Jason Dunn
03-29-2002, 06:53 PM
<a href="http://www.socketcom.com/about/nlsp02bsq.htm">http://www.socketcom.com/about/nlsp02bsq.htm</a><br /><br />John Doub sent us the newest <a href="http://www.socketcom.com/about/newsletter.htm">Socket Newsletter</a> that has something interesting. I've long heard rumours about the lack of SD I/O support on the Pocket PC, but this confirms it: we can't use SD I/O cards natively. Bad news! The good news is that SD I/O carsd don't exist yet, so it's not like we're missing anything. It seems that BSQUARE has a program to help developers create and deploy SD I/O drivers and devices.<br /><br />"BSQUARE has launched a new technology program to help portable device, card host controller, and peripheral manufacturers support Secure Digital (SD) and Secure Digital I/O (SDIO) products under Microsoft Windows® operating systems. Secure Digital is a new standard for data storage and peripheral I/O expansion for small form-factor devices. Secure Digital cards are postage stamp-sized cards that can store data on portable devices-up to 64 Mb. Secure Digital I/O cards use the same postage stamp-sized form factor, and enable wireless communication like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, as well as I/O expansion. Current Windows Embedded operating systems do not provide "native" support for Secure Digital I/O, which means device and peripheral manufacturers are burdened with the significant expense of supporting multiple custom peripheral driver interfaces. This slows the production of SD-capable products and increases their cost.<br /><br />With the SDIONow! Program, member companies leverage BSQUARE's core competency in driver development, reducing product development time and costs for manufacturers who want to add SD functionality to a wide variety of portable devices, like handheld computers, digital cameras, smart phones and MP3 players. SDIONow! also provides members with software subsystems, peripheral driver development tools, and other intellectual property needed to support Secure Digital technology on Windows CE 3.0 and Windows CE.Net based devices, like Pocket PC 2000 and 2002 devices."