Guides, comparisons and ideas for turning the phone in your drawer into a security camera, baby monitor, pet camera and more.
New right-to-repair laws in Colorado, Washington, and the EU are changing how long phones stay useful β here's what changed, why it matters for e-waste, and what to do with the phone you've already replaced.
Insurers reserve their biggest discounts for professionally monitored alarms, not standalone cameras β but footage still speeds up claims and helps after a break-in. Here's what to actually ask your insurer before you buy anything.
A July 2026 analysis of FBI crime data across 74 U.S. cities shows the "summer burglary spike" is real in cold-winter metros but reverses on the Pacific Coast β plus practical, low-cost ways to be ready either way.
Belkin's Wemo shutdown is the latest reminder that cloud-dependent security cameras can stop working the moment a manufacturer moves on. Here's what the pattern means for your home security setup β and how to protect yourself from the next one.
NOAA's 2026 outlook, real post-storm burglary data, and a practical pre-evacuation checklist β including how a spare phone recording continuously can back up your home inventory even if you have to leave in a hurry.
Millions of kids spend the after-school hours home alone once the new school year starts. Here's what the research and child-safety experts say, plus a practical checklist β including a low-cost way to confirm your child made it home safely.
A week-by-week look at the tech and AI news that touches your home: new smart-home camera moves, a Ring facial-recognition lawsuit, an Apple email-privacy suit, Connecticut's new brain-data law, and the AI models everyone's talking about β explained for homeowners, not engineers.
A federal emergency grid order and record heat are straining power and phones alike this week β here's what that means for a phone-based home security camera and how to keep it running.
New national data shows package theft is finally falling β but it's still a $37 billion problem. Here's what the numbers say actually works, and how a camera aimed at your door fits in.
A homeowner-friendly recap of the past week's biggest AI, smart home, and privacy stories β from a Supreme Court ruling on location data to the growing backlash against license-plate cameras.
Old phones carry more personal data than a quick delete removes. Here's what federal guidance and independent research say about wiping a phone properly β whether it's headed to a recycler, a buyer, or a second life as a home security camera.
Summer is peak travel season, and an empty house sends its own signals. Here's what the latest crime data actually shows, and a practical, non-paranoid checklist for protecting your home while you're away.
Living alone should feel freeing, not nerve-wracking. A handful of simple habits β plus a camera you can check from your phone β turn "what was that?" into quiet confidence. Here's a practical, renter-friendly safety guide with no drilling and no fear-mongering.
A home break-in is rare, but the worst time to figure out what to do is while it's happening. Here's the calm, expert-backed plan police and safety groups agree on β protect yourself first β plus what your camera should capture so you're covered afterward.
Pointing a camera at your own front door is one thing β but the sidewalk, a neighbour's window, or the audio track are another. Here's what the law actually says about recording at home, in plain English.
Do cameras really stop a break-in, or just record it happening? We looked past the marketing at surveys of convicted burglars and decades of criminology β and the answer is clearer than you'd think.
Real home security isn't one gadget β it's five layers that work together. Here's how to build all of them, including one layer that costs nothing but an old phone you already own.
The world generated 62 million tonnes of e-waste in a single year and recycled barely a fifth. Here's what the research says it does to soil, water and human health β and the simplest way to help.
Worried a phone can't record around the clock? Here is how to run an old phone as a 24/7 security camera β reliably, without overheating or a dead battery.
That phone in your drawer can become a 24/7 security camera in about five minutes. Here is exactly how.
The greenest phone is the one you already own. Seven practical ways to reuse an old handset instead of binning it.
Before you spend on a dedicated baby monitor, it is worth asking whether an old phone would do the job better.
You probably already own everything you need to check in on your pet during the day. Here is how to set it up.
Placement is the difference between useful footage and a wall of blur. The six spots that matter most.
One email when a new guide goes up. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
We send a confirmation link first β nothing arrives until you click it.
By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy. Β· Unsubscribe