Related
So, this isn't about the Galaxy Nexus per-se, but I know many of you are scared of the change to MTP and the interaction with the computer, especially those of you coming from Gingerbread directly through to the Galaxy Nexus.
I've had a Motorola Xoom (which doesn't support USB mass storage mode) for a while. Simply put, there is _no_ native support for MTP in OS X (10.7 or lower). If you plug your Galaxy Nexus into your Mac, nothing will happen at all. OS X won't see it, DoubleTwist doesn't see it, Songbird won't and iTunes (obviously) won't see it. As far as I know, there's no way of enabling your Mac to see the device natively, and all of the software designed for other MTP devices that I've tried doesn't work.
In fact, the only way your Mac will ever see it is if you download Google's Android File Helper software. This program, once installed, runs in the background, and whenever you plug in your Honeycomb (or ICS) device, it pops up a window showing the contents of the phone's memory. From here (and only from that window), you can pull files from the phone/tablet or put them onto it.
This works acceptably, but with a few hangups. First, unlike a normal finder window, only one transfer can occur at once, and there's no queueing. So, if you drop one folder on to copy, you're not able to move anything else onto or off of the card until it's finished. Also, large transfers (~10 GB) don't work particularly reliably, and may fail partway through, so you may consider dragging files in in groups. Finally, and most frustratingly, it will often not be up to date with what files are on the device, especially if you've recently deleted them. So, folders or files may still show up that you've recently deleted. Maybe this has been changed in ICS (I hope so!), but that's my experience.
That's your primary way on or off the device. I've had limited success using DDMS for transferring files on and off of the device, and although it's clunky and requires USB debugging mode, it's the most reliable way I've found for transfers that fail in the Transfer client. In practice, I'd recommend using something like SwiFTP to copy (smaller) files to and from your device, and avoiding the hassle when you can.
In short, you definitely CAN use OS X to transfer files onto and off of your Galaxy Nexus, but it's not as easy as it was for Gingerbread Devices, and tools like DoubleTwist and Songbird can no longer access your device at all (in their current versions). You can get around this using AirSync for DoubleTwist to load music, or doing so manually, but it's kludgey. It's unlikely that Apple will choose to support MTP in future versions of OS X (it's a Microsoft protocol now used mostly by Android), but hopefully Google will improve the tool as time goes on.
Sorry if this is all well known and obvious, but if you were on the fence about the GNex because of this, don't be. The MTP switch is annoying, but nothing showstopping, even for OS X. Just FYI.
wanderfowl said:
I've had a Motorola Xoom (which doesn't support USB host mode) for a while.
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Which doesn't have USB Mass Storage mode (not USB Host - this is USB OTG where you can plug in other USB peripherals into the Xoom). Sorry just a pet peeve watching people confuse the two.
Thanks for an informative post. MTP looks like it is going to cause headaches to every non-Windows device by the looks of it. Ironic for a Linux based device ; ).
Jebus99 said:
Which doesn't have USB Mass Storage mode (not USB Host - this is USB OTG where you can plug in other USB peripherals into the Xoom). Sorry just a pet peeve watching people confuse the two.
Thanks for an informative post. MTP looks like it is going to cause headaches to every non-Windows device by the looks of it. Ironic for a Linux based device ; ).
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Whoops! Edited
So WiFi File Explorer outta work though if your other ftp type app did?
Thanks for the info. I remember using the app on my MacBook when I had the Xoom. I didn't mind it too much, but it was a tad annoying having to open the app rather than just pop open 'finder' and go. FWIW it DID work just fine for my couple months with the Xoom.
So WiFi File Explorer outta work though if your other ftp type app did?
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Yeah, FTP apps of all sorts work fine. I use Transmit on the Mac to access the phone via FTP, and that works like a charm.
martonikaj said:
Thanks for the info. I remember using the app on my MacBook when I had the Xoom. I didn't mind it too much, but it was a tad annoying having to open the app rather than just pop open 'finder' and go. FWIW it DID work just fine for my couple months with the Xoom.
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It works fine to the internal storage. Maybe I should've said explicitly that I had more issues using the Android File Transfer app with the SD Card in the Xoom.
I'm glad Google gave this a thought, now they should make one for linux too, but they probably won't.
wanderfowl said:
iTunes (obviously) won't see it.
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My post is pointless, but hell will freeze over before iTunes recognizes a Samsung device, lol. If it wasn't for laws and standard, they wouldn't allow their PC to recognize Samsung devices either.
eksasol said:
I'm glad Google gave this a thought, now they should make one for linux too, but they probably won't.
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That's the nice part about Linux. The people working on Linux have an active incentive to add this functionality, as it improves the experience. With OS X, they have an active (marketing) reason to not add it, anti-competitive behavior. Don't give up hope
wanderfowl said:
It's unlikely that Apple will choose to support MTP in future versions of OS X (it's a Microsoft protocol now used mostly by Android), but hopefully Google will improve the tool as time goes on.
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Click to collapse
It's a protocol native to the USB standard since 2008 so if Apple want to be standards compliant they should implement it. There are lots of other devices that use it as well.
wanderfowl said:
As far as I know, there's no way of enabling your Mac to see the device natively, and all of the software designed for other MTP devices that I've tried doesn't work.
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Click to collapse
Those apps probably just need an update to libmtp.. for some reason that library has the device ID of every device it supports hardcoded in, rather than working out whether a device supports mtp in other ways as things like windows do.
If anyone has ported mtpfs to OSX you should be able to get that going (will probably do that myself when I get time.. Android File Transfer is OK but a bit quirky).
blunden said:
It's a protocol native to the USB standard since 2008 so if Apple want to be standards compliant they should implement it. There are lots of other devices that use it as well.
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Click to collapse
Trust me, I'm not defending it, but I can't imagine Apple in its current state implementing a change which would help in supporting a competitor's product (especially Android) just to be open and compliant. Given how willing Apple as a company is to cut off its nose to spite its face, I doubt that they'll rush to help their users here. Prove me wrong, Apple.
TonyHoyle said:
Those apps probably just need an update to libmtp.. for some reason that library has the device ID of every device it supports hardcoded in, rather than working out whether a device supports mtp in other ways as things like windows do.
If anyone has ported mtpfs to OSX you should be able to get that going (will probably do that myself when I get time.. Android File Transfer is OK but a bit quirky).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried working with the existing mtpfs ports, but wasn't able to get very far at all. I'm hoping that ICS will spur people to develop further on that, maybe pulling it into MacFUSE.
wanderfowl said:
Trust me, I'm not defending it, but I can't imagine Apple in its current state implementing a change which would help in supporting a competitor's product (especially Android) just to be open and compliant. Given how willing Apple as a company is to cut off its nose to spite its face, I doubt that they'll rush to help their users here. Prove me wrong, Apple.
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Click to collapse
You certainly have a point and is the primary reason I dispise Apple as a company.
My main point was that it's not to be considered a "Microsoft protocol" as it's been part of the USB standard for years now. Nothing is stopping any OS from implementing it and as a standard they really should as it brings some nice improvements like not requiring the OS on the PC to have support for the filesystem used on the device. Considering FAT32 and exFAT are basically the only filesystems that work in all major OSes, the former being old and having severe limitations and the latter requiring a license it's nice to be able to use something like ext2/3/4 or any other filesystem of choice and still maintain compability.
Apple hasn't typically been particularly resistant to implementing standards and protocols used to communicate with 3rd party devices. Also, the major force behind Apple's resistance to just about everything is gone now... We'll see if they continue the trend without him.
Just bumping this again for the new crop of ICS users
So I've just gotten my VZW Gnex, and unfortunately, Android file transfer seems to have the same problems with not refreshing the files in the folder as it did on the Xoom.
That said, if you're trying to get into a given folder and your Android File Transfer can't see the contents (or the folder itself), just reboot the phone and when it comes back up, the new folder should be there and right as rain.
wanderfowl said:
OS X won't see it, DoubleTwist doesn't see it, Songbird won't and iTunes (obviously) won't see it.
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If syncing with iTunes is your goal, you left out iSyncr. Our app can sync Android 3.0 and 4.0 devices with iTunes on a Mac over USB (and WiFi). If your Android device is supported by Android File Transfer, it is supported by iSyncr.
As always, you can shoot me an email if you are having an issue with this.
-Justin
I seem to be having a new issue. All of a sudden, I can't sync anything to my XOOM. I had to unlock, and re-unroot it to install ICS on it. I don't know why, but everytime I begin a transfer to my XOOM Android File Transfer instantly says that my my device is locked and I need unlock the screen and/or it can't access the media storage device. It's really frustrating. I can't push the SU.zip bc it gets lost in between the "Ext SD Card" and the "Internal SD Card." Long story short... my Xoom boots into ICS and runs perfectly fine, but I can't finish the root process. Any help?!
Android File Transfer supports files up to 4gb in size. This may be why you are having trouble transferring files that are 10 gb. At least this is the case in OS X Lion
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
I tried going into "Media Device (MTP)" and then tried "Camera (PTP)". Neither seemed to work. Any ideas?
Specs: Mac OS X 10.7.4, 2008 pre-unibody Macbook Pro, unrooted T-mobile Galaxy S3 (white)
I tried for like 30 minutes to get my phone to work with a mac. Ended up using Airdroid and just transferring files over wifi.
I personally use wifi file transfer.
psykhotic said:
I tried for like 30 minutes to get my phone to work with a mac. Ended up using Airdroid and just transferring files over wifi.
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Click to collapse
Thanks, Airdroid looks great. But for transferring large files, wi-fi is pretty painful. Just for the sake of brutal comparison, I found I was getting less than 1/10 the transfer speed (on video files 300-500mb) over wi-fi. Guess I'll have to get windows running on my mac again...unless there's a way to actually do file transfer over usb on my Mac..? (without cracking open my phone and removing the msd card)
I've run into the same issue myself. The phone is recognized, but nothing ever happens as far as the drives popping up.
Best workaround is to just use parallels if you have access to it...
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Another option is to pull the SD card and plug that into your Mac. Luckily I have a PC as well so I don't have to come up with a workaround.
Hi there! I just bought the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 2. I'm trying to connect the phone to my MacBook Pro running Mountain Lion OSX so I can transfer my files and such and also access the SD card. On my previous phone, (HTC Sensation 4G), all I had to do was just connect it to the usb cable and I'll see my phone accessible on finder. This is not my case for the Note 2 right now. I even installed Android File Transfer and it still doesn't work. Android File Transfer reports, "Could not connect to device. Try reconnecting or restarting the device". And of course I tried all of that. The only thing that works is the Kies software from Samsung but the software is incredibly slow. It is telling me that it will take 10 hours to transfer a 125MB file. It doesn't make any sense at all. I'm running a maxed out MacBook Pro Retina Display and I got a spankin new phone using it's provided usb cable and I tried others. My only option to transfer files fast to my SD card is by taking it out physically and connecting it to my SD Card adapter
Please help! Thanks in advance
DJCodeBlue said:
Hi there! I just bought the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 2. I'm trying to connect the phone to my MacBook Pro running Mountain Lion OSX so I can transfer my files and such and also access the SD card. On my previous phone, (HTC Sensation 4G), all I had to do was just connect it to the usb cable and I'll see my phone accessible on finder. This is not my case for the Note 2 right now. I even installed Android File Transfer and it still doesn't work. Android File Transfer reports, "Could not connect to device. Try reconnecting or restarting the device". And of course I tried all of that. The only thing that works is the Kies software from Samsung but the software is incredibly slow. It is telling me that it will take 10 hours to transfer a 125MB file. It doesn't make any sense at all. I'm running a maxed out MacBook Pro Retina Display and I got a spankin new phone using it's provided usb cable and I tried others. My only option to transfer files fast to my SD card is by taking it out physically and connecting it to my SD Card adapter
Please help! Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've always had trouble with Android File Transfer and all my Samsung phones on my MacBook Pro. Sometimes it works and sometimes it don't. I avoid using it as much as possible now and just use AirDroid (which is slow and very similar to the Kies software) or I just remove the SD card and transfer files using an SD card adapter. I haven't found a fix or workaround to get it working properly.
julez456 said:
I've always had trouble with Android File Transfer and all my Samsung phones on my MacBook Pro. Sometimes it works and sometimes it don't. I avoid using it as much as possible now and just use AirDroid (which is slow and very similar to the Kies software) or I just remove the SD card and transfer files using an SD card adapter. I haven't found a fix or workaround to get it working properly.
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Click to collapse
bluetooth works pretty well:good:
I got a fix for you...... buy a real computer a pc and throw that piece of crap in the garbage. Did you install the drivers? is usb debug checked in developer options?
mojorisin7178 said:
I got a fix for you...... buy a real computer a pc and throw that piece of crap in the garbage. Did you install the drivers? is usb debug checked in developer options?
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Click to collapse
Please, don't give me that "PC vs MAC" crap I have both PC and MAC and reasons why I use both operating systems. And from using Mac & PC for the past 7 years for the work that I do, Mac OS X has been by far the most reliable operating system that I've ever used. On top of that, I do a lot of radio mixing work and DJing and graphical designing and such and Mac is a must. I've had a Windows laptop before gave me nothing but issues whatsoever. I spend a lot of money buying expensive and top of the line Windows laptops and I always have to worry about maintaining the damn thing and went through a lot of stress because of it. So I'm happy with what I have. But on a side note, I find the iPhone to be the crappiest phone on the planet and I have a Dell XPS for gaming and as a multimedia box. So I hope that justifies that I'm not an apple fan boy.
I did install drivers and yes I had USB debug checked.
Anyways I found a solution for Mac users. I have VMware running Windows 7 & Windows 8. I have both operating systems connected and running seamlessly with the my Mac files so I'll be able to access and edit files that would be on my Mac on my virtual operating systems. And that was a fix for me without having to transfer any music, pictures, etc to a different PC and then transfer the files to my phone. Although it requires virtualization, it's the only thing that worked for me. I still wish there was better compatibility. I had no issues with my old HTC HD2 and HTC Sensation 4G. Samsung really got me angry about this one and their Kies software is complete crap.
Has anyone had a problem with this? The only way for me is to go into recovery and mount it. It's connected as a media device.
Thanks in advance!
GetPatriotized said:
Has anyone had a problem with this? The only way for me is to go into recovery and mount it. It's connected as a media device.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya I get the "Device ID not found" error. Kies and Samsung drivers are horrendous.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda premium
Yea im having the same problem after putting CWM on mine
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda app-developers app
Why is it so difficult with Samsung phones , had the same problem with the captivate and I can't eve transfer fjles .
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda app-developers app
Sounds silly, but did you try rebooting your computer? I had to do this the other day when mine wasn't recognizing my phone. Rebooted computer, worked fine after.
Samung's drivers are awful. I had to install, reboot, remove, reboot ad nauseum until I finally got the drivers to work. I also found I had to connect the phone then wait a few minutes before the computer would acknowledge the phone.
specteA 187,
I've only ever had the issue if I've tried USB ports on the front of my machine. For some reason those ports can be a bit flaky.
Plugging USB into the back of my machine causes no issues. Weird.
For me, on Windows 8, I have to switch from MTP to PTP, and then back to MTP for it to mount. It sure is wonky.
P1 Wookie said:
Sounds silly, but did you try rebooting your computer? I had to do this the other day when mine wasn't recognizing my phone. Rebooted computer, worked fine after.
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Click to collapse
Yup I tried everything. The only way that works perfectly is to mount the drives via recovery.
My phone doesn't even try to get into mtp mode :/
I have the same problem with galaxy note 2. Went to att store and ask for a new cable and the give me a new usb cable .and I have no problem connecting my note2 to my pc
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium
Try uninstalling the Samsung driver, restart PC, and install driver again. It worked for me
nerdrock said:
For me, on Windows 8, I have to switch from MTP to PTP, and then back to MTP for it to mount. It sure is wonky.
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Click to collapse
I'm using windows 8 and this method works for me as well.
Att.Fan1982 said:
I'm using windows 8 and this method works for me as well.
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Click to collapse
That is what I do to get it working under Windows 7.
GetPatriotized said:
Has anyone had a problem with this? The only way for me is to go into recovery and mount it. It's connected as a media device.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found that if my computer doesn't recognize my phone, I put my phone into download mode then reboot back to normal and the computer will recognize it. Kind of a pain to have to reboot 2x but seems to work for me.
I've had 5 Samsung smartphones (Captivate, Infuse, GS2, SkyrocketGS2, and now the SGNote2) andI use an XPSP3 desktop computer and have never had any issues with computer recognizing phone until the Note2. Odin3 works like a champ on the Note2... it's the plug-n-play recognition for transferring files back and forth that's problematic. Yes, I've uninstalled/reinstalled drivers, Kies, etc, used back ports vs front port... I think it has to do with the MTP file transfer protocol now used. Here's what works for me with the Note2 and the PC:
Connect phone to PC... phone's "USB PC Connection" box opens and you have 2 options: MTP(media/files) or PTP (camera). If PC doesn't immediately recognize device, I do one of two things which always works:
1. toggle between MTP and PTP a few times... if that doesn't work,
2. unplug usb from PC port and reinsert (either same port or another)
Windows Explorer will then recognize device and add "SAMSUNG-SGH-I317" under "My Computer" and list it under "Other" devices in panel.
I had this same problem today on my new N2. Drivers would not install. All I wanted to do was to drag my pics and music onto my SD card. I worked around this of course by removing the SD card from the Note and putting it in the adapter and doing it that way. I still haven't gotten my drivers to install. I may just get the drivers off the Internet
+1, my ONLY complaint about this phone.
I gave up trying to find a fix after installing/un-installing/re-installing drivers/kies/odin3 about a bazillion times and only getting it to work a random few times.
Not even worth the effort...
Dropbox is my best alternative. Sure sux tho...
JdgM3NT4L said:
+1, my ONLY complaint about this phone.
I gave up trying to find a fix after installing/un-installing/re-installing drivers/kies/odin3 about a bazillion times and only getting it to work a random few times.
Not even worth the effort...
Dropbox is my best alternative. Sure sux tho...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try my method 2 posts above yours.
KEVK said:
Try my method 2 posts above yours.
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Click to collapse
Thanks, Should've mentioned that I've tried all of the above methods. It may be that, since I work on so many Android devices, my pc is just too full of incompatible drivers and I've yet to clear them properly. Even If i did I'm fairly certain that I'll be working on more devices and will screw it up all over again. My network is pretty quick and Dropbox/esFile Explorer is convenient so I really shouldn't complain.
The usb storage. MTS or whatever you call it . Very slow, terrible for navigating/editing multiple directories/windows at once. Frustrating. Can only find size of files by going in the directory and selecting all files. Anyone know of a good quick solution to this? I've played with the common game editor but don't really see it as encompassing the solution to all the problems of not having the classical USB mount
You think thats bad? Try having Mac. I can't even get it to recognize me phone lol. I'm forced to used my windows machine.
And I believe its a JB thing, not necessarily Samsung.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app
g2tegg said:
You think thats bad? Try having Mac. I can't even get it to recognize me phone lol. I'm forced to used my windows machine.
And I believe its a JB thing, not necessarily Samsung.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this problem too with my macbook pro then I found a solution tonight. Try this:
1. Install Kies if you haven't already, if you have make sure it's updated.
2. Connect your phone.
3. In Kies, click Tools, then Install Drivers (this will reinstall drivers
4. Download Android File Transfer.
Should work after this. Also make sure you have USB Debugging on and use PTP not MTP.
johnnyutah22 said:
I had this problem too with my macbook pro then I found a solution tonight. Try this:
1. Install Kies if you haven't already, if you have make sure it's updated.
2. Connect your phone.
3. In Kies, click Tools, then Install Drivers (this will reinstall drivers
4. Download Android File Transfer.
Should work after this. Also make sure you have USB Debugging on and use PTP not MTP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will be sure to give this a shot tomorrow and send along an update. I rarely use Kies, updated it yesterday but never tried the drivers thing. Android file transfer never used to work but maybe the "install drivers" step is all that's needed.
And thats why I love it here on XDA. Thanks for the help brother!
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app
I agree... coming from a s2 skyrocket, I really miss UMS. Why bother having expandable storage when it takes hours to transfer to a class 10 32gb sd card? That is if I can get it to transfer at all.
I'm now resorting to unmounting sd card and putting it in the computer to transfer files...big PITA
SGS3 Easy UMS doesnt work either.
Edit: Actually, I'm using kies now... still miss drag and drop
Agreed. Always had driver problems with this phone. Sometimes it wouldn't connect because drivers failed to install or "bad hardware ID" pops up in the corner. Only way to get it to work was to restart comp. And it would only work until I disconnected it, then gotta restart again. -.-
I'm gonna switch back to linux once I get some free time. I recommend you do the same.
g2tegg said:
And I believe its a JB thing, not necessarily Samsung.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was a problem in ICS as well. I think the reason for that they went with MTP is that users would create a "messy" file structure when they randomly dragged and dropped files anywhere on both the internal and external card. Samsung can keep things organized when they encourage you to use Samsung Kies to add files to the device.
The mandate for MTP is also to reduce piracy of protected media files by ensuring the DRM is properly done. In the past, I could connect my phone directly to my Samsung SMART TV and play 720/1080p movies via UMS. This is now blocked with MTP.
Anonymously_Unknown said:
It was a problem in ICS as well. I think the reason for that they went with MTP is that users would create a "messy" file structure when they randomly dragged and dropped files anywhere on both the internal and external card. Samsung can keep things organized when they encourage you to use Samsung Kies to add files to the device.
The mandate for MTP is also to reduce piracy of protected media files by ensuring the DRM is properly done. In the past, I could connect my phone directly to my Samsung SMART TV and play 720/1080p movies via UMS. This is now blocked with MTP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I also noticed the slow data transfer speed when I upgraded my SII to S3. Thought it was something I was doing wrong. I've changed the default transfer to PTP and will check it out tonight.
seamus24 said:
I've changed the default transfer to PTP and will check it out tonight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't bother with PTP. PTP is just a camera. It's not like UMS so you might as well leave it on MTP
g2tegg said:
You think thats bad? Try having Mac. I can't even get it to recognize me phone lol. I'm forced to used my windows machine.
And I believe its a JB thing, not necessarily Samsung.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was annoyed by this as well. Now when I want to add something to my sd card I just take it out of the phone and put the sd card in my Mac and add files that way. It's a little annoying but its not that big of a deal.
I think the closest you'll get to a true UMS experience is using Samba Filesharing Server (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funkyfresh.samba). You can then treat it like a network shared drive.
Of course you'll be limited by your WiFi speed. I think a possibility would be a USB host adapter and a USB ethernet adapter. I'm not sure if Android has support for a USB ethernet adapter but if that works then you should be able to connect to a gigabit switch/adapter and just be limited by USB2 speed.
It's not just this phone in general. They're all going that way as of ICS (Honeycomb as well) and up. If you use Windows it's not terrible but it is still slower. And yeah trying to use it with my Mac or even my Linux box is just frustrating. The primary reasoning was to merge the data and application volumes to give more space for applications. This is a better explanation of it. I do miss USB storage mode though.
Yep, totally frustrating for me also.
I remove my microSD card when I need to do lots of file management. But it's a clumsy workaround.