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Bring your old phone back from the dead
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We’ve all got one (or five): that old smartphone buried in a drawer, sitting there like a digital paperweight. You don’t use it, but you don’t toss it either because maybe someday it’ll come in handy.
Today is the day to let your old phone defend your castle as a security camera.
No new tech, no wallet damage, just pure genius. Or as I like to call it, Homegrown MacGyver’ing. Here’s how to do it in five minutes flat:
🔋 Step 1: Plug it in and resuscitate it
Dust it off, charge it up and make sure it stays plugged in. Whisper sweet nothings to it about how “I’ve missed you.” You don’t want it dying right when your neighbor’s raccoon breaks into your trash again.
If there are any operating system updates available, go ahead and install them. It won’t hurt anything.
📱 Step 2: Give it a brain, or a security cam app
Head to the App Store or Google Play and grab one of these gems:
- AlfredCamera (iPhone + Android) – My top pick. Super simple, live view, motion alerts and even two-way talk. (Yes, you can yell at your dog and the Amazon driver.)
- Manything (iOS) or IP Webcam (Android) – More options if you want something a little geekier.
Super important step: Install the app on both your old and current phones. You’ll use the camera on the old phone as the security cam. On your current phone, it will be the command center for power-mad surveillance enthusiasts (you).
📸 Step 3: Set it up and aim
After the app is installed, open it, log in and choose “camera” on your old phone. Then launch the same app on your current phone and choose “viewer.” It’s that easy.
How to spot hidden spyware, and kick it out for good
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Ever get the feeling someone knows too much about what you’re doing online? I’m not talking about the sarcastic “My FBI agent is amused” way, but in the “Why did my phone just text my ex and order dog food at 2 a.m.?” kind of way.
🛍️ Set up shop: Turn your followers into customers with an Instagram shop. You’ll need a Business profile, which you can create during setup. Just go to the Facebook Shops page, click Get Started and follow the steps. Once approved, tag products in posts, so your followers can buy them easily. Buy my shirt, my ego and the dream I had when I posted this.
⌨️ iPad typing trick: Did you know you can use the space bar as a trackpad? Just tap and hold the space bar, wait for the keys to fade out and you’ll be able to move the cursor through text easily. Trying to select text? While still holding down, tap once on the keyboard with another finger, then let go. You can now highlight the text you want.
Pro Windows user? Use “God Mode” to access all your Control Panel settings in one place. Just create a new folder anywhere, like on your desktop, and rename it to this exact string: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} Hit “Enter,” and the folder icon will change to a Control Panel icon. Opening this new folder will give you a powerful, centralized view of virtually all settings and configuration options in Windows.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Word or Google Docs, press Ctrl + Enter (Windows) or Command + Enter (Mac) to start a fresh page. No need to smash Enter 10 times. Saves time, so you can get back to Googling, “How can I get my cat TikTok famous?”
🌳 Grow like a pro: Fast Growing Trees makes it simple to plant like a pro. They’ll recommend the best trees and shrubs for your exact location and ship them straight to your door. No hauling, no guesswork. Use promo code KIM to save an extra 15%. I got an avocado tree, and it’s thriving!
🖨️ Print-happy warning: When you print a doc at FedEx, Staples or UPS, check the fine print. Their policies say they can use whatever you print for advertising or share it with unnamed third parties. No, thanks. UPS: “Sure, we’ll print your divorce papers … and maybe send them to Pepsi’s marketing team.”
🍿 Sup, movie buffs: Wanna dish about your favorite films? Say hello to Letterboxd. It’s like Goodreads but for cinephiles. This free site lets you rate, review, keep a diary of your watch list, and even follow friends to see what they’re loving (or hate-watching).
⏩ Time flies: Time-lapse videos can make a simple sunset look magical. On your iPhone or Android, open the Camera app and select Time-lapse mode. Tap Record to start, and press it again when you’re done. FYI, 30 minutes of real time is about 10 seconds of video. Give it a shot tonight.
🌎 A whole new world: Bored with Netflix? Change your language to find new shows and movies. Open the Netflix app, tap My Netflix > Menu (three lines) > Manage Profiles. Select your profile and hit Display Language. You can switch back to English anytime. Bravo!
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Quickly find emails in Gmail by typing @ into the search bar to view emails from your contacts. Easy way to find everyone you’ve been avoiding!
📈 Get more customers: Click this link to set up your free Google Business Profile. Just hit Sign in or Get started, and add your business info like your phone number, hours and logo. Pro tip: Sharing regular updates and responding to reviews boosts your SEO. Btw, AI uses Google Business Profile reviews for its recommendations. Drop me 5 stars and some kind words here. TY!
💵 A dollar here, a dollar there: It seems like every subscription is more expensive than when I signed up. Use the Rocket Money app to see what you’re paying for. I do! They’ll even cancel a subscription for you if it’s not worth the money anymore.
👂🏼 AirPods aren’t the only option: Check out Raycon. Their earbuds sound great, get a ton of battery life and are a fraction of the price.
🧐 Blurry screenshots? Set your screen to the highest resolution so they look crystal clear. On Windows, head to Settings > System > Display. For Mac, open System Settings > Displays. Multiple monitors? Click the one you want to adjust. Pro tip: Don’t zoom in or the quality will drop.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Google Maps, tap your profile > “Offline maps” and download your area. Because “no signal” shouldn’t mean “no clue where I am.”