About our ePaper Client
The Wallboard ePaper Client is an Android application built specifically for E-Ink display devices. Unlike a standard signage player, it does not run continuously — it operates in wake/sleep cycles, drawing an image to the E-Ink panel and then powering down. Because E-Ink panels retain their last image without power, the device can keep showing content while consuming almost no energy.
The client is centrally managed from the Wallboard CMS and is designed to keep working even when the network does not.
What it does
- Power-efficient display cycles — The device wakes on a schedule, fetches the next content, draws it to the E-Ink panel, then sleeps or powers off. See ePaper application usage for wake-up configuration.
- Centralized content management — Slides, contents, and ePaper-mode playlists are assigned from the CMS.
- Offline operation — Content is cached locally so the device keeps displaying its last assigned content when the server is unreachable. The cached configuration is reused until the next successful server check-in.
- Working hours & scheduling — The device only wakes during configured operating windows, skipping unnecessary cycles. See Working hours.
- Remote management — Device metrics, proof-of-display, logs, and screenshot previews are uploaded to the CMS each cycle, so administrators can monitor what each device is showing.
- Update management — The application updates itself automatically and supports version limits and allowed update time windows. See Update management.
How it differs from the Signage Client
| ePaper Client | Signage Client | |
|---|---|---|
| Connection to server | Periodic check-in on wake-up | Continuous |
| Display refresh | On wake-up only | Real-time |
| Motion media (video, GIF) | Captured as a still snapshot | Played natively |
| Power consumption | Minimal — device sleeps or powers off between cycles | Always on |
| Channels & Schedules | Not supported (filtered out in the CMS) | Supported |
Supported Models
The following E-Ink devices are officially supported and tested with the Wallboard ePaper Client:
| Manufacturer | Model |
|---|---|
| Sharp | EP-C251 |
| Sharp | EP-C131 |
| Philips | 25BDL4050I |
Installation guides:
- Sharp ePaper installation guide
- Philips ePaper installation guide
- Automated install with Wallboard Toolbox
info
Other Android-based E-Ink devices may work with the ePaper Client, but they are not officially supported.