If you are one of those who keep your old cell phone in the drawer instead of selling it, you are surely interested in all the ways to give it a second life. There are many things you can do with an old cell phone, including turning it into the perfect accessory for your desk in the form of a digital agenda.
Your old phone could be a Chromecast, baby monitor, security camera, Android Auto screen, and even a computer, among other things. In the area of productivity, this can be a place where check your calendar, pending tasks and notes as well as the time, and it will only take a little installation and support.
Sleep mode so it always looks good
A good way to recycle an old cell phone is to turn it into a smart table clock, for which it will be very useful to borrow the idea of sleep mode from iOS. In this way the mobile is always on and ready to use and we will also be able to configure it more than if we stick to the Always On mode which it may or may not have, and which in most cases will only show us time.
Since Apple released iOS 17 with Standby Mode, apps have continued to appear to bring something similar to Android, like Standby Mode Pro or Standby iOS. The concept is the same in all cases: the application keeps the mobile screen on when left loaded and horizontal
Since you probably have your own preferences for how you want your “digital calendar” displayed on your desktop, we recommend trying a few similar apps until you Find a design you like.
This design will be the one shown when your old cell phone is on standby, although ideally it should show you interesting data to reduce the number of times you need to access the information. For example, it can be very useful if, in addition to the time, it shows you your agenda for the day.
Widgets for the occasion
In standby mode you don’t have much control, since you are relegated to the designs that the application offers, on the home screen of your mobile phone-calendar you are in charge, being able to add and delete the widgets that interest you.
Now, what widgets might interest you? This will of course depend on your tastes, but there are a few that are universally useful, like Google Clock app widgetswhich in addition to being able to display the time in different locations around the world, includes a stopwatch that you can use from the widget itself.
Of course You can’t miss calendar widgets. The Google Calendar app has two widgets today and both are vitally important in any calendar. In fact, it’s a good idea to put both widgets on the same page.
The widget monthly view It will allow you to control all the pending events you have in the month, opening each specific day in the app with just one touch. On the other hand, the calendar widget highlights hour by hour how you spend your day. In both cases, you can create a new event by pressing the + button.
Other almost essential widgets are those of Google Keep (or your favorite notes app). In the case of Google Keep you cannot miss the widget Collection of notes, which gives you access to all your notes, in chronological order.
It’s also very interesting the individual note widget, which you can use strategically to add important notes or notices to your calendar. For example, you can create a note that reminds you to defrost whiting and leave it clearly visible on your calendar home screen.
Of course, a lot will depend on your preferences and there are many other widgets that might interest you. For example, the Google Maps traffic widget This can save you from some traffic jams, without even needing to open the app.
You might also be interested in taking advantage of the opportunity to display weather information with a weather widget, have your Google Drive files at your fingertips, the latest emails that reached you in Gmail or the progress of your investments.
When placing your widgets, keep in mind If the mobile should be horizontal or vertical. If it’s horizontal, configure your widgets with that orientation, even if they look weird vertically. Advanced launchers like Nova Launcher give you more control over how widgets behave in different orientations.
Don’t forget the support
Of course, you’re going to need a cell phone holder. If you already have one at home, the logic is that you reuse it, although if you don’t have one, you have tons of options at any mobile accessories store and on Amazon.
When choosing a cell phone holder for this purpose, keep in mind which allows you to place the mobile vertically and, if possible, make it pretty, because you will have it on the table and surely you don’t want it to be something that hurts your eyes every time you see it. Here are some recommended models:
Aisens telephone support
This type of support is one of the most widespread, with small variations and available from several brands. That of Aisens has a aluminum alloy bodyit can be rotated to different angles and has a cable hole that can help you organize it a bit.
AISENS MS1PM-083 Adjustable Table Stand SIZE M (1 SWIVEL) for PHONE/Tablet, Gray
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
Adjustable Cooper Conversation Stand
Something more special is the Cooper ChatStand, adjustable in height and inclinationwhich can be a good option when you need it to be a little higher than what normal stands offer.
Cooper ChatStand – Adjustable and Portable Mobile Table Stand | Support for mobile phones, iPhone, Samsung and more, ideal for video recording, live streaming, video conferencing (Night Black)
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
Kalibri wooden stand
If you’re looking for something a little more elaborate, you can opt for a wooden cell phone holder like that of Kalibri, with a minimalist but effective design that adapts to all orientations. It’s pretty, even if the angle is fixed.
Kalibri Wooden Cell Phone Holder – Universal Holder for Smartphone and Tablet – Holder Compatible with Mobile Devices in Dark Brown
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
In Xataka Android | Your old Android mobile can become your new home console: here’s how to do it
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