5 Reasons to Turn Your Tablet Into a Digital Sign

When you think of digital signage, you likely picture a large display mounted on the wall, inside a kiosk, or maybe even a group of displays arranged together to form a giant digital video wall. These sorts of installations are definitely impressive, and in the right location they can bring loads of attention to your brand and messaging. However, there are instances when smaller is better.

Thanks to platforms like XOGO that run on multiple operating systems like Android, iOS and Fire TV, it's now possible to turn screens of ANY size into digital signs. This opens up new possibilities in terms of where your signs can be mounted and how they are used. One of the most interesting developments that we are seeing these days is the use of tablets as digital signs. Here are five reasons to consider running XOGO on your tablet:

1) Tablets are inexpensive.

Tablets come in a wide range of sizes and prices these days. Amazon's Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 tablets are available for as little as $60, come in multiple colors, and are available with optional cases that allow you to prop up the tablet and set it on a shelf or tabletop. It's impossible to find a high definition TV in this price range. A quick search on Amazon will also turn up loads of Android tablet options from manufacturers like Samsung. They come in a wide range of sizes (from 8-17") to fit your space and are easy to use, especially if you already have an Android smart phone. On the premium end you'll find powerful PC-replacement tablets like Microsoft's Surface Go and Apple's iPad range. The Surface Go runs an Intel processor and can handle any type of content you throw at it - even 4k video at fast frame rates. As for Apple - we haven't released a player app for the iPad yet, but our XOGO Manager app is available for iOS and lets you easily control all of your players from anywhere in the world using your iPad or iPhone.

2) Tablets are portable.

One advantage that tablets have over standard TVs and displays is their portability. TVs are heavy and can be difficult to move, especially if you're on your own. And once they are mounted in position, it's hard to move them without a tool kit and a lot of patience. A tablet, however, can be slipped into your bag and taken anywhere. They're not as prone to damage thanks to materials like GorillaGlass screens, and most are even water resistant. The portability of tablets is perfect for people that want to set up digital signs at trade shows, in food trucks or pop-up retail locations.

3) Tablets are battery-powered.

Never trip over cables again. Modern tablets utilize powerful lithium-ion polymer batteries that can keep your content playing for up to 10 hours at a time. Just charge your tablet overnight and let it play your content all day long. Brilliant.

4) Tablets offer WiFi + LTE connectivity.

Is the WiFi at your location a bit spotty, or even non-existent? Many modern tablets come with a SIM card slot or eSIM chip so you can connect to a cellular network and get blazing-fast LTE data. Of course the XOGO Player app also caches its playlist, so once XOGO has been set up you can disconnect from the Internet and your images and videos will still keep playing (URL-based content requires connectivity).

5) Tablets can be mounted anywhere.

Standard displays typically require expensive mounting hardware that is screwed into the VESA-pattern holes on the back of the display. By contrast, tablets are so small and light that they can be propped up on a stand, inside a display case or even attached to the wall via a magnet, suction cup or hook-and-loop fastener. A quick search on Amazon will turn up dozens of mounting options; well-known manufacturers like Peerless also build commercial-grade mounts so you can take your tablet with you and securely put it on display.

Why not give it a try?

Sometimes smaller is better, and we think tablets can be an amazing way to get your digital messaging in front of an audience. If you're interested to run XOGO Player on a tablet device, please check out our hardware recommendations for links to some of the most popular models, as well as instructions on how to set up XOGO on each device. And as always, if you have questions about tablets, content or other digital signage topics please check out our FAQs or feel free to contact us for more information.