NEW! Smartparts SP24PC and SP35PC: Portable Digital Picture Viewers

Available in March, Smartparts is offering two new touch-sensitive portable digital picture frames. Connect frame to computer via USB to upload images to the built-in memory and to charge the frame with power. Battery lasts about 3 hours while playing slideshow. Smartparts SP24PC will retail for $29.99 and holds 50 images and the Smartparts SP35PC will retail for $39.99 with the ability to hold 100 images.

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NEW Digital Picture Frames from Acer

From the folks who bring you snazzy LCD monitors for your PC, Acer is now entering the digital picture frame market--a logical leap, unlike some of the characters you'll find in the market. We're awaiting exact launch timing and pricing but expect to see four new digital picture frames soon--AF318, AF308, AF307 and AF207. They've all got high-end graphic engines, built-in card readers and slideshow, audio and touch screen capabilities. While there's nothing new about these features, we do welcome Acer to the market since they have a reputation for such quality displays.

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Floating Digital Picture Frames from Pandigital

Oh there are still more tricks in the digital picture frame bag... just you wait. Check out the PanTouch Clear line of frames from Pandigital for a fresh new design. The 800x600 display "floats" in a frame of all glass. The stand on the back is also clear, so it works tabletop as well. The line also promises to be intuitive for users and can be commanded via touch icons on the glass surface of the frame. (Mind the fingerprints!) Frames should be available soon with a 7-inch model for $119 and the 8-inch model for $140. So far no press photos to share either. Arg.

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Kodak EasyShare W820: Custom Mats, Wi-Fi and Touch Border

The Kodak EasyShare digital frames are probably our favorite populist choice for digital picture frames. While there are a number of other great options out there, the Kodak features and ease of use will please the most people most of the time. Perhaps the best starting point is the Kodak EasyShare W820 ($169 Amazon). Put your cyberpants on and visit PC Magazine for an in-depth review. Here are some quick stats:

- 8-inch screen (available in 10-inch also) with 4:3 ratio
- Touch Border controls
- Wireless (a must-have) + easy integration with photo sites and sharing
- Plays video and MP3
- 2 memory card slots

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SmartParts SPX8WF Wireless Digital Picture Frame: It's Fun, Folks

If you're looking for a well-rounded wireless digital frame and don't have a government bail out to help you buy it, well, you're in luck. SmartParts is a brand oft overlooked simple because it's not as well known as the likes of Kodak, Philips and Sony. Beware that this frame isn't for beginners... a person willing to delve into some of the wireless features will appreciate it most. Anyone needing something more basic we'd encourage toward a Kodak EasyShare, for example. Here are the stats below. Amazon's got the SmartParts SPX8WF for $140and you can find a great hands-on review from CrunchGear:

- 8-inch LCD monitor with 800x600 resolution
- Wireless connectivity for emailing photos, coordinating files with local computers
- Compatibility with Microsoft's "FrameIt"
- Supports most memory cards and USB connections

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Ho, Ho, Ho it's the Wedge: NEW Digital Picture Frame from GiiNii

Here's a new design for the digital picture frame world, the wedge. Perhaps most appealing to those who enjoy platform shoes and other chunky, bold objects. We like this styling though, it's different and functional, although be warned it does make the frame a decidedly table-top frame since it would look mighty odd protruding from your wall. Here are the stats and you'll find it shipped for free from Amazon for $79.95.

- Widescreen 7-inch screen with 800x480 screen resolution
- 512MB built-in memory plus port for most memory cards
- USB port connects to most cameras and PCs
- Supports audio (MP3, WMA) and video (JPG, AVI)
- Clock, calendar, slideshow and zoom functions

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T-Mobile and Parrot Cameo: Dial Direct to Digital Picture Frame

So if you have a T-Mobile phone, they will happily sell you the Cameo digital picture frame (made by Parrot) which has its own phone number so your family and friends can send mobile photos directly from their phones to your frame. How about that. The frame is $100 and the service $10/month--purchase through T-Mobile Stores. Now, mind you that Parrot, among others, have digital frames that already connect to mobile phones(any kind) over Bluetooth. This won't help your sister send you a photo of her puppy's new galoshes any time she wants but it will help you get mobile photos on your digital picture frame without a monthly service fee.

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Skyla Memoir: The Digital Picture Frame with Built-in Scanner

Ooooo... functionality that happily surprises us! Delicious. LiteOn IT (a maker of optical storage solutions for PCs) has announced the Skyla Memoir which will retail in December for $220. You have your usual digital frame features: 8-inch LCD with 800x600 resolution and 4:3 ratio, 1GB internal memory plus ability to take memory cards, flash cards and USB devices. THEN you have scanner features: a 600dpi scan bed that can handle prints up to 4x6. The USB ports are key if you'd like to hook up your laptop and save the scanned images there as well. Not too shabby!

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Audiovox Homebase: Digital Picture Frame and Message Center

This new gadget from Audiovox is basically a whiteboard that houses a digital picture frame and audio record/playback capabilities. You can display it on a countertop or attach to your refrigerator. There's a 7-inch LCD screen surrounded by an erasable whiteboard where you can write messages and such. The screen facilitates recording messages and hosting a calendar that can be coordinated with your audio reminders. The 1GB. Also takes USB thumb drives and most memory cards.You can also purchase a video recording unit that would allow you to do video nagging. Uh, messaging. Pick it up at Amazon for $157. (via cnet)

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ViewSonic's NEW Digital Picture Frames: Basic, Black and Boring

ViewSonic has two new digital picture frames on the market, the DPG801BK ($119) and the DPG807BK ($159). Both have 8-inch screens with 800x600 resolution and 500:1 contrast ratio, as well as 512MB internal memory. Lacking wireless capability, the frames are compatible with most memory cards and USB transfers. They also feature chameleon touch screens--the controls illuminate when you touch them, but go dark the rest of the time so you aren't looking at any ugly controls. We're not sure what the price difference is all about (or the difference in the frames) but the cheaper one is the result of some kind of promotion with ViewSonic. (via Engadget)

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Cordless Digital Picture Frame from Jobo

Okay, so this new digital frame from Jobo isn't the bees knees, but it does have an admirable feature--it's cordless. Most frames need to be plugged in (hence an unsightly wire) and have battery ability for just a couple of hours. The Jobo PDJ801 features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery as well as 1GB internal memory and 8.4-inch display with 800x600 resolution and 500:1 contrast ratio. Frame goes on sale by the end of November for $179. (via Crave)

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Holiday Theme Digital Picture Frames: When You Can't Think of Anything Else

It's time to wake up this Monday morning. In our minds, Nextar has established itself as the premiere novelty digital picture frame company. Way to go. The fairytale frames earlier this year were just the beginning, apparently. So if you like key chains and doo-dads that may or may not end up crushed in a couch cushion, check out the latest holiday mini frames. The frames sport a 1.5-inch screen, clock feature and store up to 60 images with slide show function. Now seriously. A 1.5-inch screen is smaller than some digital watch displays! What are we supposed to see of our photos? Well, anyway, you can find these frames for about $20 at Amazon,as well as Target, Wal-Mart and Kmart.

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zbezt.com: Replacement Frames for Digital Picture Frames

So suppose you have a digital picture frame and you change the decoration in the room where it lives. Or Mittens, your kitty, scratches it. Or you muck it up with some unidentified sticky goo. Well, now there's a glimmer of hope. Zbetz.com stocks a bunch of replacement frames that fit GiiNii, Kodak, Pandigital, Philips and Shomi products. Remember these are the outer decorative frames, not any of the technical components. Prices start at $14.99 and you'll find designs in leather, wood and acrylic.

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NEW Digital Picture Frames from Ceiva: Connects to Family + Friends

These two new interactive digital picture frames from Ceiva feature wi-fi connectivity and even Ethernet and phone line connectivity for the cord-lovers among us. CeivaLife ($160) is an 8-inch frame with a 640x480 display, multi-card reader and connectivity via wi-fi, phone or Ethernet. CeivaShare ($130) is also an 8-inch frame but with a 600x800 display, multi-card reader, wi-fi connectivity and image enhancement software. Both frames are compatible with PicturePlan, a subscription service ($99.95/year) that facilitates sharing photos online with family and friends. The design of the frames is nice, a little different flair.

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