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution Licence.