Using a usb flash drive with the phone

[spidremann]

Does anyone know if you can use a USB Female A To USB Mini Male B 5 Pin Adapter to attach a thumb drive to an Android phone (in particular the Sprint HTC Hero with the 2.1 update).

That would save me a world of work!!

 

[Isthmus]

Don't know, but you can definitely connect the cables, whether the device will read the thumb drive is a different matter. You can always just move the thumb drive contents to your device by connecting them both to your computer. Just mount your phone to the computer and move the content over directly to the device's microSD card from the thumb drive. I do that with mine all the time and yes I use a regular usb cable to a micro usb converter to hook up my phone to the computer.

 

[spidremann]

Don't know, but you can definitely connect the cables, whether the device will read the thumb drive is a different matter. You can always just move the thumb drive contents to your device by connecting them both to your computer. Just mount your phone to the computer and move the content over directly to the device's microSD card from the thumb drive. I do that with mine all the time and yes I use a regular usb cable to a micro usb converter to hook up my phone to the computer.

That won't really help me out too much, because the only reason I "need" this function is for extra storage when I'm out at work (for video, pics...etc). I already have 16GB thumb drives, so I don't want to have to buy big micro sd cards. Plus, they're a real pain to have to take out the battery to install!

 

[Isthmus]

That won't really help me out too much, because the only reason I "need" this function is for extra storage when I'm out at work (for video, pics...etc). I already have 16GB thumb drives, so I don't want to have to buy big micro sd cards. Plus, they're a real pain to have to take out the battery to install!

I'm not following, are you trying to move files to your MSD or off it? I thought you meant into it (as in for long term use on your phone). For short term storage and moving files off, it should be easy enough using your phone's wireless functions or plugging it directly to your computer as you would your thumb drive.

Are you saying that you want to use your phone to record work related content and then move that content directly from your phone to your thumb drive? if so I don't think you can do that, but don't quote me on it (you might be able to on a tablet though). You might just want to bite the bullet and buy a larger MSD card. They are not hard to install, and you can do it in two minutes, even if you have to remove the battery.

 

[spidremann]

What I need to do is use my phone to take pictures...etc, plug a thumb drive into the phone, use Astro file manager to move files from micro sd to thumb drive, all WITHOUT a computer.
I do not want to have to repeatedly swap out micro sd cards because 1) it's expensive per GB, and 2) it takes far too long for the phone to reboot every time I have to take the battery out, and 3) I often have many things going that prohibit me from being able to take out the battery.

 

[Isthmus]

What I need to do is use my phone to take pictures...etc, plug a thumb drive into the phone, use Astro file manager to move files from micro sd to thumb drive, all WITHOUT a computer.
I do not want to have to repeatedly swap out micro sd cards because 1) it's expensive per GB, and 2) it takes far too long for the phone to reboot every time I have to take the battery out, and 3) I often have many things going that prohibit me from being able to take out the battery.

I think you are misunderstanding me. You only change your mad card once and only so you can have more storage space. You don't have to remove it again afterward. Take your pics and just plug the phone to directly to your computer his a USB cable, then move your files over just like you would do with your thumb drive. There is no need to move files to the thumb drive or to remove the msd from the phome.

 

[mrmojoz]

Unless you have a hacked ROM that allows it (there is an article on engadget about someone doing this on a Nexus One with 2.2), you cannot plug in a thumb drive and use it.

 

[spidremann]

I'm not following, are you trying to move files to your MSD or off it? I thought you meant into it (as in for long term use on your phone). For short term storage and moving files off, it should be easy enough using your phone's wireless functions or plugging it directly to your computer as you would your thumb drive.

Are you saying that you want to use your phone to record work related content and then move that content directly from your phone to your thumb drive? if so I don't think you can do that, but don't quote me on it (you might be able to on a tablet though). You might just want to bite the bullet and buy a larger MSD card. They are not hard to install, and you can do it in two minutes, even if you have to remove the battery.

I think you are misunderstanding me. You only change your mad card once and only so you can have more storage space. You don't have to remove it again afterward. Take your pics and just plug the phone to directly to your computer his a USB cable, then move your files over just like you would do with your thumb drive. There is no need to move files to the thumb drive or to remove the msd from the phome.

A key part of my requirement is NO COMPUTER. I can't explain my needs any clearer, but I believe you taking what you perceive the end result to be and going off that assumption. You just need to take what I'm stating as requirements as just that. Thank you for your help though.

 

[spidremann]

Unless you have a hacked ROM that allows it (there is an article on engadget about someone doing this on a Nexus One with 2.2), you cannot plug in a thumb drive and use it.

Thank you for the info. I'll have to find the article. I can't believe that this is not something baked into the OS. I need to physically transfer files to a thumb drive and hand that drive off to someone else. That shouldn't be too hard! lol

 

[Chroma]

search function still works, albeit forgotten to everyone

http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/70361-external-usb-storage.html

http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/83960-android-phone-usb-otg-host-besides-droid.html

 

[spidremann]

search function still works, albeit forgotten to everyone

http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/70361-external-usb-storage.html

http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/83960-android-phone-usb-otg-host-besides-droid.html

Thank you, Chroma, that's exactly what I WAS searching for, but didn't have the terminology to narrow it down. I'm not happy about the answer, but at least I know, and knowing is half the battle, right?

 

[TonyP]

I've been looking for the same thing, the only adaptor that I found works with the microSDcard slot, but there must be a micro usb to microSD converter somewhere, my old phone could handle this but the nexus one has the microSD card below the battery.

So checkout mobidaptor: Mobidapter: SD Adapter for USB Memory Pens

The other option that will word for SD cards and work via a browser is airstash. Basically a wireless portable flash card host. Works as portable drive for iPad, iPhone, etc.

You can find the air stash at AirStash: wireless flash drive + pocket media server + SD adapter for iPhone, iPod touch & iPad

 

[Bluesman2008]

I know there's a version of VNC for the HTC Incredible, and if there's a portable version that would work on the thumb drive, you'd be in business. I've used VNC a lot from laptop to PC but since switched to Team Viewer but VNC does the job. This way you just remote control the thumb drive. Just a thought.