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Comment by loudmax | Hacker News Reader

I use an app called AirDroid (https://www.airdroid.com/) to copy files to/from my Moto G. It works reasonably well in my experience.

I have no idea what the benefit of MTP over USB mass storage was imagined to be.

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> I have no idea what the benefit of MTP over USB mass storage was imagined to be.

Not having to unmount the phone when disconnecting, IIRC.

I looked at that but have you seen the permissions required. Wow. Change my contact list? I'm sure they have good reasons but I'm struggling with that for something I'm going to use for copying files.

While I've gotten MTP to work ok its not a first class experience. Folders with many files (like photos) can take a long time to even start copying. I assumed that MTP was done due avoid patents over FAT32 with Microsoft or something.

It's because you can edit contacts(edit, add, etc) from their web interface.

I use it exclusively to transfer files, much faster then connecting a cable.

The reason they need permission to change your contact list is because Airdroid can change your contact list from your phone.

But isn't Android software and the APIs designed to be extremely modular? This could be solved through a separate app that enables the functionality. Maybe if Google's app store supported this idea more extensively, we could choose the options that an app has access to instead of just trusting they're not going to abuse the privilege.

The fact that the phone can continue to access storage while connected, so apps can get to their data (or apps moved to SD can continue to run).

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