[Sussex] How to sort out "crippled" android on smart phone (samsung Galaxy Note 2).

[Steve Dobson]

HYN John

On 13/01/13 14:30, John The Fatbloke wrote:
> When it (the upgraded phone i.e. Samsung Galaxy Note 2) is plugged in,
> whether to charge or to try and use it to add some media, whether music
> files, documents or whatever, I get the prompt that it's "connected as a
> media device".

A few Android versions ago Google abandoned the "USB disk" mode.  They
had good technical reasons for doing so; but yes, it is a pain.

> Further checking shows it's connected as a camera, or that's how I read
> it from what I see as the only folder/directory that shows up in the
> file manager. If I try to explore it further, I see it as an empty
> folder/directory.
> 
> Previously, my old phone (the original HTC desire) would just connect as
> mass storage and I could look through the various
> files/folders/directories that would show up in the file manager.
> 
> So, what investigation I've managed to do, suggests that the Note 2
> installed version of android is 4.1.1 - which is, apparently, crippled
> and doesn't or won't connect as mass storage.
> 
> A quick google suggests that I may need to "root" the phone and install
> a different version of android that will allow me to connect it as mass
> storage.

There is no need to "root" your phone.

I have seen articles on how to connect using the MTP but I haven't had
any real joy with them myself - but I didn't try too hard.  At the
moment it is a bit techie, but I'm sure the next releases of the distros
will have the the plumbing sorted out, and there are other ways.

> To exacerbate the problem further, all my music is ripped as flac or
> ogg, which apparently the phone supports, 

Yes it does - so does your old phone.

> but of course, it all sits in
> my music directory on the linux (current Ubuntu) partition, and that
> even installing the "Kies" (Samsungs) file management (which doesn't
> seem to be a satisfactory piece of software anyhow) on the windows
> partition (windows 7 home premium), can't see the files on the linux
> partition (no surprises there), so I have no way of booting into windows
> so it will see the music directory.
> 
> Now given my very small linux knowledge, I don't have much of an idea
> how to proceed or what the best solution might be.
>
> So does anyone know enough about this, to be able to either suggest a
> solution or to point me toward something that I might be able to work
> out, without (preferably) having to root the phone or do something to my
> system to be able to get round this issue ?

I would recommend two solutions for you:

1). If your phone has a micro SD card get an adapter so you can plug the
micro SD card from the phone and plug it into the computer.

2). Install the "SSHDroid" app:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=berserker.android.apps.sshdroid

As your phone is not rooted then it can't run as standard - it needs
root permission to do that - but it isn't really a problem.

Start the app up and it will tell you it's SSH address.  Mine says this:

	sftp://root@172.16.1.105:2222

"root" is a user name,

"172.16.1.105" Is the server's IP address

and "2222" is the port number

You will need these values.

Then with Gnome

	Desktop-menu -> Places -> Connect to Server...

Enter the following:

	Service type:	SSH
	Server:		The ip address (172.16.1.105 for me)
	Port: 		2222
	Folder: 	/sdcard/Music
	User Name: 	root

Press "Connect" and then enter the password "admin" and there you go.

If you're using KDE then there is probably an SSH GUI app but I don't
know what it is.

> After all, why, if android is based on Linux, would or have they cripped
> it so that it can't be seen by a linux system to be of some use ? I just
> don't understand it or see the point.......

The way USB disks work they can only be used by one OS at a time.  So
when it is being used by your host computer (Linux, Windows, Mac,
whatever) is can not be touched by the Android part of your phone at
all.  If Android tried using it at the same time the "disk" would very
quickly become corrupted and all data would be lost.

This isn't such a big problem if your Android phone has a Micro SD card.
 It is the SD card that gets exported to the host computer for its use
and Android stays well clear.

But newer models - like the Nexus 4 (which I want), and the Nexus 7
(which I have) - don't have a Mirco SD capability.  So Google decided to
go with the media device option because it allows both Android and the
host OS to access the device at the same time.

Steve

-- 
Steve "Dobbo" Dobson