Pandigital 8-inch Digital Photo Frame
© 2006 Pandigital
Sure you have thousands of digital photos, but when will you ever find the time to see them? Here's an all-purpose solution that has many applications both for home, classroom or library use. Available in either a black or white frame (both come in the kit and are interchangeable) the Pandigital Photo Frame features a clear, bright screen, seven input ports, built-in speakers and 64 MB of internal memory. Photos are displayed in slide show fashion either directly from a flash memory device or from the onboard memory. A nice variety of memory devices are accepted, thanks to the 6-in-1 media reader that can read SD, XD, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, CF and MMC. The frame can also play digital video (MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4 and AVI), as well as music (MP3). The audio comes either from the built-in speakers or a headphone jack. Getting the pictures from the card to the screen is simple; just plug in the memory, and the photos start playing. The device is powered by an external AC adapter. The only drawback we noticed is the frame falls back easily off its stand, and the remote buttons are clumsy to use for any extended time. Digital content is managed with a small remote that slips into a side slot, for easy storage. Prices range from $130 for the 5.6-inch photo frame to $250 for the 9.2-inch version. In classrooms, teachers will find that the children will crowd around the frame waiting for their picture to show up. Librarians could also use the frame to display recent book covers. There are many possible uses for this device.
$200, Smart Toy
Teaches: a utility for parents or teachers