DF820 Digital Frame

[cdbma]

First off, I am very happy with my frame (for the most part).  No issues with loading (I have over 1,200 pics on an SD card) and the images are very impressive.

However, in slideshow mode, I am absolutely certain that I am seeing the same photos more than once before the entire list of photos is displayed. In fact, I sometimes see the same image 3 or 4 times.  While I have not done anything "scientific," I am also convinced that there are some photos that are never displayed.

I sent in a note to HP Support.  Here is the response:

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for contacting HP Email Support.

Sorry tell you that there is no firmware available for the frame.
We do apologize for the misleading of the User Manual.
Kindly be informed that it`s normal the pictures repeat in the shuffle on
mode.We`ve already informed the responsible department to modify the user
manual.
Any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,

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First of all, this is not English.  I'm a bit put off by this.  Second, modifying the user manual is not an acceptable response.  Should I feel good now that the manual is being updated?  Does updating the manual fix my problem?

I purchased an HP product because I wanted quality and excellent support - should I need it.  I purchased my three Pavilions for the same reason.  However, I ended up with with a product that doesn't meet spec, may never meet spec (via a firmware update) and a response from someone who does not speak English.

If  HP is listening, I would love to hear from someone up the "food chain" - a case manager perhaps?

Thanks in advance.

cdbma

[cdbma]

ok, so no replies.  I'll reply to myself.

I did get another response from HP support when I asked for more clarification.  Here it is:

The only way to have the slideshow shuffle work correctly is to copy all of the photos from the memory that you are trying to have show shuffled. Then delete all the files. Then you will need to transfer all of the photos at one time to the memory or the memory card. When the files are transferred in this manner, the photos transferred at that time will all display shuffled before one is displayed twice. Adding files one at a time or batches of files at different times will have the slideshow shuffle repeat a photo before displaying all of the photos.

I replied with this:

Thank you for your response.  I still do not quite understand what I need to do.  Let me tell you what I do and you can tell me what I should do differently.

- I have my photos on my laptop in a folder
- I attach a SD card and I copy all the files in the folder to the SD card
- I remove the card and plug it into my photo frame
- I turn on the photo frame and choose the SD card for display

HP Support replied with this:

Thank you for your feedback.

It correct that some photos will be displayed twice before all photos have been displayed under RANDOM mode.
Therefore, if you want to display all photos, you need to set under SEQUENTIAL mode.
We hope you could understand our limitation on the issue,you should be highly appreciated.
Apart from the above setting, there is no error step based upon your statement.

So, I'm told there is a bug.  I'm then told that there is a was to load the frame to avoid the bug.  Then I'm told that, indeed, it won't work under random (shuffle) mode. It's a bug!

No, I don't understand the limitation.  And, I have no clue why I should be "highly appreciated."

I am highly frustrated.   If HP is not willing to stand behind a $150 digital frame, what does that say about the rest of its products?

[mleng2009]

I was also just suckered into buying a df820a.  The shuffling bug was evident immediately.  Sometimes, the same photo plays three times in a two minute period. This product is defective.  Period.

C'mon... This is programming 101 and not at all what a customer would expect from a "shuffle" function.  Changing the wording in the manual is entirely unacceptable.  Imagine if the shuffle mode on your CD player or Ipod worked the same way.

I can't believe HP let this out the door in this state.  Unless someone can find a workaround or HP exchanges my model for a newer model that works properly I will be returning this.

Message Edited by mleng2009 on 05-11-2009 04:44 AM

[MTech4]

I have a DF1000 and it does the same thing as yours in shuffle mode. It displays the same photos often - sometimes every other photo is the same for while and some photos are rarely ever displayed. So, as of September 2009, nothing has changed.

[cdbma]

HP sent me an "updated" 820 - apparently with new firmware.  That unit did shuffle differently, but would turn off, but not turn on (via the auto off/on setting).  Also, picture order would change from shuffle to sequential if the unit was powered off or if I went to any other function on the frame.  When I returned to viewing photos, the shuffle was gone, even though the setting was still set to "on."

In one final attempt to make me happy, they sent me a DF1000, which has exactly the same firmware.  I can turn use the "auto" feature to turn it off, but it will not turn back on.  When I turn it on manually, I have to always set the shuffle to "on" - even though shuffle is already set.

The only way I can use it is to leave it on 24/7 - a HUGE waste of energy.

Junk.

[DickNan]

I had the same problem with a df1010 that I bought two months ago. As a matter of fact, I've seen just about every complaint posted here on this frame. Regarding the auto on feature, HP has a fix. They sent it to me on a CF card and now it goes on and off as programmed. However, when it comes on, it will only show pictures in the root directory, not in the folders.

Other complaints on things like the timing, errors when dowloading  and the (non) random feature have all presented themselves on this frame. These frames also seem to go dead in about two years.  There are three cases of "dead in two" posted here.

Poor quality. Terrible software. Expected more from HP

[cdbma]

DickNan,

Who did you contact to get the CF card?

[DickNan]

866-694-7633

[DickNan]

Once you update, you will want all your pictures in the root directy, not in the folders. If they're in the folders, all you will see is the menu when it comes on. HOWEVER, you won't be able to put many pictures in the root directory as it is presently formated by HP. You will need to reformat the hard drive then put your pictures in the root so they will come up when the frame turns on.

 I don't think the programmers of these frames have a clue.

[cdbma]

HP exchanged the 820 for a DF101B3.  Upgrade to fix on/off time worked, but now the right half of my screen is pink - bad inverter, I guess.  This has been a horrible experience across the board.  No more HP products for me!