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Ask Slashdot: Best Use For an Old Smartphone?

Posted by samzenpus on from the what's-old-is-new dept.

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?"

11 of 301 comments (clear)

  1. Mini-me by macemoneta · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Plug it in and use VNC to a separate session to make it a mini-head for monitoring things like email, tweets, system sensors, etc. For example, what I did with my tablet.

    --

    Can You Say Linux? I Knew That You Could.

  2. Use it as a server by Nerdfest · · Score: 5, Interesting

    For Android phones, use it as a Web/FTP/DNLA/DNS/Email/Proxy server.

    1. Re:Use it as a server by Gaygirlie · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I have an old N900 lying around that I occasionally use as a small BitTorrent-server, SSH-server, for Wifi-penetration testing on-the-go and so on. Extremely handy for that.

  3. wireless video intercom/cctv by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With a couple of phones that have user-facing cameras, you could set up a sweet touchscreen video intercom at your frontdoor. If you're worried about them being thieved, you could conceal all but the camera lense and make it a one-way experience only.

    For that matter you could use them as wireless CCTV security and potentially check in on them from home, the office, while on holiday.

  4. Remote Controls by Falc0n · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I use old phones over wifi to control my XBMC media boxes. When I build my new house in a few years, I'll probably incorporate them into home automation since I'll have around 10 lying around. Most phones in airplane mode with wifi will last at least a week, and it lets me have chargers around the house to keep them (or my current phone) plugged in most of the time.

  5. IP Video Camera by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Plug the phone into a wall outlet and install one of the numerous free Android apps that turns the phone into a wi-fi IP video camera. Mount it on your front porch and see who stops by when you're not home. Integrate the camera into an external Zoneminder server if you want motion detection, alarms, and recording.

    1. Re:IP Video Camera by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Believe it or not, some people do believe in anonymity not just as a method to avoid shame when posting dubious comments ;)

  6. Steam punk it by foniksonik · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Build a cool ass steam punk enclosure for it. Make it a table top phone with a handset using a mic and headphones (hide them inside the ear and mouth piece). Keep the display but root it and get some brass typeset graphics for the number keys, etc.

    If it can do Skype or video chat try that too.

    Make the enclosure big and brass with lots of adjustable levers for positioning it (3 arms would do).

    OR

    Make a Jukebox out of it and enclose it in something with cool speakers.

    Maybe even both.

    --
    A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
  7. I would go with... by arsemonkey · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Ebay it and buy a bottle of wine. Then drink the wine with a friend....

  8. Throw it away by Mostly+a+lurker · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Perhaps, the most fun use of an old smart phone is the mobile phone throwing contest

  9. Re:I wonder what a beowulf cluster of these would by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Something like the MIT junkyard jumbotron then?
    http://jumbotron.media.mit.edu/