Android repurposing: 5 awesome ideas

Posted on Wednesday August 15, 2018

It's a fact of life that electronic devices don't stay on top of the market for very long. That nice new Android tablet with all the latest apps and games will soon be replaced with a newer version, and you have the decision to upgrade or be left with a useless piece of metal and plastic. Fortunately, there are five ways to repurpose that old Android tablet into something useful.

With new technological devices released almost on a daily basis, your new Android tablet can become obsolete before you've even gotten any productive use out of it. But instead of tossing it into the drawer with your other gadgets, you should recycle it into something you can use long into the future.

It doesn't take long for your stylish new electronic device to become just another outdated model in the waste pile. Your once-fresh Android tablet might have done its due a long time ago, but there's no need to discard it. There are many things you can do to repurpose your old Android tablet and make it fresh again. Read on to find five popular new uses for your old Android tablet!

Security camera

As long as your Android has a workable battery and screen, you can turn it into a webcam security system. Simply download a security app like Salient Eye (easily found on Google Play) or AtHome Video Streamer, set it up, and place it strategically. It can even be rigged to turn on as it senses movement.

Digital camera photo frame

Don't spend $30 on a digital picture frame when you can use an old Android tablet. Again you will have to visit Google Play, search for a program similar to Photo Slides, plug the Android into a wall socket, and you have pictures you can scroll through and display on your mantel.

Portable reference library

You have probably used your Android for book storage already, so why not turn it into a functional library? Visit Amazon Kindle or Google Play Books and download your choice of reference books and eBooks. Kwix, the offline version of Wikipedia, can provide you with encyclopedia-like entries without having to go online.

Radio or wireless-only device

You can download Pandora or iHeartRadio, and use your Android to play your favorite music without interfering with other open computer programs and without using valuable memory.

Universal remote

It is so easy to lose the remote in the folds of the couch or slots in a magazine rack. By contrast, it's not so easy to lose an Android tablet. By installing a universal remote app like Peel Smart Remote, AnyMote, or Irdroid, you can use your old Android as a universal remote for televisions and other electronic systems in the office.

There is no reason to throw your old Android tablet into a drawer when you upgrade because there are many apps that can help you repurpose it. For more information on how to recycle your old tech devices, give us a call. We'll be glad to help you save money and find a new use for your old tablet.