cenOmax enters digiframe game with seven-inch F7012A

If you're spinnin' your wheels trying to figure out exactly who cenOmax is, simmer down -- it's only a new spinoff of Lite-On, okay? Now that we've handled that, the firm's first foray into the digital photo frame arena is the seven-inch F7012A, which sports a 480 x 234 resolution panel, 400:1 contrast ratio, a USB port and a multicard reader capable of handling 15 different formats. Furthermore, this one supports MP3 playback through its built-in speakers, allows for automatic slideshows and also includes an integrated alarm / calendar. For Halloween (er, right?), the frame comes bundled with black (shown after the break) and orange clip-on frames, but users can theme it up however they like for a variety of occasions. As of now, this one's available only in Europe for £48 ($98), but we've got enough alternatives here in the US to keep our hearts from breaking.

[Via Pocket-Lint]

[allaina @ Oct 20th 2007 7:53AM]

this one's better than a lot of the widely available in the us alternatives, though.

the only one boasting similar features (mostly speakers) is a kodak 8-inch that's nearly double the price, still.

[Matt @ Oct 20th 2007 8:49AM]

What a WASTE of time. All the LCD frames are really cool but a complete waste of time if there's no WiFi inbuilt. To me it's pointless to have frame, which i would have to constantly update by pulling the card out, wipe out the old pictures and then load the new ones just so I can be bored with them in a week. RSS feed is what counts. Flickr...get your own branded frames with WiFi and you'll have another source of revenue.

Maciek
www.symbiosis60.com

[Hannes @ Oct 20th 2007 12:49PM]

Do you really think the vast majority needs wifi? You are here on engadget, so I assume you are quite interested into electronics, but in my view, the majority does not need wifi!

Hannes
http://www.digital-photo-frame-market.info

[Matt @ Oct 20th 2007 2:19PM]

Hannes,

To me WiFi is important in this product for a few reasons. First of all I do not store my photos on my pc. All of them are in two places; flickr and my network drive as a back up. Second WiFi is all about convenience. If I can point the frame to a certain feed, that's one step less (or more than one) than pulling the memory card out of frame, walking to my pc, thinking which photos to put on there or not, thenpull the card out, go to the frame and watch the same photos over and over...To me the memory card set up seems like a dvd or a cd on auto repeat..it's cute for 5 minutes and then it's boring. On flickr I am subscribed to a group called HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography. People upload beautiful images all the time. You NEVER know what will pop up. So there's always a reason to draw your attention to the frame. This could be mixed with your photos..and all being pulled over WiFi. I think this is a pretty good idea and honestly I could give up the 15 thousand in one card readers which make most frames look like a fat cat and I'd take WiFi interface instead any second so the cost would be equal. I know that everyone likes different things. I just think that WiFi is a feature which I believe many people would like in DPF's.


Maciek

[Hannes @ Oct 21st 2007 9:48AM]

Maciek

I don't doubt that wifi is useful. My point is that wifi is an extra-feature of a digital photo frame and not crucial. In my view, the majority does not need wifi (some even can not handle it). A digital picture frame should be a simple device. Furthermore, everybody who cares so much about pictures like you, would not buy a 7inch frame. Or in other words, such frames like the frame mentioned in the article are designed for another target group than people like you.

Hannes
http://www.digital-photo-frame-market.info

[Matt @ Oct 21st 2007 2:28PM]

Hannes,

Again I have to counter your point. I actually would buy a 7 in frame. This is a perfect size to put somewhere on the shelf. I sure would love a 42 inch lcd with nice frame around it to simply hang it on the wall and use it as an ever changing "painting" but this would be WAY too expensive. I want something that I can put away on the shelf and pull the pictures without much interaction on my part. I guess it's the laziness in me. Let's just simply say that I believe that there's a market for both wifi and wifi-less frames.

Maciek

[Hannes @ Oct 28th 2007 4:52PM]

After the discussion with Maciek here on Engadget, I asked him to write an article about his views on dpf on my site.

Here is the link to the article:
http://www.digital-photo-frame-market.info/articles/importance_of_wifi_for_digital_picture_frames.htm

Highly recommended! Thanks Maciek.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Oct 20th 2007 9:41AM]

What's wrong with those kids!

[Jhongerkong @ Oct 20th 2007 12:40PM]

CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

[Wolfticket @ Oct 20th 2007 9:13PM]

The older kid is a paedophile.

[Wolfticket @ Oct 20th 2007 9:13PM]

I immediately regret typing that.

[sean.boots @ Oct 20th 2007 2:15PM]

Anyone know what the black dot on the top right of the screen is? It definitely looks out of place, kind of like the not-too-aesthetic IR sensor on my white macbook.

...and... yep, it's an IR sensor. The frame comes with a remote (guessing from the pictures on the product page) that wasn't mentioned here or on the press release. In case anyone was wondering. ;-)

See http://www.cenomax.com/F700A.htm