Casting Methods Overview

For most first-time users, the biggest question is not "How do I operate it?" but "Which casting method should I choose?"

This software supports 5 common ways to publish or play content:

• Cloud Casting
• Local Casting - LAN Direct
• Local Casting - Private Deployment
• USB Disk Play
• Select Folder Play

There is no absolute best option. The right choice mainly depends on:

• Whether your devices can access the Internet
• Whether your content is allowed to be stored on external servers
• Whether you have 1 device or dozens of devices
• Whether you need centralized remote management
• Whether you want a long-term solution or just a quick local playback setup

Quick recommendation

If you just want the short answer, choose like this:

1. Most stores, restaurants, chains, and business users: choose Cloud Casting.
2. Devices cannot use the public Internet, but you still need to manage multiple devices on the same LAN: choose Local Casting - Private Deployment.
3. You only have one or a few devices, and your phone or computer is on the same LAN: choose Local Casting - LAN Direct.
4. You do not want to use the admin side at all and just want to copy content and play it: choose USB Disk Play.
5. Your media is already stored on the device itself and you want the most direct local playback method: choose Select Folder Play.

You can think of them like this:

• Cloud Casting = full cloud-managed solution
• LAN Direct = phone or computer connects directly to one device
• Private Deployment = your own internal management system
• USB Disk Play = plug in a USB drive and play
• Select Folder Play = play content from a local device folder

What each method means

Method	Simple explanation	Internet required	Best for
Cloud Casting	Log in to the admin side and publish programs remotely to devices	Yes	Chains, multi-site management, remote updates, centralized operations
Local Casting - LAN Direct	Use a phone or computer on the same LAN to connect directly to a device	No	One or a few devices in the same office or store
Local Casting - Private Deployment	Run your own local management service inside the LAN to manage devices	No	Offline environments, higher security requirements, local multi-device management
USB Disk Play	Put content on a USB drive and play it on the device	No	Temporary playback, very simple local updates, non-technical users
Select Folder Play	Play content directly from a local folder on the device	No	Devices that already store content locally and do not need remote updates

Which users each method fits

1. Cloud Casting

This is the recommended default for most users and the best fit for normal commercial use.

Choose it if you need:

• Devices across different stores, branches, or cities
• Remote updates from the office, from home, or while traveling
• Centralized device management, status checking, and batch publishing
• A solution that can scale from a few devices to many more later

Advantages:

• Most complete feature set
• Highest management efficiency
• Best long-term scalability
• Most suitable for formal commercial deployment

Not ideal if:

• Devices cannot access the Internet at all
• Your content cannot be stored on external servers

Typical scenarios:

• Digital menu boards for chain restaurants
• Promotional screens for multiple stores
• Remote operation and maintenance of signage devices

2. Local Casting - LAN Direct

This is the simplest local management method. Your phone or computer connects directly to the target device on the same LAN.

Choose it if you need:

• A quick start with one device or a small number of devices
• No Internet dependency
• No server setup
• A simple way to test or start using the product quickly

Advantages:

• Fast to start
• No public Internet required
• Great for single-device or very small deployments

Not ideal if:

• You need centralized management for many devices
• Devices are spread across multiple stores or cities

Typical scenarios:

• A single screen in one store
• A front desk display
• A meeting room screen managed locally

3. Local Casting - Private Deployment

You can think of this as moving cloud-style management into your own internal network.

Choose it if you need:

• No external cloud servers
• Content and programs stored entirely inside your own organization
• Multiple devices that still need centralized management
• Stronger confidentiality or network isolation

Advantages:

• No Internet dependency
• Suitable for batch device management
• Better fit for secure internal environments

Not ideal if:

• You only want to try the product quickly
• You only have one device and do not need a dedicated management environment

Typical scenarios:

• Government or enterprise internal signage
• Hospitals, schools, and factories without public Internet access
• Organizations with stricter data or deployment requirements

4. USB Disk Play

This is the most traditional and easiest-to-understand method.

Choose it if you need:

• The lowest learning curve
• No admin-side workflow
• Temporary on-site content replacement
• A simple workflow for non-technical users

Advantages:

• Lowest operational barrier
• No network knowledge required
• Very convenient for temporary use

Not ideal if:

• You have many devices to update
• Content changes frequently and manual USB updates would become inefficient

Typical scenarios:

• Temporary exhibition screens
• Small single-screen stores
• On-site content replacement by staff with limited technical experience

5. Select Folder Play

This is the most direct local playback mode. The device simply plays content from one local folder.

Choose it if you need:

• Media already copied to the device
• No remote publishing
• Stable playback from a fixed local directory

Advantages:

• Very direct logic
• No network required
• Good for local-only playback setups

Not ideal if:

• You need remote updates
• You need centralized management for multiple devices

Typical scenarios:

• Local Windows or Linux display playback
• Kiosk-like devices that always play one prepared folder
• Environments where another process copies files to the device and this software only handles playback

How beginners should choose

If you are still unsure, use this order:

1. Can your devices access the Internet, and do you want remote centralized management? If yes, start with Cloud Casting.
2. If not, or if your content cannot be stored on external servers? Continue with the local options.
3. In a local setup, are you only working with one or a few devices on the same LAN? If yes, choose Local Casting - LAN Direct.
4. In a local setup, if you need to manage many devices together on the same local network? Choose Local Casting - Private Deployment.
5. If you do not want to use the admin side and only want to copy files and play them? Then check where the files are right now.
6. If the files are still on a USB drive and you want to plug it into the device to play them? Choose USB Disk Play.
7. If the files are already stored in a local folder on the device and you only want to play that folder directly? Choose Select Folder Play.

Common misunderstandings

Private deployment is not automatically the best choice

Some users assume private deployment is always the more advanced option. In practice, if your devices can use the Internet and you want the easiest long-term workflow, Cloud Casting is usually the better fit.

LAN Direct is not meant for large centralized management

LAN Direct is excellent for getting started quickly, but it is closer to managing one nearby device directly. If your deployment grows, you will usually want Cloud Casting or Local Casting - Private Deployment.

USB playback is simple, but not always efficient

If content changes often or the number of devices grows, manual USB updates will quickly become time-consuming.

Next step

After choosing a method, go directly to the matching guide:

• Cloud Casting Guide
• Local Casting - LAN Direct Guide
• Local Casting - Private Deployment Guide
• USB Disk Play Guide
• Select Folder Play Guide

If you are also trying to understand the difference between cloud and local licenses, see Device Authorization.