ViewClix Connect

While there’s things I’d improve (wish the sound on the frame could go way up, wish I could upload photos more quickly), I can’t say enough about how important ViewClix has been to staying in touch with a parent in mental and physical decline. Mom is at the other end of the country in a nursing home, but I get to “pop in” and see her every day. I can tell if she’s having a good day or a bad one, I can touch base with caregivers, I can see if she’s out (for a meal or bingo), I can tell if anyone is paying attention to her. The last time I was visiting I told her I was leaving that day and she began to cry,.. until I said “but I’ll talk to you right here (pointing to the ViewClix) tomorrow.” That stopped her crying and she said “Oh! Okay!” And she loves sitting and watching the photos. Thank you, ViewClix.

- There is a maximum limit of 4 photos that can be uploaded at one time. This is quite limiting, especially for initial setup as most people have their photos stored on their phones. Our PixStar frame has an upload limit of 30. - I do not believe you can preview a photo prior to selecting it. For instance, if you took 5 of the “same” photo in case people blinked, there isn’t a way in the app to zoom in and select the best one. PixStar allows for individual photos to be expanded fully for preview via the 3D Touch functionality. - Photos you intend to upload must be fully downloaded to your iPhone camera roll. If you’re using the “optimize storage” iPhone functionality, this app will give you an error and not upload the photos. This is a MAJOR problem. In all, I’m satisfied with the frame because it allowed me to accomplish my goal of being able to video chat with my parents. However, the app needs work and the frame itself seems to be a bit clumsy. I am hopeful that these suggestions find their way to the dev team and that a new version is released!

Mom used to be a whiz on her computer and iPad. As she aged, even clicking “Accept” on a FaceTime call became too much. Of all the apps I researched, ViewClix was the only one I thought would be simple enough. It’s been great. I set the option for it to allow incoming calls without her having to find the remote to accept. For her, it’s like someone rings her doorbell and she just grabs her walker and heads over to the frame. As the Coronavirus lockdown at her assisted living facility has meant no one can visit in person, and the residents are confined to their apartments, the only way we can “see” her is via the ViewClix. What a blessing to have that!