Is the Kodax digital photo frame any good?
The Kodax digital photo frame (a.k.a. Kodak digital frame) has the power of a big brand name behind it. This can often be a good thing, though it’s not always the case. Kodax digital photo frames have a high standard to live up to – can these frames do it?
Firstly, these frames are offline. That means you don’t get any features or functions related to Wi-Fi or cloud capabilities. You’re losing out on a lot of what makes digital frames versatile for a variety of families, homes, and individuals.
The only way to send photos to the Kodax digital photo frame is via USB/SD card. You have to manually load the photos in the order you want them to display on the frame. It can be quite a time-consuming task, especially if you need to edit your pictures to match the frame’s awkward 16:9 aspect ratio. This process adds a big learning curve or stepping stone for elderly users and anyone that’s not very tech-savvy. It often means you’ll need to spend all that time editing and loading photos onto a compatible USB/SD card and giving it to your grandparents.
Display resolution is quite good and on the level of some of the better digital photo frames, but the Kodax digital photo frame is let down by its aspect ratio. 16:9 ratios are not good for displaying photos. While they might situationally be better for playing videos, digital “photo” frames aren’t designed to focus on video playback – and even then, frames with a 4:3 aspect ratio are often better at videos too. You’ll find most of your pictures need to be cropped or are boxed in by unsightly black bars around the sides of the photos. It can quickly ruin the otherwise immersive experience you could get with the 4:3 aspect ratio.
In terms of features and functions, Kodax digital photo frames are limited much like any other budget frame – just a little more expensive than most budget frames. Depending on your needs and situation, it might be better to save up a little longer and get a more premium frame with Wi-Fi and cloud compatibility. The massive boost in functionality and versatility is well worth the bigger investment, and improved durability and viewing experience leave you satisfied for much longer.
How does the Kodax digital photo frame compare to the Pix-Star?
Pix-Star’s digital photo frame is one of the best on the market. Unlike the Kodax digital photo frame, it’s a fully Wi-Fi and cloud-capable digital frame. You get free-for-life cloud storage and related features like web albums (connecting social media accounts’ photo albums and displaying them on your frame), remote control, and easy-to-export backups.
Wi-Fi connectivity introduces the ability to send pictures to your Pix-Star in a myriad of ways, including email, the Pix-Star Snap mobile app, the web interface, and connecting web albums. This makes it quick and easy to send pictures and other media from wherever you are in the world – to all connected frames in the family.
You have finer control over the play order of photos and videos in slideshows, letting you display new photos exclusively, or more frequently. You can select which albums you’d like to include in slideshows and can start a slideshow with one button-press from the main menu. The combination of these features with the smooth user interface and fluid app/web interface makes it a great frame for elderly users and large families.
You get a very versatile 4:3 aspect ratio and a high-resolution display with adjustable color and brightness settings. Photos taken on most smartphones and even cameras will display without being cropped or boxed in – improving immersion and the overall viewing experience.
Pix-Star’s digital photo frames support multimedia playback and even let you play audio notes (and the audio that comes with videos) thanks to the frame’s inbuilt speakers. These frames are also wall-mountable and hangable. You’ll get an attachable stand that’s sturdy and does a great job at hiding the power cable.
All in all, the Pix-Star frame is one of the most versatile and functional on the market. If it’s within your budget’s reach, it’s a great decision. You get a drastic increase in features, usability, and durability, without such a drastic price increase.
Does the Kodax digital photo frame use Wi-Fi?
Kodax digital photo frames are offline. They work through a combination of USB/SD card compatibility and a “plug and play” function that lets you view photos directly from the connected USB/SD card. These frames can’t connect to Wi-Fi or mobile networks and therefore don’t include any cloud-related features and functions. You also can’t connect to the frame via Bluetooth.
How many photos can the Kodax digital photo frame hold?
This depends on the size of your photos. Kodax digital photo frames have 8GB of internal storage and assuming an average photo size of ~1MB, you can store around 8,000 photos on the frame. Make sure the photos are in a supported format and that the connected USB is formatted to FAT. You might need to copy the photos on the USB across to internal storage to play them (as there are sometimes issues reading the photos directly off the frame).
Can I play videos on the Kodax digital photo frame?
Kodax digital photo frames support basic audio and video playback. Make sure they are in a supported format and match the frame’s 16:9 aspect ratio and 1280×800 resolution. There are some issues with video clips playing upside down, but you need to test it out first to make sure.
Does the Kodax digital photo frame have a mobile app?
Kodax digital photo frames do not have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities. Even if there was a mobile app, there would be no way to connect to it. If you want to send photos to your phones, you need to load them onto a compatible USB/SD card and follow the standard process for viewing them on the frame.
Can I mount the Kodax digital photo frame on the wall?
You can hang the Kodax digital photo frame on the wall via the hanging holes on the frame’s back. There is no standard VESA mount (more secure and versatile) that many top frames like the Pix-Star have.
