Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Review: Aura's 15" Walden Smart Photo Frame Makes a Touching Gift
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
No Google Photos integration, no sale. I very much would like a larger photo frame, but the thought of having to manually curate another set of images is...not appealing. 🫤
I totally agree. I thought about getting one for myself so I could see pics from my other family members but realized that our shared WhatsApp chat, Instagram, Facebook, Messages chats, and other options are a better fit for me.
I haven't used it myself, but Aura does offer Google Photos integration: 360000324187-Using-Google-Photos-with-Aura
Samsung’s The Frame line of TVs is basically what you’re asking for. https://www.samsung.com/us/tvs/the-frame/highlights/
Wow — that is so neat! Your cat is beautiful. Those paws! 😻I put 490 pictures on this frame, all of my kitten. They're all the same kitty, just as he grows up
Learn about The Frame, our Premium Picture Frame Art TV | Samsung US
Learn how The Frame's unrivaled design make a TV look like art! Enjoy 4K QLED video brilliance while watching TV, then display museum quality art when it's idle.
www.samsung.com
I have one of their smaller frames, and we're gifting two additional ones to each of our families. In general it all works fairly well, but the app needs a little work. I love these digital photo frames and the cloud usage is great. I love that I can add a photo to a shared apple photo album and it will be auto-added to the frame. In addition, as of now, there's no limit to the cloud storage, which is nice.
I'd love to be able to create picture sets for the frames, such that I can display one set of photos and a different set at a different time. The notifications on the frame are a bit wonky, and for whatever reason, whenever I have the app open, my phone gets HOT.
In general, I'd recommend them. They're the best digital photo frame on the market as far as I can tell, and I love that I can take all of my photos from my computer / phone and actually display them in our home, instead of them not being seen on our devices.
I'd love to be able to create picture sets for the frames, such that I can display one set of photos and a different set at a different time. The notifications on the frame are a bit wonky, and for whatever reason, whenever I have the app open, my phone gets HOT.
In general, I'd recommend them. They're the best digital photo frame on the market as far as I can tell, and I love that I can take all of my photos from my computer / phone and actually display them in our home, instead of them not being seen on our devices.
FWIW, I haven't experienced the hot temperature when running the app (yet), but I entirely agree with your other observations and thoughts about this.
it feels like products geared towards Apple consumers always have severely over inflated price points.
That’s one reason I’m on the fence of apples walled ecosystem.
I’ve peered across the wall and it’s not so bad.
My sister and I got an Aura frame for our parents a few years ago. I did the setup and don’t recall any particular problem with it. We then sent invitations to her kids and our brothers kids. We all sent photos to it and continue to do so periodically. It sits on the kitchen counter in their house. I don’t know how often they browse it anymore but it is fun for us when we go over there to swipe through and see what the rest of the family have contributed.
OMG, after TikTok & Insta, how many more cat pics/ videos do we have to endure.
Oh good, another piece of electronic junk with a screen to stare at. I imagine these tacky frames come with a free fibre optic colour changing lamp to sit on top of the 80’s TV cabinet in a nice walnut stain with a VHS player and the complete season of Robin Leach presenting Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. It’s the kind of junk that old people can’t understand how to work and young people can’t believe old people are willing to suffer them.
Awesome, going to check some reviews of these at the weekend. Love the images they seem to have in their catalogue too, but wonder how much they cost per image...
Why not use an old iPad? Simpler and cheaper.
I’m anticipating next week’s review might be:
- A blender with Bluetooth controls
- A car tire pump, but you have to download an app from the App Store to measure PSI
- A collection of fake jewels to bedazzle your iPhone
- A new fad diet that requires you to download an iOS app and upload photos of every meal you eat
- A suitcase with Apple Find My built-in
And that’s where ya lost me. While a digital photo frame with a quality screen doesn’t seem like an absolutely terrible idea, I think $100 is the most I’d be willing to pay for it. Also, if you’re giving it to someone, that’s a pretty dang expensive gift. That’s getting on to base iPad or Apple Watch prices or Nintendo Switch prices. That’s a pretty expensive gift, it only really makes sense if you’re buying for a near and dear family member or someone really important to you.
You’re not gifting this for clout/status, after all, because these don’t have the same level of recognized value. To use a popular item with the same MSRP, people recognize AirPod Pros and know roughly what they cost. Giving expensive gifts is a flex that exists, but the recipient [and others] has to be able to realize that it is indeed an expensive gift, that’s why you give things with a fairly well known value or reputation.
Last edited:
A lot of bad takes in this thread. Just because this item doesn't fit a use case for you, doesn't mean that it doesn't for anyone.
For those of us that care about getting our photos out of our phones and out into the real world, there are two ways to do that: print them, or display them digitally. I do both.
There are a few different ways to display them digitally: as a screensaver on your mac / apple tv, with an iPad, with a TV like the Samsung Frame, or with a digital photo frame. All are worthy of consideration. We wanted a way to display photos on a digital frame in the kitchen - the best way to do this, by far, is with an Aura frame. Maybe not with this bigger one, but with one of their smaller ones. An iPad could also work (I tried it) but was compromised.
FWIW, prior to getting my Aura frame, I had an old Mac Mini hooked up to an (even older) 20" Cinema Display who's sole purpose was to run a slideshow of a chosen apple shared album that my wife and I both contributed to. I loved it generally (mostly for the large screen size), but you couldn't deny that it felt like you were just looking at an old monitor, even if that monitor was one of the most beautiful monitors ever made
For those of us that care about getting our photos out of our phones and out into the real world, there are two ways to do that: print them, or display them digitally. I do both.
There are a few different ways to display them digitally: as a screensaver on your mac / apple tv, with an iPad, with a TV like the Samsung Frame, or with a digital photo frame. All are worthy of consideration. We wanted a way to display photos on a digital frame in the kitchen - the best way to do this, by far, is with an Aura frame. Maybe not with this bigger one, but with one of their smaller ones. An iPad could also work (I tried it) but was compromised.
FWIW, prior to getting my Aura frame, I had an old Mac Mini hooked up to an (even older) 20" Cinema Display who's sole purpose was to run a slideshow of a chosen apple shared album that my wife and I both contributed to. I loved it generally (mostly for the large screen size), but you couldn't deny that it felt like you were just looking at an old monitor, even if that monitor was one of the most beautiful monitors ever made