I think it’s fair to say that the vast majority of us have abandoned our film cameras for digital cameras. Why is it, then, that so many of us still seem bent on printing our pictures onto physical pieces of photo paper? This creates an unnecessary strain on the environment when the much greener option of a digital picture frame is so affordable and so easy-to-use.
From the outside looking in, you’d almost assume that nearly all digital picture frames are pretty much the same. The people at IPEVO don’t seem to think so, because they’re telling us that they’re “rethinking the digital photo frame,” including features that aren’t exactly standard in the segment.
The IPEVO Kaleido R7 digital picture frame is immediately an eye-catcher, because it doesn’t look too conventional with its assymetical design. It’s not a regular picture frame digitized; it’s a lifestyle piece that was designed with digital content in mind from the beginning. Oh, and it’s quite the looker to boot.
Feature Highlights
So, what kind of features should you expect from the Kaleido R7? While it certainly isn’t the largest digital frame out there, it does come packed with quite a few things that may pique your interest.
- High resolution (800×480) 7″ backlit TFT color LCD screen
- Integrated Wi-Fi connectivity for live streaming and syncing of photos
- 90-degree frame rotation for landscape or portrait pictures
- 25-degree frame tilt to improve viewing angle
- Orientation sensors adjust image display as screen is rotated
- Readers for SD cards and USB devices
- Touch-sensitive controls and included remote
- Bundled EyeStage content subscription and management software
- Compatible with XP, Vista, and Mac
The rotation and tilt features add to the utility, but it’s the Wi-Fi connection that will let you do more with the Kaleido R7. I’ll get to that expanded functionality in just a moment.
Looking Inside the Box
While the outside of the box for the IPEVO Kaleido R7 may not be particularly impressive with its plain brown-and-black appearance, this furthers the notion that digital picture frames are a greener solution.
IPEVO did not use any harmful dyes to make a glossy box. Further still, you won’t find an excessive use of plastic on the inside. Instead, it’s a simple cardboard tray (not unlike those used to hold drinks at a fast food place) that can be easily reused or recycled.
On the inside, everything is suitably protected from damage. The frame is wrapped in a soft cloth-like paper sleeve and then there are removable screen protectors in place to minimize fingerprints and scuffs. Aside from the Kaleido R7 itself, you get the remote control, installation CD, power adapter, and basic documentation.
Touch Controls or Remote Control: Your Choice
Who needs clunky physical buttons? They just take away from the slick appearance of a sleek device like the Kaleido R7. Rather than place physical buttons along the side or the top, IPEVO has placed a series of touch-sensitive controls along the front of the base. This makes them very easy to access and they still maintain the clean aesthetic.
While I’m not usually a big fan of touch-sensitive controls, I found that the ones on the IPEVO Kaleido R7 were remarkably responsive. The only physical button is a power switch on the right side of the base. Using the touch controls was an easy and enjoyable experience.
If you’d prefer to keep your distance, IPEVO has also bundled a small remote control. The remote isn’t anything too special. It’s your typical credit card-thin remote with “bubble-like” buttons on top that mirror the touch controls on the frame.
Setting Up the Connection
While you could certainly use this digital picture frame like how you would every other digital picture frame, you would be missing out on most of the fun by doing so. Yes, the Kaleido R7 comes with an SD card slot where you can easily load up an abundance of family photos. Yes, there is also an available USB port where flash drives can provide hours of picture-watching entertainment. But these aren’t why you’d want to pay the premium on a fancier frame like this.
The IPEVO Kaleido R7 is equipped with a Wi-Fi connection and the on-screen user interface is incredibly polished and easy to use. The first time you turn it on, it will walk you through the wizard for connecting to your home’s Wi-Fi hotspot and the pairing with your computer. I’ll get to the latter half in just a second.
The process is quite simple, starting with picking your SSID from the list (or entering your hidden one). However, entering your network key can be quite a pain, since there is no available keyboard. You are stuck using the arrow keys to navigate through the on-screen keyboard. Thankfully, you only have to do this once.
And on the PC Side of Software
To get the full functionality out of the IPEVO Kaleido R7, you also need to install the provided EyeStage software on your home computer. It is from here that you are able to manage your galleries and what IPEVO calls live channels. The software installation wizard walks you through the entire process and the relatively simple GUI is easy to follow.
From here, you need to pair your PC with your frame. You initiate the pairing process on the frame to make it “discoverable” on the network. Then, from the PC side, you hit the same pairing process until it “finds” the frame. After they are paired, content can easily be shared over the Wi-Fi network. Your digital frame has access to your “My Pictures” folder, for example. No need to physically transfer any media.
Accessing Flickr and Other Online Content
The single coolest thing about this digital picture frame is also one of its greatest disappointments. You see, you can use the Kaleido R7 to access real-time content from your Flickr account, Picasa account, or even RSS feeds. That’s a very neat feature and the content (not just pictures) can be streamed wirelessly over your network. The downside? Your paired PC has to be on and EyeStage has to be running.
Seeing how the Kaleido R7 has its own Wi-Fi radio, I don’t see why it couldn’t be loaded with a little piece of software to reach out and grab some Flickr content on its own. Instead, your PC has to work as a middle-man.
So How’s the Picture Quality
While the resolution (800 x 480 pixels) could be a little better, the picture quality on this digital picture frame is far from disappointing. The color reproduction is quite good for a digital photo frame and you get a reasonable level of crispness. This was true with wildlife photography, food pictures (with flash), and night landscapes.
I found that the contrast ratio left a little to be desired, since the darkest of the darks wasn’t quite dark enough, but this is understandable for a relatively affordable digital photo frame. You don’t really reach that kind of contrast ratio until you get to better LCD monitors and that’s just not going to happen with most photo frames. Similarly, horizontal viewing angles were acceptable, but vertical viewing angles weren’t quite as good. To overcome this, the frame offers 25-degrees of tilt.
Turning Things Up and Down
I have a tendency to take all of my photographs in landscape mode, because I expect to view all of my pictures on my computer. My computer monitor is always in landscape orientation, so it only makes sense that I take pictures framed that way. It’s sort of backwards-thinking, I suppose, because portrait-oriented photos make a lot more sense under certain conditions.
Do you take a fair number of portrait-oriented pictures? Isn’t it frustrating when you try to show those on a landscape-oriented picture frame? IPEVO has you covered, because the Kaleido R7 allows for 90-degree rotation and it has an orientation sensor to automatically adjust how the pictures are displayed. With other frames, you have to turn the device on end. With the Kaleido R7, the base stays in place and you simply rotate the display. This isn’t terribly innovative, but it’s very handy.
Final Thoughts
Listed at $199.99, the IPEVO Kaleido R7 isn’t exactly the cheapest digital photo frame on the block, but it’s also not quite like every other digital photo frame on the block either. I am a little disappointed that it only has a 7-inch WVGA display, since I would have liked to see something larger and something with a higher resolution, but there is certainly a place for the more compact size.
The picture quality is quite good and I’m a big fan of the overall aesthetic. The unique assymetrical design, placing the “stand” portion on the right side, adds a big dash of style and the great glossy finish adds a little touch of prestige. I would have preferred if the entire body was black to match, rather than having a white back.
The Wi-Fi connectivity could have been a real star here, since IPEVO is letting you access all sorts of online content. You can access your Flickr and RSS… but only via your computer using their software. If the frame could work as a standalone Internet picture-shower, that would really make it a stand-out product for me. As it stands, I’m left yearning for more.
Pros
- Unique design looks great, stylish
- Touch controls are seamlessly integrated into the base
- Good picture quality despite smaller size
- Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless photo delivery
Cons
- Online capabilities are crippled due to PC requirement
- Not a fan of the two-tone finish
- Could be larger and offer a higher resolution
- Somewhat expensive compared to other digital picture frames
Overall Rating: 7.0 / 10.0
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IPEVO Kaleido R7 Wireless Digital Frame Photo Gallery
