Ask Slashdot: Best Use For an Old Smartphone?

zaba writes "The original iPhone was a dream come true for me. Phone, camera, mp3 player and data all in one device. It had more cpu and memory than my first computer! Several generations of smartphones later, my wife and I have some random smartphones (some iPhone, some Android) lying around. Between privacy concerns, bad batteries, etc. these phones are not worthy of donation. So, I ask you, Slashdot readers, have you done anything fun with an old smartphone? Any suggestions/ideas?"

Comments

Re:Replace the batteries

[jimmydevice]

I suspect AC throws away his TV when the remote batteries die.

Re:Donate it

[Macrat]

to underpriviled inner city orphans in a homeless shelter.

No one underprivileged would be able to afford the AT&T iPhone plan.

Re:Burn them

[enickel]

I believe this is what you're looking for:

http://slashdot.org/story/12/08/20/0216225/finland-hosts-mobile-phone-throwing-championships

Re:Donate To Elderly

[93 Escort Wagon]

This is Slashdot. Load malware of some sort onto it, then leave it on the bus.

Re:Throw them ... for distance and glory!

[PolygamousRanchKid]

I throw them at the kids on my lawn. But the lil' bastards just keep coming back for more, so I keep the .410 with rock salt loads handy.

The cell phones are rich in rare Chinese vitamins and minerals, and eventually get buried beneath all the beer cans, and other trash. So I am effectively building a rare earth heavy metal mineral mine for my great-great-great-grandchildren.

I am also hoping that some of the kids might port Openwrt to the phones that they pick up.

Sometimes Da Ranch gets visitors from foreign countries, who ask if they can borrow a phone that works with the bands in the area. I just tell them pick one up of their liking off the front lawn.