[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] GoThere@50:
Pull the trigger..

After reviewing approximately 250 pages of threads and post using over a dozen search phrases related to better utilization of the external SD card on the GS3, I found a few bits of information. I'm posting again because I think this will be a relevant issue for most GS3 users sooner or later. While there were several post speculating that the GS3's internal memory is enough, several users reported running low on memory after installing 15 to 20 applications. If you look at the GS3's processing power compared to it's total available memory, it's memory that comes up short. As a disclaimer though, I'm new to Android and to the GS3. Since I had to invest 3 days in the search, I thought a brief summary of the search highlights might be helpful to other noobs like me. I'm also hoping that those in the know will chime in here and share their insights. I've tried to give credit to the original posters in the info bites below.

As someone who is setting up a new SCH-i535 with the intent of running a custom ROM and being able to fully utilize the external SD card, I need the SD card installed and formatted first! The type of SD card / memory management you choose can determine how the SD card should be formatted, so this decision needs to come first.

Problem #1: The S3's internal storage is named SDCARD, the actual external SD card = SDEXT. This creates problems for programs wanting to write to the external SD card. This means that currently Link2SD, App2SD, Data2SD, etc. all have problems working on the GS3. On the GS3 the SD card is secondary not a primary external. It is seen as emulated. There appears to be no solution without Rooting.

Zedomax has this self described "hack" that swaps internal storage with your external SD card so you can increase your app data storage. This appears to shift everything to the SD card with no UI or controls. The good news is he developed it specifically for the GS3.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1849860

Another approach that seems to be similar "ExternalSD2InternalSD" from Mattiadj.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1772234

Kierrok reports this insight for Data2SD:

20. What are the requirements for using the “Move app data to SD card” (Data2SD) feature?

Our Apps2SD scheme creates symbolic links (one per app) at /data/data/com.x.y that will point to somewhere within an ext2/3/4 partition on the SD card.

The supported mount points for the ext2/3/4 partition are:

/system/sd/ (“classic” sd-ext)

/sd-ext/ (“Cyanogen” sd-ext)

/data/sd/ (“MIUI” sd-ext)

So for Data2SD to work, you’ll need to ensure that your ext2/3/4 partition is mounted at one of these locations. Then create an “app” directory at that location in case it doesn’t exist. Once it’s done, you’ll see a free space gauge for it in the Titanium Backup welcome screen, and you can then long-click on an app in the list and hit the “Move app data to SD” button. Once you do that:

First, Titanium Backup will look for existing symbolic links in /data/data/ and attempt to re-use the same target location, if it lies within the ext2/3/4 partition.

If it finds no existing (or no suitable) destination, it will propose to create a “data2″ folder within the ext2/3/4 partition, and will then move the app’s data inside it.

So by default, you’ll get: /data/data/com.x.y => /system/sd/data2/com.x.y (in the “classic” sd-ext case).

Then there is a complete program that offers the ability to move programs back and forth between device and external SD storage. However, the problems cited above create problems for Link2SD.

The actual Developer's thread for the program:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=919326

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1737213

Dimerk reports that he has Link2SD working on the GS3.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1694063&page=3

I am most interested in the Link2SD approach. I have posted or PM'd the users who claim to have this program working on the GS3 but as of this moment, I have not heard back from any of them. So, while still looking foreword to input from more experienced users, I am going to proceed down the path of running this program on a custom ICS - TW based ROM (Beans is looking good). If my device flames out and burns a hole through my desk I'll post a photo so you can all have a good laugh. :o