Five ways to get NowBoard on screen, from trying it out for free to a dedicated device that can show live video from an NDI source. Live in 15 minutes, no IT required.
Our dedicated HDMI device for everyday screens. Plug in, scan the QR code, done.
Menus, notices, schedules and slideshows on a screen that runs all day without anyone touching it.
Live video from an NDI source needs the NowBoard Player Pro.
5
NowBoard Windows App
For a Windows PC
Needs a Player Licence for each screen
A player app for Windows. The PC driving your screen starts up, signs in and carries on showing your Boards without anyone touching it.
A screen run from a Windows laptop or mini PC you already own.
Available now. Download it from the Players page in the NowBoard app.
Compatibility note
Why Google Play Certified hardware matters
NowBoard runs in the device browser. The quality of that browser, and how often it gets security and feature updates, depends entirely on the hardware you choose.
Non-certified Android sticks and boxes (the cheap ones you find on Amazon for under £40) ship with a frozen version of Android WebView. That browser never updates. Over time it breaks on modern websites, misses CSS features, and can create security issues.
Google Play Certified (also called GMS certified) devices have the Play Store, which means Chrome and Android WebView receive regular updates automatically, exactly the same engine that runs NowBoard on a desktop browser.
Google Play Certified
Auto-updating Chrome & WebView
Play Store: keep apps current
Regular OS security patches
Consistent rendering across devices
Tested hardware
Devices we’ve tested with NowBoard
We test every device listed here ourselves. If it’s on this list, NowBoard loads fast, runs reliably, and the browser stays up to date.
Google Play CertifiedNowBoard Tested
XstreamTec Dcolor GD1
4K Android TV Stick
£54.99
Android 11 • Google TV OS
2GB RAM • 16GB storage
2.4 & 5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi
4K HDMI output
USB-C power (TV port or wall)
Auto-updating Chrome & WebView via Play Store
A solid mid-range stick for most venues. Fast enough for smooth Board transitions and the certified WebView means NowBoard stays current without any effort on your part.
A well-priced Google TV stick from a major brand. Wi-Fi 6 keeps it snappy on busy networks and the certified WebView updates automatically. Good value for venues wanting a reliable stick without spending a premium.
We only list hardware we’ve personally tested. Check back, or contact us if you have a specific device you’d like us to evaluate.
Not supported: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and non-certified Android boxes. These devices run a browser that cannot update itself, which is why NowBoard does not recommend them for the NowBoard Player App.
Why not just use a browser?
Browsers are great for trying NowBoard. Not for running it all day.
A browser tab works fine for a quick test. It is not built to run a display unattended, 24 hours a day. For choosing the screen itself, see digital signage screens.
They crash and sleep
Browsers go to sleep, crash, or show "not enough memory" popups. Guests and residents see a blank screen. Nobody notices until someone walks past.
Wi-Fi drops are covered
This one is not a problem. When the Wi-Fi drops, a browser keeps showing the last Board it loaded for up to 72 hours, the same as the NowBoard Player and Player Pro.
No kiosk lock
Anyone with a remote or keyboard can change channel, open other apps, or accidentally navigate away from the page. A dedicated player locks the screen to NowBoard only.
No auto-start after power cuts
A power cut means someone has to walk over and manually reopen the browser. A dedicated player starts up, connects, and resumes displaying automatically.
A browser is great for previewing on your laptop, and for trying NowBoard out before you buy anything. It can also be the player: a laptop or a small desktop PC wired to a screen, with Chrome in full screen, will run a Board all day. That is worth doing if you already have a spare machine. Just remember the three limits above, in particular that nothing reopens the browser after a power cut. For a screen you want to forget about (a care home lounge, a hotel lobby, a school corridor), the NowBoard Player App, the NowBoard Player or the NowBoard Player Pro do that part for you.
Advanced and outside the UK
DIY image
The NowBoard Player and Player Pro currently ship in the UK only. Outside the UK, or if you would rather build your own, this is the advanced option.
DIY image: A free NowBoard OS image you flash to your own Raspberry Pi yourself. Advanced users, and anyone outside the UK where the NowBoard Player Pro is not yet sold. Contact us for the download link and setup guide.
25+ NowBoard players? Let's talk volume pricing.
Rolling out across multiple sites? We offer volume pricing for 25 or more NowBoard Player or Player Pro units and can coordinate hardware delivery, imaging, and deployment support for multi-site rollouts.
Sign up free. NowBoard runs in any browser, and when you want a dedicated always-on device, the NowBoard Player (£149 ex VAT) is there, or the NowBoard Player Pro (£199 ex VAT), which can also show live video from an NDI source on your network.
