Nexus 4 and USB-on-the-go are no-go

posted by Daniel P. / Nov 26, 2012, 4:35 AM

Despite Google mentioning USB-on-the-go functionality for the Nexus 4 in the manual, the phone actually fails to connect to any peripheral, not only storage drives.

It can't be hooked to a keyboard and mouse either, unlike the limited USB OTG support of the Nexus 7, for instance. The Analogix SlimPort ANX7808 that we have on the Nexus 4 certainly supports OTG, as the port specs clearly say: "USB host, device or OTG data passes through by default."

Thus USB-on-the-go might be something that LG and Google could theoretically unleash with a software update, but why is it left out from the initial firmware seems to be a bit of a head-scratcher.

source: Analogix via GSMArena

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12 Comments

1. antmiu2

Posts: 550; Member since: Jun 19, 2011

its 4.2 you know they get things right like at 4.2.3

posted on Nov 26, 2012, 4:56 AM 1

9. -box-

Posts: 3991; Member since: Jan 04, 2012

Good to see Google catching up with Symbian for out-of-the-box features. I've had USB OTG for years.

posted on Nov 26, 2012, 12:15 PM 2

10. chaoticrazor

Posts: 2347; Member since: Aug 28, 2012

Exactly, but the fans will claim android were the first. Symbian should get more credit then it does. It may be dead but its still one of the most functional OS's around. Just lacks meaningless app after app

posted on Nov 26, 2012, 4:53 PM 0

2. yowanvista

Posts: 341; Member since: Sep 20, 2011

Most likely be fixed in an upcoming update

posted on Nov 26, 2012, 5:02 AM 0

3. _Bone_

Posts: 2155; Member since: Oct 29, 2012

It's a Nexus device, USB OTG doesn't work out of the box.

posted on Nov 26, 2012, 5:21 AM 1

5. ph00ny

Posts: 2026; Member since: May 26, 2011

Sadly USB OTG seems to be working fine on Nexus 10

posted on Nov 26, 2012, 5:25 AM 0

6. tango_charlie

Posts: 347; Member since: Nov 16, 2011

Nope. Since Android 4.0 host mode/ usb OTG works out of the box. It works out of box on the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7, but to use flash drives root is needed.

posted on Nov 26, 2012, 5:36 AM 0

7. _Bone_

Posts: 2155; Member since: Oct 29, 2012

If root is required it's not out of the box anymore, is it?

posted on Nov 26, 2012, 5:41 AM 4

8. tango_charlie

Posts: 347; Member since: Nov 16, 2011

you need root just for flash drives. Mice, Keyboards, Joystick and such peripheries will work out of the box. And if you use the app "Nexus media importer" you don't even have to root your Nexus to connect flash drives.

posted on Nov 26, 2012, 6:39 AM 1

4. mydi.maus unregistered

no go no stock in p.store,. update and go.

posted on Nov 26, 2012, 5:23 AM 0

11. JunBringer

Posts: 138; Member since: Oct 01, 2012

I'm hoping they fix this. I'd love to hook up a bit thumb drive full of music for road trips.

posted on Nov 26, 2012, 9:41 PM 1

12. Basharhd99

Posts: 100; Member since: Jul 05, 2012

but can i connect a bluetooth keyboard???

posted on Dec 24, 2012, 7:29 AM 0

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