Cheap 4K HDMI device that has Google Chrome web browser, just to display one webpage. Wi-Fi a must.

AustriaBargain on 08/06/2020 - 10:42
Last edited 08/06/2020 - 10:43

So I need a cheap dongle device thing that has 4K hdmi port on it to connect to any 4K TV and display a single webpage through Google Chrome. It just needs to be easy enough to use for employees to load the single webpage on the TV and that's it. Don't need anything else except a recent version of Chrome that can display all the usual Chrome stuff. It only needs wifi to be able to load that single webpage. If someone restarts it or it crashes, it just needs to be able to load that one homepage full screen.

Anyway any ideas? I know I can spend $200 on a Nvidia shield, but I was hoping for something as cheap as possible. Old laptops would probably work too but I don't want employees fussing around with the thing.

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Comments

  • ShortyX on 08/06/2020 - 10:50
    +1

    Maybe a Raspberry Pi?

    • AustriaBargain on 08/06/2020 - 10:56

      I suppose it could be programmed to actually connect to the internet and load that page itself. I don't know how to program though. A web page is ideal because then I can just change the page instead of changing the devices.

  • TheAccountant on 08/06/2020 - 12:16

    Chromecast Ultra should work for this. You can cast a webpage from Chrome.

  • zilth on 08/06/2020 - 12:21

    Raspberry pi zero w running raspberry 'light' in 'kiosk mode'
    It basically boots, connects to your phone wifi hotspot, starts a standalone chrome in full screen mode and loads your chosen url..
    No desktop and minimal guff.

    Those animations don't need 4K.. 720p would be enough.

    Google some more to hide boot text, big coloured square and the 'raspberries'.

    Made a few of these.

    • AustriaBargain on 08/06/2020 - 12:41

      The animations are SVG, they can be 4K with no additional bandwidth. there's also no antialiasing so 4k is ideal.

  • Switchblade88 on 08/06/2020 - 12:23

    For a low-cost kiosk setup you could re-purpose an old PC or laptop to install Chrome - use the "—start-fullscreen" flag on your Chrome shortcut, and stick said shortcut in your startup folder. It's free, but you will always find hiccups like spontaneous Windows updates will interrupt users - although this applies to all types of devices.

    I use this for our till PC - any problems are usually fixed by staff turning it off and on again; there's no need to open anything as it'll go straight back to the POS page.

  • pat25d on 08/06/2020 - 13:29

    I tried this for my company but was pain having a different device.

    My advice would be to splash the money for a signage screen that has a built-in browser.

    Officeworks have some 32" ones for $249 or otherwise Samsung have them too: https://www.samsung.com/au/business/smart-signage/all-smart-…

    • StickMan on 08/06/2020 - 16:56

      Link to OW ones pls?

    • AustriaBargain on 09/06/2020 - 05:23

      What. happens when the browser stops or whatever, is it hard for people to bring it back up?

      • pat25d on 09/06/2020 - 06:11

        The browser doesn't 'stop'. The signage screens let you push content to it which then loads automatically on power on.

        • AustriaBargain on 09/06/2020 - 08:35

          Like regular video files?

          • pat25d on 09/06/2020 - 10:09

            @AustriaBargain: Depends on the software but most of them let you push images, videos or web pages on a schedule or rotation.

            • AustriaBargain on 09/06/2020 - 16:37

              @pat25d: Webpages only a schedule, that sounds even better than a raspberry pi autobooting a homepage.

    • AustriaBargain on 09/06/2020 - 23:42

      i tried the browser built into my HIsense 4K tv, series 9 I think, and my animations were like a slideshow. On any other device they look fine, smooth as butter. The animations are less than a MB as they are all vector files moving about.

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