Clever uses for your old phone: Security camera, alarm clock, emergency calling

February 28, 2021

Most of us have a drawer full of old gadgets lying around. Letting them pile up and collect dust isn’t just a waste of money but also a missed opportunity. You’d be surprised by how many useful things your old phone is capable of. In this Komando DIY, we’ve got four things you can do with your old smartphones after you upgrade.

Tags: Komando, money, old gadgets, old phone, security camera, upgrade

10 surprising smart home devices you didn't know about

For a long time, smart homes were more trendy than commonplace. Now, technology is taking over the home, making our lives easier than ever before.

You probably know about smart switches, lights and music players. Actually, there are a ton of other devices you may not have imagined could be digitized. For example, smart forks and frying pans can make your dinner routine a breeze.

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Uh oh, Roomba vacuums 'drunk' after firmware update

Virtual assistants and autonomous devices make our daily chores around the house a lot easier. While they can’t put the kids to bed yet, having a semi-autonomous robot to vacuum the living room is a good start.

If you’ve never owned a robot vacuum, you’re missing out. These amazing machines take all the effort out of keeping your floors clean, and you might be surprised at just how great they work. As amazing as they are, glitches can arise. Tap or click here to see how one model could easily short circuit.

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God Mode:' Windows 10 trick shows all your settings in one place

Setting things up in Windows 10 can be tricky. Beyond readily available features, not everyone will think to tinker with other settings. While it is a good idea not to change settings you are not familiar with, there is an easy way to have Windows perform to your liking. Tap or click here to get rid of the junk in your Windows 10 Start menu.

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PSA: Flash is dead. Don't fall for this phony alert

Adobe has officially ended support for Flash. It came as no surprise, really, as several security issues have plagued Flash over the years. Tap or click here to see how cybercriminals recently hid malware in a spoofed Flash update.

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How to make sure Big Tech really isn't listening

Our privacy is decreasing as we become more reliant on our devices. We enjoy the convenience of voice recognition and commands, but these features expose us in ways we might not be aware of.

Whether we consented to it or not, our smartphones, speakers and home devices are always listening. In most cases, they need just a “wake word” to activate. Tap or click here to find out if your iPhone or Android phones are listening.

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Mac pro tip: Super easy way to scan in documents and photos

Think about the last time you had to upload a picture of your license or an insurance card to a form or website. It’s a pain.

First, you pull out your phone and take a photo. You have to sync it to your cloud storage of choice or email it to yourself and then download it to your computer. If you have several cards or documents to take care of, you’ve just wasted a ton of time.

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5 of the best hand sanitizer deals on Amazon

In the fight against coronavirus, it’s important to use high-quality hand sanitizers. A good product kills germs and keeps you and your loved ones safe.

Hand sanitizers can help save you from wasting days coughing and sneezing on your sickbed. That means you shouldn’t cut corners or try to make your own. Tap or click to see the dangers of DIY hand sanitizers.

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Spot the fakes: Were these storm photos taken in Texas?

Snowstorms are assaulting the central and southern states. They’re zapping out power left and right. When Winter Storm Uri began plummeting the temperatures on Feb. 14., it doomed millions of Americans to shiver in their homes.

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Don't fall for this COVID-19 vaccine misinformation

COVID-19 might be slowing down, but one thing that is not are scammers using the global pandemic to rip people off. Before a vaccine was being administered, fraudsters used the opportunity to make some fast money by promising accelerated access.

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Streaming comparison: These services give you the most bang for your buck

Over the years, streaming services have gone from a bit of a luxury to being nearly essential in every household. With broadband more readily available, switching to streaming is easier than ever.

Streaming providers know the competition is fierce, so most will do anything in their power to have you on their service. Netflix recently stopped giving new subscribers a free trial, but plenty of other services still do. Tap or click here to check out streaming services that offer free trials.

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