As your tablet ages and falls behind in handling the latest tasks, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s reached the end of its usefulness. Often, the primary culprit is a degraded battery that demands frequent charging to keep the device operational. However, even with this battery challenge, there are numerous ways to breathe new life into your aging tablet. In this guide, we explore several creative ideas to repurpose your old tablet, ensuring it remains functional and relevant, all while being conveniently kept connected to a charger.
The processor is in most cases enough to be used for the applications below.
- Revitalize your old tablet with these creative ideas for extended functionality.
- Transform it into a car entertainment system or a weather station with the right accessories.
- Utilize the tablet’s screen for a stylish digital photo frame or a kid-friendly learning tool.
- Enhance its usability with a reliable tablet stand and charging solutions.
- Practical tips for repurposing an aging tablet for various purposes.
The Entertainment System In Your Car
Repurposing the tablet as an entertainment system in the car is a great idea for anyone having kids or who just wants to take a look at a movie while tagging along for the ride.
Don’t watch a movie and drive!
What you need is a tablet holder for either the back seat, like this one on Amazon, or the top-rated one for the front seat depending on the location you want to set it up. A micro-SD card or USB flash drive to keep music/movies on and a charging cable.
If the car is not equipped with USB chargers in the back a 12v to 5V USB charging is needed. For charging and adding ports to the backseat, a 12v to 5v multiple charging station is highly recommended both for the entertainment system and for the passengers who travel in the back.
☑Power ☐ WiFi ☑ Tablet Car Holder
Weather station
Installing a weather station is another great idea when considering what to do with an old tablet. A weather station is great for understanding how the weather will be throughout the day and helps you to not forget your rain clothes.
The system can always be connected to a charger making it perfect for a tablet where the battery is getting bad. When using the tablet as a station a good idea is to use an always-awake application or screen scheduler to control when the system should be awake.
This could also be combined with turning it into an Alarm Clock, Calendar, and other applications. If you use Android, Tasker is recommended if you want to do more complicated use cases.
There is only a need for a great tablet stand like the one below from Amazon.
☑ Power ☑ WiFi ☑ Tablet Stand
Digital photo frame
Most tablet nowadays has a great screen making them perfect for a photo frame. WiFi gives access to the internet and an application like Google Photos makes it perfect for a slideshow that can be updated from anywhere.
Get a great-looking stand, plug the device into its charger and you are all set.
Google Photos, open up the app, tap on any photo in your main library or within a specific album, and then tap the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner of the screen and select “Slideshow.” The app will cycle through your photos and give you plenty of memories to reflect upon whilst relaxing or taking care of business.
☑ Power ☑ WiFi ☑ Tablet Stand
Kid-friendly learning tablet
Many child-friendly learning applications can work on older devices. It´s a great way to learn the alphabet, and numbers or just an easy coloring book without the risk of crayons on the wall (Magic Erasers are a god-sent).
The kids learn quickly how to turn on and navigate but if you want there are also special applications and modes to activate if you would like to restrict the device.
If you still are afraid of the kid breaking the tabler a good idea is to invest in a protective casing. The best manufacturer and company protecting my everyday phone is OtterBox.
☑ Power, ☐ WiFi (Optional)
Alarm Clock
Use a tablet stand, put the old tablet in your bedroom, and convert it into an alarm clock that also can show the weather. Download an alarm clock app like Timely Alarm Clock if you don’t want to use the basic app that came with the old device. You can customize the alarms to wake you up on workdays and let you sleep in on weekends, which is a great feature.
If you live in a region that is prone to tornados, hurricanes, or other extreme weather a good idea is to install a weather alert app to wake you up if there’s an emergency. A weather alert app can be a lifesaver if you don’t hear the outdoor weather sirens.
☑ Power, ☐ WiFi (Optional) ☑ Tablet Stand
Control Home Automation
If you use an Android tablet that can be repurposed as a central hub to control your home automation without having to find your phone or another device. Google Home and Android have been adding a lot of functionality in home automation and now support apps to automate lights, thermostats, and other smart devices.
☑ Power, ☑ WiFi
Summary:
Repurposing your old tablet with a degraded battery can breathe new life into it, making it useful for various tasks. Whether transforming it into a car entertainment system, a weather station, a digital photo frame, or a kid-friendly learning tablet, there are versatile options to consider. The tablet’s processor remains capable of these applications, and with the right accessories like tablet holders, stands, and charging solutions, you can maximize its functionality.
From enhancing your car rides to staying updated on weather conditions or creating an engaging learning tool for kids, these ideas offer practical ways to extend the usefulness of your aging tablet.
| Purpose | Accessories/Requirements |
|---|---|
| Car Entertainment System | Tablet holder, micro-SD/USB, 12v to 5V USB |
| Weather Station | Always-awake app, tablet stand |
| Digital Photo Frame | Google Photos, stylish tablet stand |
| Kid-Friendly Learning Tablet | Child-friendly apps, protective casing |
| Alarm Clock | Customizable alarm app, weather alert app |
| Home Automation Control | Android tablet, smart home apps |
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