December, 2006

Q. I received a digital picture frame as a gift and the memory card from my camera does not fit in the the memory card slots on the digtial frame.

Q. I read in the digital frame information that the frame plays background music. How does this work?

Q. Do you have to purchase a photo package to send the digital frame pictures or does it come with its own e-mail address so you can send it pictures free of charge?
A. You do not need to purchase a photo package for use with any wireless frame I know of. You do need to have a wireless network set up in the area where you will be using the frame. Also the pictures are transfered to the frame accross the wireless network, so you don’t need a dedicated email address.

After my daughter was born I gave my parents a Ceiva 3 Digital Picture Frame, so I could send them pictures almost daily. They live 1400 miles away, so we only get together a few times a year. Now that my daughter is older, and walking and talking, we needed to find a way to see each other when we talk. There are a number of services out there that offer free instant and video messaging.

Consider yourself lucky if you were able to purchase a digital frame as a gift and even more fortunate if you received a frame as a gift.
The Philips 7 € photo frame was ranked as the number 3 best selling item under cameras and photos on amazon.com. Many of the manufactures I spoke with reported brisk sales. Often much better than they had forecasted. Many of the frames are stocked out and will not be in until after Christmas.

We’ve had a few questions from folks who would like to create Photo Albums and other things (shirts, mouse pads, calanders) from digital pictures they have stored on their computers. What I’m talking about are applications that allow you to select pictures, select layout, and then have the product created and sent to you. No more speding hours sliding photos into the plastic photo holders in your album. These pictures print directly onto the page. Pretty cool. Here are links to a few sites.. And a brief description.

Q. Should I be concerned with pixels and memory? I only plan to play slide show from memory card. Want good quality picture. My thinking is the more pixels the better.
A. Yes pixels and memory should be a concern, but there is a trade off on quality versus price. The lower priced frames have less pixels and no internal memory. If you plan on using just a memory card, you don’t need internal memory. Most of the better frames now offer internal memory in addition to reading the memory cards.

Q. I would like to know it there is a digital picture frame that also supports dvd and cds (and hopefully Ipod) any suggestions?
A. I am not aware of a frame that supports dvds and cds. There may have been frames like this in the past, but the I wouldn’t expect to see any in the future. The storage medium for pictures is now flash memory cards.

Q. Is there a digital frame that connects to HDTV?
A. As far as your question goes about HDTV, I don’t know of a frame that connects to an HDTV. How would you be using a frame connected to an HDTV? Some frames have onboard memory and all offered memory card readers. If you were transfering pictures from the TV to the frame, you could accomplish that by putting the pictures on the card first at the TV, then put the card in the frame.

Q. I am looking for a digital photo frame that will use my camera’s SmartMedia memory card. Is there a quick way you could tell me this?
A. All the frames we are aware of are compatible with the Smart Media card. It is generally abbreviated “SM” for future reference.

Q. I saw on ebay a Nu-vue 700 frame. They say there is of 256 MB internal memory. Would this mean you can down load your pictures and remove your memory card and still have pictures in your frame. Do you know anything about this brand of frame and how it compares to others.

If you are interested in Digital Picture Frames here are my three recommendations:
1. Philips 7? €“ Very easy to use, with great picture and add on ‘s other frames don ‘t have. It has a rechargeable battery and has an automatic on/off timer. The software to interface with your computer is also very easy to use and the frame has a built in memory.
2. Tao 5.6? frame €“ Very easy to use, with great picture. It can also play movie clips and music. It has onboard memory and the frame is removable, so you can customize the frame.

Picture frames have been a staple of the household since photographs fist went mainstream. Now, digital picture frames are making this traditional form way cooler. I love the pictures we have dispayed of our wedding and our son, but my absolute favorite is our new pacific digital 8? frame that allows me to dispay over one hundred of my family’s pictures. In this case it has our summer vacation, halloween, fall leaves, and early winter photos on display.

Tao offers 3 styles of keychains. These make great gifts. The picture transfer software is straight forward and easy to use. It’s surprising how many pictures it holds. The picture quality is nice (a little better than what you would get on a cell phone). The screen is only 1.4? so you can’t expect to have the detail of a larger screen. It’s great to keep in your pocket, or purse, to show off your kids or grandkids… or any pictures at that. I heard a realtor putting pictures on the key chains to show off houses to clients.