USB Host + HDMI Out

[SerenityNetworks]

I understand the Nexus has HDMI Out and USB Host. Can the two be used simultaneously? Specifically, I'm wondering if I can have a USB Keyboard and a USB Mouse providing input while I'm viewing the screen on a monitor? (Essentially a mini-netbook.)

Thanks in advance,
Andrew

 

[Se7enLC]

I understand the Nexus has HDMI Out and USB Host. Can the two be used simultaneously? Specifically, I'm wondering if I can have a USB Keyboard and a USB Mouse providing input while I'm viewing the screen on a monitor? (Essentially a mini-netbook.)

As far as I'm aware this is not possible. At the very least, it's not possible using an MHL to HDMI adapter. Those adapters have a male microUSB, a female microUSB, and a female HDMI. The male microUSB plugs into the phone, the female microUSB uses your normal charger to supply power to both the adapter and the phone. If you don't supply power on that port, the HDMI output will not work.

Additionally, plugging the USB OTG adapter into that port was not recognized by the phone. This is probably due to both power not being supplied to the adapter, no full pin-out from the microUSB male to microUSB female, and the phone needs to be put into a certain mode for USB OTG or MHL. I'm sure that given the limited number of pins on microUSB that those two modes are mutually exclusive (especially given that in MHL mode, the phone is able to charge from an external source, but during USB OTG, the port can supply limited power to external devices.

EDIT: To clarify, I've tried it personally, and was not successful - but HDMI and USB OTG for a keyboard+mouse were both successful on their own.

A bluetooth keyboard+mouse would probably work, though, for your purposes!

 

[sbenson]

Would a usb hub work?

 

[Se7enLC]

Would a usb hub work?

For USB OTG, I've heard that they work fine. (Haven't tried it myself). For MHL, I would be very surprised. The only thing MHL and USB have in common in this case is the connector - the actual data flow is completely different.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_High-definition_Link

"MHL is connection agnostic (i.e., not tied to a specific type of hardware connector). The first implementations dual-purpose the most popular mobile connection (micro USB) and the most popular HDTV connection (HDMI). Other than the connectors being used, no USB nor HDMI technology is being used. It is exclusively MHL signalling through the connectors and over the cable. Other proprietary and custom connections are also allowed."

 

[SerenityNetworks]

Thank you

This thread may be of use to someone else, but for me - after going into the Verizon store and sampling both the Nexus and the Razr, I chose to go with the Razr. But thank you for your time in answering this thread. I hope it is of use to someone else.

Thanks again,
Andrew