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photoframe posts

D-Link's Xtreme N DIR-685 storage router hands-on and impressions


Somehow or another, D-Link managed to combine a NAS, digital photo frame, secondary display and 802.11n router into a single device, and when the Xtreme N DIR-685 Storage Router was announced way back at CES this year, we were certainly interested to see how such a conglomerate would go over. At long last, the do-it-all wireless router is finally making its way out to the public at large, and with an MSRP of $299.99 (sans any internal HDD space), it's definitely one of the pricier routers out there. We've taken this strikingly unique device into our lairs for a few days of testing, and if you're interested in seeing if this bad boy is worth the price of admission, you'll need to follow us past the break.

Sungale WiFi Widget photo frame gets a hands-on


Sungale's recently unleashed a WiFi-enabled, widget-having digital photo frame -- the ID800WT -- and the fine folks over at Zatz Not Funny have taken it for a little spin. The 800 x 600 resolution touchscreen boasts 512 MB of internal storage, and widgets for weather, news, Picasa, YouTube, Gmail, and Internet radio. The reviewer didn't find the widgets to be particularly awesome, in many respects -- their implementation, for instance, made the Gmail app "nearly useless" because it displayed only a few lines at a time, and many had trouble connecting to the internet properly. It wasn't all doom and gloom, however -- they really liked the frame in theory, and thought that the company was shooting for the right idea -- they just didn't actually succeed. The frame will be available sometime in the coming month for about $165.

Kodak tries to make digiframes fun again with EasyShare S730

We can't fault 'em for trying, but at the end of the day Kodak's EasyShare S730 is just another vanilla digital photo frame. Oh sure, it sports an updated Quick Touch border, a collage mode for displaying several shots at once, video and music support, a rechargeable battery for cord-free operation and 1GB of memory, but there's no WiFi, OLED or pixie dust to speak of. We will say, however, that the included Picture Finder feature -- which enables users to select a photo that pops up in order to find more from the same era -- is fairly nifty, but it's not spectacular enough in and of itself to justify the $139 price tag. If you disagree, you can pick one up in the US and Canada this September, while Europeans can snag one this month for €149.

SilverPac SilverFrame packs Windows SideShow, FrameIt -- but is it still a photo frame?


Digital photo frames may have once been among the more predictable gadgets out there, but they're fast becoming something else entirely, as evidenced by SilverPac's new SilverFrame now on display at Computex. While it'll apparently function just fine as a regular 10.1-inch photo frame, the Windows Embedded 6.0-based device also packs a number of tricks up its sleeve -- like Windows Sideshow, Live FrameIt, and 802.11n WiFi -- that turn it into much more of a full-fledged media-playing, internet-connected device. Unfortunately, SilverPac looks to be at Computex in an attempt to woo partners to produce and market the device, so an actual release is no doubt still a ways off.

[Via DigitalPictureFrameReview.com]

ViewSonic intros 7-, 8- and 10.4-inch VFD20 series digiframes


Nine new ones not enough for you? Not if you're ViewSonic, who just came clean with three more in its rapidly expanding digital photo frame lineup. The 10.4-inch VFD1020, 8-inch VFD820 and 7-inch VFD720 make up the new TrueView line, which offers up a 4:3 aspect ratio and 2GB of internal memory. As for resolutions, the smaller two do their thing at 800 x 600, while the June-bound VFD1020 will kick things up to 1,024 x 768. Naturally, there's a multicard reader for loading multimedia, and the USB 2.0 port is bound to make friends with your impenetrable Iron Drive. The trio also ships with a remote control from mixing things up from afar, with prices set for $129.99, $89.99 and $79.99 in order of mention.

Human-Rh digiframe packs AMOLED panel, mobile TV tuner


We always figured the digital photo frame market would have to grow up one day, and we're thrilled to know that day is coming soon. Over in Korea, Human-Rh has apparently showcased a couple of new frames that not only up the ante in terms of panel quality but also toss in a much-needed extra: mobile TV. The 7.6-inch HDPF-760D steals the show with a gorgeous AMOLED display and a built-in DMB tuner; the 8-inch HDPF-800D sticks with the traditional LCD, but it's available with a variety of tuners (1seg, T-DMB, DVB-T and CMMB) for regions around the globe. Naturally, both frames still do their basic duties of playing back slideshows, but the built-in WiFi also enables them to display information from internet-connected widgets. We're told that these arrive with 2GB of integrated memory, a multicard slot and a USB port, but mum's the word on pricing and release. Vid's after the break.

[Via OLED-Display]

Samsung ships $129 SPF-87H 8-inch digiframe / secondary monitor


Samsung's been dousing just about anything it can get its paws on with that 'Touch of Color' design scheme, and even the outfit's latest digiframe wasn't able to dodge the madness. The 8-inch SPF-87H, which was originally introduced to the world back in April, is now shipping to those scouting a multifaceted digital photo frame. Unlike traditional alternatives, this 0.91-inch thick frame can double as a secondary display (via USB), and the respectable 800 x 480 resolution panel ensures that you can fit more than just a weather widget on there. Other specs include 1GB of built-in storage, an SD expansion slot, 500:1 contrast ratio and a $129 price tag.

[Via HotHardware]

Fujitsu and Macnica embed Android into digital photo frames -- WalMart, you listening?

Hey, if you can take Google's open source OS for mobile telephones and chunk it into a netbook, then why not digital photo frames? Fujitsu and Japan's Macnica have teamed up on what they're calling a "Software Platform for Home Network Digital Photo Frames" based on Google's Android. In other words, it's a software platform for home network digital photo frames based on Google's Android. Uh, riiight. The prototype frame above was on display in Japan yesterday running slideshows off a standard DLNA network. Honestly, we don't care what OS is running at the core of those cheap, off-brand digital photo frames cluttering big box shelves every holiday -- just make the navigation intuitive and we're happy. Android seems like a good (and free!) start along the road to standardization.

T-Mobile's connected Cameo digiframe plummets in price, gets reviewed


Man, that was fast. Really fast. Not like we're shocked at all to hear that T-Mobile customers weren't really digging the idea of paying ten bones per month to keep a digital photo frame alive, but hey -- it was worth a shot, right? As of today, T-Mobile's quickly forgotten Cameo connected digiframe has dropped from $99.99 to $39.99 up front, while the recurring charge to keep the media flowin' has nearly vanished by going from $9.99 per month to just $1.99 per month. Reviewers over at ZDNet seemed to be quite pleased with the value proposition at the new price point, noting that it was perfect for technologically illiterate family members who yearned to see digital images of you and yours. Sadly, you still have to walk into a T-Mobile retail store to actually buy one, but at least it's finally worth your while to do so.

Samsung's new SPF-87H and SPF-107H photo frames pull double duty as secondary displays


While second monitor status isn't a first for Samsung's picture frames, it's nice to see the functionality be extended to this latest lineup, the "Touch of Color" SPF-87H and SPF-107H. Otherwise the 8-inch and 10-inch frames are pretty basic on features for the most part, including 1GB of internal storage, an internal rechargeable battery and a multicard reader in a 0.9-inch thick form factor. The folks at Digital PictureFrame Review had no luck getting the SPF-85V to work as an external USB display last time around, so hopefully Samsung has tightened up its software in that regard -- though we're not expecting Mac support of such functionality in this century. At least the price is right: in Taiwan the 8-inch frame, which is available globally this month, will go for NT$3490 (about $103 US), while the 10-inch version goes for NT$5290 (about $157 US) and will hit stores in May.

[Via Digital PictureFrame Review]

Digital Album: it's a digiframe, just more capacious


Okay, so maybe this mysterious Digital Album really is nothing more than a relatively plain 7-inch digital photo frame, but the included 4GB of storage is certainly appreciated. If, for whatever reason, you honestly feel the need to keep more than a thousand or so shots of little Joey on there, the integrated SD card reader can help you take things up to 20GB overall. Also of note, there's a rechargeable battery that can show off slideshows for around three hours, and if you leave your AC adapter at home, you'll be thrilled to know that this one can rejuvenate via USB. It'll ship in around a fortnight in tan /silver or black / pink, and you'll be asked to pay £179 ($256) to take one home.

[Via ChipChick]

Sony refreshes photo frame lineup to make it more green, black, and woodgrained

Sony refreshes photo frame lineup to make it more green, black, and woodgrained
About a year ago Sony dropped three new frames on us of various sizes, each using a 15:9 aspect ratio that, to put it mildly, hasn't exactly captured the LCD market by storm. They're still at it, showing off four oddly ratio'd models, starting with the 10-inch, 1024 x 600 DPF-X1000 that we've seen before, and the new 8-inch, 800 x 480 DPF-800, both utilizing TruBlack technology to boost contrast ratios and decrease glare. These frames can turn themselves on or off on a schedule to save power, can pull pictures wirelessly with optional Bluetooth adapters, sport HDMI output, and have BIONZ processors so that you can remove creepy redeye right from the frame. The 7-inch DPF-D72 loses the fancy processing, the TruBlack coating, and drops the resolution to 800 x 480. Finally, the stripper 7-inch DPF-A72 model has a lowly 480 x 234 resolution and ditches nearly all the features of its forbearers. It is, however, the cheapest, expected to come in under ¥10,000 ($100), while the D72 will be around ¥20,000 ($200), the X800 around ¥30,000 ($300), and the range-topping X1000 at ¥40,000 ($400, if you haven't figured out the conversion by now). All should hit tidy Japanese bookshelves late next month.

AgfaPhoto announces "world's first" HD photo frames


The "world's first" claim may be a tad on the dubious side, but AgfaPhoto's new 10-inch AF5105MS and 13-inch AF5135MS HD photo frames certainly seem to deliver where it counts, with each packing a 1,280 x 800 resolution and all the usual multimedia-related features you'd expect from a high-res frame. At just 22mm thick, they're also pretty slim by photo frame standards and, in addition to being available in black or white, they each come with a set of interchangeable frames to suit your decor. No word on a price just yet, but you'll likely want to factor in the cost of a memory card, as each come equipped with just 256MB of internal memory.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Amex Digital's SP-7 digiframe doubles as a printer


Although Amex Digital's SP-7 can't claim to be the first digital photo frame with an inbuilt printer, it's certainly among the first to ever pull it off for under two bills. The basic specs include a 7-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, a multicard reader, USB connectivity, integrated speakers, adjustable brightness, a mini remote and support for both audio and video files. Curiously enough, Amex doesn't even bother explaining what size prints this thing shoots out, where to find replacement paper and how to initiate printing. But, as we alluded to earlier, it's just $199, so don't be shocked to end up figuring all this out on our own.

AMEX Digital's SR-7 / SW-7 digiframes do more than show slideshows, induce naps


We've seen the future of the digiframe, and it's... well, less boring than what we've been forced to deal with previously. AMEX Digital is acting rather proactively by outing two newcomers with lots of extra functionality bundled in. 'Course, it remains to be seen if you're even interested in those extra goodies, but you can appreciate the effort regardless. The SR-7 includes a 7-inch 800 x 480 display and doubles as a radio controlled clock (with dual alarms) and a digital indoor thermometer; as for the SW-7, it includes most of the same features but throws in weather forecasting to boot. There's no price or release date to share on either, but we get the impression AMEX will be willing to let these go pretty cheap.




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