mini6410 debug w/QT

i'm writing an app using the necessitas QT creator IDE.    i have a
mini6410 running android.   i can write my app, deploy the .apk file to the
device just fine.   i put the .apk on an sdcard from the host system, then
plug it into the mini6410 and install. works fine. i'm doing this on my
macbook. 

so, i want to do live debugging on the mini6410.  i've done all the things
i think i need to do to make it work.   i've gone and checked
settings->applications->unknown sources.   i set settings->development->usb
debugging.   

plug the mini6410 into the macbook, it doesn't seem to see it.   i tried
each of the three usb ports, same result.   when i plug this same 6410 into
my windows system, it doesn't seem to see it either.   

when i compile the app with QT creator, it compiles then says 'please wait,
searching for a suitable device for target:android-7'.  

anyone have any ideas on what i need to do to make this work?

update:   the mini6410 isn't seen by windows at all.   i have device
manager open, plug it in, nothing happens.   no unknown device, etc.   i
can plug in a USB stick into the 6410, it sees it just fine.   i can also
power the 6410 over usb, so that's not the problem.