We're looking to replace our current in-store video distribution model, which involves the production of a DVD ISO and several people burning discs and shipping them out.
Cost-benefit analysis shows that utilizing the existing WAN connections at each store to update a playlist weekly with new videos instead of shipping a DVD to each location once a month would be more cost-effective.
However, I'm having some trouble locating a device that does or can be reprogrammed to do what we want.
We need something that can be remotely managed over Ethernet, can sync a folder of videos with a remote server, and play those according to a playlist file that will also be provided. It shouldn't really need end-user interaction, nor would we want that. We prefer that it have component or HDMI output, but will settle for S-Video/Composite if that is what is available.
We don't want a full box running this at each location, something embedded that just plays videos/music will do, but it must have the functionality, or the openness that we can add the functionality, that we need.
Our current budget for this project allows up to about $400 per device. Any ideas?