Vent: switched from hidden cameras to just using an old smartphone and a magnet for under $20

Used to drop $80 on those cheap IP cameras that always died within six months, but now I just tape a magnet to an old Android, run Alfred, and hide it behind a bookshelf in my living room so I can actually see my front door feed without lag or cloud fees - anyone else find that dedicated hardware is way overhyped for basic needs?

3 comments

3 Comments

murphy.tessa1mo ago

Does Alfred still drain the battery fast even with the screen off?

davidkim1mo ago

Not exactly screen off but yeah it still drains. The main issue is Alfred keeps polling location even when you're not using it. Turning off background refresh helps a little but it's not a fix. The real problem is the app itself, not just the settings. The browser version bypasses all that battery hungry code. It's straight to the point with no bloat running in the back. If you're still getting drain after turning off background refresh, check location services for Alfred specifically and set it to "while using the app" instead of "always." That made the biggest difference for me.

logan6581mo ago

Total agree with you on the background app refresh thing. I had to turn that off for Alfred specifically and it helped a ton with the drain but then the updates are way slower. It got to a point where I just uninstalled the app entirely and use the browser version when I need it, battery life is way better now.