Hi guys
I should have posted this a long time ago but I thought I could find the info I needed scattered around the interwebs. But I can't. And also, I just don't have the technical knowledge to wrap this project up. Here's what I want to do:
I'd like to buy a cheap android phone to use as a webserver, with an attached external USB HDD. The actual website is on weebly.com and I only need to link in videos which will be on the HDD. The total amount of data is around 1TB and from what I gather I need to connect the following:
HDD -> usb hub with AC power -> android phone running PAW on AC power. -> wifi router -> internet.
However, my questions are:
1. If I use a USB OTG cable, can I remove the phone's battery to keep it always on, connected to the charger?
2. Can the phone handle both AC-charging and data-transmission at the same time?
3. Which phones can run this (supports OTG and PAW)?
My budget is around $200. I've seen people do some amazing stuff with their androids and OTG- cables, but can this specific task be done? Thanks for any help, as I am in an incredible hurry to get this going.
Related
I'm just wondering, is it possible to use a mini USB hard drive such as this one: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...1&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=SS&cid=25682&lid=585550
to extend a phone's memory?
My guess is that it wouldn't work since the hard drive is bus powered. It would probably take some sort of special formatting. But has anyone ever tried this?
Your phone doesn't have USB hosting capabilities. It has to way to run another USB device. I don't think that is ever going to be planned into the development road map of PPCs and Win Mobile.
Also I just don't see why you would want to tether your phone to an external hard drive especially with 8gb+ mini/micro SDs coming to market and the ability to download your desired files from the internet or a VPN on the fly.
What you may see is Wifi and Bluetooth storage devices being wirelessly connected to your phone. It might even be possible now -- can anyone link up with a Zune to their phone via wifi?
some have like flame and Athena
think the main problem is that usb host mean one
have to substain a 500mA output current at 5volt which mean 2.5watt
that would suck a normal phone dry pretty fast
SeanFromSoCal said:
Your phone doesn't have USB hosting capabilities. It has to way to run another USB device. I don't think that is ever going to be planned into the development road map of PPCs and Win Mobile.
Also I just don't see why you would want to tether your phone to an external hard drive especially with 8gb+ mini/micro SDs coming to market and the ability to download your desired files from the internet or a VPN on the fly.
What you may see is Wifi and Bluetooth storage devices being wirelessly connected to your phone. It might even be possible now -- can anyone link up with a Zune to their phone via wifi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess that's a good point about an external hard drive not being needed. You could always run orb or a similar client which basically does the same as hooking up the hard drive. Well, thanks for clarifying anyway.
Hi. At the company I work for, we are looking for a tablet pc to use as point of sale on small stores. The idea is to stop using desktop pcs, and use tablets instead.
The exact requirement is a tablet that is:
1. Cheap (US$ 500 max)
2. Has USB Host ports or USB OTG. USB accesories to be connected include keyboard, USB to Serial, USB to Parallel converter, or USB Dot Matrix Ticket printer(Epson TMU), and a USB Wired network adapter.
3. If possible, one that has Wired network conectivity(RJ-45)
4. Has unlockable bootloader. It's best if it's provided by the manufacturer, but as long as it works, it's okay.
5. Tha manufacturer provides kernel source code.
Other conectivity options, such as WiFi or 3G really don't matter, as those will be disabled, because they are not needed.
The tablet would go inside a specially designed case, together with the ticket printer, the power adapters for both, and maybe the keyboard.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance
Hello Com,
Is it possible to be able to quick charge a tablet while having an active data connection at the same time?
Why I ask?
I want to build a solution where a tablet is connected to a pc. Both need to have a steady data connection as they share information and custom events. The tablet is for interacting with the user an will run a custom app. The computer is for controlling and operating other stuff the tablet is not capable of. Because of easy and fast substitutions, the tablet will have to stay in delivery condition - so modding the tablets hard-/software is out of question. The solution runs 24/7 and my current tests show that the power of the tablet is drained faster than it is recharged via the usb connection to the computer.
I tried to find accessories, but did not find any. All I found were ambigious information.
I know that the usb specification does not allow quick charge (more than 450mA) and a simultaneous data connection via a (single) cable. I thought of something like the splitted y-cable we know from external harddrives. Or maybe a custom adapter were you plug in an additional charger like those active usb hubs. I want to stay away from wireless data transmission (like using bluetooth and connecting a quick charger) if possible.
Therefor I ask of the general possibility of how to accomplish my task. If it is only possible with refaining from usb at all, then please tell me how.
(Please do not suggest solutions, without (at least theoretically) verifying them yourself first.)
Great thanks in advance.
Hi guys. Is there an app out there that makes it possible to connect an external USB flash drive or 2.5" drive to the shield tab via its USB port?
I'm pretty sure you just do, and you'll be good. Strangely I've never had any problems using an OTG USB drive with the Shield. That's what you'd be looking for, by the way... Am OTG cable.
One quick thing to note is, be prepared to need to power the hard drive. The tablet may not have enough juice to power a full hard drive. So if you plug it in and it isn't recognized, try a powered USB hub.
Secondly, make sure you have ES file explorer.
I use a WD ultra passport portable 1tb drive and a otg cable.
I just plug in, open ES file explorer an get what I need an unmount an disconnect.
You'll lose a few percent of battery potential as expected.
WR
Thanks guys. I'm honestly shocked this actually works. I tried it with my WD passport laptop drive and low and behold it works flawlessly. With the research I did in the past with my HTC EVDO 3D, and reading all the comments on various messageboards, I really thought connecting USB HDDs to any Android device would not work. Does it work in this instance mainly because the device is a Shield Tablet? Or is it only because I'm rooted, and as a result any rooted Android device will allow USB HDDs to be used?
OTG and enough power
It just works if your (android) device has an On the Go (OTG) USB connector AND if it gives enough power to your (hard) drive. If there isn't enough power, you need a Y OTG cable and external power source. Many smartphones do not provide the 500mA at 5V they should provide, but tablets usually give enough from my experience.
How do I connect my Android TV stick to my laptop? It has no reset or power on button. Just a microsd slot and two USB ports: a regular one and a mini usb one.
Hi can you tell us a little more about your device what make brand ect ect also some photos would really help
yes model number would help a lot.
usually it is going to be connected via the regular USB connector to the PC. Then you should see the internal and/or external SD cards as part of your computers resources.
Power on and off is by plugging in the power source, which sounds like it is micro-usb. Then remove to power off.
additional tips...
Some additional tips; I hope they can help...
In the OS settings, under "Device", subheading "USB", make certain that "connect to PC" is checked.
Also, if you use a microUSB-to-USB cable to connect the dongle to your PC, make certain you use a cable that you know has all four wires internally connected.
- I was going nuts one time, trying to figure out why I could not get the stick PC to connect over USB, and it turned out I was using a cheap microUSB-to-USB cable that was intended for power ONLY. (it had only the two power wires in the cable, and not the two data wires). Swapping the cable out solved that dilemma.
Cheers!