nixplay blog-picture perfect places to celebrate halloween

5 Spooktacular Places For A Picture-Perfect Halloween

Still deciding on where to celebrate this Halloween? This handy guide should get you started.

Tokyo, Japan

Halloween in Japan is a vibrant spectacle, with several celebrations across the country. Tokyo’s Kawasaki Halloween Parade, where you can march through the streets dressed in the most elaborate costumes, is the biggest of them all. If you’re in the city on the last weekend of October, don’t miss it!

Oaxaca, Mexico

The Mexican city of Oaxaca celebrates Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on November 1 and 2. It’s not the rambunctious, spooky festival most people associate Halloween with. Rather, it’s a 3,000-year-old tradition of paying tribute to loved ones who have passed away, marked by cemetery visits and overflowing food and drinks.

Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania is the location of Dracula, probably the most famous vampire tale in history. It’s a fitting setting with its dense forests and medieval castles, one of which was the home of Vlad the Impaler, one of the most notorious monarchs of the Ottoman empire. What better place to celebrate the most haunted day of the calendar than the hometown of the man Dracula was based on?

Corinaldo, Italy

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Corinaldo is a well-preserved medieval town located in Italy’s Le Marche region. It’s a lovely place to visit, with its churches, museums, and historical buildings. But every October, this charming locale becomes the “Italian capital of horror,” marking the holiday with the annual Feast of the Witches carnival.

Salem, Massachusetts

Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of US history (or anyone immersed in pop culture) knows that the town of Salem in Massachusetts is one of the best places in the country to celebrate a goosebump-inducing Halloween. Step back into the past to visit the city’s haunted houses and historical attractions, then ramp up your celebration in the evening by attending one of the many parties and activities in the city.

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Wherever you end up this Halloween, don’t forget to take lots of photos and display them on your Nixplay Frame! Take advantage of our Halloween offer and get up to 20% off all Nixplay 13-inch frames, only until November 4. Don’t miss out on the Halloween fun!

nixplay blog-dynamic playlists

Nixplay’s Dynamic Playlists, Explained

Not all photo subjects are created equal. Some people (like your baby niece), events (like your recent vacation in NYC), and animals (like your pet corgi) deserve to be snapped more than others, and rightfully so. But how can you easily gather all your similar photos into one album, and how can you display them easily?

Dynamic Playlists are the are the solution!

Earlier this year, we joined the Google Photos Partner Program in search of ways to make playlist creation easier. The result: Dynamic Playlists, which Google Photos has since referred to as “Live Albums.” Google’s Live Albums and Nixplay’s Dynamic Playlists both harness Google Photos’ ability to group pictures according to location, date, or subject, making image organization a breeze. 

With dynamic playlists, the stress involved in sorting your images is now gone. This way, all the photos of your adorable niece will automatically be sorted into a single dynamic playlist you can immediately display on your Nixplay Frame, as long as they’re on your Google Photos account. The pictures of your cute dog or the shots you took during your last trip will also get the same treatment. Looking for photos of your favorite subjects has never been easier.

The best part? Every time you take a new photo of your godchild, the image will be instantly added to its corresponding dynamic playlist, which you can display on your Nixplay Frame. This way, your Nixplay Frame will stay automatically updated with your latest images. Now you can always have your favorite memories at your fingertipsno more manual tinkering needed.

Download the Nixplay Mobile App now to start creating your very own dynamic playlists.

 

nixplay frame questions to ask

What To Consider Before Buying A Digital Photo Frame

If you’ve never bought a digital photo frame before, you’ve probably got a few questions which need answering. As our homes become more integrated with technology such as virtual home assistants (Amazon Alexa comes to mind) and light bulbs which can be controlled from your smartphone, digital photo frames find their place at the intersection of sophistication and simplicity–a subtle piece of digital décor that elevates your home to new heights with its versatility and class.

Below, we answer five frequently asked questions from readers who are thinking about getting (and eventually got!) a Nixplay Digital Frame for their home.

1. How can you update photos on a Nixplay Frame?

It’s incredibly easy! Using your smartphone or laptop, you simply need to install the Nixplay app–for free! You can use the app to easily upload new images onto your Nixplay Wi-Fi Cloud Frame. It’s similarly easy for NIX Digital Frames: Just plug in a USB flash drive or a memory card loaded with your pictures, and you’re all set!

2. Can a Nixplay Frame play videos?

All Nixplay digital photo frames are able to play 15-second videos as well as display digital pictures, giving you endless digital opportunities to display your dearest memories.

3. What are the available Nixplay Frame sizes?

Nixplay Frames come in several sizes to suit different areas of your home, such as mantelpieces and bedside tables. Nixplay Frames range from 8” to 17” in diameter, and come in several colors and finishes to match your interiors.

4. Can Nixplay Frames be wall-mounted?

Some frames can be wall-mounted for your convenience and aesthetic pleasure. NIX Lux digital photo frames can be sold with custom wall mounts for the 8, 10, and 13-inch sizes. What’s more, the wall mounts come with built-in spirit levels, ensuring that your frame is perfectly aligned on your wall.

5. Where’s the best area to place a Nixplay Frame?

Anywhere you want, as long as it’s indoors! Nixplay Frames are sized to various dimensions and finishes, providing you with numerous options for displaying your photos proudly. The smaller 8” Nixplay Frames are ideal for bedside cabinets and desks, whereas the 13” NIX Lux frames can be mounted onto walls, giving you endless decorating options around your house. The 17″ Frames, meanwhile, will make a lovely centerpiece for your mantelpiece.

nixplay blog-main-home decor

Why You Shouldn’t Scrimp On Home Décor

When you move into a new home (or you renovate your existing one) you’re presented with a unique opportunity to design a space which is exactly suited to your tastes. However, decorating usually entails a lot of spending. Worse, it usually comes at the same time as a move or a renovation, two things which are not known for being easy on the wallet.

Nonetheless, we’re here to tell you that, while you should always strive to decorate your abode within your budget, there’s still no harm in splurging on particularly exquisite pieces every now and then. You shouldn’t scrimp on home décor, and here’s why!

Happiness

Above all else, your home should be your own space – a space which makes you happy. As a result, you should aim to buy things that truly make you feel comfortable and “at home.” The devil is in the details when it comes to home décor, and spending a few extra dollars on a piece you love instead of going for a cheaper option could spell the difference between feeling content and feeling like something’s missing.

For example, if you’re putting up posters in a room, you shouldn’t feel bad about spending a couple of dollars more to have them framed. This small move instantly elevates your home décor and makes your walls look classier. Worth the splurge, don’t you think?

Quality

You get what you pay for, and this applies to your décor too. If you’re looking for high-class furnishings which will stand the test of time and still be usable in a decade, then you’re going to have to spend some decent money. Of course, there’s a balance which you need to strike between price and quality. We’re not suggesting that you go from IKEA to an Eames Lounge and a Fabergé Egg, but you should feel free to invest in some nice objects which last for a long time without breaking or looking tired.

That “Wow” Factor

If you’re like most people, you’ll be “house proud” to some degree, looking to show off your digs to any visitors. Investing in decent home décor helps give your home a “wow” factor that can be so important in making you feel proud of your home.

One great way to do this is by investing in a digital photo frame. Rather than print a bunch of regular pictures and have them gathering dust on the mantelpiece, why not have a couple of Nixplay Wi-Fi Cloud Frames displaying photos of your loved ones? A home décor investment such as this makes for a great conversation piece, giving your home brilliant talking points and an undeniable “wow” factor which will impress friends and family alike. Get a Nixplay Frame now!

how to use a film camera

Tips and Tricks: How to Use a Film Camera

Is film photography dead?

After digital photography skyrocketed some years ago, a very odd thing happened: film became popular again. Maybe it had something to do with the appeal of delayed gratification, or it might have coincided perfectly with the rise of hipster culture.

Endless theories could be drawn around the reason why film photography got a second stab at popularity. Film has a long way to go before dying, and if you’ve already joined the film bandwagon, here are some of our tips and tricks on how to use a film camera and improve your photography skills with film.

Our Top Film Photography Tips for Making the Most of Your Camera

1. Your camera can offer great value

Your film camera has a couple of great benefits that you may be missing right now. It doesn’t matter if it is a 35mm or a medium format camera: They both are highly desired formats in the digital world thanks to these formats’ capabilities.

For a fraction of the monetary investment digital cameras require, you can enter into the exclusive formats that are only reserved for the high pros. Also, you can access some really well-built lenses without going broke.

2. It’s a great tool for improving your photography skills

Using a film camera will eventually make you a better photographer because you’re shooting with a reduced amount of frames. Instead of spraying and praying, film photography can help you develop a more conscientious way of crafting images.

By shooting less you’ll eventually become a better and more discerning photographer. Shooting this way will teach you more than any tutorial out there on the web. You don’t have to be totally loyal to film photography—it’s just a good way of building a mindset that will make you a better photographer no matter if you keep using a digital camera, or even your phone.

3. Score some new film

Kodak recently re-launched its iconic Ektachrome film, which is a great sign. If shooting expired film is good, shooting fresh film is better. Stock up on Ektachrome now!

4. Dig around for expired film

Film has an expiration date, but it is so generous that it doesn’t matter too much for some people. Try to look around in your house for some unexposed film—even 20-year-old rolls will do—and try to develop them. The great charm about film photography is that it will always have unexpected results when shot under such stormy conditions.

5. Learn how to develop your own film

Some people like to develop their own film, and there’s a good reason why. This gives the photographic experience a completely different spectrum. Seeing your photographs appear in front of you almost out of nowhere is an experience every person should have at least one in their lives.

Now, getting film developed is one thing, but printing it out is another story. Film scanners have become pretty popular these days, and they are extremely powerful too. You can scan out your film, invert it, and display it directly on a Nixplay digital frame. This saves you the effort of printing out your negatives. Your frame can also serve as a portable lightbox where you can see all the negatives before deciding which images are worth printing out.

The Beauty of Film Photography

At the end of the day, what matters most is the beautiful relationship between a person and their photographs. Using a film camera offers you something that you can only dream of achieving through a mobile phone camera. Its timeless beauty with unexpected imperfections and charming effects cannot tryly be replicated with an Instagram filter.

Photography is a popular hobby that is ever-growing with new members, creatives, and ideas. With modern gadgets and devices being brought out frequently to expand the field, more and more people are developing an interest in the topic. If you’re a photography fanatic with all the gadgets, you may want to try a Nixplay digital photo frame—the only one of its kind that can play both video and photos through the display screen. Show off all your favorite memories in ultra-high pixel density with the click of a button on the next-generation smart frame. Find your Nixplay frame today.

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