MediaKiosk

Discus MediaKiosk is an iOS application created for viewing webpages and video and audio podcasts on an iOS device in kiosk mode for use in exhibitions or other public settings.

Features

The application has the following features:

Showing a webpage or a podcast in kiosk mode. Content can be locked with a 4 digit pincode.
Remember last played media or webpage for easy startup.
Streaming and downloading of media on a wifi connection.
Caching of media from podcasts locally on the device.
Edit the channel directly on the device and export to an xml-file that can be uploaded to a webserver or Dropbox and be deployed to multiple iOS devices.

Please note that in order to use 3G download and streaming it must be enabled in the application settings. Otherwise an error message will be displayed.

Download

Download MediaKiosk through the Apple App Store here.

Documentation

If you need some help getting started with the app refer to the MediaKiosk documentation page (under construction).

FAQ

What is the best way to setup my iOS device when using the MediaKiosk application?

Go to "Settings" > "General" and set "Auto-Lock" to "Never" and make sure "Passcode Lock" has not been set. Enable restrictions so users cannot tamper with the iOS settings.

How do I create my own list of channels to use in MediaKiosk?

I MediaKiosk 2.0 you can build your own channel directly on the device and export it to an xml-file that can be deployed to multiple devices afterwards. This xml-file can then be uploaded to a webserver or to Dropbox. Check the documentation.

How do I host my channel using Dropbox?

Check the documentation.

Can I stream using a 3G connection?

Yes, but you need to enable it in the application settings under "Allow 3G Streaming".

How can I block access to physical buttons on the device to prevent users from exiting the app?

You can of course create your own case but there are a few commercial alternatives.

iPad stands at www.imageholders.com.

Image Holders iPad stand

iPad stand with swiper for credit cards and more at http://www.ipadkiosk.com.

iPad Kiosk Enclosure at www.ipadkioskmount.com.

Are there any known bugs?

There is a bug playing videos embedded in websites when the app has been set to reset to the start page after a given time interval. This issue can be resolved by disabling the reset option.

Support

The application has been developed by Raphael Dobers and Kaspar Rosengreen Nielsen.

In case you experience bugs or have feature requests contact kaspar (at) interactivespaces.net or leave a comment below.

Comments (25)

Below you can read comments to 'MediaKiosk'. Click here to post a new comment.

Re: MediaKiosk

Sep 25th, 2010 by Georges Labrecque

I simply want to play a video with auto repeat in locked mode (so exhibition visitors tamper with the device and can't exit the app).
Can I simply upload the video on the device and play it using MediaKiosk (without using the Channel function)
My setup involves 25 ipads, each with it's own video, so streaming is out of the question. Our Wifi won't cope with so much trafic.
Thanks,

Re: MediaKiosk

Oct 7th, 2010 by Darren Stemmerman

You have developed a great product! I would love to see a re-direct to the homepage after a minute or so of inactivity. Kiosk abandonment could be an issue in a kiosk environment.

Re: MediaKiosk

Oct 30th, 2010 by Jeff Smith

The "external link" lock currently disables the app from going to any other page. I would find this MUCH more useful if I could limit users to a specific, controlled set ofURLs - maybe defined by a regular expression filter. That way, I could easily limit them to all of a particular site, or maybe even just a subset, but not let them escape into the wild.

Re: MediaKiosk

Dec 3rd, 2010 by kaspar

Thank you for the feedback! The automatic redirect and allowed external link list features are actually already on our todo list. Can't give you an ETA on when they will be implemented but they are up next :-)

Re: MediaKiosk

Dec 23rd, 2010 by Doug Mills

Great program so far. I've figured some things out but am hitting some apparent limitations. I've got a podcast of chemistry demonstrations I'd like to set up in kiosk mode. I do not just want them to run through but for users to be able to choose the one they'd like from the menu, have it play full screen on the iPad, and then have the menu reappear when it's done. I've found that in portrait mode, there is a channel button at the top left of the screen that pops the menu of podcast episodes up "on demand." Very nice (the one limitation there is that playing the videos "full screen" means full height so that the width of the videos extends beyond portrait mode-- not a big deal, I could just turn off "fill the screen"). HOWEVER, in landscape mode, if I specify that the video should fill the screen, the menu of choices (a) either does not go away but is mostly covered by the video which also partially extends beyond the other side of the screen OR (b) if I get the video to fill the screen and the menu to disappear, as I do sometimes-- maybe when I've locked the podcast? -- THEN when the video ends, there appears to be no way to get back to the menu. I'm stuck on a blank screen and the lock icon has disappeared along with the video controls so I cannot even unlock the podcast to get out that way. I end up deleting the app, redownloading it from iTunes Store and setting up my parameters again for another shot at it.

You've got a LOT of things right on this app. I hope you can fine tune these issues and I think it will be perfect for our needs. Feel free to contact me for further information if that would be helpful!

Doug

Re: MediaKiosk

Jan 25th, 2011 by Jordi Alhambra

Hi, I'm planning to setup different kiosks and I'd need the option of disabling the iOs automatic keyboard since I need to use my javascript screen keyboard, designed with the same colours of the page and avoid any automatic scrolling along with preserve more space of the screen. Also I'd suggest to include a hide option for the bar including the home icon. Cheers ;)

Re: MediaKiosk

Feb 12th, 2011 by setheaton

I am using your application and it works fine but on the right lower hand corner there is a lock button that appears in the kiosk that needs to disappear so users have no access to the application. With your lockbox that you sell it appears that the lock button still is viewable on the right lower hand corner.

Re: MediaKiosk

Feb 12th, 2011 by setheaton

deleter prior message as problem solved in edit screen. thanks. seems like a great application

Re: MediaKiosk

Mar 16th, 2011 by James Brust

Great app so far, but the "home" button causes an issue since it will always take the user back to the main page which may not be desired. Is it possible to add an option in settings to disable/remove the navigation buttons?

: MediaKiosk

Mar 19th, 2011 by Danish Din

Hello,
I want to put a feed back form in the iPad and use as kiosk in my hotel reception can you please suggest me the app or any solution with iPad.

Re: MediaKiosk platforms

Apr 12th, 2011 by Jonathan

Can I assume that this application will run on an iPod Touch? If yes, what is the mimimal level of IOS support? 4.0 and higher?

Re: MediaKiosk

Apr 27th, 2011 by David Eaton

I am using this on the original Ipad, ver 4.3.2 that was just released a few days ago and I have noticed the channel crashes when you try to export. If you set 1 email account up, this fixes it. Also when you export your settings, it does not keep the webpage rules. I am talking about if you don't want any external sites visited, this gets striped out. View my demo in the app. Here is the address. http://www.shakefacts.com/kiosk/demo.xml

Other than that I love this.. You should really charge for this.. I would not mind paying $9.99 for this to keep you updating the app.

Re: MediaKiosk

May 6th, 2011 by Bill Sandor

When playing video in landscape mode, the menu on the left does not disappear. Clicking the button on top of the video expands the video behind the menu, but the menu stays over top. iPad with iOS 4.3.3

Re: MediaKiosk

Jun 1st, 2011 by kaspar

Hi

Thanks for all your valuable feedback. A new version of MediaKiosk that adds a lot of functionality will soon be available.

Just keep posting bugs you encounter and ideas for new functionality. .

- Kaspar

Re: MediaKiosk

Jun 24th, 2011 by Mark Kochheiser

I'm an amateur astronomer and would like to be able to lock the iPad in night mode in an astronomy app so I don't go back to the home screen and "blind" fellow observers. Can I do that with this program? Thanks.

Re: MediaKiosk

Aug 16th, 2011 by moonhopper

I like this approach but I cannot get top/bottom black bars to disappear when playing website in kiosk mode and also cannot send email/xml to send successfully with attachment
(MK version3 , new iPad2). Thanks for any advice

Re: MediaKiosk

Aug 24th, 2011 by kaspar

Mark, I'm sorry but you cannot not lock other apps than MediaKiosk.

moonhopper, it is not possible to hide the bottom bar but the top bar should disappear when you press the lock button. Regarding the email/xml does it fail to display the compose dialog or do you receive an email without an attachment.?

Re: MediaKiosk

Sep 8th, 2011 by Tom Hudak

Online only? I'm unable to get the channels to function on a webserver in a non-internet enabled environment.. It would be fantastic if this would work offline.

Re: MediaKiosk

Oct 25th, 2011 by danny

KIOSTECH offers wall mount, desktop/countertop, and freestanding platform bases to attach the iPad kiosk enclosure. Our stands are constructed of special material to make sure the iPad kiosk light & safe including quicker delivery and simple design, and will retain their professional appearance for years!
http://www.koskiosk.com
Email:danny@koskiosk.com

Re: MediaKiosk & iOS 5

Oct 26th, 2011 by Matt Hickey

I am trying to run MediaKiosk on an iPhone 4 with IOS 5 and when I launch the app it displays a white screen with a top black bar and some horizontal black lines down the page like lined paper, then the app stops and I am kicked back out to the iPhone main screen. Does your app work on an iPhone 4 or is it an issue with its 5? By the way, your app is working on an ipad2 with iOS 5.

Re: MediaKiosk support

Oct 27th, 2011 by Matt Hickey

Fantastic response time! I noticed that the current version of the software was not doing what it should on the new iOS 5 and the fix arrived in less than a day from when I submitted the bug. Thanks for being so responsive! It really makes your software stand out from rest of the apps!
Cheers!

Re: MediaKiosk not displaying Google Docs?

Oct 28th, 2011 by Matt

I have been trying MediaKiosk for the past few days and today it has stopped displaying my published Google Docs presentation file. It was displaying my same file on my iPad & iPhone perfectly until a few hours ago?? The iPad and iPhone will display the file in Safari browser but have stopped displaying the same file in your software?? Is there something wrong with your service or software?

Re: MediaKiosk

Nov 8th, 2011 by Danny

Re: MediaKiosk forms

Dec 31st, 2011 by Rick fry

I would like people to be able to complete a form which posts to a MySQL database do you have any suggestions

Re: MediaKiosk

Jan 2nd, 2012 by kaspar

That is not something you can do with only the app. You need to build the form and database functionality yourself and host it on a server. At that point you can put the site into the MediaKiosk app.

Best regards,
Kaspar

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