In case you haven’t heard by now, Apple has unveiled its latest iPhone yesterday. That leaves the question: What should you do with your old one?
The new phones will join some 244 million iPhones sold since the first one launched in 2007. Some have been lost or stolen. Some of us are still hanging on to our old gadgets in some futile attempt to resist the constant upgrade cycle that technology companies are forcing on us.
But it’s fair to say that millions of iPhones are languishing in desk drawers or gathering dust. Here are a few things to do with yours to keep it from meeting that fate once you buy the iPhone 5.
1. Give it to your kids so they stop taking yours…
Every parent, aunt and uncle knows that no toy in the history of toys has ever been as appealing to a kid as an iPhone. They are shiny, they have games and grown-ups use them for important things. More importantly, they are either off-limits or doled out in limited quantities as a reward for, say, sitting still for a minute. Load up your old iPhone with games and give it to a deserving child in your life.
2. …or to your mum so she can finally see the light
Alternately, if a Luddite adult has been thinking of taking the plunge into the world of smartphones, your old iPhone may help him or her get over the hump. If you have an iPhone 4 or 4S, you might also find someone who’s still hanging on to an earlier model and give them the gift of an upgrade. You may just buy a friend for life (or at least until iPhone 6 comes out).
3. Use it as a teeny-tiny iPad
You’ll be able to watch videos, send email and search Wikipedia for random facts to end cocktail-party disagreements with your decommissioned iPhone – as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection. There’s even a camera, which means you can avoid being that guy (or gal) at the concert who’s turning heads for taking photos with an iPad.
4. Recycle or donate to charity
Mobile Muster is the industry-supported program that accepts all types of phones. The phones are then dismantled and then recycled to avoid components ending up in landfill.
Alternatively, you can donate your old phone to charity. Mobile4Charity takes donations from individuals and businesses which helps raise money for their nominated charity.
Useable handsets are often sent to developing nations while other older handsets are recyled to keep them out of landfill.
5. Alarm Clock
Do you still use that old radio alarm you bought in the 20th century? Join the 21st century by turning your old iPhone into an alarm clock. Hide it in a different spot in your bed each night for an added challenge.
6. Sell, sell, sell!
Join the eBay hordes and sell your phone for a few hundred bucks if you can. There will likely be a flood of the gadgets soon after people start getting their new phones, so it might make sense to wait a little.
7. Stream music
Stick that baby in a speaker dock, spring for a Spotify subscription ($11.99 per month for premium) and bam, you have a stereo.
Or try SoundCloud. Although it’s meant to let you create and share music with people, it’s also a good place to listen to DJs you like or discover new ones. TuneIn, meanwhile, will let you listen to online radio stations playing music, sports, news or talk shows.
8. Keep as a backup in case you lose your fancy new one.
Nearly one-third of mobile phone owners have had their gadgets lost or stolen, according to a recent survey from Pew Internet & American Life Project.
9. Use as a camera
The camera is a popular feature of the iPhone.
At its core, a decommissioned iPhone is a hard drive with a camera. Snap photos with it. No Canon needed. You can also use the iPhone to move photos and other files from one computer to another.
10. Recycle with Apple
Apple runs its own recycling program for iPhones, iPods and computers.
Source: Herald Sun
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