The native Android digital signage app includes several settings that control how media is downloaded and played. Adjusting these settings can improve performance, reduce loading time, and ensure a smoother playback experience—especially in dynamic environments like public transportation or unstable networks.
Below are the key settings that help optimize media downloading:
1. Retry Failed Downloads
Location: Settings > Connectivity
This setting attempts to resume downloading any failed media periodically, based on the defined sync frequency.
-
Default: Off
-
In default mode (when turned off), retry attempts happen less frequently.
-
Recommendation: Turn this on to ensure missing content is retried more actively.
2. Start From Cache
Location: Settings > Start Mode
Enables the player to begin playback using previously downloaded (cached) content.
-
Default: Off. Basically, when this option is off, the player will try to look for new media when start playing a playlist, which might take 2 – 5 seconds
-
Useful when immediate playback is needed (e.g., taxi, bus).
-
Note: The content must be downloaded and played at least once before enabling this option.
3. Skip Incomplete Slides
Location: Settings > Play Mode
Skips slides that haven’t been fully downloaded or have failed.
-
Default: Off
-
Recommendation: Set this to On to prevent partially loaded or broken content from displaying.
4. Notify on Slide Skip
Location: Settings > Play Mode
Displays a notification if a slide is skipped, but only if Display Notifications is enabled.
-
Default: Off
-
Display Notifications (under Display) is On by default but should typically be turned Off when deploying players in public to avoid showing technical messages to viewers.
Additional Resources
For a full guide to all Android application settings, click here.