How do digital video frames work?
Digital video frames aren’t only dedicated to playing videos. They usually come in the form of standard digital photo frames that include video playback & support as an additional feature. Digital frames that only play videos would struggle to compete against TVs, laptops, and tablets as they wouldn’t match their versatility. By contrast, digital photo frames that can play videos still have a unique offering that’s hard for most other home devices to compete with.
Digital video frames can usually come in either an offline or a Wi-Fi-enabled version. The Wi-Fi digital video frames usually come with a mobile app that lets you connect and send videos directly to the frame. The offline digital video frames can usually only receive videos by USB/SD card.
It’s worth noting that digital video frames don’t support some video formats. Much of this compatibility is dependent on the quality and brand of the chosen frame. For example, Pix-Star’s digital frames can play videos in the most common formats – and can receive videos directly from your phone’s gallery to several connected Pix-Star frames at the same time.
Videos usually need to be saved to the frame’s internal storage before they can be played on the frame. In some cases, you can include videos in slideshows and can even set them to play muted. It’s worth noting that not all digital video frames include audio playback & support. Frames that support audio playback usually have inbuilt speakers or can connect to external speakers via USB or 3.5mm audio input.
Are Pix-Star digital video frames worth it?
Pix-Star’s digital video frames are some of the most versatile all-around frames on the market. They’re among the best digital photo frames and can play videos in the most common video formats. Pix-Star doesn’t charge any extra recurring subscription fees to unlock video playback or the ability to send videos to the frame via the mobile app. This is the case with other top frames like Skylight and Nixplay that lock many features behind an annual subscription paywall.
Pix-Star’s mobile app lets you send videos, photos, and audio messages to several frames at the same time – from anywhere in the world. Pix-Star’s free-for-life cloud storage automatically stores all of your photos, videos, and audio files – where they can be centrally managed via the web dashboard.
Pix-Star’s frames are one of the few premium frames that let you include videos into slideshows along with photos. These frames can be set to play the videos muted or with their sound via the internal speakers. Additionally, Pix-Star’s frames let you connect to external USB speakers or headphones/earphones via the USB port or the 3.5mm audio input port.
Pix-Star’s media gallery makes storing and moving your saved videos around quick and simple. You can transfer new videos to internal storage from a connected USB/SD card or can move videos that have already been saved from the mobile app. This feature lets you create custom slideshows that include your favorite videos.
It’s worth noting that all digital photo frames have limits of video support & playback. This is usually in the form of maximum length limits – though file size and number limits aren’t uncommon. Pix-Star’s digital video frames let you play 2-minute video clips; which is more than almost all premium digital photo frames on the market.
Pix-star’s frames are great for playing special video clips and messages from your loved ones – no matter the distance between you. They’re also one of the most capable digital photo frames on the market and offer immersive and natural slideshows to bring you closer to your loved ones. Pix-Star’s frames offer massive value for money and are one of the best choices for families and elderly users at the moment.
What to look for in digital video frames?
Make sure the screen resolution of the digital video frames is at least 800×600. These frames should be able to play videos in 720p to avoid them appearing fuzzy. The maximum playback length for videos needs to be at least 30-seconds – though you should aim for around at least 1-minute.
The digital video frame shouldn’t charge or request any recurring subscription fees or hidden costs to unlock video support & playback or use of the mobile app (for sending videos and photos). These subscriptions (e.g., Skylight & Nixplay frames) are rarely worth it as other premium frames like the Pix-Star offer all the same feature (to a greater extent in many cases) without charging a cent extra.
Ensure you can send videos to the frame remotely without having to rely solely on USB/SD cards. The frame should have at least 4GB of internal storage and support a wide range of common video formats to avoid compatibility issues. Aim for a display size of at least 8-inches to ensure a broad viewing angle and acceptable viewing distance – though 10 to 15-inch displays are almost always better choices.
How to send videos to digital video frames?
The most common method for sending videos to a digital video frame is by USB/SD card. This involves loading the videos to a compatible USB/SD card and inserting it into the digital frame. In some cases, you’ll be able to view the videos directly off the inserted USB/SD card, though in most cases, you’ll need to copy them to the frame’s internal storage first.
Another method for sending videos to your digital frame is by mobile app. This is a feature that’s usually limited to a handful of premium or high-end digital frames like the Pix-Star. In some cases, you can capture the videos directly through the app, though they usually need to be selected from your phone’s gallery.
Try to send videos that match your frame’s aspect ratio (4:3 and 16:9 are the most common) and resolution. If you send a 1080p video to a frame that only plays 720p videos, it will waste a lot of storage space. Here’s a quick guide on how to play videos on your digital photo frames!
Do digital video frames need cloud storage?
Digital video frames don’t need cloud storage to work – though it helps to keep your videos safe. With digital frames like the Pix-Star, videos are automatically saved to the cloud. They can then be managed via the web dashboard, where you can also manage the local & cloud storage for all connected Pix-Star frames. You can even start slideshows remotely – and set them to include videos (these videos can also be set to play muted/with sound in slideshows).
