Common misconceptions

Over the years, a number of comments and reviews have repeated certain claims about Play Digital Signage. Some of these were true in the past, some were never accurate, and some describe current limitations. This page addresses the most common ones directly.

Limited text editing capabilities

Claim: No easy bullet points, no keyboard shortcuts, difficulty with multi-line text formatting or different font sizes in the same text box. Users often have to create multiple text boxes. Reality: Text editing in Play is intentionally kept simple and reliable across all supported devices. You can create multi-line text, change font size, colour, alignment and spacing.

Bullet points and advanced text styling (different sizes within the same text box, keyboard shortcuts) are more limited than in full design tools such as Canva or PowerPoint. For complex typography, many users create the text in Canva or similar tools and upload it as an image or use our Canva integration.

We continue to improve the text editor, but it is not intended to replace dedicated graphic design software.

Initial learning curve/complexity of layouts

Claim: Some users find the different layouts, playlists, assets, screens, groups and schedules confusing at first. Terms can feel unclear to complete beginners. Reality: Play uses a structured model (Assets → Playlists → Screens / Groups → Schedules). This structure is powerful once understood, but it can feel unfamiliar to people who have only used simpler “upload and play” tools.

We provide onboarding guides, video tutorials, and live chat support to help new users get productive quickly. Most people become comfortable within the first session or two. The structure is designed so that non-technical users can manage content day-to-day without needing IT help.

Video timing issues

Claim: The platform does not automatically detect the length of an uploaded video. Users must manually set the hold time. Reality: This is incorrect.

When you add a video, Play automatically detects its duration and sets the slide length to match. This behaviour has been standard for many years.

You can turn the automatic adjustment off in your user profile under Other Settings if you prefer to control the duration manually.

(See our Video support page for full details.)

Mobile editing is limited

Claim: Content changes are difficult or limited on a phone. Most users say you need a larger screen to edit properly. Reality: The Play editor is designed primarily for desktop and tablet use. While you can log in and make basic changes on a phone, full content creation and precise layout work is best done on a larger screen.

Remote management, publishing, and monitoring work well from mobile devices. Editing complex layouts does not.

Aspect ratio/orientation friction

Claim: Users sometimes have to re-select aspect ratio for every playlist. Portrait orientation can require extra adjustments. Reality: Each playlist has its own aspect ratio setting so that the same content can be prepared for different screen orientations and sizes. Once set, it is remembered for that playlist.

Portrait content is fully supported. In some cases you may need to adjust positioning or scaling when switching between landscape and portrait, depending on how the original content was designed.

Limited advanced design & widgets

Claim: Desire for more plugins, better HTML layering, more modern widgets, better OneDrive/SharePoint integration, and more advanced customization. Reality: Play focuses on reliability, ease of use, and broad device compatibility rather than having the largest number of widgets or the most advanced design tools.

We offer a solid set of core plugins and integrations (including Canva, Google Drive, web pages, social feeds, etc.). Deeper Microsoft 365 integrations (OneDrive/SharePoint) and more advanced HTML layering are areas we continue to evaluate based on customer demand.

Pricing comments

Claim: A few small users feel the per-screen pricing becomes expensive when scaling. Reality: Play uses straightforward per-screen pricing with a free first screen. There are no long-term contracts and no feature tiers that lock core functionality behind higher plans.

For organisations with many screens, we offer volume pricing. Pricing is transparent and published on our website.

Touch / interactive limitations

Claim: Limited gesture support (mostly button-based navigation rather than swipe gestures). Reality: Play supports interactive (touch) screens through defined button zones that can trigger different content or actions. Full swipe-gesture navigation and more advanced multi-touch interactions are currently limited.

This is sufficient for many kiosk and wayfinding use cases, but it is not a full interactive application builder.

Occasional preview vs live differences

Claim: Rare comments that the preview does not always perfectly match what appears on the actual screen. Reality: In the large majority of cases, the editor preview matches the live screen closely. Differences can occasionally appear with certain fonts, complex layering, or specific player hardware.

We recommend always checking important content on the actual screen before finalising critical campaigns.

Minor reliability notes

Claim: Occasional comments about connectivity issues, slides freezing on loop, or auto-start problems on certain TVs. Reality: Play is designed for reliable 24/7 operation and the majority of installations run without issues. Like any cloud + player system, results depend on network quality, player hardware, and how the TV/media player is configured (power settings, auto-start, etc.).

We provide clear setup guides and remote monitoring so problems can usually be identified and resolved quickly. Persistent issues are uncommon and are handled by our support team.