Castit Apps have been redesigned to simplify how you add and manage digital signage apps inside the Castit CMS. The updated Apps section provides a clearer way to discover, install, and configure the tools that power your screens.
These apps for digital signage allow you to display a wide range of automatically updated content, including weather forecasts, social media posts, dashboards, documents, and videos. Instead of managing everything manually, you can install the App you need and configure it in just a few clicks.
With the new structure, finding and setting up dynamic digital signage content is faster and more intuitive. Apps are now easier to browse, install, and configure, helping you manage the content on your screens more efficiently from one place in the CMS.
A Clearer Way to Manage Apps in Castit
Apps are located directly in the left-hand side menu of the Castit CMS. From here, you can browse the full list of available Apps and quickly install or configure the ones you need.
When you open the Apps section, you will see a gallery of Apps displayed with their logo, name, and installation status. If an App is already installed, the card will show an indicator such as “1 INSTANCE”. If it has not yet been installed, it will simply show as “NOT INSTALLED”.
The page also provides several ways to organize and explore Apps:
- Sort by name
- Show filter: All, Installed, Not installed
- Sort order: Ascending or descending
- Tabs: All Apps, Favorites, Categories (News, Social Media, etc.)
- View modes: Grid view or list view
These options make it easy to quickly locate the App you want, especially when managing multiple integrations.
Installing and Managing Apps
Installing an App takes only a few clicks. When you hover over an App card, a three-dot menu appears in the top-right corner. Depending on whether the App is already installed or not, you will see different options.
For Apps that are not installed, the options include:
- App info
- Add to favorites
- Install App
For Apps that are already installed, the options include:
- App info
- Add to favorites
- Uninstall App
You can also install an App simply by clicking anywhere on the App card. A pop-up window will appear showing the App name, description, and the last updated time. From there, you can install the App directly.
Once installed, the App card will update and show “1 instance” in green, confirming that it has been added.
App Instances: Flexible and Easy to Configure
After installing an App, you can open it to configure its settings.
Inside the App page, you will see:
- The App card with its name and default duration (15 seconds)
- A Delete button
- A New App Instance button
App instances allow you to create multiple versions of the same App with different settings. For example, you might show weather for different cities, or display multiple dashboards on different screens.
When you open an App instance, the layout is consistent across Apps:
- Left side: Settings
- Right side: Live preview of the App
Most Apps include basic settings such as:
- App name
- Duration in seconds
Once changes are made, simply click Save changes to apply the configuration.
Adding the App to Your Screens
After configuring the App, adding it to your digital signage screens is straightforward.
You can start by creating a playlist. Go to Playlists, click Create playlist, give it a name, and click Create. When you open the playlist, you can add content from the Library, Slides, or Apps. Choose Apps from the right-hand menu, select the App you configured, and click Save changes. You can also preview the playlist to see how it will appear on your screens.
Next, go to Screens. If you have not created one yet, click Create screen in the top-right corner and save it. Open the screen and in the Screen contents tab select the playlist that contains your App. Alternatively, you can add content directly by choosing Playlists, Library, Apps, or Slides from the right-hand options.
After saving the changes, connect the screen to your player and publish the content. Your App will then appear on the screen.
Examples of Popular Apps in Castit
Castit includes a wide range of Apps that help you display dynamic content on your screens. Below are a few commonly used examples.
Clock App
The Clock App displays the current time and can be customized for different locations.
When you open the Clock App settings:
- Left side (settings)
- App name
- Duration in seconds
- Background video
- City selection (choose from dropdown or type manually)
- Weather API (Yahoo or Open Weather Map)
- Right side
- Live preview of how the clock will appear on the screen
Once the settings are configured, click Save changes to apply them.
Weather App
The Weather App displays real-time weather forecasts for a selected location.
Settings include:
- Basic settings
- App name
- Duration in seconds
- Background video
- Weather forecast settings
- City
- Country
- Language
- Units (Metric or Imperial)
A preview of the weather layout is shown on the right side of the screen.
Once the settings are configured, click Save changes to apply them.
News Apps
Castit includes several news Apps that pull content from external sources.
For example, the Spiegel Online news App allows you to display German news headlines.
Settings typically include:
- App name
- Duration in seconds
- News limit (number of articles displayed)
- Language
Note. Some news Apps may require an RSS feed or website link to retrieve content.
Once the settings are configured, click Save changes to apply them.
LinkedIn App
The LinkedIn App allows you to display posts from your organization's LinkedIn page directly on your screens.
When opening the App, you will first see a message indicating that the account is not connected.
To connect LinkedIn:
- Click Connect App
You will be redirected to the LinkedIn login page
- Sign in and allow the connection
Once connected, you can configure:
- Organization to display posts from
- Number of posts to display (1–10)
- App name and duration
Note: Social media Apps require business accounts to connect.
Once the settings are configured, click Save changes to apply them.
YouTube App
The YouTube App allows you to embed and play videos on your screens.
Configuration is simple:
- App name
- Duration in seconds
- YouTube video URL
Once the link is entered, the video name and duration will automatically be retrieved.
Note: The default duration is 15 seconds, so if your video is longer, you should increase the duration to match the full video length.
Once the settings are configured, click Save changes to apply them.
Canva App
The Canva App lets you display designs created in your Canva account.
When opening the App:
- Click Connect App
- Sign in to Canva or approve the Castit integration
- Allow access
After connecting your account, you can:
- Choose a Canva design from the dropdown list
- Set slide duration (for designs with multiple pages)
Changes made to the design in Canva will automatically update in Castit.
Note: Synchronization can take up some time.
Once the settings are configured, click Save changes to apply them.
Power BI App
The Power BI App allows you to display dashboards and reports on your screens.
To connect:
- Click Connect App
- Sign in to your Microsoft account
- Allow access
Once connected, you can configure:
- App name
- Duration in seconds
Once the settings are configured, click Save changes to apply them.
PowerPoint Viewer
The PowerPoint App lets you display presentations directly on screens.
Setup requires:
- Connecting your Microsoft account
- Adding the PowerPoint embed URL
If needed, Microsoft provides a guide for generating the embed link.
Once the settings are configured, click Save changes to apply them.
PDF Viewer
The PDF Viewer App is useful for displaying documents, brochures, or informational materials.
Configuration includes:
- Uploading a PDF file
- Setting slide duration
- Naming the App instance
The preview shows how the document will appear on the screen.
Once the settings are configured, click Save changes to apply them.
Try the New Castit Apps Experience
The examples above provide an overview of some commonly used Apps available in Castit. In reality, the platform includes many more apps for digital signage, covering everything from information widgets and social media feeds to business tools, documents, and data dashboards.
These Apps make it easy to bring dynamic digital signage content to your screens without complicated setup. You simply install the App, configure the settings, and add it to your playlists.
If you are already using Castit, log in to your CMS and explore the updated Apps section to see how the new interface makes managing digital signage apps easier. And, if you are new to Castit, this is a good place to start discovering how Apps can help you display automatically updated content across your screens.
And if you are looking for a specific integration or a custom App for your environment, the Castit team can help build it.
Have questions or need help setting things up? Feel free to contact us - we are always happy to help you get the most out of your digital signage.