The company has told Forbes that "several 'powered by Chumby' gadgets" will launch in the coming months. They have struck partnerships with Sony, Samsung, Broadcom and others.

The first product to launch will be a digital photo frame and will be followed by TVs, Blu-Ray players, clocks and radios. Chumby, you really don't think Yahoo's platform is good enough, huh? [Forbes]

That's right—it can access your Twitter, Flickr and Facebook accounts via Wi-Fi in addition to features like an 800 X 600 LCD display, the ability to email photos to and from the frame, RSS support and smart photo playlists. Personally, I think the PC and my iPhone provide all of the Twittering my fragile sanity can handle, but if you can't get enough, the Kogan frame will be available starting in July for $169 AUD ($133). [Kogan via PC Authority]

Like Giz reader Brian, who had this sweet post-xmas story to tell us about his dad:

I went back to MI to my parent's place this year for Christmas. My dad's gift this year was a new 10 mega pixel digital camera with all the bells and whistles.

While helping him figure out his new gadget I thought it would be fun to put pictures on the nice Kodak digital photo frame that I gave them for Christmas last year. So I ask my dad, "where is your digital frame"? Imagine my confusion when he points the frame out to me. See attached files.

God bless them. Reminds me of my beloved mother-in-law, who refers to her MacBook as "the television".

Do you have any funny stories with your parents or grandparents you would like to share? Send them our way. [Thanks Brian]

Smartparts Announces World’s Largest WiFi Enabled Digital Picture

The 32 Inch SP3200WF Can Receive Images from Windows Live Photo Gallery and Display Customized RSS

COLOGNE, Germany—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Smartparts, Inc., a leading manufacturer and innovator driving the explosive digital picture frame market, today unveiled the world’s largest WiFi digital picture frame, the 32 inch SP3200WF. The most recent addition to Smartparts’ new family of wireless digital picture frames, the SP3200WF is fully compatible with Windows Live Photo Gallery and will undoubtedly be the center of attention wherever it’s displayed.

Smartparts recently became a certified Microsoft partner and the new SP3200WF is among Smartparts’ first frames to integrate with Windows Live Photo Gallery. Microsoft’s Windows Live Photo Gallery application makes it easy for consumers to share and view photos online or directly on their wireless SP3200WF digital picture frame.

Adding to the ease-of-use provided by the SP3200WF is a simplified set up process that allows consumers to pair the frame to their wireless network. The SP3200WF can automatically recognize and connect to a wireless router, without the need to manually enter one’s wireless encryption key.

Included with the SP3200WF, is Smartparts’ exclusive OptiPix Pro software, which is designed to help consumers locate, optimize and wirelessly transfer pictures to their frame from their computer. Furthermore, OptiPix Pro will not alter consumers’ original photos, it first creates copies which are then optimized and transferred to the frame, leaving the original, untouched photo residing on the computer.

Additional Features:

- Resolution of 1366x768, 16:9 widescreen

- Natural wood frame with espresso finish and museum quality beige mat

- Can play video with sound (Motion JPEG AVI and WMA)

- Supports SD, MS, and Compact Flash memory cards

- RF remote control with 100ft operating range

- Can display PowerPoint slides, PDF files, and most picture and graphic files (ideal for business or retail applications)

Once you put the flash memory card in you can select to way to show your photos. The standard one works like any other picture frame. The classic one, however, is the one that I would be using: using this the photos fade from white to the picture in one minute, imitating the real Polaroid instant photo process.

Sadly, it's just a concept, but Polaroid should get to work on this as soon as possible instead of doing crappy me-too picture frames and other assorted digital stuff. [Ironic Sans via Gizmodo ES]

When the machines can no longer keep the patient alive, the stats on the frame flatline, just like you see on TV. However, the death of the patient does not bring with it the death of the frame; everything has been recorded on a black box, which rewinds to the beginning and plays the patient's life, on a loop. Now your family can sit around the fireplace, stare at the frame, and recount the good old days. "Oh look! That's when Timmy's blood pressure was 120 over 80! And he was still breathing! I miss that day."

Cohen has made a video of some of these patients describing what their machine-assisted life is like, and you can see a clip below. Just remember, before you complain that a minute of your time was wasted, these people are on freakin' life support.[Interactions via WMMNA]

When you're not in a call, the Photo Phone functions as a typical digital photo frame, with enough internal flash memory to store 20 images. The Photo Phone also accepts most memory cards, and packs in a USB port so you can transfer snapshots from your computer. The GE hybrid device will be available with black or silver frames in March 2008 and is expected to retail for $140. [GE]

Since it holds low-res 128x128 pixel images, its 8MB of built-in flash memory might go a long way if you're one who doesn't mind cropping, resizing and editing pictures. When you get tired of looking at those postage-stamp-sized pics, you can always use this thing as a clock. No price was attached to this egg-shaped picture player just yet.

Just feel lucky I didn't use the puns that initially popped into my head for use in this post's headline, having something to do with the words exactly and excellent. [Cool Sources, via 7 Gadgets]

It's not as radical as some of Mustek's previous offerings, though it doesn't do less than the competition: MP3s, slideshows, and direct transfer from a USB drive or memory card are all supported. If you're still in the market for a digital photo frame, the PF-A1020BC is certainly one to look at. Keep an eye out for them this summer.

Product page [Mustek]