Android Device Not Visible In Eclipse using USB cable

I wanted to connect a Galaxy Tablet by Samsung to my Eclipse Android SDK with the USB cable.  I downloaded the appropriate drivers, followed all of the instructions including setting the tablet in Application debug mode, and still nothing.  Nada! Zilch!  I thought that maybe I had the wrong driver, so I uninstalled the driver, went to the Samsung site, and got the driver again and installed it.  Nothing!  Crapola!

I have more than one Android app on the go, because the app that I am developing is quite complex, so I prototype each function as a separate project to make sure that I have the Java code right.  I went to another project and look at the run configs, and I could see the device in the run configuration menu.  It ran perfectly.  So, WTH?

After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I decided to examine LogCat very closely.  It said it couldn't find a compatible minimum SDK version device attached.  Well, I did know where it was specified and that was in the AndroidManifest.xml.  So I went there and sure enough, I had accidentally changed the minSdkVersion to 17, instead of 8.  The 17 number was for the targetSdkVersion.


<uses-sdk
        android:minSdkVersion="8"
        android:targetSdkVersion="17" />

When I changed the minSdkVersion back to 8, I could see the USB connected device.

Hope this helps someone.

Message To Samsung

Attention Samsung.  You make a great Galaxy tablet.  Your products are good.  Your accessories SUCK!  I visited 6 stores trying to get a replacement USB cable (30 pin proprietary) for the Galaxy Tablet.  Wasted almost a whole day and still no cable.  Have to buy it online.

That begs the question -- why are your cables so flimsy.  Mine broke where the wire connects to the connector and it shorted and melted.  I was talking to a store clerk and his did the same on his cell phone.  Surely if we can put a man on the moon 40 years ago, you can make a cable that lasts for more than 2 years.

There are very few stores that carry your proprietary cable and it is really pissing me off.  If you seriously want to challenge Apple and the iPad you would make the things ubiquitous.

Rant over.