Features

Digital photo frames are common in 7 inch to 12 inch sizes. Some digital photo frames can only display JPEG pictures. Most digital photo frames display the photos as a slideshow and usually with an adjustable time interval. They also can send photos to the printer.

Others support additional multimedia content, including movie clips recorded in a digital camera's movie mode, MPEG video files and/or MP3 audio. Many can display text files.

Certain frames can load pictures over the Internet from RSS feeds, photo sharing sites such as Flickr, Picasa and from e-mail. Such networked models usually support wireless (802.11) connections.

Digital photo frames typically display the pictures directly from a camera's memory card, though certain frames also provide internal memory storage despite the high price of in-built memory. Some allow users to upload pictures to the frame's memory via a USB connection, or wirelessly via bluetooth technology.

Some include a rechargeable battery.

Most 7 inch (17.5cm) models show images at 430 x 234 pixels. With some models the width of each landscape image is stretched to achieve an aspect ratio of 16:9, which results in noticeable distortion. Built-in speakers are common for playing video content with sound, and many frames come with remote controls.

Digital frames versus printed photos

A digital frame provides the same emotion-rich experience as a traditional photo album without handling and without occupying the computer or the TV set. Eye-catching in the room, it is also a more casual way to show off pictures to visitors.

Rapidly falling pricesBBC article: Focussing on digital photo frames. and revolutionary features, like the ability to update the contents remotely (e.g., your travel photos can update in your parents living room minutes after you take them), are likely to make this gadget ubiquitousPMA Data Watch: Digital photo frames continue to gain popularity and the natural replacement for printed photos.

Implementation

A digital photo frame consists of three main parts, the LCD-panel, the PCB and the outside frame:

• The panel can have either an analog or digital interface and varies in size.

• The PCB is the heart of the digital photo frame, as it includes the device's software.

In the near future, as electronic paper displays improve to support high quality color, digital photo frames are expected to adopt this technology, to provide visibility from any angle and in very bright environments, as well as reduced physical thickness and lower power consumption.