How do digital video frames in 2022 work?
Digital video frames in 2022 are basically digital photo frames that add video playback as a supported feature. These frames aren’t designed to replace your TV, laptop, or tablet. They have unique functionality and are excellent at displaying your favorite photos. That being said, many of the top digital frames offer video & audio playback as a bonus feature.
Almost every single digital video frame in 2022 limits the maximum video length or size of supported video files. For example, Dragon Touch digital frames only let you play 30-second video files or files with a maximum size of no more than 100MB. For comparison, Pix-Star’s digital frames let you play 2-minute video clips and don’t place a limit on file size.
Other top digital frames like the Skylight frame and the Nixplay frame require an additional subscription fee to be paid annually to unlock or extend video playback limits. These are seldom worth it – especially when you consider that competing frames like the Pix-Star offer the same features (but with less strict limits) without charging any extra fees.
Which digital video frames are best for 2022?
Keep in mind that digital photo frames are not designed to play videos. Video playback is more of a bonus feature and not a primary focus. This is one of the main reasons that video playback is most commonly found in the premium digital photo frame range.
Pix-Star’s digital video frames are arguably the most versatile and capable. You can play video files in several common formats with a maximum length of 2-minutes (which is more than almost all other digital frames). Videos can be loaded to the frame via the Pix-Star Snap mobile app (by selecting them from your phone’s gallery), or via a USB/SD card.
Perhaps the most unique video feature that Pix-Star offer is the ability to include them in slideshows. This isn’t commonly offered and adds a unique touch of personality to your customized slideshows. Videos can be set to play muted, with their sound, or to be excluded altogether from slideshows. Alternatively, you can view videos individually via the frame’s media gallery, or directly from a connected USB/SD card.
Pix-Star’s frames use a 4:3 aspect ratio for their display and offer manually adjustable color & brightness settings. They can be wall-mounted thanks to Pix-Star supporting the standard VESA mount (bought separately) and dedicated hanging holes on the frame’s back. Additionally, each Pix-Star frame comes with an attachable stand. All of Pix-Star’s frames can be mounted or rested in either portrait or landscape orientation, and photos can be rotated without having to leave the slideshow.
How to load videos and audio to digital video frames in 2022?
With Pix-Star’s premium digital video frame, videos can be loaded to the frame using two methods. The first and most versatile method is via the Pix-Star Snap mobile app. Here you can browse through your phone’s gallery and select any videos that you want to sync to your frame. Note that you can send videos to several Pix-Star frames at the same time via the mobile app.
Like almost every other digital video frame on the market, Pix-Star only lets you send video files with a maximum length of 2-minutes. This is more than almost all other premium digital photo frames and is offered without needing to charge any recurring or hidden fees (yes, we’re looking at you Skylight & Nixplay).
The second way to send videos to your Pix-Star digital video frames in 2022 is by USB/SD card. This involves loading videos in a compatible file format to a support USB/SD card and inserting it into your Pix-Star frame. Since Pix-Star supports a plug-and-play feature, you don’t need to copy the files across to the frame’s internal storage – though you will need to leave the USB/SD card connected at all times to view its content.
The USB/SD card method is great for elderly users that don’t know how to use the mobile app or don’t have consistent access to Wi-Fi. It’s also a great solution for Pix-Star frames that are running low on free internal storage space, though you’re unlikely to ever exhaust the 8GB of internal storage, the free-for-life cloud storage, and USB/SD card support (with no limit on maximum storage capacity).
Can digital video frames in 2022 be connected to external displays?
Almost all digital video frames cannot be connected to external displays. This is due to most of them not supporting HDMI ports or having the necessary software compatibility to sync up with external displays.
Digital video frames are not designed to replace your TV or laptop – but are rather a hub for all of your favorite photos & memories, played within versatile slideshows with loads of customizations. They’re also designed to make photo-sharing as intuitive and effortless as possible, all while adding an aesthetic touch to your home!
With that said, some of the top digital video frames like the Pix-Star can connect to external speakers to enhance audio playback quality. You can connect to external speakers, headphones, or earphones via the frame’s USB port or 3.5mm audio jack.
How many videos can digital video frames in 2022 hold?
There are a lot of considerations to take into account here. You have to consider the frame’s native resolution, the format and size of each video file, their bitrates, video length (most digital frames limit video files by length or size), supported video resolution, scaling, and more. There is no magic number and it’s not nearly as easy as calculating how many photos the frame can hold.
It’s common for most digital frames to only support 720p video files. Some high-resolution frames let you play 1080p video files, though the difference isn’t very noticeable on the standard digital frame’s display. If you send 1080p video files to a frame that can only play 720p videos, the file will either not play, or be scaled down to match the frame’s native resolution. The video file will therefore be taking up the storage space of a 1080p video, but you’ll only be able to enjoy a 720p playback experience.
If your frame is running low on storage space, you could always load the videos to a USB/SD card and play the videos directly off it in a slideshow. While you might not have as much control over the play order of videos, it’s a great way to virtually expand limited storage space.
