High Resolution Revolution

When digital cameras first came on the market, I was quite upset. I thought it was a very innovative idea, but I knew what was coming; I knew it would be the end of the fine art of photography, as I knew it. I could only imagine the future. Well, to my surprise, the future has arrived. Digital photo frames, the newest gadget for the holiday season, is here.

Digital photo frames are hitting the market hard. They are about the same size and shape of normal frames. The frame holds a LCD screen, which displays the picture. The digital frame automatically rotates through digital photos thereby putting your treasured memories on display without having hundreds of prints made or purchasing overloads of frames that clutter your home. They are the perfect gift for anyone, even those technologically-challenged relatives, we know we all have. These frames are designed to enable people with no computer, digital cameras, or computer skills to benefit from the digital boom. The idea is that a technology savvy person buys the frame and sets up an account and passes the frame on.

Digital frames are easy to use; simply plug it in to an outlet and a phone line. The simple press of a button connects your frame to the Internet using a dial up modem. Once connected to the Internet, digital photos can be downloaded to the frame by the online account holder. After the files are downloaded, the frame automatically disconnects from the Internet. The frame has a timer in it, turning it off at night and back on in the morning. You do not need to give this gift to someone who has a computer. After the frame is set up it will automatically download new photos that you post on a common site. You can change the photos in “mom’s” living room from across the world.

Digital frames are similar to a computer, but are simpler because they only have to perform a single task. The CPU in the frame is much like the one you would find in a small hand held electronic game. Digital frames have some ROM memory, used to store the operating system and the photo files. ROM also makes it so when you unplug the unit no data will be lost. The frame contains a 33.6 Kbps modem to connect to the Internet and download your photos. The display is a passive-matrix liquid crystal display with a viewing area ranging from 1 to 19 inches. LCD screens are thin enough that the digital frame isn’t much thicker than the ordinary frame.

When purchasing a digital frame, a larger physical size is not always better. The two key factors in the quality of your frame depend on the size and resolution. Common resolutions are 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, and 1280 x 1024. The image quality will decrease, as the screen gets larger, because the available pixels are spread over a larger area. Higher numbers are always better, but when comparing remember to take the size of the screen into account. Many digital frames have a way to adjust the brightness and some frames even auto-adjust, making your picture visible all hours of the day. You might also want to make sure your new frame has the option to be free standing or mounted on a wall. Although these frames are amazing, they are not as cheap as ordinary frames so you want them to be as flexible as possible.

Whether you are buying a digital frame for yourself, or trying to keep in touch with long distance loved ones, your choices are endless. This is just the beginning of a new market for anyone who loves to take pictures. Digital frames available now already offer so many options, from new software and touch screens to remote controls and built-in clocks. What will the future of digital frames hold? Frames with sound affects? Maybe even a frame that prints a picture directly out the back. With technology advancing so quickly, only time can tell.

– Kelly Merritt