Which Android phone USB audio host/otg - General Questions and Answers

I need some advice choosing an android phone.
Intended use is:
-USB host device for an audio class compliant usb 2.0 adc/dac just under 500ma current draw
-sdxc card slot (hopefully for 1tb storage in 1-2 years)
From searching posts it looks like a usb 3.0 phone will have a better chance of supplying higher current to the audio device, someone correct me if I'm wrong please.
I would prefer smaller over larger (any mini would be nice but it looks like no usb 3.0 is available) but also high-ish battery capacity. Top two picks are S5 and Note 3. Don't care about screen resolution/gpu or just about any other feature so long as the basics work.

As far as I am aware, power delivery ability is all up the way the freakin' device is programmed for and 500mA is completely within USB2.0 spec so, why @#$% USB3.0?
Ulefone Power? (Uuuh, brickslab class I know :silly
Cheers

Related

Simultaneous micro usb to 3.5 mm audio out while charging possible?

A similar question has been asked on modaco but I don't think a solution was found. Therefore I am going to ask if this would work here.
Is it possible to connect a micro usb (male) to mini usb (female) adapter up to this thing (HTC 4 in 1 adapter: I can't post link because I am a new user but just search it on youtube). This would connect to the tg01 micro usb and provide a 3.5 mm audio out in addition to a mini usb connection where one could potentially hook up a charger. I was thinking of testing this out as it would cost about 10-15 dollars but I do not want to damage my phone in the process. I have no electrical engineering knowledge but maybe someone else can explain if this would work before I order anything.
On a side note: I order samsung WEP870 bluetooth headphones on sale as an alternative to this. Note sure how sound quality is but I will try answer any questions you guys might have.
Any input is welcome.
mobius8 said:
Is it possible to connect a micro usb (male) to mini usb (female) adapter up to this thing (HTC 4 in 1 adapter: I can't post link because I am a new user but just search it on youtube). This would connect to the tg01 micro usb and provide a 3.5 mm audio out in addition to a mini usb connection where one could potentially hook up a charger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was heavily involved in the discussion running on MoDaCo you refered to; unfortunately there has been no breakthrough on this issue to date.
I did look into the the HTC adapter you mention, but it actually uses the proprietary HTC ExtUSB plug on the input end (connecting to the phone) and NOT a normal mini-USB. The ExtUSB has 11 pins which include a discrete audio output (being used to feed the 3.5mm jack socket) and also hard-wired power (used to accept the charger input).
In the case of the TG01 uUSB socket, it is too 'intelligent' for its own good. Every function, charging, audio out, USB data transfer, etc., is under procesor control. Different functions are triggered by the device 'seeing' a certain resistance across the sense pin and ground; depending on this the processor then configures the use of the socket pins accordingly.
I am after what you are trying to achieve also; there is a chip supposedly available which is intended to fulfil exactly this functionality, but I've been unable to find any devices on the market which use it and attempts to contact the manufacturer with a view to getting a few samples to try and build an interface have so far been unsuccessful.
I've attached a couple of documents which explain the uUSB Charger Adapter and also the chip spec sheet for reference.
View attachment MC34825.zip View attachment batt_charging_1_1.zip
If anyone else knows anything to help move this one forward, will be much appreciated !
Thanks for the nice explanation,
Hopefully one day there will be an adapter that can make this possible.

Add external usb webcam to phone?

Can you add a webcam to the charge?
Sounds kind of dumb, right? Well here is what I am thinking.
I need a inspection camera on occasion, aka snake camera. Well, they are ~300 for a decent one. So I found that they sell just a little usb camera on a flexible cable for cheap.
If I could get this to display on the Charge, that would make for a nice budget inspection camera.
So is that possible? Does the micro-usb port work like that on these phones? Or just for charging? What about the micro-hdmi?
I'm pretty sure the HDMI is output only. The USB provides a mass storage interface and a debugging interface. It *may* be possible to do something like that through the debugging interface, but it wouldn't just work...it would require some software to be written for the device, if it's possible at all. I really don't know how much info you can put through the debugging interface, so it may be a total wash.
Tiny Camera Monitor Pro
Just my take on it, If you had another Android Device (Hero, Droid orginal, etc) you could just set it up as a webcam, and see that on video stream on your Charge. You'd have to have a custom setup to get that snake cam to work. You'll have to keep digging the internet to see if anybody else has done it.
Why couldn't we be the first? The HDMI is output only, but the USB port has been used as a port for some flash drives on other devices. Google USB Host Control and USB Mass Storage for Android. Obviously, at least *some* (sarcasm) code would have to be written, and it would likely only work with that one model of camera (drivers, would be a PITA to write multiple). Also, there would be an issue of an external power source to power the camera as I don't think you could just power it from the port.
Tl;dr seems possible to me but it would take quite a bit of work, maybe more than its worth
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
This really depends if the charge has usb host capabilities.
I actually kind doubt it but could be wrong, although most tablets do though.
And as far as powering the webcam you could use a self powered usb hub.
This is a issue the touchpad has and perhaps could be relevant, the touchpad had host capabilities . but can't supply enough power so some folks jimmyrigged it up.
http://rootzwiki.com/topic/3724-functional-usb-host-on-touchpad/
One could possibly get USB host support to work, but I think that it'd be difficult to get the camera to be usable on the Charge. Drivers wouldn't be the biggest issue, I would think getting the device powered and having a way to view what the camera is seeing would be a bigger problem.
imnuts said:
One could possibly get USB host support to work, but I think that it'd be difficult to get the camera to be usable on the Charge. Drivers wouldn't be the biggest issue, I would think getting the device powered and having a way to view what the camera is seeing would be a bigger problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seem like it could be possible. Seen this with cyanogenmod 9.
Type "External USB cam on Android 4.0.4 with Toshiba folio 100" into youtube
ncunning said:
Seem like it could be possible. Seen this with cyanogenmod 9.
Type "External USB cam on Android 4.0.4 with Toshiba folio 100" into youtube
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except that the folio is a tablet and has USB host built in, meaning it can run/use devices by itself instead of just being a device. Also, the tablet has much more power to spare, while powering something like a camera on USB would kill this phone quickly.

[Q] USB host mode max current supply

I thought it is a common question to ask how much current can a mobile device that supports USB host mode deliver at max, but I couldn't find any satisfying answer. I know traditional USB port on PC can usually deliver 500 mA at max, tablets or mobile devices that support USB host mode or OTG functionality may possibly cannot supply that much current.
Do you have any idea how much current a tablet, say Samsung Galaxy Tab, can deliver current at max? It may depend on brand and model. If so, can you please give me some examples?
I am gonna buy mobile RFID reader however, that module can draw current up to 500mA, around 2.5 Watts, and wondering if tablet can supply that much or not..
Any ideas greatly appreciated

Makeshift USB/HDMI "Dock"...?

I want to take advantage of the S5 MHL capability. Perhaps eventually using the phone as my everyday computer.
So I would need to have usb keyboard and mouse while connected to a monitor.
I have ordered the device pictured below, it reportedly supports the S5 in some kind of half-assed way, meaning that you may have to fiddle with inserting cables in a certain order to get it to work.
This is what I read anyway.
I want to know if any of you have used the Galaxy S5 in such a way. Will my device work? Know of a better solution?
I had some dreams of making my own Diy S5 dock, but I would have to know what kind of electronic/hardware configuration works (if any), as the S5 is different in that it does not support dock mode (Why samsung... why?).
Well I can report that it works. HDMI out works with sound, and it charges while doing so, but the USB port and the card reader does not work apparently.
Obviously the form of the device is a poor match for the Galaxy S5. I had to remove the plastic housing to make it fit, because of the watertight hatch in front of the USB port. Later I will use a USB extender cable.
Hopefully there is a possibility to make OTG (or host mode, or whatever it's called) work.
It appears this device supports the S5
http://andromiumos.freeforums.net/thread/4/officially-supported-android-phones?page=1&scrollTo=4
http://www.andromiumos.com/
There is two question marks here.
1) Does S5 support simultaneously operation with OTG active and HDMI output active.
2) Does this gadget also support such a functionality?
I don't know. I've read people claiming that you can use both hdmi & otg at the same time including post's on xda. But i've also read people saying you can't. I certainly havn't seen any video demonstrations.
By the way i currently have my S5 displayed on my monitor using mhl->hdmi adapter and have my pc mouse and keyboard working on the S5 wirelessly with Samsung SideSync. I opened the xda app with the pc mouse and have typed this reply with the pc keyboard. I've done some navigation on the phone, opened and used a range of apps. All is well till i opened firefox and the mouse disappeared from the monitor. It's still displayed and functional on the S5 screen though. Closed firefox and the mouse is displayed on the monitor again.
Sent from my SM-G900I using XDA-Developers mobile app
mbdroidsony said:
All is well till i opened Firefox and the mouse disappeared from the monitor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Therefore your new question this is : Does Firefox (Android) this supports four input devices connected at the same time?
Android Keyboard = 1
External keyboard = 2
Android touch pad = 3
external mouse = 4
And all that active by also active HDMI
I would be surprised if Android OS has such potentials.
I was using Andromium OS app which gives you option to turn off android keyboard and dim S5 screen. Both those functions worked. Andromium OS has 3 menus from start menu. Andromium Apps(browser, file manager), Supported Apps (gmail, youtube), Unsupported apps (all other apps installed on device). PC mouse and keyboard worked fine with Andromium Apps & Supported App. PC mouse and keyboard also worked fine with most unsupported apps i tested except firefox browser and adblock browser. If i get my hands on a bluetooth mouse/keyboard i'll test again to see if it works with firefox browser and adblock browser from monitor.
Personally I am going to use my HP iPAQ FA287 Bluetooth keyboard at S5 ( or at least I will try).
Also ordered one OTG cable (CY U2-166) that hopefully this will offer power to the phone and External HDD, due micro USB (female input for charger cable) and this will become also my mouse input too.
Therefore I am interested for your inquiry / investigation, possibly as much you do, because I do also favor Firefox.
I favour android firefox browser and adblock browser because they are consistent in providing desktop view. I'll provide an update here when i get my hands on a bluetooth mouse & keyboard.
Kiriakos-GR said:
Personally I am going to use my HP iPAQ FA287 Bluetooth keyboard at S5 ( or at least I will try).
Also ordered one OTG cable (CY U2-166) that hopefully this will offer power to the phone and External HDD, due micro USB (female input for charger cable) and this will become also my mouse input too.
Therefore I am interested for your inquiry / investigation, possibly as much you do, because I do also favor Firefox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, did this cable charge your S5 while using OTG/USB Host?
Sent from my SM-G900I using XDA-Developers mobile app
mbdroidsony said:
Hi, did this cable charge your S5 while using OTG/USB Host?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My cable did not arrive yet from China.
But even so, in the past days I did some research about finding more details by discovering the factory that makes those cables.
According to real Specifications: (after me correcting errors due bad translation)
High quality Original USB 2.0 Micro-B HOST OTG CABLE
Interface:
Micro USB male: = Output To be connected with OTG complying device ( Your phone or tablet).
Micro USB female: = DC input To charge = Supply of Power due micro USB female connector ( This is only to supply DC voltage to USB A plug this powering hard drives etc etc).
USB female: To connect with USB A device.
Therefore or in conclusion, this cable is not in position to supply power for the phone and the external hard drive.
Later on, that I did the electrical math, I can now explain and the why ? (this cable cannot do both).
By assuming that mobile phone or tablet this requiring 450mA at charging (due PC USB plug), and removable hard-drives (some of them requiring another stable supply of 500mA) the sum this is almost 1A of power.
Manufacturing of OTG cables this requiring from the manufacturer, him to make a product according to OTG cable international standards (compatibility - safety - functionality).
Only if Samsung makes a OTG cable specifically for S5, this will be able for active Host and charging.
All cables available at the moment, them have generic compatibility and non of them will work as we expect or wish.
Kiriakos-GR said:
My cable did not arrive yet from China.
But even so, in the past days I did some research about finding more details by discovering the factory that makes those cables.
According to real Specifications: (after me correcting errors due bad translation)
High quality Original USB 2.0 Micro-B HOST OTG CABLE
Interface:
Micro USB male: = Output To be connected with OTG complying device ( Your phone or tablet).
Micro USB female: = DC input To charge = Supply of Power due micro USB female connector ( This is only to supply DC voltage to USB A plug this powering hard drives etc etc).
USB female: To connect with USB A device.
Therefore or in conclusion, this cable is not in position to supply power for the phone and the external hard drive.
Later on, that I did the electrical math, I can now explain and the why ? (this cable cannot do both).
By assuming that mobile phone or tablet this requiring 450mA at charging (due PC USB plug), and removable hard-drives (some of them requiring another stable supply of 500mA) the sum this is almost 1A of power.
Manufacturing of OTG cables this requiring from the manufacturer, him to make a product according to OTG cable international standards (compatibility - safety - functionality).
Only if Samsung makes a OTG cable specifically for S5, this will be able for active Host and charging.
All cables available at the moment, them have generic compatibility and non of them will work as we expect or wish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung hasn't made it easy for us S5 users. Might have to resort to wireless charging at this rate.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Qi Wireless Charging Kit EP-WG900IBEGWW
Just going to throw this out there...
Why not use a bluetooth mouse/keyboard (or even one of those combined ones) with the phone mirroring it's screen to a ChromeCast plugged into your monitor? There's minimal (and I mean you're looking at 10ms) lag - or that's my experience, but I have a really really really fast router etc - and if you're planning on using it essentially as a PC, this setup will work wonders. Plus you can plug the phone in. I've considered using my old S3 in this way.
yetep said:
Just going to throw this out there...
Why not use a bluetooth mouse/keyboard (or even one of those combined ones) with the phone mirroring it's screen to a ChromeCast plugged into your monitor? There's minimal (and I mean you're looking at 10ms) lag - or that's my experience, but I have a really really really fast router etc - and if you're planning on using it essentially as a PC, this setup will work wonders. Plus you can plug the phone in. I've considered using my old S3 in this way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Charging the S5 through 2A cable would be faster than wireless charging. MHL to HDMI adapter charges the phone as well as mirror your phones screen. I've never used bluetooth mouse and keyboard. Would the S5 support pairing and using both mouse and keyboard at the same time?
By the way there are products for the S3,S4 that support mhl, otg & charging at the same time like the UNITEK Y-2165.
http://www.amazon.com/UNITEK-Multim...5&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00OFKY4XA#Ask
mbdroidsony said:
By the way there are products for the S3,S4 that support mhl, otg & charging at the same time like the UNITEK Y-2165.
http://www.amazon.com/UNITEK-Multim...5&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00OFKY4XA#Ask
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speaking of compatibility, S5 this is a brother model to Note III.
I do such an assumption due the identical charging system specifications.
From the other hand with all those variants of G900, there is no chance to offer an 100% reliable prediction if you do not test any such OTG product with your own phone.
The link above this is about a Currently unavailable product.
Even so it is interesting that this worked for someone with Note III.
mbdroidsony said:
Charging the S5 through 2A cable would be faster than wireless charging. MHL to HDMI adapter charges the phone as well as mirror your phones screen. I've never used bluetooth mouse and keyboard. Would the S5 support pairing and using both mouse and keyboard at the same time?
By the way there are products for the S3,S4 that support mhl, otg & charging at the same time like the UNITEK Y-2165.
http://www.amazon.com/UNITEK-Multim...5&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00OFKY4XA#Ask
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The S5 (or certainly my model, G900T) DOES support everything I mentioned however my bluetooth mouse/keyboard is a 2 in 1 setup with the mouse being a trackpad below the keyboard, similar to a laptop. It mirrors directly to my monitor and I've forced Landscape orientation throughout the OS so it works wonderfully. I've not tried yet with the S3, but I'd assume it'd work the same way. Just need to force the screen to stay always on, pop the screen brightness right down and hide it away in a cupboard and boom, full android computer.
On the original question, a cable must exist but unfortuantely I don't know where.
yetep said:
Just need to force the screen to stay always on, pop the screen brightness right down and hide it away in a cupboard and boom, full android computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definable this is a bad idea the screen to stay always on.
Does phone screen brightness this have any effect at HDMI output (brightness) ?
Nope, but turning it off does. I don't mind it burning out as it's an old device I don't use.
yetep said:
Nope, but turning it off does. I don't mind it burning out as it's an old device I don't use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bet 20 Euros that every one reading this topic he/her, will wonder of why you/he, does not simply turn the brightness down.
Either way, Android it is crippled operating system with out offering much of productivity as it does one regular Windows PC.
Neither a smartphone this is capable for long term gaming, the poor thing does not even have active cooling, and CPU will start slowdown so to protect it self from overheat.
My 0,2 cents, you are in a wrong path.
Kiriakos-GR said:
Speaking of compatibility, S5 this is a brother model to Note III.
I do such an assumption due the identical charging system specifications.
From the other hand with all those variants of G900, there is no chance to offer an 100% reliable prediction if you do not test any such OTG product with your own phone.
The link above this is about a Currently unavailable product.
Even so it is interesting that this worked for someone with Note III.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The link i gave has a few reviews that can give you an idea of what phones are compatible and which ones arn't. Youtube has video demos of the UNITEK Y-2165, unfortunately none for the S5. It appears the desktop dock feature is on the Note III where as samsung removed the dock feature from the S5.
---------- Post added at 12:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 AM ----------
yetep said:
The S5 (or certainly my model, G900T) DOES support everything I mentioned however my bluetooth mouse/keyboard is a 2 in 1 setup with the mouse being a trackpad below the keyboard, similar to a laptop. It mirrors directly to my monitor and I've forced Landscape orientation throughout the OS so it works wonderfully. I've not tried yet with the S3, but I'd assume it'd work the same way. Just need to force the screen to stay always on, pop the screen brightness right down and hide it away in a cupboard and boom, full android computer.
On the original question, a cable must exist but unfortuantely I don't know where.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh ok, so only 1 device paired.
There's a great app for having screen brightness right down called Screen Standby.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nkahoang.screenstandby&hl=en
The adronium os app forces landscape.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andromium.os&hl=en
I tell you what, i really like the concept of carring you desktop in your pocket. Can you imagine that, doing your desktop stuff, unplug the phone and head out with everything you did at home on the desktop in your pocket. I know microsoft have a desktop adapter for their Lumia 950 XL phones which changes the layout to desktop mode on the monitor/tv to give you that PC-like experience.
Microsoft Display Dock
https://www.microsoft.com/en/mobile/accessory/hd-500/
It's a real shame samsung removed dock support from the S5.

[Wishlist] OTG cable and car deck stand

I am looking for good OTG cable, one which is of good, decent quality and also provides sufficient power to run and use an external HDD. Budget upto Rs.300
My old OTG cable sucks, as it can only read pen drives, mouse, keyboard and other small devices and not a HDD, I heard the HDD making clicking sound often, as soon as I connected it via OTG cable, meaning it does not have sufficient power to run the drive , or so said my friend.
Next, I am also looking for a decent quality car deck stand well, for Moto X2 only is alright or universally 5" devices would be suffice, vacuum or sticky, either way its ok. Budget upto Rs.500
Thank you all in advance for all the efforts to be made and done

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