As digital photo frame technology improves, and home printers get smaller and smaller, Sony has taken then next step for users by combining the two devices into one.  The launch of the stylish S-Frame digital photo frame and printer (model DPP-F700) is set to be the first of many similar devices from technology companies around the world, with Sony hoping the device will bring the joy back to home photography and encourage users to once again print their precious memories rather than hiding them away on their hard drive.

The sleek and stylish device displays photos like most other digital photo frames through its vibrant 7-inch (measured diagonally) (16:10) LCD display with WVGA (800×480) resolution. Where it differs, however, is in its ability to allow users to edit photos using the intelligent built-in software, and print 6-inch professional quality 300×300 dpi photos instantly in just 45 seconds

The device features about one-gigabyte of internal storage and a handy auto-resizing feature that can downsize the photos and increase capacity of the drive, to allow you to store up to 2000 photos.

Most memory cards are supported, as well as USB, which allows photos to be imported and exported easily.

An auto-orientation sensor (much like that in an iPhone) senses which way the display is positioned, and rotates images accordingly.

A remote control comes with the unit, and allows the user to employ a host of functions without being near the display.

Supported file formats include JPEG, TIFF and BMP image formats.

The DPP-F700 digital photo frame-printer will be available in the USA for about US$200 in January. A release date for Australia is yet to be confirmed.