Personal Gift Ideas - Digital Picture Frames

Digital photo frames have increased hugely in popularity over the last couple of years. They were one of the most popular gift items for Christmas of 2008. Throughout the course of 2008 there were major price cuts - firstly due to reductions in the cost of parts and materials and, in the latter half of the year, due to price positioning by the big suppliers. No doubt about it, the lowered pricing was a significant factor in the popularity of these frames, but it doesn’t fully explain their increased popularity.

Likewise, the technical advantages enjoyed are unlikely to account for the growing acceptance of digital photo frames into the mainstream. You can do slideshows - great. You can have background music - great. You get a remote control - nice. It’s all good stuff - but is it a big factor for your mother or your granny? They are the most probable recipients of these frames after all.

Now that digital frames are no longer limited to early adopters and gadget junkies but have become firmly established in the mainstream consumer marketplace, they are much more presentable. Previously they did tend to be black and shiny metal constructions, but it is now possible to get detachable surrounds which can be switched to suit the decor in your house. That certainly goes some way toward increasing their mass market appeal, but it still doesn’t explain their popularity.

The main factor that makes these frames ideal gifts is the fact that they are both customisable and can be easily updated in future - two very important selling points mowadays. Many people will take the time to load up a few photos of the grand-children, children, family pet, recent holiday locations, old friends etc. before handing their gift to Granny or Grandfather. They’re not just giving them some high tech gadget; it’s a very nice collection of memories in that nicely wrapped box isn’t it?

And it doesn’t end there. For the next holiday, family celebration, anniversary or whatever, they can simply pass over a memory card with a whole bunch of new snapshots on it - a kind of photographic family news bulletin if you like. Many of the latest frames even have Wi-Fi capabilities so you can update photos without having to use a new memory stick. Back to the technical funcrionality perhaps - but only insofar as it makes the really important thing possible, the sharing of memories.