A digital frame is a slide show on the go

By Kim Komando
Gannett News Service

Picture frames have gone high- tech.

Digital models can store dozens of photos and let you display them as a slide show, adding narratives and music. And because the frame doesn't have to connect to a computer, you can position one anywhere.

Digital photo frames are costly. Expect to pay at least $150.

Here's a look at frames from four companies:

Ceiva's (www.ceiva.com) Digital Photo Receiver is an ideal gift for a nontechie family member. The frame has a 7.7-inch diagonal display and costs $150. It's unique because it downloads and stores photos from an Internet Web site.

First, you upload images to Ceiva's Web site. Then, the frame's built-in modem dials the site using a local number and transfers the images. This is useful because you could have kids upload photos from home and then let their grandparents' frame dial in to retrieve images.

Ceiva's frame stores a maximum of 30 pictures. They can be set to cycle as a slide show, and the interval between images can be set from five seconds to two hours. You also can add transitions between pictures, such as a dissolve.

You'll pay a $9.95 monthly subscription to store images and send them to the digital frame.

Frames also are available without a monthly subscription.

Pacific Digital's (www.pacificdigital.com, $450) MemoryFrame has a 10.4-inch diagonal display and stores as many as 80 pictures. There is a 5.6-inch model for $300. The smaller unit stores as many as 55 pictures.

MemoryFrame uses Universal Serial Bus (or USB) ports to transfer pictures. Pictures can be transferred from a digital camera, memory card reader or computer. MemoryFrame also comes with Digital PixMaster, which lets you create slide shows on your Windows PC that can be displayed in the frame.

Digital PixMaster allows you to adjust the background color, transition and duration of each picture. Built-in speakers allow you to add voice or music to your slide shows.

Vialta VistaFrame (www.vialta.com, $300) has a 6.8-inch screen. It's the smallest of the group reviewed and has the smallest storage capacity — eight images.

You can increase the storage by plugging in a CompactFlash, MemoryStick, SecureDigital, MultiMediaCard or SmartMedia memory card that allows the frame to display as many as 500 images.

The Wallflower2's 14.1-inch diagonal screen is the largest in this roundup. Cost ranges from $850 to $900. The Wallflower 2 (www.wallflower-systems.com) has a 30-gigabyte hard drive and built-in speakers. It also plays audio files and MPEG-format movies.

You can transfer images to the frame's hard drive via Ethernet cable, USB port or Wi-Fi wireless networking (802.11b). You also can set up an e-mail account from which to send and receive pictures. This allows friends and family to e-mail new photos directly to the unit.

Although digital picture frames cost more than their low-tech brethren, they are more flexible and appealing. The photo-sharing capabilities of the Ceiva and Wallflower 2 units are especially attractive.

Reach Komando at www.komando.com/newsletter.asp.