We live in a world of endless scrolling. Our favorite photos, vacation shots, and candid family moments often get buried under hundreds of memes, GIFs, and random screenshots. Whenever I try to reminisce about a favorite memory from the past, I either have to dig deep into my phone’s gallery or scroll through archived folders. In moments like these, I wish I had a device that could nostalgia bait me by randomly surfacing my favorite memories. And no, I’m not talking about Amazon’s Art Line or Samsung’s Art TV, I mean something handy, portable, and significantly cheaper than an Art TV.
This is where the PICPAK E-Ink Album enters the frame. It’s not an album in the literal sense but more of a compact digital frame. So what makes it different from a tablet or other E‑Ink frames on the market? According to its makers, unlike a tablet, the E‑Ink screen is glare-free, resembles real paper, and is easy on the eyes. They also claim the device offers an impressive multi-month battery life, up to 400 days, to be precise.
Honestly, I didn’t pick PICPAK because it was trending on social media or making news headlines. What caught my attention was its strong showing on Kickstarter, where it has already raised $721,700 (at the time of writing). With more than ten days still to go, the campaign appears well on track to raise a million in funding. But what’s driving this momentum? Is it the $49 base price, or something more? Let’s take a closer look.
PICPAK is a small device that can sit on your desk, stick to your fridge, or slide easily into a bag. Unlike traditional digital photo frames that stay tethered to a power outlet, it uses an E-Ink display to mimic the look of printed photos while consuming minimal energy. The makers claim that it has a battery life of up to 400 days on a single charge, over a year without worrying about cables. That might be a slight exaggeration, but even if it lasts six months, it’s still an appealing proposition.
So, how does it work? Akin to any other E-Ink Album or smart home gadget, you have to download a companion application first. Through a companion app, you can send your favorite photos from your phone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and the display takes care of the rest. Since the screen refreshes only when needed, it remains gentle on both the eyes and the battery.
As for the hardware, the PICPAK features a 4.2-inch display and comes in four color options: red, yellow, black, and white. While the display quality isn’t particularly striking, PICPAK strikes a nice balance between minimalism and practicality. With a magnetic backing and a foldable stand, it can be mounted on a wall, fridge, or cabinet, or simply placed on a flat surface. Its compact form factor also makes it easy to move around or gift to someone special.
It’s also worth noting that the creators plan to introduce additional software features over time, including content subscriptions and voice memo integration, allowing the device to evolve beyond a simple photo display. So would you back a device that shows a favorite photo, displays a daily quote, and reminds you of birthdays? At $49, with long battery life and effortless photo updates, it’s a question that’s surprisingly easy to answer
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