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MicroSD or Internal Memory?

Hello everyone I'm just wondering what is "better?" To install applications to the MicroSD or to the internal memory? I mean, for example, if it's an application that I rarely use, I'm sure everyone will say "MicroSD" but if it's an application that's constantly in use? What is better? Or does it not make a difference? Does it eat up a lot of memory constantly writing to the micro SD? or does it not make a difference in that sense either?
Do most people install to Micro or Internal Memory?

zkyevolved said:
Does it eat up a lot of memory constantly writing to the micro SD?
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Nope. However, older firmwares may consume a lot (about 5-6M, as opposed to better-optimzied ones with only 500k-1M) of additional RAM memory with the card in. I recommend my previous storage- and firmware updaterelated articles; I've answered all your questions in them.

Add the poll question "Equally Both" as I split mine between them. There are Apps I have found the run better on main and the ones that don't matter, I put on Memory card.

mchapman007 said:
Add the poll question "Equally Both" as I split mine between them. There are Apps I have found the run better on main and the ones that don't matter, I put on Memory card.
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Likewise. In fact, there are some applications that tell you during installation that it would be better to install them on the device's main memory.

Sure! How do I change the poll ?

I have read that HTC Diamond isn't having Memory Card Slot...It's really very disappointing.

12ka4 said:
I have read that HTC Diamond isn't having Memory Card Slot...It's really very disappointing.
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... and this is relevant to the thread how?
i like storing most of my apps on memory card as i don't like using system memory not unless a app doesn't work right from sd card.

Like most, I put everything on the memory card unless the developer specifically states that it should be installed in main memory.

If it's a program that runs all the time, such as a today plugin, then it would be prudent to install it on internal memory to avoid problems. Everything else can go on the storage card.

I'm going to disagree with the majority here (as usual...)
I think you should you use as much of the internal memory that is available as possible. Why? First, it is faster to read/write to flash ROM than to MicroSD (flash also). Second, I believe it uses less power. Third, IS THERE AND CAN"T BE USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE! (just like my 401K). I know in ancient times, when I loved my iPaq 2210, you only had RAM memory for both programs to run and storage of files. Then you could adjust a slider to assign or reserve more space either way. But, AFAIK, in my Hermes, they are two physically different memory locations, so why don't use the storage memory? Of course, there should be some free storage memory always available for temp files and other stuff that changes over time.
Anyway, just my opinion.

dgaud007 said:
Second, I believe it uses less power.
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That's exactly what I'd like to know. Is the power usage to R/W onto the SD disk that much higher? Or is it insignificantly low? Also, I agree, a program that CONSTATLY uses the memory card to read / write would MOST LIKELY use more power than installed on the main memory.

SD as program memory

Is possible use a part of my micro-SD on wm6 as program memory?

In a word, no.
Have a look at an SD card. There are only 8 contacts on it. It behaves as a serial disk drive as far as your phone/PPC is concerned, even though it attached to the "\Storage Card" mount point. The storage can be used by the phone but it is not directly addressable by the 32 bits of the CPU. It can only be paged in and out similar to the swap file on your PC.

Ok...
thanks for the reply
Is there any programm that allows you to use it as swap?
(Do you mean something as the virtual panging that windows do on the hard disk?)

Sorry, I think it's still no.
There is a lot of chatter on this over at
http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/archive/2005/11/17/494177.aspx
But the prognosis does not look good.

the least you can do is install as many applications as you can on your storage card...
tho not all apps can be installed on it.
remember, that if you used any software to make a part of the SD card become program storage space you will be still experiencing the same need to move page files to the ram before it can be used by the device.. so there's actually no point in doing that.

the least you can do is install as many applications as you can on your storage card...
tho not all apps can be installed on it.
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Yes... in fact i usually try to install apps on the flash memory... but lots need to be situated on the main memory... and the hermes don't has much of it...
Thanks a lot for the reply
(ps... sorry I'm not english and i could have written same/lots of mistakes..)

unfortunately ram isn't expandable on pdas..
again, the best you can do is install as many apps as you can on your storage card.

SK Tools-installation on memory or sd card?

What is the recommended installation location for SK Tools( v.4.5.1.4)?
Is the installation on the card will not interfere with its certain features of the program and the speed of his actions?

makes no diff

must be on device..

saurabh88 said:
must be on device..
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Why? I installed it on my storage card and it works great.
Cheers,
Arnold

Moved as not software release.

It's better to have it on main memory. You won't be able to use some of the memory card tools if it's on your sd card. You definitely can't format a card with it on the card, and I'm not sure if you can scan the card, either.

But similar programs such as Pocket Mechanic installed on the sd card is able to defragment the card ... So the support functions of the card on which they are installed.

You're still not going to able to format, though. It's also faster on main memory, or at least it should be. Just check the boot time in benchmarking.

SD Card problem

I installed a 32 gb sd card and my phone recognized it without any problems but as I iinstalled apps to the card the amount of space in card never changed. I changed the sd card to 8 gb and I'm having the same problem. Anyone else having this problem, I am rooted and have su permission.
Thanks

vinnyjr said:
I installed a 32 gb sd card and my phone recognized it without any problems but as I iinstalled apps to the card the amount of space in card never changed. I changed the sd card to 8 gb and I'm having the same problem. Anyone else having this problem, I am rooted and have su permission.
Thanks
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I am just guessing here, but perhaps those apps are going to the extended internal memory? The G2x (like most Androids now with large internal memory) treats 5GB of your internal memory as an SD card at the directory /sdcard. The external card you put in is found at /sdcard/_ExternalSD
My best guess is that your apps are going to the /sdcard which is actually part of your internal memory.

jimbo831 said:
I am just guessing here, but perhaps those apps are going to the extended internal memory? The G2x (like most Androids now with large internal memory) treats 5GB of your internal memory as an SD card at the directory /sdcard. The external card you put in is found at /sdcard/_ExternalSD
My best guess is that your apps are going to the /sdcard which is actually part of your internal memory.
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You are right, how do I put them on the ext sd card? Do I have to partition the sd card or is there another way, seems the people that don't root there phones must be able to use the ext sd card as well??
Thanks

vinnyjr said:
You are right, how do I put them on the ext sd card? Do I have to partition the sd card or is there another way, seems the people that don't root there phones must be able to use the ext sd card as well??
Thanks
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Sorry, but I can't answer that one yet, I haven't even ordered my G2x yet. I just read about this issue from another thread on this forum because apparently it was the same setup on the Vibrant. Perhaps some Vibrant owners can chime in with a suggestion? Not sure if it's possible to put apps to SD or if they just automatically go to the internal storage. However, if I were you, I'd rather have the apps on internal storage and save the SD for videos, pictures, music, etc. The internal storage will be more reliable (not fail later) and faster than the SD. 5GB should be more than enough space for app storage.

App2sd works. As long as the app supports it. But there really is no need to put them on the external sd right? 5gigs should be plenty. Put your music and vids on the external. Sounds exactly Like my vibrant.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

tsquire99 said:
App2sd works. As long as the app supports it. But there really is no need to put them on the external sd right? 5gigs should be plenty. Put your music and vids on the external. Sounds exactly Like my vibrant.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
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Yeah, that's what I meant but I think I used the wrong term. When you use what Froyo calls "Apps to SD" it goes to what the phone calls SD but is actually internal memory. Do you know if there is any way (without root or hacks) to have those Apps to SD actually go to your SD card (/sdcard/_ExternalSD) instead of the internal memory the phone calls the SD?
I agree that the 5GB internal should be more than enough anyway, but I am curious for sure.

jimbo831 said:
Yeah, that's what I meant but I think I used the wrong term. When you use what Froyo calls "Apps to SD" it goes to what the phone calls SD but is actually internal memory. Do you know if there is any way (without root or hacks) to have those Apps to SD actually go to your SD card (/sdcard/_ExternalSD) instead of the internal memory the phone calls the SD?
I agree that the 5GB internal should be more than enough anyway, but I am curious for sure.
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I just never had that set up before with any of my android phones. I just didn't know how to put any files to the ext sd card, I foolled around with it and basicly I just went into my file manager and long pressed the app of file, copy, went into the extsd card and paste.
Thanks for the help.
I have had the MyTouch 4G and the Nexus One, neither had that set up.
PS this phone flies.

hey guys future g2x owner here, what sd card size does it come with?

bguzmanz2 said:
hey guys future g2x owner here, what sd card size does it come with?
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It doesn't come with any sd card. Supply your own.

i thought the 5 gigs was for storage and the 1.5 was for apps? i'm confused

wow, sweet phone with no sd card or headphones. lame!!
ps, still gonna get it tho =)

crazythunder said:
i thought the 5 gigs was for storage and the 1.5 was for apps? i'm confused
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Yes, this is true. However, from 2.2 up, Android allows you to move apps to the "SD card" (or in this case the 5GB extended internal storage) as long as the developer enabled this feature. This way large games and other such apps don't use up all the storage.

bguzmanz2 said:
wow, sweet phone with no sd card or headphones. lame!!
ps, still gonna get it tho =)
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Not many phones come with an sd card and besides why use their ear buds when you can get a pair of zipbuds from amazon?
http://www.amazon.com/Zipbuds-DGA-T...8N9G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303274745&sr=8-1
Furthermore it's none of my business and you're free to do as you choose but who sticks their apps on the external sd card? Why do that?

aironeous said:
Not many phones come with an sd card and besides why use their ear buds when you can get a pair of zipbuds from amazon?
http://www.amazon.com/Zipbuds-DGA-T...8N9G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303274745&sr=8-1
Furthermore it's none of my business and you're free to do as you choose but who sticks their apps on the external sd card? Why do that?
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Having a Nexus One I put most of my Apps on ext 3. Worked great and always had over 140 mb of free memory space which kept my phone very fast.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App

vinnyjr said:
I installed a 32 gb sd card and my phone recognized it without any problems but as I iinstalled apps to the card the amount of space in card never changed. I changed the sd card to 8 gb and I'm having the same problem. Anyone else having this problem, I am rooted and have su permission.
Thanks
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Click to collapse
I think the idea is your apps/data go into internal 5GB (which is mounted as SDCARD) and then you use your SDCARD for media (mounted as /SDCARD/_ExternalSD)

yup.. that is right mobilehavoc.
The phone has no "sdcard" when you get it new, but it's got basically 5.35GB internal SD already built in.. So you have plenty of storage, plus you have 1.3GB for apps, and can move them to that 5GB if needed.
Although I just put in my 16GB and tried to titanium restore and it doesn't find anything cuz it's looking in /sdcard and my file is on my sd card, and the g2x has that as /external_sd
that is irritating, will I need to move all the important stuff over, and downloads and pictures n such will all from now on go to the internal 5GB. so move everything over and use actual SD for rest

Hey there, so I'm having a different sd card problem, but I can't find any threads directly related to it so I'm just going to post it here because it seems just as good a place as any.
So yesterday morning, about 3am or so, cause I'm weird like that, I finished the movie I was watching, so I went to go move it off my phone and put another one on, so I hooked up my USB and connected to Ubuntu, the sdcard popped up and I deleted the file, then deleted the trash file but when I delete the trash file I get an error message saying Error removing file: Directory not empty, and no matter what way I try to edit my sd, it won't change, it won't save any new data or delete the old, I've tried reformating with the phone, reformating with ubuntu, I've tried file managers, using a micro to sd conversion chip and putting it in my card reader, but no matter what I try my sd won't change, somebody please help me out, I just got the 16gb card like a month ago, but I bought it in Austria so I can't really return it, because I'm living in Italy.
Thanks in advanced.

Never mind my last post, I did a wipe of my sd card from the phone, pluged it back into ubuntu, and then magically, I could erase all the files.

This setup of this phone's memory is frustrating. I have an app called DroidTV which normally uses the SD card to save videos to, but due to the internal SD card it's getting saved there instead. Is the only way to change this to hope the app developer fixes/changes the way the app behaves? I wish there was an option to make the phone treat the internal SD as the external so you could more easily use your larger card as the default

Dragon509 said:
This setup of this phone's memory is frustrating. I have an app called DroidTV which normally uses the SD card to save videos to, but due to the internal SD card it's getting saved there instead. Is the only way to change this to hope the app developer fixes/changes the way the app behaves? I wish there was an option to make the phone treat the internal SD as the external so you could more easily use your larger card as the default
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See it's really a hard problem to solve. I'm coming from an Incredible which had 8GB of internal storage but it was mounted as /emmc. This meant no app except the custom camera and music apps and maybe one or two apps specially designed by devs could use the internal storage.
The way the G2X does it, all apps can see the internal storage and use it. All media apps can see the external SD as well. But you are right, the dev would need to update the app. Although I don't see why it is so difficult - they could give the user the option to a path so you could put in /sdcard/_ExternalSD/
And that would work.

[Q] Swapping SD cards very often without app problems

I have HTC sensation 4G. I bought a 16 GB SD micro card and also have an 8GB card. Both my cards are full with videos which I need to access often for my exam purposes. But each time I change the cards, the applications don’t run properly and I have to re install the apps. Also I doubt that frequently changing the SD card would age my phone quicker. Does anyone here have any experience with this? What is the best way to keep swapping sd cards frequently without any hassles?

Are your apps located on the SD Card when you go into Settings > Applications > Apps on SD Card?
If so, move them to internal memory.

switching sd cards very often
Like everyone knows HTC Sensation has a very low internal memory which will not be enough to move all apps to internal memory. Moreover I swap sd cards at least twice a day and I don't want to move apps each time. So is there any way I can just swap SD cads without moving apps to internal memory.

switching sd cards very often
k0zmic said:
Are your apps located on the SD Card when you go into Settings > Applications > Apps on SD Card?
If so, move them to internal memory.
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Like everyone knows HTC Sensation has a very low internal memory which will not be enough to move all apps to internal memory. Moreover I swap sd cards at least twice a day and I don't want to move apps each time. So is there any way I can just swap SD cads without moving apps to internal memory.

Gulfcoastowl said:
Like everyone knows HTC Sensation has a very low internal memory which will not be enough to move all apps to internal memory. Moreover I swap sd cards at least twice a day and I don't want to move apps each time. So is there any way I can just swap SD cads without moving apps to internal memory.
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You must have big apps or a lot of apps! I have around 78 and around 50% remaining. 1GB isn't a lot but it's not 'very low' either IMO.

Gulfcoastowl said:
Like everyone knows HTC Sensation has a very low internal memory which will not be enough to move all apps to internal memory. Moreover I swap sd cards at least twice a day and I don't want to move apps each time. So is there any way I can just swap SD cads without moving apps to internal memory.
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Click to collapse
Well without magic, no. You have two options. Apps go to the internal memory, or the SD card. If you can't put them on internal and you take out the SD, then they won't be there.
Possible Solution 1: Remove some apps? I use like 12 third party apps total.
Possible Solution 2: Download a converter such as Mobile Media Converter or SUPER and re-encode the videos at a lower quality - allowing for less storage to be used.
Possible Solution 3: Deal with it.

Move the app data to both of your SD cards.

Get a 32GB card? lol
I used to use an 8GB card, then I bought a 16GB one. I just copy all the data from the old card to the new one, insert it in my phone and all the apps works.