How Digital Frames Work

• A digital photo frame is a picture frame that displays digital photos without the need to print them or use a computer. A digital photo frame consists of three main parts: the LCD-panel, the PCB and the outside frame.

• Most digital photo frame displays the photos as a slideshow with an adjustable time interval, some come with remote controls. Some networked digital photo frame models can support wireless connections.

• Most digital photo frame supports multimedia content, including JPEG, movie clips recorded in a digital camera movie mode, MPEG video files and/or MP3 audio.

• Digital photo frame typically displays the pictures directly from a memory card, which allow users to directly upload pictures from your computer or cameras to the frame's memory via a USB connection.

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Options for Digital Frames

• Audio: Many digital frames now have small speakers so that they can play music with sideshows or as background music. All computer files have an extension (filename.ext); be sure your digital frame plays your audio file formats. The most common audio file formats have MP3, WMA and WAV extensions.

• Video: It didn"t take long for digital frame makers to add motion to the pictures. Again, the digital frame must have the software to play your video files; AVI, ASF, DAT, MP4 and WMV formats are very common.

• Refresh Rate: A term sometimes used to denote how often the image on a digital photo frame changes. This can vary from a few seconds to several minutes; most are adjustable.

• Bluetooth: Software that allows different components to communicate with each other. If your digital frame and phone are Bluetooth-compatible, you can download directly from your camera phone to your digital frame.

• Photo software: If you have prints, you can transform them to digital photo files. You'll need a computer and scanner. Art and imaging software is also a good idea; once the photo is scanned into a digital file, imaging software allows you to color correct, remove red-eye and generally have a lot of fun adjusting your pictures to look just the way you want them. It will take some time to learn all the software features, but practice still makes perfect.

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Selection of Digital Frames

• LCD resolution. Most digital picture frame models show images at 430 x 234 pixels, some of newer models support higher resolutions.

• Display aspect ratio. Most of digital picture frame models support 16:9 aspect ratio now, but some of the models use stretch mode which leads to loss of resolution.

• Adjustable functions such as slide show interval, contrast, brightness, etc

• Supported multimedia formats. The more formats a digital picture frame can support, the easier you upload your files.

• Memory card type requirement. Multi-types of memory card are preferred since some of memory cards are more expensive than others.

• Remote and wireless control. You can turn on or off the digital picture frame with a remote control.

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