Panasonic debuts digital photo frame with audio

Panasonic has announced the upcoming release of a digital photo frame, the MW-10, which will also feature an audio system and iPod dock. The frame hosts 9-inch WVGA LCD screen, which can display photos from a CD, SD memory card or from its 4 GB of internal memory. Users can either set the screen to a particular photo or create a slideshow to sound. Sounds like a step up from showing your family slides on a projector from your recent vacation. There's also the option of connecting to your PC (doesn't look like it's Mac compatible yet, except the iPod part) via USB.

As for that audio experience, along with the Universal Dock for the iPod feature, there's an FM/AM radio with the ability to save 45 preset stations (30-FM/15-AM). The low-density, bamboo speaker has special diffusers installed in front to disperse sound over to a wider area. And if you just want to sit back and stare at your photo without having to get up to change the song, there's a remote control included in the box.

While it seems like a fun gadget, it's really a luxury item for its asking price of $299.95. It will be available in December in the midst of the busy shopping season, and it might be a nice treat for holiday parties. But at that price, I'll probably just be setting photos to audio on my laptop for the time being.