How to show a web page on a TV without a computer...

[Kelemvor]

So we're trying to come up with the easiest way to use multiple (2 - 4) TVs as displays that will show a website on them. However, we don't want to have to dedicate a computer to each TV to run the show.

Whatever it is would connect to the TVs via wifi connection.

We thought we could use the built in web browser on the TVs that we have but the browser is pretty crappy and doesn't display the pages properly.

We thought about using Chromecasts and then using a single computer to see if we can cast to 4 TVs at once using different browser profiles but then if the chromecast shuts down or the PC reboots we have to go set it all up again. And it still relies on a computer to run it.

We thought about trying one of those Android-on-a-stick things that we could plug directly into the TV. Assuming we can set those to boot up directly to the browser and use our site as the home page, that would seem to be a great option. Problem is there are dozens of those stick devices and I can't find much on them to know what's reliable and decent and what's not.

Anyone know anything about the Stick devices to know which are good or bad?
Anyone have any other ideas that we could look into?

Thanks.

--TVs are not near each other. They are on different floors of a building. Cabling will not be run to the TVs other than power.
--Website is a dynamic page that updates itself with realtime data. This is not a static loop that runs.

--Internal Web Browser on the TVs does not work for this application and it cannot be upgraded or changed.
--Apple TV does not have a browser and we don't have iOS devices to cast to them.
--Chromecast says it is incompatible with our network as we have enterprise authentication which is not supported
--Android-on-a-Stick devices don't work with the Chrome Browser but seem to sort of work with Firefix for Android. (Still testing)
--Will try a Raspberry Pi with a browser on it to see if that will work

 

[sdifox]

android stick plus bt mini keyboard with touchpad?

 

[pontifex]

So its just displaying a single page? no interaction?

What about some kind of looping video like on a dvd? get a splitter and hook up the dvd player to all the tvs?

 

[Ns1]

something like this attached to an apple tv + airplay?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/SIIG-1-x-2...itter/16606753

 

[Imp]

Had that issue a few years ago except we wanted to use Power Point.

They decided to record a master Power Point presentation to a DVD using a program ($$$) and play that all day with old, spare computers. I'm guessing you can record and play off a USB stick now?

 

[Kelemvor]

Looking to do it the cheapest and easiest way possible.

It's a static web page that automatically shows different slides like a powerpoint does. No interaction at all. However, it automatically updates on its own with live stats as the screens flip so it has to be the live website.

The TVs will not be near each other so anything involving cabling won't work.

An Android stick is what we were thinking but what do we buy? I can't find any sites that really review them or anything like that. We don't even really need the keyboard and such since once we get it setup we don't need to touch it assuming we can have it load a browser on boot so it'd basically be automatic.

 

[Crono]

It's been a while, but I had an MK802 III that worked well for this. Liliputing was the go-to site for this, but I haven't really kept up with what's new.

Since then I've only used Chromecast, Miracast with HTC One, and HTPCs hooked up via HDMI. There are some other PC sticks showcased by Intel and others during CES that look interesting for the future.

 

[luv2liv]

a raspberry pi will do it. it's not exactly a PC because it uses extremely little power and dirt cheap for under $30

 

[Kaido]

The stick ones currently have trouble with 1080p. Something like a PROBOX would be better:

http://www.amazon.com/PROBOX2-Stream...dp/B00N3KEFT6/

It's rooted, so you can setup a VNC server for remote control. Then just throw on SureLock Kiosk:

http://www.42gears.com/surelock/surelockandroid.html

It not only lets you lockdown what apps are accessible, but it can also auto-launch an application on startup. If that meets your needs, it also has it's own remote configuration stuff so you don't need a separate RDP type of app. I've used it on a ton of projects with good results. Manual is here if you want to browse features:

http://www.42gears.com/surelock/docs/android/surelock_online_documentation.html

There are also Android app watchdog programs available that can babysit them if they crash & relaunch them, all kinds of stuff you can screw around with. Downside with all this stuff is that it adds up - $150 for a rooted HD player, $50 for a quality kiosk app, etc. But ultimately you could have a customized web page displayer that you can remotely manage, auto-starts the website, and relaunches it upon crash.

 

[Crono]

a raspberry pi will do it. it's not exactly a PC because it uses extremely little power and dirt cheap for under $30

Raspberry Pi works well for this. Just need a wifi adapter (or use ethernet cable if you can), SD card, and micro USB power adapter, and you're set once you flash the card with Raspbian or another RPi-friendly distro.

 

[T9D]

https://chaturbate.com/female-cams/

 

[Kelemvor]

I was just told that the price doesn't matter as much since most of these things are under $100. We have an Apple TV in house that we can test with but we would need on1 for each TV since they'll be on different floors and such.

Can an Apple TV be setup to launch a browser at startup or anything like that?

 

[sdifox]

why can't you just use chromecast, cast a chrome tab to it and leave chromcast on and the cast to the next chromecast?

 

[Kelemvor]

why can't you just use chromecast, cast a chrome tab to it and leave chromcast on and the cast to the next chromecast?

We can but that relies on the PC to run things so if the Chromecast ever powers off or loses it's connection or the PC reboots or anything like that we have to go grab the PC running it and redo all the tabs.

Also, we haven't been able to confirm if you can cast from 1 PC to 4 different Chromecasts at the same time or not. Many people said once you cast to a second one it stops the casting to the first one but we're trying to test that.

 

[Kelemvor]

Ha, great. Apple TV doesn't even have a browser on it. Stupid Apple Crap.

 

[sdifox]

We can but that relies on the PC to run things so if the Chromecast ever powers off or loses it's connection or the PC reboots or anything like that we have to go grab the PC running it and redo all the tabs.

Also, we haven't been able to confirm if you can cast from 1 PC to 4 different Chromecasts at the same time or not. Many people said once you cast to a second one it stops the casting to the first one but we're trying to test that.

I thought once something is cast, it stays cast til it is told otherwise. I'll try tonight when I get home. I have two Cromecast.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-chromecast/311672-simultaneously-cast-multiple-chrome-tabs-different-chromecasts-2.html

 

[Ns1]

Ha, great. Apple TV doesn't even have a browser on it. Stupid Apple Crap.

nope, you'd need an iPad or iPhone and then airplay mirroring.

 

[Kelemvor]

Well the Chromecast seems to be out. Our network has Access Points that have a regular authentication network and a guest (pass Key) network. Chromecast doesn't seem to support the enterprise authentication to let me put in a username and password and it won't connect to our Guest wifi either as their help pages say it doesn't support that for some reason. *sigh*

Testing out some sort of "Android-on-a-stick" thing right now to see if that will work.

 

[Belegost]

Why not something like a NUC? A little bigger than just a stick, but pretty cheap and a full desktop level OS (Linux or Windows take your pick) to customize to meet your needs.

 

[Cerebus451]

Intel will be releasing a Compute Stick which can be had with either Windows 8.1 or Linux on it, though the Linux version will still be $90, so might be pricey (and no telling when it will actually be available for purchase).

 

[poofyhairguy]

Sideload a web browser on the Amazon FireTV stick.

 

[Ichinisan]

Do multiple displays from a single computer (why avoid using a computer?). Put a browser window on each display. Put each one into full-screen (F11).

 

[waffleironhead]

What tv models do you have?

 

[Kelemvor]

Do multiple displays from a single computer (why avoid using a computer?). But a browser window on each display. Put each one into full-screen (F11).

We can use 1 computer to run them all if there's a way to do that over the network for displays spread around a building. What can do that?

 

[Kelemvor]

What tv models do you have?

They are Panasonic 50as530u