Turn Your Old Android Into A Smart Doorbell Monitor
Look kids, you don't have to be Bill Gates to enjoy some of life's greatest luxuries. You guessed it, I'm talking about doorbell camera monitors! There's a good chance you have an extra Android phone or tablet laying around the house. If you're the type of person that's always peaking through the blinds to see who's at your door, then this is definitely for
you.
If you're unfamiliar with smart doorbells, these little devices replace your current doorbell with a camera that streams live video over your network or the internet. You can use them as an intercom to talk to the intruders and hear what they say with the built in mic. Each smart doorbell will have an Android app that can be installed on your device. You'll use the app to see the feed from your smart doorbell.
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A Great use of your unused Android device is to use it as a dedicated doorbell monitor. You can mount it right by your door or somewhere that would be most convenient to you. Just connect it to the charger and use a Velcro strip to position it on your wall. Turn the screen timeout to "never" and you're good to go.
This is a really cool way to put the phone that's collecting dust to good use. If you want a setup like this but don't know where to get a smart doorbell and you can't be bothered to google it, here are some of the best on the market right now.
SkyBell $199
RING $199
August $199
ROM
Is there an Android ROM that can do this? I have a couple of old, old Huawei Sonic U8650 that need some repurposing.
Ideally you'd need the screen, camera, network, speaker, microphone, the app and possibly storage for "visitor mail". No need for all the other bloat.
Just thinking about it though, the U8650s only have a camera facing away... So could debloat that crap out of the ROM too! (Where's the efficiency these days in coding?).
However another idea: For example, you have the doorbell phone on a pedestal at your driveway and a visitor rings it and walks in, then the camera video records for "xx" seconds while theyre walking in... Motion detection is a possibility too...
So many options.
Cool idea. I'm gonna try this but ofcourse I need help doing this
Related
Hello all,
I opened the Magician to repair the phone speaker, but also painting the housing. As I carefully document the parts I found one piece of hardware that draw my attention. I have a clue what it might be, but would like to share it, so maybe you know what it might be.
First some pictures
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Location of the unknown hardware. When you hold your magician face up (screen up) it's under the red phone button.
piece we're talking about.
Where the 2 contact point on the unknown hardware connect to. Just like the phone speaker it kind of floats, so no wires..
As I watched carefully I noticed the shape of a half cylinder. By moving your PDA vertically/horizontally the heavy side moves towards where gravity is, meaning it always points down. (see picture 2)
I think it's some kind of hardware that suppose to, if a software supports it, turn your PDA display horizontal or vertical when you turn it. Something like iPhone demonstrated or even closer Wizard. Wizard's screen automatically goes in horizontal mode when the keypad is sliced out.
If this unknown hardware is what I think it is, why isn't used then? It would be a very nice feature
What do you think it is?
its your vibration motor.
ie: when you have 'vibrate' enabled, and your phone rings, that little motor spins like crazy and the uneven shape of the weight creats the vibration.
Yes, Definately that is the vibration motor.
Yeah... I forget Magician was a phone too... Since I don't use the phone I lost focus
Anyway... It would be great if it could have the ability to turn the screen auto. My guess would be that if that small motor could send it's position back to a chip it should be possible for software (OS for example) to act. (dual function)
I'm trying to fix my vibrator and your pics would help but the links no longer work.
Can you please relink or rehost them or send them to me?
Turn Your Old Android Phone Into A Free Security Camera
Something strange is going on in my house. Every night when I go to sleep, someone or something is breaking into my house and CRUSHING ALL OF MY CHIPS! I can never eat any salsa because my chips are always just crumbs. What I have to end up doing is mixing the salsa with the chips like it's cereal and eating it with a spoon! It's just not the same. Today I have decided enough is enough. I must catch this person that is crushing my chips and robbing me of my happiness.
I need to setup a security camera but I'm not too excited about coughing up $100 for a decent one. But what is a security camera anyways, other than a camera with network connectivity? My old Android phone has all those features and more. It's got a motion sensor, WiFi, HD camera, and storage for backing up footage. So let's put that old phone to good use by setting it up as a security camera. I'll show you how!
Mounting The Phone
You're going to want to find a way to mount your camera in a place where it can capture the desired area. You'll need it to be plugged in at all times so keep this in mind when you're figuring out where to put it.
Applying A Fisheye Lens
Now usually security cameras have a wide angle lens so that they can capture the entire room in one shot. I highly recommend getting a lens kit that you can use for your android. Here is a great kit on Amazon for only $10.95.
Besties 3in1 Universal 180° Fisheye Lens
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Installing A Security Camera App
There are several apps to choose from that will turn your phone into a fully functional security camera system. Here is a list of some of the best ones available.
Home Security IP Cam: Alfred
Security Camera Alarm System
AtHome Camera - Home Security
WardenCam Home Security IP-Cam
And that's all you need! Using this method I was able to catch the person that was smashing my chips. Turns out it was me and I sleepwalk. Oops!
this one is going to be quite useful for me!
I use IP Webcam for motion detection and streaming.
Just a thought, but it the main restriction of getting an IP Camera is the price, why not sell the old cell phone for a few dollars (depending on the age, you can prolly get $100 for it) and then you have a proper setup.
Not saying this is a bad idea at all. I have done this in a pinch when maintenance crews are coming to my apartment and I cant be home.
I've been looking at TinyCam Pro since I already have a couple foscams, and it seems to integrate all those along with old android devices while taking care of hw decoding and motion detection archive. Anyone used any of these for a reasonable amount of time?
Quite good idia need to try
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Big savings on this one I guess
that is a good advice, I used to use ip webcam, but it went be down
DIY Dog Monitor
Do you have any pets? Or maybe people that identify as some sort of an animal? Well about a month ago my roommate decided to tell me that he now identifies as a dog. He walks around in a fursuit all day and refuses to speak to me unless we are barking at each other. After quitting his job, he spends all day in the house which means I have to feed and take care of him. This can be challenging when I'm at work all day, so I needed to find a solution.
I decided I could use an old Android device as a monitor that could detect when he's barking, then I could view a live feed of the camera to see if he's getting into trouble. The app I'm going to be using is called Dog Monitor.
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Check on your dog while you’re at work - know when it’s barking, talk to your dog remotely and see live video.
This is the first multi-platform dog monitor with unlimited reach. It is a must-have for any dog owner.
EASY TO USE
With the Dog Monitor app, you can easily turn any two devices (phone or tablets) into a full-featured dog monitor in a matter of seconds. No registration or connection adjustments required.
KNOW WHEN YOUR DOG BARKS
Now you can immediately find out when your dog barks. Wide sensitivity settings assure that you won’t miss any noise.
ACTIVITY LOG
Dog Monitor allows you to check, how often was your dog noisy and replay sounds from current or any previous monitoring.
TALK TO YOUR DOG
Is your dog barking or chewing up your new shoes? Do you want to talk to him even if you’re not home? No problem. The Dog Monitor app lets you talk to your dog remotely from anywhere.
LIVE VIDEO STREAM
Ever wondered what your dog does when you’re away? Watch video of your pet and see what they are up to. Thanks to our adjustable light feature, you can check-in on your dog even when it is dark.
UNLIMITED REACH
You’ll always know what your dog is up to because the app works on both WiFi and cellular networks.
OTHER FEATURES
Vibrate - be alerted discreetly when your dog is barking
Reliability - app let’s you know in case the connection is lost or something goes wrong
Security - entire connection is encrypted by SSL
After setting my dog monitor I am able to keep track of what he's up to and even talk to him when he starts to bark!
Download Dog Monitor
Hi all-
at one time I was interested in converting a tablet into a head unit, but lacked the know-how so I finally just bought one from ali express and installed it; android 4.4 and I can't post links so you can
use the ali search and enter: 2 DIN Android 4.4 7 Inch Bluetooth Audio In Dash to find the specific unit that looks like
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For the most part, it's great- but I have two questions that would make it even better
(1) I can play music and audiobooks (two different apps) over bluetooth, and the audio is perfect. When I get bluetooth calls though, it starts with a blast of static and then nothing- I assumed it was a mic or feedback problem, but I just played a voicemail recording from the phone AT&T "visual voicemail" app, and it did the same thing even though that is just playing a recording and shouldn't be using the mic at all. Does anyone know what if there is some other difference between 'audio out' apps that might cause some to work find, and others to have problems? There are rear ports for audio input, but I don't think those replace the mic, so for now I'm stuck with external troubleshooting (I'm not ready to take it apart and start doing surgery on the unit)
[EDIT: it also plays the audio from Google Maps with no problem]
(2) The unit has a very long splash screen- so long, that I can get out my 150' driveway and down the block before it goes away and allows BT to connect to play my audiobooks. I looked through the menus but haven't found a way to shorten that screen. I realize this may require rooting if it is not a publically available setting. Where should I be looking (or is it stored in a file somewhere?), and if rooting is required, how does a newbie like me figure out the best options for rooting, preferably leaving the rest of the OS as-is so I don't accidently jack up the reverse and forward camera functions, etc?
I'm not a frequenter of XDA, but this seems to be the most knowledgable place for this type of thing- so I appreciate you pointing me in the right direction
Many thanks!
Cap
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I bought this radio on Black Friday of 2017 and ever since then it seems like it has just been one headache after another. I've done Desktop Support, been a NOC engineer, and currently pursuing my OSCP so I'm not computer illiterate; yet this makes me feel like I am. One of the things that interested me was the 10-band stock EQ. Then that was removed. Fine, I'll go to V4A. Nope. That doesn't work anymore. I knew beforehand that some of the buttons on the face wouldn't do what they stated they'd do but the option to reprogam them in the Joying settings only works on touchscreen buttons, not physical ones. The radio is fine. Just fine, could be better. Basically here's a short list of what I'm trying to do. I've tried more apps, APKs, and reflashes in the past few months than I can even begin to remember. I don't care how much effort this takes to get it going, as long as it just works. I don't know if what I'm asking for is even possible but at this point I'm tired of going in circles.
-A good, 10-band, virtualizer EQ that works on the entire unit. Something that will affect every bit of audio played.
-A way to reprogram the front-facing buttons.
-Preferably a better radio with HD funtionality
-A quick way to tether internet to the device. (I was using Bluetooth Tethering PRO but it made the unit super slow and unresponsive at times. Ideally gain connection by just plugging my phone into the USB connector but any way will work. I can't seem to get it to function. I'm on Verizon, which from what I've read restricts stuff like that.)
-A car launcher that keeps all functionality. (I was using Car Launcher AG but then I lost all functionality of the Bluetooth player unless I spammed source until I landed on it. Choosing BT Music only took me to the pairing screen.)
-Is there a way to replace stock apps? Like say I found a better app and wanted to replace a stock selection when Source scrolls through, could I do that? Like the Aux app for instance that has a video feed on it for no discernible reason