Is there such a thing as....?

[Ar-Pharazon]

I have tried Googling, but no luck so far.
Is there something like this: a USB device that can be plugged into a TV/monitor/etc., that can be paired with my smartphone, that will allow me to play videos (either from the phone or from youtube via the phone), show photo galleries, play music - on the TV, without any wireless network.

 

[RoJoHen]

I don't know, but now I want one.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Stuff like this? http://www.amazon.com/AnyCast-Display-Receiver-Airmirror-Miracast/dp/B00WUIBNOM

This one's HDMI but I bet there's a USB thingy, too.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Stuff like this? http://www.amazon.com/AnyCast-Display-Receiver-Airmirror-Miracast/dp/B00WUIBNOM
This one's HDMI but I bet there's a USB thingy, too.

Hmm, HDMI & WiFi, but the right idea for sure. I think a USB version would be easier to use, since most TV's and DVD/BD players have a USB port on the front. I've used a USB memory stick for playing files on my BD player. Of course (I think) going Bluetooth would make it easier to pair up with the phone.
My sister has one of those massive (aka heavy) adjustable beds, with speakers built in that can be used via WiFi. But it's sometimes tricky to get the WiFi connection.
I have a place to start searching (Anycast) now.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I don't think that's possible. Doesn't the TV expect the USB device to be mass storage (flash drive or hard drive)? This means that the device has to emulate a fake FAT filesystem with a fake file in it, then offer it as a fake block device. Then the TV has to fall for it (i.e. not read the end of the file and stuff like that), which means that if it works, it will be by accident.

I doubt such a device exists, though you could build one yourself. The USB and WiFi/Bluetooth parts are easy, more or less. Software for fake FAT filesystem exists (part of the Bochs emulator), but you'd have to adapt it for your task, which will be difficult.

My guess is that the TV won't be able to play the file, and it will be easier to just use a flash drive, though you could use a computer with WiFi/Bluetooth that offers itself as a proper USB drive. You upload the file, then the computer offers its drive to the TV. Many computers can do this physically (including most smartphones, I guess), but I'm not sure if the software part for this exists.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

That may be the problem. I know I can plug a USB memory stick into the blu-ray player, but it's an encoder/decoder itself. But will a TV recognize that type of input from the USB? You can update a TV's firmware via USB.
I've found Anycast, Google Chromecast, Roku and various dongles and adapters, but all have been HDMI so far. Might be the only way to stream directly to a TV, unless a USB device can encode for the TV.