Develop Bugs

Car Charger for Exec and Tomtom BT unit?

I have a tomtom bluetooth gps receiver that I used to use with my xda-ii for my satnav solution. I had a car charger that charged the xda and tomtom unit at once. I have now upgraded to the Exec and am hoping to find a similar car charger but couldnt find any on google/ebay - does anybody know of one that exists?
Thanks
Allan

Cannot be of help, but looking for the exact same solution. I had an iMate JAM and a cradle that charged that (mini-USB) and had an output for TomTom Bluetooth. If all else fails I could try taking apart the adapter because it has the correct output, just the Exec won't fit in it!

assuming the TOMTOM gps receiver uses a round 5V center positive connector to charge it ( which it almost certainly would do )
then check out my posts in this thread,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=29351
the cradle even comes with a wire just for charging BT GPS receivers

Ouch! Thats a little pricey!
I already have a mount that holds the unit, so I am just looking for a calbe charger solution. Anyone have any links?
Thanks
Allan

in that case I have seen a car lighter plug on ebay that has a USB socket in the back, it was on £3~£4 you could then use a regular sync and charge cable to charge it

o2 shops are now stocking the car charging lead... complete with natty o2 shaped blue indicator!

To get round the problem of daisy chaining mounts and receivers, I got a great car charger - dual usb adapter from eBay (I searched for "dual usb car") which gives you 2 usb sockets for about £8 all in. Having bought this though, I'm thinking of installing a spare cigarette lighter socket behind the dash to power it from and cut down on cables in the cabin...

Funnily enough, the many Sync and charge cables for the Sony PSP would be able to simultaneously charge both a Jasjar and a bluetooth GPS unit
here is an example
http://chakatche.fr/catalog/images/PSP/CablesyncchargePSP_big.gif

Universal charger- special
The Universal as well as the Typhoon, Wizard etc. need special wiring for the mini USB. when connecting to the computer the the driver is activating the proper pins in the Mini USB socket and you can see the "charge" light on. However when connecting to a USB Poer Supply, pins need to be manipulated (some to ground or perhaps to Vcc). I'v looked into this issue many times (searching in the Internet) and could not find a proper wiring diagram. although I know for sure that they are exist as there are some Car working chargers offered for Universal / Typhoon.
In any case refering to this thread, a car charger that works for Jam/XDA2Mini most probably will not work for the Jasjar/Universal unless i is apecified as a Universal car charger.
If any of the memebers has come a cross a wiring diagram for Typhoon / Universal charging scheme it is appreciated if you could provide details.. as many of us would like to build their own car charging units.

Re: Universal charger- special
Dubi said:
The Universal as well as the Typhoon, Wizard etc. need special wiring for the mini USB. when connecting to the computer the the driver is activating the proper pins in the Mini USB socket and you can see the "charge" light on. However when connecting to a USB Poer Supply, pins need to be manipulated (some to ground or perhaps to Vcc). I'v looked into this issue many times (searching in the Internet) and could not find a proper wiring diagram. although I know for sure that they are exist as there are some Car working chargers offered for Universal / Typhoon.
In any case refering to this thread, a car charger that works for Jam/XDA2Mini most probably will not work for the Jasjar/Universal unless i is apecified as a Universal car charger.
If any of the memebers has come a cross a wiring diagram for Typhoon / Universal charging scheme it is appreciated if you could provide details.. as many of us would like to build their own car charging units.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, what are you talking about !! I use the sync lead from my kodak camera to charge my JJ from my laptop it works fine but is slow (my laptop hasnt got much umph) and the same goes for the PSP power lead I mentioned earlier, I use that in the car with my cradle that happens to have USB sockets in it, (pictured in another thread)

It seems that either your usb lead has the proper connection to fit the requirements of the JJ or I am doing something wrong that I am not aware of.
Here is the test: Just take a Powered USB Hub, connect XDA1, XDA2, XDA Mini, XDA2S (all the models that I could test right now) and It seems that the Powered USB Hub can charge these devices.
Now connect the JJ (I suggest with a traditional USB syc cable that comes with either ..) and NADA I got no indication for charging .. than connect the HUB to the your computer which has the ASYNC installed and you see that immidiatly the JJ is being charged. Both feeding measured at 5.15V.
The Typhoon behaves the same for me as well.
Further more, I have few USB chargers (other than the one equipped with the JJ) which is in fact a PS with a USB port . The result of connecting the PS through the traditional sync cable is "No Charging".
The same applied to many Car USB charger that I'v tried.
Perhaps your Kodak sync cable is special (in fact I am looking for the schematic diagram of a cable like this)?.
I tried (just now again) also with Dopod 828 and it seem the same (no charging unless it is connected to the computer).
Please double check your charger cable and try th sync cable that comes with the JJ.

I dont see why kodak would have used a special sync lead, because on the kodaks it is used for data only (power comes in via a diffrent connector) when I get a chance I will buzz out the cable for you !!!
PS I think you shold plug it in and wait, mine starts charging instantaneously when used with the mains adaptor which has 1 Amp of current available, but takes a min or two to start charging when I am using my laptop/in car charger, both of which only have 500mA available.

Car Charge
From reading other threads, Pin 4 in the Mini USB is shorted to ground and that's probably turn on charging ..

I suggest that you read threads about the power charge / car charge in other forums... here is an example I took and although it talks about the Typhoon it is relevant to JJ as well and it suggest to connect pin 4 and 5 to ground. I can't have a good explanation why your JJ starts to charge after 2 monutes. I suspect that it has nothing to do with the current that can b drawn from the PS.
http://www.expansys.com/forumthread.asp?code=I-MATE_SP3I&thread=38
Here's what I've found on modaco.com forums, posted by richwookie on Oct.4 2004:
QUOTE >>>
...I've hacked open my C500 mains charger (quick, where's the superglue), and sure enough there are only 2 wires leaving the box to the mini USB cable, GND (black wire) and VO (white wire). However, after very careful probing, with a very tiny probe no less, I've established that the GND wire is connected to both pins 4 and 5 of the mini USB connector.
Now usually pin 4 would be not connected to anything as pin 5 is normally GND. So next I probed the C500 data cable to see if pins 4 and five of the mini USB were connected together. They weren't of course.
So what does all this mean?
Well, from what I've discovered I conclude that the C500 will only charge if:
1) There is data on the line (even if it isn't saying anything :wink: )
OR
2) Pin 4 of the mini USB plug is grounded.
So what's the solution to making the generic car chargers work?
Do nothing to the car charger. Mod the data cable so that pin 4 at the 'mini' end is connected to ground.
This IS all speculation and I suspect that it is easier said than done. I haven't yet hacked open my data cable, but I expect there are only four wires in it, and the only way to ground pin 4 (mini end) is to somehow bridge them at the connector. I think that is beyond my soldering skills (have you seen the size of the contacts on the plug?!) but I may give it a go anyway.
Anyone else want to try? Let us know here.
<<< UNQUOTE
... and the 2 hours later:
QUOTE >>>
Posted from my SmartPhone while it is charging in my car using a 1.49 cigarette lighter USB adaptor and my newly modded C500 data cable!
I'll let you know if it still works as a data cable when I get home. ;-)
....
Modded cable doesn't work for data now.
When I connect it to the PC it just charges. I suspect that when the phone is in 'charge from adaptor mode' it inhibits the data lines.
<<< UNQUOTE
Well, I guess it's simpler to mod a USB cable, than either carry around a charger, or install Activesync everywhere.

With all this chat about modifying pins etc call me naieve but why not just buy a dedicated charger from expansys or an o2 store ? both cost between £10 - £15
:shock:

Just an observation I have made... I have an O2 EXEC, and charge it quite happily (sort of) with the Standard USB Synch cable and a Car Lighter Socket USB thingy.
The only thing is... It will NOT charge if the EXEC is on (screen lit up) when the USB lead is connected or power connected. Switch the device off, connect the lead, and the charging light comes on.
I find the same when I connect it to the computer with the Synch lead too. It won't connect to ActiveSync or Charge if the EXEC is on when connected.
Hope this helps.

[Q] Cable that puts the Evo in car mode?

I'm using an adjustable car mount from proclip that holds my phone really nicely in my truck, and I've got a 1000mA USB car adapter that charges the phone really well with a standard USB cable.
My question is about getting the phone to go into car mode when I plug it in. I've read some posts that say shorting the data pins together in the USB cable will make the phone see it as a car charger. Has anyone had any luck making a cable like this? Does it work? Is there anywhere where I can buy one for cheap?

I believe that you can set a profile in Tasker to have car mode enabled whenever AC, USB or both are present.

gtg252b said:
I'm using an adjustable car mount from proclip that holds my phone really nicely in my truck, and I've got a 1000mA USB car adapter that charges the phone really well with a standard USB cable.
My question is about getting the phone to go into car mode when I plug it in. I've read some posts that say shorting the data pins together in the USB cable will make the phone see it as a car charger. Has anyone had any luck making a cable like this? Does it work? Is there anywhere where I can buy one for cheap?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've made a cable that does this. I had to buy parts in bulk so I'm listing the rest of them in the XDA market: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=784379.

@Davpel - That might work, but then wouldn't it go into car mode whenever I plugged it in elsewhere too?
@ForceO - Sounds nice, but I can't get into the market... I don't think I have enough posts yet. Can you PM me the info?

Using tasker to run car mode will not run car mode every time you plug your phone into a usb charger, if you download the power plug profile from the tasker wiki and install it. When you plug your phone, your phone will ask you if you want car, home or night mode. Pick car mode and tasker will run whatever car dock program you want. I use Custom car home.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

ForceOnature has the ticket, that's it, ground pin 4 on the micro usb.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=0VtDyFbNFLU
It's pretty easy to make, just take a grinder to a micro usb cable, then pick the extra plastic off with your fingers, then solder a jumper between pins 4 and 5, that part can be tricky because of the size of the tab you need to solder to....patience is key.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

dabigcheezze said:
It's pretty easy to make, just take a grinder to a micro usb cable, then pick the extra plastic off with your fingers, then solder a jumper between pins 4 and 5, that part can be tricky because of the size of the tab you need to solder to....patience is key.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the Dremel route and it was definitely not easy. Ended up having to abort and make my own from scratch because the plastic/epoxy stuff used to fill in under the black rubber shell was too hard to remove and still leave the pins intact.

[Q] Car panel doesn't open

Isn't the car panel supposed to open up automatically when connected to car kit? I use Brodit carkit and it never starts. I have configured the options in car panel to auto start when connected.
Maybe if I installed a 3rd party tool it would pop up?

Only does it with the official car kit. The USB plug is wired up slightly differently to provide the signal to load it.
You can modify or buy your own USB cable - but the standard brodit one is exactly that. Standard.

dazultra2000 said:
Only does it with the official car kit. The USB plug is wired up slightly differently to provide the signal to load it.
You can modify or buy your own USB cable - but the standard brodit one is exactly that. Standard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually they are both standard. The one is micro USB type A and the other is type B. Can't remember which is which but it has something to do with the grounding of one of the pins. When my Haicom holder arrives I plan to get a type A to type B adaptor (or type B to type A) and use my HTC charger. Hope it will work - no reason why it shouldn't) .
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

OTG cable + power

Do i need a custom Kernel to get that capability?? I have a OTG cable that works for connecting a mouse, keyboard, thumbdrive etc and it has a port for power but the tablet does not recharge.
So i'm wondering if i need a custom Kernel or maybe the cable is defective or something.
If you know of one of those cables that work, please let me know.
Thanks in advance.
I have this cable out of China:

treetop777 said:
Do i need a custom Kernel to get that capability?? I have a OTG cable that works for connecting a mouse, keyboard, thumbdrive etc and it has a port for power but the tablet does not recharge.
So i'm wondering if i need a custom Kernel or maybe the cable is defective or something.
If you know of one of those cables that work, please let me know.
Thanks in advance.
I have this cable out of China:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use a Otg Cable with an Usb Stick and a Usb Mouse,works fine with 4.4.2 and 4.2.2 with Stock Kernel

letschky said:
I use a Otg Cable with an Usb Stick and a Usb Mouse,works fine with 4.4.2 and 4.2.2 with Stock Kernel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And also charges simultaneously? That's what the OP is asking for.
Slimport adapter outputs HDMI signal and lets you charge the tablet simultaneously, but besides that... nothing else on stock ROM I imagine.

Iknownot said:
And also charges simultaneously? That's what the OP is asking for.
Slimport adapter outputs HDMI signal and lets you charge the tablet simultaneously, but besides that... nothing else on stock ROM I imagine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bummer! That's what i was afraid off.

Hello I have the same problem! : (
I installed the tablet in my car but you can not use the charger + OTG simultaneously.
You have to wait for someone to change the KERNEL as they did for the Nexus 7.

mannyy said:
Hello I have the same problem! : (
I installed the tablet in my car but you can not use the charger + OTG simultaneously.
You have to wait for someone to change the KERNEL as they did for the Nexus 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice setup! :good: That's exactly what i want to do. I can connect a mouse and thumb drive but no power. I was trying to work-out how to use a switch or relay or something to switch between otg and power but i haven't came up with anything yet.

treetop777 said:
Nice setup! :good: That's exactly what i want to do. I can connect a mouse and thumb drive but no power. I was trying to work-out how to use a switch or relay or something to switch between otg and power but i haven't came up with anything yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi everyone,
I had same problem!
My pad is rooted, 20b, stock kernel, Finally, find out solution.
I bought IBUFFALO usb with AC power around 15USD. 4 Slots for USB 2.0 and 1 double micro usb. Worked with mouse, Bluetooth keyboard, external drive with USB 2.0 only, usb 3.0 not work. Just for your info.

treetop777 said:
... I was trying to work-out how to use a switch or relay or something to switch between otg and power but i haven't came up with anything yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Difference between normal and OTG USB cable is that OTG has pins 4 (sense) and 5 (ground) shorted and on regular cable pin 4 is not in use. If you put a switch between these two pins you can switch between regular USB cable for charging and OTG for connected devices.
Some apps can be found on Google Play Store that claim to be able to switch between or enable simultaneous OTG and charging, but most are for specific devices or group of devices, none for G Pad 8.3. Most promising is maybe Faux123 Kernel Enhancement Pro (3.77€ and requires Root+Busybox+SuperSU).
Too bad our tablet has no secondary charging port (like Sony has magnetic charging port for example), but least intrusive would be to use powered USB HUB, let it power the connected devices so the battery drain on the tablet will stay low.

Iknownot said:
Difference between normal and OTG USB cable is that OTG has pins 4 (sense) and 5 (ground) shorted and on regular cable pin 4 is not in use. If you put a switch between these two pins you can switch between regular USB cable for charging and OTG for connected devices.
Some apps can be found on Google Play Store that claim to be able to switch between or enable simultaneous OTG and charging, but most are for specific devices or group of devices, none for G Pad 8.3. Most promising is maybe Faux123 Kernel Enhancement Pro (3.77€ and requires Root+Busybox+SuperSU).
Too bad our tablet has no secondary charging port (like Sony has magnetic charging port for example), but least intrusive would be to use powered USB HUB, let it power the connected devices so the battery drain on the tablet will stay low.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that - Very good info! Allow me to pick your brain a little more: Looking at the cable i have (in the OP), do you think that by just connecting an external power (red and black) to the cable just before going into the tab would work somehow to give it power.
It's intreging what you said about being able to switch from regular USB (that can supply power) to OTG just by jumping those wires. I'm trying to picture something in my mind to accomplish what we want but the "light bulb" haven't came on yet - any suggestions?
I want to use the tab in the car PERMANENTLY so i need a way to charge it while behind the dash. I would want to use a mouse as well so OTG is a must.
In any case, i'm going outside right know to split open that cable and see how it's connected inside, maybe then the light bulb will come on in my head.

treetop777 said:
Thanks for that - Very good info! Allow me to pick your brain a little more: Looking at the cable i have (in the OP), do you think that by just connecting an external power (red and black) to the cable just before going into the tab would work somehow to give it power.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try it out, you got the cables!
When pins 4 & 5 get shorted the tablet may be configured only to output power, not receive it. I have only OTG adapter cable and the supplied USB charging/data cable, so I cannot test this stuff.
treetop777 said:
It's intreging what you said about being able to switch from regular USB (that can supply power) to OTG just by jumping those wires. I'm trying to picture something in my mind to accomplish what we want but the "light bulb" haven't came on yet - any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would buy micro USB male plug, some heat-shrink tubing with glue, switch (3A) and split OTG adapter or HUB. Cut off the male plug fom the adapter, solder on the new plug to the adapter cable as normal USB, solder on the switch to pins 4 & 5 of the plug, check it for continuity and shorts, test it on the tablet, if good - secure the new plug to the cable with heat-shrink tubing.
EDIT: Possible solution with resistor described here
Our device, if it can be tricked this way, may require different resistor from the one used in the tutorial (usually in 36KΩ-200KΩ range).

Ok, I'm chopping it up! I spliced-in the red and black wires from a USB cable into the OTG cable (in the OP) and sure enough the tab gets power. However, it no longer detect the mouse or any thing else (kind of expected). Tomorrow i will try bridging pin 4 and 5 and see what happens. If that don't work, i will try the resistor. :fingers-crossed:

I have read that devices on OTG get polled regularly, but charging is not, i.e. if you start charging and after that short the pins 4 & 5, it will continue charging and you can use your OTG devices. Hope this holds true to the G Pad as well.

Isn't micro USB a "standard"....??
Then GEEZZ why do one manufacturer thinks it's ok to eliminate a pin completely! i assume that when i pay for that cable, i will get ALL 5 PINS even if one is not connected - rip-off! :laugh: This manufacturer not only didn't connect pin 4, it was eliminated completely; stopped me in my tracks! Fortunately, i have an extension that have of all things ALL 5 WIRES CONNECTED! Imagine that! But now, i don't have any time to chop-it-up until tomorrow. With the 5 wire cable, i will short the yellow and black wires but I'll check here first to see if I'm warned against it.
More to come..

Hi manny your car kooks awesome. I have one question. How you connect your speakers from the car with the G Pad. iam also interested to built a GPad in the car !
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

Yep weneed more info on this as i would like to fit my pad in the van,, how did you get fm radio on there.

Nothing good to report. Connecting the power wire to the OTG cable and shorting the 4&5 pins does nothing different. I can have it charging and when i disconnect power, it then detects the mouse (that's a good thing) but when i plug the power back in, nothing happens! Ideally it would disconnect the mouse and start charging again but no-go. Having the 4&5 pins shorted or not makes no difference.
Still have a couple things i will try before i give up, one is the resistor and the other is a more simple OTG cable.
Will report back.

treetop777 said:
Nothing good to report. Connecting the power wire to the OTG cable and shorting the 4&5 pins does nothing different. I can have it charging and when i disconnect power, it then detects the mouse (that's a good thing) but when i plug the power back in, nothing happens! Ideally it would disconnect the mouse and start charging again but no-go. Having the 4&5 pins shorted or not makes no difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand that you would want the cables all hidden behind the dash in a car and can't be connecting and disconnecting plugs all the time, at the most just flip of a switch should make things work. The resistor trick would be ideal, if it works.
What's the exact sequence you did things in?
- Mouse and charger connected to the tablet simultaneously with pins 4 & 5 not shorted, tablet charging - short pins 4 & 5 - what happens?
- Only charger connected, pins not shorted, short pins and then connect mouse...
- Mouse and charger connected to the tablet simultaneously with pins shorted, mouse working - unshort pins...
- Only mouse connected, pins shorted, unshort pins and then connect charger...

Iknownot said:
I understand that you would want the cables all hidden behind the dash in a car and can't be connecting and disconnecting plugs all the time, at the most just flip of a switch should make things work. The resistor trick would be ideal, if it works.
What's the exact sequence you did things in?
- Mouse and charger connected to the tablet simultaneously with pins 4 & 5 not shorted, tablet charging - short pins 4 & 5 - what happens?
- Only charger connected, pins not shorted, short pins and then connect mouse...
- Mouse and charger connected to the tablet simultaneously with pins shorted, mouse working - unshort pins...
- Only mouse connected, pins shorted, unshort pins and then connect charger...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would have to record in what sequence i do things to remember but it seem i have done every combination possible. I do remember doing these sequences after a fresh reboot of the tablet and BTW i made a simple cable out of a know working (single) OTG cable and splicing-in the red and black from the cable that has 5 wires connected, leaving the pin 4 wire disconnected and extending a pigtail from the black wire so i could short the yellow and black to hopefully force OTG:
- Power plugged in and mouse plugged-in then plug the cable into the tablet - it detects the mouse but does not charge.
- in the above state, shorted the yellow and black wire - no change.
- separated 4/5 then disconnected the mouse leaving power connected (expecting that the tab will then switch to charge but) - nothing. The mouse did disapear but the tab did not start to charge.
- shorted 4/5 (for ****s and grins) and as expected - nothing.
Again with a fresh tablet:
- with (ONLY) power connected to the cable, inserted the cable into the tablet - it started charging.
- in that same state, connected mouse - mouse was NOT detected but the tab continued to charge.
- with mouse plugged in, shorted 4/5 - no change (charging but no mouse detected)
THIS IS THE IDEAL SITUATION BUT JUST HALF WAY:
Rebooting the tablet with both power and mouse connected and cable inserted, the tab starts by accepting the charge (no mouse) but get this, plugging-out power makes the tab switch to the mouse right away! That would be good except that plugging the power back in does NOT make the tablet switch back to power, in fact, nothing happens, the mouse just continues to be detected.
If i had 2 cables, one only for power and the other only for OTG, i could pull one out and replace it with the other and both functions would work; i don't understand why that same "switching" can be recreated within one cable??
This is beyond me, the last thing i will try is following your sequences to the letter and with the resistor, if that doesn't work - i give up! :crying:

budalageo said:
Hi manny your car kooks awesome. I have one question. How you connect your speakers from the car with the G Pad. iam also interested to built a GPad in the car !
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have buy a Sony mex bt4000U ... http://www.sony.it/support/it/product/MEX-BT4100U
install in rear a Tablet.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y1QXAsSUtc
and work whith APP REMOTE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEfG3Zdf7HM
---------- Post added at 11:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 AM ----------
I have used this !!
have disassembly and install !!! work whit switch !!
http://www.ebay.it/itm/231182187439?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

[Video] Charging dock desktop cradle for the OnePlus One

Hey Everyone-
Hope you all have been enjoying the videos. This video takes a look at a generic desktop charging dock made for the HTC One M8 but happens to work perfectly with the OnePlus One. Thanks to @hka148 for bringing this to my attention.
For additional OnePlus and technology videos, check out my YouTube channel. Enjoy!
If you like my videos please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and sharing them with other like minded tech-geeks!
EDIT - There is a use for the USB port on the back of the dock. It can be used to charge a secondary device such as a bluetooth headset or a tablet while your device is being charged in the cradle.

Hey KP, thanks for all the videos you have been doing for us. Just a thought about that USB plug in the back that you did not know what it was for. Maybe it allows you to hook up a power source to charge the phone with a regular male USB input cord in case you don't have a micro-USB connecting cord?
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

Can you use the USB output and short cable to charge the phone? I'm guessing the idea is so you can put your phone in landscape (horizontally) and charge at the same time.
Thanks for the video anyway!

You read my mind. Was planning to get this but thanks for showing it in action with a TPU case on it.

drmacrofish said:
Hey KP, thanks for all the videos you have been doing for us. Just a thought about that USB plug in the back that you did not know what it was for. Maybe it allows you to hook up a power source to charge the phone with a regular male USB input cord in case you don't have a micro-USB connecting cord?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmmmm .... maybe! I'm trying to think of anything in my toys where i could arrange what would essentially be male usb to male usb power. Hell, i don't even own a male usb to male usb cable
If i had a male usb to male usb cable i'd probably try using AC as the micro usb power source hook the power the USB port up to a USB port on a PC to see if that functions for data exchange between the devices.
tomaquet said:
Can you use the USB output and short cable to charge the phone? I'm guessing the idea is so you can put your phone in landscape (horizontally) and charge at the same time.
Thanks for the video anyway!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think that would work, i mean putting the phone in the dock in landscape. Remember the channel where you place your phone has a male micro USB connector sticking up in the middle of it. If you turn your phone sideways then that micro USB connector has nowhere to go so you'd be trying to balance you're phone on it sideways which i don't think would work.
What you may be onto though is the fact that it could function as a second charging source so your phone could be in the dock in portrait orientation and you could charge a second device (like a bluetooth headset) via the USB port.

KSmithInNY said:
I don't think that would work, i mean putting the phone in the dock in landscape. Remember the channel where you place your phone has a male micro USB connector sticking up in the middle of it. If you turn your phone sideways then that micro USB connector has nowhere to go so you'd be trying to balance you're phone on it sideways which i don't think would work.
What you may be onto though is the fact that it could function as a second charging source so your phone could be in the dock in portrait orientation and you could charge a second device (like a bluetooth headset) via the USB port.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you put the bit of removable bit of plastic upside down, can you put the phone back in landscape so it's not touching the micro usb ? or is the lip too small then?
*EDIT* Just watched the video again and the removable plastic is flush so there wont be any lip if you put it in upside down.

tomaquet said:
If you put the bit of removable bit of plastic upside down, can you put the phone back in landscape so it's not touching the micro usb ? or is the lip too small then?
*EDIT* Just watched the video again and the removable plastic is flush so there wont be any lip if you put it in upside down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They should have hired you to help them with the design because that makes sense!! but no, unfortunately it wouldn't work. I like that thought process though

There is a use for the USB port on the back of the dock. It can be used to charge a secondary device such as a bluetooth headset or a tablet while your device is being charged in the cradle.

KSmithInNY said:
There is a use for the USB port on the back of the dock. It can be used to charge a secondary device such as a bluetooth headset or a tablet while your device is being charged in the cradle.
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Cool I'll actually use that. I have a Bluetooth headset that sits right next to where I'll have the dock.

what about the speakers?
that dock dont block them ?

I just recieved my dock which i got on your review, and first of, the usb port is wrong way , i had to open it up and turn it around, but doing so i found out how cheap and flimsy the unit is..i cannot get phone to sit on it enough to get a connection and if you take out insert to use with case, you may find the usb end coming out with the plactic it sits in as it is not actually secured in with anything ...mine is now in the trash some 30 mins after opening it...my recommendation......dont bother