CEIVA 3 Digital Photo Receiver | 
| Brand: Ceiva
This item is no longer available
Rating:  20 reviews
Color: silver and black
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 5 x 10 x 9.5
MPN: 81726-00052
Model: 81726-00052
UPC: 681726000521
EAN: 0681726000521
ASIN: B000BNGJZG
Release Date: October 15, 2005
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| Features:
| • | Vivid 8.2-inch LCD screen display | | • | Receives and displays new pictures daily in a digital picture slide show (requires paid subscription that must be purchased from CEIVA) | | • | Broadband ready,optional CEIVA Broadband Kit to connect to home network | | • | Simple set-up: plug in the power and phone cords, push a single button | | • | With permission, anyone can send photos for free from virtually anywhere in the world |
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Product Description
Ceiva 81726-00052 CEIVA 3 Broadband-Ready Digital Photo Receiver with 8.2"" LCD
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 Happy no more December 16, 2005
TJS (SF Bay Area)
57 out of 57 found this review helpful
We've bought a total of seven Ceiva units for relatives and ourselves since they were first introduced. Before buying a Ceiva III you might want to consider some of the things we've learned.
1. These things do break, so you'd be well advised to buy extended warranty coverage - add $20.
2. The subscriptions are relatively expensive ($100/year) and have tended to get more expensive over time - in an era during which everything network-related has gotten cheaper.
3. Ceiva insists on downloading renewal notices to receivers nearing the expiration date of a subscription. As other reviewers have noted, that's very annoying both to the people using these things and to those of us who pay for the products and services. I don't see where Ceiva mentions this practice either on their web site or in the Terms and Conditions, but there's nothing you can do other than complain (I have many times, to no avail).
4. Ceiva's sales reps will tell you that existing, unexpired subscription plans can be transferred to new units (I verified this on three separate occasions), but in fact Ceiva will make you buy new subscriptions first.
5. Ceiva has never offered upgrade plans for older units. As an existing customer you'll actually pay more to upgrade an older receiver in mid-subscription than will a new customer.
The bottom line is that it's difficult to recommend this product to new customers on either a value basis or for customer care. Good idea, bad execution. Pity.
 Pretty neat December 8, 2005
Mike D
37 out of 39 found this review helpful
It took us a while to get this puppy set up, but once it was done, it works really nice!
Here's the background. We purchased an older Ceiva 2 frame for my parents. They have loved it. We always wanted to get one for my in-laws, but they didn't have a local access number. However, the Ceive 3 frame can use a broadband adapter, so decided to take the plunge.
The first unit shipped was the wrong one, a Ceiva 2. The next unit was indeed a Ceiva 3. However, it had some strange behavior that is not talked about in the manual, nor on Ceiva's support web site. In particular, when we tried to connect, the screen would "jitter" (the customer service rep called this "fuzzing"), and the unit would appear to lock up.
I had thought that the unit was defective. However, it turns out what the unit was trying to do was upgrade its software. Apparently, this process can take a while. After 25 minutes on the phone with Ceiva customer service, we get the issue straightened out. The unit now works like a charm -- it's wonderful that it can get photos every hour via broadband, instead of having to dial in just once a day (overnight).
I give this product just 4 stars instead of 5 stars because it should be made cleared that the "fuzzing" we saw was a normal functioning, and that we should have waited it out, instead of having to talk to customer service. Once you get it going, though, it's a great little device!
One tip, although you can't do wireless access right now right off the bat, there are "wireless bridges" that let a wired device, like the Ceiva frame, be turned into a wireless device. One such bridge is the D-Link DWL-810+. We are going to try to use this with the Ceiva frame!
EDIT/UPDATE: I just tried it out with the bridge mentioned above, and it works like a champ! So now, we have a wireless broadband Ceiva!
 Nice Gift....Service Needs Improving..... Expen$ive Upkeep March 27, 2006
C. Murphy (Maine)
26 out of 26 found this review helpful
My sisters and brothers bought this for our 83-year old father. It's a great concept: Share photos from anyone in the family, from anywhere in the world, and without the need for a computer connection. He really loves it, and the fact that each morning there are new pictures, electronic greeting cards from all of us, local weather, and other "channels" like "This Day In History" from The History Channel and CNN News. The setup is very easy, and picture quality good enough. He has something to look forward to each day and that in itself is priceless. But be warned of a few drawbacks:
The subscription is really what makes this thing work, and runs about $100 per year.
The pictures are saved on the Ceiva site but, as another reviewer noted, they will be lost when and if the subscription ends.
The reciever freezes every once in a while, sometimes for days. Troubleshooting doesn't help - I called tech support on a few occasions and they said it was due to high user volume. And although it is supposed to only dial in overnight, it has periodically attempted to dial in throughout the day causing my parents' phone to be busy for the duration.
You can order prints and photo gifts, however Ceiva works with just one photo outfit. Cost is 22 cents/ per 3x5 print; steep by comparison with other photo companies. And that doesn't include shipping.
The usability of the website could be better. Incoming photos are in a queue. If you want to change the order of incoming photos, there is only one option: Move to front. A better plan would be to have the ability to place photos in queue wherever you want them.
Overall, I do think it is a great concept and gift, especially to help grown children stay in touch with their parents and grandparents. I would buy it again. However, I would hope the Ceiva execs periodically read these reviews and make changes based on feedback by myself and others like me. They have the power to turn what is a good gift idea with several drawbacks into a truly extraordinary product.
Buyer Beware February 22, 2006
T. Minami
25 out of 25 found this review helpful
I have been using Ceiva for the last three years and found it to be an ok service for me, good to my parents who use it.
During the three years, I have uploaded hundreds of photos to their service but now I am thinking of switching to a more affordable platform with better functionality (see URL: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/avcards/7edc/)
HOWEVER...
Please be warry that termination of your Ceiva service means that all your digitial photo files will be deleted. Ceiva offers no way for you to retrieve your digital photos back to your PC nor offers a CD back-up service. Read the fine print before you decide to make your purchase (see below)
EFFECT OF TERMINATION from Ceiva T&Cs at http://www.ceiva.com/home/hp/terms_conditions.jsp)
Upon termination, your license to use the Software and the Service automatically terminates, and Provider will delete all data, files, or other information stored in your account. In the event of termination, monthly service fees and any prepaid charges will not be refunded or prorated.
Great Idea, But Poor Quality and Service February 12, 2006
K. McInerney (New York, NY)
20 out of 20 found this review helpful
I bought one of these for my grandmother for Christmas so she could be sent baby pictures, family pictures etc. without a computer. Fantastic - she has absolutely loved it. (We had to set it up for her - that was not necessarily intuitive and took longer than you'd expect.)
But now it's only February, and the thing is broken - frozen on one picture for days. (And no, it's not locked. We've tried everything.) Customer service operates under limited hours and has impossible wait times; they're not available at all on weekends and they have not responded to my emails.
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