With the release of Honeycomb, a stack of tablets are coming onto the market; some of which have a USB Host port. This creates a range of possible new uses for these tablets (one of which is the ability to copy photos off an SD card and onto the tablet).
Here's the scenario. You're going away and just want to take your tablet with you. You plan on taking lots of photos with your camera and want to be able to offload them onto your tablet in order to free up space on your SD card. Using the USB port, you can connect the card to the tablet (using a card reader or something similiar) but there is not an app out there capable of allowing you to easily transfer these photos onto the tablet.
I've tried using astro and it is far more complicated than it needs to be.
I'd love to see an app that can recognise the DCIM directory on an SD card, allow you to select which photos you want to copy, and ask you where on the tablet to save them. A simple, yet extremely powerful app!
Anyone interested in developing it?
Related
If you are still wondering:
- What is the breakdown of that 32GB Xoom internal memory (how many parition, how much space for apps / files)?
- Why Google is using MTP instead of USB file transfer on Honeycomb?
Here is straight answer from Google developer:
MTP is a big improvement over USB mass storage — for devices with lots of internal memory, a manufacturer no longer needs to come up with some hard partition between the USB mass storage and internal storage. Instead, they are all in one partition, with MTP providing access to the directory of media files that would normally be available through USB mass storage.This means there is no longer a need for apps on SD card for such devices, because what used to be the “internal SD card” is in the same partition as where applications are stored. The storage on your device can be used for either applications or media, depending on what you want to put on it. You aren’t stuck with how much space the manufacturer decided to leave for the two areas.
Oh also this means that the media storage doesn’t need to be unmounted from Android when it is being access through the PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://phandroid.com/2011/02/27/mac-users-require-file-transfer-utility-for-android-3-0/
Finally, true APP2SD You now have 32GB to put all your apps!!!
Sounds like a good thing!
This is a great explanation. Thanks for posting.
There is no doubt that mtp has advantages over mass storage. On the other hand I miss the ability to attach it to any computer and access files. It is not a huge problem but does add a limitation that was not there before.
That saod it is nice being able to access files on my computer without losing access to the partition on the device.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
I only see a problem if you flash different roms and have to do full data wipes.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
jvs60 said:
I only see a problem if you flash different roms and have to do full data wipes.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure future versions of CWM will be set to ignore that one folder.. I hope. Otherwise nandroid backups will take forever.
I'm not sure in terms of security it is a huge improvement; unless there is an option to turn it on/off somewhere.
Previously I would have to plug an Android device in to my computer, turn the device on, enter my unlock code, and then specifically allow the computer access via the USB. This morning I just plugged my xoom in and, poof, access to all my stuff.
At least before someone had to take my sdcard out at put it in their computer manually
Does MTP have anything to do with file size limit? I've seen posted on this forum that you can't load video files larger than 4gb onto the Xoom because of FAT32, is that still the case?
This MTP also seems to hide a lot of file from being seen by a pc. I open folders with File manager on the Xoom and see more folders namely the android folder which has game save data and other odd ball files. When hooked to a pc its blank. With MTP it seems all your allowed to do is transfer music, video and pics.
Malcus1 said:
Does MTP have anything to do with file size limit? I've seen posted on this forum that you can't load video files larger than 4gb onto the Xoom because of FAT32, is that still the case?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still haven't got around to testing (so many things to try out!), but in some of the video threads, I've been told XOOM uses EXT4 format not FAT32, and thus, should not have that 4GB limit. I've been re-encoding video files to meet XOOM's current playback limitations, and have been reducing them to sub 4GB anyway, so I haven't tested that for myself.
Hi,
I've done a search and haven't been able to find anything solid on this so I apologize if it's been covered. I've been using the Atrix for a few days now and I noticed that when I view click on the "Files" app (the default file viewer that comes with the Atrix) it comes up with a list of the following options:
Internal phone storage
SD card
Shared folders
Protected Content
This is different than previous Android phones I've used in that I get a file structure instead of options of where to look. That's fine; I can just click on one of those options to view the contents. However, I use a application at work to use my phone as a glorified picture frame. It's called Slideshow Bob and it does not recognize the external SD Card. This hasn't been an issue with prior Android devices, but from little I can glean from doing an online search, this does seem to be a limitation with some Motorola models. Again, I have had no problem accessing my pictures in Slideshow Bob from any of the Samsung Android devices I own and this is my first Motorola phone with this OS so I'm wondering if this is a bug that will be remedied or if they've basically limited file access from apps on this phone. I'm sure that's not the case with every app, but it certainly is for some. Anyone else have any issues or workarounds they'd like to share?
iirc, none of the currently released Samsung Android devices have built-in storage plus an expansion slot, which is why you've likely never seen the issue.
Basically, Android was never designed to have more than one expansion slot, so that ends up being mounted in /mnt/sdcard (or /sdcard, with one symlinked to the other). Since there's no standard on where additional storage ends up being (and most programs assume there's no additional storage anyways), programs usually don't know where to look.
There is probably an option is Slideshow Bob of where to get the pictures, try /mnt/sdcard-ext/[folder name], where [folder name] is the name of the folder on the external sd card where the pictures are.
Sogarth said:
iirc, none of the currently released Samsung Android devices have built-in storage plus an expansion slot, which is why you've likely never seen the issue.
Basically, Android was never designed to have more than one expansion slot, so that ends up being mounted in /mnt/sdcard (or /sdcard, with one symlinked to the other). Since there's no standard on where additional storage ends up being (and most programs assume there's no additional storage anyways), programs usually don't know where to look.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
My Samsung Captivate had 16GB of built-in memory and an SD expansion card slot which I filled with an additional 16GB card. In the android file manager I could access the expansion card by going into the ext_sd (or something like that) under the main sdcard directory. I could also see this folder in Slideshow Bob.
harolds said:
There is probably an option is Slideshow Bob of where to get the pictures, try /mnt/sdcard-ext/[folder name], where [folder name] is the name of the folder on the external sd card where the pictures are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
There is no such option. There is an option for the default folder, but it's a text field you have to type in, not a directory structure. I tried typing in the path to the external sd card, /sdcard-ext/MEDIA, directly (which ASTRO file manager shows exists), but the app says the directory does not exist. I really think Motorola is doing something to limit what apps can and cannot access for whatever reason. This has never been an issue with my Samsung Captivate or Galaxy Tab.
I think this actually has to do with the external sd card being mounted separate from the internal. In my previous devices the external card was seen as a directory on the internal sd card. With the Atrix it is an entirely separate item and some apps may not be able to access it as a result of having that different mounting. I don't have any other apps with which I need to navigate to a directory (other than various file managers) so I can't test how endemic this is. I imagine it might be an issue for apps that rely on a folder structure for data access such as music apps that are folder based instead of reading from what's in the media library.
I just tried another slideshow app. It is a problem, I think, with Slideshow Bob. It can't see any folders not on the internal sd card. In my Samsung devices the external card was viewed as a folder on the internal card and was, therefore, not a problem.
Apps having directory navigation problems on the Motorola Atrix
Kenny, I have the same problem with the PowerAmp app. My phone is also rooted and I have root explorer which shows me the music files exist. I can even play one file at a time with the power amp from explorer. But I get the same issue when I try to navigate to the music using poweramp. One more possibility is that the Atrix is running Android 2.2.1. Perhaps there is an issue with the upgrade. (I thing this "upgrade" is a disappointment compared to 2.2. I'd rather try Gingerbread.) AT&T has a 30 buyers remorse period and I've only had the Atrix for a week. I love the phone and I would hate to take it back but wtf? I'm just like the rest of you, I just want the damn thing to work!
p.s. My wife's Samsung Captivate never had this issue either.
Update: I found this issue in the Poweramp forum and I also spoke to an at&t support specialist and they verified what was said earlier about the problem is in the difference between the Atrix file system versus the Captivate. The Captivate mounts the external sd card as a folder inside the internal sd card while the Atrix has it mounted separately. The Poweramp administrators promise a fix in a week so I'm glad they are aware of the problem. This seems like an easy bug to fix. I will snoop around the market to see if an app can "trick" the Atrix file system to put the external sd in an internal sd folder. If anyone is aware of such an app, let us know.
The Atrix is promised the Gingerbread upgrade later this year. It has a new file system (ext4) which promises to be faster for phones like our Atrix or the Nexus. As I said, it seem an easy problem to fix, I'm sure this problem will be a thing of the past by then, I'm going to keep my Atrix and wait.
Kenny, you might want to check your app's web site to see if they have a fix in the making.
The Atrix being my first android phone im still learning things every day and I have had similar issues with the sd card and storage partitions. while checking out different files and what not I stumbled upon this default.prop file which contains the following..
#
# ADDITIONAL_DEFAULT_PROPERTIES
#
ro.secure=1
ro.allow.mock.location=0
ro.debuggable=0
persist.service.adb.enable=0
EXTERNAL_STORAGE_MOUNT=/mnt/sdcard
I was wondering if any one with more android experience is familiar with creating and editing prop files for certain activities could confirm if we switch the last line to sdcard-ext if this would now read or set our external sd card to be the sd card that the system and most apps read and write to. I haven't tested it myself but being familiar with different registry edits in winmo and windows im thinking this will work.. anyone agree or have some information they can share?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
When connected to Either Windows or Linux I can't see the Add-in MicroSD card in the Acer.
The annoying Acer Sync app launches, and that will show me only main memory, not the expansion card or any usb devices plugged into the standard sized usb port. Linux never shows anything.
I know I can move things with a file manager, but Calibre can't move ebooks to a device unless I am able to map a drive letter to it, and Calibre for Linix at least has to see the device.
Under linux it simply never shows up.
Is there a setting in the Acer to tell it to simply show all storage?
Why so determined to move books to EXT-SD?
icebike said:
When connected to Either Windows or Linux I can't see the Add-in MicroSD card in the Acer.
The annoying Acer Sync app launches, and that will show me only main memory, not the expansion card or any usb devices plugged into the standard sized usb port. Linux never shows anything.
I know I can move things with a file manager, but Calibre can't move ebooks to a device unless I am able to map a drive letter to it, and Calibre for Linix at least has to see the device.
Under linux it simply never shows up.
Is there a setting in the Acer to tell it to simply show all storage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not trying to be an ass or anything, but why are you so determined to put your books on the external SD drive? You have at least 16 gig internally, and most books take up VERY little space unless they are in .PDF format. Even a hundred books would take up next to nothing of the 16 gig.
Let your books stay on the internal drive and put the really big stuff - music, pictures, videos - on the external drive. If you do that it is unlikely you will fill up the internal drive any time soon, if ever.
Besides, your reader app probably wouldn't find the books on that drive anyway. We are hoping for some better functionality with the upcoming 3.1 release.
Have fun, and download File Manager HD. It works with network shares, making the USB cable almost unnecessary.
This is about the lack of storage. Everyone seems to be happy with the plugging in of the usb and removing it whenever it is not needed.This to me seems long as you have to pen a file manager to see your files and obviously cannot install apps on it. I was wondering if we could put the actual android os onto the stick so we boot the phone off of it so we can also install apps? Just an idea.
TechMitchell said:
This is about the lack of storage. Everyone seems to be happy with the plugging in of the usb and removing it whenever it is not needed.This to me seems long as you have to pen a file manager to see your files and obviously cannot install apps on it. I was wondering if we could put the actual android os onto the stick so we boot the phone off of it so we can also install apps? Just an idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For that to work you would need OTG working, it isn't supported currently. Even the 8GB model has more than enough storage for system files, apps and their associated data; its people that like to carry around huge music or video libraries that find it inadequate. BTW box.com is offering 50GB of free storage for any LG phone this month, embrace the cloud people.
1) i noticed that even though the nexus 4 don't have an Sd card slot and only internal storage, the internal storage is emulated as an external sd card. i found this when using espxe and also es file explorer to browse through the folders. so is this true, the internal storage on the nexus 4 is emulated as external sd card? is this true for all android devices too?
2) when i play my usb to to transfer files. it really did not matter which folder i put my files into cause all the apps read from the location and it'll scan all the folders in that location for the files anyway? for example even if i put a pdf inside the adobe reader folder or if i put it outside of the adobe folder, it'll still find it. so this means all android app reads from one top level folder?
again these are my speculations and i want to learn more about it, if anyone knows anything about this or knows any good links to sites that can explain these stuff to me, please link me. google's device support page only talks about very basic stuff, like how to use touch keyboard lol...
yes its emulated as external so is on samsung s2 and the micro sd card is usb storage.
the media scanner will look for new media after each transfer,
developer.android.com/guide/topics/data/data-storage.html
unable to transfer files to Nexus 4
jinjin12 - I just recently got my Nexus 4. what steps are you taking to trasnfer files onto the phone?
I can see the phone as a drive and I can browse the directories, but I am unable to actually transfer any files. I get some error about incorrect format and my only option is "ship" or Cancel, both obviously kills the transfer.
Once I get home I can show you the actually error dialogue.
I would appreciate your input.
Thanks.
ct13
jinjin12 said:
1) i noticed that even though the nexus 4 don't have an Sd card slot and only internal storage, the internal storage is emulated as an external sd card. i found this when using espxe and also es file explorer to browse through the folders. so is this true, the internal storage on the nexus 4 is emulated as external sd card? is this true for all android devices too?
2) when i play my usb to to transfer files. it really did not matter which folder i put my files into cause all the apps read from the location and it'll scan all the folders in that location for the files anyway? for example even if i put a pdf inside the adobe reader folder or if i put it outside of the adobe folder, it'll still find it. so this means all android app reads from one top level folder?
again these are my speculations and i want to learn more about it, if anyone knows anything about this or knows any good links to sites that can explain these stuff to me, please link me. google's device support page only talks about very basic stuff, like how to use touch keyboard lol...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse