Most of us have an old phone lying in a drawer somewhere. With most companies upgrading phones every two to three years, we all have to do something with our old phones. Instead of letting that phone collect dust, what if you could do something great with it instead? Next time you think about tossing that phone in the garbage, try one of these innovative ideas. Don’t throw away your old phone! Do something with it! You might be surprised at the difference you can make with an old phone.
Cure Alzheimer’s Disease
If you have a smart phone taking up space, use it to help scientists at Stanford University study protein folding. With the information they gain, these innovative researchers hope to find a cure for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and several types of cancers. Just download this app and your phone will begin a protein folding simulation. Protein folding plays an important role in these deadly diseases, but the computing power required to simulate it is too great even for a single supercomputer. By recruiting the power of thousands of old smart phones and computers, the researchers are effectively creating the world’s largest supercomputer. Be a part of the cure just by running the software on your old phone. You’ll join more than 100,000 other devices. Each phone is one more step toward a cure.
Fix Your Car
Even an old smart phone has the technology to run diagnostic tests on your car, check error codes, and more. But no one wants to get their regular phone covered in grease. Install the Car Diagnostics Pro app on your old phone and connect it to your car with a wireless cable through your car’s Data Link Connector. If you’re not sure where to find that, check your owner’s manual. Once you know what’s wrong with your car, you can use the information to make an informed decision about whether to fix it yourself or take it to a mechanic. There are thousands of instructional videos online that will walk you through the process of many basic car fixes, so this one function could end up saving your thousands of dollars on car repairs and labor!
Save the Rainforest
According to Rainforest Connection, destroying tropical rainforests is a leading cause of climate change and mass extinction, and illegal activity is usually the cause. Fortunately, the cheapest, easiest way to fix it is to turn your old smart phone into a forest guardian. Using old phones to alert officials to illegal logging operations has already proven successful in Sumatra, and this company is ready to expand its protective operation in Indonesia, Africa, and the Amazon. Donate your phone, and this company will use it to monitor and protect the rainforest in one of these areas. To top it all off, your phone won’t take up space in your home anymore!
Get a Free Video Baby Monitor
We’ve come a long way from the audio-only baby monitors of the past. With apps like this one, you can take baby monitoring to the next level for maximum peace of mind. Use your old phone as the child device, and it will stream audio and video to your current phone. Need a nap for yourself? You can connect that old phone to multiple parent phones, so you can pass on the parenting duties to someone else while you get some much-needed rest. The app does everything that a commercial baby monitor would do, but keeps it all connected to your phone. And don’t worry, if you’re on the phone, the app will alert you if the baby is crying with a series of tones that don’t interrupt your phone call.
Start a New Hobby
With this inexpensive controller app, you can take photography to the next level. Control auto and manual focus, shutter speed, filters and more with this app. It’s especially great if you need a tripod and it’s essential that the camera doesn’t move. Take the step from amateur to professional photographer with this camera controller.
Protect Your Home
Set up your old phone in your house and install a home security app like this one to create your own security system. Protect your loved ones and keep your home secure with an old phone. The basic version of the app is free, but you can upgrade for 24-hour surveillance and cloud storage. It’s the perfect thing for making sure your home is safe whether you’re away on a trip or just out for a date night. Never worry about the safety of your home again and save thousands on a commercial security system with an old phone.
Make a Virtual Reality Headset
With this $5 kit, you can make your own virtual reality headset. It works with any old smart phone, and the unique lenses work with dozens of apps for an incredible virtual reality experience. Try it for yourself with your old smart phone! Stay on top of the latest technology with this amazing kit and your used phone.
With so many great uses for your old phone, there’s no reason to leave it stuffed in a drawer. And don’t toss it in the garbage, either! If nothing on this list appeals to you, donate it to charity. Contact us to learn more about great ways to use old phones, or to repair a broken phone before you buy a new one. Our work always comes with a 1-year warranty and incredible customer service. Let us help you with your phone today!
