By David Peters

Digital picture frames are becoming more and more popular, and it's not difficult to see why. They have much more functionality than conventional frames which are only able to display one photo at a time and - when you think about the expense of printing out hard copies of photographs - conventional static frames begin to look like a more costly option.

A lot of digital frames combine audio, bluetooth, video and WiFi and other features may also be included. Most digital frames allow you to make your own slideshows with transitions, which will permit you to display all of you photos using just one frame. Working on a cost per photo displayed basis, digital frames are considerably less expensive than traditional ones.

And, sticking with the subject of cost, the LCD technology used by these frames is reducing in cost which means that digital frames are now available at very reasonable prices. However, before you rush out and get one, here are a few pointers that you may wish to consider:

Consider The Intended Recipient When Choosing Your Frame: Many digital photo frames are bought as gifts - frequently for elderly relatives who will enjoy looking at photos of their family and friends. A lot of modern frames feature extras such as WiFi, news feeds, web browsers, weather reports etc. - all good stuff. In addition to providing increased functionality however, all of these add ons can lead to a user interface which is more complex - and downright confusing in some cases. Clearly frames with extra functions also tend to have a higher ticket price. Therefore, if the intended recipient of your gift is primarily interested in viewing family snapshots, you might be well advised to think about going for one of the more basic frames. Not only will you save some money, but the frame will be more likely to see regular use.

Don't Assume That A Well Known Brand Name Is A Guarantee Of Quality: You might be surprised at some of the poor quality images provided by the entry level frames which are produced by some well known household names. Conversely, you might also be surprised - and pleasantly so - at the quality offered by some of the lesser known brands available. Read reviews - or try to see the frame in the flesh before you part with your cash.

Get A Frame With The Correct Resolution: The seven inch size is the most popular digital frame choice. It offers a decent size frame at a reasonable price - and it's also pretty similar to the size of many conventional frames. It's about the size that people are used to in other words.

For a frame of this size you probably need a resolution of not lower than 640 X 480 pixels. Anything less than this will give you chunky, pixelated, images. There's little point in saving money if the quality of the picture is too poor for your intended use.

Choose A Suitable Aspect Ratio: Generally speaking, digital frames come in two aspect ratios; 4:3 and 15:9. Digital cameras usually take photos which have a 4:3 aspect ratio - therefore a frame with this ratio will be well matched and ideal for displaying your snapshots. Choosing a 15:9 ratio will result in the top and bottom of your images being cropped in order for them to fit the display. Of course, you always have the option to manually crop your images - but choosing the correct aspect ratio will mean that this isn't necessary.

The Image May Not Be The Whole Picture: A high quality image display is very important of course - but you may very well have other features on your wish list. For example - you may be interested in a frame that is simple to use and has good functionality. Integrated WiFi - which lets you load up pictures wirelessly using your home wireless network may be something that you'd be willing to pay a little extra for. Something as simple as a frame with its own internal battery that you could use when travelling may be ideal for you.

These are just a few things to think about when choosing your frame. Keep the end user in mind and take a little time to consider the various options on offer. You will definitely be able to choose a good frame that will get your photos on display - in an economic manner - for years to come.

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