As new devices continue to come out, chances are you will find one that really catches your eye. Of course that means you're stuck with the old device unless you sell it on Swappa or trade it in. However, it seems used smartphones are depreciating a lot quicker since newer phones are hitting the market just as fast. If you can't sell your old device or you don’t want to, then do the next best thing. Take that old phone and turn it into a portable media player. Not sure about how to go about doing that? Well you're in the right place. Hit the break to get started.
Get some accessories
First and foremost before you can even use that device as a portable media player, you need to invest into some quality headphones or a portable bluetooth speaker. I'm rocking this little Android speaker and it's only $25 plus shipping. The 4w stereo speakers packed into this little frame produces decent sound. They won't change the way you hear music but they do a decent job nonetheless.
On the headphone front I would recommend the a-Jays we reviewed here. The sound they put out for the price is hard to be beat.
Factory Reset/Flash a new rom
The first thing you need to do is factory reset the device. You can do this through settings or do a clean wipe using a custom recovery. If you have the latter you can find a decent stable ROM to use. I say stable because, nothing kills the enjoyment of your music like a random reboot right in the middle of it. Another reason to use a custom ROM instead of the stock one that comes with the device is that you're more than likely going to get rid of the bloatware that takes up space. If you don’t want to run a custom ROM, doing a factory reset still makes sense since your phone will run alot smoother. Just make sure you have backed everything up.
Install Some Media Apps
What's the point of having a portable media device without having access to your media. Apps like Spotify, Slacker or Pandora are great. If you have a premium account for any of these apps then you can download music for offline listening. The new comer in Play Music's All Access, which combines an easy way to access your library and stream music you don’t already own.
We have a good list of Podcast apps to check out for those of you who listen to those. YouTube and Play TV & Movies are staples for more media consumption. With adequate storage, you will be able to rock or watch to your hearts content. Of course you’ll need a decent music player for that.
Don’t forget, you might not have a cellular connection anymore, but you still have Wi-Fi for live streaming or downloading stuff for times when you will be away from WiFi.
Storage
Storage is one of the most important aspects of having a portable media player. While most older Android phones have a micro SD slot, newer ones can be hit or miss. Most devices have at least 16GB (usable storage is always less) so you should be good to go. With music being in the cloud these days you should be fine regardless, but you will be limited to a WiFi connection.
Conclusion
That's it. Your old phone may not have the horsepower you need for daily use but it's more than capable of being a portable music/media machine. With the right accessories and media software, you will breathe new life into your old device. Throw in a good pair of headphones and/or a decent portable speaker, and you'll be ready to rock out wherever you are.
Come comment on this article: Breathe new life into that old android phone by turning it into an personal media player
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