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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. 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. 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. 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.
No specification is ever honest. 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". Philips is very coy about this. 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. They displayed as a gray screen. I tested this by creating an image of all vertical stripes, 1 pixel wide, alternating black and white. 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.
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. When displaying an image of all horizontal stripes, about 10 of the stripes display correctly, followed by a band of several improperly-display stripes. Any size other than the native pixel dimensions must be interpolated and the picture will thus be degraded. 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. Why do you care. Of course the Philips website calls it a 9.Next I set out to determine how many pixels it has, vertically and horizontally. Some numbers that float around are 720x480, 680 x 480, 680 x 520, 800 x 480 and 688 x 448.
Just look at the crop of "32 inch 'class' LCD TVs" which are universally 31.5".
In this case, I have to agree. I've spent hours with this and can't get an image up. I always go to the worst reviews, and generally find them simply to be whining. Extremely disappointing; sending it back tomorrow and buying a SONY, which I hope will fare better.
I put this here because it may be an annoyance for some. 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. 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. Again, I put this here for those who are concerned. ------I hope this has provided you with some sense of how this product is. Don't toy around with the pictures through the frame. The SD card would not be read in the slot (SD card was a 1 GB Sandisk).
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. 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. Simply copy your photos into the SD cards or whatever it is you're using and you're good to go. If not, you may not get past 250 pictures or so. 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. There are minor annoyances when navigating throughout the UI. Just remember, don't use the supplied program and you will be much happier with it.
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. 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 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. 2) DO NOT USE THE SUPPLIED PROGRAM. 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. 3) If you want to edit pictures, do it on your computer.
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. 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.
Firstly, I've owned this product for 1 month now, and this product has been running for 1 month now without my touching it. But I'm guessing if that were the case, the price of this product would have gone up further.
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. 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.
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. For example, if you're moving the stick left, it records as a push down on the stick instead.
For myself, I absolutely love this product.Cheers.
I needed them for a 3-day show that lasted about 7 hours each day. I recently purchased two frames with the understanding that the battery would last about 8 hours. This model was chosen to avoid the need to run a power cable to them, due to location. The 9-inch digital frame is very attractive in appearance. However, I am quite disappointed with the onboard rechargeable battery. The batteries lasted a maximum of about 1½ hours. The PowerPoint-like animation is quite nice as well. 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.
It took more than 6 tries to format the card with NTFS. I've had the picture frame for about a year, and I did try to research the best product. After 4 hours of slow copying and two blue screen crashes of my main computer (an otherwise very stable system), I decided to donate the picture frame to the local charity resale shop. Googling that error indicated that I needed to format the card in NTFS to be able to store more than about 150 pictures.
Maybe someone with too much time on their hands will buy it and make it work. I got the dreaded error 0X80070052.
The picture frame will format the card as FAT by default. Copying pictures to the card is an exercise in futility.
I wanted to copy about 300 pictures to a 1 GB card. What a frustrating product.
That limits the number of pictures that can be stored to far below the capacity of the card. I hope this isn't the best.
The frame comes with inadequate memory so you must add a memory card. For me, I'll wait until the electronic picture frame makers make a product worth buying.
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