Build a cheap smart home with old smartphones

Several startups help you create a smart home on the cheap using old smartphones. Tyler Lizenby/CNET

The smart home market is expanding. Dropcam-Nest, SmartThings,Wink and others have captured much of the early attention, but some plucky startups are taking a decidedly more DIY route.

Instead of presenting a polished finished product, these folks want you to use the outdated smartphone or tablet you already have at home (and probably forgot about long ago) to create a functional security camera, smart thermostat and more. Naturally, borrowing key features from an existing product is much less expensive, and the makeshift smart home devices that result even hold their own against some retail-ready devices.

Manything is a free app that turns your old iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch into a security camera. Once you download the app, you're just a few minutes away from having a decent live-streaming device, complete with motion sensing capabilities, email alerts, push notifications and an IFTTT channel. The Manything IFTTT channel makes it possible for you to create recipes for your new security camera and other IFTTT-compatible devices, like Belkin WeMo products and Philips Hue LEDs.

RicoRico completed a successful Kickstarter funding round and will start delivering units in 2015.

Kickstarter

MindHelix RicoRico is a cuddly-looking device that happens to have motion, temperature, smoke, carbon monoxide and humidity sensors built into its unassuming puppy frame. You can also stick an old Android or iOS device inside Rico and it quickly transforms into a pretty solid home security system. In addition to Rico, MindHelix also has plans for Belkin WeMo-style smart plugs called Smart Sockets. The startup successfully completed a Kickstarter campaign for Rico and Smart Sockets in October and expects to send out its first production units in November 2015.

Apps from several startups, like People Power's Presence pictured here, help you create a smart home on the cheap using old smartphones.

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Build a cheap smart home with old smartphones