digital photo frames

Digital Picture Frames by Sony

You’ve just got back from your holidays, have lots of cherished moments to share and you can’t pick and choose what to hang on your wall? Well it will cover the whole wall if you put up each and every picture, but you don’t want to compromise either. What are you going to do?

Thankfully there is an obvious solution, one which will solve your problems permanently, and allow you to display all of your favourite pictures in one place – Sony Digital Picture Frames!

To start with, let us introduce to you what digital picture frames are. They are picture frames that display digital pictures of any format, be it JPEG, BITMAP or TIFF. The frame displays the pictures directly from the digital camera’s memory card, but may also have some internal memory so that you can store some of your pictures directly on it. You can also upload pictures into its internal memory via a USB cable.

Here we will review Sony digital photo frames, renowned for their quality, specifically the Sony DPFD70B 7” Black and the Sony DPFV900B 9” Black.

Sony DPFD70B 7” Black £85.00
The Sony DPFD70B 7” Black digital picture frame can store up to 500 of your pictures with an internal memory of 256 MB and a 7” LCD screen. It comes with an extended memory slot to store more pictures and accepts the most common formats such as MMC, Memory stick, Memory stick Duo, SD or Compact flash. Transferring pictures from your PC couldn’t be simpler and does not require software. Pictures are automatically rotated by the in-built intelligent orientation sensor so that you can view your pictures with the frame in landscape or portrait position. You can choose between slideshow modes or the clock display, and can even use the HDMI socket to connect your frame to your HD TV for giant slideshows!
Click here for more info and reviews of the Sony DPFD70B 7” Black

Sony DPFV900B 9” Black £139.99
The Sony DPFV900B 9” Black digital picture frame has many of the same features as the 7” model, with some advanced features as you would expect. It displays hundreds of your pictures in vibrant colours with a WVGA resolution of 800 x 400 pixels, which gives sharp picture details on the 9” LCD screen. The internal memory is up to 512 MB and can be expanded by adding a memory card which must be purchased separately. There are also some special automatic features to enhance the picture quality such as red eye reduction, image rotation and exposure correction. The Sony DPFV900B is Bluetooth ready, a Bluetooth USB adaptor DPPA-BT1 is required (sold separately), through which you can send pictures wirelessly to your Sony digital picture frame via Bluetooth from your PC or camera phone.
Click here for more info and reviews of the Sony DPFV900B 9” Black

Sony digital picture frames are at the cutting edge of digital picture frames technology. Their sleek and elegant designs won’t look out of place in even the most contemporary home.

If you are looking for advanced technology and quality, together with great value for money, then you can’t go wrong with Sony digital picture frames.

Click here for recommended online stockists of digital picture frames.

Recommended 7” Cheap Digital Photo Frames

If you have tired of seeing the same old pictures on the walls in your home, then you are the perfect person for a cheap digital photo frame. With cheap digital photo frames, you can have several photos which change inside the frame, with some frames even having the ability to play music or digital video clips.

Some cheap digital photo frames have an internal memory that stores the pictures to be displayed and a USB port so that pictures can easily be transferred from your computer. Other cheap digital photo frames allow you to simply insert a memory card and will then display the pictures from that memory card. Set up is simple for most cheap digital photo frames. Unpack the frame from its box, insert your memory card or load pictures via a USB cord from your computer, plug it into a power outlet and then choose the photos that you want to show.

Now that the technology behind digital photo frames has been around for a while, there are much better deals to be found. To find cheap digital photo frames, it is critical to locate the top, budget buys. Here are reviews of some of the best value cheap digital photo frames available in the UK.

The Digi View Digital Photo Frame (£29.99) is a cheap digital photo frame with a bright 7 inch LCD screen. This frame offers a 480 X 234 resolution and has built in card readers for SD and MMC cards. This frame is plug-and-play right out of the box with a slideshow display mode. This is a light, portable, digital photo frame that offers unbeatable value for money.

The Agfaphoto Digital Photoframe AF5075 (£49.99) has a 7 inch colour display screen, card slots for MS, MMC, xD, USB2 and SD, but no internal memory, plus three interchangeable fascias in white, black and brushed aluminium. There is even a remote control to change pictures or view the slideshow, plus image zoom in, zoom out and rotating capabilities.

The NIX Designer Range Digital Photo Frame (£69.99) has a sleek, black leather look and a 7 inch backlit colour LCD screen. This frame offers slideshow capabilities via 128MB of internal memory or through the insertion of your own SD, Compact Flash, MMC or MS memory card. A USB cable is also included for ‘drag & drop’ options of photos from your PC. This cheap digital photo frame is unique in that it can easily display photos up to 14 MP while providing beautifully, bright colours and is also wall mountable.

The Cibox LCD Digital Photo Frame (£49.68) is a 7 inch includes three fascias allowing you to change the frame to suit your mood. This cheap digital photo frame supports many memory cards including MMC, SD, MS, XD and a USB Flash Pen Drive while also offering MP3 and MP4 capabilities through a built-in speaker. A small remote control allows you to customise your slideshow and the added features of a calendar plus a clock with alarm make this cheap digital photo frame excellent value for the money.

The TeckNet Widescreen Digital Photo Frame ID-070B (£44.99) is one of the best value cheap digital photo frames on the market. The frame features a 7 inch LCD display plus a 3 in 1 card reader to support SD and MMC cards. The fashionable and slim, yet cheap digital photo frame comes built-in speakers and a remote control.

Before deciding on cheap digital photo frames, it is worth doing some research. Make certain that you know what you are looking for and what you are getting when purchasing a cheap digital photo frame or indeed any purchase. Happy shopping!

Click here for recommended online cheap digital photo frames stockists.

The Appearance of Your Digital Photo Frame

When choosing the look of your digital photo frame, it is important to take into consideration where you will choose to hang or display your frame. What colours will the frame be surrounded by? Do you intend to hang it on the wall, or place it on a desk? Will it be flanked by wallpaper, paint, or traditional photographs? Additionally, what sort of photographs will you be displaying with your digital photo frame? These are all things you must take into account before choosing the digital photo frame that is right for you.

The first thing to consider is price. A larger digital photo frame will cost more and require more space for you to display it. As such, large digital photo frames are inappropriate for small desks or cramped spaces, but they are ideal for walls. Small frames are ideal for desks, where they are near your face, but are hard to see when placed on walls.

Once you’ve decided where you will be using your digital photo frame, you should take into consideration the colour of the frame, and the colours that will surround it. Garish or bright colours clash with subdued frames, and vice-versa. As the contents of the frame tend to be the important and eye-catching portion, it is important to select a frame which matches well with the colours around it, so as to ensure the picture stands out, instead of the frame. Digital frames are now available in variety of different looks and styles, from wood-effect to leather, some even come with interchangeable fascias. If you wish for your digital photo frame to blend in with traditional frames, you may decide to opt for a digital frame without branding on the front.

You should also take into account what your digital photo frame will be surrounded by. Certain designs do not look good when placed against wallpaper or paint. If you intend to put a frame on your desk, it might be wise to clear off space on your desk and visualise how the frame will appear on the desk. Will it be crowded out by other photographs? Will it serve as a distraction from your activities at the desk? Can you see it well from where you sit? These are all important things to consider.

Lastly you should choose a frame which suits the photographs you intend to display. The dimensions of the frame may make it necessary to crop or otherwise re-size photographs to ensure they display properly. Also, if you intend to display panoramic photographs, it would be wise to choose a panoramic frame, instead of displaying it using a frame which will have mostly empty space when displaying that photo. You should take care to think of each picture you intend to display with your digital photo frame, and make sure that the frame is capable of displaying all of them properly.

Many customers may find themselves returning a frame they are otherwise happy with purely because it gets in the way or looks out of place, or does not display pictures in a way they find acceptable. But by planning ahead and ensuring that you choose what is best for your needs, you will find that a digital photo frame will serve you as well as a thousand standard frames, by presenting you with all of your beautiful, well-displayed pictures for many years.

Click here for advice on where to buy your new digital photo frame.

Memory Options for Digital Photo Frames

Now that you’re out on the hunt for digital photo frames, you might have a few questions regarding their memory features. With so many models and options to choose from, it’s no wonder that many people get confused. Digital photo frames have a diverse selection of memory options, be it built in memory, or an SD card interface, or countless others. How can you figure out which memory options you need for your digital photo frames?

The first thing you’ll want to know is the different types of memory cards that digital photo frames accept. It can be frustrating to make a purchase, only to find out later that it can’t use your memory card! Many different companies produce memory cards, and each develops their own specifications for the memory card; the result of this being a large selection of different memory cards to choose from. The main types of memory cards that digital photo frames use are these: Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick Pro (MS Pro), Memory Stick Duo (MS Duo), Memory Stick Pro Duo (MS Pro Duo), Microdrive (MD), Multimedia Card (MMC), XD-Picture Card (XD), and Compactflash (CF).

These cards each come in different sizes and shapes, so each requires a specifically designed slot to plug into. Some slots are designed to be able to take more than one type of memory card, while other memory cards need an individual slot. You will want to find out what type of memory card your digital camera uses and make sure that the digital photo frames you are looking at accept that type. The good news is that many digital photo frames have most of the slots for these cards built in.

Another interface that many digital photo frames incorporate is the Universal Serial Bus (USB). The USB interface is popular on computers and other electronic devices, as well as digital photo frames. USB allows you to connect a flash drive, a computer, a USB hard drive, or even a digital camera directly to your digital photo frames, without having to use a memory card.

The last memory option to look at when choosing between digital photo frames is built in memory. Built in memory allows you to store a few photos on the device itself, without having to use a memory card, or connect it to a digital camera. The amount of built in memory on digital photo frames ranges from 128MB, which is enough to store only a few high-quality photos, to 256MB and more.

Quality digital photo frames will include many memory card and interface options.

For our recommended digital photo frames online retailers click here.

Three Reasons to Buy an LCD Digital Photo Frame?

Why should you buy an LCD digital photo frame over a tradition picture frame? First, we need to bear in mind that the essence of having digital photo frame is that element which instantly connects us to the exact moment where and when the photograph was taken. From here, it follows that having good quality images makes one’s viewing more enjoyable and meaningful. Digital photo frame companies understand this concern so they have developed the LCD digital photo frame for everybody’s convenience and wonderful viewing.

Here are a few things which you need to know about the LCD digital photo frame:

1. Preservation – They say that the essence of a photograph is the memory that it brings. People have been taken pictures for a long time now. They take pictures of special moments, special places and special people in their lives. However, the sad part is that, with the old-fashioned frame, the photographs do not last over a long period of time. We can pick our favourite shot and put it inside the old-fashioned picture frame and it’s quality will gradually deteriorate. This is where the LCD digital photo frame comes in. With your LCD digital photo frame, your special memories are sure to live on. You can share your precious moments with the future generations to come.

2. High-Quality Viewing – The LCD screen provides a high-quality viewing for your LCD digital photo frame. Looking at the screen alone allows you to relive the memory in the best possible visual presentation. View your memories in vibrant colours and a very clear resolution.

3. Easy-Keep - With old-fashioned picture frames, you need extra effort to put your photos carefully in a photo album for preservation. With your LCD digital photo frame, all you need to do is store your digital pictures inside a memory card and you can view them any time you want to in your LCD digital photo frame.

Special moments pass by very quickly. Keep something for you to remember forever. Put your memories in a keepsake which will surely last indefinitely. Keep it in your LCD digital photo frame.

Don’t know where to buy your LCD Digital Photo Frame? For online stockists click here.

Popular Digital Photo Frame Models

One of the best parts about your digital photo frame is that you can view several pictures in an automatic playback. With a digital photo frame, you can rekindle the special moments of the past and the wonderful emotions that come with it. Relive your special memories everyday by choosing the best value digital photo frame in the market today.

Here is a list of some of the most popular digital photo frames currently available in the UK:

1. Digi View 7” Digital Photo Frame (S701) £29.99 – This model offers you one of the most ideal ways to preserve your digital photos. With your Digi View, its 7” TFT screen automatically displays your photo album in a slide show set-up. All you need is a memory card which stores your digital photos and you have an instant slide show which showcases your special moments.

2. Sony DPFV900B 9” Black Digital Photo Frame £139.99– This piece from Sony gives you the chance to store your memories permanently on your desk. You are ensured of the best viewing because it has a 9-inch LCD screen. It is also has wireless Bluetooth capability which allows you to transfer photos from your camera phones.

3. Philips 7FF2FPA/05 Digital Photo frame £69.99 – This model boasts of its high density screen which showcases your favourite photographs in ‘real life’ details. This product comes in a 7-inch frame so you are sure to have a quality viewing any time you want to.

4. Kodak Easyshare 8” Digital Photo Frame £74.30 – Relive your memories with this model from Kodak. All you need to do is insert a memory card and you can view your pictures and videos right away – it’s that easy! You also have an MP3 song file playback which can help develop a good ambiance.

5. Agfaphoto AF5075 Digital Photo Frame £49.99– This 7-inch model from Agfa comes in 3 interchangeable frames – white, black and brushed aluminium. It has an automatic slideshow playback so you are sure to enjoy memories without having to control it yourself.

Consider any of these models when choosing the best value digital photo frame. After all, special moments come and go very quickly. Relive them with your digital photo frame.

Looking to buy a digital photo frame? For our list of recommended internet stockists click here.

Digital Photo Frames - A Guide to Extra Functionality

So you’ve made the decision to purchase a digital photo frame - an excellent decision! Digital photo frames allow your pictures to be displayed right where the people that matter to you most are able to view them. When the alternative is to drag your friends to the computer screen tucked in the corner of the bedroom, it’s easy to see why digital photo frames are the right choice.

But wait! The investment in a digital photo frame has some serious considerations. For the money you are likely to pay, it’s important that the digital photo frame you select is packed with the features and functionality that will greatly enhance its use.

Digital photo frames are not merely fancy screen saver imitations. Your new digital photo frame should showcase your photographs in ways that are as unique as the digital photo frames technology.

Here are some of the extra functionality features you want to look out for when purchasing your digital photo frame:

Wi-Fi Capable - An extremely useful tool when you want to add pictures that are on your laptop to digital photo frames. Wi-Fi relieves you from dismantling all of the wires from the digital photo frame or computer in order to add or change pictures.

Multimedia Content - Good digital photo frames should not merely show JPEG photographs, but should allow you to enjoy MP3 files as well as the short MPEG movies that many digital cameras are capable of recording.

Internet Capable - High quality digital photo frames will be able to accept pictures from RSS feed as well as photo sharing web sites and email. Most often this is in combination with Wi-Fi capabilities.

Remote control - The addition of a remote control helps to provide ease of use features that make a real difference in the overall quality of the experience when using digital photo frames.

Memory - Some digital photo frames have built in memory allowing photos to be downloaded using a standard USB connection. Not having this memory greatly reduces the capacity and limits the photographs to what can fit on the specific memory card.

Other functions to look out for in digital photo frames include the ability to feed the pictures out to your television. This is a perfect medium to display your digital memories to a group of friends in a way that allows everyone to see and participate in the experience.

Digital photo frames have been designed to greatly enhance your photograph viewing experience. Take full advantage of the technology by selecting a digital photo frame that contains all of the features and functionality that will bring your memories home for all to see.

Buying your digital photo frames couldn’t be easier - see our list of recommended stockists.

Digital Photo Frames – A Guide to Screen Resolution & Quality

Let’s face it: at least at one point, each of us have stood around the local electronics store and gazed longingly at their selection of digital photo frames. They’re just exciting to look at! The ability to showcase all the pictures from your latest holiday, get-together or even old family photos is quite spectacular. But why is it that some of the digital photo frames look better than others? Why do some of the digital photo frames appear so much more vibrant and colourful, or bright and clear? The reason for this disparity is that some digital photo frames offer a higher screen resolution and quality than others.

When talking about digital photo frames, the screen resolution refers to the number of pixels that the screen can display. A pixel is a tiny square of light that can display one colour at a time. When large numbers of these pixels are combined, they can form a picture. If you look very closely at a computer screen, or even at digital photo frames, you can see the outlines of these thousands of colourful squares. The more pixels a screen can display, the higher the resolution it is said to have. When digital photo frames have a very high screen resolution, the image looks very sharp and vivid. When a screen has a low resolution, the image will look blocky, or “pixelated” and unclear.

Most digital photo frames today come with a screen resolution between 480 x 234 pixels and 1280 x 1024 pixels. Usually, larger screen size means a higher pixel resolution, and a sharper overall image. Digital photo frames with higher resolutions than normal for their size can look especially clear and vibrant. Screens that are smaller than 6 inches should have at least a 480 x 234 pixel resolution, and 6 to 11 inch digital photo frames should have a screen resolution of about 800 x 480 pixels. 12 to 17 inch digital photo frames should have a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels, and anything larger than 17 inches should have a resolution of at least 1280 x 1024 pixels.

Another factor that determines the overall appearance of digital photo frames is the contrast ratio. The higher the contrast ratio, the darker dark colours will be, and the lighter the light colours will be. This means that a screen with a high contrast ratio will appear more colourful and life-like. Digital photo frames with low contrast ratios will look dull and washed out. An average contrast ratio for digital photo frames is about 250:1, with high quality models having contrast ratios as high as 500:1.

High quality digital photo frames have both high contrast ratios and high screen resolutions, and will stand out among groups of frames for their crisp, vibrant picture.

For recommended stockists of Digital Photo Frames visit our Stockists Directory.

Digital photo frames are dropping in price just as quickly as they are increasing in popularity.  The price of digital picture frames now starts from as little as £20, although you can still pay up to £150+ for a top of the range digital photo frame with full spec, including wireless connectivity.

Of course not all digital picture frames offer the same functions or quality – indeed like most technological gizmos they can vary enormously in spec.

Given that your digital photo frame is going to be on full display in your house, it is vitally important that the digital picture frame you chose looks the part. Some frames offer snap-on fascias or use “real” materials like leather or wood to give a bit of a swanky effect. Also, unless you are a logo-freak, you might not want one with a massive big brand name plastered all over the front. give some thought as to whether you really want a brand name stuck on the front.

The controls too should be easily accessible but without getting in the way of a cool design. With this in mind, most digital picture frames have theirs on the back but some funkier models have touch sensitive controls built into the front.

Digital photo frames range in size from 5 to 10 inches and just like your TV the measurement is from one corner of the screen to the other (although some dodgy manufacturers like to quote the size from either edge of the plastic – avoid them if you can!)

Most digital picture frames are not battery powered, so just like your widescreen plasma, you are going to have to figure out a way to hid the power cord. Indeed, those that are battery powered digital photo frames will only give you a couple of hours before needing a recharge, which can be a bit of a pain

So perhaps just stick it on a shelf unit and run the cable down the back?

Hopefully this brief introduction to digital photo frames has shown you that there is a lot to consider when choosing a digital picture frame either for yourself or as a gift for a friend or relative.

And we have not even touched on the really important technical things like screen quality and display options, storage, wifi and other wireless connectivity, etc.   

Over the coming weeks and months we’ll be writing a lot more about digital photo frames, covering all the points raised above in great detail, highlighting which manufacturers are getting it right and which digital picture frames offer the best performance as well as the best value for money.

So make sure you bookmark us, and check back regularly for all you ever wanted to know about digital photo frames!

Looking to buy a digital photo frame? Then check out our Recommended Stockists Directory.