The #1 Nexus 7 News, Discussion and Fan Site!

2012 Nexus 7 Discussion Forums (1st Generation) => Nexus 7 Connect (MicroUSB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Pogo Pin) => Topic started by: erik on July 29, 2012, 11:41:37 PM

Title: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: erik on July 29, 2012, 11:41:37 PM
I bought a Micro USB Male to USB A Female Adapter and have successfully hooked up my Nexus 7 to a USB keyboard. But given that an unrooted Nexus 7 doesn't support thumb drives, I'm wondering what other uses this port has—especially since they don't exactly make tons of drivers for the Nexus 7. Is anyone here using the USB port for anything other than a keyboard?
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: Drew on July 30, 2012, 12:03:15 AM
You can use it as you would any USB except for storage (unless rooted). The main use would probably be transferring info/pics/music to and from a computer
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: erik on July 30, 2012, 12:34:51 AM
Drew, have you managed to transfer photos from a camera to the Nexus 7? I have the necessary USB adapters but I don't see any way to get the Nexus 7 to recognize my camera. I'm thinking the same restrictions against the Nexus 7 accessing thumb drives and flash storage apply here. But please let me know if I'm mistaken, if this task can in fact be accomplished through an unrooted Nexus 7.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: Babyfacemagee on July 30, 2012, 12:43:07 AM
I wrote a front page article all about the microUSB here that will answer most of your questions:  http://nexus7forum.com/index.php?topic=336.0 (http://nexus7forum.com/index.php?topic=336.0)
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: Drew on July 30, 2012, 01:05:49 AM
Drew, have you managed to transfer photos from a camera to the Nexus 7? I have the necessary USB adapters but I don't see any way to get the Nexus 7 to recognize my camera. I'm thinking the same restrictions against the Nexus 7 accessing thumb drives and flash storage apply here. But please let me know if I'm mistaken, if this task can in fact be accomplished through an unrooted Nexus 7.

I haven't, simply because I am still waiting for my adapter for micro to micro...for now, I transfer camera to laptop and then to N7.  I will let you know when I get it, unless someone else responds with their experience.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: Drew on July 30, 2012, 09:37:34 AM
Adapter arrived this morning and it works!

When I plug it in it brings up Gallery and my camera is one of the albums (squares).  I don't know if it matters, but I have a Canon and my app is Camera Launcher for Nexus 7.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: radiocycle on July 30, 2012, 09:55:39 AM
Drew, have you managed to transfer photos from a camera to the Nexus 7? I have the necessary USB adapters but I don't see any way to get the Nexus 7 to recognize my camera. I'm thinking the same restrictions against the Nexus 7 accessing thumb drives and flash storage apply here. But please let me know if I'm mistaken, if this task can in fact be accomplished through an unrooted Nexus 7.

I used Dropbox : https://www.dropbox.com/ (https://www.dropbox.com/) and I was able to transfer pics very easily.  Give it a try.

r
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: Kyi on July 30, 2012, 01:26:14 PM
I highly suggest everyone pick one of these up (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006XL26TS/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006XL26TS/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00)), you don't have to use this specific brand but make sure its an OTG cable. I'm not sure of all of the uses, but I know you can use this to hook up cameras, hard drives (not sure if it needs to be rooted), and the reason why I am getting mine: using the Playstation 3 controller to play games on the device. Of course, you will also need the USB to Mini B cable as well, which you should already have if you have PS3 controllers.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: erik on July 30, 2012, 02:11:57 PM
BFM, I read your article and it was really helpful.

A couple questions:

1) I assume a female USB to male micro-USB adapter is not inherently an OTG cable, and that if I want to hook up cameras and flash drives I'll need to buy an OTG cable. Am I correct?

2) Once I own an OTG cable, must my Nexus 7 be rooted/jailbroken in order to access my camera or thumb drive? Drew, if you're reading this, could you let us know if your Nexus 7 is jailbroken?

Thanks so much, everyone! This thread has been super helpful.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: erik on July 30, 2012, 02:52:58 PM
I did a bit more digging in regard to my first question and discovered that not all female usb to male micro USB adapters are OTG. So I just bought an OTG version of this adapter.

One remaining question: I assume that in addition to being able to hook up thumb drives or cameras, this adapter can do everything a non-OTG adapter can do. In other words, I could use this OTG adapter to hook up a USB keyboard. Am I correct on this matter?
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: Kyi on July 30, 2012, 03:31:15 PM
I believe you will be able to use most USB devices with the otg cable but not sure if the device has to be rooted.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: Drew on July 30, 2012, 03:56:41 PM

2) Once I own an OTG cable, must my Nexus 7 be rooted/jailbroken in order to access my camera or thumb drive? Drew, if you're reading this, could you let us know if your Nexus 7 is jailbroken?

Thanks so much, everyone! This thread has been super helpful.

No, no jailbreak, no root, just stock N7.  Do you think it is the camera launcher I mentioned earlier?  I can't think of anything else that would be different.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: Drew on July 30, 2012, 04:29:17 PM
I know the OTG USB cable link is everywhere, but I just couldn't resist when I saw the price.

http://www.amazon.com/Micro-Adapter-Compatible-Google-Nexus/dp/B008MI79HO/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1343687057&sr=8-6&keywords=usb+otg+nexus+7 (http://www.amazon.com/Micro-Adapter-Compatible-Google-Nexus/dp/B008MI79HO/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1343687057&sr=8-6&keywords=usb+otg+nexus+7)
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: birdastrompgman on July 30, 2012, 06:29:34 PM
Thanks for the link, Drew.  I ordered a USB OTG cable minutes ago.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: Drew on July 30, 2012, 06:49:53 PM
Sure, I hope the quality is good.  I bet these are all from the same manufacturer.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: birdastrompgman on July 31, 2012, 12:49:47 AM
Just to clarify, what other cable(s) do I need for full functionality of the mini-USB port besides the above-linked USB-OTG cable and the mini to male USB cable that comes with the charger?
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: Drew on July 31, 2012, 01:08:01 AM
You'll use the first one with the peripherals (keyboard, mouse, etc.) that have a standard male USB.

The second one can be used to hook up to a computer and/or charge.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: birdastrompgman on July 31, 2012, 01:28:26 AM
Thanks for the info.

I plan to root my N7 in about a week, after I return from an Atlanta trip.  Then the sky's the limit.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: dominic on August 02, 2012, 02:25:52 PM
I rooted my N7 and it works fine using a USB OTG adapter with the flash(thumb) drive. However, it does not work when I replace the flash drive with a portable hard drive. May be the N7 does not have enough power to run/read the portable hard drive ?
Any comments, please
Thanks
Title: Re: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: JayJ on August 02, 2012, 02:40:13 PM
I rooted my N7 and it works fine using a USB OTG adapter with the flash(thumb) drive. However, it does not work when I replace the flash drive with a portable hard drive. May be the N7 does not have enough power to run/read the portable hard drive ?
Any comments, please
Thanks

Run the HDD through a powered USB Hub or use a powered HDD.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: dominic on August 02, 2012, 03:32:44 PM
Yes, it works using an external HDD with power.
Thanks
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: JayJ on August 02, 2012, 07:06:21 PM
No worries,  your welcome.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: RDJW on August 03, 2012, 07:19:41 PM
I've got an T&S electronics OTG cable, with an adapter for a micro SD card to standard USB A. A single 32gb microSD stores over 40 movies  (that I own legally on DVD). These are films I love that aren't available w/o extra charges through my streaming subscriptions. Plus, they play beautifully when I'm not near wifi. Of course i had to unlock and root, but this has allowed me to be a walking film archive. And the books (and music) that I can store and keep with me... I don't have a data plan, so this makes an 8 gb N7 into a spectacular media tool. Here's  for how to get there. I found a "how to" page by Josh Smith, titled "How to Use a USB Drive with the Nexus 7" on GottaBeMobile.com. It takes up where the many help pages for rooting leave off.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: erik on August 06, 2012, 03:50:50 PM
Nobody's answered this in this thread, but my OTG adapter still hasn't arrived, and I still need to know if you can use this an OTG adapter to hook up a USB keyboard.

I already have a regular female USB to male micro USB adapter that works fine for this purpose, but I suspect there's no reason to get this sort of adapter when an OTG adapter does the same thing and also supports access to thumb drives in rooted Nexus 7 devices. Am I correct in this assumption?
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: Drew on August 06, 2012, 04:46:26 PM
Erik, by 'this" do you mean the adapter you have now?  I think the adapter you ordered is all you'll need, provided it is micro male to standard female and USB-OTG.
Title: Re: Uses for the Micro USB Port?
Post by: commodore128 on October 19, 2012, 01:19:14 PM
hooked up a portable usb dvd player, just to see if the 7 would recognise it. although the unit whirled no joy. a question of drivers probably