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Turn Your Old Home Tech Into New Hacks for Safety, Savings and Entertainment

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, November 4th 2025 at 13:01 GMT by CNET
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Safety: Give Your Home an Extra Pair of Eyes

Old phones as motion‑sensing cameras
With the Alfred Home Camera app, a simple Android phone can become a sophisticated security camera. Alfred records live video, stores clips in the cloud, and alerts you instantly when motion is detected. By placing the phone near a door, window, or entryway, you create a low‑cost monitoring system that plugs into your existing Wi‑Fi network. The app’s free tier is enough for basic recording, while the paid plan adds additional storage and advanced features such as person detection.

Repurposed laptops as home servers
A refurbished Windows or Mac laptop can be set up as a local media server with Plex or a file‑sharing hub with Home Assistant. Installing Home Assistant, an open‑source automation platform, allows you to monitor temperature sensors, lock status, and other smart devices. The software runs smoothly on older hardware, and because it’s open source, there are no subscription fees.

Smart doorbells and intercoms
Many smart doorbell units (like the Ring Video Doorbell or the Eufy Security Doorbell) come with spare batteries or modules that can be re‑configured to act as intercoms in the bedroom or office. By connecting them to an Alexa or Google Home, you can set up voice‑activated calls or notifications whenever someone rings the bell.

Routers as Wi‑Fi extenders
An old wireless router can be repurposed as a Wi‑Fi extender or a dedicated guest network. By simply changing the network name (SSID) and password, you can extend coverage without buying a new access point. This also frees up the main router for high‑bandwidth devices like smart TVs or gaming consoles.

Savings: Stretch Your Budget with Smart Reuse

Turning a tablet into a kitchen hub
A second‑hand iPad or Android tablet can serve as a dedicated recipe screen, turning the countertop into a smart kitchen. Apps such as BigOven or Cookpad can be pinned to the home screen, and you can keep the tablet charged on the counter to minimize the need for a separate display.

Using an old phone as a dedicated music player
Instead of streaming music through your smartphone, which drains battery and uses data, you can install a dedicated music player app on a retired phone and connect it to a Bluetooth speaker. This frees up the primary phone for essential calls and messages.

Gaming consoles as media centers
Most modern game consoles—PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch—are more than gaming devices. Installing streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ turns them into full‑featured media centers. This eliminates the need for a separate smart TV or dedicated streaming box.

Home automation hubs without a new price tag
Older smart hubs, such as the Samsung SmartThings Bridge or a Raspberry Pi running OpenHAB, can replace expensive commercial hubs. These platforms support a wide range of protocols (Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi‑Fi), allowing you to integrate legacy smart lights, thermostats, and sensors for automation and energy savings.

Entertainment: Reimagining Legacy Devices for Modern Fun

Using an old phone as a smart mirror
A tablet or phone with a mirror‑tinted screen can become a “smart mirror.” By installing an application like MirrorMirror or MyMirror, you can display the time, weather, calendar events, or even your favorite music while you get ready. The device sits on a shelf behind a reflective surface, turning a plain wall into a high‑tech vanity.

Retro consoles for retro gaming
Retro gaming enthusiasts can transform a classic NES, SNES, or Sega Genesis into a retro‑style gaming console by installing a Raspberry Pi with RetroPie. The Pi runs emulators for multiple classic systems, turning the old console into a mini arcade machine that can connect to a TV or a projector.

Repurposing a smart TV as a digital photo frame
Many smart TVs support photo‑sharing services. By using an app like Google Photos or Amazon Photos, you can set a TV to display a rotating slideshow of your images. This keeps your digital memories on display without needing an extra frame or monitor.

Smart lighting for mood and automation
If you have old smart bulbs or a smart lighting kit, you can set them to trigger scenes based on motion or time of day. By integrating them with Home Assistant or a cloud‑based service like IFTTT, you can dim the lights automatically when you go to bed or brighten them when someone is home.

Putting It All Together

The article concludes that the key to maximizing the value of old tech is to think creatively and treat the devices as modular components that can be swapped into new roles. A handful of inexpensive apps and a willingness to experiment can turn a collection of neglected gadgets into a network of safety sensors, energy savers, and entertainment hubs.

By embracing these hacks, homeowners can protect their families, cut utility costs, and enjoy modern convenience—all while extending the lifespan of technology that would otherwise end up in a landfill. The guide is a reminder that the best tech is often the one you already own, waiting for a fresh purpose.