Smart Recycling Ideas for Your Android Devices

With several generations of gadgets have gone by over the the past few years, there's no doubt some of you have an old gadget that no longer gets attention and is just picking up dust on your drawer. But despite of this, you're still hanging on to it. Sure, it may have a sentimental value attached to it but the problem is, you're not quite sure on what to use it for.

So, here are some bright recycling ideas that you can do with your old Android device. Check out the list below and you may get an idea or two that you will truly find useful and enjoyable at the same time.

Kitchen Assistant

With a combination of Google Tasks and a cheap stand, a spare or old Android phone or tablet can become your ideal kitchen assistant. How? You can create a shopping list on Google Tasks, synchronize it with your other devices, and then take it with you shopping. Then in the kitchen, get rid of the hassle of having your cookbook stand on a balance or ruining the pages with ingredients. You can now cook food to perfection by using your device's built-in timer, so nothing gets burnt or overcooked.

You can check out apps like Food Network in the Kitchen and BigOven for starters. And since it's touchscreen, it's easy to keep clean, too.

Remote Webcam

Turn your Android device into a handy IP-based webcam with the help of a neat free app called IP Webcam from Google play. The app lets you connect the device from another Android device or any network computer using a browser or via Skype. It supports audio and a host of smart features such as streaming to VLC.

So if you're looking for a cheap Wi-Fi IP camera and happened to have an old Android phone or tablet, this will do the trick.

Video Camera

Though there's a slim chance that you would consider using an old Android device as a spare camera, but that doesn't mean that it can't be used as a decent video camera. The moving image, being lower resolution, is a lot more forgiving when it comes to poor quality sensors and lenses, while even aging devices can provide 720p HD encoding.

So, provided that you load it with a suitable SD card, you now have a device that can capture hours of video.

Wireless keyboard or mouse

If in case your keyboard or mouse suddenly stops working, you can use your old Android device as an input device with the help of RemoteDroid. Neither input will be as accommodating as its desktop counterpart, but it will do until you can order or purchase a new replacement for your defective computer accessory.

Digital photo frame

Do you know that your old Android device has better screen quality than most digital photo frames that you can see in the market today? Another benefit of using your old Android tablet as a digital photo frame is that you can connect it to your Cloud account so that it will have access to more photos. You can check out and download the Dayframe app to transform your device into a cool digital photo frame.

E-reader

You can always use your current device as an e-reader, however, it can take too much of its battery especially if you're an avid reader. Using your old Android device as a permanent e-reader will wipe off your battery worries on your current device. Depending on your reader app preference and whether you sidelook books, you may not even need a Wi-Fi connection for your device.

For e-reader apps, you may consider checking out apps like Google Play Books, Amazon Kindle app, and Aldiko.

Desk Clock and Weather Station

We all know that an Android device can offer more than just an ordinary desk clock. You can personalize its background and make it animated, show multiple clocks, and inbox status. If you want to transform your old Android device into an awesome desk clock and weather station, check out Dock Clock Plus to make it happen.

Create Your Own Security Toolkit in Case of Emegency

If in case the role of a tech expert in your family and friends fell into your hands, chances are you may get calls in the wee hours asking you to come over -- your aunt is having problems with iPad not getting enough signal when she's in the kitchen, or your friend's new laptop is keep getting some weird pop-ups that's making his computer crash. Extending help to them using your computer and networking skills doesn't have to be a burden as long as you have the right and awesome tools kept somewhere safe in your USB drive. Having these tools handy will always make you available to give out a helping hand to those who are in need.

So here are some highly useful tools that you should have in your so-called "security toolkit" at all times. With these tools available, your repairs will become faster and easier. You can also leave them with some protection so that you don't have to go back next week because of some nasty virus attack.

Malware Cleanup Tools

Nowadays, even perfectly clean sites are being hacked in a way that malicious software are automatically downloaded into the victim's site by just merely opening the page. In some cases, modern threats are already capable of resisting when you try to install an antivirus software. Others have the power to tweak your computer's Registry to disable launching of known antivirus executables. While others can monitor Internet access and specifically prevent access to security company sites, prohibiting you from updating or registering your product. In short, these malicious software have become ingenious in a negative perspective.

If in case you are unable to install the full power of an antivirus solution, you can try wiping out your system clean using a free cleanup-only tool. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Free is known to accomplish this kind of task. The Norton Power Eraser tool is also a reliable solution for resistant malware infections, which can be downloaded for free. This tool is proven to be effective especially against rootkits, which are malicious programs that hook deep into Windows to hide their actions. Comodo Cleaning Essentials is also great for combating rootkits, and its malware cleanup power is better than many commercial products.

You don't have to choose which among them is going to your toolkit USB drive because you can get all of them. The advantage of it is if in case one doesn't do the trick, you can always try the other one.

Bootable Rescue USB

Ever encountered a case wherein you're innocently browsing a webpage or just checking your Facebook status when suddenly your computer crashed and won't come back up? Almost every antivirus manufacturer out there offers a free bootable "Rescue CD" wherein the CD boots into an alternate operating system, usually a version of Linux. In this way, Windows-based malware will not be able to interfere with the scan, since Windows is not running.

However, it may sound impractical to carry around a CD in your pocket all the time when your toolkit is supposed to be handy? Good thing some vendors give an option for their users to create a free bootable "Rescue USB" such as AVG, Norton, Kaspersky, and among others. For those who are interested in using the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool, be informed that it is only available for free for Norton customers. Your product key has to be entered each time you use it, and it cannot be used commercially.

If in case your preferred vendor only provides a bootable CD instead of USB, don't fret because there's always a way if you're willing to take the challenge. Download the ISO image that represents the bootable CD and use an Open Source tool called UNetbootin to make a USB drive that boots into the CD image.

Once you have created a bootable rescue USB, it wouldn't hurt to test it a few times first. Boot from it, check if it works fine, and make sure you understand how to use it. You don't want to ruin your "tech expert" image, right?

Leave Some Protection

So you've done cleaning up your Aunt Mary's laptop after almost an hour...for the third time this month. If you have other important things to do, why not leave some sort of protection so that you don't have to face the same routine over and over again.

AVG Anti-Virus Free 2013 is one of the best bet when it comes to this category. It offers competitive protection, as well as malware blocking and removal capabilities. The software also includes PC tuneup analysis and the browser toolbar includes active Do Not Track technology. Another prospect is the ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall, offering a powerful firewall protection for added security against harmful attacks from the Internet.

It will always be up to you which antivirus program you would like to use and include in your toolkit. It would also be your choice if you decided to put more than one in your toolkit just to be sure. Spare another half an hour or so to install one of these protective software, later on you'll be grateful that you did.

Add Some More Protection

Once in a while, a friend or a relative would ask for some help with their hacked account -- whether it's an email or a social networking account. If one of them keeps getting the same problem because he keeps coming up with a lame password (ouch, that's harsh), you may want to consider using a password manager. This will help your friend or relative configure secure sites to create strong passwords without the hassle of having to remember all of them. Just imagine if you have more than ten online accounts!

One popular password manager is LastPass, which works with a wide range of browsers and syncs with all your devices. It's simple to use, offers multiple layers of security to protect your sensitive information. Another known password manager is Dashlane, which provides many features that goes beyond just password management. It facilitates online shopping through the use of easy-to-understand color-coded information, allowing users to complete online transactions by clicking a few tabs. Dashlane is available for Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android. SplashID claims itself as the best-selling password manager, in which mobile is its main focus. It operates differently than the browser-based plugins, and requires no installation. SplashData, its company, will send you a $29.95 4-GB key-shaped USB device, which you will plug in your computer, enter your password, and SplashID Safe will launch your data. The app securely stores your usernames, passwords, account numbers, and any records you need to remember and keep secure.

A good password manager can store all of the information you need to function online – usernames and passwords for all your banking, social media, email, shopping and other accounts. All you need to do is memorize one secure password and you will have access to all of your sites with just a few clicks. This is also a must-have in your emergency toolkit.

Don't Forget to Update

Vulnerabilities found in your computer's operating system, browser, and even on some popular programs are the often target of exploitation by many malicious attacks. As soon as these kinds of exploitation is discovered, the affected company releases a security patch that will serve as a fix. So make sure to check for updates of your security program to guard yourself, well, at least until the next exploit. Ignoring these security patches will leave you like a worm bait.

Checking the computer for any Windows updates and installing them should also be a part of your repair procedure all the time. Another update check that you can perform on the computer is through Secunia Personal Software Inspector 3.0, which is a free program that checks for a variety of security patches for a number of program categories and, in many cases, offer an automatic process to apply the patch.

Try installing Secunia using your USB toolkit, run a one-time scan and update, and then uninstall it. Yep, you need to uninstall it otherwise, it will periodically check to make sure the system hasn't missed any new critical updates.

So there you have it, you now have your own security toolkit that you can use every time you need to make an on-site service call. Run a standalone cleanup antivirus or, a bootable rescue tool in case the computer won't boot. Install a strong antivirus program to give a layer of protection against future malware attacks on the PC, then make sure that all the necessary Windows updates are installed. Install any additional tools you think they will need adds the cherry on top. Now everybody's happy!