A new digital photo service has been launched which scans in consumer's photos and sticks 'em on a digi-frame to save the consumer the trouble.

Perfect for the lazy, or technically inept, the Digipix Memories service will scan in up to 100 hard copy photographs to be displayed on a 7-inch digital photo frame.

From Digipix: "Customers simply choose their best-loved printed pictures and post them in a pre-paid envelope provided with the gift pack. Digipix Memories will then transfer these onto an SD memory card and return this - and the photos - back within 10 working days".

The frame offers a remote control and slide show functionality. The entire gift pack costs ?49 - plus P&P - and is available now over at http://www.digipixmemories.com.

Tags: Cameras Digital photo frames Digipix Memories

Digipix Memories offers photo scanning and digi-frame gift pack originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:00:46 +0000

Motorola has launched a new range of digital photo frames, including dual display frames and a Wi-Fi model that allows images to be sent directly to the frame by email.

The LS1000W offers a 10.4-inch display, boasts 512 MB built-in memory, MP3 player and speakers, as well as an alarm clock and calendar function.

The ?200 frame gets Wi-Fi connectivity as well as content from the thousand FrameChannel online channels that can be viewed on the device including internet radio.

The ?80 LS420 Duo offers two 4.2-inch displays, one of which can be selected to view calendar and clock info. The LS720D offers the same theory, but larger 7-inch displays as well as MP3 playback, speakers and a remote control for ?130.

Other models include the LS700, a ?50 basic 7-incher and the LS1000 for ?150 that's basically the same as the other 10-incher but minus the Wi-Fi. The new range is available at Argos.

Tags: Cameras Digital photo frames Motorola Wi-Fi Argos

Motorola launches digi-frames with dual displays and Wi-Fi originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:23:26 +0000

"Oh that's a nice picture" you hear one of your family or mates say when they are around your house looking at a photo on your mantle piece. "Can I have a copy?"

You've then got the hassle of finding that picture, printing it out and then probably sending it to them as the whole process has taken so long they've given up and gone home. Sony is hoping to cut out the waiting with the launch of a digital photo frame with a built-in printer, so you can create and deliver the print there and then.

Sounds great, but is it?

The DPP-F700 sports a 7-inch, 16:10 WVGA screen with a resolution 800 x 480 and can print 4 x 6-inch, 300 x 300 dpi photos in 45 seconds.

The frame, which features a large black boarder offers touch-sensitive controls, that like other frames on the market, appear only on touch, however for some reason Sony has opted to use a different non-gloss material - a matt plastic it seems, which doesn't work.

Controls allow you to navigate through the basic menu system and here you can edit images before printing with options including enlarge, reduce, crop, date stamp on/off, border/borderless as well as brightness, contrast, hue, and sharpness adjustment.

Images can be transferred onto the frame via USB from a PC, and there is an array of memory card slots around the side including support for SD, MMC, Compact Flash and xD.

Failing that, there is 1GB of on-board storage. Storage levels will vary, with Sony boasting 2000 images as a headline grabbing number, but as this is only at a 2-megapixel resolution, expect this number to be around 200 if you're using a 7-megapixel or higher camera.

The DPP-F700 uses dye-sublimation as the printing technology, the print quality was good, not amazing, however they were able to be handled straight away when we played with the printer at a trade show.

The concept is perfect, unfortunately the realisation isn’t. The biggest problem isn't the quality of prints, or the software interface, it's the form factor.

As you might imagine adding a printer into a photo frame will add some bulk to a photo frame. Sony has surprisingly done a pretty good job of hiding this underneath the frame (see pictures) and the end result therefore is that it looks like you've perched a regular digital photo frame on to a box, no problem there.

The problem, however, is that rather than then put the photo paper tray within this box or to the side, it sits rather awkwardly out the front giving the game away that there is a printer hiding inside.

Yes it is detachable, but that's not the point. There is no way you could place it anywhere like a window ledge or mantle piece because of the width of the overall footprint. So you might as well give up on the idea altogether and use a small compact printer.

?

Verdict:

In the future, if we are still printing photos, all digital photo frames will have a printer built in. It makes sense, it's a nice idea and we can see why someone at Sony approved the making of the DPP-F700.

However, it seems that "approving person" walked away after they were pitched the idea, as the end result neither looks good or has a form factor that would make it suitable (from our brief play) for where it should live in the living room.

This really is one of those moments where the end result could have been so much better.

The DPP-F700 digital photo frame-printer will be available in the States for about $200 in January.

Tags: Cameras Sony Digital photo frames Printers Photo printers Sony S-Frame DPP-F700

Sony S-Frame DPP-F700 digital photo frame - First Look originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Sony has recently announced a new digital photo frame?with a built-in printer, but what does it actually look like in the flesh? Pocket-lint was on hand to snap a photo gallery when it made a quick pit-stop in New York.

The new?Sony digital S-Frame DPP-F700?is an all-in-one device that gets a 7-inch display with an 800 x 480 resolution and can print 4 x 6-inch, 300 x 300 dpi photos in 45 seconds.

The idea is that you'll be able to print out a photo when you get the usual comment of "Oh I love this one, can I have a copy?"

You'll be able to edit the images in frame, meaning you won't have to worry about a PC, however the large form factor and ugly-looking paper tray means this is unlikely to find space on your mantle piece.

The DPP-F700 digital photo frame-printer will be available in the States for about $200 in January.

Tags: Cameras Sony Digital photo frames Printers Photo printers Sony S-Frame DPP-F700

PHOTOS: Sony S-Frame DPP-F700 originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:07:28 +0000

Sony has announced the launch of a new multi-tasking digital photo frame - the S-Frame DPP-F700 - that offers a built-in photo printer.

The all-in-one device gets a 7-inch display with an 800 x 480 resolution and can print 4 x 6-inch, 300 x 300 dpi photos in 45 seconds.

The frame allows the user to edit images before printing with options including enlarge, reduce, crop, date stamp on/off, border/borderless as well as brightness, contrast, hue, and sharpness adjustment.

Images can be transferred onto the frame via USB from a PC, with support for Sony's memory card formats as well as SD, MMC, Compact Flash and xD.

Complete with remote control, the DPP-F700 digital photo frame-printer will be available in the States for about $200 in January.

Related links:

• PHOTOS - Hands on photo gallery

Tags: Cameras Sony Digital photo frames Printers Photo printers Sony S-Frame DPP-F700

Sony digital S-Frame DPP-F700 offers built-in photo printer originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:29:18 +0100

Jessops has announced the launch of two new digital photo frames to add to its range in time for the Christmas shopping frenzy.

The own-brand photo frames come in 8-inch and 10.4-inch screen sizes with a black frame and have multi-card slots for SDHC, SD, MMC, CF, MS, XD as well as USB.

Both offer 2GB of internal memory, auto rotate functionality for portrait pics and a "magic window function" that displays multiple images at one go.

Offering a 4:3 display ratio, the frames will also playback video and MP3 music in slideshow mode, as well as boasting a clock with alarm and a calendar.

Complete with remote controls, the new frames are priced at ?99 and ?139 and are available now from stores or online.

Tags: Cameras Digital photo frames Jessops

Jessops offers two new digi photo-frames originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:28:01 +0100

HANNspree is tacking the Christmas shopping market from a new angle - an all–in-one Photo Alarm Clock.

Described as "the perfect bedside gadget", as you'd expect it features alarm clock functionality with three alarms and snooze and sleep options, a photo viewer as well as an FM radio and digital music player.

The 4.3-inch colour LCD screen can be set to display seven different clock face styles, a calendar or photos with a slideshow option while USB connectivity means file transfer for photos, as well as MP3 or WAV music files is said to be easy.

The HANNspree Photo Alarm Clock is available now from www.misco.co.uk for ?44.99.

Tags: Gadgets HANNspree Alarm clocks Cameras Digital photo frames Misco Radios

HANNspree Photo Alarm Clock launches originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:16:21 +0100

While some have pitched the HP digital photo frame as a tablet beating Apple to the punch, it's worth starting by staying this isn't a touchscreen tablet device in the slightest.

In fact talking to HP, they actually moved away from making it touchscreen based on focus group feedback saying that such a move would make the screen dirty.

Why? Because while the Dreamscreen can and will let you do more things that it perhaps should, its core principle function is to be a digital photo frame, and from our brief experience of it, a very good one at that.

There are two models in the range, the Dreamscreen 110 which is a 10.2-inch LED backlit model and the Dreamscreen 130, a 13.3-inch model with standard LCD tech. From a software point of view both are identical in their offering. It really is just screen size and screen technology that stand them apart.

In reality that means that the smaller screen comes across more vivid, brighter and crisper, but it's not a deal breaker for either device.

What it is not, is OLED. HP say that it would be possible, but cite costs for not choosing that technology. Rather than a mind-blowing screen as found in the Kodak OLED offering, instead you get a frame packed full of features.

Around the back both models feature a memory card reader for all the usual formats. There are no surprises and all major formats are supported. Failing that you can also store images on the 2GB of internal memory or furthermore stream photos and videos via a PC over a wireless network as, yep you guessed it, the frames sport Wi-FI connectivity.

Streaming support is currently rather limited, however HP say they have big plans. Those plans include NAS drive and Media Server support as well as Mac however, the latter not really being a focus for now.

Everything is controlled via a touch sensitive panel on the front of the unit, which is simple and responsive. When not in use the buttons disappear into the gloss black frame. We say frame, but like the company's new Envy range of laptops, the front of the digital photo frame is a single piece of glass. Unlike Kodak you won't be adding your own frame to this unit.

Failing the touch sensitive buttons, you can also use the included credit card sized remote control that rather nicely slots into the back of the frame when not in use. It's a nice touch and will save you from losing it.

Get past the hardware and rather than just offer you a way to show your photos (don't worry you can do that) there is a plethora of apps and features on board.

HP are clearly seeing a future in apps with talk of an SDK for developers and running a similar model to its recently announced printer with apps.

However this is day one so your choice is limited. Running a Linux OS, although you'll never see it, the frame is quick and responsive as you slide through the carousel menu system opting for things like weather and video playback. It also means that it will be to receive updates over the Wi-Fi connection.

Talking of which. Well that's so you can get the latest weather stats (provided by weather bug), stream from your PC, but also connect to the internet to get images from your Snapfish gallery (HP's own photo printing service) and more interestingly Facebook. Disappointingly there isn't Flickr support.

The Facebook app allows you to see status updates, event and more importantly for a digital photo frame, your and your friend's photo galleries. Now you can see your mates pissed in the bar in your living room. Genius.

Besides viewing images - of which you there are a number of options from displaying your photos with a clock, calendar, in varying effects and the such like - the frame also supports video playback, as long as it's in the right encoded format. In the US you'll also be able to access the Pandora music streaming service so it effectively becomes a radio as well.

Verdict:
Digital photo frames are two a penny at the moment with virtually every manufacturer offering what they claim in the latest and greatest ways of showing off your digital images.

Interestingly HP seems to have been able to achieve something that could prove rather exciting, in the rather dull world of digital photo frames.

Don't get us wrong, we love the concept and already have a couple (from other manufacturers) in the house, however with the Dreamscreen the shift towards a "fourth screen" is even more apparent.

With a device like this offering weather, Facebook status updates and other such social networking experiences, we could easily see a Twitter client, Spofity and other apps coming quickly.

The only downside is that without that touchscreen interface or a battery for that matter (you'll have to have it plugged into the wall), this isn't the tablet computer you perhaps want, but really just a rather impressive digital photo frame.

Tags: Cameras Digital photo frames HP HP dreamscreen 110 HP dreamscreen 130

HP Dreamscreen digital photo frame - First Look originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:32:14 +0100

HP has released a new range of digital photo frames and Pocket-lint was on hand to snap the new frames in action ahead of their official launch on Thursday.

The new models will come in 10.2- and 13.3-inch varieties and are on sale in the US from Thursday priced at $249 and $299.

Although no official plans have been confirmed for the UK as yet, a spokesman for the company told Pocket-lint that there were plans to bring the digital photo frames to the UK.

Running Linux, the new models, called the Dreamscreen, ditch Flickr support over Facebook, allowing users to check their status, events and view photos.

The Linux operating system also allows for further apps and the promise of more with the interface being quick and nimble to respond.

The frames sport 2GB of internal memory, Wi-Fi connectivity and a remote control, which fits in to the back of the display as you can see from the pictures.

Interestingly the 10.2-inch version is LED backlit while the 13.3-inch version is regular LCD technology.

Tags: Cameras Digital photo frames HP HP dreamscreen 110 HP dreamscreen 130 Photos

PHOTOS: HP Dreamscreen digital photo frame originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:40:29 +0100

HP has released two new digital photo frames on Thursday that promise to be more than just your average digital photo frame.

The new models, called the Dreamscreen 110 and Dreamscreen 130, will come in 10.2- and 13.3-inch variants and feature 2GB of on-board memory, Wi-Fi, memory card reader, and the ability to stream photo galleries from Facebook and the company's Snapfish photo service.

Built using a Linux OS, the frames will also promise movie support, Pandora music streaming, weather, and the promise of more apps in the future.

Users will be able to stream content from a PC over the wireless network, while support for streaming from a NAS drive or media server is due later a spokesperson told us.

Control is either via a touch sensitive interface on the front of the frame or via a remote control that tucks into the back of the device.

The 10.2-inch screen will be LED backlit, however the 13-inch will be standard LCD. Both have a 800 x 480 resolution.

"We see this as much more than a digital photo frame", the lead product manager told us in a candid interview before outlining a number of possibilities in store for the future. This includes the ability to request prints directly from the frame as well as offering an SDK to allow programmers to develop dedicated apps for the frames.

The two new models will be available in the US from Thursday priced at $249 for the 10.2-inch frame and $299 for the 13.3-inch model.

HP confirmed to Pocket-lint that the frames would be coming to the UK, however didn't have a date at the time.

Tags: Cameras Digital photo frames HP HP dreamscreen 110 HP dreamscreen 130

HP Dreamscreen digital photo frames bring Facebook photos to your living room originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:04:50 +0100

AgfaPhoto has announced its latest range of slimline digital photo frames with seven models angling to appear on Christmas lists later this year.

The range is said to be "super slim" at 1.3cm wide while for ease of use the power and connectivity ports are positioned in the low level strut behind the display.

There are three multimedia frames in the range, sized at 7-, 8- and 10-inches that, as well as a card slot for SD, MMC, MS memory cards, have up to a 1GB internal memory. As well as Jpeg images, these models play MJPEG and MPEG4 videos and MP3 audio files.

All the frames boast low energy consumption and an auto on/off function while the multimedia models get a night and day light sensor mode.

The frames start at ?49.99 for a 7-incher through to ?129.99 for the 10-inch multimedia frame effort and will be available from Argos.

Tags: Cameras Digital photo frames Agfaphoto Gadgets

AgfaPhoto launches seven new digi-frames originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:57:40 +0100