Buying a brand new Android telephone is an thrilling factor. Especially should you’re coming from a telephone that is two (or extra) years previous, there are tons of latest options to take a look at, elevated efficiency to relish, and sure a brand new model of Android to familiarize your self with.That’s all wonderful and dandy, however what are you alleged to do along with your now-former handset? You might promote it or commerce it in for some additional money, however relying on its age and situation, the amount of cash you’d get will not be well worth the trouble of going by way of all of that. There are shops and different institutions that can help you recycle your telephone, however it’s possible you’ll not reside close to one or be prepared to totally hand over your previous pal simply but.If you do not thoughts getting somewhat artistic, there are different methods to repurpose an Android gadget so that you could maintain getting use out of it with out additional including to our planet’s rising pile of e-waste. Heck, you possibly can even choose up a terrific low-cost Android telephone (opens in new tab) as a substitute of shopping for a devoted safety digicam if you find yourself having fun with how these apps work.A fast search on the Google Play Store will reveal a number of apps that can help you do that. I’ll be operating by way of the setup course of and my ideas on two of the most well-liked ones so you may get began for your self.Alfred Camera(Image credit score: Joe Maring / Android Central)First on the listing, we now have Alfred (opens in new tab). Alfred is among the hottest safety digicam apps by an extended shot, touting over 10 million downloads and a strong 4.8-star score (out of 5) on the Google Play Store.This is the app lots of people will doubtless default to when in search of a approach to flip their Android telephone right into a makeshift digicam, and in numerous methods, Alfred earns that reputation. This is an immensely highly effective app with dependable efficiency, however earlier than we are able to go any additional into it, we have to get it arrange.How to arrange Alfred cameraWith any safety digicam app that you simply obtain, you will want two telephones to finish the system — your previous telephone to behave because the digicam and your present/new telephone to function the viewfinder and management panel.That might sound somewhat intimidating, however Alfred guides you thru the setup course of fairly properly. Here’s a step-by-step information you’ll be able to comply with for each components.You can arrange the digicam or viewfinder in any order, however for Alfred, I made a decision to arrange the digicam portion first. Here’s what it seems to be like:Open the Alfred app in your telephone.Tap Skip within the upper-right nook.Tap Camera.Tap Get Started!Tap Sign in with Google.(Image credit score: Android Central)Choose the account you need.Tap Allow to substantiate account permissions.Tap Allow to permit digicam entry.Tap Allow to permit microphone entry.How to arrange your Alfred viewerWith your previous telephone arrange with Alfred because the precise safety digicam, it is time to get your present telephone configured to be the viewer. This course of is fairly related and goes as follows:Open the Alfred app in your telephone.Tap Skip within the upper-right nook.Tap Viewer.Tap Get began!Tap Sign in with Google (because you already signed in on the digicam, you do not have to re-allow account permissions).(Image credit score: Android Central)How to make use of the Alfred Camera app(Image credit score: Android Central)Getting Alfred arrange in your telephones is extraordinarily simple, however when you’re all good to go, what’s it like truly utilizing the service?Starting with the digicam interface, there are just a few settings to mess around with although a lot of the controls are executed out of your viewer telephone. You’ll discover three icons in the direction of the underside of the display, together with a shortcut to your settings, enabling/disabling movement detection, and turning on a power-saving mode.The settings can help you configure various things to your telephone’s digicam, together with which lens you wish to report from (rear digicam or entrance digicam), audio and steady focus toggles, and if you need movement detection to mechanically cease when the digicam is being moved. The total UI is good and clear, making it simple to search out what you want with out unnecessarily cluttering up the display.Your previous telephone getting used as a digicam mainly turns right into a set-and-forget-it gadget. You can change its placement in your house everytime you’d like, however in relation to checking in on what it sees or managing most settings, you will do this from the viewer gadget.From the Alfred residence display in your viewer, you will see your lively cameras listed (mine is moto-g-power) on the very high. Tapping on this takes you to a reside feed of that digicam, together with some useful distant controls.(Image credit score: Android Central)You can tap-and-hold on the microphone button as a type of walkie-talkie with the digicam, permitting you to talk to whoever is on the opposite finish. The video button subsequent to that begins recording if one thing is happening that you simply wish to seize and save.Tap the arrow icon subsequent to these controls, and you will find much more options at your disposal. In order from left-to-right, these embody:Switch the orientation of the digicam in your telephone.Switch between the again and rear digicam.Enable the flashlight in your digicam telephone.Turn on an evening imaginative and prescient mode for enhanced visibility at evening.Play a siren sound at most quantity from the digicam telephone.If you faucet the gear icon in the direction of the top-left of your viewer residence display (proper under the Alfred brand), you will be taken to the complete settings to your new safety digicam. Here you’ll be able to change the digicam’s title, add different folks that may handle/view it, configure movement detection settings, arrange a schedule for when movement detection goes into impact, and a bunch extra.(Image credit score: Android Central)Free customers have entry to numerous Alfred’s settings and options, however if you need the perfect expertise potential, there may be an elective Alfred Premium subscription you’ll be able to join. You will pay both $5.99/month or $29.99/12 months for the service, providing you with entry to:HD recordingCamera zoomRecord movement occasions as much as 120 secondsMotion detection scheduleCloud storage for recorded occasions as much as 30-days oldNo advertisementsI’d argue that is a good value contemplating every part that comes with Alfred Premium, and should you plan on severely utilizing the service, I’d advocate coughing up the money. The free model of Alfred is okay and provides you a great style of what to anticipate, however with out spending any cash, video high quality is laughably dangerous, and the commercials could be a bit a lot at occasions.Outside of that, Alfred has been extremely dependable throughout my testing, affords well timed notifications when movement is detected in your digicam and gives you with a easy and easy-to-use app for managing every part.I do want the free model wasn’t so restricted on the video high quality aspect of issues, however based mostly on my expertise, I’d fortunately pay $30 yearly to take full benefit of every part that is provided right here.
The gold customary of safety digicam appsWhen it involves apps that can help you flip an previous telephone right into a safety digicam, Alfred is among the finest within the enterprise. It has thousands and thousands of customers, an insane set of options, and a well-designed cellular app. If you wish to get essentially the most out of it, nevertheless, you will must pay.
Security Camera CZ(Image credit score: Joe Maring / Android Central)While Alfred would be the go-to for most individuals, I wished to see how the app compares to one thing that is somewhat lesser-known. Security Camera CZ (opens in new tab) is an alternative choice that I discovered, coming in with over 1,000,000 installs and a 4.2-star score.It does the identical common factor as Alfred, albeit with fewer restrictions and a extra inexpensive premium subscription.Just like Alfred, Security Camera CZ requires you to have two units for it to work — one that is the safety digicam and one other that is the viewer. The setup is generally the identical, however simply to ensure we’re all on the identical web page, this is find out how to get every part up and operating.How to arrange Security Camera CZJust like with Alfred, we’ll get began with Security Camera CZ by organising the telephone we use because the safety digicam. Let’s dive in!Open the Security Camera CZ app in your telephone.Tap Start.Tap Sign in with Google.Choose the account you wish to log in with.(Image credit score: Android Central)Tap Camera.Tap Allow to permit entry to your telephone’s digicam.Tap Allow to permit entry to your telephone’s location.Tap Allow to permit entry to your telephone’s microphone.Tap the toggle to permit CZ Camera to show over different apps.(Image credit score: Android Central)How to arrange your Security Camera CZ viewerNow that your safety digicam is able to go, it is time to end this equation by getting Security Camera CZ configured in your telephone that acts because the viewer. Once once more, the method is fairly easy.Open the Security Camera CZ app in your telephone.Tap Start.Tap Sign in with Google (your account ought to already be remembered)Tap Monitor.Tap Allow to permit entry to your telephone’s storage.Tap Allow to permit entry to your telephone’s microphone.(Image credit score: Android Central)How to make use of the Camera CZ appNow that you’ve Security Camera CZ arrange on each of your telephones, it is time to get acquainted with how every part works.Compared to Alfred, the person interface for the digicam portion of the app may be very primary. All you will see is a toggle for turning the digicam on/off, and should you faucet the Preview button, you’ll be able to see what the present view of the digicam seems to be like and get choices to vary the decision.And, that is it. You cannot change any further settings from the telephone that is appearing because the digicam, that means you will must deal with every part out of your viewer/monitor app. While that does make this aspect of Security Camera CZ extra restricted in comparison with Alfred, it is not that massive of a deal contemplating the character each of your telephones play on this setup.Moving over to the viewer/monitor telephone, that is the place Security Camera CZ shines. The residence display is sort of an identical to Alfred, displaying an inventory of any lively cameras that you’ve. Tap the video icon to observe a reside feed of the digicam, or faucet the gallery icon to see an inventory of detected motions out of your digicam.(Image credit score: Android Central)If you faucet on the gear icon to the fitting of these two buttons, you will be taken to all your digicam settings. There’s quite a bit to mess with right here, with a number of the highlights being:Camera resolutionZoomHD videoNight visionTorch/flashlightMotion detectionCamera nameSirenAs you’ll be able to see, numerous the identical options from Alfred are discovered right here as effectively. While Security Camera CZ does not have an possibility for under alerting you if it detects folks, it does can help you customise the movement detection sensitivity, set it up on a schedule, and even exclude sure areas of the video from triggering the detection alert.Security Camera CZ additionally has its personal paid subscription you’ll be able to join, which prices $6.49/12 months and means that you can maintain video historical past for as much as 30 days, helps video with none interruptions for 30 minutes, and removes in-app advertisements.This is fairly much like Alfred Premium, with the exceptions that Security Camera CZ is way more inexpensive and does not utterly cripple the video decision without cost customers.
So good, so freeIf you are delay by the price of Alfred, Security Camera CZ is completely price a glance. It has most of the identical options as Alfred, with its most important profit being the improved video high quality for customers of the free model. You will pay to take away advertisements and get prolonged video historical past, although.
Which one must you use?(Image credit score: Android Central)All-in-all, each Alfred and Security Camera CZ are strong functions that legitimately flip your previous Android telephone right into a safety digicam. The characteristic set can be fairly related throughout every service, making it somewhat tough to determine which one it is best to use.Alfred is the costlier of the bunch, and video high quality with the free model is fairly disappointing. However, when coping with one thing as delicate as safety cameras to your residence, I’ve to offer Alfred the higher hand right here. It boasts considerably extra customers, and the corporate has obtained a good quantity of media consideration through the years.Comparatively, Security Camera CZ is utilized by far fewer folks and being run by a developer out of the Czech Republic. There’s nothing inherently incorrect with that, however should you’d fairly depend on a extra publicly-facing firm to your safety wants, Alfred takes the lead right here (to not point out it has a reasonably lively discussion board with Alfred workers lively in it).I’ve been happy with the efficiency and performance of each apps, so should you’re on a decent price range and simply need one thing for primary monitoring of your own home, Security Camera CZ is a superb alternative. The app is not fairly as fairly, and it is lacking a few options in comparison with Alfred, however contemplating simply how good it really works with out spending a dime, it is darn spectacular.I’d advocate giving each apps a shot and seeing which one is the perfect match for you and your wants. There’s nothing to lose, and by making an attempt them for your self, you may get a greater really feel for the way they work in actual use.Either approach, you’ll be able to relaxation assured that you simply’re placing your previous Android telephones to good use and making your own home safer on the identical time.