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Ask HN: Just installed a custom Android ROM in my old smartphone – now what?

4 points by textinterface ↗ HN
You have that old smartphone kept in a drawer. One day you decide you want to install a newer OS on it because it is stuck on Android 7 or something. Not that the phone was being used anyway, but why not? It's Sunday and you're bored.

After lots of research and work, you finally make it, and it's delightful: your old phone is fast again, and bloatware free. This was fun!

But... Then what? What creative uses can you come up with for your old Android phone that is now new again, given that you already have a newer phone for your regular use?

7 comments

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gfkoenen
I use my old android as a wireless alarm clock with Spotify. I used the Spotify developer API to send a play request at certain times to the phone. Works great.
hsiwjshsisb
now you look at it while sitting in a corner, imagining what your 90s self would think seeing how much you have up to corporate control.

tell that 90s self that you now use an entire browser made by a browser toolbar company. even their pocket computer, which you barely have the admin password.

speedgoose
You could show to your 90s self how you can be outside in the forest and have this magic small battery powered device with access to almost all books, all music, all movies, all news, all porn, instantly in high quality. You can discuss with billions of people on every topic. The device has more processing power than some 90s supercomputers and extremely fast wireless internet.

You can talk to artificial intelligences that actually show signs of intelligent (or are just stochastic parrots if you want).

You take a picture of something and the device tells you what it is.

You can use it as a camera with a better quality than 90s TV shows.

You can watch live TV while moving.

You can compose music.

You can play video games with incredible gameplays and graphics.

You know where you are and you get high quality and detailed maps.

I can continue for a while, I think you get the idea. Modern smartphones are incredible from the 90s point of view.

theandrewbailey
My story is a bit different: I put LineageOS on my regular phone and kept using it like I always did. A while later, I discovered that my old Kindle Fire could be rooted, and now it's fast enough to be useful. Should have done that years ago.
MishaalRahman
Turn it into a dedicated device to do X or Y task. You'll be surprised by how many more issues you can work around when you can build your own OS or attain root.

eg., I turned an old tablet into a dedicated smart display, and another into a car head unit that I can wirelessly project Android Auto onto

hinata08
- You can use it as part of some SIP gateway if you get the motivation.

SIM card in the phone. Asterisk server on the phone, or on some rpi connected through bluetooth, and you have texts and calls from any internet enabled device, and avoid long distance or roaming fees.

- You can also use the phone as a backup internet gateway (sim card in the phone, wifi or USB thetering from the phone too)

- you can get an additional secret phone number for MFA by text. And you can use this second phone to have a second device for app based MFA. (By enrolling both of your phones with the same qr code)

- you can get an additional phone number for your resume and work related contacts. It means you can switch off in the evening or on weekends.

- you can install Haven on your phone and use it as a security device

- you can get some OBD device and a bluetooth car radio. Then use your phone to extend your dashboard, while having nothing but the driving safe apps.

- if the phone supports VoWifi, you can give it away to an expat friend so that he calls his family.

zeropoint46
Would love to know how you use it as a sip gateway, been looking for this functionality. Not with Bluetooth.