Digital Signage Success on Apple TV

LiquidIce_ATV · 04-28-2007, 01:53 PM

I had some success today getting the Apple TV to be a digital signage processor. Using Quartz Extreme (which comes free with XCode) I created a few .qtz files that had my images and text included in them.

Then I downloaded qtzplayer from:
http://trac.softwarelivre.sapo.pt/broker/wiki/qtzplayer

I copied the QuartzComposerPlayer and my .qtz files to my ATV using SCP, then I run this from the ssh command line:

Code:

./QuartzComposerPlayer DigitalSignage.qtz

The Quart player app takes over the screen. If you press buttons on the remote the Apple TV menu shows through the .qtz animation. As long as you disable the screensaver you should be able to constantly play your qtz file on the apple tv 24/7.

If you want to run this on startup just put this in your rc.local file:

Code:

/home/frontrow/QuartzComposerPlayer /Users/frontrow/DigitalSignage.qtz &

Next step is to figure out why RSS feeds are not working, or find some other way to pull data from the net. Then with a little webserver the Text can be dynamically generated from a webpage to the TV screen.

rev2296 · 04-30-2007, 03:01 PM

is this a video player? or does this just work with pictures and text? I have 6 apple tvs and I want to use them for digital signage, however I'm playing videos and have been frustrated that the videos don't loop. Any suggestions.

boske · 05-01-2007, 01:50 PM

Excellent work liquidice, do you have any pictures of your project?

LiquidIce_ATV · 05-06-2007, 11:41 PM

No pics yet Boske, soon though there will be some source code released to do this on your own. I made some additional progress today with the RSS feeds.

Basically the backend is a hacked blog script which allows you to set the text headlines to display. another custom rss feed that is generated by php code which sends it variables such as background type, color, text size, etc.

The frontend is a Quartz .qtz file that is to be launched fullscreen on the ATV. The Quartz file pulls the 2 RSS feeds and starts displaying the text on screen using the options provided by the second rss feed.

This will be a cheap and simple way to display messages on any screen. All you will need is an ATV, a patchstick, and a display to setup your own digital signage exhibit. This can be used for a lobby to a hotel, office building, as a screensaver when a confrence room is not in use, or even to run digital menu boards showing the specials in a restaurant.

The possibilities are endless, I can't wait to see what new features Apple's next OSX brings to Quartz Composer, I am officially hooked.

analogtv · 05-17-2007, 02:15 PM

could you be more explicit for the RC.local file as it could be dangerous..;;-)
many thanx for your job

remarkable · 07-20-2007, 02:13 PM

a friend of mine just opened a new restaurant and at the bar he had these cool digital signs. really futuristic type stuff http://www.trustindigital.com/produc...i-mediawindow/

04-28-2007, 01:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
LiquidIce_ATV Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 26	Digital Signage Success on Apple TV I had some success today getting the Apple TV to be a digital signage processor. Using Quartz Extreme (which comes free with XCode) I created a few .qtz files that had my images and text included in them. Then I downloaded qtzplayer from: http://trac.softwarelivre.sapo.pt/broker/wiki/qtzplayer I copied the QuartzComposerPlayer and my .qtz files to my ATV using SCP, then I run this from the ssh command line: Code: ./QuartzComposerPlayer DigitalSignage.qtz The Quart player app takes over the screen. If you press buttons on the remote the Apple TV menu shows through the .qtz animation. As long as you disable the screensaver you should be able to constantly play your qtz file on the apple tv 24/7. If you want to run this on startup just put this in your rc.local file: Code: /home/frontrow/QuartzComposerPlayer /Users/frontrow/DigitalSignage.qtz & Next step is to figure out why RSS feeds are not working, or find some other way to pull data from the net. Then with a little webserver the Text can be dynamically generated from a webpage to the TV screen. __________________ -LiquidIce LiquidIce's Apple TV Hacks http://appletvhacks.blogspot.com

04-30-2007, 03:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
rev2296 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2	Is this video is this a video player? or does this just work with pictures and text? I have 6 apple tvs and I want to use them for digital signage, however I'm playing videos and have been frustrated that the videos don't loop. Any suggestions.

05-06-2007, 11:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
LiquidIce_ATV Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 26	Hooked on Quartz Composer Patches No pics yet Boske, soon though there will be some source code released to do this on your own. I made some additional progress today with the RSS feeds. Basically the backend is a hacked blog script which allows you to set the text headlines to display. another custom rss feed that is generated by php code which sends it variables such as background type, color, text size, etc. The frontend is a Quartz .qtz file that is to be launched fullscreen on the ATV. The Quartz file pulls the 2 RSS feeds and starts displaying the text on screen using the options provided by the second rss feed. This will be a cheap and simple way to display messages on any screen. All you will need is an ATV, a patchstick, and a display to setup your own digital signage exhibit. This can be used for a lobby to a hotel, office building, as a screensaver when a confrence room is not in use, or even to run digital menu boards showing the specials in a restaurant. The possibilities are endless, I can't wait to see what new features Apple's next OSX brings to Quartz Composer, I am officially hooked. __________________ -LiquidIce LiquidIce's Apple TV Hacks http://appletvhacks.blogspot.com

05-17-2007, 02:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
analogtv Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1	sweet could you be more explicit for the RC.local file as it could be dangerous..;;-) many thanx for your job

07-20-2007, 02:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
remarkable Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6	a friend of mine just opened a new restaurant and at the bar he had these cool digital signs. really futuristic type stuff http://www.trustindigital.com/produc...i-mediawindow/ Last edited by remarkable : 08-06-2007 at 02:51 PM.

05-01-2007, 01:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
boske Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 112	Excellent work liquidice, do you have any pictures of your project?

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