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Have a smartphone that you don't use anymore and don't know what to do with it? Check out 13 tips to give a upcycle on your device!

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E-waste is serious business and one of its main motivators is the disposal of "obsolete" products. The cell phone, even the smartphone, is perhaps the main "victim" of the so called programmed obsolescence. After a few months it starts to slow down, crashes and it is not possible to install recent versions of some applications. Even so, the item might have a lot of wood to burn. Here are some tips to reuse smartphones and give it a new utility, let's say, more focused on it:

Alarm clock

Want a clock on the nightstand beside your bed, but don't want to compromise your cell phone battery? Use your old device and turn it into a watch. There are dozens of apps of watches in app stores for smartphones; it's just a matter of choosing the ones that best meet your needs. There are apps that show live scenes, others that play relaxing sounds for the user to hear when going to sleep, and other simpler ones that have a simple and dark interface for those who just want to check the time when they wake up in the middle of the night.

Remote Control

Nowadays there are few things that are not digitally connected. So why not make your old cell phone a universal remote? Some smart televisions provide apps to turn your cell phone into a remote control. Brazilian cable TV operators like Sky already have an app (available for Android and iOS). There are also many other alternatives in your app stores. smartphone.

surveillance system

Security never hurts, but it can end up being heavy on your pocket. And why not use your old cell phone to watch over your house like the good buddy he is? There are applications such as the presence, which allow the user to pair their old cell phone with the new one and have a live surveillance and motion detection system, as well as content recording that sends you notifications in case something strange happens. Just put your cell phone in the room to be watched and start the app. If you're committed to using this type of security system, it's a good idea to buy a 360-degree base to get a larger surveillance area.

Cookbook

Sometimes there's a hunger or that desire to eat tasty things. However, not all of us are gifted with culinary skills or knowledge. That's why it can be very convenient to have a device full of recipe apps available (or to write down the recipe for that delicious food that your mother always makes). There are different types of cookbook apps for different tastes. For those who enjoy Brazilian cuisine, vegetarian, or even for those who can no longer stand to eat... There is app for everything!

Voice recorder

There are different professions that make it necessary to have a tape recorder in hand, such as journalism, for example. So if you're getting into the business and need a tape recorder, fear not, your pocket will be safe. Many devices come with factory direct voice recorders, but if you want there are many other application options in the app stores.

document scanner

Your desk is crammed with work, your deadline is approaching, you haven't slept well in days, and the copier is across the room (or the building!)... But you really need to scan this document. The solution lies in applications like Genius Scan or Doc Scan, which transform your smartphone on a handheld scanner, in addition to saving files in JPEG or PDF.

baby monitor

Having children is already quite an expensive adventure, but there is no price for the safety of your little ones. However, having a discount is no problem, isn't it? Baby monitors range from R$80 (audio only, no video) and up to a thousand reais (with audio and video assistance), but it would be much cheaper, and better for the environment, to use your old one smartphone to keep an eye on your puppy.

The application Cloud Baby Monitor, for example, allows not only the audiovisual monitoring of your baby, but also the user to speak or send lullabies to the baby.

Deceives thief, GPS and Tracker

There are many uses that a smartphone can have in a car. In case of robbery, give your old cell phone to the thief, so you don't lose your new one and get rid of an obsolete one.

In case the thief wasn't satisfied with just taking his cell phone and decided to take the whole car, it's handy to have a tracker app, which can tell you the location of the device in real time - it also works to keep an eye on whether your loved ones arrived in certain place in safety.

Or if you have trouble reading maps or find yourself in strange places, turn your cell phone into a GPS. Applications like Waze warn about the incidence of traffic, renovations, accidents or radars. There are countless possibilities!

entertainment center

Even after an old man, your smartphone can still entertain you. Install games, watch movies and listen to music on your old device and free up space and battery on your new device, all in the palm of your hand. connect it via bluetooth or an auxiliary cable and access everything on your TV, radio or computer.

external hard drive

It's not an entertainment center, but for those more serious (or with a tendency to lose pen drives), turning your old device into an external hard drive is a good solution.

Microscope

Recent inventions such as the MicrobeScope and Catalyst Frame, transform your smartphone in a handheld microscope. Ideal for science buffs and field researchers, the device is small and practical. A biology class at Missouri University of Science and Technology in the US transformed iPhones on microscopes capable of magnifying the image up to 175 times with just ten dollars worth of tools. It is also possible to learn how to make a homemade version of a microscope.

Photo Frame

If you have space on your desk and lots of photos you'd like to display, use your device as a digital photo frame. There are apps that put your photos, or your own photos app on a loop for you to admire.

Encyclopedia

How about having all the knowledge recorded by humanity in your hands? Use your old smartphone to install the world's largest shared encyclopedia and enjoy information whenever you need it.