Samsung has announced that it has launched a new initiative to bring old smartphones back to life . This is a new software update that will allow consumers to turn their older Galaxy smartphones into various IoT and smart home devices. The initiative, called “ Samsung Galaxy Upcycling at Home ”, is an extension of the Galaxy Upcycling program and is currently in beta. Galaxy Upcycling at Home will initially be available in South Korea, the US and the UK, and will later be rolled out to other countries.
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According to Samsung, the software update provides improved sound and light control capabilities, leveraging the built-in sensors of older Galaxy. Consumers can use the new features through SmartThings Labs in the existing SmartThings app, to choose how they want to use these older devices.
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Old devices can be turned into smart home devices, as baby monitor screens, light sensors, etc.
Samsung is also leveraging an AI solution that enhances the devices' ability to distinguish sounds, so older Galaxy devices can be used to store certain audio recordings, such as a baby crying, a dog barking, or a knock. When it detects these sounds, it will alert the user's primary device so they can listen to the recordings.
Older devices can also be set up to act as light sensors. They will measure the brightness of a room and automatically turn on the lights or TV via the SmartThings app if the room is darker than what you set.
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The update will also come with battery -related improvements to minimize battery usage so that devices can be used for long periods of time for these new features.
Galaxy Upcycling at Home will be available for all Samsung Galaxy S, Note, and Z smartphones released from 2018 onwards that run Android 9 and above. The company said that more devices will be supported in the future.
“Smart home devices are a rapidly growing trend in consumer electronics, and we believe that older Galaxy devices that are not currently being used can play an important role in transforming every home into a smart home,” said Samsung Mobile Vice President and Head of the SmartThings Group, Jaeyeong Jung.
“The program converts Galaxy devices into SmartThings devices and demonstrates the power of our smart IoT platform in the effort to expand the capabilities of what users can do with their old phones. Through Galaxy Upcycling at Home, users will have access to the full SmartThings ecosystem, and will explore broader updates and capabilities without needing to purchase a new device“.
A Samsung executive said: “We are looking at how we can use existing resources and we believe the key to upgrading is to enable solutions that transform old technology into something new.”
Source: ZDNet
