Lack of firmware updates, damaged touch modules, depleted batteries, broken buttons... there are many reasons why tablets and smartphones end up in a drawer, or even worse, in a pile of e-waste. However, all these devices need is a new role. Today's goal is to turn your old Android tablet into a flip clock to give your desk a retro touch, and you don't need to hack anything: with the right apps, it's more than enough.
Want a Flip Clock...?
It's inevitable: every time I think of a flip clock, the Panasonic RC-6015 explodes in my mind. Why? Because it's Marty's clock in Back to the Future, of course. Today you'd have to pay a fortune to get one, so I decided to look for modern flip clocks... only to find that their prices aren't very friendly either (at least, locally). The so-called 'retro tax' is real.
So the only alternative left is to simulate a flip clock. This gives rise to a much more interesting possibility: reusing mobile devices. How many generic Chinese tablets without firmware updates have been left in a corner collecting dust? How many smartphones were replaced overnight by a failure that retired them but didn't kill them? I imagine you have something like that nearby, and if you want to follow my path, today you'll be able to turn your old Android tablet into a flip clock easily with one of these three apps.
Zen Flip Clock
The most popular option on the Android store, and definitely the most complete. In addition to the flip clock, you'll also find in Zen Flip Clock features like a Pomodoro mode, a stopwatch, and different themes. The remaining parameters are exclusive to the premium version, and its permissions are a bit strange... but if the tablet has Android 5.0 or higher, start here.
Open Source Alternative: FlipClock
FlipClock is a creation by the developer Alynx Zhou on GitHub. Technically it's a wrapper for the screensaver that Alynx offers on Windows, Linux, and Mac, but if you want something simple, free, and open source, this is what you're looking for. Its only function is the double tap on the screen, which changes the format from 12 to 24 hours. FlipClock doesn't carry strange permissions, but it doesn't work on Jelly Bean or earlier. In that case...
Pre-Android 4.4: Flip Clock Daydream
All I've been able to find out about this flip clock is that it was created by 'Uugu Dev.' and that it's configured as a screensaver for Jelly Bean or older devices. It's basic to the core, there are no configuration options, and it doesn't have animations for the digits, but it works very well. The only detail is that you'll have to download and install the APK manually. Our link is based on APKPure, though there are other mirrors.
In Summary
With the help of these apps, turning your old Android tablet into a flip clock will be a matter of minutes. The rest is up to you. Personally, I put the tablet in airplane mode, connected an old USB charger, disabled the screen sleep, and that was it. The warning for OLED screens still applies (watch out for permanent burn-in), but I imagine your devices' panels will be LCD, with no major risk of burn-in. Go ahead and try it!
