By Irene Tham

LIKE flat-screen TVs, digital photo frames are fast becoming must-haves in modern homes. With new features, they make great talking points for guests and will make an ideal gift for this holiday season.

Consumers are spoilt for choice this year. First, there are many more brands to choose from: big boys Sony, Samsung and Philips have all jumped on the bandwagon.

Second, new functions such as video, audio, high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) output, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities are included. Users are now able to create slide shows, play back multimedia files and transfer pictures from networked computers. What took them so long?

Good news: memory card slots, supporting all kinds of memory card formats, and universal serial bus data port are now basic features.

The best part? The frames have become cheaper with the basic 7-inch model going for as low as $99, such as the Viewsonic DPX704WH and a local brand called the iSmart digital photo frame. One year ago, a basic 7-inch model was going for twice as much.

Still, there are some guidelines to follow when selecting the perfect frame.

Buying tips

Go for 640 x 480 pixel resolution or higher

The larger the screen size, the higher the resolution should be.

If the information is not printed on the product box, the manufacturer may have something to hide. Do not even consider the product, no matter how cheap the frame is. Pictures may appear pixilated even on the smallest 7-inch sized frame.

Those with a shoestring budget may want to consider the Viewsonic DPX704WH ($99), which has a decent 800 x 480 pixels resolution.

The 10-inch Viewsonic DPX1004WH sports a 1,024 x 600 pixel resolution and is priced at $279.

Check the aspect ratio

Digital photo frames come in one of two aspect ratios (the proportion of a TV screen?s width to its height) - 4:3 or 15:9.

If you have a point-and-shoot digital camera, frames with the 4:3 aspect ratio have the best fit.

Most 8-inch models - such as the newly launched Samsung SPF-85V ($239) and the Philips 8FF3FPW ($259) - come in the 4:3 aspect ratio, making them the sweet spot for digital photo frames.

However, if you like the "widescreen" feel of frames with the 15:9 aspect ratio, the Sony DPF-V700 ($299) is unrivalled in picture quality and design.

There is one setback though: "Widescreen" frames automatically crop the top and bottom of your horizontal photos to fill the screen.

The 7-inch Sony DPF-V700 allows you to either fit pictures to screen (with the top and bottom of the image cropped off) or show the entire picture (with black borders at the side).

Philips, on the other hand, has an interesting piece of technology called RadiantColor to solve aspect ratio mismatches.

The program built into the 8-inch Philips 8FF3FPW extends the colour on the edges of a photo instead of displaying the standard black borders when pictures are not in the 4:3 aspect ratio.

More than picture perfect

Besides superior image quality, the modern savvy user also looks out for ease of use, specifically wireless and multimedia features.

The Sony DPF-V700 works with an optional Bluetooth adapter to allow images to be zipped wirelessly from computers and mobile phones. The frame also sports an HDMI output port for images to be displayed on compatible HDTV screens.

Digital photo frames with Wi-Fi, such as the Samsung SPF-85V and soon-to-launch D-Link Wireless Internet Photo Frame DSM-210, play video and MP3 files.

Its touch-sensitive backlid menu bar is built onto the bezel. When inactive for 10 seconds, the back light disappears. An internal rechargeable battery can get you about 40 minutes of slideshow presentation on the Sony DPF-V700.

The D-Link Wireless Internet Photo Frame DSM-210, available next year, displays photos "pulled" from the home computer or photo-sharing websites such as Flickr, Picasa and Facebook.

itham@sph.com.sg

Frame it

Viewsonic DPX704WH
$99

This fairly basic 7-inch frame is a good bargain considering the sharp pictures from a 800 x 480 pixel resolution.

Its built-in speaker lets you play your MP3 music from storage card formats such as Compact Flash and Secure Digital. You can also play slide shows and video on it.

Sony DPF-V700
$299

The most expensive digital photo frame of its size - and understandably so - this 7-inch frame not only displays brilliant images but also sports a cool design and great attention to details.

For instance, the backlit 'Sony' logo on the bezel can be turned off - overlooked by most brands including Samsung and Philips.

Also, the Sony model does not have the cheap plastic feel of most frames, including those priced above $200.

What's more, it works with an optional Bluetooth adapter to allow images to be zipped wirelessly from computers and mobile phones.

Samsung SPF-85V
$239

Eight-inch frames like this are new in the market. They are ideal for point-and-shoot digital cameras because they fit the 4:3 aspect ratio. No more cropped images or black borders.

Its built-in Wi-Fi capability allows images to be transferred wirelessly from the computer or mobile phone.

A touch-activated backlit menu bar built into the bezel allows users to create a slide show or play back video and MP3 files with ease.

An internal rechargeable battery supplies about 40 minutes of slide show presentation.

All products available at major stores.

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life on 10 December 2008.

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