Samsung

[Jam]

Which is better? Installing apps to phone or sd card? I would have thought there might be slower reading and writing times if installed on a card. Also if you take your card out for whatever reason all your apps and installed data is gone.

[jimc130]

As I see it this is one of the great differences between android and fruit based smartphones - its your choice! I have apps on external sd card and have not noticed any slowing down of anything. App devs have to write it into the app that it can be moved to sd but not all of them do this - though I have read a guide on how to do it, but you have to make sure the ones that are essential to the running of the phone go back onto phone memory.

[Trev]

Hi TheSippler

There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods.

It's more down to personal choice, and I'm sure our members will have differing opinions on this subject.

Let us know if you've any further questions.

Regards

Trev
eForum Team

[Jam]

So how does one choose? Are they prompted when they are isntalling something, or is there an option in settings that I haven't seen?

[ado28]

So how does one choose? Are they prompted when they are isntalling something, or is there an option in settings that I haven't seen?

In most cases you need root access to run apps on your external sd card so in effect you need to root your phone.

[jimc130]

Have a look at an app called Advanced SD Card Management, it will tell you the apps that can be moved and will move them for you if you wish.

[jimc130]

Also there is a guide to forcing apps onto SD card (without rooting) on www.droid-den.com.

[dnairb001]

Have a look at an app called Advanced SD Card Management, it will tell you the apps that can be moved and will move them for you if you wish.

Nice, downloading now

[very_teknical]

PErsonally I wouldn't move apps to the external sd card unless you need to due to space constraints.
I think its always advisable to re-install the apps from fresh when you update the phone so having them on the external card gives me no benefit.
I use the external card for things like photo's and music

Having said that I moved angry's birds over to the external sd card, just to see how it runs and it is perfectly fine.
If you go into settings>apps>manage apps
Pick an app you want to move
If its possible to move, the button 'move to sd' will be available
Likwise if its on the sd already the button will read 'move to phone'
If the button isnt available, then the app needs to reside on the phone.

[dnairb001]

PErsonally I wouldn't move apps to the external sd card unless you need to due to space constraints.
I think its always advisable to re-install the apps from fresh when you update the phone so having them on the external card gives me no benefit.

I was reading somewhere among the threads that one of the causes of lag on the Galaxy S is down to many apps installed on the sd (internal) card. If this is the case would this not be reduced ( however slightly) by moving these to an external card?

I have the 16G version but obviously if there is no benefit to doing this then I'll leave them where they are. The phone is quicker with Froyo but the lag is still there.

[very_teknical]

I was reading somewhere among the threads that one of the causes of lag on the Galaxy S is down to many apps installed on the sd (internal) card. If this is the case would this not be reduced ( however slightly) by moving these to an external card?

I have the 16G version but obviously if there is no benefit to doing this then I'll leave them where they are. The phone is quicker with Froyo but the lag is still there.

The lag is caused by the read/write process of the rfs file system and all the verifying it does.
This applies to both the internal and external sd cards. If someone is making out that having apps on the external sd is somehow less laggy, then I would like a proper technical explanation as to why. But I think its pie in the sky.
If you want to sort the lag out, install voodoo for froyo which has just come out. It will convert the file system.

[dnairb001]

The lag is caused by the read/write process of the rfs file system and all the verifying it does.
This applies to both the internal and external sd cards. If someone is making out that having apps on the external sd is somehow less laggy, then I would like a proper technical explanation as to why. But I think its pie in the sky.
If you want to sort the lag out, install voodoo for froyo which has just come out. It will convert the file system.

Don't think anyone was saying apps on an external card is less laggy. The way I perceived it (probably wrongly) was the more space that was used on the internal memory card added to the increase in lag. I don't believe apps installed on the external sd card would be any quicker to run than on the internal one.

Have considered a lag fix but I have a few questions about those that I'll raise in a new relevant thread.

[Jam]

In effect if there would be anything to contributing to a lag it would probably be due the read/write process, class of card also. There also maybe an element of more power consumption when read or writing to the external card -- this was the case with my old Nokia N79 phone. Power had to be redirected to read or write to the external card, whereas power would have already been circulating on the mainboard of the phone for internal and external access.

I have had both my memory internal at full capacity (16GB) and external at full capacity (8GB) with no noticeable difference.

Nevertheless, I've decided to keep my apps on the phone memory as I have a good 16GB to use internally, as well as 16GB to use on my new SD card -- so plenty of space.

[dnairb001]

I have had both my memory internal at full capacity (16GB) and external at full capacity (8GB) with no noticeable difference.

Nevertheless, I've decided to keep my apps on the phone memory as I have a good 16GB to use internally, as well as 16GB to use on my new SD card -- so plenty of space.

Agreed, think I'll keep all apps on the internal card if there's unlikely to be any noticeable difference.

I have a 16Gb internal and 8Gb external card and like very.teknical I use the external card for all personal items, such as films and video's music, pictures and other files etc. The internal card is used for system and apps etc. That way in the event of any major issue requiring the phone to be sent off for repair etc I can remove and keep my personal data safe. Pretty much everything on the built in card is backed up and can be downloaded again if required.