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Since the introduction of Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), Google has opted to implement Media Transport Protocol (MTP) support for file transfers to and from Honeycomb devices instead of using generic traditional USB techniques. Although Honeycomb devices still connect to their host computers with a USB cable, the protocol is not supported by default in Mac OS X, leaving these users unable to perform basic direct file transfer operations to/from their Honeycomb tablets.

Google and others have stated why MTP has been implemented in Honeycomb – the primary reason is elimination of file system partitioning needed by OSes using traditional USB access methods, and secondly it enables the device to be on and used at the same time it is connected to a host PC or Mac.

Mac users need not fret though, if using Mac OS X 10.5 and higher you can use the Android File Transfer application available for free download from Google here. Windows users (if using Vista or Windows 7) should be able to connect and transfer files easily if the Open device to view files using Windows Explorer option is selected after connecting their Honeycomb tablet to their Windows desktop.

Incidentally, the screenshots were taken after connecting the Asus EEE Pad Transformer (Transformer TF101) to both Mac OS X and Windows 7 desktops using the USB cable shipped with the device.

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Update – 27 Aug 2011: If you use Windows XP, installing Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP should enable you to connect to devices utilising the MTP protocol.

Update – 17 Nov 2011: Some info on connecting and what to look for to safely eject MTP (Honeycomb & Ice Cream Sandwich) tablets & mobiles in Windows 7.