Photo frames hadn’t changed much over the centuries until computers revolutionized the way photographs were displayed. You are no longer restricted to a single photograph per frame; You can even take your digital frame with you wherever you go. Simply take a picture with your cell phone, digital camera, or webcam and connect your device to the digital photo frame. Many frames even feature memory chips that save your images directly to the digital photo frame, freeing up your device for other projects. Other devices invite you to store your images on secure online servers.
Digital photo frames come in a variety of sizes up to 20 inches. You can even clip the smallest digital photo frames to your key chain. Most digital photo frames use the JPG format, although some manufacturers now allow GIFs and other formats. The best digital frames use sophisticated software that allows you to run a slideshow or add special features like bumper stickers and subtitles.
Most seven-inch digital photo frames display images at 480 x 234 pixels. These images may stretch to fit the screen, so expect some issues with aspect ratios. For best results, check the digital photo frame image to make sure the device has not stretched the image to the sides. If so, crop the image so that the digital frame magnifies the subject in a complementary way. Other images may appear pixelated or “boxy” due to resolution issues. Some digital photo frames put a black border around the images or crop them.
The market for digital photo frames has exploded with new and exciting products. Several major companies now offer digital frames, including Kodak, Sony, Polaroid, and Ceiva. The framework is actually a simple, stand-alone computer. Each frame contains a CPU or Central Processing Unit, memory, a modem to connect to the Internet, a screen, and some controls, such as brightness and an on/off switch. These small memory chips or computers use an operating system similar to those used on PDAs and electrical test units.
In 2008, some digital photo frames made in China and Hong Kong were infected with a Trojan virus in the product’s internal memory card storage drives. There have been no notable security threats with digital photo frames since this incident. Digital frames are now safe, secure, and perhaps the easiest way to display all the photographs and stills of your life.