9 things you didn't know a USB OTG cable could do

Hey guys it's nice having you on my blog again; I would first of all let you know what a USB OTG (On The Go) cable is and its capability on your android smartphone or tablet.

The USB OTG cable is a standard that allows USB OTG compatible devices (e.g. almost all modern Android devices) to act as “hosts” or controllers for other USB gadgets, such as keyboards/mice, flash drives, and even game controllers. This essentially means that Android devices don’t need a computer to act as host for interfacing with other USB devices, and act like mini-computers themselves.

First of ,you must know if your smartphone can support an OTG cable and here is a very convenient way to check it ;download this app USB OTG Checker.It's a free app that quickly checks your Android smartphone or tablet for OTG support. That’s all this app does, after which you can safely uninstall it since you won’t want one more icon on the homescreen that you’re never going to use in the future.

Once you check it using this app and your phone is compatible with the OTG cable boom you need to know the coo stuff you could do with it;

1. Use Mice/Keyboards with Android Phone

Feel like navigating your Android smartphone with a mouse, just like you do on a PC? you don't have no problem simply hook up a USB mouse to the phone via a USB OTG cable, and you’re good to go. This can come in really handy for data recovery, especially in situations when the device’s touchscreen is damaged. Similarly, you can connect a USB keyboard to the phone and use it to compose/edit text documents, email etc. in a much better way.

2. Play Games on Android Smartphones with Game Controllers

Smartphone games are getting better and more powerful by the day. That being said, the on-screen controls offered by these games are frustrating at best. But don’t worry, as USB OTG lets you connect many game controllers to your Android device and game like a pro. This comes in especially handy when playing racing, action/adventure and shooter games. While most game controllers work directly, some require your Android phone to be rooted.

3. Connect USB Flash Drives for Data Transfer and Media Playback

This can be helpful when there’s some important data on your Android phone that you want to copy to a USB flash drive (or vice-versa). Just connect the flash drive, and use one of the many file manager apps to move/copy data. You can also use this feature if you have certain media (songs, movies etc.) that you want to enjoy on your smartphone, without the hassle of transferring it to the phone’s storage. That's so cool right?

4. Access Ethernet on Android Devices

When it comes to accessing Internet on smartphones, Wi-Fi (or cellular data) is generally the way to go. But there might be times when you can’t have access to wireless Internet. No problem, as you can access wired Internet (generally called Ethernet) on your Android device as well. To do this, you not only need an OTG cable, but also a USB Ethernet adapter.

5. Print Documents Stored on Android Phone

Normally, printing documents requires you to either use a computer program (e.g. Microsoft Word), or copy the documents to be printed to a USB flash drive, and connect the same to the printer’s USB port. But why go through the hassle, when you can connect the printer directly to your Android smartphone, via USB OTG. However, for this, you also need an app called PrinterShare. It can download drivers for the USB printer(s) to the phone, after which it can be used to print the documents, photos etc. stored on your Android phone.

6. Import Photos from Digital Cameras to Android Device

Like almost all other devices, digital cameras also use USB for connecting with computers. And thanks to USB OTG, you can easily import the photos taken by digital cameras (e.g. DSLRs) to your Android phone. It’s as simple as connecting the camera to the Android phone, and can be really useful when you want to manage/edit the photos from the digital cameras on the Android smartphone.

7. Use Your Android Smartphone to Charge other Phone

This is one of the most interesting uses of USB OTG, it can be used to have one Android phone charge another phone. All you have to do is connect the two phones, and the phone acting as the USB host (the one directly connected to the USB OTG cable) will start charging the other device. This can be really helpful in emergency situations when your phone’s battery runs out, and you don’t have a charger or wall socket around. Even non-Android devices such as iPhones can be charged via this method.

8. Record Audio directly to Your Android Smartphone

Whether you’re an aspiring singer or not, having a good microphone is essential to get the best recording quality. There are many great microphones (like the Windows/Mac compatible CAD U37) available, that use the USB interface. And with USB OTG, they can be used with Android smartphones just fine. It’s quite easy, and there are many apps (e.g. USB Audio Recorder PRO) available for same use . These apps include a host of advanced functions, such as the ability to tweak audio buffer, playlist management, change audio channels, etc.

9. Use USB Accessories with Android Phones

Thanks to the ubiquity of the USB interface, there are countless accessories available for it. And with USB OTG, using them with your Android smartphones has never been easier. Want a little cool breeze on a hot summer afternoon? Use this portable fan with your Android smartphone. Or how about an LED light to find something in the dark? The possibilities are endless.The only disadvantage of this is that it might drain your device battery.