Author: Beatrice Bisais Page 21 of 32

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.

The Newest Must-Have Products for the Discerning Techie

By Beatrice Bisais

On September 1, 2016

In Gifting Guides

For the tech lover who also craves beautiful design, life can be hard. How can you truly enjoy virtual reality when you’re wearing such a clunky-looking headset? How can you get the maximum enjoyment from your music while wearing headphones that still look the way they did in 1995?

Luckily, there are plenty of companies out there that are working hard to give these discerning techies the artfully designed, technologically advanced products they love so much. Here’s a quick list of some of the newest must-have products that combine beautiful form with high-tech function.

via IndieGogo

PetBot. Pet cameras that let you keep an eye on your furry friend while you’re at work have been around for a few years now – but there’s never been a pet camera looks this sleek. This unobtrusive camera and remote treat dispenser lets you talk to your pet via two-way speakers, give them treats while you’re miles away, and keep an eye on them throughout your workday. It even lets your pet take selfies and send them to your phone.

Description: iris nixplay.jpg

via Nixplay

The Nixplay Iris. The Iris is our newest wifi cloud frame, designed to appeal to those with the highest standards for home and office decor. With a stunning metal finish reminiscent of a traditional picture frame, the Iris fits just as well in a meticulously decorated family room as it does in the executive suite. Iris owners can stay connected to family via the Nixplay app, which lets them send images right to the frame.

via GadgetNutz

The Samsung LED Flip Wallet. There are plenty of nice-enough smartphone wallets out there – they carry your cards, pack an extra battery, and maybe add a pop of color to this ubiquitous accessory. But the LED Flip Wallet, for Samsung’s Galaxy phones, does you one better: it shows your phone notifications directly on the wallet. You don’t even have to open the phone in order to see who’s calling, what the weather’s like, or who just texted you.

via Mira Fitness

The Mira Fitness Mira Bracelet. Fitness trackers are great for keeping you moving toward your fitness goals, but they’re not exactly attractive. That’s where the Mira Bracelet has the major advantage. Billed as jewelry that tracks your daily activity, this fitness tracker is designed to be a bracelet that even the most fashion-conscious wouldn’t be ashamed to wear.

via UrbanEars

UrbanEars Wireless Headphones. For those of us who just don’t like the feel of earbuds stuck in our ears, headphones are the way to go – but so many of them are too bulky, too bright, or just boring. These UrbanEars models offer a classic, contemporary design with 21st century functionality. The headphones have a touchscreen interface instead of buttons, plus a microphone so you can pick up calls without switching devices.

via Here

Here Buds. These earbuds are only available for pre-order currently, but they’re so impressive that we had to include them on the list. Like typical earbuds, Here Buds let you listen to music – but that’s really the least of it. Here Buds let you control the sounds around, by adjusting the frequencies to amplify or change certain sounds and block others. In other words, if you were on a plane and wanted to turn down that baby crying, you could actually do it.

via Jibo

Jibo Social Robot. Who knew a robot could be so cute? With a minimalist design and animated face, this AI “family robot” is like a personal assistant, photographer, playmate, and companion all in one. He’s small and inconspicuous enough to fade into the background, but so well-designed that you won’t want him to.

Happy shopping!

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.

What To Photograph At Theme Parks

By Beatrice Bisais

On September 1, 2016

In Photography

Theme parks have captivated the imaginations of children and adults alike for generations. There’s something about the game booths, whirling rides, and carnival food that lends an atmosphere to the theme park that can’t be reproduced elsewhere. Children can run into real life costumed versions of their TV heroes, and older visitors have the opportunity to spend the day riding roller coasters. It’s a special time for everyone, and one that’s full of opportunities for memorable photos.

What To Photograph
You should definitely be keeping an eye out for great photo ops of your children. There are so many wonderfully decorated booths, stores, and alleys that your children will usually have a good backdrop somewhere close by. Try letting them get a little ahead when they see something exciting, and get a shot from behind, or try to time it so that they’re looking back towards you when you take the photo.

Keep a sharp eye out for their costumed cartoon characters, as they tend to get mobbed quickly. Don’t try to get a picture in when there are children and other parents running around in your shot.

And remember to do your best to keep the camera low and at your child’s eye level. Take a knee if you have to in order to get the best shot you can.

Rides
If you are trying to get some good shots of a particular roller coaster or ride, remember to take your time. You might end up needing to wait for a while until you get the shot you’re looking for.

Also remember to obey all the warnings and stay on the right side of the fence. It sounds obvious, but sadly it has to be said. You aren’t invincible, and the fences are there for a reason. Try shooting through them if they’re chain link.

Reaction Shots
Head over to the water rides if you want to get some really good reaction shots. There’s nothing like a splash of water to elicit a great reaction on your family members’ faces.

Landscapes
Don’t forget the landscape. Like we said before, many theme parks have buildings or landscapes that you just don’t see anywhere else. The entrance to a funhouse or an old carousel can make for very interesting photographs if you wait until the evening when the light softens.

And speaking of lighting, waiting until it gets dark can provide you with some incredible shots. The rides have to stay lit in order to keep running, so play around with your exposures and see if you can find a few that you like.

Remember, taking photos at the theme park is fun, but don’t forget to put the camera down sometimes. You’ll end up taking more photos than you keep, and there’s no reason to miss out on your child meeting Goofy because you were worried about the perfect shot.

You’ll leave the theme park with plenty of fantastic photos, so why not create a playlist and display them on your entire family’s Nixplay WiFi Cloud Frames?

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.

How The Nixplay App Can Keep Your Family Connected

By Beatrice Bisais

On August 29, 2016

In From The Nixplay Team

As much as Facebook and other social media allow us to keep tabs on what our family members are doing, they don’t necessarily keep us truly connected. As helpful as social media may be, liking a status just doesn’t have the same appeal as actually keeping in touch with your family members. But more technology doesn’t mean we’re drifting apart. Just the opposite, in fact. It’s easier than ever to pick up the phone, drop an email in someone’s inbox, or share your latest photos with them.

That’s what the Nixplay app is all about. Sharing photos in a way that’s truly personal and specific to the people you love and care about. Here’s how it works.

Your Nixplay WiFi Cloud Frame can already display and change through all the photos you want to see each day. The Nixplay app allows you to send photos directly to that frame, even adding captions before you send them. Take photos from your phone’s camera or gallery, and send them to the frame you want them to appear on.

Think about it, your family probably gets together a couple times a year, but for the most part you’re out doing your own thing. The Nixplay app allows you to share photos from your vacation, childhood milestones, or even just a great picture that you and your significant other took together. The photos will appear on your relatives’ WiFi Cloud frames, and they’ll be able to keep up with your life, just like you’ll be able to keep up with theirs.

Staying connected isn’t always about telling them every little detail that’s happening at your house. Sometimes it’s just about that daily reminder of the people you love and care about. Your brother living three states away probably talks about how fast his kids are growing up, but wouldn’t you rather see for yourself? With the Nixplay app, all he has to do is tap a screen and send the proof directly to your frame.

There’s something special about knowing that they sent you a photo, thinking of you specifically, rather than putting them up online and hoping you’ll take notice. It’s a more intimate form of photo sharing, and it helps keep your family thinking about each other, even when you don’t have time for an hour-long phone call.

And what about when you can’t get together for the holidays? The more your family expands, the harder it might be to get everyone together. So if you’re spending Thanksgiving with the in-laws, get everyone together for a group photo around the table, write a caption, and send it to your families WiFi Cloud Frame. You can’t always be there in person, but with the Nixplay app you can experience the next best thing.

So if you’re looking for a new, more personal way to stay connected with your family this year, then head over to Nixplay and pick out the WiFi Cloud Frame that’s right for you.

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.

7 Best Summer Moments To Capture Through Photo

By Beatrice Bisais

On August 24, 2016

In Photography

Whether you’re spending days at the beach, or just watching your kids run around in the back yard, there are going to be some fantastic photo ops this summer. You’ll have plenty of amazing outdoor scenes to shoot, so keep your camera at the ready. Check out these 10 great moments you won’t want to miss, plus some tips on how to get the best looking picture possible.

1. Beach Days
The best time to shoot photos of your kids and the rest of your family at the beach is during the morning or evening hours. The light is less harsh and you’ll get a better picture. If your beach is crowded, use the sky as a background, or simply embrace the activity and keep it in your photo.

2. Relaxing Evenings
There’s something special about those summer nights when the sun is still managing to peek over the horizon. If you want that chill summer evening vibe, full of fireflies and sleepy children, then remember to up the ISO settings on your camera and be extra cautious about keeping the camera still.

3. Blowing Bubbles
These photos can be downright adorable, but it’s hard to get that perfect shot because there’s so much going on in the picture—your child and their movement, the bubbles, and the background. Try working on your single-point focus to pick out a great photo.

4. Little League
You’ll be looking at photos of your little ones on the baseball or softball diamond for years to come. And luckily, the close proximity that most parents are allowed at Little League games makes this easier than if you had to shoot from actual stands. Just remember to wait until around 5 o’clock when the evening light starts to work its magic.

5. Fireworks
Nothing says summertime like a fireworks display over some water. The thing is, you’re not going to get a great image pointing your phone at them. To truly capture great fireworks shots, you’re going to need a tripod and a camera with adjustable shutter speed. Use a slow shutter speed and make use of the tripod so that your image isn’t blurry and shaky.

6. Road Trip
The key to getting good road trip photos is waiting until your kids have a reaction to something new or exciting. Even just letting them out of the car after a couple hours can result in a pretty ecstatic reaction, so remember to have that camera ready to capture it all.

7. Stormy Weather
It just wouldn’t be summer if a few late-evening thunderstorms didn’t roll your way. Try getting a shot of your kids while they’re pressed up against the window, or get out on the porch to ride it out with some great photos of the evening sky.

And whatever photos you take this summer, remember to display them in the best way possible—with a crystal clear wifi cloud frame from Nixplay. Check out our selection today and find the perfect digital frame for your family.

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.

Best Places For Last Minute Travel This Summer

By Beatrice Bisais

On August 9, 2016

In Holidays

When you were younger, you had the entire summer off and vacation stretched out forever. Now there’s a good chance that summer comes and goes without any special vacation from your work. But if you’ve let this one slip away thus far, don’t worry. You still have time to get away for a week or two and recharge your batteries. The best spots may need a reservation further in advance, but the great thing about our country is that beautiful destinations are never too far away. So check out some of these last minute travel ideas.

Gulf Shores
Located on the Florida-Alabama border, this coastal getaway is beautiful this time of year. And while it’s a popular destination, you can look farther down the beach from the main drag for some accommodations that are more likely to have openings.

Horseneck Beach, Massachusetts
The crowds will be at Cape Cod, but if you’re looking for a last minute adventure with fewer people on hand, your best bet will be Horseneck Beach. It’s perfect for campers, but there are accommodations at the Paquachuck Inn, as well as a private dock for fishing and boating.

Lake Mead
If you’re in the area and don’t want to make a drive to the coast, then why not check out Lake Mead. You can visit the Hoover Dam and Black Canyon National Trail, and remember that the Grand Canyon isn’t far, either. And since the lake is down nearly 60% due to drought, hikers can access previously underwater sites like the Old West town of St. Thomas. A bit of a mixed blessing, but you might as well see it while you can.

Nashville, Tennessee
There’s just nothing like some live music in one of Nashville’s famed honky-tonks, and there’s plenty within the city to check out, as well. Great food, fantastic nightlife, and a friendly atmosphere make Nashville a perfect destination when you don’t have weeks to spend at the beach.

Cannon Beach, Oregon
Named one of the World’s 100 Most Beautiful Places in the June 2013 issue of National Geographic, Cannon Beach is a must see for anyone planning a quick getaway in the Pacific Northwest. Go for a stroll on one of the dozens of public beaches, warm yourself by a fire in the evening, or just take in the stunning scenery. You can’t miss with a trip to Cannon Beach.

Montego Bay, Jamaica
It might be a little out of your way, but there are frequent flights into Montego Bay and plenty of hotels to choose from. So even this late in the game you’ve got a chance to score some rooms. Unplug, relax, and take a dip in the warm waters—you’ll thank us when you get back.

You’ll have plenty of pictures from your vacation—even a last minute one—so remember to show them off in the best way possible, with a wifi cloud frame from Nixplay. Check out our wide selection today!

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.