What Display Daily thinks: If I am selling displays, I am going to see this development as a big, big opportunity. Whether it turns out to be is a matter of how the software market around it evovles.
In the age of streaming, there should never have to be a need for expensive hardware setups for digital signage, at least in terms of delivering content through a CMS. Amazon just gets it. I hope the target audience does, too. You remove the expert installation angle and you are left with less of a need for a multi-tier channel to support digital signage.
Is this going to open up the digital signage market? I certainly hope so. It should. It should be a boon for display vendors, too. And, if Amazon proves the market, there won’t be any shortage of digital signage sticks that will make onto the market.
Amazon is a data driven company and you have to believe that it has run the numbers and seen a big opportunity here. It has to be a big opportunity. Amazon doesn’t play a niche. Let’s keep our fingers crossed on this one.
Amazon’s Digital Signage Stick
Someone recommended that look at an article by David Haynes who provides an engaging look at the Amazon Signage Stick, a new device that aims to capture the digital signage market. Priced at $99.99, it looks like a Fire TV stick but with a few key difference: First, Amazon has stripped away the streaming services typically found on those devices.
The device is designed to easily integrate with various content management software (CMS) applications, making it easier for business to install and get up and running with digital signage. The device is designed to automatically launch the CMS in kiosk mode, which means it can operate unattended, increasing uptime without needing user involvement. Plus, setting it up is a breeze; there’s no need for technical know-how, so whether you’re deploying one stick or multiple, you can do it all from your mobile device.
Amazon also highlights the security aspects of the Signage Stick, boasting a secure boot loader, data encryption, and regular updates to keep everything running smoothly and safely.
Launching alongside several CMS software partners, the Signage Stick primarily targets small to medium-sized businesses. O
Haynes points out that this development is interesting on multiple fronts. Traditionally, consumer-grade devices like Fire TV sticks have been used for signage, often without manufacturers even realizing it. This created challenges, especially when software updates disrupted the functionality of third-party apps. By introducing a lean, purpose-built version for commercial use, Amazon effectively sidesteps these issues. The Signage Stick is designed to automatically launch the CMS app in kiosk mode when powered on, ensuring a seamless experience.
| Specification | Details |
| Size | 99 mm x 30 mm x 14 mm (housing only) 108 mm x 30 mm x 14 mm (with connector) |
| Weight | 43.5 g |
| Processor | Quad-core 2.0 GHz |
| GPU | 850 MHz |
| Storage | 16 GB |
| Memory | 2 GB LPDDR4 |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6E tri-band: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 + BLE |
| Ports | HDMI 2.1 output with ARC input support, micro-USB |
