When cameras and optics entered the electronics age in the 1980s, everything about photography changed. Among the newest consumer electronics options are new ways digital pictures can be displayed. Once, the number of displayable pictures was limited by the amount of desk or wall space you had. With digital picture frames, you can display an almost infinite number of digital photos. Think of this new camera accessory as an automated desktop or wall-mounted digital picture album. This digital picture frames buying guide will help you figure out how to buy a digital picture frame that will best meet your needs.
The basic rule of digital photo frames is a simple one: buy one you like. Digital frames, because of the technology now available, are all very similar. The toughest decision you might have to make is choosing the exterior appearance, such as size and color.
The big differences come in the accessories. Do you want audio with your video? Do you want motion pictures with your still digital photos? Do you want wireless downloads from your camera phone to your digital photo frame? Do you have just a few digital photos or the album of a lifetime to display? Pick and choose among the components or options you want to suit your taste, or that of your recipient, if giving a gift.
Cable
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is the almost-universal standard for connecting consumer electronics, computers and computer peripherals. USB allows you to plug-n-play your digital frame to your computer or camera and download photo files. Be sure your digital frame has a USB jack.
CPU
The central processing units are small and slow compared to laptops or desktops, but digital frames don't work very hard, by comparison. These CPUs are similar to those in PDAs or electronic games.
Display
Since one number is easier than two, monitor screen sizes are measured diagonally, in inches. A 7-inch to 9-inch digital picture frame closely matches standard film print sizes, 4 inches x 6 inches or 5 inches x 7 inches. The smallest digital frames fit on a keychain (down around 1 inch), the largest make eye-catching wall hangings (22 inches, with larger sizes probably just around the corner).
Frame
Frames come in plastic, metal and wood. Real wood can be oak, walnut or any other species. Plastic and metal can be any color, in theory, though the neutrals -- black, gray and white -- still predominate because they'll match any d?cor (this makes gift buying so much easier). Some digital frames feature interchangeable faceplates; if you can't decide what you want, you can change it as often as the mood strikes you.
Memory
Digital picture frames have two memories: The CPU memory stores the operating system. The flash memory stores pictures, audio and video. Today's digital frames range from 256MB to 10GB flash memory. Even with the biggest photo files, that means a lot of digital pictures!
Memory cards
If you take a lot of pictures, your digital picture frame's internal memory may not be big enough. If so, memory cards are the perfect accessory. They range up to 32GB, depending on model. There are many different memory card brands, ands life is a little easier if your digital camera and digital picture frame use the same type. Fortunately, many frames have a built-in memory card reader with multiple memory card slots to fit different models.
Audio: Many digital frames now have small speakers so that they can play music with sideshows or as background music. All computer files have an extension (filename.ext); be sure your digital frame plays your audio file formats. The most common audio file formats have MP3, WMA and WAV extensions.
Video: It didn"t take long for digital frame makers to add motion to the pictures. Again, the digital frame must have the software to play your video files; AVI, ASF, DAT, MP4 and WMV formats are very common.
Refresh: A term sometimes used to denote how often the image on a digital photo frame changes. This can vary from a few seconds to several minutes; most are adjustable.
Bluetooth
: Software that allows different components to communicate with each other. If your digital frame and phone are Bluetooth-compatible, you can download directly from your camera phone to your digital frame.
PictBridge: This software, pre-installed in many digital frames and photo printers, allows you to connect frame to printer and print digital photos without going through a computer.
Photo software: If you have prints, you can transform them to digital photo files. You'll need a computer and scanner. Art and imaging software is also a good idea; once the photo is scanned into a digital file, imaging software allows you to color correct, remove red-eye and generally have a lot of fun adjusting your pictures to look just the way you want them. It will take some time to learn all the software features, but practice still makes perfect.
Aspect Ratio: The relative dimensions of the frame, expresses as width to height. Choose one to match the photos you take.
Resolution: The size in pixels ("picture elements") of the screen image. Numbers are more common than alphabet codes, but the codes do show up in product descriptions.
Like all modern consumer electronics, a digital picture frame has few moving parts to break, so it can provide years of service if not abused. Dust, heat, humidity and impact damage are primary causes of failure. Don't drop your digital picture frame; keep it in a padded case when traveling or in storage.
Wipe it down with a clean cloth now and then; blow clean all openings (memory card slot, battery compartment, etc.) with canned air -- never your humid breath. Don't place digital picture frames on widow sills or other places where they will be in direct sunlight. Even on cool days, exposure to the sun's radiation can damage a digital picture frame. Heat and cold can also mess them up -- if the temperature around your digital frame gets very cold or very hot; turn it off.
Use power protection to safeguard your consumer electronics. Should you worry about every thunderstorm? If your digital frame is a plug-in, yes. Even if lightning strikes your house, damage is not certain, but possible, so never plug your digital frame (or any high-priced electronics) directly into the power grid. Surge protectors are like fuses, they detect sudden increases in electrical flow and cut off that flow before a tsunami of electrons drown your frame. Rare as these problems are, once is definitely once too often.
Can I make prints from digital files?
Professionals do it; you can, too, with an Overstock.com photo printer. Imagine; great-aunt Bessie sees your digital picture frame and wants a print. Used to be that you had to go to the photo hut; today, you simply plug-n-play your digital frame to a PictBridge-ready photo printer via USB cable and hit a button. If you'd like larger prints (above 5x7 inches), connect your digital frame to your computer and run it through the laser printer. With quality photo paper and high-resolution, you can have prints as good as film.
How do I hang digital picture frames?
Many have the same types of hangers as photo frames and can be installed in a minute or two, if you follow the instructions.
Getting great digital photos to display
From the great digital camera you bought at Overstock.com, where you'll find hundreds of discount digital cameras from pocket-sized cameras under 2MP to major professional-grade cameras of 10MP and above. Many come complete with accessories kits including memory cards, tripods and other goodies. By the way, if a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a moving picture worth? With Overstock.com's great selection of camcorders, you can find out.
Be ready if disaster strikes
It doesn't happen often, but, as previously noted, lightning strikes can fry your consumer electronics, floods drown them, burglars steal them, viruses kill them. Once a digital file is gone, it's gone, unless you have a backup copy. An external hard drive is the cheapest, best insurance against loss you can buy, especially at Overstock.com's deep-discount prices. Download everything from your internal hard drive, digital picture frames, iPods and MP3 players, etc., to an external hard drive; then lock the drive up in your safety deposit box. Hopefully, you won't have to thank us later.
