Digital photo frames

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CAframer

CAframer

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Nov 19, 2003
Posts
3,834
Loc
Orange County, CA
Anyone selling digital photo frames? If so, how's it going?

Does it cannibalize other sales, or do you think it's an extra impulse purchase?

Can you recomend a supplier?
 
Andrew, If you are refering to this frame
DPF-8000F.jpg

that takes your camera card in the side and presents a slide show of your photos . . . that was featured in For Members Only . . . then I may be your man/rep on that.

The nice thing about the 8000 (5x7) and 1040 (8x10) is that the black plastic frame is easy to unscrew and remove so that you can screw on a nice custom frame of "added value" sales. They also have hanging holes for wall mount and a remote control.
 
Baer

Yes that sort of thing ... I have looked at some of the Chinese "wholesalers" ... but would be very interested to get a proposal from you.

I have not yet seen the "Members Only" that features this version ... I'll be on the lookout for it when it arrives! Or maybe I just skimmed it too fast ... as always I'm suffering from too much to do and not enough time!

I like the idea of the detachable plastic so that we can customize.

Call or email me asap.

Ciao
 
I am also interested in carrying digital frames and have also spoken to distributors in china. I am unsure of the technology as far as ease of use, durability and would also be interested in feed back about these things.
 
I haven't priced these in a while, but last time I checked, it was a lot less costly to beg/borrow/buy obsolete laptop computers, take them apart, and frame them in 2" deep shadowboxes. The total cost, including COGS, labor, and overhead was under $200 for a 14" laptop screen, considerably larger than the 8"x10" digital frame size.

About two years ago I found a website and downloaded detailed instructions on how to do it. I found a local source for $50 junk laptops and was ready to set up production, but have not gotten around to it. Yet.
 
The FMO was at least a couple of months ago. Nice product, though the markup from cost to suggested retail is <30%. When I talked to them, they mentioned Baer's name, took notes, promised a return call with answers because they were not yet ready for distribution to picture framers and haven't heard a word since. It didn't look like they were going to make the schedule for this holiday season delivery.

Ease of use... these accept almost any miniature form of storage device imaginable. Photos in jpg format. Audio if memory serves correctly. Display digital pictures, music and video. Built-in memory card reader eliminates the need for a computer, camera or internet connection. Add music or video multifunction.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]10.4“ Multimedia TFT LCD Panel[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Resolution 640 X 480 [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Pixels : 262,144 [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brightness : 350 cd/m2 Max [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Contrast Angle : 300:1 [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Viewing Angle : 70/70(l/r),70/40(u/d) [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Response Time : 25 ms [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Input Voltage: AC110-240V(50-60HZ) [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Power :VESA DPMS [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Compatible with JPEG/MPEG1/MPEG2/MP3/MPEG4 File Formats[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Play MP3 Music with the Built-in Speakers[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Memory Card Support : CF, MD, MS, SD, MMC, SM, XD[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo Rotating +/- 90 degree[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Zoom In/Out Function[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Slide Show Display Mode[/FONT]

Baer, are they still packaging them in lots of 5 minimum? Do they have any delivery schedule worked out yet?

Like Baer said, a 'value added' custom frame would significantly enhance things.
 
I had a sales rep a month or so ago trying to sell me some of these. They may or may not have been the same brand. My concern and reason why I did not purchase any was that my cost, buying 10 at a time, was to be 84 bucks plus shipping. The Target store 1/4 mile away sells them for 99 bucks.

Are these things available in the $50 range wholesale?
 
I was interested in them more for the ability to upsell with a custom frame, and I thought it might make a cool in store display of our portfolio, of course with a nice custom frame added to it. It sounds simple enough to use. When I priced them with the chinese distributors it would cost me about a 100 bucks per item plus shipping. This is why I was interested in getting some closer to home.
 
Join PPFA. You'll get a monthly little magazine-ette called "For Members Only" (referring to PPFA members.) Good stuff in there. I like the pictures...lots of Grumblers too.
 
I took a really old Gateway laptop (P3 750Mzh) and ripped it out of the shell and stuffed in it the deepest frame I had laying around. Price-wise, it was easily the most affordable but it took quite a bit of "geekyness" to get it to the way I want it.

My current version of it (1.0) has both the power cord and network cat5 cable running to it. I had a co-worker help me trace which pins on the main control panel was the HD light and On/Off switch, which I then mounted a new LED light and a simple button switch so I could see drive activity and easily turn the sucker on and off.

I had to upgrade the firmware on it to get XP to install, but at least its running Windows XP, and to configure it I have to remotely log into it from another computer on the network.

Version 2.0, when I get around to it, will have a wireless network card (so I can hang it in the kitchen), wireless keyboard (so I can surf the web on it too), and a nicer frame. I wrote my own program to wake it up and put it to sleep so it's not running all night long, and I wrote my own screen saver to pull pictures from our library of photos (about 3500 images and counting).

All in all, not bad for $0. However if I counted labor it would be $$$ as I probably spent about 6-8 hours on it just tweaking stuff. And I just don't see that laptop lasting that long.

Which reminds me, another thing to consider is HEAT. Stuffing a computer in a picture frame requires much ventilation. I used gator-foam for the backig, and made a "grill" of holes in it so air would get sucked in near the fan, and then made a channel out of foam to funnel the air over the CPU. One of the benefits of using older laptops is that they don't run nearly as hot as todays monster laptops do, but it's still a factor. My digital frame did shut off once or twice because it got too hot (during the summer upstairs in my house gets in the upper 80s, lower 90s for a couple weeks each year). I'll post pics soon.
 
Light bulb moment!

You guys just gave me an idea:

The 19" flat-screen computer monitor at the shop sits on the corner of the design counter. Since I don't have a POS yet, when I'm not on the Grumble, it mostly shows screen saver from "my pictures". In full view of customers, it gives them something to look at while I'm figuring their order, and they often get kinda mesmerized. Another frame-selling tool....Walla!!I'll put a frame on it! And there's the idea to make a frame for their computers at home! Or work!

How would the frame attach to the monitor?
 
Val

Are we frankenthreading again.:o Maybe this should be in "Tips of the trade"?

Offset clips worked for me. But that is not going to be the only challenge. If your monitor has buttons on the front, as most of them do, you will have to work around them. I used a triple mat and cut out the bottom two mats to clear the buttons. I glued the mats into the frame, but points would work. Then offset clips hold the frame onto the moniter. Check the moulding width and depth along the bottom of the monitor before you start chopping. This is where you have the least room because of the constraints of the stand. It is unlikely that a six inch moulding will fit. If it does let me know - I have a beautiful ornate gold frame already made - of course it doesn't fit my monitors - don't ask. Pictures will be available next week if you need them.

I have two framed monitors. One on the counter like yours and one in the front window. The one on the counter runs a slide show of completed work. It contains diverse interesting and unusual things. The one in the window also has slides advertising specials, opening hours, telephone numbers, web site address, etc.

19 inch LCD monitor under $200. Reconditioned computer, $179. Advertising value, priceless.

Clive.
 
Did I frankenthread again? Gee, I thought Jim turned it around way back when he talked about converting laptops to do this. My whole life is a frankenthread, my shop, etc, due to my inability to focus on one th....Oh look! A bird! ....ing at a time. Sigh.

Back to the monitor frame....Clive, I will measure later when I get to the shop and let you know about the gold frame you already have made. The stand on mine is set pretty far back, and the couple of buttons on the bottom have never been used. It's a flat screen monitor. I think it might work! Would like to see your pictures.

Baer, what's the latest on your digital frame rep thing? Sounds interesting, and I don't think it would take away from, but rather add to what we offer in our shops. Keeping up with the times, and all that.

My daughter got one for her birthday recently...loves it! But she didn't want to tell me because she thought her-mother-the-framer might not approve. Hey, I'm not that much of a dinosaur, I love it! Heck, pretty soon, I'll have a big one sitting on my front counter! Besides, she asked me to make a "prettier frame" for it. See? It's working already!
 
Val, as you and your daughter discovered... the black plastic frame is well... a black plastic frame. It's even more utilitarian than the frame on my TV... So its a great up sell for a nice frame that goes on the wall and slide shows what ever you stick on the card in the reader.

For a lot less work than what Jim or Steve are doing. But there will always be those people out there who "can do it themselves".

One of my great uncles was a moonshiner. He was my mothers brother, but he was great when he brought some of the lightnin over. :help:

Personally I barely have time to unpack a product, put it on the shelf and take the customers money; much less build the thing myself so I can save a few $$ and worry that it doesn't blow up and burn the customers house down... :o
 
The Fidelity Electronics Digital Picture Frames DPF-1040 are really nice. We received the case we ordered last week. The Ugly, right out of the box version was just put on the counter yesterday with half dozen photos rotating. The "Spiffed Up" version will be ready next week.

For ordering info, contact Baer.

Sold 1 spiffed up version and received a commitment for a 2nd spiffed up version on the first day. One more sold and we get to order the 2nd case of them. I would have never thought that would happen in the first day.

Replace the mat in the factory unit with a Franks MatLiner ordered with your choice of fabric (6.125" x 8.125" sight size). Charcoal Cascade Seamless Matliner seems to be a pretty good allaround choice. Drill a 1/4" hole for the remote control sensor. Add the customer's choice of any custom frame to that.

Link to my slideshow photos

http://northwestbynorth.com/slideshow_demo.aspx

There's only one known electronic bug.... Type M and Type H xD cards have a compatability issue. Standard xD cards, as well as all other camera cards have no issues.

Plug and Play.... take the card directly from camera to frame and turn the power on and the slide show begins.

You can get fancy and add MP3 audio files and MPEG1,2 or 4 video files to the rotation.
 
Ok Baer, I'll bite. How do I get one?

Call me, I promise I'll answer this time.
 
Baer, we talked a little about this digital frame when you stopped in for a visit. However I didn't get to see it or ask for prices. So that it doesn't seem selfserving on your part and being that there is other interest as well, PLEASE post info on the Commercial / For Sale forum and many will appreciate it.
 
I don't mind putting the link to the site for the info so that it stays here and relieves Baer of the selfserving issue. We bought a carton of the 10.4" models which have a MSRP of $300 before any customizations. Though it is difficult to see on the website, there is an infrared sensor behind a hole in the top center of the mat.

http://www.fidelityelectronics.com/en/dpf/default.asp?pn=1040&s=1

It's not my place to give the wholesale prices, but there is a significant discount for the first unit within the carton of 4 to be used for a store display. I think that freight is prepaid or was part of a manufacturer's special at the time I placed my order.
 
My concern was that people can go on eBay and get one for about $200. Are my concerns unwarranted? Or how do I compete with that? Is it more of an impulse (look at that cool digital frame! mom would love that!) type thing? I really want to offer them in the store but leery about large investment on inventory that might not sell.
 
There are similar items on eBay. You get what you pay for and I would not think the warranty is worth the paper it's written upon. So far, Fidelity Electronics has been really good to work with. There were a couple of glitches and Fidelity has handled them in a manner consistent with those that I use for my own customers.... in a very impressive and admirable manner.

I also hear that some of the almost identical look-alikes are actually refurbished units and only carry a 30 day or so warranty.

We will be ordering our second case of 10.4" units next Monday.... and we haven't even received the liner and moulding that will be used to modify the display unit for the custom upgrade model..... those sold so far have been from the outofthebox display as can be seen in Baer's first post on this thread.
 
I haven't figured out how you put mp3s on the thing to play along with the pictures. I put a different frame on it and have one sitting on my counter playing some shots of recent shadowboxes.

Very pretty. Number 2 is going to go in the window.
 
Barb,

Rick is more of a [excuse me, I ment to say MUCH more of a ] geek than I am.... [own it Rick, you rock], so he may chime in here...

But it is my understanding that the remote control is sort of a "universal" but is ready for next year when they roll the units out with some memory on board to work as the neccessary "buffer" to play music or video.... and I just looked on my unit... there is no speaker.

But FE is looking at rolling out about 9 new models for next year, including an 8x10 model that comes already withOUT a frame/glass/mat.... "Framers Edition". Hows that for responding to a market place? We spoke and FE listened. Turns out the Photo people never gave any feed back.
 
Gee TNX Baer, you put it so eloquently, I just don't have a problem with pushing buttons to see what happens. BTW, the 10.4" ( ie: 8" x 6" ) model contains stereo speakers.

I use a USB cardreader to plug my camera card into the computer. Then, just like any other jumpdrive, copy your MP3 files, MPEG motion video files or edited photos to the camera card. I don't remember the exact sequence on the remote, but it's something similar to pressing "audio", "play", "slideshow", "play". If there is more than one MP3, by default, the DPF will rotate the MP3s as well as rotating photos.

Rather than using photos of shop stuff, I have a fairly large collection of royalty-free StockPhotos that I use for the slideshow. That way, there is a wide variety of "family, small childrens, pets, candid, scenic etc" photos in the rotation as well as jpg slides sprinkled in with text that highlights some business and personal uses as well as the major specs of the DPF.

We've already been asked about availability of LARGER units.
 
After I "FDISK"ed my XT, I've been kind of gun shy about "pushing buttons to see what happens". [I've also been punched in the nose for pushing butttons.... :D]

I wanted the 1040, but they were out when I wanted a unit. :cry:

As for "Bigger" ... the 11x14s are on the way.... but not by Xmas.

Did you notice if the 1040 had any "onboard" memory, or is it hidden buffer?
 
Thanks guys,

Yes, these I bought at the PMAI show are the FE 10.4 and they do have speakers....I didn't know how to get the mp3's on a camera card...looks like I have something to learn. I've lost my USB cardreader, darn it!! Those dang things are small!

Maybe this non-geekess can figure it out--thanks Rick.

Yeah, Baer, that framer's model will be great, expecially since I've seen a couple of models online where you can already choose the style of frame.
(I walk through that PMAI show and drool over all the cool new toys--LOVE it!! Talk about getting your creative juices flowing!)
 
Just found out today.... The remote control will work through Frank's Cascade fabric without having to cut a hole for the sensor.

If we could only get the liner with the hole drilled before it was wrapped. Drilling from the backside and plucking the last bits of primer and fabric glue with a dental pick was a bit tricky.

Fidelity sent an MPEG motion file with audio for use on the demo ... that really impressed the customer today; especially when I told him the only limitation in video length was the size of his card.

Baer, no on-board buffer that I can tell, but haven't had a memory problem using a 32 Mb standard xD card.
 
We stuck a 8000 in our window 9 days ago. It's been running 24/7 since.... I figured the thing would smoke in a few days.. I keep feeling the back.... amazing how cool they run.

Rick, I think I have to break down and start trying out fabrics and see which ones will allow the eye to "see".

I feel an article coming on...... "who cares about acid-free, when your RF eye can see" :D
 
Here they are Baer, just because you asked.....

The remote is infrared (IR); not RF. So a line of sight is necessary for the remote to function.

Half dozen CDs converted to MP3 on the card gives several hours of background music in addition to the slideshow.

DPF1040.gif
DPF1040a.gif
 
Just what I have come to expect from Rockaby's.. another fine job Rick. Thanks for posting the pics.

I guess you're right about that frame... it is a lot faster then my carving a 4" Grand Rococo . .. . .
 
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