TRENDY GADGET

When we first heard T-Mobile was unveiling a digital photo frame, our reaction was "meh." But then we found out what it can do.

The T-Mobile cameo ships with a dedicated phone number and email address on the carrier's wireless network. So, a camera phone owner can now snap a photo and send the pic via MMS (picture messaging) or email to the digital frame, and within seconds the shot will appear on its 7-inch LCD screen (720 x 480 pixels).

So imagine giving your parents, who live in Miami, one of these frames as a holiday gift. Even though you live in, say, Portland, you can update their frame with photos of the grandkids with a push of a button on your phone, anytime and anywhere. To avoid long distance charges, the phone number associated with the leather-trimmed frame will be the same area code as your T-Mobile phone number, says the carrier.

Although you need to be a T-Mobile subscriber to buy this frame, the cameo works with any mobile phone that can take and send picture messages or emails, regardless of network. A monthly fee keeps the cameo's phone number and email address activated to accept images remotely -- but as with other digital frames, this gadget also houses a USB port and microSD memory card slot to transfer photos, as well.

Manufactured for T-Mobile by Parrot, the cameo can also display slideshows, plus photos are automatically rotated and resized to suit the frame's orientation (vertical or horizontal).