I have a moto g2 lying around for some years. I was wondering if there is anything I can use it for?
I don’t plan on inserting a SIM card on it and the battery capacity on it must have reduced quite a lot by now.
Can you suggest some ideas which can prevent it from becoming e-waste? (If it hasn’t already become e-waste)
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Absolutely, there are many ways you can repurpose an old Android device. Here are a few ideas:
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Digital Clock or Alarm Clock: Install a clock app that can display the time in large digits, and you’ve got yourself a new digital clock. You could even use it as an alarm clock.
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Media Controller: If you have a home theater system or a smart TV, you can use the old phone as a dedicated media controller.
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E-Book Reader: Install an app like Kindle or Google Play Books and turn your old phone into a dedicated e-book reader.
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Security Camera: Apps like Alfred can turn your phone into a security camera. You can place it in a strategic place in your home and watch the live feed from your primary device.
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Digital Photo Frame: Load it up with your favorite photos and use it as a digital photo frame.
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Dedicated Game Device: There are plenty of games that can run on older devices. You can turn your old phone into a dedicated gaming device.
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Fitness Tracker: Install an app that can count steps, measure distance, etc., and use it as a dedicated fitness tracker.
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Remote for Smart Home Devices: If you have smart home devices, you could use the old phone as a dedicated control device.
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Offline GPS: You can use it as an offline GPS for your car. Apps like Google Maps allow you to download maps for offline use.
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Learning Tool for Kids: If you have young children, you could load it up with educational apps and games and give it to them.
Just be aware that the device might not be as fast or responsive as when it was new, and you might have to deal with limited battery life. However, for many of these purposes (like a digital photo frame, e-book reader, or digital clock), you could leave the device plugged in.
I was gonna say nice ai generated response but then i noticed hour username.
I like the security cam idea.
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Here’s a few! :)
- Making it a dedicated E-reader
- Portable entertainment device (movies/TV etc)
- a pc stats monitor (screen for CPU temps etc)
- emulation device
- digital photo frame gallery
- if you also have a really old phone laying around (talking the ones before touchscreens with the number pad) they would make a great mp3 player
It’s generally recommended that you put a lighter weight OS onto the phone. Many are available depending on what you want to do and work much better on older devices than android (which updates tend to get heavy and demand more power which unfortunately slows old devices).
I’m planning to do this for a couple old devices and then repurpose them with other uses
Any particular lightweight OS recommendations? I’m thinking of doing something similar with an old tablet I have
I’m still looking myself, but Corvus OS is recommended for performance and gaming. There are a lot out there and depending on what you want to use it for some will be more suited. Here’s a link I found a while back that lists a few good ones :) https://techviral.net/best-custom-rom-for-rooted-android/
Any recommendations for using it as a PC stats monitor? That could be an interesting one for mounting near the PC!
I think the displays may be too small for use as a photo frame or e-reader though (love the Kobo for this).
A lot of people seem to use apps, one called ‘Remote System Monitor’ looks good, and then connect a charging cable to the pc to keep it charged.
Personally I’d love if there is a way to do this not involving phone apps, but instead reducing the old phones capabilities to just a screen and having the pc recognise and use it as one. That could lead to some interesting possibilities.
Welcome! Will keep this up since there are already some great responses below, but for the future I’d just flag rule 2 and that we ask questions be posted to !askandroid@lemdro.id. Thanks!
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The re-usability of a phone is almost nonexistent thanks to the battery, that is a fire hazard. You leave it plugged in as a surveillance camera? Your home burns.
If you can actually remove the battery and power it on without one. Just then is everything back on the table.
If you can’t? Recycle please.
I use old android as webcam with DroidCam.
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I use my old android as a dedicated lemmy reader while laying awake before sleeping/alarm clock that never leaves the bedside table.
If you want to find other examples, there was a subreddit for this specific purpose called androidafterlife. Not aware of a Lemmy equivalent
Get one of those telescoping type-C game controllers and turn it into a poor man’s Logitech G Cloud. Those controllers usually have a battery in them, to top up the weak battery in the old phone. Use it on Wifi for Xbox Streaming or Moonlight, or put a SIM card in it for Xbox Game Pass or Geforce Now on the go.
Smart home remote control?
It’ll make a good remote display of any kind too.
Do try to see what custom ROM you can load it on, I’m pretty sure you’ll need to run a fairly recent version of Android for it to be moderately useful.
Cold wallet for crypto.
If you’ve got a 3d printer, an old phone is often a great octoprint host. It’s got a built-in camera and everything.
