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OVER CHRISTMAS, YOU may have upgraded your smartphone to replace your old one. Now that a few weeks have passed, your old devices are probably gathering dust somewhere.
If that’s the case, there are a number of things you can do with it that are better than just leaving it to one side.
With improvements in smartphones becoming more pronounced, it may still have a bit of life in it still, and even if it doesn’t, you can still recycle or donate it.
Use it as a dedicated device
This will very much depend on how old your smartphone is but considering the range of apps available for them, it’s easy to dedicate one to a specific task.
The main apps on any phone will give you enough to work with. For starters, you could use your old phone as a music/podcast player, a dedicated eReader, or as a smart alarm clock instead.
Yet you could go one step further and turn it into a smart remote for your PC, a makeshift mouse and so on. If you have a tablet, you could turn it into a second monitor for your PC and if you have kids, you could turn it into a dedicated device for them.
Since it’s no longer needed to find a phone signal or receive notifications, it won’t drain as quickly, and it will give your main phone a bit of breathing space.
Recycle it
Probably the most popular method for smartphones, all manufacturers have their own recycling initiative and some like Apple will compensate you if you submit it to them.
It’s not a bad idea to check the maker’s site first (as well as those who aren’t the makers of your phone) before you do anything as you could get store credit or a small payment for it.
Give it to charity
The more philanthropic approach. A number of charities like Jack and Jill, Bumbleance and Dogs Trust allow you to donate by sending in your old phone, who will then recycle it or refurbish it for reuse.
The other method, if the device you’re handing in is in good condition, is to have it resold in a charity shop. If you decide to go down this route, make sure you mention any problems that might arise before you hand it off.
Sell it off
The lucrative option but one is by no means guaranteed to work out. The older your device is, the less chance someone is going to buy it so do your research first and compare it to similar devices before you put it up.
Unless it’s a new device and hasn’t been touched, you probably shouldn’t expect to get full value from it.
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Did you know that if you stand on the Great Wall of China you can actually see the moon.
Not if he’s in Korea.
Brilliant …. love this sort of story. Will I be able to see it in Newbridge? If so I’ll be out with my jacket and a scarf (bloody well cold up here compared to Cork) and a cuppa to have a look
Wondering the same thing myself Eileen!
Download the iss app to your phone Eileen -I am also in newbridge and its a brilliant app -alarm goes off to let you know when its due to pass -I’ll be out tonight looking up at it -crutches and all
Naas is on the line
The moon being upside down is surely a bigger story!
Vews (and photos) through a telesope are upside down. Same with view through one’s eyes but the brain turns them up “the right way”. Someone just forgot to flip the photo.
There was an experiment years ago where people were given spectacles which showed everything upsidedown. It took a couple of days but eventually their brain adjusted so they could see normally! They had a few more unpleasant days when they stopped using the glasses.
Clear sky over Dublin tonight, is the moving station visable with the human eye?
It’s easily visible with the human eye. To ne honest it looks like a very large shooting star in my opinion. I have used a basic pair of binoculars and made out good detail.
It is extremely bright in the night sky, moving at a fairly fast pace. You can’t miss it.
That is no moon!
I wll tell the kids it’s the Emporers Shuttle arriving :-)
Lol, he’s just here for a look around… We’ll send him packing, probably would like it much like the airwaves adds.
Oh so that’s the moon! Thanks Journal!
Pass the beer nuts please
Do you live in the west? Cloud cover?
That’s my thursday evening sorted so :)
Grand, my boss lives in the moon. I will tell her to have her coins ready so she doesn’t miss this one…
Astronomy Ireland have a page showing where this will be visible here
I’m delighted that the picture above is captioned.
Just saw it passing by. That was very cool! Thanks for the tip off. It was moving a lot faster and much brighter than I thought!
bet ya €5 the clouds come out to watch as well always the same frigging irish weather
I’m so excited!
Will a person not on the line see the station at all ? I remember when the shuttle flew over after launch and most people could see it. What’s different here ?
Thanks Ciara
Clouds in Dublin as per usual. Caught a glimpse but nowhere near the moon.
Stupid cloud about to obscure the moon at 20.48 grrrrr
Got some pics and a video so a very happy camper here.
Cool. Anyone interested space x are the new movers in space exploration and they have some cool ideas if you like these type of things.
Just spent past hour and a bit looking to the sky’s on lovely clear night and didn’t see a thing:( glad didn’t spend good money on that ha
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