In summary
Full review
Quality rating (out of 10)
Build: 8.0
Ease of use: 8.5
Versatility: 8.5
Value for money: 8.5
SanDisk’s Photo Album provides an easy way to display digital photos (JPEG format only) on a home TV set and doubles as a multi-card reader when connected to a PC. Simple in concept, it consists of a card reader with USB and video cables, a remote controller and an AC power supply. The front panel has four memory card slots, while the rear panel houses an extra CF I slot, ports for power, AV and USB cables and a switch for selecting PAL or NTSC playback.
You simply connect the Photo Album to TV or PC. For TV viewing, select the video input source. With PCs, the latest operating systems recognise the device and install it automatically (drivers are provided for older systems). Then slip the memory card from your digital camera into the relevant slot. The on-screen display shows the DCIM folder from the digital camera, where images and video clips are stored at their original resolutions, along with thumbnails that are displayed when the folder is opened. Pressing the Play/Pause button runs the slideshow and/or plays the video clips.
Pressing the Files button displays all the files on the selected memory card. Users can transfer image files store an ‘album’ of images or videos on a CF card inserted in the rear slot and the Photo Album will downsize the files to VGA size (‘TV quality’) automatically or set up an ‘Original’ folder and retain the original file size. Photos stored in the VGA album can be played back with MP3 music files stored on the same card. The device can also be used for music playback only.
Users can change the order in which pictures will be played back, set the slide interval, choose from a range of transition effects – or elect for random transitions. Images can also be marked for printing and the print size and number can be entered into the DPOF file for each shot for automatic activation when the device is connected with a printer or photo kiosk. Most of these features are replicated when the Photo Album is connected to a PC via its USB cable.
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Specs:
Connections: Video (Composite) and Audio (Stereo), 2x USB 1.1 ports, power supply.
Compatible Memory Cards: CompactFlash Type I / II, SD/MMC, Memory Stick/MS PRO, SmartMedia, xD-Picture Card.
File Formats Supported: JPEG (to 16-megapixel); Motion JPEG, MPEG-1 (QVGA resolution up to 8 fps)
Dimensions: 187 x 65 x 20 mm
Weight: 200 grams (incl. remote controller)
RRP: $109.95
Distributor: VME Systems, ph. (03) 9845 2600; www.sandisk.com.
Specifications
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