Hi, I'm going on vacation soon and since my tablet (10.1) has only a limited amount of space, I was wondering if there is a quick and easy way to transfer files (movies and tv shows, ~700mbs) from my android phone (s3) to the tablet, without the use of the internet, as I might not have any internet connect and I wont be bringing my laptop. Thanks for the help.
wifi direct in the settings menu or try an app called airdroid if you have a wifi router. Using the browser you can via wifi download and upload files
Sent from my GT-P7500 using xda app-developers app
Or get a USB OTG dongle (if your phone supports mass storage).
It can be quite slow, but I've used bluetooth to transfer files as large as 180MB between my phone and galaxy tab before. You could try packaging your files in a zip (use es file explorer or something similar) and then transferring with bluetooth (keep in mind, it can take around 10 mins to copy ~200MB).
Wifi file sender. Make one device a wifi hotspot. Then connect the other and run the app on both devices. You'll know what to do...
Sent from my cm7 - powered Nokia 3210
H2O37 said:
Hi, I'm going on vacation soon and since my tablet (10.1) has only a limited amount of space, I was wondering if there is a quick and easy way to transfer files (movies and tv shows, ~700mbs) from my android phone (s3) to the tablet, without the use of the internet, as I might not have any internet connect and I wont be bringing my laptop. Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find myself in this situation because I travel pretty frequently abroad and for stays shorter than a month I bring with me only my smartphone (Galaxy Note) and my tablet (G.Tab 10.1" 3G) and there are tons of options:
- Wi-Fi direct. it's built-in in both the G.Tab and the S3 and you don't need internet, routers or cables and it's pretty fast, it's probably the best option for what you need
- free apps like Airdrop or Samsung Kies Air or (the one I use most because has both a browser-based files transfer and an FTP server, I have the paid version) Remote Web Desktop (for these you need a router though)
- an USB OTG adaptor for the G.Tab (AFAIK there is only the original Samsung one) and then connect the S3 as "mass storage device" (check in the settings, on my Note it's under "Wireless and networks"-->"USB settings"-->"Connect as mass storage device". you can also use an USB flash drive to store your movies or even a PC hard disk if it's in a powered external case
- the SD memory card reader adaptor from Samsung. same as the USB adaptor except you connect to it SD cards or microSD cards in an SD size adaptor. you can for example connect to the G.Tab the microSD card from your S3 (since you seem to store whole movies on your S3 I assume you are using also removable memory in it)
- Bluetooth (exactly like Wi-Fi direct except it's way slower)
I personally use all of the above methods, it all depends on what you have to transfer. Apps like Airdroid, Kies Air and Remote Web Desktop I use mainly at home with my PC (I hate using cables so rarely use the Note's and the G.Tab's USB cables with the PC), between my tablet and smartphone for small and few files I use Bluetooth, for big but few files I use Wi-Fi direct, for many files of whatever size I use both the USB OTG and SD card reader adaptors from Samsung (at the time I bought the G.Tab they were sold together with a small discount and they are both useful in slightly different ways).
xdapao3 said:
- an USB OTG adaptor for the G.Tab (AFAIK there is only the original Samsung one) and then connect the S3 as "mass storage device" (check in the settings, on my Note it's under "Wireless and networks"-->"USB settings"-->"Connect as mass storage device". you can also use an USB flash drive to store your movies or even a PC hard disk if it's in a powered external case
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I reckon this is your best bet, especially for speed.
I bought my USB connector for my Tab 10.1 for around £3 off eBay and also the USB connector for my S2 for around £2 from the same place (3 cheers for the 'Bay' ). Easy as pie and is a great help when travelling...
I've bought TWO (one at home other at office) of this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-Conne...uting_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item20c67757be
Perfect!!!
Plus with the cheapest(smaller) card reader :
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-All-I...Readers_RL&hash=item2eb13e7e1e#ht_2399wt_1187
Just think the tablet could bring this interface on stock, but works just fine.
I personally use WiFi Direct for big files like that, not really tried folders or multiple files (I'll give out a go tonight though) but of tone not tried that feature, you should, it's one of those features that I think should be highlighted more by Samsung in my opinion.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
RavenY2K3 said:
it's one of those features that I think should be highlighted more by Samsung in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think people should RTFM!! :laugh:
Questions go in the Q&A section
Related
For devices that don't have support for USB [OTG or full size] and charging at the same time [Example, Nexus 7], do they have any devices, perhaps bluetooth, or maybe wifi, that you plug in your existing USB hard drive, and you can mount it on your tablet [via bluetooth or wireless], and stream the files like that?
The main purpose would be so you can charge the tablet and access a large hard drive, perhaps for videos, or whatever.
Does anybody make anything like this for Android?
And please do not suggest a "wifi HDD," thanks.
You need to share your HDD over network (using a compatible router or a PC as server) and use any CIFS client for Android (like this).
RoberGalarga said:
You need to share your HDD over network (using a compatible router or a PC as server) and use any CIFS client for Android (like this).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well my router is kinda far away.. and my pc also. :S
Oh... then do you need a portable solution? I dunno about that, but surely the only solution is a WiFi HDD (you can access to your HDD remotely, but you will not can stream files this way I think).
Hello, everyone.
OK, I finally got time to test the Android stick mini PC that I bought in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
The device is model T-001, by AuxTek (I dont think it's a registered brand name).
MODEL: T0001
System = Android 4.1.1
CPU - RK3066 Dual CPU
2GB DDR3 RAM (actual available 1.45GB)
Internal 8GB memory (actual available 4.83GB)
WIFI capable
BLUETOOTH capable
HDMI-VIDEO OUTPUT
2.4GB Wireless Mouse _ Keyboard (It's actually like holding a LASER POINTER to point and click the APPs on the screen).
*See the attachment photos about the packing and the accessories.
OK, the HDMI connecting cable is loosen, so if I move the mini pc, the screen may black out.
and also, I dont trust the quality of the power supply (5V-2A).
I bought the HDMI adaptor and a new power supply for it (one may also use a Google Nexus 7 or iPad charger for it).
*Next post about the first thing that I do on the device...ROOTING it! (it is a must have software/app)
OK, Part 2.
About ROOTING the device.
I use "Tencent Mobile Manager"
(see photo below for download the software, and install it on the PC).
Note:
(1) In order to communicate with the PC, one can connect the mini pc to the PC by USB cable using the OTG port.
*This does not make the mini pc as a "storage device" on the PC. It simply can communicate with the Tencent Mobile Manager only!
(2) According to the instruction menu, in order to become a "storage device" when connecting to the PC, one must connect the mini pc to the home PC by using the USB port that
connects the Remote Control/Keyboard *the bottom USB port.
*However, the package does not have this cable. So I have not tried out this function yet!
(3) According to the instruction menu, there is a reset button on the left side of the mini pc. Pressing it with a pin is supposed to go to recover menu. But I have not tried this yet!
OK, after the home PC has installed Tencent Mobile Manager, it will automatically find the mini pc and a menu will pop up.
>Click the one-click manager button, and it will ROOT and manage the device to best performance (such as cleaning caches and unwanted files) *optimization!
When Rooting the mini pc, it also will install the Tencent Mobile Management app in the mini pc.
**after the success ROOT, you can click this app and learn that the phone is ROOT!!
Also, I installed "Titanium BackUp" and "Root File Manager" to test the device if it is ROOT. and It is!!!
This Tencent Mobile Manager is a must have program (and app) on the PC and the mini pc for communication and manage the device.
>It can manage the files within the device (between internal memory and the SD card) easily!
>It helps to scan all downloads and access files during the use of the mini pc! (and it optimize the device).
>It has its own app market function (that's including finding the Adobe Flash apk!)
>It has its own movie market to download full movie files into the device!!
OK, turning on the device, and first go to "About the device" to check the firmware and hardware version/software version.
*see the attachment photo in the last post.
The device is displayed just like any other Android device.
The bottom menu bar reads
(1) Go back
(2) Home menu
(3) Apps that are opened and are running in the background
(4) "Screenshot"
(5) Volume down
(6) Volume up
And this is Android 4.1.1
So, when one pull the bottom menu bar up, it opens the Google Search menu!
OK, you can check the attachment photos to see what apps I have installed and run in this mini pc.
Basically, it is used as an entertainment center for my parents. They can watch all the Chinese TV dramas and movies,
and access all China cable TV networks from this thing!
**The test is done on my Panasonic 50" plasma TV. So I think if it works on a large screen TV, anything that's less than 50" should be ok.
**The device is set at 720P by default, The wholesaler suggests to me to keep it at 720P even the 1080P option is available in the HDMI output setting. So I have not changed this.
**The device is in good temperature during the usage time (watching steaming movies from networks in China for awhile).
**I have also used a 2GB SD card to store music, movie (American Horror Story Season 1), and photos. and they all works out fine!
(The mini pc supports 32GB SD card)
The device has an app called "explorers", which is to access and edit the files inside the device.
>The device can use OTG port to connect an "USB memory stick" if a SD card is not present.
**can only choose to use either a SD card (via SD Cad slot) or a USB memory stick (via OTG port). CANNOT USE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME!
First, I have to install a chinese input keyboard (CedIME app) so that I can type chinese on the mini pc during search and internet browsing.
>The wholesale tells me there wont be any firmware updates in the future. But I have tested the System Update and it's running anyway. haha.
*dont know if I should try to flash the ROM myself in the future, as I have no idea which one supports this mini pc. haha.
OK, I have tested many available online video apps, and this one is really good.
*have very new movie and TV episodes available!!
*the steaming is very smooth, not much lag. (my wi-fi connection signal is already just fair)
In the end, I tested it with a Japanese pervert superman movie "Hentai Kamen"
CONCLUSION:
Pros:
(1)The operating temperature is good. Just mild warm.
(2)Speed is good. The remote control pointer sometimes lag, but overall ok. It needs just few minutes to get used to it.
(3)The Remote Control with Keyboard is a must have device to go with this mini pc!
(4)At 720P, it is already very good graphic quality in a good balance between "visual quality" and "smooth steaming"
(5)Tiny device, easy to fit just next to the TV.
(6)ROOTing this mini pc is necessary, and the Tencent Mobile Manager is a recommended companion to go with it! Really useful!!
Cons:
(1)Some apps that are installed via apk file or other non-Play Store download, it has to be uninstalled through "Settings->Apps".
And after every uninstall, it will reboot the device. And after every reboot, the Wi-Fi has to be turn OFF and then turn ON to search the
Wi-Fi connection correctly again!!
(2)The USB cable, HDMI cable, and the Power charger (5V-2A) are below average quality.
*I changed them to use my own HDMI adaptor, my own HDMI cable, and my own USB cables (Nokia and Sony), and my own Power Charger.
(3)The package does not come with the USB cable that connect the mini pc to Home PC as an externam storage device. I have to buy a new cable to test this function (which I have not done).
oh, the size of it, in comparing to a Nokia 920
I know this thread is old,
I have an auxtek T004, allwinner A10s cpu running android.
I wonder if is there a way to run OpenElec on it, as Xbmc/Kodi is not booting (crashes after "preparing for first boot").
Thanks in advance.
Preface:
I don't own this item yet. I'm ordering tonight, and my Nexus Player arrives 12/2. I'll report back as I test different things with it (and the unit itself), but wanted to alert you guys to an item that looks pretty useful.
One of our own forum members, Hawke84, reviewed a prior product from this company (link to review), and Amazon reviews seem favorable for this particular product.
I am providing the Amazon link as a reference only. This is NOT an Amazon affiliate/reseller link and I gain no benefit from you clicking it.
The Product:
http://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Inateck-Bus-powered-Laptops-Ultrabooks/dp/B00IJUDTBK
Comes in 4 flavors. Base model supports USB 3.0/USB OTG connectors, while having 4 USB 2.0/3.0 inputs. Two similar models replace the 4th USB input with your choice of Ethernet, or SD Card Reader. The final model is an Apple-style (so they say) 7 USB port input. I'm debating between the base model and the Ethernet model and will order tonight. I really think I'll be fine with WiFi, but given the issues I've heard, having Ethernet as an option might be better overall.
If anyone has any experience with this, do tell. Otherwise, standby for my feedback in a week or so. I plan to use this for storage expansion and to try it with any USB-based gamepads that I can find in my house before dropping $40 on an official one.
EDIT: Wife talked me out of it. Suggested waiting to see if we even like the NP (I'm sure I will), and she also noted that the Ethernet model doesn't support MicroSUB. Only the 4-port model comes with the microUSB adapter. Due to this, I'm going to go with an alternative, but still wanted to point out this product for those who were considering separate USB hubs and OTG/MicroUSB adapters. This is a cheap way to get both.
Looks like a useful device, but probably not for the Nexus Player. To date, all usb 3 adapters I've tried have not worked with the box, including a LAN adapter with a chipset that is otherwise supported on usb 2 versions. Until newer drivers are incorporated in lollipop on the NP, I'd recommend sticking with usb 2 devices.
If you have an AC router in your home, you'll most likely be fine with the NP's wireless... I almost always have a 867mbps link rate with the player and have had zero issues streaming even 3D blu-rays. YMMV, of course, but I'd give it a shot without a lan adapter first if your are AC already.
Good luck when the player arrives... its a good box with a ton of potential yet to be unlocked, imo.
Elrondolio said:
Looks like a useful device, but probably not for the Nexus Player. To date, all usb 3 adapters I've tried have not worked with the box, including a LAN adapter with a chipset that is otherwise supported on usb 2 versions. Until newer drivers are incorporated in lollipop on the NP, I'd recommend sticking with usb 2 devices.
If you have an AC router in your home, you'll most likely be fine with the NP's wireless... I almost always have a 867mbps link rate with the player and have had zero issues streaming even 3D blu-rays. YMMV, of course, but I'd give it a shot without a lan adapter first if your are AC already.
Good luck when the player arrives... its a good box with a ton of potential yet to be unlocked, imo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mind if I ask how you shared content over wireless? I am trying to set a wireless HDD inside home wifi, hopefully to be able to copy files from my macbook and be able to read it straight from NP. So far I'm not even sure if that's doable.
king_dani said:
mind if I ask how you shared content over wireless? I am trying to set a wireless HDD inside home wifi, hopefully to be able to copy files from my macbook and be able to read it straight from NP. So far I'm not even sure if that's doable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can set a drive to be accessible over the network via other devices, you can then access these files from apps on the NP that would otherwise be able to access them on other Android devices. I won't have my NP until Tuesday at the latest, but any Android phone I've ever owned was able to stream local MP$/M4V/MKV video files using XBMC or ES File Explorer. I don't expect the NP to be any different, nor are these the only apps capable of this functionality.
jaykresge said:
If you can set a drive to be accessible over the network via other devices, you can then access these files from apps on the NP that would otherwise be able to access them on other Android devices. I won't have my NP until Tuesday at the latest, but any Android phone I've ever owned was able to stream local MP$/M4V/MKV video files using XBMC or ES File Explorer. I don't expect the NP to be any different, nor are these the only apps capable of this functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I thought, but could you be more specific as to how to make it accessible? Can a WiFi external HDD be made accessible independent of other devices (macbook/pc/tablet)?
NP can access network shares via ES File Explorer.
Install ES File Explorer from Google Play
Do a network scan within ES
If your HDD is available on your network, ES will find it.
king_dani said:
That's what I thought, but could you be more specific as to how to make it accessible? Can a WiFi external HDD be made accessible independent of other devices (macbook/pc/tablet)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to setup your home network is beyond the scope of this thread. If you know how to setup a network share to be accessed by other devices, then that network share can also be accessed by your NP. If you don't know how to setup your network (this is an observation, not an insult), my recommendation is to do some Google searches on network setup with whatever setup you're currently using. I'm currently using a Windows 7 desktop connected to a Linksys E4200 with a 3TB HDD plugged directly into the router via USB, so my setup is relatively simple. For all I know, you're using Mac OS X, a D-Link router, and a separate WIFI NAS. This is why I suggest that you search for what is relevant to your setup. It's not one size fits all and I could literally write a book on various network setups that would drag this thread way off topic.
king_dani said:
mind if I ask how you shared content over wireless? I am trying to set a wireless HDD inside home wifi, hopefully to be able to copy files from my macbook and be able to read it straight from NP. So far I'm not even sure if that's doable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a synology nas and have created an smb network share of all my media. On the Nexus, I install kodi then add the smb share to its library. It scrapes all the media on the share and downloads fanart, dvd covers, synoposis, actor-director-writer credits, etc. and presents my collection in a very media centric way. Very easy to setup once you have a network share for whatever device you use.
Elrondolio said:
I have a synology nas and have created an smb network share of all my media. On the Nexus, I install kodi then add the smb share to its library. It scrapes all the media on the share and downloads fanart, dvd covers, synoposis, actor-director-writer credits, etc. and presents my collection in a very media centric way. Very easy to setup once you have a network share for whatever device you use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I'm not mistaken smb is file format for windows systems right? I don't have a PC in my household, and I think I should go for a macbook friendly network attached storage? Am I right?
king_dani said:
If I'm not mistaken smb is file format for windows systems right? I don't have a PC in my household, and I think I should go for a macbook friendly network attached storage? Am I right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SMB stands for Server Message Block, it is also called CIFS or Common Internet File System. It is not a file format, but a networking protocol. Windows relies on smb for its shares, but in no way is smb a windows technology. My synology runs linux but can provide smb shares (among other protocols).
NFS, or Network File System is another networking protocol. Linux relies on nfs by default for its networking shares, but in no way is NFS a linux technology. Your mac can also share via AFP or Apple Filing Protocol, but can also easily share via smb or nfs.
NFS can be faster and less cpu intensive than other protocols so you may want to use that, as kodi supports it well. Either nfs or smb will do you fine... it all depends on what your hardware supports and ease of setting it up.
I recently picked up a Google Nexus player from my local supplier for @ $50. I then used an adapter to install a USB hub. In the hub I have a 32gb thumb drive and a dongle for a wireless keyboard and mouse. In the settings area for the thumb drive are options to move some of the files from the main unit to the thumb drive (after setting it up as a dedicated player extension). I had previously downloaded and installed Kodi Isengard 14.2. At one time when doing the data transfer to the USB drive I had a message (drive seems slow). Subsequent to that when loading Kodi I had the error message "waiting on the USB drive". I reseated the USB drive and repowered the unit.... Kodi then came up ok. I'm wondering if I can remove the USB drive (with an eye to replacing it with a faster one) or will this cause a failure of some of the apps on the system. (ie Kodi, Sideloader, ESfile manager, etc)? Also, is there any method of reversing the use of the USB drive for these files. (move everything back to the Player)?
Go to the settings and in storage go to the Internal drive and you will see an option to move things back to Internal storage.
Then go to the thumb drive settings and select to unmont it.
Don't remove till you do all that.
Try and get the fastest parts you can. You may still get the slow message, but things will run better overall.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
There needs to be a compatibility list. I originally used a 64gb usb 3 Kingston data traveler. And I would get the slow message. And data was slow, apps were slow running. Used a pny 2.0 32gb and I would not get the slow message, but it would never format correctly. Finally using a Seagate 1tb external hdd, and while it seems like it would be the slowest device, it actually works exactly how it should. No slow message, formats correctly, and apps run perfectly when loaded from the hdd.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
What is the best hard drive an or usb for the nexus player?
same here, kingston data traveler usb 2.0 8GB reports slow, kingston data traveler usb 3.0 16GB seems ok.
for some reason I can no longer move apps to usb stroage on my nexus player runing stock android 6.0.1can anybody help me reslove this problem thanks?
It's kinda ridiculous how screwed up external storage is on the np. In any other case Ive come across, a thumb drive is a thumb drive is a thumb drive, with the only difference being the read and write speeds. I can't believe how finicky it is w/r/t ext storage, esp when it was an advertised feature for 6.0.
So I had a CD rom disk I wanted to get a data file off of tonight, but left my laptop at work. I tried hooking a USB DVD drive (a full size desktop "internal" drive in a powered usb enclosure. Used to be top of the line, high speed re-write, etc. 10 years later, it is obsolete junk, slated to go to the landfill home of Zip and Floppy Disk drives. Am I the only one that is maudlin?) to my Tab S4 with nothing but incompatibility (even using exFat/NTFS for USB by Paragon).
I didn't realize this was "hard".
I found a Quora post that said that USB CD/DVD drives need to have "USB Flash Drive Mode Support" (which most drives don't seem to have). I found one USB DVD Drive on Amazon that people report works with Android. But it is $50 and USB 2.0.
Does anyone have a drive you can verify works on the Tab S4? Preferably USB 3.0 or USB C? And preferably in the $20-30 range?
I'm really try to go PC-less, and occasionally need to look up a file on DVD or CD Rom. It would be nice to be able to do that with my tablet,
Thanks,
Joe
So I'm looking at this.
Multiple LG drives claim "TV Connectivity" which seems to be flash drive mode - but does not explicitly call out support for otg.
https://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-Portable-External-GP65NB60/dp/B00ODDE33U
$23.43 on Amazon
The manual says it has TV Connectivity where it acts as a flash drive.
What is TV Connectivity? TV Connectivity is a function that allows you to enjoy videos, pictures and music by connecting this product to a compatible A/V device (e.g. DIGITAL TV, DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME, PC) that supports USB connectivity.
How to Use TV Connectivity
* This product is defaulted to ODD mode when it is powered on.
1) With the tray open, press and hold the ‘Eject’ button for 2 seconds. (The LED indicator will turn on, switching to TV mode. Press and hold the button again for 2 seconds with the tray open to return to ODD mode.)
2) Insert your supported media into the drive. The disc file system will be converted to FAT32 and will be recognized as USB flash memory.
3) Select and play the files from your A/V device to enjoy videos, pictures and music. Refer to your A/V device owner’s manual for more information.
So I found and have ordered a drive that specifically claims android support:
https://www.lg.com/us/burners-drives/lg-GP95NW70
https://www.newegg.com/lg-model-gp95nw70-slim-dvd-burner/p/N82E16827136309
Android OS (Smartphone & Tablet) Connectivity*
Transfer and preserve photos, videos, music and data from your Android OS devices to an optical disc. Also, video, audio and data from optical discs can be played and read on your Android OS devices.
* Optical drives are compatible with devices running Android version 4.4.2 or above. Not all file types are compatible. Compatibility may depend on codec of application being used when playing files.
I can't find a manual for it on the LG website, and Newegg is one of the only shopping hits I could find. ~ $40 with tax and shipping. No hits on Amazon.
I'll post how it works when it arrives!
Joe
Long first impressions of LG GP95NW70
https://www.lg.com/us/burners-drives/lg-GP95NW70
https://www.newegg.com/lg-model-gp95nw70-slim-dvd-burner/p/N82E16827136309
I received my GP95 from Newegg yesterday.I played with it for a couple hours, and have some first impressions to report.
This model is Android compatible out of the box. There are two apps you need to download from the Playstore to make it work. Documentation is very poor. The only LG optical drives that are compatible with the software are KP65, KP95 and GP95. The only available in the USA is the GP95NW70 and I only found it on Ebay and at Newegg. The most commonly sold LG optical disc drive sold in the USA seem to be GP65 & GP60 (based on Google & Amazon searches). Neither of these models are listed as compatible with the Android apps you need to access the drives.
There are the two apps you need that are published by Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.:
1) There are three versions of Disc Link: Disk Link, Disc Link Pro, and Disk Link Platinum
Disk Link is the oldest, from 2016, and is compatible only with KP65
Disk Link Pro is from 2017, and is compatible with KP95 and GP95. It is obviously out of date, was locked in portrait mode, which sucks with the USB C connector at the base of the picture frame. The documentation with my GP95 said to run this version.
Disk Link Platinum is the newest, from earlier this year, and is compatible with KP95 and GP95. This is what I am using and allows for rotation to landscape mode.
2) There are two versions of TrueDVD: TrueDVD+ (free) and TrueDVD ($0.99).
TrueDVD+ only works with KP95, but this is what the documentation for my GP95 said to use. It did not work
TrueDVD is $0.99, and it works with GP95 and KP95
Now the evaluation:
Out of the box, the drive has a female micro USB connector, they give you
1 ) A micro male to full size USB 2.0 male cable,
2) A micro USB adaptor that allows for external power + connecting to your phone (Full size USB from the player + micro USB power in / micro USB male to plug into your android device)
3) a micro USB female to male USB C adaptor plug to convert the micro USB adaptor to work with a USB C device.
4) There is a windows software disk
5) Poor documentation (what else is new?)
Links in the TrueDVD and Disc Link Platinum playstore entries take you to Korean web pages where you can download a firmware updater (that runs on Windows, of course). The manufacture date on the unit I got was from October 2018; its firmware "needed" to be updated out of the box. Of course, I have no idea what the update in the firmware has to do with anything.
TV Connectivity Mode (which the GP60 / GP65 models sold in the USA support), is very limited. By holding the eject button down with the door open, you can convert the CD player to a Fat32 read-only flash drive. I had problems getting Solid Explorer to recognize the drive. Microsoft exFAT/NTFS by Paragon works, but you have to pay extra for Fat32 (I optioned only for NTFS). It didn't seem to work with a hub.
When 4unning the aps, it seems to work fine plugging the full size USB into a powered USB C hub. It runs fine plugging directly into the tablet using the included adaptor, both with and without external power. I'm going to order a USB C to micro USB cable so I can connect directly without the hub / adaptors.
The apps:
Disk Link Platinum was a relief after running the Pro version. Screen rotation is a must. It reads CD's, opens PDF's / images from a data CD without obviously saving it locally to the device (the Paragon enabled file explorer had to copy it to local storage). Besides the data CD, I browsed images saved on a DVD ROM disc. No problems playing an audio cd, but it didn't automatically detect the track names. There is a grayed ot "gracenotes" option with a cryptic comment that suggests there is financial negotiation going on between Hitachi-LG and Gracenotes - presumably if this is ever enabled, it will be able to auto detect song names. Pressing the eject button on the unit brings up a "do you want to eject" pop-up on the screen. I'm not sure if you can minimize the window and keep playing.
TrueDVD is worth the $0.99. This allows you to play video DVD's. The menu's are touchscreen activated. There was a weird issue with eject -- pressing the eject button didn't do anything, and there was no menu item to "eject". I had to disconnect / reconnect & hit eject to get the video DVD out. "Help" on the app sends you to a Korean web page that says that non-white protected DVD's can be played from VLC Player, but that write-protected material can only be played with the TrueDVD app. The app would not play in split screen mode, and doesn't have a cast function (I don't know if it functions with screen mirroring). Besides a video DVD, I was able to play a DVD audio Disc (Dolby Tracks only, not DTS). DVD audio would not run minimized.
The video DVD player is region-locked. It came out of the box as Region 2 (Europe/Japan). When you put a Disc in, it says "The player region does not match the disc. Would you like to change the player region? You can do this 5 times and then it locks". I set it to region 1 and all ran fine. But it is a shame you can't make it regon free -- I have several DVD's I purchased years ago from Europe / Japan that weren't available in the USA. I don't know if the region selection is tracked in the TrueDVD app, or in the hardware; I suspect it is in the hardware. So you can't freely switch regions. Not a big deal unless you live in the US and are a big anime fan. I suppose you could buy two players and set one to Region 1 and the other to Region 2. But watching video DVD's is not the primary purpose I bought the drive for, it is just a perk.
I have no plans to try burning discs. That's what flash drives are for. I need it for reading existing CD/DVD ROM discs with out a PC. It seems to do this well. Audio CD and DVD video playability are happy (but probably seldom used) extras.
And I haven't tried using this with DeX yet. That will be for the weekend.
All and all, it seems like a good drive, and another step to freedom from PC's
Joe
So, DeX.
Not so much.
Disc Link works fine with DeX. TrueDVD, no.
In the link to the Korean help page for TrueDVD it mentioned that mirroring/casting (or what they refer to as "remote viewing") is not allowed for copy protected DVD's. But it suggests casting is OK for non-copy protected material using external viewers like VLC. Well, I'm not sure I have a video DVD that isn't copy protected. And TrueDVD sees DeX via HDMI to my TV as "remote viewing." So no-joy. I tried DeX locally on the tablet, and while it will run, if you try to resize the screen, it freezes. So you have to properly size the window before playing the DVD.
The other non-related to DeX observation was that I don't have to unplug / reconnect the drive to eject video DVD's -- If I hit the eject button, then close both apps and reopen Disc Link, the "do you want to eject" message pops up and the tray opens when you click "yes"
So to end my first impressions (and since I won't be using this on a regular basis, this is probably my last impressions too),
I think this is a very useful arrow for the quiver. I'm happy I can access data from old CD/DVD ROM libraries. It works well for this. I can't imagine ever using it to burn a CD or DVD -- we have USB flash drives today. Likewise ripping or burning an audio CD. I ripped all my CD's on a PC years ago and sent the vast majority off to the pawn shop. I no longer use the CD player in my car, I have a bluetooth adaptor that let's me transmit audio from my tablet to the car stereo system.
It is a nice plus to be able to view video DVD's, but there are some limitations. Ejecting, region lock, resizing, casting not possible. Likewise a nice plus to be able to play audio CD's, but this would be much improved if they re-enable gracenotes. It seems like a work in progress, but it isn't clear how much more work is going into it. It is a head-scratcher to me that they aren't marketing this more strongly in the US market. I couldn't find anything on other optical disc drives which could work with Android. There has to be at least a niche market somewhere in the electronic world for this.
I hope folks find this useful. Sometimes I wonder if I am only typing for myself. This sort of new functionality is interesting to me. I'd love to see more posts from people "look what I've found!" If there interested folks out there, please drop a note on the thread and say so.
Take care,
Joe
I'm going to add a couple more comments:
First, I was unfair about the documentation vis-à-vis Disc Link Pro / Platinum. The manufacture date was older than the platinum app. Hence the reference to pro in the documentation.
Second, I dropped an email to the support contact in the Disc Link app, and it took a couple of days, but they responded from Korea. With very good English. Explained Disc Link Platinum added tablet support (hence the ability to rotate), and that the TrueDVD / TrueDVD+ had different licenses. And thanked me for purchasing the drive. Very nice support, very polite response.
I've reported the eject bug, and asked a few additional questions.
Joe
Is Disk Link Platinum in the Play store? I do not see it there.
aspexil said:
Is Disk Link Platinum in the Play store? I do not see it there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disk Link Platinum:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.co.hlds.disclink.platinum
TrueDVD:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smedio.hldsusb
sMedio seems to be the actual app developer, although they identify Hitachi-LG Data Storage as the publisher
Joe
So the "eject bug" isn't a bug, or is at least a known bug.
In the Disc Link Platinum playstore "about this app" documentation, in a footnote, it says, "to eject the disc inside ODD during video/music playback on the player works on with, terminate the player and then press eject key of ODD."
Obviously, this means when I want to eject a video DVD, I need to close TrueDVD+, then hit eject and the eject button works. And it does. ?
Joe