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Watchfire unveiling Ignite OPx 2 cloud-based CMS at ISA16

Digital billboard and LED digital signage firm Watchfire Signs announced today that it has launched a single, cloud-based content management solution to simplify the process for networks with both indoor and outdoor digital signs.

April 18, 2016

Digital billboard and LED digital signage firm Watchfire Signs announced today that it has launched a single, cloud-based content management solution to simplify the process for networks with both indoor and outdoor digital signs.

The company said its Ignite OPx 2 enables multiscreen content management for sign operators responsible for controlling content on multiple LED screens without the need for installed software.

Watchfire Ignite OPx 2 will be showcased at this week's ISA Sign Expo in Orlando, Florida.

Ignite OPx 2 is designed to bring seamless management of multiple signs by eliminating the need for each sign to be managed by a dedicated computer, the company said. Content can now be scheduled across a signage network — even if screens of different sizes are in use — whether indoors or out. Further, customers with very large signs can create content zones that effectively allow them to segment the display and simultaneously show different types of content, according to Watchfire.

Designed for creative teams, large signs and signage networks, Ignite OPx 2 also features "smart" playlists with tagging to manage content to ensure the right screens show the right content. For example, a theater chain with signs at each location can set a playlist using tagging to remove IMAX promos from the playlist for non-IMAX locations.

The application also includes widgets that allow users to display information in real time — including time, temperature and social media updates — using RSS, XML and other feeds.

Watchfire said it also adds new widgets frequently and customers can create their own.

Ignite OPx 2 supports an array of file types, including mp4 video files, transparent images and animated GIF files.

Enhanced reporting provides content playback statistics for a single player or for the entire sign network, and the solution features configurable user permissions for teams.

Because Ignite OPx 2 is a cloud-based application, there is nothing to install. It works with any modern browser on all major platforms, allowing users to access their sign's schedule and content library from any device with internet access, Watchfire said in the announcement.

"The live training available with OPx 2 is incredibly helpful," said Josh Miethe of SURFACE 51, a design firm located in central Illinois. "Our trainer walked us through the program, answering all of our questions and even offering tips and tricks for making the most of our experience. We discovered that using the software is easy and intuitive. We were able to set up highly-specific conditional rules for content. Anything you can imagine really is possible with OPx 2."

"Ignite OPx 2 is a game changer for sign networks, providing a streamlined way to manage content and monitor the performance of the system," said Dave Warns, Watchfire's vice president of on-premises sales. "Now organizations can flexibly and easily manage their sign network content from anywhere and using any device."