Displaying
your photos in style.…
© 2016 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BOB SKIDMORE
CORRESPONDENT
We live in a digital world. Gone are the days of film
and videotape. Digital media seems to rule the world. So, what do we do to view
the old and the new media easily? The simple answer may be the use of a digital
frame. Such devices allow you to store your photos, and in some cases short
video clips, on some form of storage media and have them displayed on a small
portable flat screen. Features and reliability vary and depend on the make,
model and the price you’re willing to pay.
I’ve tested several models from various manufacturers
for this column. I decided to write about the NIXPLAY 15˝ DIGITAL FRAME, a frame I found to have the best quality,
phone support and bang for the buck.
NIXPLAY offers a wide selection, so, I narrowed my research to the non-wi-fi 15-inch
model with a 4 x 3 aspect ratio. Wi-fi models are also available that allow
interaction with numerous social media sites.
(TIP: 8˝,
10˝, 12˝ and an 18˝ with a 16 x 9 aspect ratio, non-wi-fi, models are also
available, as are Wi-fi models that link to the cloud.)
The 15˝ size seems to be the easiest to view and still
maintain a 4 x 3 aspect ratio, since most photographs use this ratio. The
screen is extremely sharp and features a very high-resolution display of 1024 x
768 pixels. While not being part of the Apple Retina family, it certainly has
the look of one. The instructions are easy to follow. Live phone support with
“knowledgable techs” is standard. I found that type of support lacking with many
other brands I tested. The frame accepts USB drives, SD/SDHC cards and plays
both photos and videos. The photos are based on the JPEG standard so transfers
from digital cameras, phones, iPads, scans, and saved social media pictures are
compatible. It also supports MPEG-4 and AVI720p video. Photos and video clips
can be intermixed. A setting allows alphabetical, date or shuffle sorting with
additional display settings including screen rotation, slideshow effects and
interval timings in several selectable increments of 3 seconds to one hour.
When a video clip pops up the interval setting is overridden by the length of
the clip. Adjustable motion sensing is also an option that allows the display’s
data to pause and the screen to go to black. When motion is once again detected
the screen returns to normal and the data continues where it left off.
You may
also opt to display the date and time in the bottom right of the screen, or
select a split screen calendar effect if you desire. A wireless remote, two
built-in 1.5 watt, speakers and headphone jack are included. This model is
designed around the 4 x 3 aspect ratio, however, a “fill screen” option is
selectable.
(TIP: Horizontal and vertical orientation can
be a problem with many of the other frames I tested. This unit displayed 99.9%
of the same material tested in other brands, in the correct horizontal or vertical
orientation. In the event you do encounter a problem it may be caused by the
photo clip’s pixel count being too large.)
I found the NIXPLAY
15˝ DISPLAY to be a great way to enjoy your photos. If you can’t scan your
old snapshots, many photo kiosks offer scanning services. This will permit
their inclusion. The frame includes a 8gb thumb drive, but can accept up to a
32gb storage media card or USB drive allowing for thousands of videos and
photos to be stored and displayed. The supplied instruction book is written in
plain, understandable English. Phone and email support is responsive and USA
based, something, if even available was not found in most other brands I
tested. It supports tabletop or wall mounting and a 5v DC switching power adapter is
supplied making it a world-wide product.
(TIP: The number of photos and videos that a
32gb memory device can store is determined by the pixel count of each photo or
the length of the video clip. I would suggest creating a backup of your frame
material in the event the media you use fails; You would also be well advised
to name each photo or clip making it easier to locate specific ones for other
purposes in future applications.)
GADGETEER’s RATING: ★★★★★
MSRP: $149.99 ~ 15˝ (4 x 3
aspect ratio)
Graphic
credits: Nixplay, Google Images
Bob Skidmore is a freelance
writer, who may be contacted at bob.thegadgeteer.skidmore@gmail.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent,
or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his
points of view and not those of the manufacturer. The manufacturer generally supplies
products at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE
GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as
not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings.
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