OTG - I dont get it.

[val88]

The point I am trying to make is 'why bother with OTG as it stands today'? If you need to remember to bring along a cable and card reader to access files, it seems problematic (yes, you could lose your 32gb card) and 'clunky'.
What I am hoping to discover is a small thumb-drive with OTG built-in that could happily live attached to the N7.

Because the N7 wasn't created with OTG in mind as a selling point. Thats why google doesn't market it. Otherwise google would have done something here without requiring root.

OTG is a workaround that people are utilizing to do something that wasn't intended. Its a hack, a mod, however you want to label it. And with all hacks and mods, it requires the person to go that extra mile to do something that they could not otherwise do before.

 

[whs37]

Otherwise google would have done something here without requiring root.

You don't need root to download something from an OTG attached stick. The Nexus Media Importer does the job without root.

 

[Liamo_210]

Having been kelping up with thus thread but was wondering if its possible to use an otg cable without root?

 

[Rxpert83]

Having been kelping up with thus thread but was wondering if its possible to use an otg cable without root?

To read, not write

 

[Liamo_210]

So you can watch say videos using it but you cant save stuff to it from the device? Is that correct?

 

[Rxpert83]

So you can watch say videos using it but you cant save stuff to it from the device? Is that correct?

Yes. If you've got videos or documents you could view them, but not make changes

 

[Hook]

I can't understand why micro SD card slots have gone out of favour (Apple to blame?)

No, not Apple. A company that makes money by having you depend on their cloud services is responsible.

 

[Rxpert83]

No, not Apple. A company that makes money by having you depend on their cloud services is responsible.

Not to mention it helps you eat up data. Your favorite non unlimited wireless company likes that as well

 

[John Bean]

I have ordered this device which was linked earlier. It is nearly as handy as a micro SD card - by the looks of it. I will report back once I got it.

I look forward to that. I did a bit of web research and found a few complaints that it didn't work on some phones but did on others, no mention of Nexus though. That's why I posted with the question of whether it will work on a Nexus 7, hoping someone has already tried it.

Here's hoping...

 

[Rxpert83]

Some phones don't have support for otg. That's probably why you saw reports of it not working for some.

 

[whs37]

We'll see. It cost only $6 which is anyhow cheap for a 16GB stick. If nothing else, I use it on the PCs. Today I got the shipping notice. But with US Postal you never know how long it will take. Last year we sent an overnight mail to NY - it took 4 weeks to get there.

 

[losl]

I use it for watching TV programs I've recorded or ripped from DVD collections. Very handy for a session on the treadmill. I use a simple plug (no cable) and the world's smallest micro sd card reader:

Amazon.com: eForCity USB 2.0 A to Micro B Female / Male Adaptor: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: elago Mobile Nano II USB 2.0 microSDHC Flash Memory Card Reader (Black): Electronics

Do you mean that the "eForCity USB 2.0 A to Micro B Female / Male Adaptor"
has the same function as a OTG cable?

Thanks the info!

SLo

 

[magohn]

We'll see. It cost only $6 which is anyhow cheap for a 16GB stick.

It 'supports 16gb' it doesnt come with 16gb. The devil is always in the details.

 

[whs37]

It 'supports 16gb' it doesnt come with 16gb. The devil is always in the details.

Yeah, it's kind of funny the way they specify the capacity. Well, we'll see when it gets here. Worst case I lost $6.

 

[magohn]

Yeah, it's kind of funny the way they specify the capacity. Well, we'll see when it gets here. Worst case I lost $6.

Thanks for giving it a shot. If it works, its more eloquent than the other methods.

 

[Hook]

This looks interesting

Green House Announces Android-Compatible Card Reader | techPowerUp

Okay, I'm going to fess up that I couldn't resist. I have to see what this thing can do. I paid a ridiculous amount of money (half of it shipping) that probably isn't worth it even if it can do everything I think it can, but the geek experimenter grabbed my wallet and ordered it from a Japanese web site (who are very good at communicating about the order, so I think I will actually see it).

I saw a Japanese video and it looks like it hugs the side of the Nexus 7 pretty tightly and I think my Folio case will accommodate it.

When I get it, I'll give a complete rundown with pics, no matter how foolish it makes me look. I have no idea when it will get here.

 

[strollin]

This looks interesting

Green House Announces Android-Compatible Card Reader | techPowerUp

This adapter seems bulkier and more intrusive (not to mention more expensive) than an OTG cable to me so I'll stick with my OTG cable and USB card reader.

I have a 64G SD card filled with movies/TV shows that I carry with me on trips so I have a good selection of stuff to watch. Worsk great for watching on my N7.

 

[MartinS]

I have this:

Buy PNY 64GB Transformer USB Memory Stick - Silver | Free Delivery | Currys

It's pretty small and when I go away from work and want a choice of films then it's valuable to have 64Gb of films to choose from.

 

[boofer]

Hi all,

Recent N7 owner here. I love the device but admit it really needs an SD card feature. I have 16gb which is more than enough for everyday use but if I wanted to load ALL my music and a few movies, I could see where the space would soon be eaten up. I notice a lot of you are using the OTG cable and a card thumb-drive combo. Doesn't this defeat the object of the device though? Im not sure I want to carry a cable and thumb-drive around on the off-chance that I want to listen to certain albums.

Im not criticizing, just wondering why OTG is so popular As a CompSci professor once told me "Yes you can, but why would you"? Is that the attraction, the fact that its possible but at the end of the day, not very practical?

Thanks!

there are many threads already out there speculating that google was moving away from micro SD cards for a variety of reasons...cost (the Nexus 7 is a low cost device), using the "cloud" more, etc.

at any rate, the OTG cable feature doesn't "defeat" any purpose at all. it opens up the possibility to consume almost anything on your tablet without having to delete and copy files over on a constant basis. i have a 1TB external hard drive that's smaller than a deck of cards, and the N7 powers it without any issues. if i'm going on a trip, i can bring all of my media with me. furthermore, i can delete locally-stored files from the tablet and copy over whatever i want from the hard drive, then unplug the drive and enjoy. all of this, on the go, on an airplane, anywhere. this is a great feature! try doing that with your iPad...

even if the N7 had a microSD slot, it stil wouldn't let you bring all of your media with you, unless you bought a boatload of microSD cards and copied everything onto them, and then brought all of them with you...

 

[magohn]

Okay, I'm going to fess up that I couldn't resist. I have to see what this thing can do. I paid a ridiculous amount of money (half of it shipping) that probably isn't worth it even if it can do everything I think it can, but the geek experimenter grabbed my wallet and ordered it from a Japanese web site (who are very good at communicating about the order, so I think I will actually see it).

I saw a Japanese video and it looks like it hugs the side of the Nexus 7 pretty tightly and I think my Folio case will accommodate it.

When I get it, I'll give a complete rundown with pics, no matter how foolish it makes me look. I have no idea when it will get here.

I'm excited to see your results.

 

[magohn]

there are many threads already out there speculating that google was moving away from micro SD cards for a variety of reasons...cost (the Nexus 7 is a low cost device), using the "cloud" more, etc.

at any rate, the OTG cable feature doesn't "defeat" any purpose at all. it opens up the possibility to consume almost anything on your tablet without having to delete and copy files over on a constant basis. i have a 1TB external hard drive that's smaller than a deck of cards, and the N7 powers it without any issues. if i'm going on a trip, i can bring all of my media with me. furthermore, i can delete locally-stored files from the tablet and copy over whatever i want from the hard drive, then unplug the drive and enjoy. all of this, on the go, on an airplane, anywhere. this is a great feature! try doing that with your iPad...

even if the N7 had a microSD slot, it stil wouldn't let you bring all of your media with you, unless you bought a boatload of microSD cards and copied everything onto them, and then brought all of them with you...

This appears to be a circular debate. I understand that its possible and for some people, a handy addition. My question was if its really worth the time/effort for the average Joe. To me, its like the early days of the Pocket PC where yes, I could get email on the device but to do so I needed a cable and my cellphone with me at all times. Yes, it worked, but it was a definite hassle to make sure I had my email 'kit' with me on journeys etc.

I just feel we have progressed so much since the mid-90's and carrying HDs and cables around seems like a step backwards. Until an integrated mini-usb/otg/sd comes on the market, I think Id rather manage my space than worry about cables, HDs, swapping out files etc. At some point it becomes too much work - for me at least

 

[val88]

This appears to be a circular debate. I understand that its possible and for some people, a handy addition. My question was if its really worth the time/effort for the average Joe. To me, its like the early days of the Pocket PC where yes, I could get email on the device but to do so I needed a cable and my cellphone with me at all times. Yes, it worked, but it was a definite hassle to make sure I had my email 'kit' with me on journeys etc.

I just feel we have progressed so much since the mid-90's and carrying HDs and cables around seems like a step backwards. Until an integrated mini-usb/otg/sd comes on the market, I think Id rather manage my space than worry about cables, HDs, swapping out files etc. At some point it becomes too much work - for me at least

Because you're still not getting that an OTG cable is not meant for the average joe. Thats the whole point. Its a tool for people who wants to do different things that the N7 wasn't meant to do or do things in more granular detail.

The same way most people prefer cell phone cameras and point n shoots because the mainstream masses don't want to go through the hassle of metering light and calculating F stops. You wouldn't tell a professional photographer to just use an iphone to take pictures because its just easier to tap on the screen.

 

[whs37]

Depends what you do with the N7 - if you want to have a lot of videos available at any place, the OTG is handy. The man who carries 1 Terabyte worth of movies around has no other choice. No SD card reader will solve that problem.

 

[magohn]

Because you're still not getting that an OTG cable is not meant for the average joe. Thats the whole point. Its a tool for people who wants to do different things that the N7 wasn't meant to do or do things in more granular detail.

The same way most people prefer cell phone cameras and point n shoots because the mainstream masses don't want to go through the hassle of metering light and calculating F stops. You wouldn't tell a professional photographer to just use an iphone to take pictures because its just easier to tap on the screen.

Then its more experiment than practical. So for most people, its too much of a hassle. Im looking for a practical solution rather than leaving the house with my McGyver belt just in case I want to watch a video.

 

[MeatLoafT]

My cable was delivered yesterday, and woohoo!
I'm not rooted, but using Nexus Media Importer, I can get the space I was using for movies and music cleared off of my Nexus 7!