 "Here are some technical details you won't find anywhere else" | 2008-12-22 |
| - Reviewed By User: ABMR33QEHMJFX |
I have learned that every specification given by a manufacturer is a lie, and my job as a consumer is to try to find out just how big a lie it is. Mind you, I like this product, and for all I know all digital picture frame manufacturers lie, but here's what I know about the 3 examples of this product which I bought.
As others have mentioned, this 9" frame is exactly and precisely 8". To be fair, the packaging does not use the numeral 9 and the only way to learn that it has been characterized as a "9 inch" is during software setup, when you have to choose between 7 and 9 inch models. Of course the Philips website calls it a 9. . . .
Next I set out to determine how many pixels it has, vertically and horizontally. Philips is very coy about this. Some numbers that float around are 720x480, 680 x 480, 680 x 520, 800 x 480 and 688 x 448. This last image size is the very size that Philips uses on their demo screens built into the product, and this is the closest size I have discovered which will properly display. Why do you care? Any size other than the native pixel dimensions must be interpolated and the picture will thus be degraded. So if you have the choise you might as well crop and size the photos on your PC before loading them to your flash card.
Ah, but there is a problem even when using 688 x 448. As far as I can tell the product is simply sampling two adjacent pixels and painting average-value stripes 2 pixels wide. Thus the true resolution is only 344 x 448. I tested this by creating an image of all vertical stripes, 1 pixel wide, alternating black and white. They displayed as a gray screen. The vertical resolution is very close to 448, but I haven't been able to pin it down and of course there is no mechanism to talk to a Philips programmer. When displaying an image of all horizontal stripes, about 10 of the stripes display correctly, followed by a band of several improperly-display stripes. I will probably continue my tests but the bottom line is that, while the images are pleasing, they could be far better if Philips would either (1) document the true resolution or (2) have their proprietary software produce images of this mystery size. They were so close to having a great product and they dropped the ball.
No matter what photo display device you choose I think you'd better expect this kind of shenanigans. No specification is ever honest. Just look at the crop of "32 inch 'class' LCD TVs" which are universally 31.5". |
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 "Philips 9-Inch Digital Picture Frame (Metal)" | 2008-11-28 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1ZH131QUGSRPP |
Firstly, I've owned this product for 1 month now, and this product has been running for 1 month now without my touching it. So rest assured that this isn't your overnight overly excited review.
----> Pros:
1) The physical construction of the frame is beautiful, sturdy and solid. You will find no creeks on this frame, and the metal-frame itself is a real eye-candy, if you're into that sort of the whole futuristic white-metal look.
2) The screen is very good, as others have pointed out. It's not as great as a HDTV screen, but it's definitely good enough to give the impression under broad daylight that it actually is a frame holding a picture.
3) I actually found the use of the user interface (UI) to be particularly simple. I believe as long as you keep your mind open and not try to compare the UI to anything, you will quickly find out how easy it is to navigate through the menus.
4) (MINOR) I consider it to be an upside when Im not forced to have to use the supplied program that came with the frame. When it comes to tech-stuff, I like to do things the manual way, so I'm not sure about you.
----> Cons:
1) (MINOR) The build of the buttons and joystick could have been a little better. There are minor annoyances when navigating throughout the UI. For example, if you're moving the stick left, it records as a push down on the stick instead. This is also due in part to the fact that the joystick is at the back and you cannot properly coordinate your joystick-push actions. It's really minor, nothing to get upset about, take my word for it.
2) In a month of use, under certain SD cards, the slideshow would stop working. The SD card would not be read in the slot (SD card was a 1 GB Sandisk). I had to physically restart the product in order to get it going again, only to have this happen again after 20 ~ 30 hours of running? However, after changing into a 2GB Micro SD with the SD adapter (Made in Japan model), the frame has been running flawlessly for a month without problems, at all.
3) (MINOR) Perhaps more internal memory could have been supplied? But I'm guessing if that were the case, the price of this product would have gone up further. I put this here because it may be an annoyance for some. It is not for me though.
4) (MINOR) The turning leg-support at the back that allowed you to switch between landscape/portrait could have been designed with more angle flexibility in mind. Again, I put this here for those who are concerned. I do not find any problem with the way it is now.
Having said that, I'd like to express my tips and tricks in knowing how to effectively use this product to its maximum potential.
1) If you plan to have a lot of pictures without placing them in folders (Just the root of the card), format your card in FAT32. If not, you may not get past 250 pictures or so.
2) DO NOT USE THE SUPPLIED PROGRAM. Simply copy your photos into the SD cards or whatever it is you're using and you're good to go.
3) If you want to edit pictures, do it on your computer. Don't toy around with the pictures through the frame.
4) Don't bother with the USB cable.
5) Use Irfanview to mass-convert photos into the frame's natural resolution (720x540).
My setup:
- No folders have been used. All pictures are stored in the root position of my SD card.
- It is set to turn on for 8 hours a day, and 12 hours during the weekends.
- Running time : a month of going without having to adjust it for whatever reason.
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I hope this has provided you with some sense of how this product is. Just remember, don't use the supplied program and you will be much happier with it. I understand that the CONS are longer than the PROS, but they're mostly just thoughts on how the thing could be improved upon for future versions. For myself, I absolutely love this product.
Cheers. |
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 "DISAPPOINTING!!!!" | 2008-11-25 |
| - Reviewed By User: A41D8C9YD4I8I |
| The 9-inch digital frame is very attractive in appearance. The PowerPoint-like animation is quite nice as well. However, I am quite disappointed with the onboard rechargeable battery. I recently purchased two frames with the understanding that the battery would last about 8 hours. I needed them for a 3-day show that lasted about 7 hours each day. This model was chosen to avoid the need to run a power cable to them, due to location. The batteries lasted a maximum of about 1½ hours. It was both cumbersome and very disappointing to make this type of investment only to be frustrated with a product that did not measure up to its specifications. |
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| "digital picture frame" | 2008-08-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A28XSHOVMRX1LC |
| 9" are actualy 8", instruction are good, the picture is crisp, however it is not compatible with Vista OS. Thus the only way to see pictures is to transfer them to a memory chip |
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| "battery is about to explode" | 2008-08-10 |
| - Reviewed By punch-n-pie |
Gave this as a gift to parents 12/2006. Has been working fine, but as my brother was going to upload more photos onto the card he found the back of the unit bulging out about half an inch. Turns out it is the battery growing larger and certainly will explode in time.
Wondering if anyone else has had this problem - I couldn't find any recall notices on the web. |
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| "the 9 inch, which is 8 inch, Philips Digital Picture Frame, Metal" | 2008-08-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1VFNUAGYM76E5 |
The performance of this product is outstanding. The size of this item is not quite 8.2 inches, or really barely over 8 inches, yet has been noted as a 9 inch frame. That keeps me from rating this as five star. When pricing digital frames, I looked at 9 inch frames for comparison.
The nicest features of this unit includes the automatic rotation when turning the frame from landscape to portrait, even when held in hand, back and forth. A very nice display, and you can even have the time display as well.
Again, I would have given this five stars if it was advertised/sold/represented as a 8 inch digital frame. If I wasn't already late for the gift presentation, I would have sent it back and asked for refund of the expedited shipping costs.
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