topic SD card in Tablets

External SD card

Teatimeoclock — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:11:47 GMT

Hello,

I'd like to know how the whole Tablet S memory system works.

It seems like an external SD-card cannot be used as "main memory" device, it is only a seconday "mass memory" storage and no application can use it for working purposes (it is not even selectable for accesing data).

Even specialized applications like "File Managers" cannot see the card storage!!

Could anybody shed some light into this topic?

Is this situation going to change on some future Android version?

Thank you very much.

Pedro

El mensaje fue editado por: Teatimeoclock

SD card

bennybuche — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:21:05 GMT

It seems like an SD-card cannot be used as "main memory" device, it is only a seconday "mass memory" storage and no application can use it for working purposes (it is not even selectable for accesing data).

Yes, it's true for the moment and for the native Sony apps; they are not intended to be used for direct access. It's more like an external HDD connected to your pc

Even specialized applications like "File Managers" cannot see the card storage!!

No, that's not true. I use a 32Gb SDHC class 4 card to store and read videos (and pictures and music); it works perfectly. To access them, I'm using File Expert and File Manager HD (Honeycomb), combined with a third party video player, such as MX Video Player or MoboPlayer. They do the job perfectly...

External SD card

mpattenden — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:28:35 GMT

I have a very similar set-up to benny and can confirm it works very well - the emphasis here is that it's only the native sony apps that have the issue, the third party apps we are both using are fine.

Padster

SD card

Teatimeoclock — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:06:59 GMT

Thanks Bennybuche and others,

Using File Expert only I cannot access the external SD-card (if that's my fault, I'll thank any help).

With respecto to Sony native apps or not:

1) I'm using Mantano epub manager and reader (not Sony) and I cannot make it "see" the external storage (also, any help will be welcome).

2) Neither Dropox can access the external SD-card

Regards.

Pedro

El mensaje fue editado por: Teatimeoclock

SD card

mpattenden — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:28:55 GMT

Pedro, I am not familiar with the apps you are using or file expert as I use file manager hd but when that starts you have to navigate higher up the tree to see the sdcard2 which is the sd slot - Hopefully benny will be able to give further instruction.

Regards

Padster

SD card

bennybuche — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:00:35 GMT

When you want to access to files stored on the external SD card, I suggest you access them from File Expert (and not from the app); when you select a file in FE (the external SD card is '/SDCARD2' at the root), FE shows you which app you can use to open it :smileywink:. Be sure the SD card is FAT32 formatted (did you access it from your pc? STS cannot read NTFS partitions)

Sorry, I don't know anything about accessing files from Dropbox as I'm not using it...

SD card

Teatimeoclock — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:53:54 GMT

Thanks a lot, "mpattenden" and "bennybuche",

Part of the problem is on my fault. I was confusing "/mnt/sdcard" and "/mnt/sdcard2". I think Android people should've chosen different name for the internal storage ;-).

"bennybuche", why do you prefer FE for dile system browsing instead of File Manager DH??

Anyway, thaks to your help I know how to access the external SD-card from my applications (except Dropbox ;-). But the general "memory manage" problem remains the same.

I've been told that Android 4 is going to some this point (and some others like multi-tasking). Do you know when is expected the Sony release for Tablet S?

Best regards.

Pedro

SD card

bennybuche — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:36:47 GMT

I prefer FE because there are no adds but File Manager HD does the job as well... that's why I mentionned the two possibilities. Some may prefer FMHD's look.

There is no official information about ICS on STS for now, I'm afraid...

SD card

secret_seagull — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:44:03 GMT

What a great thread .. /sdcard2/ when internal memory is called /sdcard/ !! How dumb eh! Especially when the file managers all seem start by default at the /sdcard/ level and you have to navigate up.

Who could have found that without your help guys, thanks (and to the original question raiser).

So now I have to figure how to use the external SD efficiently, because what I originally thought was my SD card, and where I was sending my RSS feeds, is actually internal memory, and I've filled it up with podcasts. Unfortunately, the RSS Demon app doesn't allow you to navigate to /sdcard2/ for storage.

But I'll figure it. Thanks again for the replies above.

SD card

diddy64 — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:16:01 GMT

what about games that use huge amount of data.Using the 8gb on the internal memory will not last long. I have a 32gb sd card that cant be used for such high data usage games. Any advice .

SD card

bennybuche — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:53:53 GMT

I have a 32Gb SDHC card too and I "moved" some apps to it (all apps can't be moved) with a free app called Android Assistant. For now, I didn't mention any problem...

SD card

mpattenden — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:05:28 GMT

Benny,

What apps have you been able to move?

Regards

Padster

SD card

damian12321 — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:24:43 GMT

Hello , I have just bought the 32gb version of the sony tablet and want to put a 32gb card into the expansion slot. I have put an old 2gb sd card into it and have transfed files across , but file expert and ES file explorer wont see the card .so presumably a new sdhc card will be ok?

SD card

diddy64 — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:24:08 GMT

It is really gettting on my nerves now. The Sony is a great tablet but what the hell were they thinking of when they designed it. This issue is becoming a nightmare and on xda forum people are desperate to sort this out( me being one of them). If Sony read these boards then please please give us an update so we may use the external sd for mass storage otherwise I will have to consider my position on keeping this otherwise wonderfull device.

SD card

provost485 — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:03:10 GMT

Thanks Bennybuche, you have answered the question I was going to ask. I will try your suggestion.

SD card

provost485 — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:01:13 GMT

Have now tried it and FE works great and the tip about sd2 was very helpful to a novice. My thanks once again.

SD card

bennybuche — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:35:14 GMT

You are welcome