[app] SDfix (root) makes external SD writable with kitkat

[funkylogik]

I haven't had to use this so I can't recommend it but it seems legit.
Let me know if anyone's tried it because it's gonna make things easier for all the new peeps getting kitkat and wondering what's happened to their memory card if it works.
It's just an easy way to do something you can do manually. Cheers :beer:

 

[DragonSlayer95]

A link to the app might help eh?

I seen this on g+ earlier today, seems like it'd work and help a lot out.

 

[funkylogik]

Lmao I'm a big dummy https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.sdfix

 

[BigRedGonzo]

I have Kit Kat and am unrooted and I am able to write to my SD card just like I was before the Kit Kat upgrade. What am I missing here? Is the app supposed to fix those apps that haven't been updated to work with SDs on Kit Kat?

 

[funkylogik]

Hey Gonzo, tbh I don't know mate, I don't understand the new restrictions because I've never had them lol. My one device that has external sd has only had custom roms on it that already have the "fix".
Isn't the problem that apps can only write to their own folder in external sd now so for example, can you use an Android file explorer to move a file to ext sd?

 

[BigRedGonzo]

Actually Funky, if I understand correctly an app requests permission to use the SD card and is then given permission to do so. I'm not sure how the "restrictions" work. I can do anything with ES File Explorer that I have always been able to do. None of my Office software even recognizes the SD card, but other software does. I assume when the apps are updated by the dev, they will act properly again. I do have other apps that interact with the SD card with no issue. They have all been updated since the rollout.

 

[GrouchoM]

Gonzo: Did/do you have any apps on your SD card?

 

[funkylogik]

Think I saw a link to a post, was it on here,.. Something along the lines of "the truth about the kitkat changes to external sd" or something like that?
I really have to read that because the whole thing confuses me lol

 

[funkylogik]

Sorry if there's a similar phandroid article but this was the first hit on Google lol. I'm gona go read this.. http://www.androidcentral.com/kitkat-sdcard-changes

 

[BigRedGonzo]

Groucho, When I took the upgrade I had apps on my SD card and after the upgrade they still worked fine. I did an FDR later and have put them all back on SD without issue.

Funky, Ironass is the one that posted the explanation on Kit Kat and SD Cards. I don't remember where. All you have to do is find a thread about the issue that he has responded too and the link will be in his response.

 

[funkylogik]

Cheers mate. Hmm from reading that Jerry article, you should have lost data from the apps on ext sd when you updated.
I get why the change was needed but I'm still confused lol.
Also, why did Google bother making this move if they don't see a future for memory cards?

 

[BigRedGonzo]

Cheers mate. Hmm from reading that Jerry article, you should have lost data from the apps on ext sd when you updated.
I get why the change was needed but I'm still confused lol.
Also, why did Google bother making this move if they don't see a future for memory cards?

Lost no data, everything was still there and apps that stored data on SD still had their data. Even after the FDR, the data persisted and the apps found it. Unlike some folks, I let an app put data where it wants to put data. If app X creates a directory called \ExtSdCard\X to place its data in, I don't try and intercede and change that. I have found this works best. Overall, since ES File Explorer works perfectly on the SD card, I can move anything that is "misplaced."

If you read these "Kit Kat broke my SD Card so I'm leaving Android and going to iPhone" threads, there are two common themes. 1. This one single app can't find my SD Card, the entire phone is Fudged Up, they should have tested before doing this. I hate Google, I hate my life, I'm going to buy an iPhone and die of monotony. 2. I don't like the directory structure that the app I have uses, so I want to recreate an entire network of directories and then hide them because I don't want me mum finding my porn and google ruined it and now I can't watch my porn and I will die of teenage angst. There are others, but this makes my point. Most folks don't take the time to see what the change is and therefore its broken. Not different, but broken. I tend to be a little easier going (must be my age) and don't let this kind of stuff ruffle my feathers. This was a good change. If a malicious app was installed prior to this "fix" it could diddle with any file you had on SD and do whatever ill intent it was designed to do. Now it can only do its heinous intent in the directory it created. To me that is a good thing.

Anyway, to repeat myself. I haven't had any issues with the new SD stuff, except for one app. I feel sure that it will get fixed in good time. Until then, I moved its data from the SD card to internal memory. It was a quite easy fix.

This volume of this particular rant ends here.