A Digital gift in this digital age- Digital photo frame

Kodak photo films are passé and gone are the days when people took effort for developing the photos, storing them in album and taking them out to show them to friends and relatives. With the advent of digital camera, clicking photos in multitude of poses with no additional cost has transformed each individual with the ability to click to a photographer. Conventional cameras were dependent on many mechanical and chemical processes before a photograph is printed, but digital camera is entirely an electronic device and nothing can happen without electricity.

Today, things have also changed as how the photos are displayed. To relive moments digitally and emotionally, digital photo frame has taken the centre stage. It is one of the most wonderful ways to display your cherished moments in life.

With digital photo frame you need not take print out of photos to show them to your near and dear ones. Instead, you can directly transfer the selected photos from your digital camera memory card into the digital photo frame or download them via e-mail. Digital photo frame is another challenging technological innovation, a device that contains a LCD screen with high resolution picture clarity and memory cards besides add on features such as remote control, MP3 player and even light sensors. Some digital photo frames are available with touchscreen option and even built-in speakers.

In simple language, digital photo frame is nothing but a picture frame that helps to display the digital photos without a computer. It’s a portable device and the photographs can be better stored and organized. Digital photo frames are extremely simple to operate and provides with clear images. Photographs are displayed in a slide show and one can enjoy it sitting snugly in the comfort of one’s home.

This product cost anywhere between Rs3000 and Rs15000 and this price range depends on the internal memory and other add-on features.

Though it’s a great gift choice, nonetheless, digital photo frames are not being seen in large numbers at home and office. The reasons are far too many. One factor being its look and feel. Traditional photo frames seem to have a personal touch with its shape, size and color whereas as you go and buy a digital photo frame its just a box. Another thing is that people wants to keep their photos spread out in homes while digital photo frames being expensive, affordability is a major factor.

But with technology growing in leaps and bounds, digital photo frames will soon come in a big way and wider acceptance.

Some of the digital photo frames manufactured by various companies are:

• Kodak EasyShare W1020 Wireless Digital Frame:

The Kodak EasyShare has a 10-inch screen with 800×480 resolution is a perfect gift and it has 512 MB of storage. With Internet connectivity, you can receive latest weather updates and news as well.

• Sony 8-inch digital photo frame (DPF-D80):

The Sony DPF-D80 has an 800×480 screen resolution with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Its bright and vivid screen is a welcome change compared to most other digital photo frames that use the widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio.

• HP 8-inch Digital Picture Frame:

The HP DF820 stands out for its matte bezel frame that hides all the controls and looks like actual picture frames. It has an 8-inch LCD screen and comes with additional mattes so you can change the appearance wherever you wish.

• Pandigital Pan Touch:

Pandigital Pan Touch PAN1002W02T 10.4-Inch Digital Picture Frame gives you plenty of options such as changing the brightness, contrast and color of the images, something few others digital picture frames do. It plays AVI video and has a headphone jack for audio as well.

• Viewsonic DPG807 8-inch Digital Photo Frame:

The Viewsonic DPG807 has a black frame that makes the images stand out. It has an 800×600 screen and is both PC and Mac compatible. Relatively small but sleek and gorgeous, it makes a beautiful gift. It supports video and has calendar and date functions.

Just check on the previews and reviews before you make a purchase.

Happy viewing with a digital photo frame.

Apple iPad tablet launched to change the world of gadgets

Steve Jobs is in news and so is Apple Inc… Yes, you guessed it right, we are talking about Apple’s much awaited and much hyped iPad tablet that has been launched with an amazing price range. Apple iPad is expected to revolutionize how people read newspapers, magazines, books and even how they watch television.

Besides creating an upheaval in the gadget market, Apple’s share prices showed an upward trend. So, after iPhone and the Macbook, it is iPad tablet that is the buzzing phrase and is being considered as the third category gadget. The aim of Apple Inc is to put iPad tablet into the hands of the masses.

Let me make one thing clear and that is iPad is not a mere replacement of iPod Touch or iPhone and it is also not a device away from laptop. This iPad sits right in the middle and is not for making phone calls and it has no mouse or keyboard, but it provides with excellent web browsing experience. The iPad users will be able to send email, read e-books, create albums and enjoy videos and all that at an affordable price.

The iPad is definitely lighter and thinner than any netbook or laptop as it is just half-inch thick and weighing not more than 1.5 pounds. One can work with this device both in landscape and portrait mode. The users of iPad can definitely download to read the latest novel and book e-ticket for the forthcoming movies, but it cannot make a phone call or click a photo at least for some time now.

The first generation of Apple iPad will be available in the market by the end of March 2010. The 16 GB model is priced at $499 while 32 GB and 64 GB will be available at $599 and $699 respectively.

There are two versions of iPad. One that is available with Wi-Fi and the other supports both Wi-Fi and 3G.

Wall Street Journal says, “Apple focused on the role the gadget could play in homes and in classrooms,” the WSJ reported, envisioning “that the tablet can be shared by multiple family members to read news and check email in homes.”.

Experts put their comments about the gadget in their own way:

• TechCrunch — MG Siegler provides pictures of the tablet that are so realistic-looking that they might even be pictures of the tablet.  There’s also a commercial floating around this morning created by someone looking for a job. Eyeballs beware today.

• Circuit Breaker (CNET) — Erica Ogg collates rumors about iPod-like docking connections, 3G connections, and publisher connections.  (Yes, yes, and yes, in case you’re in a rush.)

• Gizmodo — Dan Nosowitz adds that iPhone apps will likely port to the tablet easily.

• TechCrunch — Like a Barnes & Noble bookstore app, maybe?  Maybe.

• Boy Genius Report — Speaking of 3G rumors, Verizon apparently has told its employees to expect big news Wednesday.  Of course, that could merely be an ancillary rumor about iPhones appearing on other networks soon.  Silly, forgotten iPhones… don’t confuse matters!

• TUAW — The tablet has already been tasked with saving the entertainment industry as well as publishing, but did you know it’ll also resuscitate education in America?  There’s an app for that, apparently.  Michael Grothaus wonders if we’ll see a tablet on every desk soon.

• ReadWriteWeb — Of course, that will come after it’s done reducing health care costs and improving quality, according to Mike Kirkwood.  Don’t get pushy, kids… the tablet will heal all!

With lots of promises and expectations, we will have to wait and watch to what level the Apple iPad can meet this. I will keep you posted on this !

pics credit: AP

3 D TV : The next big move in television and 3D technology 

Want to watch a 3D movie? The first thought that comes in mind is to go to a 3D theatre. This is soon going to be a history. Come 2010 and we will see 3D televisions making its way in many of our households.  As we see, IFA 2009 in Berlin conclude on 9-Sept-09, it brought with it, the promise of a new beginning in the home entertainment in the form of 3DTV.  Big players like Sony and Panasonic have declared that most likely by next year end they will launch 3D television. 

Yoshiiku Miyata, Vice President, Panasonic declared that Panasonic will take the lead in launching the first 3D TV in market using a technology called HD frame sequential. This technology uses two image views in frame sequence managed by active shutters. 

Sony’s plan to launch 3D TV by 2010 was announced by their CEO Sir Howard Stringer and as speculated Sony might opt for “active shutter” technology with electronic glasses that have tiny shutters that flicker in accord with the on-screen image to produce 3D effect. 

An Interesting point worth noting is that the first 3D channel will be broadcasted by sky. 

But there exists a few debatable issues like one should wear glasses with polarised lenses or use the glasses that are based on active shutter technologies? Will it actually be feasible to where a glass at home every time you want to see something on TV? Has the market matured enough to accept it as a household commodity? 

With so many ifs and buts around, it will be worth keeping an eye on to see how does 3D TV become a part of our day to day life.

Keep watching for more!

Samsung’s S9110-Wristwatch styled touchscreen phone to be launched this month.

credit: engadget

Under its S-series Samsung is adding some cool gadgets. This Korean company has recently launched for its country SCH-W760, the latest mobile that would allow video conferencing in total darkness with sharp 3 mega pixel night vision camera.

But it’s the S9110 touchscreen mobile that would definitely be the showstopper in this S series from Samsung. It will be the thinnest mobile styled as a wristwatch. This is expected to be a high-end one. It is fashioned with stainless steel body with scratch-resistant touchscreen. However, it is loaded with host of features, the details of which is yet to be released. But little sneak peek tells us this S9110 will support Bluetooth 2.1, sync with Outlook email and will be equipped with MP3 player, voice recognition system and a speaker phone.

Another on the anvil is the SCH-i920. Keep waiting as we will keep it posted as details are out.