Should we declare war on the digital photo frame?
By Simon Brew in Editorial
Posted in Uncategorized on
I’ve just received a piece of market analysis that’s proclaiming that sales of digital photo frames are set to explode in the back end of 2007. How depressing is that?
Is it just me who finds these things a pitiful waste of technology? Or, more to the point, technology simply butting in where it isn’t welcome? For decade upon decade, to my knowledge, people seem to have had few problems with mounting a printed photo in a half decent frame and sticking it on their mantelpiece. It worked, it was simple, and everyone was happy.
Then technology stuck its oar in, and as a result, people the world over will be receiving these insipid gadgets as gifts this year. So we’re basically all expected to load our images onto a flash card, buy some good batteries (scrub that: lots of good batteries), and have a mini-Powerpoint presentation going on the fireplace now? Give me a break.
Apart from the environmental concerns here, of adding a power supply to something that ten years ago few would even considering needing one for, these things simply aren’t much cop are they? Once the novelty has gone and you deal with the reality of having a flashing screen on your fireplace, the temptation surely must be to relocate it a foot or two down.
But I’m curious. I appreciate lots of people have, and will receive, digital photo frames as gifts. Yet I’ve never been into the home of a single person who uses one day to day. Is it me, or is the digital photo frame the most unused, pointless gadget of the modern generation?
Rated: 66.67% (3 votes)
Loading ...Comment by Sarah Dobbs - July 23, 2007 on 11:26 am
Agreed that they’re pointless. It wouldn’t be much of a war, though, would it? They wouldn’t stand a chance.
Comment by Simon Brew - July 23, 2007 on 11:53 am
Tell that to the trillions of people who are getting one this Christmas!
Comment by DAN MASON - July 24, 2007 on 10:33 am
Presumably the sudden anticipation of popularity after so many years’ availability is just because the prices have come down a bit? I couldn’t agree more, absolutely naff.
Comment by Simon Brew - July 24, 2007 on 5:31 pm
It does beg the question: does anyone buy one out of choice, or are they all given as gifts?
Comment by Matt White - August 3, 2007 on 10:34 am
On a similar theme, why do hand held razors and toothbrushes now need batteries - do these companies have secret alliences?
Comment by Ron Hogan - August 3, 2007 on 2:16 pm
I don’t know, Sarah. If the digital picture frames could somehow arm themselves, possibly becoming sentient…
Comment by Darren Hoggard - August 4, 2007 on 1:39 pm
Funny how some things figure out isn’t it ? The one really great thing about these things is - once you’ve downlaoded to a memory card - your photos are safe - even if windows decides to fall off the planet. What would be really great is if the photo frame had web access to your family and friends via WiFi. That way you wouldn’t know what photo came up next (copy right darren hoggard 2007)
Comment by Dan Jones - August 7, 2007 on 11:03 am
Digital photo frames are stupid right now. Amount of peoples houses I go round with cables snaked down walls to power their digital living room. Now, if digital photo frames could be wifi, not need cards, and have an easier way of getting power to them they would succeed in my house. I have no desire to cut into the wall to hard wire a power supply for a device that will probably break in under 2 years - though if they all standardised their power supply it would be a different matter.
Comment by Jason Slater - November 29, 2007 on 5:41 pm
Interesting viewpoint Simon, I can understand why they may not appeal but we love our digital photo frame. I’ve posted a Blog entry about it here:
http://www.itpro.co.uk/blogs/jasons/2007/11/29/why-we-love-our-digital-photo-frame/
Jas.
Comment by David Bryson - November 30, 2007 on 5:55 pm
People are buying them a colleague of mine has one on her desk with family photographs as a slideshow replacing the traditional single family photograph it is fairly logical if a bit distracting when talking to her as every time it changes your eye turns towards it.
The only thing we can hope is that the price falls as they pricey for what they are.
Comment by Paul Tracey - December 3, 2007 on 2:02 am
WIFI enables photo frames are available. They can recieve emailed photographs. I looked into these with the thought of buying one for my parents, who have only recently bought a digital camera. - I decided it agianst it in the end. I come to the conclusion there still a bit overpriced, and of course the issue of burning extra energy put me off also.
Comment by Ashley - December 12, 2007 on 10:08 am
I’m pretty sure these are only given as gifts, they are too pricey for their purpose and no-one in their right mind would by one. I think they are pretty good for adverting say maybe in a waiting room or public room
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