Comment 1 for bug 485465

solved! As it turns out, this is so frustrating only because there is an additional step needed: once the USB has been set to storage mode in the Android setup options and then the USB cable connected, a status message will appear to say the USB is now connected -- you must OPEN that message (doh!) and in that message there is a dialog to enable the USB as a storage device. Click 'mount' and there it is, a valid drive on the Ubuntu desktop! To un-mount, you must unmount the drive in Ubuntu and then click the unmount button to break the connection.