Help Purchasing Nexus 7-How to add external storage

[markw10]

The Nexus 7 seems like the perfect tablet and I plan to purchase the 16GB version shortly. I also have the Xoom and have used the memory card slot for extra memory.
With the smaller size of the Nexus 7 I plan to use it frequently while on the go. I know that the Nexus 7 unfortunately doesn't have a memory card slot. This is unfortunate but with the Micro-USB port are there any options for additional storage? I know there's devices that can plug into this but that it depends on what Android Jelly Bean can support. I'd like to be able to simply purchase a memory card reader that can plug into it and have memory cards inserted into it. I'd even use the option to have an external hard drive if necessary. The only thing I've come across is the possibility of using wireless hard drives for storage.
Has anyone been able to add external storage such as the solution with a memory card reader and a memory card? If not, what hard drive solutions, wireless or not, work?
Thank you for your help with the above questions.

 

[chanchan05]

Android 4.0 and beyond supports USBOTG, which means it can read flash drives or even external HDDs if you have an adapter.

 

[breadnatty08]

Check out this thread:
http://androidforums.com/nexus-7/589205-adventures-usb-otg-what-you-using.html
I already maxed out the storage on my 8Gb N7, but it was from backup ROMs, so I would probably not even recommend the 8Gb. There's also cloud storage you can use like Drop Box.

 

[Omar Days]

Android 4.0 and beyond supports USBOTG, which means it can read flash drives or even external HDDs if you have an adapter.

I have a nexus 7 and the only usb otg capabilities it has are using mouses and keyboards. You can't hook up flash drives and external HDDs via usb unless you root.

 

[chanchan05]

I have a nexus 7 and the only usb otg capabilities it has are using mouses and keyboards. You can't hook up flash drives and external HDDs via usb unless you root.

Really? it requires root? I had thought it was a built in feature not a Samsung modification to be able to do that without root.

 

[Omar Days]

Really? it requires root? I had thought it was a built in feature not a Samsung modification to be able to do that without root.

Nope, afraid not!

My galaxy note can hook up to hard drives etc but not the n7. Google makes some strange decisions sometimes.

 

[Crafty]

The reason google have blocked OTG flash devices to to persuade you to use the cloud. The other issue is that the usb port on the N7 only provides a low voltage, so if you are using external drives I would suggest that they are independently powered.

I haven't rooted yet, don't really have a need to but it seems you lose nothing by rooting - you can still get OTA updates to work and it doesn't break anything (least not that I've found).

 

[Deleted User]

The reason google have blocked OTG flash devices to to persuade you to use the cloud.

I'd like to point out that this is COMPLETE speculation. So let's not go bandying it around like it has any basis in fact.

It may be why - or it may be an oversight, or it may be some other reason.

The other issue is that the usb port on the N7 only provides a low voltage, so if you are using external drives I would suggest that they are independently powered.

FYI, the built-in power works fine with my 500gb Western Digital drive.

To the OP: check out the thread dreadnatty linked; it has some details.

 

[Crafty]

Yes it is speculation, but given they've just upgraded/release "drive" its hardly a quantum leap to figure it out.

An external drive might work fine, but the voltage output of the micro usb port is limited.