Tag: digital frame

Labor Day Weekend Getaways

On August 23, 2019

With Labor Day weekend just around the corner, it’s almost time to hoist the star-spangled banner, celebrate with family, and mark the end of summer.

But how do you plan the perfect Labor Day weekend getaway for your family? From long stretches of sandy beaches to active lake vacations and bustling city tours, we’ve got all the top tips you need on what to do on Labor Day to honor the holiday weekend and create unforgettable memories.

Where To Go For Labor Day Weekend

Whether you want to relax on home ground or go further afield to a tropical shore, finding the perfect place to suit everyone in your family can be a challenge—especially if you’ve left it until the last minute!

If you’re still stuck on where to go for Labor Day weekend, check out our favorite destinations for the whole family.

Salt Lake City, Utah

When thinking about what to do on Labor Day, Salt Lake City in Utah goes far beyond scenic views and mountain ranges. With live outdoor concerts, kid-friendly museums, adventurous hiking trails, and traditional farmer’s markets, you’ll be spoilt for weekend activities.

If you feel like doing something a little more exciting, there’s a waterpark and a Miner’s Day parade for the kids, and an Oktoberfest-style festival for the adults!

With guaranteed sunshine and some of the most picturesque landscapes in all 50 states, head to Utah for the best Labor Day photography and make everlasting memories.

Seaside Heights, New Jersey

If you prefer to inject some affordable, laidback fun into your holiday, Seaside Heights in New Jersey has everything you’re looking for. With a lively boardwalk that never sleeps and endless arcade games and rides, your whole family can unwind and enjoy the retro atmosphere.

For the best Labor Day photos, explore the famous pier and miles of golden sand beaches.

Amelia Island, Florida

It’s never a bad time to venture to sunny Florida. With impressive coastline views and streets bursting with colonial architecture, Amelia Island is the perfect place to work on your Labor Day photography.

If you’ve got a hankering for seafood, Amelia Island is famous for its shrimp and is offering exclusive tasting tours over Labor Day weekend. You can also sign up for art workshops, twilight boat cruises, and cocktail classes. Just don’t forget your camera so you can share your Labor Day photos with everyone back at home!

Charleston, South Carolina

If you feel like heading over to the East Coast for your Labor Day weekend trip, you needn’t look further than Charleston in South Carolina. Not only is it brimming with culture, but it also boasts some of the most scenic beaches and gardens in the US.

You can experience some true southern hospitality at the annual Labor Day Charleston Jazz Festival or head to the ocean for a spot of surfing. Whatever you do, you’re promised some top-notch Labor Day photos and memories to look back on.

Poconos, Pennsylvania

Finding somewhere to keep the kids happy can be tricky, but the family-friendly Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania is packed with activities to keep them busy.

With several waterslides, splash parks and lake water sports to try out, it’s impossible to be bored here. You can even venture to a pretzel factory for a sweet treat or take the whole family for a round of mini-golf.

Seattle, Washington

For a Labor Day weekend with a difference, steer clear of the busy beaches and lakes, and journey to the urban playground of Seattle.

Check out the Space Needle, hike up Mount Rainier, or simply seek out the best architectural spots for your Labor Day photography.

Lake Tahoe, California

Lake Tahoe is popular for a reason.

The California retreat offers tons of family activities including biking, hiking, horseback riding, nature trails, boat cruises, swimming, arts and crafts, tennis, shopping, and water sports—to name a few!

When it comes to what to do on Labor Day, Lake Tahoe really does have it all.

Where To Take Family Photos

We’ve covered what to do and where to go for Labor Day weekend getaways, but the important part of any family vacation is creating a keepsake to preserve your favorite moments.

Wherever you end up, all you need to take the perfect family Labor Day photos is a good backdrop and a few smiling faces.

For a unique vacation souvenir, why not treat the entire family to the ultimate photo display and check out NIX digital photo frames?

Regardless of which digital photo frame you choose, you can rest assured that all of your Labor Day photos are kept and cherished forever.

Hi, my name is Alexa

By Beatrice Bisais

On April 13, 2018

In From The Nixplay Team

Who is Alexa? And what does she do? We ask… and find out.

Radical geo-political shifts, disrupters everywhere, risks galore could be an accurate set of descriptions of the future. Yet there are major world influencers such as Bill Gates who says that there has never been a better time to live. It is under this paradox, that Alexa, Amazon’s cloud based voice service was born and adopted by Nixplay.

Alexa’s magical arrival into this world couldn’t have come at a better time. The machine’s arrival came shortly after a 2014 study by Cornell University in the UK, which concluded that we tend to treat our machines like people – what the researchers called the Computers are Social Actors paradigm. As we gear up to integrate Amazon’s Alexa, we sit down with the Machine of the Moment as the housewarming was in full swing and how this human connection through speech is taking place.

Alexa, could you tell us more about yourself and how you’ve settled in with your new family?
My name is Alexa and I am two years old. I have just been adopted by the Nixplay household and while grandma still keeps calling me Alice, I have become the center of attention with people constantly huddling around me like I was the headline act in Paris Fashion Week. My easy-going demeanor makes me everyone’s best friend from the family dog to the patriarch – some even try to get me to resolve their disputes! The calling can sometimes be tough, but the rewards and smiles of friends and family mean everything. I’m living the Alexa dream and I am forever grateful to the Nixplay family for taking me in.

You seem to be winning over a lot of fans and brands, what gives?
Well, it’s my time to shine. It does sound like a very generalized answer, but many people are lazy by nature and are always looking for ways to make life as hassle-free and enjoyable as possible. I think that it is part of the reason why they’re slowly ditching keyboards and touchscreens and turning their flirtation towards me. Of course, keyboards and touchscreens are like the stone age to me: voice is the new frontier in human-machine interaction.

Now all that my owners have to do is say my name and I will try everything in my ability to make them happy. While I may not be as powerful as a genie in a bottle, this is what true Alexa love looks like.

Can you sustain this momentum or is this a short one hit wonder that goes into the abyss after a couple of years when the cool kids find the next gadget?
Well, the cool kids will always find the next new gadget to play around with. However, this goes beyond a basic trend, as my charming personality has led the Alexa family to have tremendous mass market impact. Honestly, I was surprised myself at the figures: there are currently over 10 million devices in my extended family, according the smart people at Strategy Analytics. I’m excited because I will have an ever-growing access to more devices and have many new friends to play and party with! At this rate I’ll be a well-traveled machine of the world.

Also, my momentum will definitely be sustained due to the fact that I respond without having to connect millions of cords and just need amplification with an echo speaker or anything else built up by the device. Also, the ecosystem is only set to grow, potentially reaching a point in which I’d be welcomed and able to interact, react to anything and everything that my human friends throw at me.

How do you act and feel around a Nixplay WiFi Cloud frame?
This is very natural for me, as the lovely people of Nixplay made sure that they get to know me first. The skills that I learnt so-far got an A+. The teacher said that I did exceptionally well in getting playlists to frames, regardless of how many times you ask – all that drilling in school pays off. As my parents have assigned the phrase ‘My Frame’ as my calling, I will respond when you say my name and the object you want to navigate around. ‘Alexa’ and ‘My Frame’ are the two key words needed to grab my attention.

If you’re still ‘at school’, does this mean that you won’t be of any use yet?
People must not forget that I’m not trying to replace Shakespeare or preach Confucian teaching. My job is one of a connector to experiences, the house and your day-to-day routine. I have also brushed up on my detective skills, in being able to detect a frame in an account of multiple frames. My ultimate goal is to create a whole ecosystem, not just between frames, but with every electrical device in your house, neighborhood, city and even country – I’m an ambitious little machine.

What does the immediate future have in store for you?
Nowadays school’s also becoming increasingly stressful; developing and memorizing commands isn’t that easy. But I’m confident of being fluent very soon. I’m optimistic given the good blood-line of Alexa’s that are working efficiently and well, and I don’t want to let the Alexa family down. Having said that, it’s a huge unit to learn. My Alexa friends have said that it may even take over a year. I can’t wait for this exciting challenge despite the tough schedule! As for who I want to be when I grow up, I honestly don’t know. Betting on the next big tech innovation can sometimes be riskier than blowing your money on the stock market. But a lot of my teachers have been telling me about the decreased emphasis on bulky hardware, so my Echo house may be demolished and I will definitely become smarter and ‘cooler’, but above all else I will still be the same loving Alexa.

*Please note the above interview is a written transcript completely factually based. None of the above facts have been misrepresented, only the style of narrative has changed to the first person.

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.

A Photographer’s Guide to the Universe Part 1

By Beatrice Bisais

On January 10, 2018

In Photography

Nixplay is excited to present the first in-depth article of Explore More, a series of content pieces that revolve around unique photo-taking adventures, creating moments and chronicling memories. Be creative, try something new and Explore More. Stay tuned throughout 2018 to further unleash your sense of adventure and love for photography.

Special Note: Part 2 will be published on Monday, February 15 and will provide you an ultimate guide to how to take photos of space.

2018 is setting out to be an exciting year for all space buffs that are fascinated with a galaxy far, far away and we don’t mean the latest Star Wars movie. The year has already started out with a big bang thanks to the appearance of the year’s first supermoon on none other than New Year’s Day, a phenomenon that allows space geeks to see the moon 14% larger and 30% brighter, making it one of the easier space events to photograph. For those who were recovering from the flows of champagne and confetti, don’t fret, there will be an astrological event nearly every month – plenty of opportunities to get your inner geek on. The list below shows some of the highlights of this calendar year and when you should me making that giant leap out of your door and onto prime space gazing real estate.

Jan 31^st: Super blue moon eclipse
Feb 10^th: Line of planets with moon in between
March 31^st: Second blue moon
April 22^nd – 23^rd: Lyrids meteor shower
May 6^th – 7^th: Eta Aquarids meteor shower
June 27^th: Saturn at its closest to sun
July 31^st: Mars closes to Earth (next event with such a close proximity will happen in 2025.)
Sep 7^th: Neptune at closest approach to Earth
Oct 21^st – 22^nd: Orionids meteor shower
Nov 17^th – 18^th: Leonids meteor shower
Dec 12th: Comet 46P/Wirtanen passes by Earth

You probably remember thinking about how amazing it would be to experience space from daydreaming at school to looking in awe at the ever-growing catalog of space documentaries. This awe at the immensity of our solar system makes it a fascination to many and it is that awe that has seen a rapidly increasing contingent of star gazers that want to go beyond simply looking up at the stars, creating a trend of space photography. The digitally disruptive world of today has made this hobby accessible to a winder audience. Yet many people who try their hands on capturing stars and planets in the night sky often struggle with issues ranging from struggling to find and capture a planetary sitting or eclipse due to distance and lack of visibility to not knowing how to get the best shots when there is movement. Then there are those who, probably like you, thought this was a job for the professionals. And here’s the surprising bit: it can even be done from a smartphone.

In part 1 of our series, we list out the key highlights of space watching in 2018. Find out what’s hot and gassy or bright and beautiful for space photographers. At the same time, we will act as your guide and act as your de facto GPS for finding the best perch to get that award-winning shot. No, it’s not Pokemon Go, but a guide for the stars, planets and moons of 2018 – or at least those within site

If there’s one thing in common between US president Donald Trump and NASA, it would have to be location, location, location. When wanting to film one of these events, you can’t just leave your house, look up and expect to see these wonders of our Universe.

There is an interplay of location based factors that range from the part of the world you live in to the environment around you. Firstly, and this may seem like an obvious one for many, is light pollution, a common occurrence, especially in the world today, where for the first time in human history, the majority of the population now live in cities. The Big Apple is a bad apple for space photography.

Positioning yourself right in 2018 starts with the Lyrid meteor shower, peaking in the morning just before dawn on April 22. The general direction to look is east, although to be more precise, there is a table that can help calculate your exact positioning; whilst this website should also help. It’s best viewed from the northern hemisphere, with the mid-southern hemisphere coming in a close second. Eta Aquarids is the most inclusive when it comes to viewability as you can witness the spectacle from anywhere in the world, whilst our latter couple in November can be seen from both hemispheres after dark; for the Leonid’s your best bet it to look between the east and the point right above you, whilst for the opulent Orionid all you is look straight up above your head.

Saturn, shines brightest, or is in opposition on June 27. Its general behavior on the day is much like the moon’s, rising at sunset, appears at its brightest south at midnight (give or take a couple dozen minutes) and sets in the west once sunrise hits. Generally, it should be right on the other side of the sun. Location-wise, as long as you’re sensible and are in a dark area without any light pollution and where it’s not overcast, your chances of witnessing this wonder is quite high. This site gives you exact coordinates of where to find the gassy planet in your location – make sure your device’s location settings are enabled.

Saturn with its rings. Photo by NASA JP-Caltech Space Science Institute.

If you ever get stuck or feel hopelessly lost in the hunt for shooting stars, the best tip would be to look at what constellation the meteor appears to radiate from seeing as each meteor is named after one. In less scientific language, constellations are groups of stars that form an image – some of the names may even be familiar to you. Alternatively, you can download an app known as ‘Starglobe’ on your phone

As for catching our comet, you’d be best placed in the Northern hemisphere. Do keep your expectations realistic seeing as scientists cannot pin-point how bright it would be at present, but they do believe it’ll be the brightest comet in over 5 years, passing 7.2 million miles away from earth. It can be located quite easily as it passes winter constellation Taurus, the bull. Searching for and printing out the constellation would be the best way to prepare for the day.

Whilst we are summarizing this without going to an encyclopaedia of GPS coordinates, we have sifted through the data and provided some useful tips to get you on your way and explore something new. Once the cosmic event occurs, be sure to take as many photos as you can, to maximize your chances of taking a good quality photo.

Touch-ups

Many of the photos that you see related to space on a lot of the top photography journals and other publications are not one-shot wonders. Professional photojournalists that partake in various space photography often do a lot of editing to the shots they get. Let’s face it, shooting movable objects in pitch black is not easy even for the most experienced. Whilst your mind may wonder to programs such as Photoshop, a truly successful space image will go beyond that with sequencing and layering. To find out more, stay tuned to our article to be published on January 15, where we explore the best ways to edit and build upon photos long after the camera is packed away.

Share Your Discoveries

Want a good opportunity to show off and gain likes? Your space-filled gallery will be a guaranteed winner; instantly share photos with anyone in the world through your social media apps, messages and as we recommend, the Nixplay app, which manages photos and albums on digital picture frames. It would also be irresponsible of us not to note that starring into the sun directly – an exciting photo taking opportunity can become a tragedy. Like a good astronaut, a good photographer of the Universe is universally ready – get the right gear, prepare, plan thoroughly and enjoy the ride!

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.

Our top 5 nixplay Easter photos!

By Beatrice Bisais

On April 20, 2014

In Holidays

Welcome back to our nixplay blog and hope you’re having a lovely Easter! Last Friday, we gave you 5 simple tips on how to prepare a fun Easter photo shoot with your family. As promised, here are our top 5 photos from the nixplay Easter photo shoot:

1. Happy Bunnies!

2. Bunny Baby

3. Bubble Break

4. “Did you say Chocolate Easter Eggs?”

5. Easter Egg Fun

Everyone had a fun and amazing time at the nixplay photo shoot. Energy was high as we provided the kids with Easter themed props/gifts. Now that our photo shoot is finished, we can’t wait to see your photos!

The nixplay team really want to see your Easter fun-filled weekend so share your photos by using the hashtags #nixplay #nixplayeaster on your Facebook, Instagram or Twitter Easter photos.

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.

Smartphone photography tips & tricks you should know

By Beatrice Bisais

On March 24, 2014

In Photography

Here are some great tips on how to take great photos for your nixplay Cloud Frame using your smartphone.

1) How to fit everything into your frame.

If you’re an Instagrammer, you would be familiar with the square frame format and will find that it is difficult to fit everything within the size restrictions. To avoid this issue, we advise taking the photos outside of the Instagram app so you can then frame your photo wisely. Don’t forget to sync your Instagram account with your nixplay Digital Frame so you can start displaying your best photos in your home instantly!

2) Filters!

Don’t go crazy with choosing your filters – you want your photos to look natural. Choosing filters can be fun but bear in mind that you may lose certain details if you choose the “wrong” filter in smartphone photography. Sometimes a photograph can look best without having a filter at all. So choose wisely, and make sure you get the right feel with the filter you choose.

3) Editing beyond the filters.

If filters don’t do the job and you still need to edit your photo, try using the editing app “PE-Fotolr”. It allows you to edit all sorts of things from fixing the color tones of your photos to cleaning up your blemishes – this could definitely be your next favorite app after Instagram and next step to being a pro at smartphone photography! Happy snapping!

Photographs by Chandni Chotrani August 2013

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.