E-waste is a huge and growing problem: Loud Global Partnership for E-Waste StatisticsWe now produce 21% more electronic waste worldwide than eight years ago.
That’s why it’s still a good idea to give your old devices a new use. You’ll be surprised at how many ways you can reuse old hardware, even if it’s several years old and has become too slow to properly serve its original purpose.
Here are some of our favorite ideas that might inspire you.
Security Camera
Turn your old phone or tablet into a security camera
You’ll probably need a tripod or mount to do this. You’ll also need software like Manything, Presence: Video Security (Android), or WardenCam Video Surveillance, as well as apps for iOS, Android, and others. All you have to do is install the relevant app and follow the instructions.
Don’t forget that many phones and tablets are now waterproof, meaning they can even be used outdoors, although your mobile device of choice must remain connected to a power source at all times. And the battery ensures that it works even in the event of a power outage.
This constant video stream lets you access help from another phone, no matter where you are in the world.
Wardencam360.com
Turn an old phone or tablet into a media remote
It’s easy to stream multimedia content wirelessly with new hardware like Apple AirPlay, Google’s Chromecast, or the apps that Sonos provides with its speakers, and it’s easy with your old phone or laptop. Tablet as a remote control or dedicated multimedia platform.
Place an old iPad next to your Apple TV to stream shows and movies, or an old Android tablet next to your Chromecast to stream Spotify or YouTube playlists.
This takes the strain off your phone, reduces battery usage, and also means everyone in the family can pick up the device and start streaming without having to worry about logins or lock screens.
A camera can be used as a webcam ————- Canon
Use an old digital camera as a webcam
If you’ve just replaced your expensive DSLR with a new model, you’ll probably want to sell the old one to cover some of the costs. However, if you need to keep it for some reason, you can turn it into a great webcam.
Big benefits: Your video calls will be much better quality than with your laptop’s built-in webcam, and the camera can be positioned at any angle.
Camera manufacturers have rushed to implement software to enable this webcam feature. Here is a short list of manufacturers that offer Mac or PC compatible software for their cameras. Make sure your device appears in the list.
Panasonic: Lumix Tether (English)
Nikon: Webcam Utility
Canon: EOS web camera utility
Sony: Imaging Edge Webcam
GoPro: webcam
Turn your old phone or tablet into an e-reader
If you have an old phone or tablet lying around, you don’t need to buy an e-reader, you can just use your existing device. Both the Kindle app (Android, iOS) and the Kobo app (Android, iOS) can be used to purchase and read e-books and are faster than the built-in software of equivalent readers.
Both apps also support audiobooks, so you can easily switch between text and audio formats if necessary. If you purchase a physical Kindle or Kobo reader, you can still sync your readings between that reader and the phone or tablet you reused.
The bright screens of phones and tablets are harder on the eyes than the electronic ink of an e-reader, but there are ways to fix the problem. The basic version of Android has a feature called Dark Mode (Settings > Screen > Dark Mode) and iOS has a feature called Dark Mode (Settings > Display & Brightness). In both cases, use the night shift function to reduce the amount of blue light.
A tablet as a digital picture frame
Turn an old tablet into a digital photo frame
How many times have you taken a look at the multitude of photos you’ve collected on your phone over the years? For most of us, it probably doesn’t happen very often. For this reason, you may want to turn an unused tablet somewhere in your home or office into a special picture frame. And regardless of battery status, you can connect the device at any time to view continuous scrolling photos.
You will also need special software for this task. Fotoo is one of the best options for Android tablets. If you are using an old iPad, you can opt for LiveFrame in the Mac App Store app. There are other ways to view your photos and keep your tablet on all the time.
Tablet holder for the kitchen
To present your recipes in the kitchen
iPad and cooking go hand in hand, not only when searching and viewing recipes, but also when watching instructional videos over a Wi-Fi connection.
There are all kinds of tablet holders that are suitable for use in the kitchen. Not to mention the numerous recipe apps available for your device. Simply type “Cooking Recipes” in the App Store (iPhone and iPad apps tab) or Google Play Store for Android devices.
Go through your drawers and dust them. There are undoubtedly old devices that deserve a second life.