Toshiba announces 16GB flash memory chip; iPhone winces

Eight 2GB flash elements on a single chip.

(Credit: Toshiba Corp.)

Toshiba announced today that it has created a 16GB flash memory chip intended for consumer products such as cell phones and MP3 players. This is the highest capacity NAND flash memory chip to date, doubling the existing ceiling of 8GB. The 16GB chip is set to ship in the fall, just in time to make Apple's flash memory-based 8GB iPhone seem cramped.

The chip is designed around eight 2GB elements and boasts a copy speed of 6MB per second, with a 15MB per second read speed. Expect a wave of tiny 16GB flash MP3 players for the holidays.

Via Electronista.

[doughboy_10466]

Can you say Flash Drive?

I hope this means that I will be able to get a 16 GB flash drive at a ridiculously <br />low price in the near future. It would be nice to store some TV shows on it <br />because my laptop's HDD is getting a little cluttered.<br /><br />It would also be nice to see this technology instated into MP3 players. Bring 2 of <br />these chips together and you have a solid state iPod video (6th Generation I <br />hope).

[doughboy_10466]

Can you say Flash Drive?

I hope this means that I will be able to get a 16 GB flash drive at a ridiculously <br />low price in the near future. It would be nice to store some TV shows on it <br />because my laptop's HDD is getting a little cluttered.<br /><br />It would also be nice to see this technology instated into MP3 players. Bring 2 of <br />these chips together and you have a solid state iPod video (6th Generation I <br />hope).

[jimothyGator]

iPhone Wincing?

Rather than wincing, I'll bet the folks at Apple are salivating, eager to put this in <br />an updated iPhone and iPod. In time for the holidays? Apple needn't wince that <br />the iPhone will "only" have 8GB in June.

[techmonkey]

Apple doesnt have a 100% partnership with Toshiba

Apple doesnt use Toshiba as their only supplier for their flash memory. As a result, it is highly unlikely that any iPhone would have a 16GB flash memory until at least 2010 when the current contract with Toshiba and other suppliers runs out.<br /><br />Apple would be in violation of its contracts if they just used Toshiba flash memory in their iPhones - hence it wont happen.<br /><br />So yes, Apple is wincing, realizing that their prized product is only going to be able to ship with 8GB of memory (until the other suppliers can boost their storage capacity) while knowing that the potential for more memory is there, but they just cant touch it.<br /><br />Suckas!<br /><br />PS I have an iPod so I'm not anti-Apple.

[jimothyGator]

iPhone Wincing?

Rather than wincing, I'll bet the folks at Apple are salivating, eager to put this in <br />an updated iPhone and iPod. In time for the holidays? Apple needn't wince that <br />the iPhone will "only" have 8GB in June.

[techmonkey]

Apple doesnt have a 100% partnership with Toshiba

Apple doesnt use Toshiba as their only supplier for their flash memory. As a result, it is highly unlikely that any iPhone would have a 16GB flash memory until at least 2010 when the current contract with Toshiba and other suppliers runs out.<br /><br />Apple would be in violation of its contracts if they just used Toshiba flash memory in their iPhones - hence it wont happen.<br /><br />So yes, Apple is wincing, realizing that their prized product is only going to be able to ship with 8GB of memory (until the other suppliers can boost their storage capacity) while knowing that the potential for more memory is there, but they just cant touch it.<br /><br />Suckas!<br /><br />PS I have an iPod so I'm not anti-Apple.

[DMBoricua]

To be completely honest....

Do we really need that much space on a memory card for such small electronics like phones and MP3 players? <br /><br />One thing is that at that capacity it would be wayy too expensive for consumers (or for a younger audience) to buy for external storage. For phones, its ok to have a 2GB memory card in it for a couple of songs, videos and photos. For MP3 players, just get one with high built in memory.<br /><br />Why cant Toshiba focus on something bigger like working on those Flash Drives on laptops, the ones that replace hard drives? I say that should be the main focus for laptop companies to be developing.<br /><br />This is just my opinion by the way.

[DMBoricua]

To be completely honest....

Do we really need that much space on a memory card for such small electronics like phones and MP3 players? <br /><br />One thing is that at that capacity it would be wayy too expensive for consumers (or for a younger audience) to buy for external storage. For phones, its ok to have a 2GB memory card in it for a couple of songs, videos and photos. For MP3 players, just get one with high built in memory.<br /><br />Why cant Toshiba focus on something bigger like working on those Flash Drives on laptops, the ones that replace hard drives? I say that should be the main focus for laptop companies to be developing.<br /><br />This is just my opinion by the way.

[tehpyro]

Highest Capacity??

If that's the highest capacity then what on god's earth is this? <br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/18/simpletech-announces-512gb-and-256gb-3-5-inch-ssd-drives/" target="_newWindow">http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/18/simpletech-announces-512gb-and-256gb-3-5-inch-ssd-drives/</a><br /><br />Looks like 512GB of NAND storage in a 3.5" enclosure...

[tehpyro]

Highest Capacity??

If that's the highest capacity then what on god's earth is this? <br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/18/simpletech-announces-512gb-and-256gb-3-5-inch-ssd-drives/" target="_newWindow">http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/18/simpletech-announces-512gb-and-256gb-3-5-inch-ssd-drives/</a><br /><br />Looks like 512GB of NAND storage in a 3.5" enclosure...