Droid gets a USB hack allowing host mode on Motorola Droid!

[rstone]

Chris Paget has revealed a mod for Motorola's flagship that turns it from a USB peripheral into a USB host, thereby letting it communicate with and control USB devices that speak the Linux language. That includes printers, webcams.

USB Host mode on Motorola Droid Chris Paget's Blog

USB hack connects Droid to printers, video cams, and more ? The Register

[STIDRIVER]

Excuse my ignorance... but does this mean you could load stuff on your phone from a flash drive?

[rstone]

Excuse my ignorance... but does this mean you could load stuff on your phone from a flash drive?

In theory, yes. Although the person who discovered this admits, in the Register article, that he has yet to "mount a USB key yet."

[bastosero]

So, in theory, does this also mean that someone or a company could create a hardware/adapter that can be plugged into the micro USB port of the Droid to connect it on a monitor or TV to display a movie, a video that was recorded with the Droid, picture slideshows, etc.?

[rstone]

So, in theory, does this also mean that someone or a company could create a hardware/adapter that can be plugged into the micro USB port of the Droid to connect it on a monitor or TV to display a movie, a video that was recorded with the Droid, picture slideshows, etc.?

Well you probably would need something like this for that to work, although drivers might be a problem with any of these types of devices. (not sure if these would work... http://linux-uvc.berlios.de/)

USB to DVI External Video Card, High Resolution, 1600 x 1200 - SW-USBDVI-HR, $89.95

Basically, anything you could do on a linux PC's USB port, in theory, you would be able to do on your droid.

[bastosero]

So, in theory, does this also mean that someone or a company could create a hardware/adapter that can be plugged into the micro USB port of the Droid to connect it on a monitor or TV to display a movie, a video that was recorded with the Droid, picture slideshows, etc.?

Well you probably would need something like this for that to work, although drivers might be a problem with any of these types of devices.

USB to DVI External Video Card, High Resolution, 1600 x 1200 - SW-USBDVI-HR, $89.95

Basically, anything you could do on a linux PC's USB port, in theory, you would be able to do on your droid.

Too bad it's not Linux/Android supported, yet.

[Skrilax_CZ]

Don't forget that if the device has no external power supply, it will use power from the Droid's battery, making it drain pretty quickly.

[rednukleus]

It would be incredible if the Droid could accept USB keyboards. On a related note, is it possible to use a Bluetooth keyboard with the Droid? I wonder which would draw more of the Droid's battery: sustained Bluetooth communication, or powering a USB keyboard.

[JhankG]

It's a hardware hack, not software (according to the article on engadget). This means that you'll have to open your phone up and mess with the insides to use it.

[rod]

On a related note, is it possible to use a Bluetooth keyboard with the Droid?

check out the following link. theyve had a few people with success with multiple keyboards, including the shasta stowaway External Keyboard for Droid?