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Reviewed by
A.M.D.A.
, Intermediate
Price Paid
$0.00
at A gift.
Photography Experience
2-5 years
, Outdoor
Summary
This is an excellent digital picture frame. It has a big screen, so viewing is easy. Many file formats are compatible, including PDFs/video/audio and PowerPoint slides. However, I have had lots of trouble getting music and video to work.
There are also numerous options for customizing: Slide-transitions, multiple-picture display, volume level, zoom, image rotating, and that's just a few.
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A bundled conversion software comes in the frame’s built-in memory. According to the box and manual, its installation is necessary for converting PDFs and PowerPoint slides. But after copying to a computer, I found that the software would not work!
So, what had to be done was go to SmartParts’s website, enter the support section, then type in the product number. The “OptiPix” that comes in the frame’s memory DOES NOT WORK! Download the new version from their website.
This "SmartParts DeskTop" also permits resizing photos to optimum proportions for the digital frame. Hundreds of images can then fit in the built-in memory.
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The "weaknesses" which I listed aren't that serious a problem, just small facts which I find inconvenient. The one which I despise the most is probably the frame's sluggish response.
Overall, this is a high-quality product which I'd definitely recommend.
Strengths
• Large, 15 inch, easy-to-see display.
• Photos look rich and full, no weird color casts.
• Absolutely no pixelation.
• Quiet.
• Good-looking.
• Various settings to choose from, such as increasing screen brightness, tint, saturation, etc. There is even an option for black & white!
• Alarm clock.
• Music in the slide-show background.
• 256 MB built-in memory, which is enough for storing hundreds of optimized images.
Weaknesses
• The display, although large, is of a relatively low resolution. When zooming in on a photo, it looks slightly fuzzy.
• Bundled software issue. (See the “summary” section of my review).
• Trouble getting music & video to work.
• Videos often look "jerky". (Slow screen refresh rate).
• Digital frame takes about 10 seconds to power up.
• Remote control requires an absolute line-of-sight to function. If it isn’t pointed directly at the IR receptor on the frame, then it won't work.
• No instant response when pressing a button on the remote, there is a delay of 1-5 seconds depending on the action chosen. Switching between photos takes about 1-3 seconds, exact time differs according to the file size.
• No receptor for attaching ear-phones/head-phones. Audio comes out strictly through the built-in speakers.
• Pricey.
Similar Products Used
No other digital picture frames.
Customer Service
Had no problems downloading the "SmartParts DeskTop" from their site. However, I wish they would mention in the user-manual that the software download had to be done from their website, not from the digital frame.
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