Old phones get a second life as browser-based smart displays
The Register (Offbeat) · July 22, 2026
curated by Sönke
German developer Tuan Anh Bui built ScreenWall, a free beta web platform that turns spare phones, tablets or monitors into wall displays for clocks, weather, status boards or signage via QR-code pairing and the Screen Wake Lock API, no app install required. Reconnecting after a tab closes or a device sleeps remains clunky, and a self-hosted version is being considered for privacy-minded tinkerers.