A Digital Picture Frame Without the Lock-In?

The Cisco Kid asks: "My mom, bless her soul, doesn't quite get the concept of digital photography. She always complains that we never print them out for her, and gets completely flustered at the idea of looking at them on a computer. I'm thinking of getting a digital photo frame for her, only I can't seem to find one that fits the bill. I am aware of the possibility of building one, and may end up going that way (most likely using a laptop), but I'm really hoping I can find a consumer one that meets my needs — and that's where things get tricky." One of the major features that is required is the ability to update the frame over the network, without the need of any third party software. Has anyone seen a digital picture frame that doesn't tie you to a piece of proprietary software or a proprietary network? "I'd like to be able to hang it on the wall, and leave it there, so I want to be able to update/add pictures to it over either a wireless or wired network. I've found very few that have networking capabilities, but I can't seem to find any documentation as to what application-layer protocol they use. For example, I've found one that only connects to the manufacturer's website, to which you must subscribe — there is no option to use the network, directly. Kodak seems to only support using their proprietary Windows-only software for controlling or updating their frames (and I don't use Windows).

Is anyone aware of anyone that makes a reasonably priced digital frame that has networking and uses open protocols? Or should I expect to be taking apart the display hinge of a used laptop in the near future?"

Comments

this is also flamebait

[Mizery De Aria]

/me agrees, the religi*** term disturbs me

Flash memory card?

[bernywork]

I know it's a pain, but there are a few out there with flash memory cards, can't you talk your mum through copying files to a memory card?

It's the best option out there I have seen and know of a few people who have made this work with parents. You could even send her a memory card with photos on it so that she can just put the memory card in and turn it on.

I would throw in a couple of links at this point to different products, but I have no idea where you are, so giving local product is a little difficult..

Re:Flash memory card?

[Chanc_Gorkon]

NO! Better yet, just send mom a new memory card every month and bam....new pictures of the kiddies! NO network required and it's something MOM might understand!

Just get prints

[KillerCow]

My mom, bless her soul, doesn't quite get the concept of digital photography. She always complains that we never print them out for her,

I know that this doesn't answer the question that you've asked, but why don't you just print them? There are kiosk machines in lots of places now that print at photo quality. Prints are on the order of 20 cents each for a 4x6. I use them. They're great.

Your mom is more comfortable with prints, don't try to force an unwanted solution on her.

Re:Just get prints

[heinousjay]

You'd think that would be the obvious answer. Technology for technology's sake doesn't really fly outside of geek circles.

Re:Just get prints

[Eideewt]

My thought as well. Digital photography is pretty cool, but sometimes nothing beats having the artifact. Instead of trying to convince your mom that she'd rather have a digital frame, just print her some photos.

You also might (in addition to printing) set up a slide show screen saver for her. My grandmother enjoyed that a lot (as would I, if I were a photo person).

Re:Just get prints

[Jeff DeMaagd]

I think that's the problem with Slashdot and other sites. Too often, I see suggestions that only make sense within the "bubble" of that site.

Re:Battery life

[wall0159]

Apart from battery life (or power supply) problems, they
1. typically have crappy, small, low-resolution screens with a poor viewing angle, and
2. are expensive.

What's the attraction? Printing photos is cheap, repeatable, and they look a million times better (larger, crisper, 180 deg viewing abgle, etc). Plus you're not paying for electricity to run them. I just can't understand who'd want those photo frames - if you want a slideshow, put one on the TV.. or laptop.. (and turn it off when you don't want it).

Seems like an expensive "solution" in search of a problem.

Re:Is it you who doesn't get the 'concept', perhap

[mshurpik]

Nothing in that description means that those pictures should not be printed.

TFA: "She always complains that we never print them out for her"

I guess you could say he answered his own question in the second line of the article.

Re:Is it you who doesn't get the 'concept', perhap

[MrNaz]

Vote 1 caitsith01 (606117) for President!

I have been trying to tell people that the medium of transfer is completely different to the medium of displak, and the "digital photography" does not imply that *both* need to change. This seems to be falling on deaf ears, unfortunately.