Technology is an essential part of life. But it can also be a distraction. Fortunately, there are some simple tips that can help you use your tech wisely and make it a lot easier to work smarter.
For example, one of my favorite tips is how to screenshot a webpage. This will save you a ton of time searching for it later on.
1. Turn Your Phone into a Walkie-Talkie
Walkie-talkies are a handy gadget for field workers and first responders. They allow you to communicate quickly and efficiently, even when you’re in a remote location.
Traditionally, walkie-talkies have required a separate device, but today you can turn your smartphone into one. Specifically, you can use your phone’s Push-To-Talk feature to create a two-way communication channel with anyone in the app.
The best walkie-talkie apps offer a number of features that make them stand out from the crowd, including end-to-end encryption and text-to-speech support. These apps work on cellular networks, which are much clearer and less noisy than radio communication.
2. Turn Your Phone Into a Camera
There are tons of great ways to reuse old devices. Whether it’s an old tablet or a phone, there are lots of nifty apps that give your device new life.
If you have a smartphone that has been sitting in the drawer for a while, consider turning it into a camera to help keep your home safe and secure without spending a fortune! All it takes is an app, and you can use it as a security camera to monitor your home or baby’s room.
You can choose from a number of different apps that allow you to turn your phone into a home security camera, and many of them offer similar features such as cloud streaming, local storage, and motion detection. However, some of these apps are more advanced than others. For example, Alfred is a more comprehensive app that offers more features than Security Camera CZ.
3. Turn Your Phone Into a Remote Control
If you’ve ever lost a remote control for your TV or DVD player, then you know just how annoying it can be. Luckily, you can turn your smartphone into a remote control that can help you navigate the television and streaming devices in your house.
Smart TVs, DVD players and cable boxes all use infrared (IR) signals to recognize commands from your phone. You can get a device called an IR blaster that converts your phone’s signals into IR light beams that can be sent to your TV, stereo or DVD player.
There are several apps on the market that let you turn your smartphone into a remote control for a wide variety of devices. Some can even let you create macros, which are sequences of options that you can perform with a single click or by using voice commands.
4. Turn Your Phone Into a Music Player
One of the most fun things you can do with an old Android phone is turn it into a music player. This will save you money on your phone’s battery life and make it a great device for listening to music on the go or in the living room.
Unlike streaming services, MP3 players don’t require an internet connection to play music. This makes them perfect for kids who may not want to be able to listen to music online.
You’ll need a few things to convert your phone into a music player, but it should be simple. The first step is to copy over your music files from your computer or other storage device.
5. Turn Your Phone Into a Game Console
One of the most fun things to do with your phone is play games on it. You can use apps that let you play console-style games, or even sign up for a game streaming service like Apple Arcade or Xbox Game Pass.
Whether you want to try your hand at shooters, simulators, or fighting games, your smartphone can be a fantastic gaming device. It’s also far more powerful than a console, so you can play more games.
But if you want to enjoy some classics, there are a lot of great retro console emulators available for Android devices. Some of them are even capable of running older gaming systems, such as the Nintendo GameCube and PlayStation 3.
6. Turn Your Phone Into a Bluetooth Speaker
If your laptop doesn’t have a speaker or you want to amp up the audio, using your phone as a Bluetooth speaker is a great solution. The best way to do this is to install an app called SoundWire, which lets you mirror audio from your computer onto your smartphone.
The free version of the app is ad-supported, but you can also pay for a subscription to remove ads. It also lets you stream multiple devices and customize the quality of your audio.
The process of turning your Android smartphone into a Bluetooth speaker is simple. You can do it via an app or by using Android’s built-in Bluetooth settings. But be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
7. Turn Your Phone Into a Gamepad
The new year is a great time to make resolutions, but you can also do some tech housekeeping to help your technology work more smoothly. These tech-oriented resolutions are easy to implement, and they can help you feel more in control of your online life in 2022.
A gamepad is a good choice for many PC games, especially FPS titles. It also works well for driving and flight sims.
Luckily, you don’t need an Xbox One or PlayStation controller to turn your phone into a gamepad. Thanks to an app called Mobile Gamepad, you can play a variety of games on your Android device without needing a physical controller.
To use this app, you need a server on your computer and the Android app installed on your phone. Once you’ve done that, the app will connect to your computer and let you control it remotely.
8. Turn Your Phone Into a Bluetooth Speaker
Bluetooth speakers are a great way to listen to music. They’re easy to use and are convenient, especially when traveling.
The process of turning your phone into a Bluetooth speaker can be tricky, however. If you’re not sure how to proceed, here are a few things you can try:
First, make sure your speaker is in pairing mode. This will allow it to be discovered by your phone for the initial setup.
9. Turn Your Phone Into a Bluetooth Speaker
Whether you’re trying to play a song loud enough for a party, or you’re watching a TV with a speaker that’s too weak to be effective, you can turn your smartphone into a Bluetooth speaker. You can use one of several apps, or you can use Android’s built-in Bluetooth settings to connect your phone to a speaker.
You can also use an app like Tunity to pick up audio from a muted TV. It scans the TV, finds the current channel, and plays it through your phone.
Another fun way to turn your phone into a speaker is to connect it to your laptop or desktop. You can do this by installing the SoundWire app on your computer and your phone, then connecting both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
10. Turn Your Phone Into a Bluetooth Speaker
It’s a new year, and a good time to do a little tech housekeeping. You can clean out your phone’s cache, unplug everything that doesn’t need to be plugged in, and even vacuum your gadgets to get them looking pristine again.
This can be a great way to improve your standing in 2022, according to numerologist Josh Siegel. He notes that balance – especially in work and relationships – is a big theme for the rest of the year.
In order to turn your Android phone into a Bluetooth speaker, you can use an app called Soundwire. It’s free to download and works across both Android devices and desktop PCs. To get started, connect both devices to the same wifi network.
