We're all about recycling and donating, but what if we told you there's another way to give your old smartphone a new purpose? Buckle up for five game-changing ideas that transform your trusty device into a superhero sidekick, rather than trading it in.
1. Emergency Superphone: Did you know your old smartphone can be your lifeline in emergencies? Thanks to FCC regulations, phones are designed to dial 911 even without a service plan. Keep one tucked away in your car, disaster kit, or a strategic spot at home.
Learn more about emergency reporting from CNET and the FCC's wireless 911 guide.
2. Create a Safe Room: Transform your old phone into a secret ally in times of distress. Stash it in a discreet location, like a tampon box, in your safe room. Paired with a lightweight portable charger, you've got a power-packed safety haven. This ensures you can manage any situation calmly and swiftly.
3. DIY Security System:
Turn your retired device into a vigilant guardian. Install a free security app (see our recommendations below) and set up a mobile security camera wherever you need an extra set of eyes. CNET and Android Central have your back with step-by-step guides to get you started.
4. Silent Second Line: Give your old phone a new life as a secret agent with a dedicated second phone line. Using Google Voice and a Wi-Fi connection, you can make calls without a cellular plan. Get the lowdown on configuration tips to keep it exclusive to your second device.
5. Entertainment Hub Extraordinaire: Shield your personal conversations and files from curious eyes. Set up your old device on Wi-Fi and let the little ones enjoy games and movies without prying into your personal space.
PRO-TIP: Before deploying your old smartphone as a safety sidekick, ensure it's squeaky clean. Perform a factory reset to erase all personal data. Reinstall only the essentials, like medical info and trusted contacts, to keep your superhero gadget ready for action.
With these ingenious ideas, your old smartphone is no longer obsolete but a powerhouse ready to tackle any challenge. Stay innovative, stay secure, and let your tech be a Sugar & Spy-approved sidekick in your daily adventures!
Tech on, Sugar & Spy-style!
We agree that recycling old electronics or donating them to a great cause makes a lot of sense!
That said, there are still some very smart reasons why you might want to keep an old smartphone around, and here are five powerful things that you can do with it:
1. Use it to dial 911 (or similar service) without an activated phone connection
The Federal Communications Commission in the US (and similar agencies abroad), have instated laws that require phone manufacturers to configure devices that are sold in their country to dial emergency services, such as 911, even if the phone is not connected to service.
Some places that may be helpful to keep an emergency phone include your car, a disaster preparedness bag, or even a part of your home where there otherwise aren't other lifelines available.
Here's some information you may find useful.
2. Create a Safe Room
Should you ever experience domestic abuse or find yourself in physical danger while in your own home, quickly lock yourself into the bathroom knowing that you’ve hidden a phone inside of a tampon box (or another place!) along with a lightweight portable charger so that you can power up your device. You'll be able to manage things safely and calmly from there, without wasting any time.
3. Transform Your Old Phone Into a DIY Security System
Turn any device into a mobile security camera that you can place anywhere you need an extra pair of eyes! Simply install a free app (recommendations linked below) onto your old phone, and use your current device or computer to view the live footage. You can even cast it onto your television to create a closed circuit TV!
Here are instructions from 2 trusted sources on how to set it up!
Android Central: How to turn an old Android into a security camera
4. Keep a Secret 2nd Phone Line
As long as you have a wifi connection available, you can use a disconnected device to make phone calls using Google Voice. Simply sign up for a free GV phone number using your Google account, and set it up on your old phone. Here are some tips for configuration so that it rings only on your second device.
5. Use as a Dedicated Media Device
Handing off your mobile phone to children who ask to watch a video can also give them access to your personal conversations and private files if left unattended. To stop prying eyes from looking through your phone, connect an old device to wifi and let them play games and watch movies there.
PRO-TIP
When keeping your extra phone as a secondary safety device, best practices include performing a factory reset on the device first to erase your personal information, photographs, emails threads and text messages so if anybody find your smartphone, sensitive files and data cannot be extracted. Re-install only the applications and files that you will need, such as medical insurance, numbers of trusted contacts, etc.
ความคิดเห็น