> On Apr 8, 2026, at 11:02 AM, charles meyer <reachmeplace_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>
> My talented and esteemed colleagues...
>
> Here's the MacGyver challenge for the day ....
>
> I'm exploring the possibility of playing mps audio files on a flash drive
> via an old cell phone (e.g. 8 year old LG, 5 year old Samsung).
>
> They both have an outlet (round) for an earplug.
>
> Is there any way to buy an adapter where I could connect part of that
> adapter to the ear hole in the cell phone and plug the flash drive into a
> USB port in the adapter?
>
> Many patrons live on very modest fixed incomes so no disposable income for
> a new chromebook, tablet or pre-owned laptop.
>
> I was able to recharge one LG phone but don't see any audio player program
> on it - ala VLC Media PLayer or Audacity to open.play an MP3. It did play a
> song on the phone so there is a "speaker."
Odds are the phone has some sort of USB port charging and data... based on the age, most likely USB microB, but the 5 year old might have USB C.
The flash drive is likely USB A, but newer ones are USB C or there are even ones that have USB A on one end and USB C on the other.
I'm assuming they're not both USB C or you wouldn't be asking.
If the phone is USB C, you can get an adaptor to do it. I got a pair for them from MicroCenter a month or so back for under $10.
If you're trying to connect a USB A jump drive to a USB B (micro, mini, etc) port ... that's going to be an issue because if the gender... they're both set up to be accessories, not the computer. (USB C can act as both).
You'd likely need to plug both the flash drive and the phone into a computer, and then transfer the files to the phone.
... then you'd be able to listen to music with either the phone's speaker or plugging in headphones.
and if there isn't something on the phone to play music files, I would be very surprised, but you could get one from the Google Play store or similar. You should probably search the phone for something with "music" in the name.
-Joe
(unaffiliated)
Received on Wed Apr 08 2026 - 12:16:38 EDT