Articles and Lifehacks
Many do not even suspect that you can make a unique puzzle out of an old phone in 5 minutes. How else can you use an old mobile phone?
Cell phones in modern society are not only a means of communication, but also an indicator of the status and image of their owner. But sooner or later the model becomes obsolete. Replaced by a new machine. But where to put the old one?
Ideas for using obsolete devices
A few ideas for a used "cellular":- Sale in the store. Many hardware stores are happy to take used phones for sale. Of course, it will not work to bail out a large amount of money, but it will be enough for a new case.
- Give your phone to someone who needs it. Give to a younger brother, grandmother or mother. The older generation is not chasing new products, so the old phone model may suit them just fine.
- Use a cell phone as a home or second number. Just buy another sim card.
- Make a puzzle. Just disassemble the phone for parts and try to reassemble. This activity will appeal to students and adults.
- You can try to collect telephones. For example, ten-year-old Nokia models are now being bought for good money.
Perhaps someday the phone will make a profit.
- Listening device (bug) or webcam. Or a simple surveillance camera. By inserting enough memory into the phone, you can install it in the apartment and view the video.
- Barcode Scanner.
- Old chips make a fashionable necklace.
- Soap dish. From old mobile clamshells you get a stylish and original accessory for the bathroom.
Unusual crafts
- What to do with a used device for a child? Racing car. The display of the phone glows very interestingly. If you glue a chassis with wheels to the cover of the phone, then a good racing car with music and lighting will come out.
- You can also take out the SIM card and give the phone to the child to study. Young geniuses love bright and ringing toys from birth.
- Some craftsmen make excellent cigarette cases from used phones.
"Everything is temporary. Love, art, planet Earth, you, me. Especially me." (99 Franks)
Nothing in this world lasts forever, and the life of gadgets is sometimes very fleeting. But if you love retro style, are frugal and resourceful by nature, then you can give them a second chance by converting them into something useful and looking retro.
5. Turning an old mouse into a wireless one
Older mice aren't as comfortable and ergonomic as newer models, but they feel as comfortable as an old shirt that's so old that you sneak it around the house on the weekends while no one sees, simply because it's been with you for a long time and you you are used to it :) If you are still using an old wired mouse, or have kept it as an old battle friend, then now is the time to convert it to a wireless Bluetooth mouse, simply by replacing the insides of the old mouse with the insides of the new one.
Let's say right away that this is a decision dictated solely by a sense of nostalgia, rather than practical considerations. If an old mouse is too uncomfortable for weekly use, then you can make a camera shutter out of it.
4. Turning an analog TV into an information terminal
Most likely, you have already updated your entire fleet of TVs for a long time, and the old people, CRT monitors, are gathering dust at best, somewhere in the country. You can give an old TV a new lease of life by turning it into a YBOX (homemade information screen that shows, for example, the weather).
An alternative use is a retro photo frame, which can be placed in the living room. To turn a TV into a photo frame, you need to remove the insides of the TV and replace them with the old sockets and power cord from the lamp, screw in a low power CFL lamp, insert a printed image on the screen, close it and turn on the “TV”.
Now you have a fun retro frame.
If you don't want to waste electricity, make their old monitor a trash can.
3. We make an aquarium out of an old TV or computer
A project from the "incredible but true" series marked "dangerous". Do at your own risk. If you have an old TV, computer, or other junk with lots of space inside, you can turn it into an aquarium.
If you want to use Floppy disks for their intended purpose, then you can put USB in them.
1. Making a VoIP phone out of a rotary phone
If you find it hard to say goodbye to your old rotary phone, you can turn it into a fun PC headset to use with Google Voice, Skype, or any other VoIP solution.
If you have a few used cordless phones (not quite old ones), then you can make good walkie-talkie radios out of them.
I hope this collection of ideas for transforming old gadgets has inspired you. By clicking on the links you will see visual guides on how to do this or that thing in English. All guides are provided with a good visualization of each of the conversion steps.
Today you will learn how to make a homemade gsm alarm from a cell phone. Such a security system can guard your cottage, garage or car.
This article has been planned for a long time, it is a "mobile GSM add-on" to . After reading the article to the end, you will learn how to make a cellular alarm out of any existing alarm system, but more on that later ..
This add-on implements the notification function on a cell phone and allows the owner to control the situation about the "integrity" of the protected object anywhere in the world using mobile communications. Such an alarm system is the cheapest option and requires only an old cell phone, a battery + a few parts, solder and free time from the investment.
Materials and tools required for the manufacture of GSM alarms:
- Nokia 1100 cell phone (or any other mobile phone with a quick call function that !Attention! implemented by a single button pressed and held in this position).
- headset (earphone with microphone) is used for audio control of the room
- soldering iron
- solder
- the wire
- reed switch (or push-button sensor for opening the door)
- 12 Volt acid-gel battery (the larger the capacity, the longer the "autonomy" in case of a 220V power outage)
- battery charger
The principle of operation of homemade mobile signaling based on cellular
Ways to connect a cell phone to the alarm:
The methods described above to establish the interaction of a security alarm and a cell phone are valid for any alarm. Thus, you can “attach” the GSM notification to any alarm you have (for example, to a regular car alarm). All that is required of her is to close the relay contacts, or apply 12 volts during the “operation” (for example, you can take 12 volts from the terminals of the car siren only then you will need to set up the “quiet mode” so that when arming and disarming the alarm does not “ quacked "based on what option you have - choose the appropriate scheme.
How to organize uninterruptible power supply of GSM alarm.
We figured out how the alarm system interacts with a mobile phone, it remains to solve one more question - to provide power to the phone in an uninterrupted mode 24 * 7, several options are possible here:
In the future, I plan to write a series of articles on the topic of security systems: how to make a security complex from a video recorder with internet notification and an article about the types of sensors for which will help make the protection of your apartments, garages, summer cottages more complete and reliable.
I wish you success in creating an alarm, as well as the safety of your property!
It happens that you get a new smartphone before the old one is broken. The reasons can be different - technomania, an increase in work, “I have long wanted a good camera”, “dad, it's my birthday” ... The question is different: where to put the old one? Submit for recycling? Sell? Gift to someone?
Let's say right away that in any case you should not throw away the phone: take pity on the environment, the insides of the mobile phone and the plastic for it. We bring you a list of tech, fun and weird ideas on how to put your old smartphone to good use.
game console
It's easy to connect your Android phone to your TV using the Chromecast streaming service or a USB to HDMI cable. Download an emulator with a selection of your favorite classic console games and enjoy! Apps exist for everything from Super Nitendo to Sega Genesis. As a joystick, any one that works via Bluetooth, for example, from PS3, is suitable.
For training
You can keep using your old smartphone at the gym or jogging. Remove all unnecessary applications, or rather, roll back to the factory settings and install the ones you need again. Pull out the SIM card and in no case log in through Facebook or Vkontakte - and no one will distract you. Download good workout programs and audio player, download your favorite music. And go for a run.
Desktop computer
Why not? Modern smartphones that are sold in Ukraine, for example, on y.ua, are significantly more productive than computers ten or fifteen years ago. In fact, the filling is not particularly different. You can install an operating system from the Linux family on your smartphone, connect a monitor, keyboard and mouse (via Bluetooth or a USB hub), and your computer is ready. Give it to your grandmother, give it to a child to be torn to pieces, or simply put it as a backup - it's up to you.
Navigator
And here's a way to save money: you don't have to buy a GPS navigator if you have an old smartphone. Just install a suitable application or several - MAPS.ME for offline maps, Yandex.Maps - for cases when there is Internet ... At the same time, such a navigator can function as a car radio.
The virtual reality
Have you heard of Google Cardboard? These are virtual reality glasses that are designed to be used with a smartphone as a screen and cost only $20. Well, or half an hour of fuss with an unnecessary cardboard box. Of course, most virtual reality applications are still in their infancy. But it's still very interesting. And you will definitely outrun most of your friends in the "technology race"!
A small note: for applications to work correctly, you need a good gyroscope. Or at least some kind of gyroscope. Before you slaughter your favorite laptop box, make sure your old phone has one.
Alarm
Seriously, who else uses an analog clock these days? And for smartphones, there are an almost endless number of applications with a variety of clocks and alarms. Just add a cheap docking station.
WIFI repeater
Is the signal from the router in the room not reaching the kitchen? Use your old phone as a repeater. You will need to install a special application, for example, fqrouter2 and root rights.
CCTV
A smartphone is not only a SIM card slot, but also a camera! How about a custom home security system? You will need WIFI, some patience and an appropriate application. By the way, the second application is equipped with a motion detector and can, upon noticing a suspicious movement, send you photos by email.
Digital photo frame
To turn your smartphone into a self-scrolling photo album, install an app such as Dayframe and place it anywhere you like. Does not work well on smartphones with small screens. We strongly do not recommend nailing such a photo frame with nails.
Brain for a robot
The fact that every smartphone is a computer in the soul, we have already decided. And the "brain" of the robot is also a computer! So if you were a fan of Asimov as a child, or you are haunted by the laurels of crazy inventors from YouTube, you have great scope for experimentation. By the way, ready-made sets are also sold, but it's not so interesting!
baby monitor
By the way, with the help of an old smartphone, you can watch not only the house during your absence, but also a small child. There are, again, a lot of baby monitor programs. Baby Monitor, for example, can broadcast video and audio, and contains instructions for using the baby. The only problem is that unlike regular baby monitors, the baby monitor is not shockproof and does not tolerate chewing on it, so secure the phone so that the child does not reach it.
Just in case
Get some kind of SIM card with a “calls only” tariff, put fifty hryvnias in it and put the phone, along with a spare battery, in the glove compartment and forget about it. Recharge the battery periodically. A great backup tool in case something went wrong or gas ran out at the same time as the money on the main phone.
Donate to Charities
In any city there are organizations that collect clothes and other useful things for children from orphanages. Smartphones in Ukraine fall into the category of "useful things" quite well.
