Article
Product review: Logic Supply's NUC-based digital signage media player
Logic Supply has a new version of the Intel NUC platform intended for the embedded market, digital signage and kiosks.
May 21, 2013 by Christopher Hall — w, t
What is it?
South Burlignton, Vt.-based Logic Supply, a provider of specialized systems for the embedded and industrial computing markets, has introduced its LGX AG960 Intel Core i NUC Industrial Computer, a ruggedized version of the Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) platform intended for use in digital signage and kiosks.
Intel Corp. bills the NUC as "an ideal engine for digital signage, kiosks, home theater systems and intelligent devices for small spaces, or anywhere else you can imagine," but it's mostly plastic case isn't necessarily ruggedized for some harsher environments such as public-facing digital signage and inside kiosks, according to Logic Supply product manager Chris Hovious.
"So we took a stab at re-designing the case, which is our forte," he said. "We took the main board, basically took the guts out of theirs, and designed an enclosure for it that's more closely in line with the embedded market, so for light industrial markets, digital signage, kiosk usage, things like that."
What's new?
The NUC is new, and Intel is trying to shepherd the market that way, and Logic Supply has made some tweaks, such as an additional USB port, a relocated front power button and external antennas for better Wi-Fi and 3G/4G connectivity inside kiosks or behind screens. The company also put it in a cold-rolled steel enclosure plated on the inside with dual right-angle folds in each seam to mitigate electromagnetic and radio interference and to make it more rugged.
Logic Supply also took steps to mitigate issues the original NUC form factor had with heat dissipation, putting in thermal pads and wraps to gives it a bigger dissipation area and redirecting the heat toward the unit's fan. Those hardware fixes "helped dramatically" and resulted in "pretty substantial" heat reductions and improved cooling of the mSATA, Hovious said.
"We're trying to take theirs and step it up a notch as far as rigidity and ruggedness goes, as well as address the thermal concerns that came up," he said.
Other interesting specs?
The base model of the LGX AG960 measures 115 by 37 by 108 mm (4.5 x 1.5 x 4.25 inches), with a 1.80 GHz Intel Dual Core i3-3217U processor and the QS77 chipset, as well as Intel HD Graphics 4000, four 2.0 USB ports, and two HDMI ports, enabling it to power HD video and dual displays in graphic-intensive applications.
And, according to Logic Supply, the unit was "designed to be redesigned."
"The enclosure can be physically reconfigured so that it is easily customized and branded to fit specific requirements," Logic Supply product engineer Rodney Hill said. "And because we control the design and manufacturing we can easily manage the lifecycle and revision history."
If an end-user or OEM needs a different form factor, the company can either stretch it out or shrink it down easily, Hovious said.
"We're able to roll out small samples with a high degree of customization," he said. "We can tweak it pretty quickly and get a prototype within one to two weeks, depending on how extensive the modifications are."
How much?
The base price is in the low $400's, with volume pricing also available.
Anything else?
Custom computer and appliance manufacturer Seneca also has an ultra-small form factor media player/computer based on the Intel NUC aimed at the digital signage and kiosk markets, and surely others also are, or will be, pushing NUC-based platforms to market.
The bottom line:
It's a handy, ruggedized version of the palm-top NUC platform with additional options for mounting and connectivity that can be tweaked according to need.
"We intended it to be a seed design where if it solves your problem or it solves your need then great," Hovious said. "But we can take that and you can play with it and then we can tweak it as needed and be very flexible with it when and if necessary."
Watch a demo video from Logic Supply on the LGX AG960 below:
Learn more about digital signage hardware.
