{"id":2819,"date":"2026-05-03T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.actutech.app\/these-reusable-digital-polaroids-are-a-clever-way-to-cover-a-fridge-in-memories\/"},"modified":"2026-05-03T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T13:00:00","slug":"these-reusable-digital-polaroids-are-a-clever-way-to-cover-a-fridge-in-memories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.actutech.app\/en\/these-reusable-digital-polaroids-are-a-clever-way-to-cover-a-fridge-in-memories\/","title":{"rendered":"These reusable digital Polaroids are a clever way to cover a fridge in memories"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A person holds a VidaBay Snap photo frame in one hand displaying an image of a small child wearing a bib.\" data-caption=\"You can update this photo as often as you want.\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/eink_snap_magnet1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" \/><figcaption>\n\tYou can update this photo as often as you want.\t<\/figcaption><\/p><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">I love when my friends have their fridges covered in Polaroids. It\u2019s often a visual crash course of what\u2019s been going on in their lives chronicling recent adventures, get-togethers, and other fun moments. But I don\u2019t love the idea of schlepping around a clunky instant camera or paying a premium for instant film with hit-or-miss results. That\u2019s why I\u2019m infatuated with these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/898162\/vidabay-classic-plus-nfc-e-ink-fridge-magnet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">magnetic digital Polaroids<\/a> from a <a href=\"https:\/\/vidabay.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">small company called VidaBay<\/a>. They look like instant photos, but use NFC tech and color E Ink screens so you can change the image as often as you want without ever having to charge a battery.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">At roughly 4mm thick and 2.5 inches in size, the VidaBay NFC E-Paper Fridge Magnet \u2014 also known as the Snap \u2014 reminds me of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/905258\/xteink-x3-e-ink-reader-ebooks-hands-on\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Xteink\u2019s tiny X3 e-reader<\/a>, but it doesn\u2019t have any buttons, ports, or connectors. The Snap is more like a very tiny version of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/803173\/aura-e-ink-digital-photo-frame\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aura Ink digital photo frame<\/a> you can stick to your fridge.<\/p>\n<div class=\"product-block\">\n<h3>VidaBay NFC E-Paper Fridge Magnet<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"product-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/eink_snap_magnet3.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<h3>Where to Buy:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vidabay.net\/product\/white-e-paper-fridge-sticker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <strike>$35.99<\/strike> $30.99 at <strong>VidaBay<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vidabay.net\/product\/white-e-paper-fridge-sticker-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <strike>$99.99<\/strike> $88.99 at <strong>VidaBay (three-pack)<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0GT43RVSY\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> $29.99 at <strong>Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">The Snap uses the same kind of NFC chip that lets your smartphone double as your credit or debit card. Using an accompanying mobile app images are wirelessly transferred by aligning your smartphone\u2019s NFC antenna to the one located inside the lower left corner of the Snap.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">Changing the photo the Snap displays takes about 25 to 30 seconds. While the actual image transfer is a 10-second process, the rest of the time is used to refresh the Snap\u2019s E Ink screen. Unlike devices such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/24303322\/amazon-kindle-colorsoft-e-reader-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kindle Colorsoft<\/a> that use a black and white e-paper screen overlaid with a color filter so screen refreshes happen almost instantly, the Snap uses e-paper with multiple color pigments that take much longer to refresh. The results look better, but you\u2019ll have to wait a little longer for them.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/eink_snap_magnet2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" alt=\"A person holds a VidaBay Snap magnetic photo frame with its screen protector still applied.\" title=\"A person holds a VidaBay Snap magnetic photo frame with its screen protector still applied.\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;The Snap comes with a removable screen protector that includes a printed alignment guide for the iPhone. If you\u2019re using an Android phone, you\u2019ll need to determine where your device\u2019s NFC antenna is located.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">The process of updating the Snap with a new image using NFC is easy once you master it, but it can take a few attempts to get there. Out of the box the device comes with a plastic screen protector that\u2019s printed with a guide so you know exactly how to position your smartphone to ensure the NFC antennas line up. But the guide only works for the iPhone. Android is also supported, but its up to you to figure out exactly where your device\u2019s NFC chip is located which can take some trial and error. The Snap and your smartphone also need to be held very close for the NFC pairing to work \u2013 closer than a case allows. The process doesn\u2019t work with my iPhone 16 Pro inside a <a href=\"https:\/\/nomadgoods.com\/products\/modern-leather-folio-rustic-brown-iphone-16-pro-max\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leather Nomad case<\/a>, and even the thin silicone case protecting my OnePlus 12 was too thick for the NFC transfers to succeed.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/eink_snap_magnet4.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" alt=\"A person holds a VidaBay Snap magnetic photo frame against an iPhone where their NFC antennas align.\" title=\"A person holds a VidaBay Snap magnetic photo frame against an iPhone where their NFC antennas align.\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;The Snap and your smartphone need to be held very close for the NFC transfers and power delivery to work. You\u2019ll probably also need to remove your phone\u2019s protective case for it to succeed.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">One of the many advantages of E Ink\u2019s display tech is that, similar to an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Etch-A-Sketch-Classic-Red\/dp\/B01N1ZVYDM\/ref=sr_1_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Etch A Sketch<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Cra-Z-Art-14608-Retro-Magna-Doodle\/dp\/B07D989J5Y\/ref=sr_1_2?th=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Magna Doodle<\/a> toy, once an image is formed it remains on screen without any additional power. That\u2019s why e-readers have such excellent battery life. The Snap comes with a 2.5-inch E Ink screen, and while it uses color technology similar to what you\u2019ll find in large, vibrant, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/853438\/pocketbook-e-ink-color-spectra-6-inkposter-tela-duna-pininfarina\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">expensive E Ink posters<\/a>, it\u2019s actually a repurposed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eink.com\/brand\/detail\/Spectra3100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spectra 3100 screen that E Ink specifically developed<\/a> for retail use as an electronic shelf label.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/eink_snap_magnet5.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" alt=\"A person holds the VidaBay Snap photo frame next to an iPhone while both display a rainbow gradient image.\" title=\"A person holds the VidaBay Snap photo frame next to an iPhone while both display a rainbow gradient image.\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;E Ink\u2019s Spectra 3100 screen is only capable of displaying black, red, yellow, and white, limiting the accuracy of its color reproduction.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">They\u2019re cheaper, but the Snap\u2019s color screen is also limited to only displaying black, white, red, and yellow, which limits its ability to accurately reproduce colors. It\u2019s a big tradeoff, but not necessarily a dealbreaker. The VidaBay mobile app lets you crop, zoom, rotate, add filters, and make basic brightness, contrast, and color saturation adjustments to images selected from your phone\u2019s camera roll. Because the transfer process can take upwards of 30 seconds, the app also generates a preview of what the image will look like on the Snap\u2019s four-color screen.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/eink_snap_magnet6.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.012500000000003,0,99.975,100\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;Images are transferred to the Snap using VidaBay\u2019s mobile app that includes tools for adjusting photos and previewing how they will look on the frame\u2019s E Ink screen.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/eink_snap_magnet7.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.012500000000003,0,99.975,100\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;The previews generated by the VidaBay app don\u2019t perfectly match the final results on the Snap\u2019s E Ink screen, but they provide a good estimate of how certain colors, like blues and greens, will be adapted.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">After using the Snap for a couple of weeks I have a better idea of what images will look good on its E Ink screen, and which won\u2019t. Brighter photos with lots of contrast work well, as do photos with color palettes leaning toward reds and yellows. Blue and green areas in an image end up completely desaturated instead of disappearing, but the results aren\u2019t entirely unpleasant. The limitations of the Spectra 3100 screen actually result in color images reminiscent of the lo-fi aesthetic of classic Polaroid photos.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">The Snap has no screen lighting so it looks best in a place with lots of ambient light. The device also features a non-removable plastic cover over the E Ink panel, which protects it but also produces a lot of glare and reflections. Removing that for future versions would definitely improve viewing angles and image quality.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/eink_snap_magnet8.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" alt=\"Four VidaBay Snap magnetic photo frames attached to a white board surrounded by magnets.\" title=\"Four VidaBay Snap magnetic photo frames attached to a white board surrounded by magnets.\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;The limited color reproduction capabilities of the Snap\u2019s E Ink screen results in a unique lo-fi aesthetic reminiscent of retro Polaroids.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">At $35.99 each (currently discounted to $29.99), the VidaBay Snap comes close to impulse purchase territory. When I first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/898162\/vidabay-classic-plus-nfc-e-ink-fridge-magnet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">covered them earlier this year<\/a> I was skeptical of how effective repurposing the screens many grocery stores now use to display prices could be for displaying photos and memories. But the price, and the fact that the Snap never needs to be charged, more than makes up for its color fidelity limitations. Instant photos might still be cheaper per shot, but the Snap is a good alternative if you don\u2019t have an endless budget for film. Either way, your fridge is a blank palette just waiting to be decorated with memories.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\"><em>Photography by Andrew Liszewski \/ The Verge<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You can update this photo as often as you want. I love when my friends have their fridges covered in [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-non-classe"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.actutech.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.actutech.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.actutech.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.actutech.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.actutech.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2819"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.actutech.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2819\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.actutech.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.actutech.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.actutech.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}