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.
(Credit:
SanDisk)
SanDisk chose the Photo Marketing Association show in Australia to debut its latest-generation SDHC card, as well as announce some much-needed rebranding. In August, the company will ship the new Class 10 32GB cards as SanDisk Extreme SDHC, simultaneously rebranding the current Extreme III line as simply Extreme. Which is what it used to be called.
I've ranted before about the FUD surrounding the whole SD speed and Class rating issue, and in response to articles like that, SanDisk's PR team included an FAQ (which doesn't seem to be available online) to clear up our seeming confusion.
On one hand, the FAQ does clearly delineate the difference between minimum sustained (Class ratings) and burst transfer rates (maximum attainable speed); video requires a certain level of performance for the former while dSLRs need the latter for optimal burst shooting results. And it also points out, as I've said, that past a certain fixed point, the camera or camcorder cannot take advantage of a faster card, though a reader might be able to.
However, it fails to say that some cards--many of which are SanDisk's, ironically--already offer sustained transfer rates far higher than their Class ratings. Which it then proves by announcing when it rebrands its 30MBps Extreme III SDHC their Class rating will magically rise from Class 6 to Class 10. Because now there's a Class 10 spec. Of course, the company's Ultra II SDHC cards have tested with sustained transfer rates greater than 6MBps, the necessary speed for a Class 6 card, yet they're only rated as Class 2. Of course, they're also cheaper than the company's VideoHD-branded cards, rated as Class 4. But the ones labeled "Video" say "Video" so you know to buy them for video. Helpful!
Of course, there are still no Class 10 needy camcorders on the horizon, so for a while these not-faster-but-higher-rated cards will only be good for delivering more burst frames in a dSLR or faster reader-to-PC transfers. Which has nothing to do with the Class ratings, but that other transfer rate spec.
Though still pricey, the 4GB Eye-Fi card is now a much better deal.
(Credit: Eye-Fi)I really dig Eye-Fi memory cards, which wirelessly beam photos from your digital camera to your PC (and/or an online sharing service). But I always thought they were overpriced.
They still are, but at least you can score a deal on one: Costco has the Eye-Fi 4GB Anniversary Edition for $59.99 shipped. Nonmembers pay an extra $3, and nearly everyone pays sales tax.
In case you're not familiar with it, the Eye-Fi is a standard-size SDHC memory card (meaning it's compatible with most cameras) that happens to have built-in Wi-Fi.
When it's in range of your home network and your camera is on, the Eye-Fi automatically transfers photos to your PC. Alternately, it can upload photos directly to the online service of your choice: Facebook, Flickr, Snapfish, Photobucket, etc.
Ultimately, it's a convenience. A pricey one, yes, especially considering that you can get an ordinary 4GB SDHC card for about 8 bucks. On the other hand, the last time I posted this product, it was $99.
So now that it's $40 less, will you jump on it? Or are you satisfied with your perfectly cromulent SD card reader and/or USB cable?
For anybody who complains that Sony's Memory Stick Duo memory cards are too expensive compared with other forms of flash memory, DealExtreme has a solution. It's the StarJade SDHC microSD to Memory Stick MS Pro Duo Adapter Sleeve, which retails for a mere $2.85, including free shipping. Unfortunately, the only problem is that it's illegal (see "update" note at the bottom of the post).
A quick comparison on Amazon for prices of microSD and Memory Stick Duo reveals that an 8GB microSDHC card costs around $20 (with shipping), while an 8GB Memory Stick Duo card comes in around $34 with shipping. (Yes, the adapter supports higher-capacity SDHC microSD cards). Step up to a 16GB card and the delta is about $25, with entry-level 16GB microSDHC cards retailing for around $50.
The description on the product page says the adapter works with a wide variety of portable electronics devices, including cameras and audio players. We can't vouch for the reliability of the adapter but we did order a couple to test out, which we now realize may have been a no-no.
Note: This adapter won't work with the new PSP Go, which uses Sony's Memory Stick Micro (M2).
Update: Mike McCarthy of SanDisk writes: "The microSD-Memory Stick adapter is illegal, unlicensed and infringes on Sony Corp patents. Maybe it's cool to promote this stuff as a 20-year-old blogger, but I thought CNET would have higher standards." As a result of Mike's comment, we have summoned some maturity and edited the post.
If you own a camera or camcorder that uses SD cards, chances are you've confounded yourself at some point trying to figure out how fast a card you need (or want) for your device. This is complicated by a lot of factors, primarily that the Class specification defines a minimum sustained transfer rate--Class 6 is 6 megabytes per second, Class 10 is 10MBps, and so on.
(Credit:
Panasonic)
That's like saying a car is rated for at least 10 miles per gallon; it helps you filter a few other cars out of your buying decision, but it's not very helpful for sorting through the myriad others with a similar lowest-common-denominator rating.
Nor is there any official body that verifies the performance. The SD Card Association provides some guidelines and testing tools, you pay your licensing fee for the Class logo, and you're in business.
... Read more
Last year we reported that a Nintendo Wii storage solution was upon us that will allow you to store and load games directly off of an SD card. At today's Nintendo press conference at GDC 2009, the company has just announced that an SD menu has been added to the Wii software, and is actually available right now for download via a system update.
The new feature will allow for SDHC cards up to 32GB to be used to store and play games. You'll also have the option to download games directly to your SD card via the Wii Shop Channel.
(Source: Kotaku)
Click images for larger shots.
(Credit:
Kotaku)
(Credit:
Kotaku)
This Targus wireless mouse is just one of the deals to be had for less than 10 bucks.
(Credit: Buy.com)Got a sawbuck to spare? For no more than 10 smackers, you can walk away with any of these five goodies. The only challenge is deciding which one to get.
- Amazon MP3 has U2's just-released new album, "No Line on the Horizon," for $3.99. iTunes price: $9.99. (If you've never checked out Amazon's MP3 store, you owe it to yourself.)
- Buy.com has a Targus Stow-N-Go Wireless Optical Mouse for $9.99 shipped. Perfect for notebooks, the mouse features a USB receiver that tucks away underneath when not in use.
- iTunes has the unabridged audiobook version of Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" for just $4.95 (iTunes link).
- Meritline has a two-pack of 6-foot HDMI cables for $6.99 shipped. Enough said.
- Newegg has a SanDisk 4GB microSDHC card for $8.49 shipped--great if you want to pack your phone with music, add extra storage for photos and videos, and more.
Good stuff, no? If you know of any other great deals for less than $10, by all means, share them in the Comments! Or give me a heads-up at thecheapskate@gmail.com.
4GB of storage for 7 bucks?! At that price, buy two!
(Credit: Kingston)Not every day offers $99 iPhones and $25 TV tuners. Sometimes, the deals are small and unexciting, the items utilitarian.
So it is today: Newegg has a 4GB Kingston SDHC memory card for $6.99. No rebates, no shipping charges.
That's the lowest price I've seen yet on a 4GB card (though only by $1). If you found a new digital camera under the tree last month, you definitely need high-capacity storage to go with it. A 4GB card can store about 800 10-megapixel snapshots or 60 minutes of video.
And, hey, there's nothing wrong with packing a spare card, in case you spot, say, Bigfoot. Or Paris Hilton. Or Bigfoot at a club with Paris Hilton. Could happen.
This isn't some no-name brand, either. All Kingston memory cards come with a lifetime warranty. Thus, this is pretty much a no-brainer for anyone who needs extra storage. A 4GB SDHC card for 7 bucks may be boring, but it's still a helluva deal.
Normally I wouldn't recommend buying directly from a manufacturer's Web site unless that was the only way to buy a product. However, it looks like "Cyber Monday" may be an exception to that rule--at least in the case of SanDisk, which is offering some significant discounts on its flash memory.
For example, an 8GB Ultra II SDHC card that regularly goes for $49.99 is cut to $20.99. The price of a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo is cut in half, down to $19.99.
If you take more pictures with your phone than your camera, you might want to grab an 8GB microSDHC card for $29.99 (down from $69.99). Other card types and sizes are on sale, too.
SanDisk also has some price drops for its USB flash drives and Sansa Clip, Fuze, and View MP3 players.
The discounts end today, though, at 11:59 p.m. PT and are in limited quantities.
(Credit:
Newegg)
Need more storage for your digital camera? If you buy a memory card off the shelf at, say, Best Buy or Office Max, you'll pay way too much. Witness: Newegg has a Kingston 4GB SDHC card for just $7.99 shipped (lowest price I've seen yet, btw). And no rebates! Best Buy sells the exact same card for $37.99, plus sales tax.
Kingston is a well-known brand, and the card comes with a lifetime warranty. Just make sure your camera, PDA, MP3 player or whatever supports SDHC media (some older devices don't).
So... good weekend? My six-year-old played in his first peewee-football game, which was fun to watch. Oh, why the small talk? What more can I say about a memory card that's 30 bucks cheaper than you'd pay at retail?
Update: It appears the $7.99 price is good only when you combine the card with another purchase. My apologies! Looks like if you want the card on its own, it'll cost you another buck. Still not too shabby.
