iGala Wi-Fi Linux Based Photo Frame

ThinkGeek put the word out about the new iGala Wi-Fi Linux-based photo frame!

Unlike other digital photo frames that just accept memory cards and show photos, the iGala has a brain inside its rectangular head. Use the touchscreen interface to configure the iGala to connect to your wi-fi network, then the iGala can do all kinds of smart things like login to a Gmail account and display any e-mailed photos on its hi-res 800×600 screen.

Of course the iGala can pull your photos automatically from Flickr and you can connect to Windows Live FrameIt or FrameChannel if you’re looking for a free web based interface to automatically push photos, news and traffic to your frame. No PC is required because the iGala is essentially a mini touchscreen computer running Linux.

FrameChannel or FrameIt?

The iGala frame comes in two models, one for FrameChannel service (http://www.framechannel.com) and one for Windows Live FrameIt service (http://frameit.live.com). They are both customizable web service platforms to manage the intelligent delivery of personalized content to wireless digital picture frames.

You are not required to use either of these two services. The iGala is perfectly capable of receiving photos sent via e-mail and handling Flickr RSS feeds of photos all by itself.

FrameChannel offers a library of hundreds of channels of content, all optimized for viewing on wireless picture frames. These include text based channels that are converted to images such as news headlines, live weather forecasts, sports scores, and horoscopes as well as image content from sources like National Geographic, AP Images and other galleries shot by the top photographers from around the world. This content is then married with each user’s personal photos that can be uploaded to FrameChannel or pulled from a variety of supported photo sharing sites including Flickr, Picasa, Webshots, Facebook and others. Each user selects the channels that interest them, sets the rules for each channel and FrameChannel applies its rules engine to create a unique content stream for each user that is updated continually. The iGala frame also features a simple One-Click setup for FrameChannel service.

Microsoft’s Windows Live FrameIt service lets users customize a content feed that is delivered via RSS which is similar to FrameChannel. Users can customize weather data, news sources and their own photos via Live Spaces or SmugMug. Once users customized the channel on FrameIt website, they can input its Collection Name on iGala to display its content.

The main difference between the two services is the scope of their image content collections. iGala users will be able to switch between FrameIt and FrameChannel services by performing an easy firmware refresh on the iGala frame.

Product Features

• Wi-Fi enabled photo frame can pull photos from Gmail and Flicker and has touch screen interface for network configuration
• 8″ 4:3 800X600 Digital LCD
• No PC Needed for Setup, No Subscription Fees for Online Use
• Full Screen Touchscreen Interface
• No PC Needed for Setup
• Linux based operating system
• Wifi 802.11b/g with WEP, WPA and WPA2
• 1GB Internal Memory Stores over 5,000 images
• Auto Synchronization with Flickr Photo Sets
• Access to Flickr Private Photos
• Email Photos to Frame
• Windows Live FrameIt or FrameChannel Support for Photos, News and Weather
• Insert SD media card to display photos from the card
• USB Mass Storage Connectivity
• MP3 Support to Play Music
• Auto Power Saving
• 110V/250V AC Adapter
• Clock and Alarm Function

Heikwan Cheng Talks About the New Wireless iGala Digital Frame

I’ve posted before about the new wireless iGala frame from Aequitis; it’s a beautiful, functional, easy-to-use wireless digital picture frame with many great options.

For even more information about this new wireless frame, watch this video from Frank Gruber; he is speaking with Aequitis Technologies founder Heikwan Cheng, who explains to us how to use this fantastic wireless frame.

i-Gala Wireless Digital Photo Frame from Frank Gruber on Vimeo.

iGala Introduces New Wireless Digital Picture Frame!

PR Web Press Release Newswire brings us word that Aequitas Technologies announced, on Nov. 13, that it has released the iGala Wireless Digital PIcture Frame.  I’m always happy to hear of yet another electronics company savvy enough to have a WIRELESS digital picture frame in its inventory!

Here is the Press Release:

” ‘By leveraging the content service provided by Microsoft, iGala is able to bring great images and informational content to its customers.  Meanwhile, iGala’s powerful touch screen interface and networking features provide a great platform to distribute Windows Live FrameIt contents to end users,’ said Yorick Zhyang, Vice President of Aequitas Technologies LLC.

The iGala Wireless Digital PIcture  Frame comes with a top of the line 800 X 600 4:3 Digital LCD 8″ screen.  The touch screen interface lets customers complete frame setup without a connected PC.  Customers can also select on-demand content including News, Traffic, and Weather information proved by Windows Live FrameIt.

The iGala DPF automatically syncs with online photo sharing services including Flickr and FrameIt.  Customers will no longer need to use email to share digital images with their families and friends.    Images uploaded to an online photo account, will automatically be displayed on every iGala Frame subscribed to that account.

Customers will also be able to associate a Gmail account with their iGala DPF and then email photos direction to the frame from anywhere in the world.

‘IGala’s unique Touch Screen User Interface makes it easy for Windows Live and iGala’s shared customers to sync their online photos with iGala’s digital frame and retrieve online content from Windows Live FrameIt,’ said Brian Hall, general manager of Windows Live at Micxrosoft Corp.  ‘The two products integrate seamlessly together to provide our customers with great value and convenience.’

This collaberation between Aequitas and Microsoft has arrived just in time for the holiday season.  Families can utilize the convenience of Windows Live FrameIt and iGala Digital Picture Frame to share their new memories throughout the rest of the year.”

I wonder if the new iGala wireless digital picture frame will become FrameChannel-compatible.  I hope so!