许多现代便携式设备都带有用于SD 或 microSD 卡(SD or microSD cards)的插槽，以提供额外的存储空间。然而，有些人没有。如果这些设备的内部存储空间也有限，就像在低价机型中经常发生的那样，用户必须密切关注已安装的(eagle eye)应用程序和文件(apps and files)的数量，以免空间不足。如果没有SD 功能(SD capability)，有没有办法为这样的设备轻松添加额外的存储空间(storage space)？事实证明，如果设备支持OTG或“on the go”技术，答案是肯定的。Inateck HB3001g 集线器和读卡器(Inateck HB3001g Hub and Card Reader)让您可以轻松地将额外存储连接到没有SD 插槽的设备(SD slot). 这听起来对你有吸引力吗？如果是这样，请继续阅读。
什么是OTG？
OTG或“on the go”技术自 2001 年以来就已经存在，可以合理地假设大多数现代便携式设备都支持它。这篇维基百科文章(Wikipedia article)中有一个非常技术性的解释，但基本上它的意思是，您可以使用支持OTG的适配器将闪存(OTG)驱动器或数据卡(drive or data card)连接到支持OTG的设备，并以与使用存储相同的方式使用存储将存储直接插入设备。如果您不确定您的设备是否支持OTG，只需使用设备名称和 OTG(device name and OTG)进行搜索。
注意：(NOTE:)出于本文的目的，我们使用摩托罗拉 Moto X 手机(Motorola Moto X phone)、Nexus 5手机和HTC One手机测试了(HTC One)Inateck HB3001g USB 集线器和读卡器(Inateck HB3001g USB Hub and Card Reader)，一切都运行良好。
拆箱 Inateck 3 OTG 集线器
带读卡器(Card Reader)的HB3001g 集线器装(HB3001g Hub)在一个可重新密封的塑料袋(plastic bag)中，其中包含集线器及其连接的microUSB 电缆(microUSB cable)，以及一端带有标准USB 连接器(USB connector)和另一端带有迷你插头的(mini plug)电源线(power cord)。
它似乎设计精良，制作精良。它的尺寸为 65 毫米 x 60 毫米 x 10 毫米（2.56 x 2.36 x 0.4 英寸），具有迷人的哑光黑色表面，不会显示指纹。各种设备的插槽围绕边缘排列，并在插槽旁边的顶面上清楚地识别。
设计师巧妙地将一些插槽堆叠在一起，从而节省了空间。MS 和 M2 插槽(MS and M2 slots)以及SD 和 MicroSD 插槽(SD and MicroSD slots)都是这样完成的。
包的背面是一个贴纸，上面有集线器的图表和可以连接到它的设备类型，还有一个简短的书面说明。在我们收到的美国模型(USA model)中，信息似乎已被不太流利的人翻译成英文(English)，但很容易弄清楚它的含义。虽然顶部的黑色横幅仅提及三星(Samsung)产品和 Windows 8.1 平板电脑，但下面的描述向我们保证它适用于所有OTG兼容设备。
硬件规格
Inateck是一家德国公司，为(Inateck)欧洲(Europe)和美国(USA)提供各种便携式设备配件。带读卡器(Card Reader)的HB3001g 集线器(HB3001g Hub)专为使用microUSB 连接器(microUSB connector)的手机和平板电脑设计。这是一款小巧轻便的设备，在包或背包(bag or backpack)中不会占用太多空间。Inateck的该设备的网页(web page)在这里(here)，它允许您查看该设备的技术规格和特写照片。
使用 Inateck OTG HUB
使用集线器很简单，只需使用迷你USB 插头(USB plug)将其连接到便携式设备，然后插入您选择的存储设备，就像您的手机或平板电脑(phone or tablet)上有插槽一样。它们将被视为便携式设备上的单独目录。红色LED亮起，告诉您集线器已连接并正在工作。制造商的文档暗示您可以将设备连接到集线器上的每个兼容插槽，并且仍然可以正常工作(everything work)。我们手头没有足够的外围设备来测试它，但它在两个USB 闪存(USB flash)驱动器和一个标准SD 卡上(SD card)运行良好。
这是Moto X 手机(Moto X phone)( Android ) 上文件管理器的视图，其中有一张SD卡(file manager)和(SD card)一个连接到集线器的USB 闪存驱动器。(USB flash)
如果您的设备需要一个有源集线器，或者您连接的设备太多以至于超出了便携式设备电池的容量，该怎么办？这就是USB 电源(USB power)线的用途。将(Attach)其USB 端(USB end)连接到任何标准USB 端口或 USB 充电器(USB port or USB charger)（该设备不自带电源(power supply)）并将迷你插头(mini plug)插入集线器。在这里，我们将它连接到Moto X 手机(Moto X phone)的充电器上。
不幸的是，电源线只有 53 厘米（约 21 英寸）长，因此如果您需要电源，您必须将设备和集线器放在离插座相当近的地方。请记住，集线器的电源来自您的便携式设备，因此如果您选择不连接电源(power source)，您可能会比平时更快地耗尽电池电量。
判决
Inateck HB3001g 集线器和读卡器(Inateck HB3001g Hub and Card Reader)设计精良，制作精良。它足够小，可以轻松放入口袋或电脑包(computer bag)中，它允许您将各种存储卡和USB驱动器连接到您的便携式设备。随附的电源线(power cord)可让您最大限度地使用集线器，但如果必须将其连接到插座或USB端口，则设备的便携性会大大降低。这是一个小问题，不应该阻止你购买集线器。我们没有兼容的平板电脑可以试用，但所有的Android我们使用的手机立即识别出该设备，并允许我们轻松查看文件。如果您的设备没有文件管理器，那么(file manager)Google 应用(Google app)商店中有不少评价很高的设备- 我们建议您检查一下并选择一个不支持广告的设备，这样您就不会因为看到一个愚蠢而发疯处理文件时闪烁的横幅。(flashing banner)易于(Easy)查看且易于使用，您还能要求什么？
Reviewing The Inateck HB3001g USB Hub With Card Reader
Many modern portable devices come with slots for SD or microSD cards, to provide аdditional storage. Sоme, hоwever, do not. If those devices also have limited internal stоrage, as often hapрens in lоwer priced models, the υser has to keep an eagle eye on the number of apps аnd files that are installed, to keep from running oυt of space. Without SD capability, is there a way to easilу add extra storage space to sυch a deνice? As it turns out, the answer is yes, if the deviсе supports OTG or "on the go" technology. The Inateck HB3001g Hub and Card Reader allows you tо easily connect extra storage to a device that has no SD slot. Dоes thіs sound appealing to you? If so, read on.
What Is OTG?
OTG or "on the go" technology has been around since 2001 and it's reasonable to assume that most modern portable devices support it. There's a very technical explanation in this Wikipedia article, but basically what it means is that you can connect a flash drive or data card to an OTG capable device with an OTG capable adapter and use the storage in the same way you would use it if you plugged the storage directly into the device. If you are not certain whether your device is OTG capable, just do a search with the device name and OTG.
NOTE: For the purposes of this article, we tested the Inateck HB3001g USB Hub and Card Reader with a Motorola Moto X phone, a Nexus 5 phone, and an HTC One phone and all worked perfectly.
Unboxing The Inateck 3 OTG Hub
The HB3001g Hub with Card Reader arrives in a resealable plastic bag that contains the hub and its attached microUSB cable, plus a power cord that has a standard USB connector on one end and a mini plug on the other.
It appears to be well designed and well made. Its dimensions are 65mm x 60mm x 10mm (2.56 x 2.36 x 0.4 inches) with an attractive matte black surface that won't show fingerprints. The slots for various devices are arranged around the edges and identified clearly on the top surface next to the slot.
The designers have cleverly saved space by stacking some slots one above the other. The MS and M2 slots and the SD and MicroSD slots are done this way.
On the back of the bag is a sticker with a diagram of the hub and the types of devices that can connect to it, plus a brief written explanation. On the USA model we received, the information appears to have been translated into English by someone not quite fluent, but it's easy enough to figure out what it means. Although the black banner at the top only mentions Samsung products and Windows 8.1 tablets, the description below assured us that it was suitable for all OTG compatible devices.
Hardware Specifications
Inateck is a German company that offers a wide range of accessories for portable devices, available both in Europe and in the USA. The HB3001g Hub with Card Reader is designed specifically for phones and tablets that use a microUSB connector. It's a small, lightweight device that won't take up too much room in a bag or backpack. Inateck's web page for this device is here, and it allows you to see technical specifications and closeup photos of the device.
Using The Inateck OTG HUB
Using the hub is a simple matter of attaching it to your portable device with the mini USB plug, and then plugging in your storage devices of choice, just as you would if you had slots for them on your phone or tablet. They will be seen as separate directories on the portable device. A red LED lights up to tell you that the hub is connected and working. The manufacturer's documentation implies that you can attach a device to every single compatible slot on the hub and still have everything work properly. We did not have enough peripheral devices on hand to test this out, but it did work fine with two USB flash drives and a standard SD card.
Here is a view from a file manager on the Moto X phone (Android) with an SD card and one USB flash drive attached to the hub.
What if your devices require a powered hub, or you've attached so many devices that you've overtaxed the capabilities of your portable device's battery? That's what that USB power cord is for. Attach the USB end of it to any standard USB port or USB charger (the device does not come with its own power supply) and plug the mini plug into the hub. Here we've attached it to the charger for the Moto X phone.
Unfortunately, the cord is only 53cm (about 21 in) long, so if you want power you'll have to put your device and the hub fairly close to an outlet. Keep in mind that the power for the hub is drawn from your portable device, so if you choose not to attach a power source you may drain your battery faster than usual.
Verdict
The Inateck HB3001g Hub and Card Reader is well designed and well made. It's small enough to slip easily into a pocket or a computer bag, and it allows you to connect a wide variety of storage cards and USB drives to your portable device. The included power cord allows you to use the hub to its maximum capacity, although the device becomes considerably less portable if it has to be tethered to an outlet or a USB port. That's a minor quibble that shouldn't stop you from buying the hub. We didn't have a compatible tablet to try it out on, but all the Android phones we used recognized the device immediately and allowed us to view files with no trouble. If your device does not come with a file manager, there are quite a few highly rated ones in the Google app store--we recommend checking them out and choosing one that is not ad supported so you don't go nuts looking at a stupid flashing banner while you deal with your files. Easy to look at and easy to use, what more could you ask?
