Check out this roundup of low-cost beach gear to help all members of the family enjoy frolicking in the sand and water.
Digital Frames Reviews
$30
$80
$200
...+Digital Frames Reviews
Digital Photo Frames Resolution.
Resolution is an issue that surfaces in any discussion of technology products with screens, including computer monitors, TVs, and DVD or Blu-ray players. So it is with digital photo frames, where the higher the number of pixels in the display, the clearer and sharper the framed picture will be. In the world of cheap digital picture frames, size also matters: The larger the display area, the higher the resolution needed to keep the picture crisp. For example, the resolution suitable for a 7-inch frame (the size refers to a frame's width) will not produce the same sharp results on a 14-inch or 20-inch frame. If you're shopping for a frame between seven and nine inches -- the most commonly purchased size -- don't settle for a resolution lower than 640x480.Our three top picks all prove that good resolution doesn't have to be a budget buster. Both the Pandigital PAN7000DW (starting at $60, Amazon) and Kodak EasyShare P750 (starting at $77, Amazon
) feature an 800x600 resolution, and the Sony DPF-D710 (starting at $67, Amazon
) has a resolution of 800x480. In fact, digital frames reviews at B&H give the Sony DPF-D710 a perfect rating, noting that the frame sports a high quality, high-resolution picture. Digital frames reviews of the Kodak EasyShare P750 posted at Best Buy say photos look professional in this high-resolution frame. The Pandigital PAN7000DW likewise impresses consumers with its non-grainy picture clarity, according to digital frames reviews on Amazon, especially in light of the frame's low price.
Some low-cost digital picture frames, such as the Digital Foci Image Moments 6 Photo Frame IMT-063 (starting at $59, Amazon), actually focus on resolution as a marketing gambit. For instance, the 640x480 resolution on this 5.7-inch model is denser than some larger, top-selling digital frames. Users commenting in Digital Picture Frame Review are impressed with the sharpness, contrast, and vibrancy of the colors in this relatively small frame.
Digital Photo Frames Aspect Ratio.
The aspect ratio refers to the horizontal and vertical dimensions of your pictures. Experts say a ratio of 4:3 displays most images at their best on digital photo frames regardless whether the picture is landscape- or portrait-oriented. The auto-aspect setting on most compact (aka point-and-shoot) digital cameras is 4:3, so images from these cameras display well -- without distortion or cropping -- on digital frames with a 4:3 aspect ratio. The more complex digital SLRs (single lens reflex cameras) typically shoot with an aspect ratio of 3:2, and images taken with these cameras display with far less distortion on a frame with a 4:3 aspect ratio than on a frame with a 16:9 aspect ratio, the other common setting.Many lower-price digital photo frames, including two of our top picks -- the Pandigital PAN7000DW and Kodak EasyShare -- use the 4:3 aspect ratio as a standard setting. Others feature an aspect ratio of 16:9 or above, which produces the increasingly popular widescreen effect. Unfortunately, if you shoot photos in a non-widescreen format, such as 4:3 or 3:2, a widescreen display stretches and distorts the images to fill the space. This is fortunately not the case with one of our preferred models, the Sony DPF-D710, which has an aspect ratio of 16:10. A digital frames review by experts at Top Ten Reviews says the Sony DPF-D710 is a good basic digital picture frame that scores bonus points for its automatic orientation sensor, which adjusts images to portrait or landscape depending on what's needed and adds thin black bars to the top and bottom of the screen to provide a non-distorted widescreen effect for any image shot in a 4:3 or 3:2 format.
Best Cheap Digital Picture Frames
Pandigital PAN7000DW
Although some users say the Pandigital PAN7000DW is a bit harder to understand and operate, they still recommend it because the screen images are flawless. With advanced features such as music and video file support, plus 1GB of internal memory, experts deem this cheap digital photo frame a dream for the tech-savvy. Read more »
Tao Digital Keychain
80009-80016A potential stocking stuffer, this digital photo frame keychain comes in a wide range of colors and delivers clear, crisp images despite its small size. At only 1.5 inches, it has a screen resolution of 128x128, 16MB of internal memory, and enough battery power for three to four hours of continuous operation. Read more »
Good Cheap Digital Photo Frames
Kodak EasyShare P750
Simple setup, ease of use, and fast image transfer are all features that users mention repeatedly in customer reviews. This frame displays photos in the more confusing "date modified" rather than "date taken" order, but its 800x600 resolution, 2GB memory, Energy Star rating, and remote control translate to a high quality product at an affordable price. Read more »
Sony DPF-D710
Users love the clear, crisp, color-saturated images this cheap digital photo frame displays and the stylish, widescreen format it provides without distortions. The frame has a resolution of 800x480 (lower than other cheap digital photo frames on our list), 128MB of internal memory, and the option to add external memory through a USB port or memory card slot. Read more »Don't Bother Budget Digital Picture Frames
Aluratek ADMPF108F
With lots of bells and whistles -- 512MB internal memory, support for image, music, and video files, and a remote control -- this model should be a promising contender. Unfortunately, reviews say it's not particularly user-friendly or long-lasting, and it doesn't seem to sync with a PC. Read more »
Shift3 Digital Photo Keychain
Even with its low price, users say the Shift3 isn't worth the money. Some report it refuses to hold a charge, others say their PC doesn't recognize the product's software, and still others say loading pictures takes so long it's not even worth messing with. Read more »
Digital Foci Image Moments
Aluratek ADMPF108F
Shift3 Digital Photo Keychain
Kodak EasyShare P750
Sony DPF-D710
Pandigital PAN7000DW
Tao Digital Keychain
This week at Cheapism we recommended the best cheap bras and published money-saving tips on buying cables for your gadgets, planning summer travel, and getting the most out of garage sales.
It's always exciting to bring home a new TV, home theater receiver, printer, or other electronic gadget, but many of these products don't include the cables you need to connect them to other devices and begin using them right away.




