From the page: The iPhone still has chapters ahead
Idea 4
Becomes a dedicated security camera
Before becoming a "watchful eye", the device still has a living role at home: watching over the vegetable garden and the plants. Free camera apps turn an old phone into a continuous monitor — and the reason it works is simple: the camera is one of the components that depends least on the battery, and a device plugged straight into the outlet doesn't need it at all.
What you need
- A phone whose battery has been safely removed by a qualified technician (or, if still intact but weak, kept only as a backup)
- A charger and cable in good condition, plugged into the outlet
- A firm stand or base (it can be made from reclaimed wood)
- A free monitoring camera app (many work without an account, through the browser)
- A dry, ventilated spot, away from direct sunlight
How to make it
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1
Take the device to a technician to assess and safely remove the swollen battery — a burst battery should never stay in use, as it can leak or catch fire. Without it, the phone runs straight on power from the outlet.
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2
Install the device in a cool, ventilated spot, never inside a drawer or closed box — circuits without a battery still heat up, and circulating air solves that.
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3
Point the camera at the vegetable garden, compost bin or seedling nursery and activate motion recording: this way you follow the plants' growth and identify who visits at night.
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4
Mount the phone on the stand so the weight is centered over the base — a device hanging by its edge strains the casing and falls easily.
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5
Set up monitoring on your current phone and test the image before fixing it in place for good.
Finishing touches
with the live image, it becomes easy to photograph the seedlings' progress and compare weeks — a visual diary of your garden without spending a thing.
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