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Digital photo frames are a great way to display all your favorite photos in limited space. The latest generation of Wi-Fi connected frames add the ability to wirelessly upload photos from virtually anywhere — no USB thumb drive or SD card required — and add the ability to give friends and family access so they can also upload photos to share. That sharing feature, in particular, makes Wi-Fi frames great gifts. I just wrapped up testing on a pair of Wi-Fi digital photo frames from Nixplay: the Iris and the Seed Wave.

The Iris and Seed Wave (more on that power adapter/cable later).
*H/T BRAD MOON*

Nixplay Features

Before breaking out some specifics about the two frames, I wanted to talk about the features they share.

Both use IPS displays that offer good color reproduction, plenty of brightness and wide viewing angles. A good display panel is critical to a good digital photo frame, and these do the job nicely. Nixplay also offers advanced features like the ability to tweak the color settings, and manually set brightness levels (or use the built-in ambient light sensor to adjust brightness based on room lighting conditions).

These Nixplay frames let you manually fine-tune the color levels.
*H/T BRAD MOON*

Local storage for the frames is 8GB, and Nixplay includes 10GB of free cloud storage. There’s no USB port or SD slot for side-loading, but once you’ve uploaded photos to these frames they are stored locally so you still see them even if the Wi-Fi network goes down.

Besides displaying photos, both can play videos up to 15 seconds in length.
Both frames use Nixplay’s woven cable-stand design. This is a very thick, woven power cable that connects to a very thick, bendable cable connector attached to the back of the frame. The result is a stand that keeps the frame securely at whatever angle you want, and in whatever orientation — landscape or portrait — you wish. It works well, and the woven power cable has a premium look, but it’s also very noticeable if you aren’t able to hide it.

Nixplay’s mobile app is full-featured and easy to use.
*SCREEN CAPTURE BY BRAD MOON*

Nixplay’s app for sharing and uploading photos is available for Android and iOS. Recently updated, it’s pretty easy to use. The expected functions are there — primarily the ability to select photos and share them with a frame. You can also do this with a computer and Nixplay’s website, and can choose to upload photos from your social media accounts like Facebook. The one thing you won’t find is photo editing capabilities.

The app doubles as an easy way to edit settings on the frame, but you can also do so locally. The frame displays aren’t touch-enabled (fine in my books, that just means fewer fingerprint smudges), but Nixplay includes a wireless remote for navigating settings and also has controls to skip forward or back in a photo playlist.

Nixplay Seed Wave

While the Iris does the job of sharing and displaying photos just fine — and looks like a traditional photo frame while doing it — Nixplay’s Seed Wave is a little more interesting.

The Seed Wave is a big, high resolution frame that looks a lot like a tablet.
*H/T BARD MOON*

It’s considerably larger, with a 13-inch widescreen display that has Full HD (1920 x 18080 resolution). The frame portion is black plastic, so it resembles a tablet more than a traditional photo frame. And the Seed Wave has an extra feature: hidden behind the display are a pair of drivers, each with 5W of amplification. That’s right, this digital photo frame does double-duty as a Bluetooth speaker. It actually sounds pretty decent as well, and Nixplay includes a rubber strip in the box that will help prevent the Seed Wave from jumping around on a smooth surface if you crank up the tunes.

The Seed Wave’s back hides this capable Bluetooth speaker.
*H/T BRAD MOON*

I’m not sure who asked for a combo digital photo frame/Bluetooth speaker, but it could be useful in situations where space is limited. Don’t get the idea that you could load up a movie on the Seed Wave and watch it in Full HD with booming stereo sound, though — like the Iris, Nixplay limits the length of videos you can upload to 15 seconds.

The downside(s) of going big? First, while that widescreen looks great with many photos, with others it’s more of a mixed bag. Most cameras don’t natively shoot photos in that aspect ratio. Some of my photos ended up with black bars on the side (even when Pan & Zoom are enabled), although you can choose to replace the black with a blurred background based on the photo being displayed that’s less noticeable. You can see that effect in my photo of the Seed Wave displaying a shot of the Chateau Frontenac.

The second issue is the power adapter. It’s big. Larger than some laptop chargers, but the brick plugs directly into an electrical outlet, so it takes up a lot of space. You can see that in several of my photos — there is 3-inches between the bottom of the power bar and the top of my test bench, but that’s too little space for the Seed Wave power adapter and it had to be rotated so the power cord sticks out the top.

Seed Wave Key Specs:

13-inch widescreen Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display
8GB local storage, 10GB free cloud storage
Ambient light sensor, activity sensor
Cable-stand display
2 x 5W drivers Bluetooth audio
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
Includes remote control
MSRP $249.99

Recommendation

Connected digital photo frames make great gifts, especially for friends and family who may live far apart. Nixplay has the most comprehensive collection of frames I know of, with tons of options including a range of panel sizes and resolutions, and different colors and materials for the frame itself. Both the Iris and Seed Wave are good frames, although I suspect most people would end up preferring the Iris — it’s smaller with a more traditional aspect ratio, has a much more compact power adapter and costs less.
Something to keep in mind with Mother’s Day approaching!

Read the whole article at Forbes.com.

How To Celebrate Earth Day, Every Day

By Mars Salazar

On April 23, 2019

In Lifestyle

Earth Day may be held on April 22, but if you ask us, we should be celebrating it every day. It just doesn’t seem right to impose a 24-hour window for becoming an eco-warrior. The Earth is the only planet we have, after all: We should do everything in our power to take care of it and keep it beautiful so our children and their children will have a better world to live in.

That said, here are some easy measures you and your loved ones can do to reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner, greener, better world. Read on!

Pick up litter when you’re out and about

Trash is never a nice sight, whether it’s a pile of garbage or a plastic bag floating in the air. If you see even a tiny plastic wrapper on the street, don’t hesitate to pick it up and toss it in the appropriate trash can. And while you’re at it, you can also (gently!) reprimand people you catch littering. Being a litterbug is never a good look on anyone!

Buy less, and buy wisely

How many times have you bought something you don’t really need, or only used once? We’ve all been guilty of this, and it’s a really hard habit to break. Starting today, carefully evaluating all your purchases. Before you head to the cashier, ask yourself if you really need the item you’re checking out. It also helps to buy from smaller local businesses, instead of from mass-market corporations—this reduces your carbon footprint while giving you access to handcrafted, unique items that aren’t owned by a lot of people.

Another way to be a better consumer is by supporting companies that give back to the environment. Nixplay is proud to support Trees For The Future, a non-profit organization that improves the lives of impoverished farmers by planting Forest Gardens, which have been proven to be more beneficial than conventional agriculture methods. Through our Seed For A Seed campaign, a tree seed gets planted in one of Trees For The Future’s Forest Gardens with every purchase of a Nixplay Seed Frame. To date, we have planted 209,643 trees—and with your help, we can plant thousands more.

Say no to plastic

We discard millions of tons of toxic plastic every year. These end up nearly everywhere, polluting our soil, our forests, our rivers, and our seas. In fact, there is are already at least two main trash dumps in our oceans: the Great Pacific garbage patch and the North Atlantic garbage patch, each spanning thousands of square kilometers.

While it might take a lifetime to rid our seas of the plastic soup, you can contribute in small ways. Start by being mindful of your plastic consumption—refuse disposable straws and utensils, avoid buying bottled water, and use a canvas bag when shopping so you don’t waste plastic bags. These actions might seem small, but when they’re done by thousands of people, they can add up and make an impact.

Walk (or bike) more often

Instead of driving to a restaurant located less than a mile away, why not take a leisurely stroll going there? It shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes, and this adds to your daily cardio count. You can also ride a bicycle to get around: It’s quick, free, and good for the body!

Don’t waste food

According to The Economist’s 2017 Food Sustainability Index, the average American wastes 277 kilograms of food annually. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of people around the world are starving. Don’t add to the problem by mindlessly buying food. Before leaving the grocery, check expiration dates, finish what’s in your pantry before going to the grocery, and use your food waste to create compost pits.

Easy Easter Crafts Your Kids Can Do

By Nixplay Team

On April 17, 2019

In Holidays

Easter is one of the best times to try new arts and crafts projects, with all the colorful eggs, adorable chicks and bunnies, and vibrant springtime themes. Get your kids’ creative juices flowing by taking on these Easter-themed projects:

Pompom chicks

Not only are pompoms very easy to make, but they’re super adorable, too. Just get a ball of yellow yarn and wrap it around your fingers–the more times you wrap the yarn around your fingers, the fluffier your pompom will be. When there’s a thick enough loop of yarn around your fingers, remove it from your fingers and keep it in place by tying another piece of yarn in the middle. Cut through all the loops, and trim the ends until you have a nice ball of fluff. Glue on a pair of googly eyes, and cut out the chick’s feet and beak on orange felt paper, and you’ve got the most adorable fluffball on your hands.

Easter egg potato stamps

Keep young kids entertained at your Easter party by letting them get crafty! Cut a few potatoes in half and carve designs on them using a knife (make sure an adult is doing this part!). The kids can then dip the sliced potatoes into colorful paint, then stamp them on paper. Encourage them to get creative by preparing colored pens, ribbons, small twigs, and other materials they can add to their egg-inspired artwork.

Salt dough egg ornaments

Give your garden an Easter touch with some eggs-tra colorful decorations! Mix flour, salt, and water together to make the dough, knead it properly, and roll it out. Cut out egg-shaped ovals from the dough, add a hole in each egg, and bake it at 250F for two hours. Paint the eggs after they’re dried and cooled, and add a layer of paint sealer to make sure the eggs’ design will last for a long time. Thread some twine or ribbon through the eggs’ wholes, and hang them on the plants in your yard. If you’re hosting an Easter egg hunt at home, these will make for the perfect decoration.

Bunny ears hairpin

Can’t pull off actual-sized bunny ears? This cute little hairpin will be a great alternative. Trace and cut out two small circles and four bunny ear shapes on white felt paper, draw two smaller bunny ears on light pink felt paper. Sew together two white bunny ears, and glue on a pink bunny ear. Repeat the process to make the other ear, and make the bottom of the ears pointed so they won’t look bulky when attached together. Next, attach the bunny ears to a white felt circle by creating a slot in the middle of the circle and inserting the bottom of the ears. Then, slide a hairpin on to the other white felt circle and glue it under the felt circle with bunny ears.

Bunny napkin rings

Planning an Easter party? These napkin bunny rings will add an adorable touch to your table setting. Wrap some burlap around a cut-up toilet paper tube, seal it with hot glue, and glue on two burlap bunny ears. Repeat the process depending on the number of your guests. It’s a small addition that will make your guests more excited for the Easter festivities.

Don’t forget to document your Easter crafts with lots of photos! Display them on a Nixplay frame so the memories of the fun holiday will always be within reach. Don’t miss the chance to get up to 25% off selected frames, only until April 21!

4 Ways to Help A Survivor of Brain Injury

By Nixplay Team

On April 12, 2019

In Lifestyle

Caregiving for a loved one with a brain injury can cause stress in many ways. Family members of individuals with memory disorders resulting from injury report that the main problem is not the injury itself but the ambiguity it causes.

Adding to the stress, unpredictable memory loss brings a rollercoaster of absence and presence. While each survivor’s recovery is unique and many experience lifelong consequences, there are strategies to cope with these uncertainties:

Awareness and Education

Family members should try to gain as much information about brain injury as possible. Knowledge increases confidence and may reduce the anxiety that many feel when confronted with the unknown. The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey has an extensive guide, available in English and Spanish, that outlines what families can expect after a loved one has sustained a brain injury.

Connection with a Support Group

Joining a support group will help both family and survivor connect with people going through similar circumstances. This provides social and emotional support—a safe place to vent frustrations, share ideas and learn new strategies. Brands like Nixplay can also offer survivors of brain injury, their families and friends a way to unite the moments from the past and present. Memories shared in photographs can help reinforce a support system which is crucial to brain injury rehabilitation.

A “Both/And” Mindset for Family Members

Caregivers are encouraged to adopt a “both/and” mindset as opposed to an “either/or.” For example, rather than thinking the care recipients have to be either here or gone, think of them as here and gone. This type of thinking is thought to be less stressful over time and practice.

Keeping it Simple

For people who have sustained a brain injury, memory issues can present different kinds of challenges. Memory changes are common even after a mild concussion, often a result of injury to the frontal and temporal lobes and limbic system. To cope, researchers suggest “keeping it simple.” Break information down into smaller pieces and try to keep a routine. Having an organized life can help reduce the burden of memory and learning. Using memory aids, such as calendars, lists, and notebooks, will help recovery of important details.

If you or someone you know is struggling with the impacts of brain injury, you can contact BIANJ Helpline at 1-800-669-4323. You can also donate to vital programs and services advocating for brain injury survivors.

Unique Easter Egg Hunt Ideas You Should Try This Year

By Mars Salazar

On April 11, 2019

In Holidays

No matter what your age is, you’ll never be too old for an Easter Egg Hunt. It’s one of those games that always brings out everyone’s competitive side, and the mad scramble that ensues can be infectious.

This year, make your Easter Egg Hunt more fun by adding an interesting twist or two. Read on for some ideas!

Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt

We’re pretty sure you know how scavenger hunts work, so doing one for Easter should get everyone excited. First, map out the route the participants will take–they can start in the living room, then the kitchen, then the backyard, then the neighborhood park. Write down a series of clues, each one leading the contestants to the next destination, and insert each clue in a plastic egg. The first contestant to figure out all the clues will get the grand prize.

Golden Ticket Easter Egg Hunt

Want to raffle off one big prize and maybe a few smaller prizes on Easter? Write them down on small pieces of paper and place the paper inside plastic eggs. Hide these eggs around the place, along with other eggs with candy inside. Ask the kids to collect the eggs, and get them to open their eggs at once at the end of the game.

Spell-Your-Name Easter Egg Hunt

This game works best if only a few people will join the Easter Egg Hunt. Write each letter of every participant’s nickname on an egg, and hide the eggs around the place. The first contestant that can spell his or her name with the eggs wins.

Decorate-Your-Own Egg Hunt

Prepare some paint, brushes, markers, and other decorating materials, and get the contestants to decorate one egg each at the start of your party. After a few hours, when the decorations have dried, ask the contestants to hide their eggs around the place. Then, prompt them to look for each other’s eggs, making sure they can’t get their own egg. The contestant with the most number of eggs gathered wins!

Needle-In-A-Haystack Egg Hunt

Get a small inflatable pool and a lot of plastic eggs. Pick a few eggs, and insert strips of paper indicating the prizes in them–these will be the lucky eggs. Fill the other eggs with candy, popcorn kernels, seeds, or just leave them empty. Then, place all the eggs inside the pool, and give each person a few seconds to find the lucky eggs. The contestants can be blindfolded if you want to make the game more challenging.

Take your Easter celebration to the next level with Nixplay! Get up to 25% off selected smart frames, only until April 21!