The Bottom Line
I readily admit that I'm not the biggest fan of digital photo frames. They can be difficult to set up, the image quality often isn't very good, and the prices are too high.
However, my Kodak Pulse 7-inch digital photo frame review has me rethinking my stance.
The Pulse 7-inch digital photo frame carries a reasonable price ($129.99 MSRP), great image quality, and it's as easy to use as most Kodak photography products. The Pulse is missing an option for running from a battery, and it's only a 7-inch frame, but it's still a great option for displaying your photos.
Pros
- Extremely sharp photo frame
- Very easy to use
- Several options for uploading photos to the frame
- WiFi connection is available
- Starting price is reasonable
Cons
- Frame could be a little larger
- Touch screen LCD can lead to some smudges
- A battery option would be nice
Description
- Display size: 7 inches (touch-screen)
- Display area: 5.6 x 4.2 inches
- Display resolution: 480,000 pixels (800 x 600)
- Display brightness: 240 NITs
- Contrast ratio: 500:1
- Battery: None, power adapter only
- Photo upload formats: USB, memory cards (SD, SDHC, MMC, MS, MS PRO, xD), WiFi
- Internal memory: 512 MB
- Weight: 18.2 ounces (with adapter)
- Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.1 x 2.5 inches
Guide Review - Kodak Pulse 7-Inch Digital Photo Frame Review
Image Quality
One of the biggest drawbacks to many low-priced digital photo frames is image quality. Kodak has fixed that with the 7-inch Pulse. Images are sharp and bright, and it's also easy to view text on the Pulse frame.
With the touch screen found with the Pulse, you might have problems with leaving smudges and fingerprints on the screen, which will affect image quality. However, Kodak included a cleaning cloth with the Pulse to help with any smudges.
The primary downside to having such a sharp photo frame screen is that if you have some poor photos or slightly out of focus photos, you'll know it with the 7-inch Pulse. The Pulse frame's images are so sharp, any blurriness in the photos will unfortunately be very obvious ... in reality, not a bad problem to have.
Performance
The Pulse was extremely easy to use. I had no problem connecting the Pulse digital photo frame to my local WiFi network, and wirelessly uploading photos to the frame. It will take a while to upload the photos the first time, because you must register with Kodak's photo uploading Web site -- Kodak Gallery. You'll then upload photos from your computer to your area of the Kodak Gallery site, and the Pulse photo frame will then download the photos from the Kodak site through the WiFi connection. The 7-inch Pulse will store these photos in its 512 MB of internal memory.
You also can upload photos via memory card or USB connections.
All of the frame's commands are accessible by touching the screen. You can select from several different methods for automatically switching between photos, and the Pulse will even display four or five photos at once in a collage.
Finally, one of the best features of the 7-inch Pulse is that the Kodak Gallery site will give your Pulse frame its own e-mail address. You then can upload photos to the frame by sending them via e-mail. You also can give access to your frame to other people, who can send additional photos to the frame via e-mail.
Design
The Pulse has a sharp-looking frame around the 7-inch LCD screen, consisting of a black frame with silver trim.
The USB and memory card slots are protected behind a panel at the back of the Pulse frame, and there is a small stand built into the frame. The power connection is at the back of the frame, too.
