Does anyone know why the MINI Connected instruction manual says that the USB port is not for the purposes of charging external devices? Of course it is!

 

Most modern devises need 5v (even 5.2 on some) and 2.1 or 2 amps (about 10-12 watts)....
Well outside the "USB" spec....that is WHY most devises will tell you yo use the "original" charger....or simply charge so slowly it will take 8 hrs to charge, and some items, like a smartphone, may continue to run the battery down FASTER than it is charging....

 

See that hole that used to have a cigarrette lighter in it? That charges stuff. And the port that hooks up an iPod/iPhone will charge them. Take charge.

 

Yes, I would use the CLA, but since I listen to Webradio constantly, I need to have MINI Connected running, and IT requires using the USB port.

 

The owner's manual says:

Observe the following when connecting:
▷Do not use force when plugging the connector into the USB interface.
▷Do not connect devices such as fans or lamps to the USB interface.
▷Do not connect any USB hard drives or USB hubs.
▷Do not use the USB interface to recharge external devices.



So, what sort of experiments has everybody done? What works and what doesn't?

Has anyone looked at a personal profile file exported to USB?

 

How about using a USB Y power cable with the cigarette lighter?

 

This! My S4 uses the battery while plugged into my USB port (albeit more slowly). I had to get a 12V > USB 2.1 amp charger for when I use my phone as a GPS; otherwise, I had to keep turning the screen off of my phone while in use, or it would completely run down the battery in the phone.

 

Here's what I tried with the USB port: plugged in my portable hard drive containing my music collection but could not find the music folder to transfer to the onboard drive. Plugged in my iPhone and it does this weird vibration thing but can't charge or transfer music. Finally I copied a bunch of music onto an 8 GIg thumb drive and was able to copy the music into the system. Not sure how much more I could put on there, but I'll have to copy more to the stick first.
Stopped by the dealer to get an iPhone cradle for my armrest, but was told they are not available yet. And the piece of plastic is $86. Well I'll just use the lighter jack to charge the phone (for 5 bucks) and the Bluetooth to play tunes on the phone.

Anyone know of a third party making an iPhone cable for the armrest that doesn't cost an arm?

 

FWIW, that USB port keeps my iPod nano charged.

 

It also keeps my iPhone 5S full of juice!