External Hard Drive / HTC One

[harveymt]

Is it possible to attach a portable hard drive to an Android phone via the USB port?

I've an HTC One and could I attach something like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008PABFX8/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=computers

 

[AnotherJoe]

You can use a mains powered external HD, or a USB thumbdrive with a USB OTG cable.

 

[harveymt]

What's the difference between a USB cable and a OTG cable or is there one? Would that hard drive example above be ok with one of those OTG cables?

 

[bigboss]

 

[AnotherJoe]

Would that hard drive example above be ok with one of those OTG cables?

No it probably wont. Any HD would have to be mains powered. A phone cant supply enough power through the USB, unless the HD was really really low power.