Windows App To Stream Content To Digital Frames

By Staff -- TWICE, 12/1/2008

REDMOND, WASH. — Microsoft announced a new application late last month that will enable wireless digital photo frames to receive images and content from the Internet.

The Windows Live FrameIt application will dynamically update compatible wireless digital photo frames with images from select third-party photo sites. The application will also stream news, stocks, weather updates and more to a frame.

To date, PhotoVu, Smartparts, ViewSonic, Pandigital and Aequitas Technologies have announced support for the new application.

PhotoVu will allow consumers to update their digital frames (sold over the last five years) to enable FrameIt compatibility.

Pandigital's first model to support FrameIt is the company's Kitchen Technology Center frame. The company said additional FrameIt-enabled models in 8- and 10-inch sizes will ship in 2009.

Smartparts said its two newest Wi-Fi frames, the 32-inch SP3200WF and the 8-inch SPX8WF, are FrameIt enabled. The company's desktop software, which ships with the frames, is also integrated with the service, allowing users to sign up and manage their FrameIt feeds.

Herndon, Va.-based Aequitas Technologies will ship its FrameIt-enabled iGala Wi-Fi frame this month. The 8-inch model features a touch-screen interface, 800 by 600 resolution (4:3 aspect), clock/calendar function, MP3 playback and 1GB of internal memory.

It will retail for $239.