Using an OTG cable, can we add storage to this? I am looking at using this with the new Skylander's Trap Team game but it takes over 6GB of storage.
All previous Nexus devices, at least that I'm aware of, have not had USB storage enabled by default. However, it's usually easily added by rooting and then installing an app such as StickMount. If things are really bad, you'd need a replacement kernel, but that's likely as much as you'd have to do.
Related
This is related to this topic
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=885837
I'm thinking about setting up a [BOUNTY] to port over the Nexus 1 hacked USB host driver that works with External HDD & memory sticks
... and see if we have enough people willing to donate for the cause.
AllGamer said:
This is related to this topic
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=885837
I'm thinking about setting up a [BOUNTY] to port over the Nexus 1 hacked USB host driver that works with External HDD & memory sticks
... and see if we have enough people willing to donate for the cause.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What exactly does the driver do? Allow your phone to access the memory on external storage devices?
kenvan19 said:
What exactly does the driver do? Allow your phone to access the memory on external storage devices?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, connect USB flash drivers, or external USB hard drives, connect USB cameras to access the pictures from the disk, etc
there are other uses such as USB keyboard/mouse, but i doubt any one uses it for that, my old HTC phone did it
Count me in AllGamer
+1 I would love this.
Sent from my Nexus S
I'm game also, great idea!
Sent from my Nexus S
Me too. Good idea!
Sounds pretty cool.
I had read in some other random forum that if you have rooted your Nexus 7, which I have, and run app "StickMount" you can connect a usb thumb drive to the nexus and give yourself more space, even install apps to the USB drive to run from. I am wondering (and am going to test it out later this evening) if anyone has tried connecting a USB hub, so that you can have say 4 ports to add different drives or game controllers/whatever else and android will recognize the different devices?
As a realist, I'm just hoping the single USB stick connection will actually work as a storage expansion area, as we all know there is no micro SD slot. I actually have an old college friend I keep in touch with who works on the Nexus development team, who had no good answer as to why micro SD was removed, as well as the ability on devices with a micro SD no longer allow the installation of apps to the sd card. I was pretty convinced it was simply because the OEMs decided to name their internal memory /mnt/sdcard which used to be the external card's mount point name, but I'm told it is more complicated than that. Am I the only one that really feels like no apps to the SD in ICS or jellybean, is quite a downgrade? I understand we can use the "cloud" now ... but that's simply not the same, and surely not as fast as a local drive (maybe?) I then proceeded to yell at him to not let the group of stupid consumers influence the great features that the half-brained+ consumers know how to properly use, to no avail. Using the micro to full USB port to mount a thumb drive seemed to be the best way to add more storage locally. Thoughts? Thanks
- Herby
- Real-time embedded software developer going on 12 years, working in the satcom, medical device, aircraft display, and aerospace domains
NM - Just found app "USB Host controller" which does exactly what I asked Yayyyy!!
There are actually a whole slew of these that are even free, most require root however, which I recommend using the program with GUI interface developed specifically to unlock the bootloader, and then root the nexus 7. I think it was called Root_Toolbox or something like that. I am not at home or I would report back the official name. If anyone wants it just let me know. Thank you!
Herby6262 said:
I had read in some other random forum that if you have rooted your Nexus 7, which I have, and run app "StickMount" you can connect a usb thumb drive to the nexus and give yourself more space, even install apps to the USB drive to run from. I am wondering (and am going to test it out later this evening) if anyone has tried connecting a USB hub, so that you can have say 4 ports to add different drives or game controllers/whatever else and android will recognize the different devices?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A hub works great. I've had 3 flash sticks mounted at once along with a mouse and everything has worked without a hitch.
The caveat here is to ensure you're not pulling too much current - the OTG max current source spec is alot less than the 500mA a normal USB PC host port is able to source.
Hello
I have the following issue. I bought an otg cable and it was able to mount my flash and mouse the first two times. Since then, it only gives a kick start and both my mouse and flash drive are powered down after 3 seconds. I tried them separately. To summarise the problem my nexus 7 does not give enough power to its microusb to be efficiently running an external device or the software recognizes it improperly and shuts it down.The cable works, since its been tried on 2 other devices. Now I wasn't able to find a proper solution to the problem so I'm asking if someone's dealt with such an issue. Running a rooted stock android 4.2.1
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
You didn't mention which app you are using to be able to mount external storage. It requires Nexus Media Importer (paid app, read/stream only) or the free Stickmount (requires root, provides read/write/streaming). A mouse or keyboard will work without root or either app, but mounting storage requires an external app or a custom kernel with built-in support.
I am using stickmount, and I'm sure it would do its job if I get the devices power for more than 3 seconds
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Any new ideas, perhaps a custom kernel ? Any recommendations
Have you tried to see what the app "USB Host Diagnostics" tells you when you try to mount?
It's from the same maker as stickymount, maybe that will give you some better insight at what's happening.
I would include a link but since I'm new on this forum it won't let me yet.
rockhopperpenguin said:
Have you tried to see what the app "USB Host Diagnostics" tells you when you try to mount?
It's from the same maker as stickymount, maybe that will give you some better insight at what's happening.
I would include a link but since I'm new on this forum it won't let me yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello there, yes I have tried it several times, but it could not discover any attached devices, since, as mentioned, the power to the external devices is cut off 3 seconds after the physical insertion. Said devices aren't powered, that's what bugs me. If somehow electricity reaches them, I would be somewhat relieved since the problem would apparently be from the os or software. Right now I cannot get power to the devices, that's why I cannot do any diagnostics. Any ideas on why that might be ?
I would try another OTG-usb cable. Perhaps yours is just enough out of spec it worked at first, but now fails, or it may have been damaged after the first uses. Maybe static shock or it got bent or something. I got one through Amazon delivered to me from Hong Kong for 65 cents (including shipping). It took 17 days to receive, but it works great. I don't know how they can make any money like that, but I'm happy.
Well I know its been talked about in the other threads of the possibilities. So now since we have the devices here, are proceeding with unlocking and rooting the devices. Has anyone had luck?
Sadly I do not have a OTG cable yet to test this but at least wanted to start somewhere.
Edit: Yes it is, see post below for link. Device needs to be rooted for it to work!
Says he was able, after root, to mount 2 drives simultaneously.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=43991406&postcount=9
Nburnes said:
Says he was able, after root, to mount 2 drives simultaneously.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=43991406&postcount=9
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brilliant! Thanks
Has anyone try this:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.homeysoft.nexususb.importer
It doesn't require root so it should be good for stock users.
I can confirm a stock non rooted N7 I threw in a USB flash drive and read files and played a movie real quick earlier just to see if it all worked, didn't try much more then that but can try some more tomorrow. Still busy transferring and reinstalling apps from old N7.
I cannot get Nexus Media Importer to work on stock. It reports all memory sticks as protected.
I have a non rooted stock nexus 7 2013. The media importer doesn't work for me also.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Now rooted using Stickmount, still not working. The drive can be seen but it seems only small files can be viewed, and you can't copy them or do anything with them. Non of my, larger, movie files show up.
I was able to copy a 3GB movie file from a flashdrive to the onboard memory with no issues. Maybe try a powered USB hub? I didn't have to in this case but it might help.
I tried to read an external hard drive and had to use a powered USB hub to even have it mount. Alas, couldn't read anything. Don't know if it's because the hard drive was formatted NTFS or because it was 750GB.
USB OTG Helper works for me. It also supports NTFS drives.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Can anyone tell if it's possible to to use OTG while wireless charging the device?
Need this for my car dashboard tablet replacement.
I think the problem with that would be that it would drain after than it charges. Qi charging doesn't have great amperage.
Sent from my Nexus 7
J_M_H said:
USB OTG Helper works for me. It also supports NTFS drives.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
works for me as well, I am wondering if there will be a root flash-able mod like the original N7 had to turn OTG on.
Why does Google not allow OTG to be active out of box? Is the lure of trying force people into using the cloud that strong? Clouds drain more battery compared to local content and wifi connections do not have 100% coverage like local does.
The reality is the reason this device is priced at near break-even pricing IS the cloud, so this is why there is no SD slot or full OTG, out of box. Most people do not mod, so most people will be part of their cloud control strategy. I would rather pay $50 more and let Google make a profit on the device, that way I could have a micro sd slot and OTG out of box. Curse Google and their quest for content control and data mining! :silly:
Earlier I said it wasn't working, without knowingly changing anything both Stickmount and Nexus Media Importer now work. I am rooted and perhaps Stickmount is making NMI work.
J_M_H said:
USB OTG Helper works for me. It also supports NTFS drives.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stick Mount works 100% fine for me, just watched a movie from my thumb drive. I am stock+Root. Open file system and on SD card look at the USB Storage folder if you are unfamiliar with Stick Root.
Is otg ok with usb pen drive or 2.5 hard disk without power supply?
sasu85 said:
Is otg ok with usb pen drive or 2.5 hard disk without power supply?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and I also used it with a USB External HD and it worked fine there, too.
I had issues with OTG on my first N7 2013. It was a flaky connection and would go into a connect/disconnect loop and then just stop all together. I returned it and picked up a different. That one seems to work fine.
Stock, not rooted, and using Nexus Media Importer.
Some people may want to try rebooting their N7 as well.... If you look at the NMI app in the Play Store the developer knows there are a few issues with Android 4.3 when first using the app.
Landara said:
Yes and I also used it with a USB External HD and it worked fine there, too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much!! I love OTG features...
This new Nexus 7 has OTG support and also Slim port connection (for hdmi)...SUPER GOOGLE!!:good:
Hi. I'm considering buying an external hard disk to use with my Nexus 10. I have a USB memory stick which works fine with the USB OTG cable I have, but need more capacity.
Will an external hard disk work with the Nexus 10 and a standard OTG cable, or would I need to power the hard disk for it to work? ie. Would I need to get a 'Y cable' or use another power cable for it to work? Or does it depend on the hard disk?
I've searched, but the answers I've found conflict or are vague as to whether external power is required.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
USB is USB, as far as the device is concerned. If it can power the memory stick, it should be able to power the drive (as long as it is if the portable variety (I.e. the drive itself requires a power cable), although you probably could figure that part out yourself.
I haven't tried this myself, of course, but I can't foresee any problems. It should work without any problems!
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
good luck
I tried my otg cable with powered and non powered hard drives and it doesn't reed any data even if it recognises the drives. It's a known issue with the nexus 10. There is an app called Nexus Media Importer which should solve all problems for all nexus devices connected to external memories but i havent tried it. I suggest you to try somehow before buying.
I'm getting the impression that 'it depends'. Some say it works, some say it doesn't. It may even depend on the hardware (how much power it needs). Just hoped someone could draw on personal experience to advise rather than me having to take a leap of faith (buy one and hope for the best).
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta