HannahBanana Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 Hi, Can anyone tell me if they have a life channel box, what it does and how much they paid for it please? Thanks
SSFC Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 We used to have one but got it took out last month. Basically it is a pc that shows video clips (automatically downloaded) to screens placed around the building. In addition to the provided content you can add your own videos and slides. There is also a schedule/timetable element so you can choose to display a particular slide and a specific time. A web interface is also included so people can update the system from there own machine We got rid of the system here as for the cost of it we could do nearly all of what it could do with a standard pc running powepoint and since it is only updated by one team member here and we didnt use the schedule feature it seemed to make sence to simply use our method. 1
HannahBanana Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 anyone remember how much they paid for it?
Dom_ Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 We have it here, not sure what we paid/pay for it though... An addition to what SSFC said, there is a banner system at the bottom that you can broadcast messages on. Not massively impressive and the video's provided by them (that have to be shown) are pretty rubbish. Dom
HannahBanana Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 Cost is about 8k/year IIRC. 8k a year?!?! oh my god... and the only difference to a normal digital signage system is that you get their information which you cannot change and have to fit your content around theirs? is that correct?
SSFC Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 8k a year?!?! oh my god... and the only difference to a normal digital signage system is that you get their information which you cannot change and have to fit your content around theirs? is that correct? I would say thats a fair assesment.
Dom_ Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 8k a year?!?! oh my god... and the only difference to a normal digital signage system is that you get their information which you cannot change and have to fit your content around theirs? is that correct? Jesus I hope its not 8K a year, will go find out now... But yes, that is correct.
HannahBanana Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 sorry guys and for this 8k... how many box's do you get?
Gatt Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) We have the system here too and, TBH, I'm not impressed - it also appears that we haev bought into a 3yr contract with them.. We have 3 screens (one at reception, one in middle of a corridor "cross-roads" and one in the Canteen I dont know who;s in charge of it as the only content that gets added is to the ticker at the bottom As previously stated the videos are cr*p and of por quality (both picture and in the content) Not sure what we paid or it - but wouldn't surprise me that it was £8k... Edited June 4, 2009 by Gatt
Netman Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 We were looking at this, but it was way too expensive - why not look at xibo instead... open source and excellent! Xibo Open Source Digital Signage
Dom_ Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 sorry guys and for this 8k... how many box's do you get? It's installed on a standalone PC here, that I think might have been ours to start with (nothing special). Just use photostory and you can make your own digital signage
HannahBanana Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 We have the system here too and, TBH, I'm not impressed - it also appears that we haev bought into a 3yr contract with them.. We have 3 screens (one at reception, one in middle of a corridor "cross-roads" and one in the Canteen I dont know who;s in charge of it as the only content that gets added is to the ticker at the bottom As previously stated the videos are cr*p and of por quality (both picture and in the content) Not sure what we paid or it - but wouldn't surprise me that it was £8k... can you display a slideshow of images on a scene with lifechannel?
Linfit Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 We have this also. Priced up a system from scratch that would have been more flexible and completly within our control for about half the money we paid, but the Deputy Head concerned was dazzled by the sales guy and went for lifchannel instead. I would very much echo most of the previous comments; the harware and the ability to add your content is limited and the provided programs are rubbish. Not impressed. We have four screens and the kids just ignore it. Might as well have not bothered.
HannahBanana Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 We have this also. Priced up a system from scratch that would have been more flexible and completly within our control for about half the money we paid, but the Deputy Head concerned was dazzled by the sales guy and went for lifchannel instead. I would very much echo most of the previous comments; the harware and the ability to add your content is limited and the provided programs are rubbish. Not impressed. We have four screens and the kids just ignore it. Might as well have not bothered. and are you tied into a contract with life channel?
Pottsey Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 HannahBanana Said “can you display a slideshow of images on a scene with lifechannel?” Yes you can but I strongly recommend you do not use a lot of jpg files but instead make video full of still images. There are two problems the first being the slideshow just swaps between the images without any decent transition. At least with a video you can put fancy transitions effects between the photos. The second problem I didn’t find out till it was too late to easily fix. There play list is very unfriendly. Moving items up and down I is a pain and slow. If you have 20photos and want to put a video before the 20 photos that’s over 20 mouse clicks and not fast clicks either its a web interface so click slow. While if the 20photos are in the format of one video its only 2 ish clicks to put another video in front. The quality of the videos you get are top notch. There is a website you can download your choice of videos to upload. The web interface is poor, there are key features missing like no random playlist button, no easy way to dowload content you have uploaded. But from an end user point of view the system is very good. 1
HannahBanana Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 thanks to someone creating another thread about life channel (although i dont know why they didnt comment on here) it has become apparent that life channel are now giving the content away free? why are people being charged £8k a year for something you can freely download? 1
Pottsey Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) It’s not all free. You have the broadcast mini shows which they choose and change you cannot get those for free. You have the website where you have to be a TLC Schools members todown load short 1 to 5mins shows to uploaded to your box ,this used to be free but not sure if it still is. Basically its short content they created but is optional. Lastly you have your own content. EDIT Don’t forgot the 8k or what ever it is covers the TV’s, PC(s), new TV shows, installation, cabling, software updates and pretty much everything else. There are no hidden charges at least I never found any its one fee for eveything. You can even send them your content and they will edit it and put it on the TV system. Edited June 4, 2009 by Pottsey
HannahBanana Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 thats not what it looks like on the website... there is no mention of payment just the need to register... my opinion being that if you can get free content from this website you can use it on any digital signage solution which may be better such as Navaho's MediaCAT that way you have more control over what is displayed and you can tailor it to your needs
bodminman Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 For 2 PC boxes, 3 screens over 3 years we were charged £15k. Rip off in my opinion! 1
Pottsey Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) It depends on time. You could use the websites and a free or cheaper system but that requires a lot more time. The website only has a small collection of shows and most are very short only a few minutes long. You no longer get school content made for you either. What I like about the lifechannel is if I am busy for a few months the shows change and people don’t get bored with the same old content all day every day. Then when I am less busy I can work on and upload new school content. That and the shows in-between the school content are constantly changing making a few more intresting playlist. It all comes down to do you want to create a lot of content in-house and regularly create new content. Or do you want content made for you. Edited June 4, 2009 by Pottsey
HannahBanana Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 It depends on time. You could use the websites and a free or cheaper system but that requires a lot more time. The website only has a small collection of shows and most are very short only a few minutes long. You no longer get school content made for you either. What I like about the lifechannel is if I am busy for a few months the shows change and people don’t get bored with the same old content all day every day. Then when I am less busy I can work on and upload new school content. That and the shows in-between the school content are constantly changing making a few more intresting playlist. It all comes down to do you want to create a lot of content in-house and regularly create new content. Or do you want content made for you. i would prefer to have content specific to the school i was in, use a system that is so easy to use that the teachers can upload content and create pages themselves with passwords given by the administrator to control their access levels. that way there is less pressure on IT and the teachers get what they want too without bugging IT
Sylv3r Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 We don't have it but after talking to local schools here who do they don't speak to highly about it!
HannahBanana Posted June 5, 2009 Author Posted June 5, 2009 We don't have it but after talking to local schools here who do they don't speak to highly about it! at the prices they are charging im not surprised! Navaho's MediaCAT is coming up far better in terms of value for money and technology!
laserblazer Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Has anyone any experience/views re. Hydravision? Hydravision.tv - All in One Digital Signage.
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