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    Got an Old Android Phone? Repurpose It With These 9 Creative Hacks

    You can nonetheless put your outdated cellphone to make use of.
    Juan Garzon/CNET

    So you are lastly upgrading your Android cellphone. Maybe you are treating your self to a Google Pixel 6, going for a price purchase with the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE or preordering from the newly introduced Samsung Galaxy S22 lineup. What about your outdated cellphone, although? Sure, you possibly can promote it or stash it in your drawer. But you may have another attention-grabbing choices to think about.If your cellphone’s too outdated to command a excessive trade-in worth, otherwise you’re trying to avoid wasting cash on a webcam or a Google Home, otherwise you similar to to tinker, there are some fairly ingenious methods to repurpose your outdated system and switch it into one thing you may really wish to use.

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    After all, smartphones are small, highly effective computer systems with space for storing and a digicam. Your cellphone makes a useful substitute for many different electronics — you may even flip it into a house safety digicam or diagnose your automotive’s mechanical issues. Read on for tips that may give your outdated Android new life.Convert your outdated Android right into a webcam.
    Aloysius Low/CNET
    Turn your outdated Android right into a webcamNow is a superb time to show your outdated cellphone right into a webcam. You can use various free apps — together with Zoom or Skype — to enhance the standard of your video chats throughout quarantine. Getting began is simple, and we offer you all the ideas you want for a top-notch setup. Remember, even an older cellphone’s foremost digicam might nonetheless be higher than your laptop computer’s built-in webcam — or no webcam in any respect.Read extra: Make your Zoom calls run smoother than earlier than with these tipsThe Hyperkin SensibleBoy Mobile Device.
    Hyperkin
    Convert your outdated Android right into a Nintendo Game BoyYou can play video video games in every single place you go once you flip your Android right into a Nintendo Game Boy. All you’ll want to get began is a appropriate Android cellphone and a Hyperkin Smartboy Mobile Device. In order to play the video games, you may have to buy Game Boy cartridges (until you continue to have them). But you may also play Game Boy Advance ($490 at Amazon) apps if you do not have the retro cartridges.Store your photographs on the outdated phoneImages take up a lot space for storing in your system, so retailer them in your outdated cellphone. You can use your new system to take the photographs after which ship them to your older cellphone to unlock house.You may use your outdated cellphone as a digicam and take it locations you usually would not wish to take your new cellphone. For instance, for those who go to the lake or seashore, you may take photographs with out worrying as a lot about dropping your cellphone within the water.Read extra: These 5 cellphone digicam tips will add some aptitude to your InstagramUse your Android as a common distantIt’s nice having one distant that may do every part — assume Click, the Adam Sandler film. OK, perhaps not that excessive. But with the ability to management your entire gadgets from one distant is a aid. Download a distant management app, corresponding to iRule, after which sync your cellphone to gadgets together with your Xbox One, Roku and Apple TV. If you may have sensible mild bulbs, you may sync your cellphone to these as properly. Follow these tips about tips on how to flip your system right into a common distant so that you by no means should marvel the place your TV distant is hiding once more.Turn your Android right into a Google Home.
    Chris Parker/CNET
    Turn your Android cellphone right into a Google HomeRepurposing your Android cellphone to be a Google Home sensible speaker is easy and requires no app downloads. Make certain your cellphone is up to date to the newest Android OS so you may have “OK, Google.” Next, you may have to discover a Bluetooth speaker to pair your cellphone with. Make certain each gadgets keep plugged in and on always. You’ll be prepared to offer Google instructions very quickly. The better part is you will not should spend $129 on a Google Home. Learn extra about what you are able to do with a Google Home right here.Your Android can double as a house safety cameraFeel safe by turning your outdated cellphone into a house safety digicam. Download a safety digicam app, like Alfred (additionally works with an iPhone), to get began. Check on your own home whilst you’re at work to ensure all is properly. Place the cellphone in the principle room of the home in a spot the place you may have the most effective view. When you are house, set it up exterior (hidden, in fact) to see who’s knocking in your door or to see any suspicious exercise. Maybe you may discover it is only a raccoon that is been leaving sweet wrappers in your yard and never your neighbor’s child.Turn your cellphone right into a child monitor.
    Alina Bradford/CNET
    Use your outdated cellphone as a child monitorInstead of working into your kid’s room each time you assume you hear crying or a wierd noise, examine to see in case your child is OK by turning your outdated cellphone right into a child monitor. You can set your outdated cellphone up within the room and entry it out of your present cellphone by putting in Skype on each gadgets. You may use a child monitor app like Dormi. We have not examined them on actual infants, however the buyer scores are wonderful. You’ll really feel higher realizing that you would be able to be in any room and nonetheless see your child.

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    8 methods to repurpose your outdated cellphone

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    Turn your Android right into a wi-fi mouseIt could be annoying when your wi-fi mouse dies on you with no warning. It helps to have a backup, and you’ll flip your cellphone right into a mouse very quickly. You’ll have to obtain an app, corresponding to Remote Mouse, so as to take action. Once you may have the app, join your cellphone and desktop to the identical Wi-Fi community and say bye-bye to that old-school mouse. Keep it in your laptop computer case for once you’re on the go and cease by a espresso store to get some work accomplished.Keep your outdated cellphone as a music playerFree up space for storing in your new cellphone by utilizing your outdated cellphone as a media participant. Since you may have a brand new cellphone, you may wipe all the info off your outdated cellphone (besides your music and music apps). You’ll have the ability to add as many songs as your outdated cellphone will enable with out worrying about how a lot storage you are utilizing. Hook it as much as your surround-sound speaker for those who’re having a celebration and let the enjoyable start.The good thing is you’ll go away it in a single place and will not have to fret about incoming calls and messages interrupting your tunes.Now that you’ve some cool new concepts in your cellphone, this is tips on how to forged and mirror an Android display to a TV, tips on how to disinfect your system with out damaging it and tips on how to use the hidden options on Android 12.

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