Digital photo frames

I just bought my sister what, only 3 or 4 years ago, was an immensely expensive gift – a digital photo frame.

These repositories for digital files take an SD card input with jpg or similar image files and then display the image on a screen.

Screen sizes vary with the 7 inch screens starting at £25 (UK currency) and running to hundreds of pounds Stirling/dollars for the much larger options.

Display levels and file sizes also vary and if you want high definition images you need to look for the largest resolutions possible. These will be specified on the product box as either a maximum file size in bits or MB or, more typically, by two figures that relate to width and depth resolutions. In both instances the larger the number the better.

Once in operation these frames take their electricity from a main socket (possibly a battery) and then run any number of programs. These programs are very simple and allow you to select features like a slide show, (with numerous interchanging images) at a change rate that you specify.

It can also be possible to specify the way in which the photos change (transition). i.e. there may be options that allow one image to slide out whilst another slides in, or for one image to dissolve whilst the next takes its place.

I may also be possible to vary image size and select from landscape to portrait on some of the larger and more expensive frames.

Most of these digital photo frames have some simple button control, but newer models may feature touch screens that use display to make selection and changes quick and simple.

Finally, if you want one of these (for yourself or as a present for someone else), remember that they use the same technology as plasma and LCD flat screen TV’s, so you will not see them clearly if they are in the line of direct sunlight.