Toshiba plans 64GB SDXC memory cards for 2010
The new SDXC specification for faster, higher-capacity flash cards emerged in January, and Toshiba now promises the cards themselves will begin arriving about a year afterward.
Toshiba plans to sell its first SDXC cards in the spring of 2010, with a starting capacity of 64GB.
(Credit: Toshiba)Toshiba said Monday it expects to be the first to bring SDXC cards to market, with testing samples of a 64GB version shipping in November and the real thing shipping in the spring of 2010. Those dates will be key moments in what doubtless will be a gradual transition away from the prevailing SDHC standard.
SDXC backers promise higher capacities and data transfer speeds for SDXC, which is important for devices such as video cameras that can produce lots of data at a sustained rate. But initially, a new generation of Toshiba's SDHC line will match the SDXC's maximum 60MBps data-reading speed, and maximum 35MBps data-writing speed, the company announced, using a new high-speed interface called UHS104.
The fast new SDHC cards, though, will only be available in 16GB and 32GB models. SDHC tops out at 32GB, but the SDXC specification extends to 2TB. In addition, through use of Microsoft's exFAT files system on SDXC cards, individual files can exceed 4GB, which is important for longer videos.
Capacity is undeniably important when it comes to carrying your video camera around for extended periods of time. But do you really need all that transfer speed? Leaving aside the confusing muddle of minimum vs. maximum transfer speeds and certification, even high-definition video only pushes the envelope so hard.
For example, Canon's high-end 5D Mark II SLR, which can record 1080p video at 30 frames per second, requires only a relatively modest 8MBps write speed for its CompactFlash card; high-end CompactFlash today can handle 45MBps.
Of course, there's also the matter of transferring photos and videos to computers, a tedious task at best that benefits from maximum speed. But that's often constrained, though, by the card reader and its interface to the computer.
No doubt those pipes will widen as time marches on, with SDXC and higher-speed SDHC helping to nudge things along on one end and higher-speed interfaces such as USB 3.0 and Firewire S1600 and S3200 on the other end. The SDXC specification calls for 104MBps speeds in 2009 and eventual speeds of 300MBps.
One interesting issue is whether SDXC will displace CompactFlash in high-end SLRs. SDHC is used in lower-end SLRs now, displacing CompactFlash, and is making its way into higher-end models including Nikon's D300s and Canon's 1D Mark III alongside CompactFlash.
SD and its successors have relegated rivals such as xD card from FujiFilm and Olympus and Memory Stick from Sony to product niches, new MacBook Pro laptops from Apple have built-in SD card slots, and Canon USA technical adviser Chuck Westfall had encouraging words for SDXC.
So SD has plenty of momentum, and the SDXC generation certainly has the potential to continue to outpace CompactFlash in price while also becoming competitive in capacity and data transfer speeds.
The diminutive size of SD compared to CompactFlash is an asset when trying to squeeze a slot into a computer or camera. But some serious and professional photographers have griped that the small cards are hard to handle and easy to lose.
Stephen Shankland writes about a wide range of technology and products, but has a particular focus on browsers and digital photography. He joined CNET News in 1998 and since then also has covered Google, Yahoo, servers, supercomputing, Linux and open-source software, and science. E-mail Stephen, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stshank. 
But not in a few years time, a decade maybe.
Blu-ray has quite a bit of life left in it, even if the sales are stagnating a little.
There are 250GB discs in the planning stages, actually there is a 400GB disc coming out this year (or next) apparently that can be read by standard players... with a firmware update.
The only thing i wonder about is what the max writes will be like on this.
If i remember correctly, to create higher density SSD, the larger the blocks are that have to be erased and rewritten.
I hope my memory is talking a load of crap.
If it is, then the maximum number of writes will soon be a worry of the past since we will have a lot of space that can be used to balance the number of writes to lengthen the time of use.
Speaking of memory sticks, i need to get a new one soon.
I shoot RAW, and still intentionally use 2GB CF cards because I don't want that many photo eggs in one basket should a card fail. I can get around 140 RAW files on a 2GB card, which is about the limit I'm comfortable with when out shooting.
But bear in mind also though that files sizes are growing. My camera produces 25MB-30MB raw files generally, and I'm just trying one camera that produces 60MB files. That's certainly not typical, but it is a preview of coming attractions. Shooting raw+JPEG adds another 30 percent. A modestly long video on my SLR easily tops 500MB. So 2GB doesn't cut the mustard for me most days.
Also don't forget that a lot of people like to just leave photos on the card. They tote the camera around and show pictures on the LCD. That's not me, but it's common.
- by ikramerica--2008 August 4, 2009 12:17 PM PDT
- I have a 32GB SDHC card right now that has files larger than 4GB. Formatted as HFS+. But I guess paying MS for the new exFAT is better than paying Apple to use HFS+, since exFAT will be built into Windows. And exFAT may be more customizable, though I don't know enough about that end of it.
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
-
- by viper396 August 4, 2009 12:43 PM PDT
- HFS+ is not compatible with most, if any, cameras and not feasible for flash devices. Either way, most people do not buy products while worrying about the filing system.
- Like this
-
(8 Comments)