Talk:USB On-The-Go

Pictures or links to articles about the mini-A,BAB plugs is missing.

--Xerces8 08:48, 21 August 2007 (UTC)Reply

This article needs context. Specifically, it needs to either give some examples of specific products, if there are any, that use this specification or say when/if such products are expected. This information should probably be in the lead. Originalname37 (talk) 14:21, 12 August 2008 (UTC)Reply

• I agree. I can't think of a single application for this technology. I mean, the external links http://www.usb.org/developers/onthego/ contains this graphic http://www.usb.org/developers/onthego/otg-graphics.gif which depicts an iPod-like device connected to a mobile phone , as well as a printer connected to a PDA; but I don't see how this really differentiates from connecting an iPod or printer to a PC. Same thing, different interface. Now, something like an external hard drive connected to another hard drive, upon which they synchronize their files... That seems distinction-worthy. What am I missing here? --92.104.153.110 (talk) 17:43, 14 August 2008 (UTC)Reply

I think the point is that for a small device like a PDA, you might want to use it as a host sometimes (hooking devices up to it, like keyboards or USB flash drives), and a target sometimes (hooking it up to a PC to sync files). But I don't know for sure; all the info I have is what I gleaned from the article. -- Why Not A Duck 19:51, 14 August 2008 (UTC)Reply

I actually think usb-otg could be extremely useful. The killer ap for this may be the ipod-like device. You can put your songs on whatever usb device you want to (flash drive, cheep 500gb external hard drive, etc). Then you carry around that, your tiny usb-otg device and your ear buds and you never have to buy a higher-capacity ipod again. You just replace the memory as you see fit.

My problem with the article is that it does not make clear if any such device actually exists. I can't tell from the article whether or not this is anything more than one of about a million neat-o protocols that are not now and never will (conceivably) be in use.

To be clear, I'm not criticizing usb-otg. I just think the article needs to be a lot clearer on this point.Originalname37 (talk) 16:58, 25 August 2008 (UTC)Reply

They definitely exist. Though I'm having trouble identifying them (perhaps because OTG is more of a "behind the scenes" feature; the way it's presented to the user seems to be more like "you can connect the device to your computer, or connect it to your USB flash drives") Some devices: a digital picture frame; Nokia N810 internet tablet (COI note: I work for Nokia); a disk drive that can be connected to other disk drives. Unfortunately, my search hasn't turned up any good reliable source about specific products that support USB OTG. Hopefully someone else will have better luck. -- Why Not A Duck 02:15, 26 August 2008 (UTC)Reply

The model for USB OTG needs to be more clearly explained.

Firewire/IEEE 1394 already does this, so the benefit over using another high-speed interconnect should be explained.

—Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikip rhyre (talk • contribs) 2008-12-01 16:57:38

The benefit is the same benefit you get from adding USB host capabilities to any device in a class where its competitors are already USB devices - The ability to turn its USB port into a dual-purpose jack that can manipulate a ridiculous number of peripherals. It's about cost and minimizing the number of different buses required on an embedded device. The article would certainly benefit from clear articles in the text, but devices like a Chumby, game console, or PDA, all have fairly obvious business cases. MrZaius^talk 12:50, 9 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Generally; can only the factory turn a USB port into OTG dual-purpose jack? Generally a software/firmware update could not? Seems this should be emphasized in the article. I'm surprised OTG specs are so rarely given for tablets etc. One suspects from the specs/reviews that most microUSB ports are only for charging, not memory expansion etc. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.138.23.59 (talk) 22:22, 16 February 2014 (UTC)Reply

What really needs to be more clearly defined is whether or not all devices with this functionality follow this spec. Is this used by the Nokia Internet Tablets, or is there something more to it? Seems to be, given the Duck comment above, but it warrants confirmation. It's been two weeks shy of a year, but the article still doesn't list a single concrete device that implements this specification. Cleanup still badly needed, as well - The circular and highly technical language in the lower sections could be reorganized effectively, but is dense enough that I'm reluctant to touch it without more subject knowledge expertise. MrZaius^talk 12:50, 9 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Is the Micro-AB plug/cable the only type supported for OTG? Is this an USB OTG cable: USB B to Mini-B cable ? --Xerces8 (talk) 13:52, 5 January 2010 (UTC)Reply

I do not believe that this is a valid cable from my reading of the specification, in addition there are requirements on the ID pin. MatthewJBennett (talk) 23:09, 1 July 2010 (UTC)Reply

See http://discussion.forum.nokia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125477 I.e. a few Series 40 feature phones. E.g. Nokia 6500 Classic , Nokia 7900, Nokia 8800? Andries (talk) 21:17, 2 June 2010 (UTC)Reply

There appears to be a lot of misinformation here- USB OTG (from the specification available on the USB website):

On-The-Go: An OTG product is a portable device that uses a single Micro-AB receptacle (and no other USB receptacles) to operate at times as a USB Targeted Host and at times as a USB peripheral. OTG devices must always operate as a standard peripheral when connected to a standard USB host.

I believe that all the devices mentioned in this article are actually USB Dual Role devices- which has a very different electrical and protocol specification. While there are is a variety of silicon that supports OTG, I am not aware of any true OTG devices. MatthewJBennett (talk) 23:21, 1 July 2010 (UTC)Reply

A USB OTG device is in effect a "dual-role device". There is no official USB-IF specification for "dual-role devices" except for the USB OTG device specification. A list of certified USB OTG devices can be found from the USB-IF website (products tab). RjPetrie (talk) 23:21, 4 August 2011 (UTC)Reply

The embedded prototyping board "BeagleBoard" uses USB-OTG. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 206.83.81.178 (talk) 16:11, 21 July 2010 (UTC)Reply

I had originally called this "Lead section too technical," but then I expanded it, mostly by copying from down below, so now it just needs work...corrections, clarifications & what not. I intentionally made the lead a bit redundant due to the topic's complexity. Yet now it may (or not) be too redundant down below. Here's my original post:

A 4-paragraph lead section should be understandable to the average person, see Wikipedia:Manual of Style (lead section). The lead section says:

USB On-The-Go, often abbreviated USB OTG or just OTG, is a specification that allows USB devices such as digital audio players or mobile phones to act as a host, allowing other USB devices like a USB flash drive, digital camera, mouse, or keyboard to be attached to them. Unlike conventional USB systems, USB OTG systems can drop the hosting role and act as normal USB devices when attached to another host. ....

Obviously one can't have a gut understanding of what OTG is and does unless one has a gut understanding of what a host is. Before I read that I thought I had a semi-workable idea what those things and relationships were.

My vague impression is that a host is rather ephemeral, subtle, and changeable. IOW, difficult to explain. I wonder if some contrasting examples in the article might help? For example, not every device with a USB connector can use a USB thumb drive? Does a camera or tablet with USB OTG need file management software to use a thumb drive? Is that software/firmware part of the OTG definition?

Example: some tablets brag that they use USB OTG, therefore a thumbdrive can expand memory, which seems to imply that regular USB connections will not. Explaining this might clarify the definition/relationships between these devices. Similarities and contrasting differences being highlighted perhaps.

Most readers never read beyond the lead section. I notice the next section is called: Architecture, which implies jargon-laden & too-technical, but it's actually written very well! Suggest giving a lay def to "bus" and renaming that section to "Overview" to encourage reading. However, because that section is so extraordinary, is not a reason for a weak Lead. I may copy 1 1/2 paragraphs to the lead to make wiki guidlines & the "Lead-onlies" more happy, but that will be incomplete, redundant, & a rewrite would be FAR better. (But some redundancy is a good communication tool.)
--71.138.23.59 (talk) 22:04, 16 February 2014 (UTC) Doug BashfordReply

Quote from my above:
  "Example: some tablets brag that they use USB OTG, therefore a thumbdrive can expand memory, which seems to imply that regular USB connections will not. Explaining this might clarify the definition/relationships between these devices."

I'm still befuddled as to why that practice seems to be so extensive among sellers and manufacturers. ...Reviewers too. It seems to be like selling gold stuff, but forgetting to mention it's made of gold. My quandary is that goes against "simple economics," an impossibility. My only explanation is that USB OTG is not as valuable as this article implies. ...like perhaps the same goals can be achieved without USB OTG? ...Or some are bragging where they aught not? ...or...?
...Thoughts?
--71.133.254.31 (talk) 16:48, 26 February 2014 (UTC)Doug BashfordReply

...or perhaps nearly all USB is now OTG?
--71.133.254.31 (talk) 16:19, 28 February 2014 (UTC)Doug BashfordReply

Please add a section about USB OTG Flash Drives. They seem to have two connectors. Are they backward compatible with traditional USB socket storage uses? What additional features do they have?-96.233.19.191 (talk) 16:35, 9 July 2014 (UTC)Reply

As best I can see, these devices are slave-only on both ports, so OTG is something of an advertiser's misnomer when applied to the flash drive. It's just that they can connect to a USB-OTG port on, e.g., an Android 4+ device by a micro-USB connector, which then acts as the master to the flash drive's slave, although mobile phones usually operate in slave mode. LeadSongDog come howl! 18:18, 9 July 2014 (UTC)Reply

That makes sense to me -- but some buyers of USB OTG flash drives are confused, and the sellers don't seem to be making this clear either...-96.233.19.191 (talk) 23:03, 10 July 2014 (UTC)Reply