What are the best cloud digital photo frames of 2021?
If we’re looking for the best cloud digital photo frames of 2021, we need to look at the premium. Unlike smartphones, flagship killers don’t really exist in the digital picture frame world. The gap between cheap to mid-range digital picture frames and high-end premium frames is significant. Most of this is due to Wi-Fi capabilities and related features like cloud storage, mobile apps, remote control functions, and much more.
Pix-Star’s cloud digital photo frames are arguably the best of the best. They pack extensive and robust features into their easy-to-use digital picture frame. You can send photos to Pix-Star’s digital picture frames with Wi-Fi from anywhere in the world in just a couple of moments. It’s so quick and simple that even your grandparents can do it.
Perhaps one of the best Pix-Star cloud digital photo frame features is the free-for-life cloud storage. All of your photos, videos, and audio files are automatically backed up to the cloud when they’re sent to the frame. Furthermore, this cloud storage can be centrally managed through Pix-Star’s unique digital picture frame web dashboard. Each frame has its dashboard and you can create multi-frame control groups.
Pix-Star’s multi-frame control groups let you manage & control up to 25 connected Pix-Star frames. All you need is the cloud digital photo frame’s serial number and unique email address. You can add these frames to your user account (log into it using your provided Pix-Star credentials). If you add multiple frames to your account, they can be grouped into a multi-frame control group to be bulk managed for the ease of use.
Pix-Star’s remote-control function is probably one of the most versatile & unique cloud digital photo frame features. It lets you remotely change your frame’s settings, start & manage slideshows, manage both local & cloud storage, update the frame’s firmware, and more. You can even select the source folders for slideshows to be played from, e.g., web albums, photo-mail, etc.
These features make Pix-Star’s cloud digital photo frames modern and perfect for most homes & families. They’re one of the few premium digital picture frames with cloud storage that are designed with elderly users in mind. With features like the ability to view weather forecasts, set alerts & reminders, listen to web music & radio, video playback, and much more – these frames are perfect for busy families and those with members spread all over the state/country/world.
Can grandparents use cloud digital photo frames?
Elderly-friendliness is something that varies hugely between cloud digital photo frame brands & models. Some premium digital photo frames like the Pix-Star as designed specifically with non-tech-savvy users in mind. It’s seen in their simple and shallow menus, tactile remote control, and advanced features like the ability to remotely control any Pix-Star frame and link photos automatically from social media & photo-sharing sites.
On the other hand, many cheap and mid-range digital picture frames with cloud storage can be a nightmare for grandparents to use. This can be a surprise as many of these frames are designed to be simple with basic functionality. Many of the Wi-Fi & cloud features tend to be tricky to use and don’t always work consistently. This is why we usually recommend saving up a little longer and sticking to the premium range.
Cloud digital photo frames are more reliable, durable, and cater to a wider base of users. For example, Pix-Star’s digital photo frames with cloud storage let you manage & control up to 25 connected frames from a single user account. They’re just as great for tech-savvy users as they are for elderly users. You can easily make sure that your grandparents always see your photos as you put them up – and much of this photo-sharing process can be automated too.
So long as the cloud digital photo frame offers free cloud storage, a simple & intuitive user interface, and the ability to be remotely controlled – they’ll suit elderly users well. You may need to help during the setup process, though some frames like the Pix-Star even let you do much of this remotely – no matter how far away you are.
Can cloud digital photo frames work without the internet?
Pix-Star’s cloud digital photo frames have extensive offline functionality. Once you’ve linked external albums via the web dashboard, they’re saved to the frame’s internal storage. These web albums include photo albums linked from social media & photo-sharing sites, photo-mail, and pictures send to the frame via the Pix-Star Snap mobile app.
All of these photos are saved to both the cloud and to the receiving frame’s internal storage. This storage (both local & cloud) can be managed & changed remotely via the frame’s web dashboard. Once the photos and other media are saved to internal storage, they can be accessed without needing internet access. You can add them to slideshows, view them individually, move them around, and more.
You’ll need to reconnect to the internet when you want to sync new photos, update linked albums, or make deletions or changes to the linked cloud storage. You’ll also need to be connected to Wi-Fi to remotely manage photos, start slideshows (remotely), and control the frame’s local & cloud storage.
Can cloud digital photo frames link and play videos?
Cloud digital photo frames can’t link videos from external sources like Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive, etc. These web albums only support linking photos to the frame from external sources. This is due in part to video compression and other constraints that don’t make it worthwhile.
If you want to send videos to your digital photo frame, use the supported mobile app or USB/SD card. Cloud digital photo frames like the Pix-Star let you record and send videos to several Pix-Star frames at the same time – no matter where you are in the world.
Do cloud digital photo frames have extra fees?
Some digital photo frames with cloud storage charge extra optional subscription fees. While these packages are “optional”, these frames are more or less useless without them. The subscription is usually paid annually and is required to unlock features like cloud storage (and expanding the allotted space), use of the mobile app or web interface, video support & playback, etc. Frames that charge extra fees include Nixplay frames and the Skylight frame.
It’s seldom worth buying these frames are other top digital photo frames with cloud storage like the Pix-Star offer all the same feature (and more) without any extra fees. Pix-Star’s frames give you free-for-life cloud storage, video & audio playback, use of the mobile app & web dashboard, and more – without charging a cent extra.
