Run the player as an app or in the browser on an IAdea panel
Compare running Offision as a native Android app versus the built-in browser on IAdea panels, including HID card facility code decoding and offline media caching.
An IAdea touch panel runs on Android and can render the Offision player in two distinct ways: as an installed native Android app or directly within the panel’s built-in browser.
While both setups present a functional user interface and connect via a standard 6-character pairing code, they differ substantially in hardware integration and credential decoding capabilities.
[!TIP] Always install the native Offision APK on production IAdea panels. Browser mode lacks direct hardware integration and should only be used for temporary evaluation.
Feature comparison
| Capability | Native app mode | Browser mode |
|---|---|---|
| Uploaded video caching | Downloaded to local storage; continues looped playback offline | Unsupported. Stays on static poster image |
| Streaming video (YouTube) | Supported | Supported |
| Built-in RFID card reader | Decodes full card ID and HID Global facility code | Inaccessible (requires external USB reader) |
| Label printer integration | Prints visitor access badges directly | Unsupported |
| Switching to mobile user app | Supported | Not available |
| Side LED status lights | 7 status colors | 7 status colors (via local daemon) |
| Occupancy sensor telemetry | Supported | Supported |
| Remote reboot from console | Supported | Supported |
Critical impact on HID card credential decoding
On standard panels, using an external USB reader simply shifts where a badge is tapped. On IAdea panels, running in browser mode alters the decoded card data itself:
- Native app mode: Accesses the panel’s integrated RFID hardware to decode the complete credential string, including the proprietary HID facility code and card number.
- Browser mode: The integrated reader is inaccessible. Attaching an external USB reader typically returns only the raw CSN/UID rather than the encoded facility credentials.
If your organization has already enrolled employee badges based on HID facility codes, operating panels in browser mode will cause card authentication to fail.
Understanding local media caching
Uploaded video files (screensavers or background signage) are pre-downloaded to local hardware storage by the native app so playback never stutters during network spikes.
Because browser mode cannot access persistent local storage, uploaded video files cannot be cached and permanently freeze on the initial poster frame. To display video while in browser mode, use YouTube streaming widgets instead.
How to check which mode a panel is using
In the Offision management console, open Devices › Booking panel › Devices. The Container column displays the active runtime environment.
Open Booking panelYou can also test at the physical panel:
- Card tap: Tap an authorized staff badge on the integrated reader. If the reader produces no beep or response, the panel is running in browser mode.
- Video test: Assign an uploaded video screensaver. If it fails to play and stays on a static picture, the panel is in browser mode.
Installing the application
Install the official Offision APK package onto the IAdea hardware using IAdea’s setup wizard or via remote device management tools (such as IAdea Care).