SlideLobsterThe three parts of every system
First, the screen — an ordinary TV or a commercial display panel. Commercial panels are brighter and rated for 16+ hours a day, but plenty of small venues run standard TVs happily for years.
Second, the player — the device that renders your menu on the screen. This can be a tiny stick computer like a Fire TV Stick, a Chromecast, or the browser built into a smart TV. The player's only job is to open your display and keep it on screen.
Third, the software — a cloud dashboard where you type your menu, upload photos and press publish. When you save a change, the player picks it up and the TV updates. That's the entire magic.
How content gets from your laptop to the TV
When you pair a TV with SlideLobster, the display opens a web link with a short code — the same way you'd pair a streaming app. From then on the screen listens for changes. Edit a price on your phone and the TV updates in moments, with no USB sticks and no walking between screens.
Multiple TVs can share one menu or each show something different — the breakfast menu by the counter, cakes and coffee by the till.
What happens if the internet goes down
A well-built system caches the menu on the player itself. If your broadband drops, the screen keeps showing the last version of your menu — customers never see an error page. Changes simply wait until the connection returns.
What it should cost
Traditional digital signage was sold like a building project: hardware supply, installation and a support contract. Cloud software changed that. SlideLobster is free for one display, and Pro — unlimited screens, custom branding, video and premium widgets — is £9.99 a month. Add a £30 streaming stick if your TV isn't smart, and that's the full bill.
When you might want commercial hardware instead
If your screen faces direct sunlight, runs 24/7, or hangs in a window, a commercial high-brightness panel is worth it — consumer TVs aren't rated for that and their warranties usually exclude it. For most indoor counter and wall menus, a standard TV is genuinely fine.
Try it on your own screen.
SlideLobster is free forever for one display — no credit card. Works on any TV browser, Fire TV Stick or Chromecast.