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Scala featuring HTML5 content playback and Android device support at ISE13

January 23, 2013

Digital signage software provider Scala is set to showcase a new user interface for its content management software and new functionalities including HTML5 content playback and Android device support at Integrated Systems Europe 2013 in Amsterdam.

Scala said it will be showing interactive features for mobile (Windows, Android and iPad tablets and mobile phones) that engage audiences in retail and corporate settings, new Facebook and Twitter implementations and the launch of Scala's integration with the new Samsung Smart Signage Platform.

The company said Scala Enterprise is the next major release of the Scala Software Suite aimed at delivering a fast Web application.

• Scala Enterprise Content Manager has an entirely new user-interface aimed at providing a user experience that is modern and efficient, leverages drag-and-drop capabilities, highlights relevant information and eases workflow with helpful links, all available from modern desktop and mobile browsers.
• Scala Enterprise also supports a new family of Android-powered media-players and photo-frames. These devices are aimed at being lower cost, and growing in flexibility and capability, and will take advantage of HTML5 for dynamic and interactive content.
• HTML5 is the emerging standard for Web content, and both the new Android players and the classic Scala Players will support HTML5, as well as play back content created using standard Web-design tools, the company said.
• Scala Enterprise Content Manager also includes an all-new set of Web service APIs for integrating, controlling and extending its functionality. The APIs support the user-access system and grant role-based access to only the functionality a given API user is entitled to, and only to the content that API user's work-group has access to.

Especially aimed at retail and corporate communications usage, Scala will be exhibiting integrations with tablets such as Scala's Fling solution that allows a user to "throw" content from a tablet onto a screen with the swipe of a finger. The Fling is now available on all operating systems, Android, Windows (8) and iOS tablets.

Through a QR code application that is showcased at the stand, Scala also will offer a solution for shoppers to "catch" a sale, even when a certain product is out of stock at thatmoment in that particular shop. A fully integrated corporate communications lobby solution will be presented, including Facebook, Twitter and weather forecast integrations, all combined on a six-screen "puzzle" setup.

An interactive car configurator will also be presented at the Scala stand. Through an Android tablet, customers in a showroom can alter the model choice, accessories and colors and immediately see on a large playback screen what the product of their choice will look like. Taking this from the retail shop floor and into the executive's office, Scala will have an interactive CxO board solution on display, based on car sales data, giving business leaders the tools to visualize data and steer their operation in the right direction.

Through a mobile phone store solution Scala will present its concept for integrating music, content triggering and sound-supported advertising/branding in a store environment. Visual content, triggered by choosing a phone type, will "take over the audio control," and Scala software ensures that the in-store music comes back, once the phone is returned. Based on this same setup, Scala expert Stefan Menger will present Scala's advanced analytics solution Scala iS. This solution analyses historical POS data, combined with external factors and then creates the optimal play list for a specific time slot in a shop or quick-service restaurant environment.

"HTML5 and Android support, the integration with Samsung's new platform and the fully integrated retail solution that Scala has created shows the abilities of Scala as an advanced knowledge company, leading not only by developing great software features, but also by creating practical yet cutting edge concepts", Scala CEO Tom Nix said in the announcement. "These solutions bring interactive shopping experiences to the retail industry, resulting in sales increases and reduction of churn for the retailer."

Read more about digital signage software.