Waiting for Local Storage

[FMCharon]

To be honest, I used a Toshiba Thrive to transport an SD card around since the day I got the tablet, but I could never get the OS to really make use of the little guy. It would have been nice if Google Music could have downloaded my music to the card instead of eating up the internal memory. But, I suppose that would have caused some kind of DRM issue, since I could then pop out the card and transfer the files to my pc to burn or share with other, etc. If a lack of an SD card slot prevents the casual user from committing casual piracy and that helps keep the cost of music and movies down, I can live with(out) that.

Another thing to consider is the fact that every component installed into an electronic device probably draws a little bit of power, even if you think you are not using it (unlessit has a hardware slider switch (as some tablets do for the wifi-component). I may be wrong, but I always felt that the Toshiba Thrive tablet simply registering that a card reader existed and that an SD card was currently installed must require tiny sips off my battery juice.

Between the missing SD slot and camera, I'd rather have the tablet last a day or two on a charge with normal use.

I wish they would also do away with the gps, accelerometer, compass, and wifi chips as well. Imagine how long that battery would last in the Helen Keller version of Nexus 7? Too bad the braille screen would probably be a power-sucking hog. Everything evens out in the end.

 

[59Martins59]

With the Nexus 7 rooted, will I be able to play videos from an external source instead of having to copy them to the iternal storage every time?

Also, doesn't rooting screw up the whole point of this being a google tablet and therefore having lots of updates?

Sorry if this was a dumb question, but I'm new around here...

 

[macewank]

With the Nexus 7 rooted, will I be able to play videos from an external source instead of having to copy them to the iternal storage every time?

Also, doesn't rooting screw up the whole point of this being a google tablet and therefore having lots of updates?

Sorry if this was a dumb question, but I'm new around here...

Root doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the OTA updates. All "rooting" is, at a super high level, is placing a 'su' binary in the right spot and making it executable. Shouldn't remove you from the update path.

You fall off the upgrade path when you start tweaking around with custom roms.

 

[f4hybrid420]

I read that there would be future support for a dongle of sorts that would plug into the Nexus 7 and provide micro SD support and HDMI. Don't know how it would work but here is an example of one link that mentions the concern. Nexus 7 doesn't support MHL or full USB On-The-Go, but that's partly Google's call | The Verge

 

[bcisys]

From this article elsewhere on Android Central:

The lack of an SD card in Nexus devices is nothing new, and we've been over this issue already when the Galaxy Nexus first appeared.

We got tired of seeing OEMs include many GB of internal storage for music, while users were still running out of space for apps and data. This approach lets us merge everything on one volume, which is way better.

-- Dan Morrill, Android engineer at Google
​

Google still supports removable storage in Android, but it is leading by example and providing phones (and now a tablet) with one big block of storage that users can use for anything they like -- be it media, documents, or apps. There are a couple of side benefits to this approach as well. The first one is a bit geeky -- it allows the device to use ext file systems instead of a mix of ext and FAT. This is faster and safer -- both for the data on the device and the way it's handled, and access to our own personal data. A journalized file system means fewer file errors, and ext preserves file system permissions so random code can't find your pictures or documents folder.

Another benefit is that the host machine (when your device is connected to a computer) can't muck things up and molest the file system, as it doesn't have block-level access to the files. Instead, a proxy FUSE (Filesystem in Userspace) file system is used to mount a psuedo-SD card folder so that your computer can read and write to it via MTP. This means you won't get errors from incorrectly unmounting your phone, and the device still has access to all the data even while plugged into a PC.

Does Google want you to use Google Play and its cloud services? Of course it does. But there is no secret evil cabal in Mountain View that held back the SD card slot to force it on you. In fact, you're still free to use other cloud solutions like Amazon, Dropbox, or even a shared drive on your desktop PC. Nobody has to like the fact that Nexus devices ship with no SD card slot, but let's stop looking for conspiracies when we already know the answer.

 

[TomD]

So what do you guys think about the Excite 7.8 Tablet?

It costs about 2 1/2 times as much but it has 32 GB, MicroUSB slot, same screen resolution, slightly larger screen, slightly lighter, 5 megapixel camera with flash. Not to shabby.

Don't know when JB will be available.

 

[lostmarine]

So what do you guys think about the Excite 7.8 Tablet?

It costs about 2 1/2 times as much but it has 32 GB, MicroUSB slot, same screen resolution, slightly larger screen, slightly lighter, 5 megapixel camera with flash. Not to shabby.

Don't know when JB will be available.

If you don't mind getting slow OS updates or you're just going to load a custom ROM then go for it.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

 

[Joelist]

Seeing as most of us carry around both a tablet and a smartphone, couldn't you pair them (either through WiFi or Bluetooth) and access the Micro SD volume in the phone on the tablet? Basically it is the same concept as using a WiDrive (which will work with a Nexus 7 and brings more storage than the slot can give).

 

[G-Money713]

Seeing as most of us carry around both a tablet and a smartphone, couldn't you pair them (either through WiFi or Bluetooth) and access the Micro SD volume in the phone on the tablet? Basically it is the same concept as using a WiDrive (which will work with a Nexus 7 and brings more storage than the slot can give).

Yes, it will work. But you are still limited by the space on your phone.

Sent from another Galaxy... S II

 

[59Martins59]

Storage means a lot to me, that's why I was going more towards the galaxy tab 2 7.0 instead of the Nexus 7, but I decided I will get the nexus 7.

From what I'm seeing, watching movies from an external storage without having to copy the files to the internal storage is possible, so my only issue is what is and what isn't compatible with the Nexus 7.

Card readers are good, but not the best. Flashdrives are also good and definately better than cards, but the storage is a problem. The perfect solution for me would be a 2.5" external hard drive.

The usb port on the Nexus 7 outputs 5V / 500mA, and this is at its max... With card readers, and even with 2 cards at the same time (I don't know if the nexus would recognize 2 cards at the same time, this is just an example) the 5V / 500mA limit would not be exceeded, same goes with a flashdrive, therefore I don't think you would have any problems connecting any flashdrive. Now, with the 2.5" external hdds it's a different story... Some require 800mA just to start up and after that, even when writing/reading the current never goes past the 500mA. I think that a lot of hdds won't work, and I also think that what it all comes down to is the current (mA), because the voltage isn't really the issue here, but I'm no expert on this, I've just been looking for info on this so that I can pick a 500Gb or 1TB 2.5" drive and know that it will in fact work. Compatibility is my only concern right now, and I just want to be able to tell if a hdd will work or not...

 

[TomD]

...

The usb port on the Nexus 7 outputs 5V / 500mA, and this is at its max... With card readers, and even with 2 cards at the same time (I don't know if the nexus would recognize 2 cards at the same time, this is just an example) the 5V / 500mA limit would not be exceeded, same goes with a flashdrive, therefore I don't think you would have any problems connecting any flashdrive. Now, with the 2.5" external hdds it's a different story... Some require 800mA just to start up and after that, even when writing/reading the current never goes past the 500mA. I think that a lot of hdds won't work, and I also think that what it all comes down to is the current (mA), because the voltage isn't really the issue here, but I'm no expert on this, I've just been looking for info on this so that I can pick a 500Gb or 1TB 2.5" drive and know that it will in fact work. Compatibility is my only concern right now, and I just want to be able to tell if a hdd will work or not...

Don't forget the powered USB hub option. That would solve power supply problems.

 

[59Martins59]

Don't forget the powered USB hub option. That would solve power supply problems.

Are there any USB hubs with a battery?

EDIT: Self-powered hubs are the ones you are talking about, right?

 

[TomD]

Are there any USB hubs with a battery?

EDIT: Self-powered hubs are the ones you are talking about, right?

There are battery powered hubs just google for it.

Here's one on Amazon:
Amazon.com: CyberPower Mobile Battery Powered 4-Port USB Hub (CP-H420MP): Electronics

 

[66woodpile]

I must admit I grow a bit weary of people explaining that they don't have a reason for wanting more storage. The thread is about wanting more storage without a connection; simple. Obviously, there are ample reasons to want to add storage on - just because you don't see the problem does not make it go away.

I will buy a device for swappable storage as soon as a decent product is out - whether you think I need one, or not.

 

[TnTexas]

Another possible solution to the storage-while-traveling problem could be something like the Seagate GoFlex Satellite. I've never tried it so I have no idea how well it works, but I saw it talked about elsewhere and thought I'd mention it here in case someone might find it useful.

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

The part that is baffling to me is that anyone would be willing to pay $50 more for 8 gb of storage.

Tru dat. I can get a 16GB USB drive for $9.99 at my local Target.

 

[salsa2good]

im good with managing my apps, if i have a large game i will complete that game then delete it...and move on. also i will not be putting any songs on my nexus 7 sinse i have a psvita which i use as an mp3 player when im not playin game on it. im mainly getting my nexus because sometimes i dont wanna turn on my laptop just to watch a youtube clip or check my email.

 

[Lphie]

Kingston Wi-Drive. 16g, 32g or 64g of storage that can be streamed with it's built in wi-fi connection. Just got the 16g version of ebay brand new for $40 bucks.

 

[Chisaki]

THAT's why you need local storage. You gonna stop at McD's every 100 miles or so and listen to some tunes? A movie for the kiddies? Gotta find a wifi so I can delete some files or uninstall some apps and download some different ones from the "cloud".....Take your time eating that Happy Meal, Daddy hasn't finished streaming his show yet.

Oh that app looks pretty nice. What 25MB? Hmmm, let me see what I can get rid of........

- Nobody will ever need more than 64K of RAM -
Bill Gates, circa 1982

If you really need all that space pick up a wireless network drive like the FreeAgent GoFlex Satellite (500GB) or the Kingston Wi-Drive (32GB).

 

[Chisaki]

Here's the thing, wifi is EVERYWHERE except in your car. And they sell devices to convert cell phone data to 802.11 wifi. If you stop at McDonalds you will have Wifi, you get to the hotel you have wifi, stop at Ikea to shop, you have wifi.

The only time you don't is when you are driving and I hope you put the tablet down to do that. Unless you have one of those Google cars that it.

I can usually park outside of McDonald's or Starbucks and wi-fi works fine from my car on my iPad. I expect the Nexus 7 to do that too.