PICPAK: A mini e-ink album brings memories and fun content

BackerBuzz
Dec 16
2 min read

Bring Your Favorite Photos to Life.Stop Burying Them. PICPAK is an e-ink album that brings memories and fun content.

Unbury Your Memories: PICPAK Wants to Be Your Forever Photo Album

We all have thousands of photos trapped in our smartphones, buried under screenshots and memes. AutoHeart is trying to change that with PICPAK, a device they call a "Mini E-Ink Album." It combines the paper-like aesthetic of e-ink with a modern, connected workflow to bring your favorite moments back into your daily life.

Project Overview

Name and Creator: PICPAK by AutoHeart. What It Is: PICPAK is a dedicated digital photo frame that uses a color e-ink display to showcase your images. Unlike traditional LCD frames that emit light and need constant charging, PICPAK looks like a printed photo and runs for over a year on a single charge. It connects to a mobile app to wirelessly sync and shuffle through your photo library or other content feeds.

Key Features

E-Ink Display: The screen uses electronic ink technology, meaning it has no glare, emits no blue light, and looks just like a real paper photograph from any angle.
One-Year Battery Life: Because e-ink only uses power when changing the image, the device can run for more than 12 months without needing to be plugged in.
Magnetic Mounting: The lightweight design and magnetic back allow you to stick it directly onto your fridge, filing cabinet, or any metal surface, effectively turning it into a smart magnet.
Content Feeds: Beyond just your personal photos, the device is designed to pull in "content feeds," allowing for a dynamic stream of images and updates that keep the frame fresh.
App Integration: A companion app (PACPAK) lets you select albums, crop photos, and sync them to the frame via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Rewards

Kickstarter Pricing:
- Average Pledge: While specific tiers vary, the average pledge per backer is hovering around $100, suggesting an accessible entry price for the hardware.
- Retail Price: The device is expected to retail for a higher price point after the campaign concludes.
Campaign Status: The project is currently active and has already smashed its funding goal, raising over $60,000 against a $5,000 target. It is scheduled to end on January 30, 2026.

Concept

The core concept of PICPAK is "digital permanence." In an age where we take more photos than ever but look at them less, PICPAK aims to be a set-it-and-forget-it solution. It bridges the gap between the physical nostalgia of a printed photo album and the convenience of a cloud library.

Inspiration

The creators at AutoHeart were inspired by the "digital graveyard" problem. They realized that precious memories were being lost in the endless scroll of camera rolls. They wanted to build a device that felt less like a gadget and more like a piece of furniture or decor, something that quietly exists in your space and surprises you with a memory when you walk by.