Are you tired of your old smartphone collecting dust? You can breathe new life into it without rooting it. Here are five unique projects to get started:
1. **Pi-hole**: Turn your old phone into a network-level ad-blocker using Pi-Deploy. Pi-hole filters out advertisements on your entire network by rerouting DNS requests to blackhole servers, keeping your online browsing private and ad-free.
2. **Nextcloud Server**: Run Nextcloud Pi on your old phone using Pi Deploy. This allows you to host your own Google Drive alternative, syncing files across devices. You can even install a full Google suite alternative through Nextcloud Office.
3. **Minecraft Server**: Run a Minecraft server on your phone without rooting it! Use Termux and AnLinux to install a virtualized Ubuntu version that you can interface with through Termux. Invite friends to play with you, or use it as a basic way to store files and make copies in a pinch.
4. **Run Linux**: Run a full Linux system on your phone using Linux Deploy or proot Distro. This allows you to run servers, applications, and even Docker containers. For more advanced users, Nestbox is an excellent option for running virtual machines on Google Pixel phones.
5. **CCTV Camera**: Use IP Webcam to turn your old phone into a basic CCTV camera. You can stream footage to the web, enable motion detection, take photos remotely, and configure which camera to use. This is perfect for home security or surveillance purposes.
Don’t let your old smartphones go to waste! Brainstorm creative ways to repurpose them and discover new uses that can teach you something new and save you money.
Source: https://www.xda-developers.com/5-projects-old-android-phone/