What are the best digital photo frames for families?
When picking the best digital photo frames for families, you want something that can easily cater to all the individuals without being too complex for elderly users and anyone not so tech-savvy. Pix-Star’s digital photo frames are excellent choices for families as they’re designed with families and elderly users in mind. This is shown by their smooth user interface that feels familiar across multiple generations – perfect for a big family.
Tons of features make sending pictures, videos, and audio messages quick and simple – no matter where you are in the world. You can go the traditional method and load pictures to any Pix-Star digital photo frame by USB/SD card. It’s a great user-friendly offline method that allows slideshows to be started directly from the USB/SD card.
Pix-Star created and lead the development of digital photo frames with email addresses. Each Pix-Star frame has a unique email address that lets you send pictures over email and mobile app. Pictures need to be added as email attachments and can be sent to multiple frames’ emails at the same time. These received photos can be set to automatically accept and display the moment that land.
The Pix-Star Snap mobile app lets you easily send up to 250 pictures to multiple frames in one go. Additionally, you can send videos and audio messages to multiple frames at the same time too. This versatility combines well with the intuitive interface of the app to always give you an effective photo-sharing option.
Perhaps Pix-Star’s most unique feature is the web interface. You can import photos directly to your frame from your computer’s storage. These photo albums can also be imported from social media profiles and photo-sharing sites. Supported sites include Instagram, Facebook, Google Photos, Dropbox, Google Drive, and more. If you add a new photo to an already-synced album, the new photos will be automatically synced and updated to all connected frames. Learn how to send photos from Facebook to your digital photo frame here.
Pix-Star’s bright and vivid display shows diverse slideshow with easily controllable settings. The frame’s settings can be controlled and adjusted directly on the frame, or remotely through the interface. You can remotely start slideshows, update firmware, manage cloud and local storage, and much more. The display is immersive and well-balanced, making you forget that you’re looking at a digital photo frame.
Finally, free-for-life cloud storage means all of your precious memories are kept safe within reach. Cloud storage for all connected frames (you can manage up to 25 Pix-Star frames from a single user account. Cloud storage is often a paid feature with many other premium frames like the Nixplay and Skylight frames. It’s offered free on the Pix-Star and comes with more storage than most other frames. It’s a feature that truly sets the Pix-Star frame apart and gives it great command and functionality for big families that are spread out.
What are the best digital photo frame features for grandparents?
The ability to remotely control your grandparents’ digital photo frames is an essential feature – especially if they don’t do well with new devices and technology. Unfortunately, remote control functionality isn’t a broadly offered feature and is often only found on premium digital frames like the Pix-Star. You should be able to remotely start slideshows, manage existing slideshows, link new photos, manage cloud and local storage, etc., for effective functionality.
Another essential feature for grandparents is the user interface. Menus need to be shallow and easy to navigate. Many elderly users struggle with a touch interface (and they’re quite a bit less durable & more expensive) so you’d best avoid them. The remote control should have easy to press (tactile) and have buttons that are easy to distinguish. You need enough range that they don’t need to be right in front of the frame to view and browse slideshows.
You should be able to send photos to digital photo frames from anywhere – especially for elderly users that want to be involved in family life. You don’t want to have to wait for the next family visit just to hand over a USB/SD card with all the photo updates. You need options. Essentials include USB/SD card support, sending photos to the frame from your phones (usually through a dedicated mobile app), sending photos through a web interface (and from social media sites), and sending pictures via email.
How to best set up digital photo frames?
Start by connecting to Wi-Fi and getting your frame online. This is usually done when you first turn it on and start up the frame. You’ll often be guided through the process by the setup wizard and most premium frames can be set up in just a few short minutes.
If your frame works with a mobile app, you’ll need to add it to the app. It’s often easily done by adding your frame’s unique email address (as is the case with the Pix-Star), but some apps don’t work by sending to the frame’s unique email address (they work over other direct connections like Bluetooth).
You then need to register the digital photo frame through the web portal. This unlocks features like cloud storage and remotely managing your frame. It’s very simple and you’ll usually just need your frame’s serial number, email, or login information. It only takes a minute or two to do and then you’ll have full use of the frame.
The final step in setting up a digital photo frame is mounting. Many digital frames like the Pix-Star can be wall-mounted using either the hanging holes or a standard VESA mount. Alternatively, you can rest it on a flat surface using the attachable stand that most digital photo frames come with.
Can the best digital photo frames play audio?
If the frame has inbuilt speakers, it’s usually a clear sign that audio playback is supported. Audio notes are usually also limited by supported length. This means that you’ll struggle to find frames that can play audio messages longer than 2-minutes – with the vast majority offering significantly less than that. Some premium digital frames like the Pix-Star have a web radio & music function and can connect to external speakers easily via USB or through a 3.5mm audio jack connection.
Are the best digital photo frames worth the higher price?
It’s worth spending more to buy a premium digital photo frame. This is because the leap in versatility, performance, and functionality is far more significant than the price increase. The result is that you get a frame that can comfortably handle all the photo-sharing in the family without leaving elderly users out. Just make sure the frame can work offline when needed and can receive pictures by USB/SD card. This gives you a robust and versatile set of options and creates excellent value for money when compared to cheaper and lower-quality digital photo frames.
