Develop Bugs

[Q] Only limited USB mass storage support?

According to engadget there is only a limited USB mass storage support (only media / picture transfer protocols are available).
Can some confirm this and check if full USB mass storage is available when USB debugging is turned on?

exore said:
According to engadget there is only a limited USB mass storage support (only media / picture transfer protocols are available).
Can some confirm this and check if full USB mass storage is available when USB debugging is turned on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mass media is there, just select the "Picture transfer". Just named it less-than-ideal

Thyrus said:
Mass media is there, just select the "Picture transfer". Just named it less-than-ideal
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Click to collapse
Can we still access anything from it then using a file manager like I can only the SGS2?

you will not see/feel the difference. Don't worry.

Here is my question, considering the lack of SD card on this thing, can I put my movies on an external SD card (or even a hdd, but whod want to tote one around?!) and then plug a reader into this thing using a USB OTG cable and then watch them on the phone? Just a thought. I need more storage than 32 GB... I've got 16GB of music alone...
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium

jameslfc5 said:
Can we still access anything from it then using a file manager like I can only the SGS2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Putting the USB connection in this mode using the notification drawer makes it go back to acting like normal:
http://i44.tinypic.com/154xeth.png

Here is more info regarding USB mass storage. it does not support UMS (because the phone does not have a SD slot) but support MTS.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/1...behind-galaxy-nexus-lack-of-usb-mass-storage/

Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but I'm kinda curious how we are meant to transfer files that are not the general media files. The only thing that I really am thinking of is transferring/synchronising my ROM backups from ROM manager (when I root the Nexus I have yet to recieve).
Any ideas?

Cleargrey said:
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but I'm kinda curious how we are meant to transfer files that are not the general media files. The only thing that I really am thinking of is transferring/synchronising my ROM backups from ROM manager (when I root the Nexus I have yet to recieve).
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The PTP option in the image I linked above acts like the file transfer mode you're after.

Has already been answered. PTP mode instead of MTP.

I guess I'm not understanding something because I thought PTP was for photos (originally used by cameras) and not for other filetypes.
So PTP will just transfer files as a UMS into the fake /sdcard directory (reading the interview)?

Yeeeeeeeesssssss. We told you no need to re-ask. answer will stay the same.

edit: <thyrus answered above>

Cleargrey said:
I guess I'm not understanding something because I thought PTP was for photos (originally used by cameras) and not for other filetypes.
So PTP will just transfer files as a UMS into the fake /sdcard directory (reading the interview)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry sorry sorry. Thanks for clearing that up. I will proceed to the dunce corner for 15mins!

Even in PTP mode mine still behaves like a media device rather than a storage device. I don't get a proper file copy dialogue and it still warns me that I might not be able to play files on my device as I copy them which I think will get VERY annoying over time. The only difference I can see in PTP mode is that it looks like a camera in 'Computer' rather than an MP3 player.

So can I copy for example .apk files to my phone?
I think it is a very interesting question. I see that you have written in some comments, that if you enable the PTP mode, you can copy files from computer to the Nexus. Can you copy everything, and not only pictures, videos, or songs? Can we copy for example .apk files too? Or it isn't allowed?

HUNZwiebel said:
I think it is a very interesting question. I see that you have written in some comments, that if you enable the PTP mode, you can copy files from computer to the Nexus. Can you copy everything, and not only pictures, videos, or songs? Can we copy for example .apk files too? Or it isn't allowed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can copy anything to it, but it isn't treated as a drive, for example when copying *.mkv's to it a warning comes up stating that the device might not be able to play it and you have to press yes to continue. Copy dialogues are also dumbed down and don't show as accurate progress.

Thanks!

Tung_meister said:
you can copy anything to it, but it isn't treated as a drive, for example when copying *.mkv's to it a warning comes up stating that the device might not be able to play it and you have to press yes to continue. Copy dialogues are also dumbed down and don't show as accurate progress.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So basically every time you copy non media files, that warning msg will pop up and you have to press yes every time? That could be annoying..

CoriolisSTORM said:
Here is my question, considering the lack of SD card on this thing, can I put my movies on an external SD card (or even a hdd, but whod want to tote one around?!) and then plug a reader into this thing using a USB OTG cable and then watch them on the phone? Just a thought. I need more storage than 32 GB... I've got 16GB of music alone...
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you really listen to all 16GB's worth of music that you have every day?
Seriously people. You don't need all of your music library on your phone. Keep the songs you like and listen to the most, and you can always stream any oddballs from Google Music or Amazon MP3 via the data you pay for or wifi.
Just my 2 cents

USB Mass Storage Mode

Anyone able to get this working yet on our US variants?
Link Here for Details
User justed updated that post with this:
d4fseeker said:
@jiggytom:
Thank you! I've updated the shell-scripts to include the US-variant,
and also added a description to use it with 2 easy buttons in GScript Lite
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I guess i'm failing to see what the problem is with not being able to mount the sdcard as mass storage. From the very first time I plugged in my phone to my desktop, I have been able to drag and drop files to either the internal or external sdcard just fine.

Gadgetz said:
I guess i'm failing to see what the problem is with not being able to mount the sdcard as mass storage. From the very first time I plugged in my phone to my desktop, I have been able to drag and drop files to either the internal or external sdcard just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Certain devices like TV and Car Radio which are supposed to be able to read songs and other media off your device are not compatible with MTP/PTP mode like the one used stock on our devices. Not only that but overall transfer reliability with MTP/PTP mode is greatly reduced. I can think of quite a number of times when I was in the middle of transferring a bunch of files and all of the sudden the transfer would time out and I have to do it all over again. UMS mode never had any of these issues.

The app hasn't worked for me.
I need USB Storage mode for my car, as well as syncing my iTunes library through iTunes Agent. Also its annoying that I can't use my phone when MTP is syncing.

Gadgetz said:
I guess i'm failing to see what the problem is with not being able to mount the sdcard as mass storage. From the very first time I plugged in my phone to my desktop, I have been able to drag and drop files to either the internal or external sdcard just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try that with Linux
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

epicnoob66 said:
Try that with Linux
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to mention I think Mac OS needs a separate application/plugin just to be able to read MTP devices.

Also it seems not all type of files can be transferred to the phone..

Bump, is there anything new in the works for US versions to rectify this? Hate not having this functionality. Actually, if I was still in my trial I would probably be returning my phone largely because of this issue. Sadly, it took me awhile to get around to looking into it though.
In further response to Gadgetz. My personal (most pressing at least) reasoning for needing this functionality has to do with syncing of ratings and playcounts for music. There is, as far as i know, no program that easily provides two way sync between an android phone and pc for these fields without overwriting entire files (not Ideal, not really even practical in my case as I transcode flac to mp3 for mobile use). The only workaround I could ever find was a script add-on in media monkey in conjunction with using the playerpro app. This process can only be completed in mass storage mode. Now I am stuck with no way to rate songs "globally." And that is a huge issue for me...
The fact that the international version has a fix gives me hope...crossing my fingers.

formulaci said:
Bump, is there anything new in the works for US versions to rectify this? Hate not having this functionality. Actually, if I was still in my trial I would probably be returning my phone largely because of this issue. Sadly, it took me awhile to get around to looking into it though.
In further response to Gadgetz. My personal (most pressing at least) reasoning for needing this functionality has to do with syncing of ratings and playcounts for music. There is, as far as i know, no program that easily provides two way sync between an android phone and pc for these fields without overwriting entire files (not Ideal, not really even practical in my case as I transcode flac to mp3 for mobile use). The only workaround I could ever find was a script add-on in media monkey in conjunction with using the playerpro app. This process can only be completed in mass storage mode. Now I am stuck with no way to rate songs "globally." And that is a huge issue for me...
The fact that the international version has a fix gives me hope...crossing my fingers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Answer Here

open1your1eyes0 said:
Answer Here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Seeing it was a script made me nervous, but not too bad if you follow the instructions. GScript force closing every time is an annoyance, but nothing I cant live with. (and I have to assume now that the functionality is there eventually someone will stick it in a standalone app or widget)
Anywho, thanks for the link! I can stop panicking now.

What I really really hate about this phone? No native USB support

The usb storage. MTS or whatever you call it . Very slow, terrible for navigating/editing multiple directories/windows at once. Frustrating. Can only find size of files by going in the directory and selecting all files. Anyone know of a good quick solution to this? I've played with the common game editor but don't really see it as encompassing the solution to all the problems of not having the classical USB mount

You think thats bad? Try having Mac. I can't even get it to recognize me phone lol. I'm forced to used my windows machine.
And I believe its a JB thing, not necessarily Samsung.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app

g2tegg said:
You think thats bad? Try having Mac. I can't even get it to recognize me phone lol. I'm forced to used my windows machine.
And I believe its a JB thing, not necessarily Samsung.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this problem too with my macbook pro then I found a solution tonight. Try this:
1. Install Kies if you haven't already, if you have make sure it's updated.
2. Connect your phone.
3. In Kies, click Tools, then Install Drivers (this will reinstall drivers
4. Download Android File Transfer.
Should work after this. Also make sure you have USB Debugging on and use PTP not MTP.

johnnyutah22 said:
I had this problem too with my macbook pro then I found a solution tonight. Try this:
1. Install Kies if you haven't already, if you have make sure it's updated.
2. Connect your phone.
3. In Kies, click Tools, then Install Drivers (this will reinstall drivers
4. Download Android File Transfer.
Should work after this. Also make sure you have USB Debugging on and use PTP not MTP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will be sure to give this a shot tomorrow and send along an update. I rarely use Kies, updated it yesterday but never tried the drivers thing. Android file transfer never used to work but maybe the "install drivers" step is all that's needed.
And thats why I love it here on XDA. Thanks for the help brother!
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app

I agree... coming from a s2 skyrocket, I really miss UMS. Why bother having expandable storage when it takes hours to transfer to a class 10 32gb sd card? That is if I can get it to transfer at all.
I'm now resorting to unmounting sd card and putting it in the computer to transfer files...big PITA
SGS3 Easy UMS doesnt work either.
Edit: Actually, I'm using kies now... still miss drag and drop

Agreed. Always had driver problems with this phone. Sometimes it wouldn't connect because drivers failed to install or "bad hardware ID" pops up in the corner. Only way to get it to work was to restart comp. And it would only work until I disconnected it, then gotta restart again. -.-
I'm gonna switch back to linux once I get some free time. I recommend you do the same.

g2tegg said:
And I believe its a JB thing, not necessarily Samsung.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was a problem in ICS as well. I think the reason for that they went with MTP is that users would create a "messy" file structure when they randomly dragged and dropped files anywhere on both the internal and external card. Samsung can keep things organized when they encourage you to use Samsung Kies to add files to the device.
The mandate for MTP is also to reduce piracy of protected media files by ensuring the DRM is properly done. In the past, I could connect my phone directly to my Samsung SMART TV and play 720/1080p movies via UMS. This is now blocked with MTP.

Anonymously_Unknown said:
It was a problem in ICS as well. I think the reason for that they went with MTP is that users would create a "messy" file structure when they randomly dragged and dropped files anywhere on both the internal and external card. Samsung can keep things organized when they encourage you to use Samsung Kies to add files to the device.
The mandate for MTP is also to reduce piracy of protected media files by ensuring the DRM is properly done. In the past, I could connect my phone directly to my Samsung SMART TV and play 720/1080p movies via UMS. This is now blocked with MTP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I also noticed the slow data transfer speed when I upgraded my SII to S3. Thought it was something I was doing wrong. I've changed the default transfer to PTP and will check it out tonight.

seamus24 said:
I've changed the default transfer to PTP and will check it out tonight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't bother with PTP. PTP is just a camera. It's not like UMS so you might as well leave it on MTP

g2tegg said:
You think thats bad? Try having Mac. I can't even get it to recognize me phone lol. I'm forced to used my windows machine.
And I believe its a JB thing, not necessarily Samsung.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was annoyed by this as well. Now when I want to add something to my sd card I just take it out of the phone and put the sd card in my Mac and add files that way. It's a little annoying but its not that big of a deal.

I think the closest you'll get to a true UMS experience is using Samba Filesharing Server (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funkyfresh.samba). You can then treat it like a network shared drive.
Of course you'll be limited by your WiFi speed. I think a possibility would be a USB host adapter and a USB ethernet adapter. I'm not sure if Android has support for a USB ethernet adapter but if that works then you should be able to connect to a gigabit switch/adapter and just be limited by USB2 speed.

It's not just this phone in general. They're all going that way as of ICS (Honeycomb as well) and up. If you use Windows it's not terrible but it is still slower. And yeah trying to use it with my Mac or even my Linux box is just frustrating. The primary reasoning was to merge the data and application volumes to give more space for applications. This is a better explanation of it. I do miss USB storage mode though.

Yep, totally frustrating for me also.
I remove my microSD card when I need to do lots of file management. But it's a clumsy workaround.

[Q] Video Transfer / Keyboard suggest

I have this very strange issue which I discovered on my month old Note 2. I never had this issue with my previous device which was a Nexus S.
I hook up the phone via USB to my PC. Select "camera PTP" mode. Then when I browse the folders via Computer\GT-N7100\Phone\DCIM\Camera I don't see any videos that I shot. However, when I browse the files through the default "my files" app in the phone I see them. Why is this?
Windows 8 detected the device and installed all drivers too. Because of this I am not able to move the videos shot with the phone to my PC. Any help?
----------
Secondly, when I type on the default Samsung keyboard and make typos, the keyboard suggests the right spelling which is nice. However, when I tap on space, the suggested right spelling is not used. However, the wrongly typed spelling which I typed is used. This was not the case with the default keyboard which came on the Nexus S, it automatically used the suggestion. Any way to configure the keyboard the right way?
Any help on these 2 , especially the first one will be greatly appreciated.

File transfer mode NOT media device mode?

Sorry for a kinda double post, as ive posted this in the noob thread, but I think its being overlooked.
When connecting to a PC, how can I get a normal file transfer mode?? the media mode is just too limiting, one file at a time, transfer with no ETA, cannot browse picture folders with image viewers.. "this file cannot be played are you sure you want to copy it" blah blah blah...
I'm sure on my old HTC sensation as well as media mode you had file mode.. but I cannot find it and I don't have usb 3.1 on my laptop only 3.0 so hopefully that's not the answer..
please help.. mostly after getting at my SD card without removing it from the phone as I can never find the "proddy thing".. not fussed if I need to install a third party app or other... but currently on stock EU rom non-rooted.

stupink said:
Sorry for a kinda double post, as ive posted this in the noob thread, but I think its being overlooked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... im not sure if i can help you really. What is the operating system you are using there? MTP works for me in Linux aswell as with Win 10.
stupink said:
When connecting to a PC, how can I get a normal file transfer mode??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When connecting to a PC it should pop up a question about how you want to use the connection. So select Filetransfer and trust it with "Yes". And that s it basically. You can also find this in the notification bar... eh about what to use USB for.
Also be sure to have suiting drivers. IIRC they should be installed with HTC Sync Manager. Maybe installing HTC Sync Manager would fix your issues already?
stupink said:
I'm sure on my old HTC sensation as well as media mode you had file mode.. but I cannot find it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How old? I think this special mode you refer to was removed some Android releases ago already. Nowadays theres MTP. By all this speed of that USB ports nowadays intention seems to be initially that you do not have to unmount it in order to get all that stuffs you knew from past. I remember when my ONE-S got a update suddenly in past where exactly this step to MTP happened. Since the USB2 hardware in this old phone was a bit older and worse it became slower than before. Many ppl had been looking for a fix for this, since you could not enable it like it was before. IIRC one solution was to use a custom ROM. I can not recommend using a custom ROM personally.
stupink said:
and I don't have usb 3.1 on my laptop only 3.0 so hopefully that's not the answer..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it is not. I m also having a 3.0. Still at least with marshmellow you would have to enable the fast file transfer with 3.1 explicitly in the case you really have such port on your Computer. And still theres some influences and things to consider to get optimum bandwidth.
But a 3.0 connection is usually not as crappy as you describe it now. So i would sugguest you:
- I assume a driver bad.
- Or Faulty cable.
- Maybe some setting in your file browser on the computer?
- Is the preview disabled maybe?
- Latest drivers for the phone? (HTC Sync Manager)
At very first i would try to get latest HTC Sync Manager for HTC10 from HTC website. Or if you are in linux, check your packages, udev rules and that MTP gets rolling.
Hope this helps a bit.
PS.: Try connect your Phone to another computer with maybe Windows 10 and latest HTC Sync Manager. Just to exclude that your computer or its software might cause this issue.

Thanks for the reply, my "old" htc was probably 6+years ago.. I think it was my first android phone, Recently I have been using LG G3 running cyanogenmod, so have always had a proper "file mode".. it was just like plugging in an external hard drive. I did not realise this was not a feature anymore in standard android.
The main problem I dislike is not being able to view pictures... If I open one picture from my phone or SDcard, then my picture browswer says viewing picture 1/1 even if the folder has 200 pictures in it, I cannot space/tab through the pictures, I have to close that one, then open the next.... I do find it frustrating only being able to copy one file at a time, and constantly having to tell it that I do want to copy the file despite not being able to play it, but those things I can live with.
I already have tried installing extra software and on windows 7, (I am running W10) but no luck
It just sounds like they want you to remove the SD card.. shame they make it so impossible to do.. I'll continue to hunt for a solution without custom rom.. and post any findings.

stupink said:
cyanogenmod, so have always had a proper "file mode".. it was just like plugging in an external hard drive. I did not realise this was not a feature anymore in standard android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes! I think this i why they kept (keep) it alive.
stupink said:
The main problem I dislike is not being able to view pictures... If I open one picture from my phone or SDcard, then my picture browswer says viewing picture 1/1 even if the folder has 200 pictures in it, I cannot space/tab through the pictures, I have to close that one, then open the next.... I do find it frustrating only being able to copy one file at a time, and constantly having to tell it that I do want to copy the file despite not being able to play it, but those things I can live with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is it. How do you think about an alternative way to transfer data like e.g. from playstore Air Droid using WLAN.
Did you try another data cable, by all ports and operating systems?
And just in case. Do both of your computers feature the same USB drivers and hub? Maybe a driver issue.
I noticed one thing recently. When i connect with MTP and copy lets say: "400 MB pictures" taken with my old phone, spread on 97 files to the SD card it does not take long. But what takes long like 20 seconds after copying is done is that it shows previews. I have to really wait until it is done transferring.
So could it be maybe the case your phone does not finish somehow?
And yes the Windows Photo thingie does not see it as folder to slide through.
Meaning: i can not deny your issues fully.
Honestly what i totally love is an Plasma Desktop for linux is an software which called KDE Connect. You get WLAN connection to your phone and can even control the mouse. Do simple file transfers. And what i totally love about it is, is that it almost seemingless integrates into the Desktop. On the other End i think WIN10 does not feature such service (stock). Air Droid is one of those tools in this way which you can expand the computer expirience with. The preview and copying over WLAN is blazing fast. Plus you do not have to connect the cable.
But it requires a client/server and permissions on both ends. And thats what i dislike about the Windows side. It is not so seemless. And it is in the way of one of those extra services, running.
Also the speed of the SD card does in fact matter. Is it maybe one of the older generations you inserted?
The new SD's from this year are much faster and bigger.
E.g. read about SD card speed classes SDXC class U1, U2 and U3
Even if you can push 1 GiB /s through a cable.... if the SD only takes 96 mib/s...... lol
Maybe interesting to have a look at what about capacity / price is happening in 6 years.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/10315/market-views-hdd-shipments-down-q1-2016/3
So lets say you was using a 6 years old SD.
Your phone is worth (lets say 600 $) but the SD is not worth any cent. In case the SD was so old.

This is how Android now is.
What you're looking for is USB Mass Storage mode. They removed that because it was a wide security hole where someone could just plug your phone into a computer and copy all your storage and mess things up at will. Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) is all Android has now. Your phone memory doesn't just have your photos and music on it; it also has your apps, logins, systems files, etc.
The "file cannot be played" prompt that bothers you can be disabled in Windows. Just do a Google search on that. As for transfer speed, I'll bet you that it's a bad cable and nothing more. MTP isn't slower than UMS.
Good luck.

Thanks also.
I didn't mean to imply it's slow transfer. By limiting I mean it's holding me back. I like to transferr a 20GB video, and while it's doing it, go to my pics and view+sort them etc. But now I cannot. One at a time. Zzzzz..
It sounds like I will either need to investigate lineage again. (I'm unsure at this stage what I loose if I do, camera apps, mirror cast etc). Or perhaps buy a hand full of "proddy things" so I can more easily remove the SD card. I can never find it when I need it.
Thanks for helping me get my head around this alien tech/systems. I feel I understand now what's happening and why.