What are Raspberry Pi digital photo frames and how do they work?
Raspberry Pi digital photo frames are at their most basic, a computer that’s attached to a display. Raspberry Pi computers are small computers that aren’t expensive and offer decent connectivity and computing power. While you’re not going to get all of the functionality of a laptop, you can find a solid middle point in terms of performance and price.
Raspberry Pi digital photo frames are relatively easy to set up and you have a lot of control over the final result. That being said, if this is your first time, it can all be a little confusing. You’re going to need to put together a list of items you’ll need to complete your DIY project. There are quite a few different Raspberry Pi models to choose from. They all have different features, performance, and components. Some offer Wi-Fi connectivity, others offer Bluetooth. They each have a different price according to what’s on offer, so make sure what you’re for.
Raspberry Pi digital frames work by connecting a storage device like a USB or SD card. This lets you store photos directly on the device, giving the Raspberry Pi digital frame quick access to all the stored photos. You can replace or exchange this storage device in the future. You’ll need a display to connect to the device. We suggest getting a Raspberry Pi display so that you don’t run into as many compatibility issues.
This monitor is connected to the Raspberry Pi computer with an HDMI cable. You can also connect a power supply, keyboard, mouse, etc., depending on the number of USB ports available on the computer. We usually recommend stopping here. You’ll only be able to send photos to the Raspberry Pi digital photo frame by USB/SD card. If you want to enable Wi-Fi features like syncing photos from Google Photos, it is possible – but requires more technical knowledge (coded instruction for the frame).
The result should be a small digital photo frame that you can load photos to by USB/SD card. They’re easy to use, simple enough to set up (with a couple of instructions). It’s a great DIY project with roughly the same cost as a normal premium digital photo frame. If you’re strictly going for value for money, this probably isn’t the best choice for you. It’s a relatively big-time investment and only results in a low to mid-range digital photo frame – but one you would have created by hand.
How do Raspberry Pi digital photo frames compare with the Pix-Star?
Raspberry Pi digital photo frames are generally quite basic when compared to what you’d get from most premium digital frames. This is quite a natural result as each brand of the digital frame has a company behind it with a sole focus on its products. Most brands like Pix-Star have been around for quite a long time too, so they’ve had a long time to refine and perfect their digital frames.
Unless you’ve got extensive experience with Raspberry Pi computers and programming them, you’re not likely to make something equivalent to the Pix-Star. This is because features like Wi-Fi & cloud storage are very complex to set up on the Raspberry Pi. Even if you were able to set these up, the value for money would make them difficult to justify over Pix-Star’s frames.
Display size and features are probably going to be vastly better on the Pix-Star digital photo frame. Pix-Star’s digital photo frames have either a 10-inch or 15-inch display – making them significantly larger than Raspberry Pi’s alternative. This gap is widened when you look at the value for money from Pix-Star’s frames when compared to what you’d get with a Raspberry Pi digital frame.
Pix-Star’s digital frames are extremely versatile choices for the modern home & family. You can send photos, videos, and audio messages to the Pix-Star frame from anywhere in the world. Their frames are easy to use, intuitive, and you have access to both a mobile app (Pix-Star Snap) & the web dashboard. Pix-Star’s frames can be remotely controlled through the web interface. You can adjust their settings, start slideshows, manage their storage, and much more. They offer excellent value for money and functionality to deliver what you’d expect from a smart device in 2021.
Can I make Raspberry Pi digital photo frames at home?
As long as you have the necessary parts & experience (or instructions), you should have no trouble making a Raspberry Pi digital photo frame at home. If you’re going to make a Raspberry Pi digital frame with simple USB/SD connectivity with a small display, it should only take you around an hour to do.
There are plenty of guides online for which Raspberry Pi to select, and the required parts to complete the job. You may need to spend some time getting familiar with the process or understanding the programming instructions for the computer (usually required for Wi-Fi-capable Raspberry Pi digital frames).
Can Raspberry Pi digital photo frames play videos?
Building a Raspberry Pi digital frame with video playback support is possible – though it can be a little complex. You might consider using open-source Raspberry Pi digital frame software to enable and support video playback – though you’ll need to necessary skills to go this route.
By contrast, most premium digital photo frames like the Pix-Star offer both audio & video playback support. Videos can be sent via the mobile app or by USB/SD card. Most of these features are very complex to set up on the Raspberry Pi digital photo frame – but it is possible.
Can I connect Raspberry Pi digital photo frames to my TV?
So long as your Raspberry Pi computer supports and is compatible with your TV, you’ll be able to use it as the dedicated display. You’ll need to make sure you have the required HDMI cables and ports on both devices, and the necessary software to support the connection. You might have to input a few lines of code (set instruction for the Raspberry Pi). You don’t need extensive experience in coding to do this as you often just need to copy and paste a couple of lines of code.
