OVERVIEW
So, it's Christmas time and you've either just received or just given the perfect $20 gift, a digital pocket viewer like the one from Digital Decor that you can find at Target
DPCI: 056-13-0705
ASIN: B001GN416O
Catalog #: 11018416
Just so you know we're talking about the same thing, here are some of the specs and pictures:
- Style and color assortment may vary
- Digital Photo Frame
- 1MB Memory Storage Capacity
- Supports JPEG, BMP
- Resolution: 128x128
- Operating Requirements: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista
- Compatible with USB, JPEG, Windows 2000, Windows Vista, Windows XP
- 1.5" Screen
- Features Continuous Slide Show, Slideshow Viewing; Analog Mode
- Additional Functions: Alarm Clock, Clock
- For Use with Digital Decor
- Image Editing Features: Image Resizing, Image Cropping
- Date Display, Color STN Display, Clock
- Holds Up to 50 Photos
- Also Features Plug and Play Technology, Low Power Consumption, Portable Size, Easy-to-Use Design, Easy Set-Up, Lightweight Design, Backward and Forward Navigation Between Pictures, Alarm Clock
- Inputs: Mini-USB
- Outputs: USB
- For Use with Displaying Digital Pictures
- Includes Carrying Case, Instructions, USB Cable, User Manual, Free Technical Support
- 5.5 x 1.6 x 9.4 "
THE PROBLEM
The problem is, you connect it to your computer with the included USB cable and you don't hear the familiar beep you normally hear when you connect a USB device and the screen just says "PC CONNECT" After about a minute, it starts showing a slideshow of the pictures included on the device...well, now what? So, you start clicking buttons and you get nothing other than a slideshow of the included pictures or the option to change the clock and stuff. Not what you're looking for. If you read the instructions, you'll only get about halfway there.
I'd expect any geek worth his salt to be able to figure this out, but I wouldn't expect my wife, or parents or grandparents to understand that the actual steps are different than the instructions. Well, the device works just fine, but the instructions leave something to be desired so I've written this article will hopefully help you get yours working properly.
Here are the steps I'd use:
- Take off the protective sheet from the screen
- Plug in the included USB cable to the side of the viewer and then to your computer
- The screen will say "PC CONNECT". After a minute, it will start looping a slideshow of the included pictures.
Although it won't tell you this, it's actually charging the Lithium-ion battery it has inside at this time. - Let the device sit like this for 6-8 hours to get a full charge.
- Now, unplug the cable from the side of the viewer and plug it back in. It will say "PC CONNECT"
(The instructions imply that if you click the ON/OFF/MODE button it will get to PC CONNECT for you as if it were a menu item, but it's not. I only see PC CONNECT when I unplug and re-plugin the cable) - Click on the ON/OFF/MODE button and it will now say "PC CONNECTING" and you'll hear the I-connected-a-USB-device-properly beep and Windows should pop up something asking if you want to run something like DPF_V211.exe. Click YES or click RUN THE PROGRAM or whatever is appropriate for your computer/OS.
- At this point it will run the included Photo Viewer Image Editor. Now you should be able to follow the instructions or figure out for yourself how to delete the pictures that it came with and add your own pictures.
I hope this helps anyone who is giving or has received one of these. They really don't stink like the reviews seem to imply.
Number2 (John Nelson)
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