App Storage On SD Card

[scodoublet]

This is a HUGE problem and really kills this phone for me... I'm seriously considering taking it back... I can't believe I'm about to say this but it hasn't even been 24 hours and I'm starting to miss my Thunderbolt.

 

[pauldroidr2d2]

I'm hoping the problem will be fixed.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[Averix]

Ok, this internal mount vs SD card mount causes grief connecting to a Mac also. There are 4 modes for USB connection:
PC Mode
Windows Media Sync
USB Mass Storage
Charge Only

Only USB Mass Storage mounts anything useful to the Mac. Problem is, that is the SD card. The default location for pictures is the internal storage which I can't mount on the computer. Trying to figure out some work arounds, but no luck so far.

Edit: Motorola has a Media Link software that will display both partitions and allow you to pull photos off the internal storage. Motorola Media Link for Mac. The app help states you can switch between internal and SD card, but the app only sees the SD card regardless of which mode the USB is set to. Ug.

 

[SSHGuru]

From what I've read all of the new Moto Phones do this -

Someone needs to explain it..

 

[milominderbinde]

MyBackup will backup apps from an unrooted phone to the SD card.

 

[jerrod6]

Ok, this internal mount vs SD card mount causes grief connecting to a Mac also. There are 4 modes for USB connection:
PC Mode
Windows Media Sync
USB Mass Storage
Charge Only

Only USB Mass Storage mounts anything useful to the Mac. Problem is, that is the SD card. The default location for pictures is the internal storage which I can't mount on the computer. Trying to figure out some work arounds, but no luck so far.

Edit: Motorola has a Media Link software that will display both partitions and allow you to pull photos off the internal storage. Motorola Media Link for Mac. The app help states you can switch between internal and SD card, but the app only sees the SD card regardless of which mode the USB is set to. Ug.

Can you choose to store your pictures on the external SD card or are you stuck with having them go to this internal Sd card( which really is not named correctly).

 

[robkort]

MyBackup will backup apps from an unrooted phone to the SD card.

On the market description it states that you do need root for it to work.

Sent from my stock Atrix 2.3.4 using Tapa

 

[Averix]

Well, figured out a work around for the inability for a Mac to see the internal memory. Not sure why it works, but using an app called Power Widget, I can get both the SD card and internal memory to mount on my Mac. Just like two memory cards. The phone still claims it's in mass storage mode, but the widget apparently enabled some 6th unlisted mode that allows the computer to see the internal memory and SD card. Very weird, but it works.

 

[SSHGuru]

What's the full name - there are a million Power Widgets...

 

[moosc]

We should have a seperate thread. We need to find a way to restore app data that is stored on SD card say like audible titanium etc. Unless u manually move there app folders for SD to internal where screwed. By the way I'm rooted.

Sent from Tapatalk using Droid BionicX!

 

[DroidST]

Can you choose to store your pictures on the external SD card or are you stuck with having them go to this internal Sd card( which really is not named correctly).

you should have been asked that with a Dialog the first time you used the camera app.

 

[mngdew]

I'm officially giving this phone a call sign, Houdini

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

First of all, the Bionic has ~3.5GB of app memory, so the need to move apps to SD should be non-existent.

For the other issues/confusion, here's how the directories shake out:

/mnt/sdcard -- this is actually the INTERNAL memory, and is ~8GB. It is separate from the storage space used for OS/apps/etc. Why they name it "sdcard" is beyond me, but I have my thoughts*

/mnt/sd-ext -- this is your removable SD card

*If I had to guess, the "internal" storage is mounted as /mnt/sdcard because that way it will function correctly even if there is no external SD card inserted. Most applications are written in a manner such that they will search for /mnt/sdcard for data storage functions, and so forth. This way, apps don't have to be re-coded in order to correctly access the internal storage as designed. Obviously, the best thing to do would be to code apps such that the user can specify the directory to save files, but until recently, few devices had both large amounts of internal storage and SD card slots. I have a Galaxy tab (w/ no SD card support), and the 16GB of internal storage is also mounted to /mnt/sdcard on the file directory. I thought it was strange at first, but then realized some apps probably won't function correctly if that directory doesn't exist. Again, just my best guess.

A better way to do it would be if file paths in apps could be coded with environment variables, such as in Windows, i.e. "%sdcard%". Maybe this functionality does exist??? I don't know. That way, the device could define the variable and assign the correct path for external storage, rather than having the path hard coded into the app.

http://www.androidcentral.com/droid-bionic-has-16gb-internal-storage-you-cant-have-it-all

 

[APeX3181]

I had been moving a bunch of apps to Media Storage (sdcard) and realized that some of them disappeared after restarting the phone. I uninstalled and reinstalled them...leaving them in regular phone storage this time. After restarting a second time, remaining apps I had transfered to Media Storage (sdcard) that seemed to be ok after first restart suddenly went missing after the second restart. One minute ok...next minute gone. For now I won't be transferring anything over till this is fixed.

 

[thegadgetguroo]

I had the exact same issue. I also am going to refrain from transferring apps until this issue is resolved.

 

[scodoublet]

I factory reset my Bionic then reinstalled all of my apps without moving them. It's been nearly 24 hours without any disappearing apps. I didn't even bother installing the Apps2SD app since you can't use it on this phone without it causing havoc.

On a side note... it's amazing how many little issues I'm having with this phone and NONE of them are the often argued about screen. (I actually like the screen)

 

[cdf3]

First of all, the Bionic has ~3.5GB of app memory, so the need to move apps to SD should be non-existent.

For the other issues/confusion, here's how the directories shake out:

/mnt/sdcard -- this is actually the INTERNAL memory, and is ~8GB. It is separate from the storage space used for OS/apps/etc. Why they name it "sdcard" is beyond me, but I have my thoughts*

/mnt/sd-ext -- this is your removable SD card

*If I had to guess, the "internal" storage is mounted as /mnt/sdcard because that way it will function correctly even if there is no external SD card inserted. Most applications are written in a manner such that they will search for /mnt/sdcard for data storage functions, and so forth. This way, apps don't have to be re-coded in order to correctly access the internal storage as designed. Obviously, the best thing to do would be to code apps such that the user can specify the directory to save files, but until recently, few devices had both large amounts of internal storage and SD card slots. I have a Galaxy tab (w/ no SD card support), and the 16GB of internal storage is also mounted to /mnt/sdcard on the file directory. I thought it was strange at first, but then realized some apps probably won't function correctly if that directory doesn't exist. Again, just my best guess.

A better way to do it would be if file paths in apps could be coded with environment variables, such as in Windows, i.e. "%sdcard%". Maybe this functionality does exist??? I don't know. That way, the device could define the variable and assign the correct path for external storage, rather than having the path hard coded into the app.

http://www.androidcentral.com/droid-bionic-has-16gb-internal-storage-you-cant-have-it-all

I agree. I've noticed that as well while using my Samsung 10.1 Tablet.
Took me a minute to figure out what was going on, but now I'm good.

As for those that are trying to move their apps to SD to conserve space, I don't see the purpose.
Especially if you have 4 GB of space for apps.
I'm thinking they set it up this way so that you can have plenty of room for apps, without the need of Apps2SD
In my opinion, Apps2SD was created for devices that had limited space for apps, while allowing you to move a portion of that data to the SDcard to conserve space.