How to Buy a Digital Photo Frame

Old-school picture frames are so last century. After all, they don't do much more than show off one shot (that you have to print). Snore.

Digital photo frames, on the other hand, let you pop in a memory card or USB thumb drive and instantly create slideshows with cool transitions to display all of your vacation pics. And some frames add video and audio playback, Wi-Fi, and/or Bluetooth, and Web-based remote image-management features. The best part is that LCDs have become affordable enough for these frames to be had at very reasonable prices. These days, you can pick up a nice frame from the likes of Sony, Viewsonic, or Kodak, for less than $100 easy, making them great gifts.

Sure, you can land a killer deal, but you need to know what to look for. Here are some quick rules to follow to help you pick the perfect digital picture frame.

Never Settle for Low Resolution—Regardless of Price
Rock-bottom prices on some frames may render them mighty attractive, but beware of subpar images. Only consider models with a resolution of 640 by 480 or higher, or you'll get boxy, pixelated images, which is no bargain.

Select Your Screen Size and Aspect Ratio
The displays on digital photo frames range in size from 7 to 15 inches, with most models in the 7-to-10-inch range. Typically, the larger the display, the more you'll pay. Some frames are bezel free and cleanly designed, while others add mats and wooden surrounds for a more traditional look. These displays support either a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio (or 15:9 in some cases). By default, most point-and-shoot digital cameras capture photos in 4:3. A frame with an aspect ratio of 4:3 will be the best fit for your photos, as 16:9 frames will have to crop a piece of the top and bottom of your photos to fit the image on the LCD. On the flip side, a 16:9 aspect ratio gives your images a pleasing widescreen feel. One of our favorite frames, the $80 (street) , displays in 15:9. That, together with its slick design and intuitive software, makes it look and feel like a mini HDTV.

Images Are Only Part of the Picture
Superior image quality isn't the most important feature to everyone. Sure, you want to see your pictures clearly and sharply, but there's more to consider. Do you need an accelerometer so you can use the frame in both portrait and landscape mode? Want to watch video in addition to viewing photos? How about load pictures from the Web or view Facebook photos on your frame? That leads us to the next rule...

...Consider the User
Some of the frames we've tested come with higher-end features like Wi-Fi, full Web browsers, streaming Internet radio, and text news feeds. Web-connected features can also add complicated menu options that may be confusing to novice users. If your intended recipient is focused on viewing photos and little else, it's probably best to find a frame with a USB port and a slot that supports all the usual-suspect memory cards, and keep other features to a minimum. You'll likely save money that way, too.

On the other hand, more sophisticated users will enjoy Web-enabled features, such as the ability to e-mail photos to the frame or see up-to-date weather forecasts. The well-connected, easy-to-use ($100 street) can stream images from a variety of sources through a Web service called FrameChannel, which lets you upload images online and also displays photos from Picasa, Facebook, and other sources. The $100 (street) offers full control over the frame's feature remotely from Kodak's website.

If you want an Internet-connected photo frame, but don't have a Wi-Fi network, the $100 (street) is an interesting solution. It's always connected to AT&T's cellular network, so there's no setup required, and wherever you can get an AT&T signal, you'll be able to e-mail photos directly to the frame. And you don't need to pay for a service plan.

 

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