Can my smartphone simultaneously (i) accept input from my mouse and (ii) send output to my monitor?

August 11, 2012 6:28 PM

Can my smartphone simultaneously (i) accept input from my mouse and (ii) send output to my monitor?

I have an Android smartphone (Samsung Galaxy SII), which has one microUSB port.

I'd like to hook it up to some computer peripherals: ideally, a mouse, keyboard, and monitor, all at once.

I have this microUSB/USB converter. When I plug a USB mouse into it, I can control a cursor on the screen of the phone.

I am aware of this microUSB/HDMI converter. When you plug a monitor into it, the phone's display is mirrored on the monitor.

Basically, if I could get both of those active at once, I'd be able to interact with my phone using the same user interface I use to interact with my computer.

But there's only one microUSB port on the phone. So what's my next step --
- a microUSB hub, if that exists?
- a regular USB hub, hooked up to all these devices by converter cables?
- this product, a USB hub that also transmits a monitor feed?
- something else?

Has anyone gotten this working? Does anyone know how to do so, or know a reason that one of my plans wouldn't work, or have ideas for a different plan that might?

Thanks in advance for all advice!

posted by foursentences to Technology (5 answers total)

Do bluetooth mice work on your phone?
posted by RustyBrooks at 6:47 PM on August 11, 2012

I don't think there are enough pins on a microUSB connector to do USB and HDMI at the same time, so I expect the port can only do one thing at a time, no matter what you hook to it.

As for that hub with video out you linked to: Pretty sure it has a USB video adapter built into it. Android would need appropriate drivers, which I doubt it has.

I think a bluetooth mouse and KB are probably you best bet, as RustyBrooks suggested.
posted by Good Brain at 7:14 PM on August 11, 2012

I got in on this Groupon last month, bluetooth mouse and keyboard for $35 shipped, was sweet. They're sold out in Austin but somehow got onto Abilene groupon site and they show not sold out there (???) so might wanna give it a try. It's a great set, I've seen it on sale before but this is the lowest I've seen it.
posted by dancestoblue at 11:20 PM on August 11, 2012

(ahem) I got this on Groupon last month,
posted by dancestoblue at 11:20 PM on August 11, 2012

maybe i'm not understanding what you're looking for, but using my phone explorer, i can mirror my phone (galaxy S2) on my laptop, and control everything from my laptop using my mouse and keyboard, including swiping, and text input. Just a normal usb cable needed. Sorry if that's not what you mean.
posted by kev23f at 6:12 AM on August 13, 2012