How to Use USB Devices With Android Smartphones & Tablets: On-The-Go Cables

Smartphones and tablets are great for navigating the Internet, listening to music, watching TV or YouTube, and doing all sorts of other things using the multitude of Android and iOS apps now available. However, they have one major drawback compared to a standard desktop or notebook computer, the lack of a full-sized USB type A connector socket.

What Is a USB Connector?

Unless you’ve lived under a stone for the last 25 years, you’ll know that desktops and laptops come with one, and usually two or three, USB type A connectors fitted as standard. The USB standard was released in 1996, and according to Wikipedia:

“…is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables, connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply (interfacing) between computers, peripherals and other computers”

USB connectors on computers replaced the earlier parallel and serial connectors for communicating with peripherals such as printers and electronic instruments respectively. A USB connector on a desktop/laptop is typically used for connecting a mouse, external hard drive, printer, memory stick, digital camera or smartphone.