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View Full Version : Android tablet to portable drive via USB

littleoldman2
10-04-15, 04:11 PM
OMO (lick lick) As the title really I'd like an android tablet that lets me put a micro SD card in and transfer files to a portable hard drive. I'd also like it to "see" my garmin so I can put routes on to it. My youngest's windows linx 7 does it, but I don't want to pay a subscription for office 365 when docs to go is cheap and better. Thanks in advance.
ophic
10-04-15, 04:18 PM
default filesystem on a microSD card on android is exfat.

You can plug a USB hard drive directly into the android tablet by means of a USB OTG cable but it must have a supported filesystem. I believe exfat, fat32 and possibly ntfs are supported.

Otherwise you can plug the portable hd into a computer and share it over the network and write to it from android via wifi.
littleoldman2
10-04-15, 04:26 PM
I want to use it whilst we are away from home (and internet access) to transfer things like video and photo's to the portable drive. My portable drive is fat32.

So any android tablet with a micro SD slot will do ?.
ophic
10-04-15, 04:29 PM
Needs to support OTG. Most do these days. If you're repurposing an old one, it might not.

It doesn't have to accept a microSD card - you can always get a USB adapter and plug it in the same way. Obviously you won't be able to copy directly from SD to HD that way. And it's not very neat. Just offering suggestions because a lot of tablets don't have microSD slots.

If you're buying a new one, take your portable HD to a shop and ask if you can plug it into a demo.
littleoldman2
10-04-15, 04:36 PM
I use a 64gb micro SD in the GoPro so without an SD slot I'd need lots of internal memory or keep changing cards in the camera.
Sir Trev
10-04-15, 05:11 PM
As above check the specs of your device to see if it supports OTG. I wanted a small tablet to view pics from my camera SD card and got the 8in Galaxy Tab 4 for this. The 7in version does not support OTG. A micro USB card reader is only a few quid if you don't have the right adapter and mine has a full size USB port in it too.
maviczap
10-04-15, 05:41 PM
I'd also like it to "see" my garmin so I can put routes on to it. My youngest's windows linx 7 does it, but I don't want to pay a subscription for office 365 when docs to go is cheap and better. Thanks in advance.

If you got a Windows tablet, you wouldn't necessarily need to buy a subscription to Office 365.

There's plenty of free open source office software, such as OpenOffice or Libre Office that you should be able to download them in a portable version. They do the same and look the same as Office365.
Heorot
10-04-15, 05:56 PM
I use Libre Office on my laptop running windows 8.1. I like it , particularly the spreadsheet module.
munkygunn182
11-04-15, 05:51 PM
Watching intently as I need something of the same solution. I do wonder if it's possible to upload from a the memory card in a tablet straight to google drive...that would be perfect.
Bibio
11-04-15, 10:26 PM
does Garmin support Android?

i think what your looking to do you will need something like an ipad or one of those new windozzz pads TBH. i would start by finding out what devices support the Garmin and Go Pro.
maviczap
12-04-15, 05:58 AM
does Garmin support Android?

i think what your looking to do you will need something like an ipad or one of those new windozzz pads TBH. i would start by finding out what devices support the Garmin and Go Pro.

Garmin does some apps for Android, but its not complete yet.

http://www8.garmin.com/apps/

For uploading and planning route using my Garmin device, i use a little windows netbook.