Here we’ll learn why Wi-Fi digital frames offer a unique and special way to connect and stay in touch with your loved ones through meaningful & effortless photo-sharing. We’ll learn about the frames that do the best job, what features & functions to be on the lookout for, and more. Let’s get started!
What are the best Wi-Fi digital photo frames?
Pix-Star’s Wi-Fi digital photo frames are uniquely versatile and one of the best premium digital frames on the market at the moment. They are packed full of handy features like the ability to remotely control connected Pix-Star frames from anywhere in the world and to send pictures and other media no matter where you are. These features go a long way to make the Pix-Star an excellent choice for families and those with elderly users that aren’t very tech-savvy.
Pix-Star’s Wi-Fi digital photo frames come with free-for-life cloud storage and cloud synchronicity. You can link picture albums from social media and photo-sharing sites directly to any connected Pix-Star frames. These albums are automatically updated and saved to the frame’s internal storage so that they are viewable offline.
Cloud storage and even the frame’s storage are easily managed through the web interface. You can remotely control and manage up to 25 connected Pix-Star frames at the same time & from the same user account. It’s an excellent feature for families and makes starting slideshows for everyone simple and smooth.
Pix-Star mobile app (Pix-Star Snap) lets you send up to 250 pictures to multiple Pix-Star frames at the same time. There’s no need to create an account and anyone in the family can download and use the app. It’s completely free and even lets you send 2-minute video clips & audio messages to your Pix-Star frames. The mobile app’s interface is smooth and simple, making it a suitable choice for elderly users and anyone that struggles with new technology. It’s also a convenient and familiar way to share pictures with everyone in the family without all the added frustrations.
Pix-Star’s Wi-Fi connectivity enables secondary features like weather forecasts, web album imports, web radio & music, alerts & reminders, and more. Frames can be remotely controlled through the web interface where you can start slideshows, adjust settings, manage storage (both cloud & local), and much more. You have almost the same level of control as you would using the frame in person.
In summary, Pix-Star’s excellent 4:3 display comes in either a 10 or 15-inch size, offering an immersive and brilliant display for your favorite memories. Unlike many other top digital frames, there are no recurring subscription fees or hidden costs. The price point is super-competitive and puts Pix-Star in a prime position. Pix-Star’s frames will quickly earn their place in your home and family – helping you connect better and share precious moments effortlessly.
What to look for in Wi-Fi digital photo frames?
When you’re looking for the right Wi-Fi digital photo frame for your home, some features heavily outweigh others. These essential features are found more commonly among premium and higher-mid range digital frames. Arguably, the most important feature is Wi-Fi as it lays the foundation for features like cloud storage, sending pictures wirelessly to the frame, remotely controlling frames from anywhere, weather & alert functions, and much more.
You need to look carefully at how pictures and other media are sent to your frame. You should have several different options at your disposal. The most common of these are USB/SD card support that lets you load pictures to the frame’s internal storage – or display slideshows directly from the connected storage device.
Another important picture sending method is by email. This feature is far more widely available than some others but requires Wi-Fi. It’s not quite as user-friendly and you can’t send as many pictures at the same time. That being said, it’s accessible and easy to get used to. Pix-Star pioneered and led the development of digital picture frames with an email address.
Mobile apps and web interfaces are far less common but offer much more in terms of versatility and functionality. They let you send multiple pictures to multiple frames at the same time. In Pix-Star’s case, the mobile app lets you send pictures, videos, and audio messages from anywhere in the world. Their web interface lets you link picture albums from social media sites like Facebook & Instagram, and photo-sharing sites like Google Photos and Flickr.
Cloud storage is a must-have feature for big families. Make sure there are no hidden costs like subscription fees that are required to unlock the frame’s access to cloud storage. You should also know if you can remotely control or manage the frame’s storage via the cloud (or Wi-Fi) and the extent of this feature.
Finally, make sure you get a 4:3 display with at least 800×600 resolution for great picture quality. The 4:3 aspect ratio means that the pictures taken on smartphones and point-and-shoot cameras will display using the full screen – as opposed to being boxed in by black pillar bars (as you’d get with 16:9 and 16:10 displays). This feature can’t be overstated and has the potential to make or break your viewing experience.
Can Wi-Fi digital photo frames be controlled remotely?
A handful of premium Wi-Fi digital frames can be remotely controlled. This is usually done through a web interface, but there are cases where the mobile app is used. Frames like the Pix-Star have a dashboard that’s accessed through your user account in the web interface (pix-star.com). Here you can control the frame’s settings, start slideshows, manage storage, update firmware, and more.
Note that remote control isn’t a commonly offered feature and is seldom found on any non-premium or high-end digital picture frames. If you want these features, only a handful of top frames like the Pix-Star offer it extensively.
How to view pictures from social media on Wi-Fi digital photo frames?
Some digital photo frames like the Pix-Star have a web album feature that lets you link web albums from social media and photo-sharing sites directly to your frame. This is done through your dashboard via the Pix-Star web interface. It’s a very rare feature that is seldom found – even among the top frames.
For most Wi-Fi digital frames, you have to manually download the photos from your social media or photo-sharing profile. You can download them to your phone’s gallery to send via the mobile app (if available) or to your computer and import them via USB/SD card, email, or wirelessly.
Can Wi-Fi digital photo frames stream videos?
While some digital photo frames can play videos, they’re always limited by video length or size. Some frames like the Nixplay frame, only let you play 15-second videos. You can extend this max length up to 1-minute by paying for the additional annual subscription fee. Frames like the Pix-Star offer more than usual and let you play up to 2-minute video clips and audio notes. Videos can be included in slideshows and can be sent via USB/SD card or through the mobile app.
