How to Use an Old Android Smartphone As a Home Surveillance Camera

Many people these days have several old smartphones that would be a waste if they were thrown away. In fact, they are powerful computers. We should keep using them.

For example, we can turn an Android phone into a home surveillance camera via an App named Security Cam. Security Cam App can continuously take photos according to the specified time interval, and intelligently compare the difference between the two photos before and after. When the difference exceeds the specified threshold, it will be saved to the album and send an alarm email to you. You can view the surveillance photos anywhere via email or cloud album.

1.Security Cam You can download it from the Google Play Store. It's link is https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nolansoftware.securitycam

2.Outlet Timer, be used to solve the problem of long-term charging of mobile phone.

3.Mobile phone holder.

Download and install Security Cam App.

Touch the gear icon in the home screen above to enter the configuration screen. Here, you can set the taking picture frequency, similarity threshold, brightness threshold, email and other parameters. Return to the main screen after setting.

To hold the phone in a place close to the power source and hidden, we may need a suitable phone holder, as shown above. You can turn your phone's screen to face the wall so it looks like you're charging and doesn't attract attention.

When the 'Security CAM' is running, the mobile phone is always in the stutas of taking pictures, which is very power consuming. In order to be able to monitor for a long time, it needs to be plugged in at all times. But this can easily lead to overcharging.

We can solve this problem with the magic device of the Outlet Timer ,as shown in the picture above.The Outlet Timer can be automatically closed and then automatically opened after a period of time to prevent your phone from overcharging.

Touch the 'Start Monitoring' button at the bottom of the home screen to start monitoring.

Once monitoring is enabled, if the 'Security CAM' finds that your home has been broken into, etc., it will take and send a photo to your designated email and save to album named 'SecurityCam', you can view it anywhere  via email or cloud album(You need to sync the 'SecurityCam' album to your mobile cloud album).

And when you get home, you can also view the surveillance photos you took in your phone's album named 'SecurityCam' or in the Security CAM's menu item 'View Monitoring Pictures'.

In summary, there are two ways to view monitoring photos remotely.

1. By email, you just need to enter your mailbox settings correctly in the options screen, and then accept the mail in your other daily mobile phone.
2. View via Cloud Album, you can sync 'SecurityCam' albums to your phone's cloud album, so you can view your surveillance photos from anywhere with the cloud album.

Now, everyone take out the old mobile phone inside their drawer to do it, you will have unexpected surprises!