When you upgrade to a newsmartphone , do n’t let the old one pile up rubble in the dust drawer . Here are six originative ideas for putting that used ( but still useful ! ) gimmick to work .
1. A Backup or ‘Burner’ Phone
If your old smartphone still influence , see using it as a second phone . A second phone can suffice several purposes : a information backup if your unexampled phone dies or gets lost ; a safe selection for tenting trip-up , beach field day , or other places where your fancy new phone could get damage ; or even as an untraceable " burner " phone .
To utilise the backup phone to make calls , it will demand to be an unlocked phone that allows you to switch out the telephone set ’s SIM card for a young phone number and anticipate programme . Since you ’ll only be using the backup phone occasionally to make calls and send out texts , choose a " pay - as - you - go " design that only charges you when you use the phone . Those program can be as cheap as $ 2 for each twenty-four hours you that you use them . Otherwise , there ’s no charge for let the sound sit idle for months .
Even without a earphone plan , that old phone call still dial 911 , which may make it utilitarian in an emergency situation .
A 2nd telephone set can also be a handy data backup if your unexampled phone runs on the same operating organization . Make indisputable the old phone is loaded with the same apps and swarm admittance as the new phone . That way , if you lose the newfangled phone or it break , you still have approach to all of your cloud - establish contact lens and photos , and you wo n’t settle behind on your favorite societal media provender .
If you want a 2nd phone for added privacy and security – a routine to use on go steady site or Craigslist , for example – bend the old phone into a " burner " twist by wiping and reset it , and signing in as a fresh user with a new e-mail speech ( hint : do n’t use your actual name ! ) . With an app likeBurner , you do n’t even have to get a fresh SIM card with a Modern headphone number . The app apply VoIP to assign you a irregular phone number . you may even text from it .
2. Car Stereo and GPS Device
Every prison term you get in the cable car , you in all probability click your smartphone into a splashboard backing , plug in a superpower cord and shirk around plug into to your stereo via Bluetooth . And then you have to unplug everything again when you get out .
depend on how you apply your phone in the car , you could save some hassle by turning your sure-enough phone into a dedicated car stereo and GPS twist .
First , a peak . This wo n’t be as useful if you make a lot of hands - destitute calls in the car and your sure-enough telephone set does n’t have its own active calling plan . But if you in the first place use the telephone for playing euphony and podcasts , and for real - time driving directions , this could help .
All it consume is a niggling homework . Since your old earpiece will be offline in the machine ( no access to WLAN or a cellular datum ) , you need to preload it with music and podcasts in your house , situation or anywhere else with a wireless local area internet connexion . Also , to use GPS you ’ll require to upload maps to the sound . CNET has agreat leaning of map appsthat can be preloaded for offline use . The good apps and maps cost money , but it beat getting dispiritedly lost in Tulsa .
3. Baby Monitor or Security Cam
Do n’t spend money on a baby monitoring equipment ! There are lots of cool apps that can flex any smartphone camera into an cheap baby monitor or even home plate security television camera .
To habituate your honest-to-goodness phone as a babe reminder , climb it within a few foot of the baby ’s crib and download an app likeDormi(Android ) orCloud Baby Monitor(iOS ) . Both apps pair your sure-enough and Modern earphone so you may watch and take heed to the sister from anywhere . Features include alerts when the child is crying and the ability to talk remotely to the baby through the speech sound .
While your old telephone set may not completely replace a hi - tech home surety system , it can duplicate as a free single - emplacement security cam . Presenceis a free Android and iOS app that instantly turn your onetime phone into a stream television television camera accessible from any paired twist .
4. DIY GoPro
GoPro - style action photographic camera retail for hundreds of one dollar bill , but if your old phone phonograph recording HD video , you could welt it to just about anything and take heart - stopping POV videos .
The winder is finding the right mounting gadget . You ’ll want to depend for either a oecumenical head climb for smartphones or one that ’s specifically made for your equipment . If your phone is a adult " phablet " design , it may be too heavy for your head , so look into ace that can flog to your bike handlebar or your bureau .
Another utile gadget is a Bluetooth shutter remote control . These inexpensive devices fit in your air hole and let you start and cease recording on your phone without fumbling with the telephone set Battle of Midway through a mountain bike run .
5. Digital Photo Frame
This is a with child idea for an old tablet or larger smartphone . Perch it on your desk or umber table and use it to rain cats and dogs a constantly update slideshow of your digital pics , plus online photograph from your social media streams .
Apps likeLiveFrame(iOS ) andDayframe(Android ) will not only exhibit photos on your equipment and from swarm - based photo libraries like Google Photos or Flickr , but they will pull in novel pics from your Facebook , Instagram and other societal medium friend .
To mix affair up , you may also habituate the old phone or tablet to watch cyclosis webcams from the world ’s most interesting and scenic locales . TheEarthCamapp ( iOS ) will stream live video from places like Times Square in New York City or Blackberry Mountain in Tennessee . Same for Earth Online for Android .
6. Donate to a Good Cause
Instead of reprocess or reselling your quondam telephone and bag the cash , think donate it to an organization that will use the equipment to help oneself others .
Sprint ’s 1Million Project aims to donate a million telephone and tablets plus spare mellow - upper net access to underserved gamy school students . And nonprofitSecure the Calldistributes donated phone to domestic violence shelters and elderly centers to use in 911 pinch .
Another cool Greek valerian , Cell Phones for Soldiers , does n’t in reality send your old telephone set to troops overseas ( security issue ) , but uses the money earned from recycling or reselling your phone to grease one’s palms postpaid phone add-in for soldiers .
