How to choose the right digital photo frames

In the XXI century, for many households antique frames showing a single picture are “outdated” as those photo albums that had our fathers of family travel. Today when returning from a trip, you want to show every place where it was dynamically to friends, family and neighbors form. What they need is a digital photo frame.

These frames are similar to the normal frames, with the exception that a printed photo slides behind the glass. In reality, the glass is an LCD screen that displays slideshows of your pictures. The original digital photo frames used in a camera’s memory card to make viewing photos. Today there are many other options to get your latest pictures on its frame: memory cards, USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet or Firewire.

Choosing a digital frame with its wide variety of options is as complex as choosing a new TV or computer. When choosing a digital photo frame the most important feature you should consider the bather and what is their level of digital intelligence. Some digital frames have amazing connectivity features and excellent display features, but generally require a vast knowledge of installation by the user. Marcos and serve for you or your adult children, but would be a good gift for your grandfather or grandmother? Probably not.

Here are the ten rules have to purchase a digital photo frame:

1. Think carefully who’s going to use the framework: Users have all kinds of digital knowledge, from zero to very sophisticated. The web-enabled features such as the ability to send photos by email to the frame, or display photos from Picasa, Facebook or other source should work great for those with digital expertise, while for those who do not know much better can be a framework with the ability to upload photos only from memory cards or directly from your digital camera.

2. Do not purchase a frame only for its brand: there are many frames from brands such as Hewlett Packard (HP), Kodak or Sony, that may not work or closely compared to other well-known names of the electronic market available.

3. Do not purchase a frame only for its price: the price of digital frames ranging from approximately $ 50 to almost $ 300, depending on its size, feature set and manufacturer. First choose the feature set you want, the size and other characteristics. Then compare prices and make your choice. Read reviews of the frames. Amazon and CNet are good places to do it.

4. Think carefully about the screen size you want: cheaper digital frames have a display area of approximately 5.6 inches (along the diagonal). These are great to sit directly in front or to hold hands, but most people do not work if you sit a few feet further.

5. Knowing where the frame is positioned to display photos: Most people place the frames on a table or a similar place, but some prefer to hang on the wall. Remember that frames need energy. Most plugs directly into a wall power, but some are battery operated and can be hung on walls.

6. Do not purchase a frame having a lower 640 × 480 resolution: No matter if you think you will get the deal of the century (remember rule # 2). If the resolution is less than 640 × 480 you will not be satisfied with the picture showing the frame. The photos lose detail and pixelated and generally have a framed appearance.

7. Select the aspect ratio of the frame so viewing photos is in line with what you expect: normally most frames show images at an aspect ratio of 4: 3 or 15: 9 (this is the ratio of the width with height). If you use a compact camera your photos will probably be 4: 3, which means that a framework of 15: 9 cut your pictures or change its shape. Furthermore, the ratio 15: 9 gives the panoramic feeling. Do not forget that some of landscapes and photos are taken vertically.

8. Think how to move your photos to the frame: use memory cards, but you may want to connect via USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The latter connects you to the internet, so you can from entering your galleries on Flickr, Picasa, etc. However, for many users, as I read its reviews, this set gives them a lot of problems. In fact, many could not and returned their frames. Do not forget to use the wireless features of the framework must have a Wi-Fi connection at home.

9. Make sure that the frame will support your memory cards: Although most frameworks support multiple card formats and usually have USB slots, make sure that support which you have.

10. Would you like to display music and videos on your frame?: Many frames can play mp3 files. Some can also play video files, but supported formats vary. Currently, most usually the frames do not have a good performance playing music and videos, so use caution.