Update: Still no response from Thomson-global customer support, but I did discover that when the frame is powered by my Chromebook, I can drag and drop pictures to it. It shows up in Files as Vewpia DR/bq Kepler Debugging. I assume it would be the same if I plugged it into my laptop or my desktop.
Original Review:
I ordered the THOMSON 10.1 Inch Digital Picture Frame, Digital Photo Frame WiFi with 32 GB, 1280×800 HD IPS Touch Screen, Auto-Rotate, Slideshow, Share Photos/Video. I bought a Skylight Frame for my mom, and we have been happy with it, but I wanted a digital frame for myself too.
MANUAL: The first thing I did upon opening the box was to read the manual. It looks thick, but that’s only because it contains instructions in many languages. The English instructions were without any glaring grammar/spelling/translation problems, and the set-up process seemed simple, but the instructions are not helpful for actual use.
SETUP: Once I completed reading the instructions, I began following each step to set up and use the frame… but first, I attached the “kickstand” (I don’t know what it’s called, and the manual doesn’t even mention it), which can be turned to allow the frame to stand more or less upright and in portrait or landscape mode (although in portrait mode, the giant Thomson logo would be sideways). The frame can also be hung on the wall. The frame can be powered with the included AC/DC adapter plugged into the wall or with the included USB Type-C charger (I used it plugged into my laptop for my initial setup and testing). Once plugged in, the frame started right up, and I was able to quickly and easily connect to my wifi.
APP: The next step was downloading the app. Boy, was I nervous. There were zero reviews of the app… guess that makes sense, since this is a new product. The app is very rudimentary and takes some fumbling around. There are only 3 menus: Upload, Connect Frame, and Personal Center. I was able to “bind” (link–the frame screen calls it “Bind,” the app calls it “Connect Frame”) my frame to the app by either an emailed code or scanning of a QR code.
After connecting my frame, I chose Upload. I did not like that I had to grant “always” permission to access my phone. I would have felt much more comfortable with “just this once” or “only when using app.” I chose 10 pictures to upload and they uploaded quickly to the frame. Next, I chose a small-sized 15-second video, which took approximately 10 minutes to upload. The pictures were immediately included in the slideshow. The video, however, has a thumbprint that’s viewable, but the frame says it is “temporarily unable to view this video,” even many hours later, so at this point, I’d have to say the listing’s claim that the frame displays photos and videos is inaccurate. I have not tried the play music via the frame, so I cannot tell you if it works or not.
USE: The frame has a touchscreen that is sensitive and responsive, which I like. The word “THOMSON” is prominently displayed in red font in all caps on the front of the frame, which I do *not* like, as well as on the screen when using the view that contains the slideshow, weather, current date, temp, and time, calendar, etc. (see pic). Incidentally, I would have liked to keep that view as the default, but it only shows for 30 seconds before changing to just the slideshow only. If I want to see that view again, I have to touch the screen and then the back arrow until I get to that view. I can, however, choose to have just the date and time show on top of the pictures, but it is on top, so if anything important is in the upper left corner of the pic, its view is interrupted by the date and time numbers.
The listing says multiple users can send pics to this frame, but the manual does not explain how, and there is nowhere I’ve found in the app to add users. For reference, I can allow any number of people to send pics to the Skylight Frame I previously bought, either via the app or the frame’s email address.
When viewing the slideshow, I noticed the “tags” I was able to add with uploads (all tags apply to every pic in the upload; if you want a different tag for each pic, you’ll have to upload them one at a time) show in a gray box overlaid on the pictures. Not ideal at all! This function can be turned off. I’d thought tags might be useful for finding pics of certain people, places, events, etc., but I can’t find anywhere to search tags, either in the app or in the frame’s settings, so I saw absolutely no reason to add tags. While the manual doesn’t mention tags at all, the listing does mention captions. Since there is nowhere in the app or the frame settings to make captions, I assume they are talking about the tags. And I’ve just mentioned a couple reasons those are not great. For reference, with the Skylight Frame I’d previously bought, not only can the person uploading the picture add a caption to the pictures, they can add a different caption (or no caption) for each picture in a multi-picture upload. After pics are uploaded, the main user can edit, add, or delete captions posted by someone else, and there is a comment section to which any of the users can post a comment, like someone else’s comment, tag other users, etc. I love the ability of the Skylight Frame to act as a safe, closed-system social media for Grammy and her grandchildren. No such function exists with this digital frame.
The quality of the picture displayed seems fine. The orientation of the pictures automatically adjusts as the frame is set in portrait or landscape orientation. The transition between pictures is smooth, and the transition style can be changed in the settings).
But the clunkiness and incompleteness of the app, the inability to add multiple users, and the other functions that are either missing or inadequate compared to the Skylight Frame cause me to rate this at just 3 stars. (If Thomson’s customer support answers my email and resolves the multiple-user problem, I may increase the rating to 4 stars, depending on how easy it is for children and/or elderly people.)
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