Great Display

I received this picture frame for Father's Day in 2007. It now resides in my office at work and has turned into quite the topic of many conversations.

OUT OF THE BOX
The picture frame came with software for PC interface, a power supply, a USB cable, a manual, and a remote control. The software is not required for using this frame. The manual, although extensive, falls short in many regards. The main thing I found wrong with the manual is that although it does state that avi files are supported in this frame, it does not explain how to get them to work, or in what aspect ratio it should be.

USING THE FRAME
This frame does have a speaker and volume control, and it can play mp3 files, but the sound quality is not very good, although it is neat to have a slide show with accompanied music. There is a slot for SD type memory card and it does have a USB slot. Pictures, music, and video (supposedly), can be transferred through either the supplied USB cord, the USB slot (like a flash drive) or through an SD card. Transferring the data is very simple through the frame’s user interface.

The supplied remote is the easiest way to interface with the frame. Although there are access buttons on the frame, the remote is easier to use because you don’t have to keep tipping the frame to see what buttons you are pushing.

INTERFACE
The button that looks like a house is the “Home” button and brings up the interface menu. There are two choices from this menu, “My Frame”, which shows a mini pictorial of the pictures that are on your frame. You can select a picture to delete or print it from this menu. The other option is “Settings”, which has several sub menus.

The first in the menu is Viewing Options”. This setting allows the user to adjust slide duration, frame orientation (landscape/portrait), transitions, how the pictures fit the screen, and audio priority (you can have the frame just play music, or music and pictures).

The next menu option is “Brightness”, which allows the user to set the brightness of the screen. I have mine set to about 40% brightness and the screen is very bright. The highest setting is so bright it can wash out all the colors.

The next menu option is the “Clock and Timer” menu. The user can choose the “On/Off” schedule and once the clock is set, the frame can be set to come on and go off automatically. I tried using this option, but the frame would either refuse to come on at a set time, or go off at a set time. I came in to work very early one day and the frame was on when it should not have been. This was a little frustrating, so I just stopped using it.

The next menu option is “Device Configuration”. The user can set what type of connection is being used (internal memory, USB, or SD memory).

The next menu option is “Language” – choose whatever language you need. English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese.

The final menu option is “About”, which shows the model and firmware version.

GENERAL
The picture quality is very good. I have seen some frames from other makers and the pictures always looked pixilated or grainy. On this frame the pictures look like actual pictures. When people first see the frame they assume it is just a frame with a real picture on it. It is that good. Most people are shocked when they first see the picture change. It catches them by surprise because it does not look like an electronic device.

If you set the frame to have the picture fill the frame it will crop some of the picture. I found it useful to try to pre-crop my pictures by setting them as close to the aspect ratio of the display whenever possible.

Overall, I am happy having this frame on my desk filled with some of my favorite pictures. It helps to keep me “centered”, even when I am having a bad day. My only frustration is trying to get this thing to play avi files. I know my kids paid a lot for this and it is a constant reminder of them.