USB charging

[Captain Ødegård]

Is it true that the A3 doesnt charge through USB?

[Kylearan]

Not true - it does charge through USB. Just not as quickly as with the AC adapter.

[sdlvx]

It sure doesn't work to well when it's hooked up to my laptop and I'm transfering files. In fact, it usually dies on me that way. It still scares the shit out of me, when it just dies like that.

If the red light is on, it means it's charging. I guess it's charging, but the laptop USB port might not be providing enough juice? IDK. Either way, it comes with an AC adaptor which charges it fairly quickly. USB charging is something that is pretty useless. My brother has a 605, and it takes FOREVER to charge that.

But, if you were wondering if you could, say, buy one of those USB to cigarrette lighter adaptor things they have at radioshack, and then charge your A3 while in the car and listening to it (if you're on a LOOONNNNG road trip or something), you can't do it. As soon as something is plugged into the USB thing, it goes right to disk mode. It has to reboot to do it, so I don't imagine it being updated in firmware anytime soon. That means, you can't charge via the USB port and listen to music or watch videos. I'm not entirely sure it even charges via USB TBH.

It doesn't seem like it does, but I think my laptop is just a little weak, because I have the SAME problem with 4th and 5th gen ipod, archos 605, and A3.

Haven't really tried on a real PC with USB 2.0 ports, though.

[GurjBahia]

Page 10 of the manual explains that the "hold" switch needs to be ON before you connect the USB cable. The red charging light comes on, but the USB connection is then not made. So no copying and charging at the same time. Bit poor, but not a problem when at home.

[Sasami]

Page 10 of the manual explains that the "hold" switch needs to be ON before you connect the USB cable. The red charging light comes on, but the USB connection is then not made. So no copying and charging at the same time. Bit poor, but not a problem when at home.

Can you have your unit connected to the AC adapter while copying files or playing back video (say to a TV)?

[Kylearan]

Can you have your unit connected to the AC adapter while copying files or playing back video (say to a TV)?

Absolutely.

There is also an adapter for the cigarette lighter, so you can charge in-car via the DC-in instead of USB. Just waiting on a couple components, but I'm setting mine up to run on the AUX of my stereo, with a car mount, the remote and power coming from the adapter.

[Wootz]

For US based folks, the A2 & A3 use the Radioshack Adaptaplug A (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062423&cp=&sr=1&origkw=adaptaplug+a&kw=adaptaplug+a&parentPage=search) tip for use with a DC power cigarette lighter adapter (which I was researching for charging while I'm on a flight).

[nocturnalsteve]

damn this is a right pain if it at the very least doesnt maintain its current battery state when connect by usb - so if you spend a while transfering files your eating away at the battery!

I have tried leaving my player plugged in via usb (in hold position) for the entire day at work and all I get is a blank white screen and no led light :(

very disappointing

[AustinSooner]

damn this is a right pain if it at the very least doesnt maintain its current battery state when connect by usb - so if you spend a while transfering files your eating away at the battery!

I have tried leaving my player plugged in via usb (in hold position) for the entire day at work and all I get is a blank white screen and no led light :(

very disappointing

then you have a problem of some sort. I originally couldn't charge from the adapter, had to send it end for fixing. You may have a similar issue with charging from the USB. It works as that was my only way for charging prior to getting my A4 fixed. Make sure you are using the USB closest to the adapter plug-in (bottom) and that you are using the supplied cable. I tried using a more conventional cable and it would work right.