How wireless photo frames work

Wi-Fi-capable digital photo frames connect to a wireless home network so you can load photos from your computer's hard drive. Some digital picture frames, like the HP DreamScreen and Kodak Pulse frames, offer their own photo-sharing sites. Others can snag photos from Flickr or Facebook accounts. The Pulse has its own email address, which can be used to send photos directly to the frame, but it requires a Wi-Fi connection. The Pandigital Photo Mail frame also has its own email address, but it has built-in mobile broadband, so Internet service is not required. Reviews say all of these frames require some technical setup on the user's part, so if you're thinking of one of these as a gift for a far-away relative, you'll need to consider the recipient's level of technical know-how.

If you're looking to spare distant relatives from setup issues, skip wireless features entirely and go with memory cards. Almost all digital photo frames accept memory cards. You can load up the cards with photos and mail them to your relative -- not a particularly modern or slick solution, but it is simple. Kodak recently began offering to preload up to 100 photos on digital frames before shipping them to recipients. Some photo frames can also accept USB thumb drives filled with photos.

Reviewers say the following about shopping for a digital photo frame:

  • Screen size: The least expensive digital photo frames have a display area of about 7 inches (measured diagonally), but pricier models have up to 14-inch screens. It's helpful to consider where you'll be placing the frame. Digital frames also need a power source, so you'll have to place it near an outlet.
  • Resolution: Resolution tells you how many pixels are within a frame. Usually, higher pixel counts mean higher picture quality. A standard 7-inch frame should have a resolution of at least 720 pixels by 480 pixels; an 8-inch display should have an 800-by-600-pixel resolution, and frames larger than 10 inches should have a resolution of at least 1,024 pixels by 768 pixels.
  • Aspect ratio: Most digital cameras shoot in a 4:3 aspect ratio, and a frame with a matching 4:3 ratio is ideal. Frames with a 16:9 widescreen ratio will crop or stretch photos to fit the format to the screen or will display pictures in a letterbox format. A few frames have 15:9 aspect ratio, which will either distort photos or display them with black banding, depending upon the frame's display options.
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi features are touted in reviews and advertising for digital photo frames, but in practice many users say they had trouble setting up wireless features. If you're thinking about buying a frame as a gift, be sure to consider the recipient's level of technical comfort as well as whether he or she has a wireless network at home. Some digital picture frames can receive photos via email. Other models use built-in mobile broadband.
  • Memory-card compatibility: Although most digital frames support multiple memory-card formats and have USB slots, confirm that the memory card you use is supported. A memory-card adapter can be purchased for added cost.
  • Music and video playback: Many digital picture frames can play MP3 files. Some play video files, but supported formats vary. Kodak frames play MOV files, others play AVI or MPEG4. In reviews, video and MP3 playback in general seems spotty. Pricier frames can stream Internet radio.

Back to top