Manything

Free home security with old iOS devices. FREE WITH IAP | MANYTHING.COM

Manything (“monitor anything”) transforms spare devices into home security cameras. As long as your devices run iOS 8.0 or later and has a working camera, you’re in business. (The app can be used on older devices running iOS 6 or iOS 7, but only if you install on a newer device first.) Getting started is a snap: Register for an account from the first device (this can only be done within the app), then choose whether that hardware will be used as a Viewer or Camera. Repeat the process by installing the app on a second device and logging in with the same credentials. Then you’re ready to tap the red button on the Camera device, and a few seconds later, the live stream appears on the Viewer device.

The app is free but limited to live streaming from a single camera. That’s enough for infrequent use or for parents with a newborn child, for example, but subscription plans (available direct or via iTunes) add cloud recording from $5.99 per month for one camera.

We were impressed by the breadth of its capabilities. Standalone security camera systems are equipped with features like motion or sound detection and alerts, and these are available here as well. You can adjust video streaming quality, with separate options for Wi-Fi and cellular.

Detection offers 10 levels of sensitivity with the option to set up specific zones to monitor, while alerts can be sent via push notification, email, or both. The only real limitation is that the app tends to be a battery hog.