PPDS unveils Philips Stretch 3150 ultra-wide signage

PPDS has introduced a new ultra-wide digital signage screen, the 32:9 Philips Stretch 3150, as it targets growing demand for compact and unconventional display formats in commercial environments.

The Dutch-based display specialist, which supplies Philips-branded professional screens, has positioned the 37-inch stretch display as a successor to its S-Line range. The company plans availability across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and North America.

The new model uses a 32:9 aspect ratio with a 1920 x 540 resolution. It is aimed at locations where standard 16:9 screens are impractical or where space is restricted.

New form factor

The Philips Stretch 3150 weighs 7.6kg and features ultra-narrow bezels of 7.7mm on the left and right sides and 14.0mm on the top and bottom. PPDS has designed the display for both portrait and landscape mounting.

The company highlights use cases such as above in-store shelving, kiosk structures and temporary walls in shopping centres. It also flags applications in sectors including retail, transport, food and beverage, hospitality, education, banking, healthcare, public venues and sports arenas.

The panel is rated at 700 cd/m2 brightness. PPDS states that the product is intended for 24/7 operation in both natural and artificial lighting conditions.

Branding, marketing messages, live timetables, wayfinding signage and digital menu boards have been common uses for earlier stretch displays from the company. PPDS expects the revised design and integrated software platform to extend those applications.

System design

The Philips Stretch 3150 can operate as a standalone display. It also supports daisy-chaining, with an HDMI Out port that connects to the HDMI In port of a second screen.

PPDS said customers can drive tiled setups with a single external media player when they present a single content source across multiple stretch displays. The approach is intended to simplify content management in multi-screen layouts.

The display includes an integrated slot for an optional CRD32 Wi-Fi module. This hardware adds wireless network access and Bluetooth, which removes the need for wired connectivity in some installations.

AV and IT managers can push content from cloud-based platforms. They can also use local storage or USB drives, according to PPDS. The company presents these options as a way to match different security and operational policies across organisations.

On-board Android

The Philips Stretch 3150 runs an Android 13 System on Chip. The implementation embeds processing and storage into the display chassis.

PPDS said the move removes the requirement for many external media players. Users can install native Android applications directly on the screen.

The on-board Android environment also supports remote management functions and security features. The company describes this as an upgrade over the previous S-Line generation.

The Stretch 3150 joins PPDS' range of Android-based professional displays that work with the Philips Wave cloud management platform. The software manages installation, configuration, monitoring and firmware updates across fleets of displays.

Philips Wave also handles central playlist management and power scheduling. PPDS said organisations can adjust operating hours and on-off times across sites through the platform.

Energy focus

PPDS has emphasised energy use in the new design. The company claims a 60 per cent reduction in power consumption compared with the previous model.

The Philips Stretch 3150 typically draws 26W. It carries an F rating under the EU Energy Label scheme.

The company links the lower consumption and remote-management functions with its broader sustainability programme. It highlights the potential for customers to reduce site visits and on-site maintenance through networked control.

PPDS said feedback from existing customers influenced the redesign of the stretch range. It cites requests for more compact housings, lower power draw and closer integration with content management systems.

Bart Wouters, Global Product Manager for Digital Signage at PPDS, said flexibility for different installation types remained central. He also cited the combination of legacy features and new additions in the upgraded model.

"At PPDS, our focus fulfilling and catering for the visual needs and unique requirements of the market, no matter how creative or complex those ambitions might be.

"With the new and enhanced Philips Stretch 3150, we are bringing the best of the original Philips S-Line, together with a wave of new and upgraded features and designs, providing our partners and customers with the high quality tools to reach and exceed their ambitions," said Wouters.

PPDS plans further additions to its Android-based display portfolio as it extends support for Philips Wave and stretch-format signage across more vertical markets.