4 Things To Consider When Choosing A Digital Photo Frame
A digital photo frame is an electronic device containing an LCD screen on which digital photos can be automatically or manually displayed in sequence, like a slide-show. Sizes range from full-size screens with 15″ diagonals to tiny mini-frames that can be hooked to a key-chain. Before buying one, consider these aspects.
First and foremost is the appearance of the image. Compare the size of the screen to the resolution — if the screen is big with a low resolution, like 640×480, you’ll get a horrible image. Look for screens with millions of pixels, not thousands. The numbers for contrast should be as high as possible. Check the viewing angles — the higher the numbers, the more visible images will be when looking at it from the side. Look for controls that will let you adjust brightness. Don’t forget the aspect ratio, either the TV ratio of 4:3 or the film ratio of 1:1.5, which will determine how the photos you display will be cropped.
Aesthetics is the next consideration. You’ll want one to match your other design choices in the room where you’ll use the photo frame. Figure out if you want the frame to be mounted on the wall or free-standing on a table. Some frames can be changed between a landscape orientation and a portrait one — this option makes the frame more versatile, but make sure the photo rotates along with the frame. Decide on the material you want for the frame — you can get frames in wood, plastic or metal, in whatever shape, size or color you desire.
The next consideration should how to load your digital images into a digital photo frame, each way with its own advantages and liabilities. Memory built into the frame is the easiest — you load as many photos as will fit in the storage limit. Memory devices are the next easiest, available as flash drives, memory sticks, Compact Flash (CF) cards, or Secure Digital (SD) cards. With these, you load up the device and plug it into the frame to display the images. If the frame has a USB outlet, then you can directly connect your computer to the frame. Some frames use a phone line to connect to an online album on the Internet where you’ve uploaded your images — this setup likely will cost you monthly fees. Wireless or Bluetooth links may be used by some digital photo frames to connect to images on your digital camera or camera phone.
Finally, think about the multimedia capabilities of the digital photo frame you’re thinking about buying. Besides displaying your images, perhaps you want to add sound — look for good quality speakers. You might want to output the image to a television screen — look for video output ports on your frame. All digital frame display JPG-format images — you might want to look for one that displays other formats that match your own digital images. Some frames like Sony’s have high-speed cards and stereo sound for HD video playback.
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