Digital photo frame technology has been gaining popularity for several years. Since most people use digital cameras now, they don't have a way to display their photos. Photo frames were made to replace your typical photo albums with picture frames that hold digital images. This way you can still display your favorite photos, but you don't have to worry about printing them out. For those who want to start early on their Christmas shopping, photo frames could be just the right gift for that special someone.
Since the inception of these devices, many improvements have been made. For example, the 15-inch Pandigital PAN150 photo frame can play MP3s and video. If you're looking for the perfect present for non-technical Grandma and Grandpa, you can buy them a Ceiva frame
. This way you can purchase a PicturePlan subscription (starting retail value $100 per year) and send updated images to the photo frame. Also, some photo frames can act like alarm clocks and calendars.
But, these are just the beginning of the new technology being introduced. JOBO AG has just announced the release of its JOBO X7 Portable Photo Viewer. This photo frame can be taken anywhere with you. It's perfect for photographers that want to share their work with others or parents who need to share the latest pictures of the kids. This frame would be the perfect holiday gift for your favorite photographer friend.
What's unique about this device is that, when you upload your photos, it automatically creates folders that you can name and sort. To better protect your photo frame on the go, it comes with its own leather case. But, it's still rather expensive, going for almost $350 per frame.
Samsung Electronics America has already established itself in the digital photo frame industry. They have expanded their niche in this industry with a new line of LCD digital photo frames that are due out this fall. The SPF-85V ($200 retail) 
sports an eight-inch screen and comes with Wi-Fi capability. For those looking for larger screens, the 10-inch SPF-105P ($200 retail) and SPF-105V ($290 retail) will be out later this year.
Sony of Canada has also introduced two new photo frames. The 10.2-inch DPF-D100 
and the eight-inch DPF-D80 both don a SVGA LCD screen with high resolution. Both of these are due out in October, just in time for the holiday season.
When looking to purchase a photo frame, there are a few things to consider. Most digital cameras take photos in 4:3 aspect ratio. So, a frame with this ratio will better fit your frames. Also, you need to consider resolution. Resolution below 640x480 pixels will make your pictures look grainy and fuzzy. Plus, if you're not the most adept at using technology, you may want to find a photo frame that is easy to use.
So, start the holiday shopping early by purchasing a photo frame for every member of the family and all your friends.