DPF-XR100 and DPF-VR100

Sony S-Frame DPF-VR100

The XR100 and VR100 have similar features:

• AVCHD video playback capabilities
• 10.2-inch, high-resolution WSVGA LED-backlit screen
• Scales and displays content up to 256 megapixels
• Stereo audio
• Sweep Panaroma playback (supports panaroma photos taken by Sony CyberShot cameras)

The XR100 additionally features TruBlack technology, which enhances contrast and reduces reflections on the display.

DPF-D830

Sony S-Frame DPF-D830

The D830 is Sony’s first battery-operated photo frame. It features a built-in rechargable battery good for up to 100 minutes of life. The D830 features an 8-inch SVGA screen and 2GB of internal storage. Three songs come pre-loaded but users can also transfer their own MP3 files.

Other New Digital Frames

Sony S-Frame DPF-XR100

Sony also introduced a host of other new S-Frame models (models DPF-A710, DPF-D710, DPF-D810, DPF-D75, DPF-D820, DPF-D1010, DPF-D95, and DPF-D1020). The frames differ by screen size and internal memory; prices range from $70 to $150.

All of the digital photo frames include features such as slide show variations, an auto orientation sensor to detect if your frame has been placed horizontally or vertically, clock and calendar views, and index modes so you can preview several photos at once. A remote control is included with each photo frame.

Availability

The DPF-XR100, DPF-VR100, and DPF-D830 will be available in November for about $250, $200, and $150, respectively. Pricing for the other eight models introduced are as follows:

• DPF-A710 – available in October for about $70
• DPF-D710 – available in October for about $80
• DPF-D810 – available in October for about $100
• DPF-D75 – available now for about $100
• DPF-D820 – available in October for about $120
• DPF-D1010 – available in October for about $130
• DPF-D95 – available now for about $140
• DPF-D1020 – available in October for about $150

Sony Press Release

Digital photo frames can usually be separated out into two categories; basic but affordable and high-end with interesting features. The Sony DPF-V1000 takes the digital picture frame one step further, showing pictures not only on its 10.2” screen but on your HDTV through a HDMI port. Sony has you covered if you like to have a picture frame showing off a gallery of pictures throughout the week, but also if you want to show off slideshows during parties on the big screen. Priced at $250 this model costs quite a bit more than competing models making us wonder if the features justify the price.

Sony 10.2” DPF-V1000 Specifications

• Widescreen 10.2” LED-Backlit TFT Display with HDMI-out
• Resolution: 1024 x 600
• Supported Image Format: JPEG, TIFF, BMP, up to 48 megapixels
• Built-in Memory Capacity: 1GB
• Memory Card Types: SD/ SDHC, MMC, MS, CF, xD
• USB flash drive support
• Bluetooth support with optional adapter

Build and Design

Compared to other digital picture frames on the market, Sony really nailed the design of the DPF-V1000. The front is completely flat with a lexan cover over the LCD panel. This protects the LCD and makes it easy to clean fingerprints off the front ifthe need arises. The outer edge of the display is trimmed with chrome, adding a dash of elegance to really bring the design together.

Viewing from the back, the side panels slope to the front edge of the display, to keep the profile looking thin. Sony gives you with two covers that close off each side, further cleaning up the design. One of the nicer elements to finish off the looks is a single chrome rod sticking out the back of the frame that acts as the stand in both its horizontal and vertical positions.

The build quality is superb with a rugged front cover over the LCD, solid metal stand, and covers to close off any unused ports. The unit as a whole feels solid when you are holding it and sits firmly on a flat desk surface when you place it out for viewing. The only real complaint you could find with the body of the frame is the stand which is fixed, making it impossible adjust for viewing angle.

Controls

The Sony DPF-V1000 uses buttons on the frame itself and an IR remote to the various functions of the frame. The primary keys such as viewing mode, menu, back, select, and direction pad are in both areas. This allows you navigate through albums without needing to break out the remote. The controls on the side of the frame are very intuitive. They are designed to be triggered with one hand, using your thumb to rest against the front of the frame and your pointer or middle finger controlling the buttons. To use the side controls you first press the menu button which then loads up an on-screen guide.

In the center of the display you see the current tab of the menu directory you are using and on the right side Sony programmed an overlay to show you how the buttons on the frame function. The overlay also lines up with the height of the buttons so you know where to find them without looking behind the frame.

The remote is rather cluttered but in a way I think it turned out great. Sony gives you all the needed buttons in a small form factor, which means it’s easy to slip into a shirt pocket or store behind the frame when not in use. They don’t worry about ergonomics which might get in the way of keeping the remote as small as possible. The buttons are clearly laid out and a different background texture helps to separate the higher function keys from the normal controls.

Display

The 10.2” LCD looks very nice when displaying pictures. Excellent color saturation and deep black levels really help make images pop. The glossy surface seems to improve the color and contrast of the images but increases the amount of glare and reflection off the screen. If you have the frame near a window or lamp the reflections can partially or fully obscure the image being shown.

Viewing angles were good, although you do notice some color shift when you are viewing images in the vertical viewing position. Since most screens have weaker viewing angles when tilted forward or back, when you rotate the screen on its side, moving side to side starts to show this color shift. Backlight levels are fine for brightly lit rooms, but not enough to overpower bright objects like the Sun or lights reflecting off the lexan cover.

One really cool feature I need to give credit to Sony for is the white LED-backlit logo on the front of the frame. The frame senses which orientation it is in, so when it is positioned vertically it turns the logo off. This might not seem like much, but it really helps polish off the look of a stylish photo frame when the company’s logo isn’t on sideways.

To display your images on the big screen Sony includes an HDMI port to connect the frame up to an HDTV. Image quality was perfect on my 1080P display and the scaling of the menus also looked great. One of the features I didn’t notice until I had plugged the frame into my TV was that it outputs music during slideshows. The slideshow menu is rather basic and the “BGM” setting was actually the background music. Sony gives you three options, BGM1, BGM2, and OFF… I chose the off option.

Memory Sources

This Sony picture frame can handle multiple input sources to pull images from. It offers 1GB of internal memory that you can use to store individual images copied off of memory cards. You also get a multi-card reader that can handle every memory card format under the sun, including Compact Flash, Memory Stick, SDHC, and xD memory. If you prefer loading pictures from your computer onto a USB flash drive, Sony offers USB port that will be read just like the memory card readers.

Display Modes

The Sony DPF-V1000 offers a few display modes that are handy no matter how you use the frame. As a dedicated picture frame you can chose the one of the preset slideshow templates (including images plus borders or other background) or the single image viewing mode. If you have the frame sitting at a desk it can act as a colorful clock or calendar only, or a combination clock and image viewer. There are more advanced viewing modes which can be used to display entire folders of images on the screen in a large grid or even EXIF information modes which display camera settings next to the current picture.

Menu System

The menu structure was intuitive and nicely displayed. If you load up the menu while viewing images, the menu shows up on top of the image in a semi-transparent form. This contrasts with other photo frames which load into screens with black backgrounds when editing menu settings. The menu system was split up into two areas, one used to edit pictures or frame settings, and the other used to select the current viewing mode. The settings were split up between editing photos, selecting the memory device, and frame settings. Besides the background music confusion mentioned in the display section, every menu option was easy to understand.

Pros

• Simple to use
• Looks great
• Lots of refined features
• HDMI out

Cons

• Pricey

Bottom Line

If you are looking for an easy to use digital picture frame that looks classy and don’t mind spending a bit more, the Sony DPF-V1000 is a great option. The 10.2” display looks great and will auto sense which orientation the frame is in. The clear lexan cover gives the front a cleaner look and also protects the LCD from fingerprints and scratches. If you host a lot of parties the HDMI-out might come in handy to show of pictures to a larger crowd without getting a computer involved. Overall if you can get past the steep MSRP of $249 this frame is worth adding to your list.

Rating 4.5 out of 5 Stars – Editor’s Choice

The concept of a printer embedded in a digital frame isn’t new. Smartparts had one on the market for a few years, but it suffered from less than stellar performance. The idea is simple, friends and family will be over at your house, see a fantastic shot on your digital frame and want a copy for themselves. Rather than give them a digital file or wait for one of the online services to print and deliver the image, users of the Sony DPP-F700 can press a button and in 45 seconds have a high quality 4×6 print.

On the hardware side, the frame features a widescreen 7″ display with 800×480 pixel resolution. There’s 1GB of internal storage, which is good for at least 2,000 images when resized for the frame’s resolution.  Additionally the DPP-F700 has a USB port and card readers that support CF, SD, MS and xD cards.

The frame handles playback of JPEG, TIFF and BMP image file formats in either single image mode, or slideshow with ten different transitions. There’s also an orientation sensor, that lets the frame be viewed in portrait or landscape mode, rotating the images displayed accordingly.

When it comes to printing, Sony has included a few extras that they hope entice buyers. In addition to printing the photo files, the frame has a few onboard editing options including:  enlarge, reduce, crop, date stamp on/off, border/borderless (for single prints), and brightness, contrast, hue, and sharpness adjustment. There’s also a creative print mode with over 30 templates that lets users make things like ID photos, calendars and proof sheets.

Whether or not users will commit to the $200 price tag and likely pricey ink refills remains to be seen. The printer/frame combination hasn’t proven to be successful in the past, though Sony must expect there’s a reasonable sized market opportunity out there.

On the digital frame side, the ICF-CL75iP features a 7″ widescreen display with 800×40 pixel resolution. They’ve included 1GB of internal memory and a USB port; though it’s not clear if there’s a multicard reader as well. Photos can be loaed via USB drive, internal memory or from the iPod. When not in use, the iPod cradle retracts into the base of the frame.

Sony’s definitely looking for a bedroom placement with the ICF-CL75iP. The included alarm clock is quite robust, offering to wake you to music, FM radio, soothing sounds (waves, gulls, etc.) or a 10 second voice recording of your own.

If you need more entertainment, the ICF-CL75iP plays music from your iPod, in addition to mp3 and WMA audio files stored on the internal memory. On the video side the unit supports MP4, Motion JPEG and AVI file types. The report does not mention whether or not the frame can handle video playback from the iPod.

All of these featured are piled in an attractive device that if released at $150 will be a very attractive price point.

via SonyInsider

Other highlights include a miniUSB port for connecting to a PC for easy image transfer, multi-card reader with support for MS, SD, MMC, xD and CF cards and an auto orientation sensor that rotates your photos depending on the placement of the frame. Like the other Sony frames, this one has a clock/calendar mode and supports slideshows with 10 transitions and varying speed options.

The Sony DPF-D72N/BQ digital photo frame will be available for $150 MSRP in October.

Sony DPF-X1000

The X1000 is a 10.2″ frame that features Sony’s best digital picture frame LCD panel to date. The new panel includes Sony’s TruBlack technology, which adds more contrast. They’ve also included their “super clear LCD” which minimizes reflection from ambient light sources. This advanced panel is 15 times sharper and 13 percent brighter than Sony’s previous generation digital picture frame displays.

Sony reverted back to their widescreen panel on the X1000 though, offering a 15:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 800×480 pixels. In addition to a massive 2GB of internal storage, there’s also support for MS, CF, SC, xD and USB image sources. 

The frame looks great. If you look closely you’ll notice Sony’s standard black, high-gloss border, but there’s also a touch of wood trim that adds a little depth to the look. 

Sony is also spending more effort on power consumption issues, something that digital frame manufacturers need to work more on. The auto dimmer feature automatically adjusts the display’s brightness based on the lighting. Using the multiple auto power setting, you can set times that the digital photo frames will automatically turn on and off.

Sony has expanded their image correction software to make sure your pictures look great on the frame. Sony’s auto correction uses Sony’s high-performance BIONZ image processor and Face Detection technology to improve photos through features such red-eye correction and under/over exposure correction. There’s also an embedded white balance correction.

Other goodies include HDMI output and a remote control. Absent however is Wi-Fi, though you can add Bluetooth with an optional adapter. There’s also no multimedia playback support for video or audio files. 

The Sony DPF-X1000 is due out in March at a price of $300. 

Sony DPF-V1000

The DPF-V1000 is a second 10.2″ frame that largely encompasses the same features as the X1000 with a few modifications. The V1000 includes 1GB of memory and silver trim. It also has the HDMI output, which we discussed in detail with the DPF-V900, the 9″ predecessor. 

The V1000 will be available in March for $250.

Sony DPF-D92

The D92 brings the same 15:9 wide aspect ratio with 800×480 resolution to the smaller 9″ display. This basic frame has a multi-card reader, USB support and 1GB of storage included. The D92 is similar in design to the previous generations of Sony digital picture frames but comes in both black and brown bezel options.

The Sony DPF-D92 pricing and availability has not been announced.

Sony DPF-D82

Roughly the same as the D92, the D82 is an updated version of the current D80. The D82 has an 8″ 15:9 display panel with an 800×480 resolution.

The Sony DPF-D82 pricing and availability has not been announced.

The 8″ Sony DPF-D80 (and nearly identical 10″ DPF-D100) bucks this trend, with a back to basics approach to features and functions that keeps image display front and center. Without built-in speakers, wireless Internet capabilities, or loads of internal memory, Sony has put all of its technological eggs in one basket with the D80 in an attempt to attract buyers who value great-looking images over all else.

Sony DPF-D80 Specs

• 8″ LCD (800×600, 4:3 aspect ratio)
• 256 MB internal memory
• Supports SD/SDHC, MMC, MS, xD, and CF external memory
• Mini USB connection
• Clock and calendar modes

Build and Design

Sony enjoys a reputation for building gadgets that are a cut above what you get from competitors in terms of design and construction. You’ll get no argument from the D80 on this score, as Sony serves up another great looking product that will feel right at home in a modern living room or on an executive desk.

Unlike many of its direct competitors, the D80 doesn’t try to hide its “digital-ness.” It’s not styled to look like a traditional print frame; in fact, the frame bezel can’t even be removed from the rest of the assembly. No interchangeable frames, multi-colored mats, or displays under glass here (although there is a clear plastic layer over the whole front of the frame that serves both functional/protective and aesthetic purposes). Just a straightforward device that looks more like a small computer monitor than a photo frame.

Unless you don’t care for modern styling, what’s not to like about the D80′s looks? The truth is, not much at all. Some may find the illuminated Sony logo on the frame’s front a cheesy touch, but you can turn off the logo’s backlight in the menu if it bothers you. From a design perspective, this is about the most serious criticism that can be leveled against this great looking frame.

The D80 is built almost entirely from black plastic. It’s a nondescript material, and comes across as a little bit generic at the D80′s price point, but you could alternatively call it part of the frame’s “intentional minimalism” if that sounds better to you.

No, that’s not an antenna at the bottom of the D80′s back panel. It’s actually the D80′s unique take on a stand. Flip the prop into its ball-and-socket joint’s locked position and it’s ready to support the frame in either portrait or landscape mode. Although it looks unconventional, with its strong joint and rubberized tip, it actually does a better job of keeping the D80 anchored in place than most built-in frame stands, and while it looks flimsy, this design actually makes this frame essentially impossible to tip.

Behind the trim ring on the right-hand side as you face the frame, you’ll find the D80′s power and four basic control buttons tucked neatly out of view. Three card reader slots sit farther inboard on the same side.

On the opposite face, you’ll find power and mini USB connections, with a single button up top providing quick access to view mode changes.

Multimedia fiends take note: You won’t find speakers anywhere on the D80. As costly as it is, this Sony supports neither video nor audio playback. Sony has also dropped out the HDMI output that was in some of their previous generation frames. 

Memory/Picture Sources

The D80 supports a full range of memory card types – SD/SDHC, MMC, xD, CF, and of course, every known type of MemoryStick as well.

Transferring files from an external memory source to the device’s internal storage space is simple. Call up the on-screen menu, select “Add to Album,” and the D80 transfers either a single image, a group of selected images, or the entire contents of a card to the frame itself.

You’ll also find a mini USB connection for hooking the frame up to your computer. Sony’s known for being a bit picky about drivers and controller software, but thankfully, the D80 is plug-and-play ready and shows up as a typical mass storage device whenever you connect it. Files are then easily transferred to or from the frame’s memory in the same way that you’d move them around on your hard drive.

I was disappointed to realize that the D80 doesn’t provide a full-size USB port for transferring files from portable flash drives. These thumb drives are cheap, seemingly everyone has one, and they provide a convenient way for moving files from computers to other devices. But alas, no such luck with the D80.

As for the frame’s internal memory, you get a somewhat underwhelming 256 MB of storage space. The D80 can be set up to automatically resize images as they’re imported, and it’s probably a good idea to go this route in order to make the most of what this frame offers in terms of storage.

Display Modes

Although it doesn’t have multimedia capabilities, the D80 features five basic image display modes: single, multi, clock, calendar, and a random setting that intersperses different view types. As mentioned above, a large button on to of the D80 can be used to cycle the frame through its various modes once images have been loaded to the internal memory or a card is inserted.

Single view mode is a basic slideshow setting, in which one image at a time is displayed. Although you can’t add background music, the D80 has a nice range of slideshow options otherwise, with six shot-to-shot transition types and an interval setting that lets you hold images on the screen anywhere from three seconds to 24 hours.

You can also have the D80 display images in order by date shot or randomly shuffle them.

Multi view mode has the same basic list of options as single view mode, but in this case images are displayed in arrangements of two or three at a time.

Clock and calendar modes on the D80 provide a nice option for desktop use. Both are stylishly presented, with white lines on a black background and space for a single image on the opposite side of the display (the clock and calendar will alternate from the left to the right side of the display each time the image changes).

As with single view mode, you can specify the interval at which images are changed in these modes.

You can also view thumbnails of all photos from a particular card, or all images in the internal memory, by selecting “Index View” in the main menu.

Menu System

The D80′s menu system is clear, easily accessed, and easy to understand, putting the D80 light years ahead of some of its competitors in terms of usability. Most settings are handled through the basic on-screen menu, which pops up whenever you press the “Menu” button.

The options here are largely self-explanatory, mostly related to the slideshow settings for whatever view mode you’re in when you access the menu.

A few more general options can be found by selecting “Various Settings” from the main menu, which brings up a menu that’s almost identical in appearance to the main menu.

Some of the options in this list (“Slideshow Settings”, for instance) are entirely redundant, but this menu also provides access to some general performance settings, allows you to set the date and time and configure their display to your liking, and lets you configure the frame’s internal memory.

Since the D80′s two basic menus are both linear, down-the-page arrangements, navigating them using the up/down arrows and select button found on the side of the frame is easy enough. The D80 also comes packed with Sony’s basic frame remote, which makes moving settings adjustments even easier to handle.

Overall, while it doesn’t look especially flashy and has a few idiosyncrasies of its own, the D80′s menu system is, at its core, one of the better ones I’ve seen on a digital photo frame. In this case, simplicity is the key to success, with the D80 avoiding page after page of settings and options in favor of a menu that puts the few controls you really need for a digital picture frame right at your fingertips.

Display

The D80 and its sibling model, the D100, are the first Sony frames to move away from widescreen 16:9 aspect ratios in favor of a traditional 4:3 arrangement. Widescreen is the hip thing at the moment, but since the D80 and D100 are built exclusively for displaying images (remember: no speakers, and thus no video playback), the choice to go to an 800×600 display makes these devices fit much better with the one kind of content they handle.

As for the screen itself, the D80′s display is a thing of beauty. Images are sharp and punchy, with colors that almost jump off the screen. Side-to-side and top-down viewing angles are superior as well, meaning you’ll be able to see what’s going on on the D80′s screen from just about anywhere in the room (so long as you’re not looking up from floor level, that is).

Dig in to the “Various Settings” menu and you’ll find an option for “Screen Settings.” In this submenu, you can tailor the D80′s backlight and brightness characteristics, as well as change image and display orientation settings (the D80 will auto-detect both by default). What’s missing are contrast and tint controls, but to be fair, the D80′s display looks pretty darn good without any adjustment.

Extra Features

Not much to say in this category. The D80 really only does one thing: display images. Other than the previously noted clock and calendar views, the D80 is all about the slideshow. The ability to pull web content via WiFi might have helped spruce things up, as would video/audio playback capabilities, but lacking either of these, the D80 feels a little short on fancy features for its price.

Pros

• Great design and build
• Easy to use
• Fantastic 800×600 display
• Simple slideshow device with no useless bloat

Cons

• No A/V playback
• Price seems a little high

Bottom Line

The DPF-D80 is a “one trick pony” among photo frames. If you want a frame that looks good, has a great display, and doesn’t get in the way of showing off your images with useless features or terrible menus, the DPF-D80 is a great choice. Using the D80 is painless to the point that you’ll probably never even open the manual, and the images it displays look great – even better now that Sony has subbed in a 4:3 aspect ratio display instead.

There’s admittedly a lot that the D80 can’t do. Those looking for a multi-function home news and information station like some wireless frames provide should look somewhere else. In the same way, the D80 doesn’t waste anyone’s time pretending to be a video player (something most frames do poorly anyway).

If you want a frame that’s all about the images and don’t mind paying a little more for ease of use and a great screen, the D80 should be on your list.

4 out of 5 stars – Editor’s Choice

Both frames will offer 800×600 resolutions, their first in the 4:3 standard aspect ratio. The current lineup are all widescreen, meaning your images have to be cropped or zoomed in on to fill the display entirely. I think Sony and others are starting to realize that widescreens work fine for televisions, but not so much for digital frames, since photos aren’t usually shot that way originally.

The frames feature 256MB of internal RAM and offer support for most memory formats and file transfer via USB cable. They’re also including a wireless remote and the rotate and pivot stand. The D80 will initially come in black and brown, the D100 will be black only.

Sony DPF-D80 – 8″ Digital Photo Frame

Sony DPF-D100 Digital Photo Frame

One feature absent from the initial press release is the inclusion of the HDMI port. Both the DPF-V900 an DPF-V700 include an HDMI port, though it’s debatable as to how useful that feature is. There’s also not going to be a wireless or other Internet connection, which is disappointing, especially at this price point.

The Sony DPF-D80 is scheduled to be available soon for $180, the DPF-D100 in November for a retail price of $280.

Related Stories

Sony DPF-V900 Review
Sony DPF-D70 Review

Something that’s becoming more common in Internet-connected frames is the ability to consume RSS feeds. The Sony CP1 enables this as well, letting the user grab content from favorite news sources and websites.

Sony has also included speakers for the first time in one of their digital picture frames. These can be used with the MP3 player or live web radio feeds from SHOUTcast. Unfortunately Sony opted not to include a video player, which is surprising given the rest of the included features.

Another interesting feature gives users an option to group pictures together in multiple slideshow frames, as Sony calls it. This is actually a pretty novel concept and one user may enjoy if it’s implemented well. The Sony CP1 includes a Memory Stick and SD card reader, along with a CF reader, much like their current lineup.

And as any higher end digital frame should, Sony has included an energy saving feature that dims the screen automatically when a room’s lights are turned off. It’s not exactly an auto-shutoff, which is generally preferable, but it’s a step in the right direction.

One thing Sony omitted that we’re seeing more of, is the ability for the frame to act as a secondary display. Samsung added that feature to their latest lineup, making the frame that much more functional in the office environment. They’ve also included a paltry 128MB of internal memory, which will hold about 100 pictures.

The Sony Vaio VGF-CP1 digital photo frame will be available in mid-October for $300.

Sony Vaio CP-1 Specs

• Display: 7″, 800×480 pixels
• Internal Memory: 128MB
• External Memory: Memory Stick, SD, CF, USB
• Dimensions: 6.97″(W) x 5.25″(H) x 1.3″(D)
• Weight: 1.17 pounds
• Wireless: 802.11b/g
• Integrated speakers
• Remote control

Both frames will offer 800×600 resolutions and 256MB of internal RAM. The rest of the feature set sounds pretty similar to the current lineup, including support for most memory formats and file transfer via USB cable. They’re also including a wireless remote and the rotate and pivot stand. The D80 will initially come in black and brown, the D100 will be black only.

Sony DPF-D80 – 8″ Digital Photo Frame

Sony DPF-D100 Digital Photo Frame

One feature absent from the initial press release is the inclusion of the HDMI port. Both the DPF-V900 an DPF-V700 include an HDMI port, though it’s debatable as to how useful that feature is. There’s also no mention of wireless in either frame.

The frames are due out in October. Pricing has not been announced.

Related Stories

Sony DPF-V900 Review
Sony DPF-D70 Review

If this review sounds similar to our review of the Sony DPF-D70, that’s because the frames are nearly identical, with the obvious exceptions of size, memory and the HDMI port, and a few other nuggets. Sony also offers the DPF-V700 exclusively through their site and stores, which has the same feature set as the DPF-V900, except it’s a 7″ display. Sony’s digital frame lineup includes just these three models at this time.

In this review we’ll highlight the premium features of the V900 first, then bring in the relevant components of the D70 review, since that commentary is relevant for all three Sony frames.

HDMI Output

The big feature that differentiates the DPF-V900 and the smaller DPF-V700 from the competition is the ability to connect the digital frame to your HDTV via HDMI cable. I tested with my 50″ Pioneer plasma with generally favorable results.

The marketing hook is that it’s great to show your images on a digital picture frame, but even better to show them off on your HDTV, especially when you have friends and family over. The marketing ploy is partly faulty though, since many HDTVs offer card readers to handle image display or images can be viewed via other connected devices. Leaving that aside though, the HDMI worked as promised.

Once I plugged in the HDMI cord, the Sony frame display turned off and the images popped up on the television instead. Sony is sure to leave their logo light on though, which I found a little humorous. Pictures actually looked surprisingly good on the television. I did run into a few issues with people looking less natural than on the frame or computer screen. I can’t quite tell if it’s a problem with the image itself or the work of the frame or HD display. In any event, if you want to show off images on your HDTV via a digital frame, the V900 manages to do a reasonably good job.

Sony V900 Connected to HDTV  wth HDMI Cable

The main issue I ran into, as you can see from the photo, is access to my HDMI inputs isn’t exactly easy and my testing setup ended up looking pretty ugly. It would be impossible for me to rig up a permanent placement for the frame with the HDMI cable connected. At least, impossible while maintaining my wife’s standards of visual appeal. I suspect most others will find the same problem and would use the HDMI option as a temporary solution to show off images on occasion.

Given the connection hassle and the fact that many HDTVs come with a solution to view photos off a memory card, I’m not sure how useful the HDMI solution is, especially since it’s the big feature of the V900 and V700 frames. Given the option, I’d rather have WiFi in a $250 frame than a rarely used HDMI port.

HDMI, Power and USB Ports

Auto Touch-Up

The Auto Touch-Up feature is commonly seen in higher-end digital picture frames. Each implement it a little differently though and with varying degrees of success. Sony performs four corrections at the same time: skin smoothing, backlight correction, focus correction and red-eye removal.

To activate the auto touch-up view the image you wish to fix, then enter the menu. From there select auto touch-up and wait while the frame goes to work. Upon completion the frame will show you a before and after image to illustrate the affect the touch-up process had. If you like the changes, then press save and the revised copy of the original image will be saved on the same source as the original. I tested with an SD card and the new image is saved in a new folder on the SD card.

There are a few significant problems with auto touch-up though. The first is that it only works when you’re viewing a single image, you can’t initiate it while in slideshow mode. You also can’t batch apply the touch-up, each image has to be processed one at a time. The second problem is since a duplicate is created, unless you go back and remove the originals, both the original and the touched-up photo will play in the slideshows. Lastly, the revised image is saved at a lower resolution than my original.

The end results are a little better than neutral though. Worst case, I noticed little improvement during my tests, best case, images were more vibrant. For advanced photography types, there are better ways to freshen up pictures, but novices will probably like the results from this Sony frame, minus the annoyances noted above. In the sailboat example below, it’s clear that the touched-up image is brighter and generally more vivid; without loss of detail.

Original Image (Full Size Image)

Touched-Up Image (Full Size Image)

Getting Started

Out of the box, getting the Sony frame set up is relatively simple. Once you’re plugged in the frame plays a little demo that covers things like how to properly insert the memory cards. The demo stops once you’ve inserted a memory card or loaded images to the internal memory. The default display is to show images in a single image slideshow, but there are other options and a few configuration changes that can be made.

Top down look at the V900

Like most digital frames, the Sony V900 can be oriented either to portrait or landscape. At first I didn’t really care for the kickstand mechanism; I wasn’t confident that it would stay locked into place. The design is pretty good though, you can rotate the frame from portrait to landscape, or vise-versa, without having to move the stand. There’s a small ball joint that the frame rotates around, so it actually works out surprisingly well.  When you rotate the frame to another position, the pictures automatically adjust orientation. If you have the Sony logo light turned on, it automatically turns off in portrait mode.

Front of the Sony DPF-V900

It’s a great looking unit. The V900 features a high gloss black frame (not interchangeable) that really makes the pictures pop. The entire front is flat all the way across, with the actual display panel recessed a bit behind a glossy top layer. There’s a Sony logo underneath the image display that is turned on by default, but can be disabled. But really, if you’re going to spend the extra for a Sony, you might as well display the brand.

Display Modes

The default frame setting is to show your images one at a time in a slideshow. Sony also offers a multiple image mode, which loads your pictures in varying order and configurations. I find this mode to be distracting, depending on where the frame is placed. The clock mode shows you a split screen with the image and the time and date the picture was taken. The calendar view is a little more useful, showing a monthly calendar with today’s date and time.  There’s also a random mode which rotates between the four display patterns.

Within the single image display mode, there are several settings which can be tweaked out of the box. Unless you’ve manually resized your images for the frame, you’ll want to navigate to the screen settings menu, under various settings, and change the display mode to “fit to screen.” This will essentially zoom in on your images to have them fill the entire display. This particular digital frame is formatted differently than most digital cameras, so images must either be cropped manually, or zoomed in on to fill the screen. For some reason Sony went with a unusual 15:9 aspect ratio.

This digital frame only supports still images; there is no video support or speakers for playing MP3 or other audio files.

Memory

The frame supports the popular flash memory options including Memory Stick, CompactFlash, Secure Digital and xD. Sony has also included 512MB of internal memory which they claim will hold 1,000 pictures. This is only true if you manually re-size your images to fit the V900’s screen. Even without resizing though, you should be able to fit roughly 150 images on the frame’s internal memory, which is plenty for most people. Transferring images to the internal memory is much easier to do via USB cord and computer than the process of going from memory card to the frame. Unless you want to transfer all of the images from a memory card to the internal memory, it’s slow going to do them one at a time.

When inserting a memory card while the digital frame is turned on, the frame will automatically start showing images on the card, rather than the internal memory. If you add more memory cards while the frame is on, it will default to whichever card was inserted first. You can manage which card is displayed in the menu system.

Menu buttons and memory card slots

Menu System

Any digital picture frame in this class comes with an in-depth menu system for managing your photos. Sony’s can be accessed via buttons on the frame or remote control and is generally pretty good, though there are some areas that could use improvement.

Navigating the menus is easiest via remote control. The biggest down side with the remote though is there’s no cradle for it and it’s very small, so losing it or otherwise misplacing the remote seems like a reasonable potential outcome. Even when using the remote, navigation indicators show up on the right side of the frame that approximate the locations of the menu buttons on the back of the frame. The idea is that you can use those buttons without flipping the frame around, but in reality it’s still not that easy to discern which button is which, without looking.

Remote control

The menus are generally straightforward, with the exception of the “various settings” selection which sounds like a hodgepodge of stuff you’d never need, but in actuality, there are very useful options there, like screen brightness and contrast, screen settings, slideshow settings and so on. Perhaps “more settings” would have been more intuitive. “Select device” is another one that could use a better description. This is the menu where you can manually select which memory source to view files from, assuming you have at least one memory card inserted.

Screen Quality

Sony is well-known for their outstanding display quality and the V900 is no different. The colors are vibrant and the blacks hold true. The viewing angles are also very good. The only real knock is the glossy coating reflects a good deal of light, some people might be turned off by the reflective nature. I think it’s great though, a definite standout.

Sony DPF-D70 in the dark

Notice the reflective nature of the display

Other Features

Aside from showing images and the occasional media file, the Sony V900 also includes a clock and calendar. The clock comes with a couple clock and calendar viewing options but at this price point it would be nice to see a little more in terms of choice for clock faces.

Power

The V900 works plugged in only, there is no battery. The power brick is reasonable though, generally only blocking just one location on a power strip. It is interesting to note that the connector is different than the D70.

Conclusion

The Sony DPF-V900 has a lot to like about it; the fantastic display is its best asset. The biggest probem we have is that at this price point ($250 MSRP) we want WiFi. Sony opted to skip wireless and added HDMI instead. If you want HDMI, this frame is perfect for you, but we think the audience for such a product is pretty small and fullyexpect to see WiFi next time around.

Pros

• Fantastic display
• Good amount of included storage
• Automatic fit to screen function makes it easy to load photos to the frame
• HDMI lets you view images on an HDTV

Cons

• No WiFi
• HDMI won’t appeal to most buyers

Bottom Line

A great dispaly isn’t enough to get us to recommed the V900. There are more full-featured frames at this price point. Unless you really want the HDMI or prefer a great dispaly over WiFi, there’s little reason to buy this or the smaller DPF-V700.

3 out of 5 stars

The CP-1 7″ digital frame has all the standard features, including extras like WiFi for sending pictures to your frame or keeping them current from online sources like Photozou. Sony dropped in a few unique twists though; of course the integrated Opera web-browser has gadget-geeks a little fired up. There’s also a joystick knob on the back side to help make navigation more tolerable.

The big question is whether or not anyone actually wants to browse the web via photo frame. Largely, probably not, but it’s great to see frame functionality pushed regardless of immediate market need.

[Choose Opera]

Getting Started

Out of the box, getting the Sony frame set up is relatively simple. Once you’re plugged in the frame plays a little demo that covers things like how to properly insert the memory cards. The demo stops once you’ve inserted a memory card or loaded images to the internal memory. The default display is to show images in a single image slideshow, but there are other options and a few configuration changes that can be made.

 
Top down look at the D70

Like most digital frames, the Sony D70 can be oriented either to portrait or landscape. At first I didn’t really care for the kickstand mechanism; I wasn’t confident that it would stay locked into place. The design is pretty good though, you can rotate the frame from portrait to landscape, or vise-versa, without having to move the stand. There’s a small ball joint that the frame rotates around, so it actually works out surprisingly well.  When you rotate the frame to another position, the pictures automatically adjust orientation. If you have the Sony logo light turned on, it automatically turns off in portrait mode.

Back of the Sony DPF-D70

It’s a great looking unit. The D70 features a high gloss black frame (not interchangeable) that really makes the pictures pop. The entire front is flat all the way across, with the actual display panel recessed a bit behind a glossy top layer. There’s a Sony logo underneath the image display that is turned on by default, but can be disabled. But really, if you’re going to spend the extra for a Sony, you might as well display the brand.

Display Modes

The default frame setting is to show your images one at a time in a slideshow. Sony also offers a multiple image mode, which loads your pictures in varying order and configurations. I find this mode to be distracting, depending on where the frame is placed. The clock mode shows you a split screen with the image and the time and date the picture was taken. The calendar view is a little more useful, showing a monthly calendar with today’s date and time.  There’s also a random mode which rotates between the four display patterns.

Within the single image display mode, there are several settings which can be tweaked out of the box. Unless you’ve manually resized your images for the frame, you’ll want to navigate to the screen settings menu, under various settings, and change the display mode to “fit to screen.” This will essentially zoom in on your images to have them fill the entire display. This particular digital frame is formatted differently than most digital cameras, so images must either be cropped manually, or zoomed in on to fill the screen. For some reason Sony went with a unusual 15:9 aspect ratio.

This digital frame only supports still images; there is no video support or speakers for playing MP3 or other audio files.

Memory

The frame supports the popular flash memory options including Memory Stick, CompactFlash, Secure Digital and xD. Sony has also included 256MB of internal memory which they claim will hold 500 pictures. This is only true if you manually re-size your images to fit the D70’s screen. Even without resizing though, you should be able to fit roughly 75 images on the frame’s internal memory, which is plenty for most people. Transferring images to the internal memory is much easier to do via USB cord and computer than the process of going from memory card to the frame. Unless you want to transfer all of the images from a memory card to the internal memory, it’s slow going to do them one at a time.

When inserting a memory card while the digital frame is turned on, the frame will automatically start showing images on the card, rather than the internal memory. If you add more memory cards while the frame is on, it will default to whichever card was inserted first. You can manage which card is displayed in the menu system.

Menu buttons and memory card slots

Menu System

Any digital picture frame in this class comes with an in-depth menu system for managing your photos. Sony’s can be accessed via buttons on the frame or remote control and is generally pretty good, though there are some areas that could use improvement.

Navigating the menus is easiest via remote control. The biggest down side with the remote though is there’s no cradle for it and it’s very small, so losing it or otherwise misplacing the remote seems like a reasonable potential outcome. Even when using the remote, navigation indicators show up on the right side of the frame that approximate the locations of the menu buttons on the back of the frame. The idea is that you can use those buttons without flipping the frame around, but in reality it’s still not that easy to discern which button is which, without looking.

Remote control

The menus are generally straightforward, with the exception of the “various settings” selection which sounds like a hodgepodge of stuff you’d never need, but in actuality, there are very useful options there, like screen brightness and contrast, screen settings, slideshow settings and so on. Perhaps “more settings” would have been more intuitive. “Select device” is another one that could use a better description. This is the menu where you can manually select which memory source to view files from, assuming you have at least one memory card inserted.

Screen Quality

With any digital picture frame, screen quality is generally one of the most important features and the one most skimped on in cheaper models since the display panel is the most expensive part of any digital frame. Sony is well-known for their outstanding display quality and the D70 is no different. The colors are vibrant and the blacks hold true. The viewing angles are also very good. The only real knock is the glossy coating reflects a good deal of light, some people might be turned off by the reflective nature. I think it’s great though, a definite standout in a crowded field. At 7” the frame isn’t huge, but perfectly reasonable for a desk or tabletop location around the home or kitchen.

Sony DPF-D70 in the dark

Notice the reflective nature of the display

Other Features

Aside from showing images and the occasional media file, the Sony D70 also includes a clock and calendar. The clock comes with a couple clock and calendar viewing options but at this price point it would be nice to see a little more in terms of choice for clock faces.

Power

The D70 works plugged in only, there is no battery. The power brick is reasonable though, generally only blocking just one location on a power strip.

Conclusion

The Sony DPF-D70 digital photo frame straddles market segments to a degree due to the higher than average price for a 7” frame, but fewer features than competitors in the $140 area (Kodak offers an 8” model with WiFi for a few dollars more). The D70 offers a superior display though and more on-board memory than most frames this size. And the display is really where this model separates; it’s easily the best in its class. The Sony name also still carries a good deal of power, the brand-loyal won’t go wrong here.

Pros

• Fantastic display
• Good amount of included storage
• Automatic fit to screen function makes it easy to load photos to the frame
• Sleek and sexy design

Cons

• More expensive than other “basic” frames in this size

Bottom Line

If you prefer display quality over budget, there’s no better option for a standard digital picture frame in this size.

4 out of 5 stars – Editor’s Choice