Smartparts SPX8 8-Inch Syncpix Digital Picture Frame

My SPX8 absolutely does not work. Over a dozen phone calls to the company for support have mostly not been returned. I only got a serious response when I wrote to the President/CEO of Smartparts. The upgraded firmware for the frame and software for the desktop tool that the technician had me install still does not work. I'm fed up and ready to throw it away!

I, like many others, am not a fan of user manuals. I like products that, with a little patience and tinkering, can be used right out of the box. This is one of those products. I opened the box, glanced quickly at the instructions for battery and memory card hook up, and was immediately able to view photos directly from my memory card. In less than 5 minutes I was watching a slideshow of photos from a recent trip to south america. This is one of those tech gadgets I'd give to my grandparents for Christmas without worry that they'd never be able to figure out how to use it.
The picture quality is superb and the frame itself is quite stylish. It is designed so that you can remove the wooden frame (and replace it with a different color or style?) and display with the black plastic interior showing. Even without the outer frame it is quite nice looking.
The frame takes 2 standard memory card sizes and also has a USB port to hook to your computer or memory stick. The menu interface is simple to use with the remote or the buttons on the frame. The remote is handy and stores in a little slot on the side of the frame. I haven't tested it, but I don't think the frame has any internal battery power, so it has to be plugged in to use. Audio quality from the small speaker in the back is pretty good.
The only snag I came across in my initial use was with video. When the frame played the videos the picture would freeze but the sound from the video would continue. Once the video was over the slideshow would resume as normal. I think uploading the videos to the internal memory will help this, but I haven't tried.
I'm sure I'll find a hundred other great features once I actually read a bit of the manual, but I already think it's worth the money spent.

I am extremely pleased with this digital photo frame. I got this product to place at work since I have limited desk/office space and numerous pictures I love. I did a lot of research before purchasing this product. It was highly recommended. The photos are crisp and there are many options within the frame itself. However, the instructions are not very clear on how to install pictures from computer. Once you figure that out, it is a breeze. The motion sensor does not work, but I didn't return it for that reason because it was not why I purchased the frame. Overall, I would have to say I love it! In fact, I am considering purchasing two more, one for my home and one for my daughter.

Trying to load photos on this DPF from an Apple Mac will cause you to 'pull your hair out'. It is not impossible; but, very close to impossible !!

I had purchased Smartparts' other 8" frame, the SP8EM as a gift for my mother, and was really impressed with the picture quality. I decided to buy one for my office, but bought this model instead to get the motion sensor.

The resolution is just as good, but it is a little too bright, and as far as I can tell, this isn't adjustable.

The motion sensor is a little flakey, but I think it works ok most of the time. The angle of view of the sensor seems to be very narrow, so you can be looking at the frame, but just off to the side, and it will turn off. I've come in to work many times and it is on, there's no way for me to know if someone walked by or if it never turned off.

I put some videos on the memory card in the same folder as pictures, but it has never played them. I haven't investigated further.

I don't like the way this frame wants to copy the files to internal memory each time it is powered on. Can't turn this off, though. The 1GB card I bought for it cost me $8, so why bother with internal memory? You can resize all your pics very quickly yourself with a free utility such as Irfanview or Picasa.

The stand on this frame is really annoying, it falls off everytime you pick up the frame. So dumb. The stand on the SP8EM is very different and much better.

This frame has frozen a couple of times. It just gets stuck on a picture and never moves to the next. Reboot and it is ok. Hasn't done this in a while.

Overall, I like the SP8EM better, and would recommend that one unless you need the motion sensor. I'd bet money that the one I gave my mother was turned off and was never turned on again...