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Product review: Visix's APPOINT software for PowerPoint digital signage

There's a new way to put PowerPoint presentations on digital signage for the simplest deployments.

April 1, 2013

What is it?

It's the new APPOINT software from Visix, a simple, entry-level digital signage content software that functions essentially as a driver to deliver and animate PowerPoint presentations on digital signage screens.

It's inexpensive and easy-to-use software for the simplest applications, say an elementary school wanting to post the lunch menu to a screen in the cafeteria or a single retail or restaurant location wanting to post the day's specials.

What's new?

According to Visix, APPOINT isn't a PowerPoint-to-Flash converter, but a package that gives end-users "the ability to basically just schedule the delivery of their PowerPoint presentations out to a bunch of digital signs," according to Visix President Sean Matthews.

And that's about it. It's not a complex, expensive piece of software. Matthews demonstrated the package, and it's pretty much as advertised: a good simple solution for people who are turned off by complexity and just want something that just does what they need it to. (There are some bells and whistles, with some semi-advanced layout options, but the simplicity is by design, according to Matthews, to reach the people who aren't looking to spend a ton of time learning a complex new software system on top of PowerPoint.)

More interesting specs:

The software launches from a tab in PowerPoint; provides simple templates for users; allows for remote player control; includes animated themes and backgrounds and animated weather icons; and full-screen or zoned layouts. It also includes dynamic scheduling options for messages and layouts, in addition to player management.

How much?

Deployers will need a user license for each content creator and a player license for each PC that will play messages on screens. An APPOINT single-user license is $499, and a multi-user license is $1,999. A single player license is $149. And there are no recurring fees with any of the licenses, according to Visix.

Anything else?

There are plenty of PowerPoint-to-Flash converters out there, but Visix is claiming this is the only thing like it on the market.

The bottom line:

After taking a tour of APPOINT, it definitely seems like this is a great entry-level and inexpensive option for the most basic digital signage deployments. It basically takes anyone's PowerPoint presentation and automatically sequences the slides together with simple dissolve transitions, Matthews said: "This really is designed for people with very little or no video animation skills."

Watch a short demo video from Visix below:

Learn more about digital signage content management.