A smartphone can be a great gift, whether for a birthday, for three ladies or for Christmas. Inevitably, the arrival of a new smartphone means that the one you had until now is no longer used. In Europe it is common to give it to someone or try to sell it second hand, even if Keeping it is also a good option.
Android offers great versatility as an operating system, allowing users to keep their old mobile, but giving it completely different uses than when it was the main phone. In this way it will be possible to continue using it and give it a second life, instead of collecting dust in a drawer.
Additionally, by reusing an old cell phone for other tasks, you will help prevent the production of more e-waste, and even can help save moneysince it is possible to replace the purchase of other devices such as a digital photo frame or a video surveillance camera.
Media Player
There are many cell phones that, even if they have been in use for a few years, continue to perform basic tasks correctly such as streaming, playing music or controlling media from other devices. In these cases, having an old cell phone on hand to be able to use it while recharging your daily cell phone can be very positive for saving battery and using it regularly at home.
It is possible to download all commonly used streaming apps, such as Netflix, Spotify or YouTube, to not having to use your own cell phone every time you want to transmit content to the TV or speakers. This way, any family member can use it as a device to stream content.
Additionally, home automation control apps can also be downloaded and configured to act as a remote control for lights, cameras, or any other smart devices you have at home. By setting up voice start in Google Assistant, you can even serve as a smart speaker.
Remote
Some Android phones still They have an infrared sensor located on the top, and you can get a lot of use out of it. Thanks to certain applications, it is possible to control certain devices using a remote control with the same technology, such as a television or a fan, via this sensor.
This saves the hassle of purchasing a remote control for many devices when the original is broken or lost. And the best part is that you only need to download a remote control app, although manufacturers th at include this component They usually also include a native app to use it
If you want to use it for a Smart TV, it doesn’t even have to have an infrared sensor, but virtually any device can be paired with the TV using the Google app TV, provided it has Android TV. If you prefer, you can even use it to remotely control your computer’s mouse and keyboard.
Security camera
This is perhaps the most useful and accessible use that can be given to a mobile phone that is no longer in use. Enough with connect it to a WiFi network and an outlet, so that it does not run out of battery, making it an ideal security camera to monitor your home when you are away.
It can be placed facing the door, or any other side of the house that you want to keep under control when you are not at home. You will not be able to enjoy night vision, like in CCTV cameras, but the advantage of cell phones is that It is possible to turn on the flash remotely, and even read audio messages or sound a siren.
All you need to do is download an application, such as AlfredCam, through which it will be possible to configure its operation and activate options such as motion detection or audio messages.
Digital Photo Frame
If it is a cell phone with a large screen, it is possible to use it as an electronic photo frame to have at home and to show the memories that we choose to keep in mind.
The simplest and most comfortable option to do this is Leave the device plugged into a charging base and create an album in Google Photos with all the images and videos you want to include in the compilation. After that, you will just have to access the album in the application and launch the presentation mode. Each photo will be displayed on the screen for approximately 5 seconds.
Google’s Gallery app doesn’t allow much customization, so you can also opt for third-party apps like Fotoo or PhotoStory, which offer additional options.
Secondary mobile
Before, changing all data from one mobile to another was a longer and more complicated process, but now it is extremely simple. Thanks to the possibility of having WhatsApp on several mobile phones at the same time, it is possible to have a secondary mobile phone absolutely identical to the main phoneexcept the presence of the SIM card.
This way you can go alternating between one device or another depending on use it will be given. For example, to go on an excursion or practice risky sports, you can change your SIM card and use the old cell phone, in case it suffers damage during said activity that ends up damaging it.
In case something happens to the phone, at least the new one won’t be broken. When you come home, All you have to do is put the SIM back in the main mobileand it will not be necessary to make a backup in WhatsApp or any other application, since it will be synchronized automatically.
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