I love the Brax3 device. Unfortunately since paid applications cannot be installed, I can no longer use the paid version of MediaMonkey (music player) which has WiFi sync.
So, I’m trying to output the files to a USB memory stick. I inserted into the device’s USB-C port but it’s not mounting it. Oddly, it does recognize its volume label, but none of the file managers see it in the list of file systems (e.g. like how it sees the SD card).
How do I get it to recognize the attached USB storage device?
Probably… but this is most likely an Android thing. It probably doesn’t work just as easily as someone running LineageOS on a Pixel 9. I suspect either the memory device is too large or the wrong file system to mount.
In any case, I muscled through and found a WiFi sync workaround. Basically I get MediaMonkey to output music files and playlists locally on the host computer. Then, I share the music directory via a Samba network share (Windows share). On the Brax3 phone, I use CxFileExplorer to mount the Samba share. Then I copy/paste the playlist and music directories onto an SD card I have in the Brax3 device.
It’s not done copying all the files over yet but this should allow the free version of Android MediaMonkey to “sync via WiFi” without having to pay for it.
You may have to reformat the USB flash drive so that Android will recognize it. The phone will want to format it in FAT32, so if you are able to do so, reformat the USB drive on your computer and then insert it back into the BraX3. Just be aware that reformatting you USB drive will DELETE everything on it, so be sure to back up any data you want to keep first.
I used a Lexar USB-C flash drive formatted in FAT32 to transfer data from my old device to the BraX3, so I suspect that the problem you are experiencing has to do with the file system of your flash drive.
So, just for clarification, you can install paid apps.
You would simply add a Google account to MicroG. Then when you run Aurora, you select Manage Account, and then select your Google account. You can then either download those, or push via the Play store to the device. Then, in Aurora, simply log out of the google account, and log back in with your anonymous account.
While this does expose you to some degree, its a way to use your paid apps.
And remember, any paid app you try to push from an old device will still probably require hitting google initially to validate your license.
Thanks. I’ve been curious about this option. So if I log in with a Google account, will Google then have fingerprinting information about the phone? I don’t know what MicroG will spill over to them. I assume at the very least I need to be on VPN or Google will get my home IP address.
Checked it… it was already set to no restrictions. But elsewhere in settings, there is the option to let the USB device or the phone control it. It’s set to USB device control but it fails to let me transfer to the phone having control. I don’t really understand what this option is in Android.
Whow… I just inserted the USB memory stick into the Brax3 using an OTG USB-A to USB-C and it now shows up in CxFileExplorer! I used this OTG adaptor before and it didn’t work so that wasn’t the problem. I do wonder if the USB memory stick was not properly ejected the first time and therefore Android wouldn’t recognize it?? I notice that this happens with Windows computers when you remove the USB memory stick without first ejecting it. All my hypothesis though… not sure why it works now.