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ScreenWall – Turn old phones into synced widgets for your space

screenwall.app

11–20 of 54 posts

Re: ScreenWall – Turn old phones into synced widgets for your space

#11

Oh wow, although I submitted it some days ago, I somehow got on the front page! Thanks for that! Also as a note: this platform is nowhere near finished! I had this idea in my mind for a long time that I wanted to reuse my old phones and tablets as displays in my home. I also know that finding the right apps for these old platforms is a challenge in itself, that's why I went the route of creating an ES5 (that nobody w…

Very nice project, thank you for sharing it on HN! May I ask why login is required, and how are emails/passwords stored?

Re: ScreenWall – Turn old phones into synced widgets for your space

#12

I've wanted to build this myself for a long time but couldn't figure out how to overcome the spicy pillow problem. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, but I thought it was risky to leave a phone plugged in all the time. Does it need to be a modern version of Android OS that has the smart charging that stops at like 85%?

The safest option is probably to remove the battery and run the phone from a (well defined/build) external power source, e.g. like this: https://yaky.dev/2022-09-06-smartphone-without-battery/

Re: ScreenWall – Turn old phones into synced widgets for your space

#14

Oh wow, although I submitted it some days ago, I somehow got on the front page! Thanks for that! Also as a note: this platform is nowhere near finished! I had this idea in my mind for a long time that I wanted to reuse my old phones and tablets as displays in my home. I also know that finding the right apps for these old platforms is a challenge in itself, that's why I went the route of creating an ES5 (that nobody w…

Very nice project, thank you for sharing it on HN! May I ask why login is required, and how are emails/passwords stored?

An account is necessary to couple your devices to your wall. And auth is implemented via Better-Auth. I stopped Codex immediately when he tried to implement the login stuff from scratch. :)

Re: ScreenWall – Turn old phones into synced widgets for your space

#15
post #12

I've wanted to build this myself for a long time but couldn't figure out how to overcome the spicy pillow problem. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, but I thought it was risky to leave a phone plugged in all the time. Does it need to be a modern version of Android OS that has the smart charging that stops at like 85%?

The safest option is probably to remove the battery and run the phone from a (well defined/build) external power source, e.g. like this: https://yaky.dev/2022-09-06-smartphone-without-battery/

Not all phones work without a battery in the case.

Re: ScreenWall – Turn old phones into synced widgets for your space

#16

Usually I replace a smartphone because it has some hardware fault that makes it unusable and it is hard to repair or the cost of repair vs capability is not very favorable. Even if I was replacing smartphone before they died, I would probably sell them anyway. Do people really have various phones in working order waiting in a drawer?

Usually I replace my phone when the battery is almost dead and a full charge doesn't last more than a few hours. At that point the phone is usable but not good enough to sell. I usually keep it as an emergency backup phone

Re: ScreenWall – Turn old phones into synced widgets for your space

#17

I've wanted to build this myself for a long time but couldn't figure out how to overcome the spicy pillow problem. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, but I thought it was risky to leave a phone plugged in all the time. Does it need to be a modern version of Android OS that has the smart charging that stops at like 85%?

>I thought it was risky to leave a phone plugged in all the time

I have had phones on a charging dock for long periods. No issues.

Unless you have some budget small brand phone that was too cheap to be true, most phones are fine plugged in.

Re: ScreenWall – Turn old phones into synced widgets for your space

#19

Usually I replace a smartphone because it has some hardware fault that makes it unusable and it is hard to repair or the cost of repair vs capability is not very favorable. Even if I was replacing smartphone before they died, I would probably sell them anyway. Do people really have various phones in working order waiting in a drawer?

Usually I replace my phone when the battery is almost dead and a full charge doesn't last more than a few hours. At that point the phone is usable but not good enough to sell. I usually keep it as an emergency backup phone

You might as well buy a new battery then

Did that for 20 € for my Oppo Find X3 Pro at my closest tech store and saved me from buying a brand new phone

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