Android File Transfer - AppleUSBMultitouchDriver Input Hangs

While it would be easy/convenient to simply blame Apple File Transfer, the problem wasn't present in 10.8.3 (and before) and only started after applying the 10.8.4 combo.

The work around is to remove the Apple File Transfer application and any associated login startup items (this also applies to iSyncr application, which I can only assume uses a similar code base).

The problem however, is that when either Android File Transfer, or iSyncr (or any application that seems to transfer files to android devices from Mac over USB) then there are consistent delays in input, the keyboard doesn't respond for 5 seconds or so, then catches up (like a latency problem). However I would argue it is more likely a CPU interrupt lockout, the multitouch driver is hammering the CPU periodically.

When the problem is apparent (input delays/hangs), the console fills up with these events:

1/08/13 8:14:12.000 PM kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::_deviceGetReport - DeviceRequest for reportID 0x0 returned with result 0xe000404f - retrying

1/08/13 8:14:16.000 PM kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::_deviceGetReport - DeviceRequest for reportID 0x0 returned with result 0xe000404f - retrying

1/08/13 8:14:20.000 PM kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::_deviceGetReport - DeviceRequest for reportID 0x0 returned with result 0xe000404f - retrying

1/08/13 8:14:24.000 PM kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::_deviceGetReport - DeviceRequest for reportID 0x0 returned with result 0xe000404f - retrying

Once the android file transfer or isyncr applications are removed and the login startup items cleared out, these events stop, and the input is responsive as expected.

Again, this was not apparent before the 10.8.4 combo, and to test I have reloaded OSX clean and installed android file transfer on a clean system with exactly the same issue. It's a Mid 2010 Macbook Pro 17".

I'm aware a work around is to not use the software, but that's not a solution to the problem. The problem (it seems) is that the AppleUSBMultitouchDriver code has changed in so much that when the Android File Transfer (or similar software) is installed, a conflict or deadlock becomes apparent that wasn't there prior to 10.8.4.