News

Argo, 'first of its kind' Windows-based micro player, set to launch

Company introduces thumb-sized digital media player for digital signage applications that it says is the first to feature a Windows Operating System.

January 16, 2015

Digital signage, interactive, self-service and audio solutions provider inLighten has released Argo, a thumb-sized digital media player for digital signage applications that the company says "is the first of its kind" to feature a Windows Operating System.

Continuing inLighten's history of producing Windows-based digital signage solutions, the Argo unit offers the same quality combined with an expansive suite of management tools and content resources available from inLighten's hosted network. 

"Argo was created for organizations that seek the savings in hardware and installation costs made possible through stick-sized media players, while maintaining the consistency of their Windows-based environments," inLighten CEO Dan Snyder said in the announcement. "The unprecedented success of our Android-based Apollo solution confirmed that our streamlined approach to digital signage will be a dominant format moving forward. As a result, we've worked diligently during the past year to bring the same advantages to the Windows world with Argo."

Snyder said the new pico player represents a "landmark" in the company's strategic plan to create and offer efficient, cost-effective and powerful solutions that enable organizations of all sizes to deploy digital signage virtually anywhere there's an audience to reach, "with little or no infrastructure investment beyond a display, standard electric and access to the Internet." 

"Our goal has been to liberate our clients from the expense, complexity and inconsistency associated with traditional 'computer-and-cable' based systems, while offering the market at large the advanced capabilities we've become known for in the high-end application world," he said.

From inLighten's hosted Argocast network, the company said, users can access everything they need to present compelling content on their screens from anywhere at any time – including intuitive content creation software and media management tools with versatile scheduling options and network controls available through their Argocast Manager Web account. 

Once plugged in, the Argo unit is configured to automatically connect to the Argocast network to retrieve content and playback instructions. Argocast Manager enables users to designate content for pickup and establish when, where and how they'd like that content to appear. Argo accepts a wide range of video, audio and graphic content types and features the ability to incorporate real-time content elements such as .txt and .xml files, RSS feeds and html, as well as social media favorites such as Twitter and YouTube.

"What makes Argo so appealing is how much the client receives and how little they have to do to get started," inLighten VP Jeff Taylor said. "Plug the Argo unit into the HDMI port of your TV and wirelessly connect to the Internet. It's now that simple to implement a fully Windows-enabled digital signage solution."