SanDisk Introduces The World's Smallest Removable Flash Card For Mobile - the miniSD Card

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.sandisk.com/about/press.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.sandisk.com/about/press.asp</a><br /><br /></div>"SanDisk Corporation (Nasdaq:SNDK) today introduced the SanDisk miniSD(TM) card, a new thumbnail-sized flash memory card that is designed to meet the needs of the mobile phone market for greater storage capacity in the smallest possible physical form factor. The miniSD card was recently adopted by the SD Association as an ultra-small form factor extension to the SD card standard."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/bb2.gif" /><br /><br />"...The miniSD card offers significant savings in card area and volume, two critical design parameters for the new generation of increasingly miniaturized mobile phones. Compared to standard SD cards, the miniSD card saves more than 40% of the printed circuit board area and more than 60% of the volume required to support the card in a portable device. SanDisk will offer a wide range of memory capacities in the new format, with 16, 32, 64, 128 and 256 megabytes (MB) expected to ship in 2003. The new card will use SanDisk's NAND flash and SD controller technology."<br /><br />This looks like a direct response to the miniature MMC cards that were announce a few months ago. I don't think that SD cards need to get any smaller, but the real win here is that the slot for this type of card can be implemented using 60% less space. If this takes off, I bet we'll see Pocket PCs with one full-size SD slot and one miniSD. One for storage, one for input/output options. If they can make a miniSD to SD adaptor, that will complete the loop and make this a valid solution.

[bdegroodt]

"...The miniSD card offers significant savings in card area and volume, two critical design parameters for the new generation of increasingly miniaturized mobile phones. Compared to standard SD cards, the miniSD card saves more than 40% of the printed circuit board area and more than 60% of the volume required to support the card in a portable device. SanDisk will offer a wide range of memory capacities in the new format, with 16, 32, 64, 128 and 256 megabytes (MB) expected to ship in 2003. The new card will use SanDisk's NAND flash and SD controller technology."


Damn it! So does this mean the price of the mini-sd cards will be 40% less?

I appreciate manufacturers needing to make profit, but what's next? One of these standards needs to become dominant and live through a reasonable product cycle (ala VHS, CD or DVD). SD is barely even catching on.

[derosnec]

I would say that SD will still have a very long life.. in all likelyhood miniSD will be priced out of the equation for most people.

Mind you, if they equate 40% PCA savings to approx 40% cost savings, then that will be a great thing :-) (Assuming there is a miniSD -> SD converter).

Mind you, you would never want to drop one of these things, it would be extremely hard to find :)

[Zanne]

What is the advantage of these compared to the xD format used by such things as the new Olympus cameras? I thought xD was a "half-SD" format, so this mini-SD announcement confuses me.

[rbrome]

If they can make a miniSD to SD adaptor, that will complete the loop and make this a valid solution.

If you scroll down to the bottom of the press release, they mention that all SanDisk miniSD cards will come with a free SD adaptor - they even show a picture of one.

[ozen]

I think this is awsome because it will make everything smaller.

[Jason Dunn]

What is the advantage of these compared to the xD format used by such things as the new Olympus cameras? I thought xD was a "half-SD" format, so this mini-SD announcement confuses me.

The advantage is that it's part of the SD line for those of us who have comitted to that format. :wink:

[Jason Dunn]

If they can make a miniSD to SD adaptor, that will complete the loop and make this a valid solution.

If you scroll down to the bottom of the press release, they mention that all SanDisk miniSD cards will come with a free SD adaptor - they even show a picture of one.

Awesome! I didn't look that far. :lol:

[JonnoB]

If they can make a miniSD to SD adaptor, that will complete the loop and make this a valid solution.

Here is a picture: http://www.sandisk.com/img/products/minisd64MB_withadapter.jpg

[Unreal32]

Argh. One more frickin' "standard". As someone once said, "the wonderful thing about standards is there are so many of them." Ack.

I agree with the comment about VHS, DVD, etc... if we could just standardize on ONE format for a while, it would allow greater adoption rates over time... for example, the VHS tape... or (shudder) the 3.5" floppy disk. They were not first in their lines, but they became the de facto standards of their time, and as a result, the devices they supported became more widely used.

I know standards get in the way of innovation, and that at some point new technologies need to be implemented (i.e, it's time for the 3.5" floppy to die!) but these things need longer shelf-lives. I was reading PocketPC magazine today, and I realized that any PPC I buy really is going to need a CF slot or CF adapter because I have so many CF cards... at least until they become outmoded because I can get an SD card in 1 gig or higher for much less and just dispose of the old CF's.

[Janak Parekh]

What is the advantage of these compared to the xD format used by such things as the new Olympus cameras? I thought xD was a "half-SD" format, so this mini-SD announcement confuses me.
In addition to what Jason says, xD is the successor to the horribly doomed SmartMedia format. The SM guys couldn't stomach SD and decided to build an entirely new proprietary format. :evil:

--janak

[jizmo]

Argh. One more frickin' "standard". As someone once said, "the wonderful thing about standards is there are so many of them." Ack.

They said that adaptor is included, so it really isn't a big issue. I think it's just a great sign that the technology is advancing in giant leaps and that SD is doing very well.

I was afraid with the SD format in the beginning but now there's no doubt that it will be the standard storage format in the future. I've already got the Sandisk Cruzer, the auto-configuring USB memory storage that uses SD cards.

Now only if we'd get the PC manufacturers to include SD-card slots to computers instead of the floppy drives.

/jizmo

[T-Will]

AAAHHHHHHH!!! NOT ANOTHER MEMORY CARD STANDARD!!! :bad-words: (At least it comes with an adapter though... :? )

[Fishie]

Argh. One more frickin' "standard". As someone once said, "the wonderful thing about standards is there are so many of them." Ack.

They said that adaptor is included, so it really isn't a big issue. I think it's just a great sign that the technology is advancing in giant leaps and that SD is doing very well.

I was afraid with the SD format in the beginning but now there's no doubt that it will be the standard storage format in the future. I've already got the Sandisk Cruzer, the auto-configuring USB memory storage that uses SD cards.

Now only if we'd get the PC manufacturers to include SD-card slots to computers instead of the floppy drives.

/jizmo


Over here computers that have slots for a variety of cards have been available for quite some time now.
CF, SD, MS, MMC they take em all.

[jizmo]

Over here computers that have slots for a variety of cards have been available for quite some time now.
CF, SD, MS, MMC they take em all.

I've seen such computers and naturally SD cards are always usable if the computer has a card reader. But what I meant was that it'd be great if SD became such a widespread standard that one could rely that all new computers would support the card. Just like one can be sure that every computer has a cd-drive.

Thanks to the Sandisk Cruzer I bought I can use my SD cards in any computer, but having a slot in every computer (or in the monitor, even) by standard would be great. It isn't be a question of cost anymore, it'd only require a joint decision from the manufacturers to start supporting the format.

/jizmo

[st63z]

xD and all MemSticks need to die. Flush SD-to-CF adapters need to be commonly widespread. Then I'll be happy w/ CF, SD, and miniSD on the market.

But .85" x .79" x .055"... that just seems wrong, somehow. All the body orifices it can get lost in (is it dangerous for a child to swallow?)

Not to mention the adapters, miniSD->SD->CF->PCMCIA into laptop :) (worst case, I know)

P.S. Just to cover your bases, do they have multi-format PCMCIA adapter supporting xD yet?

[SnAPPUrU-nyan-ko]

I, too, groan at more "standards" =;_;=
Oh well, smaller is better, or something like that. :3

[sponge]

In addition to what Jason says, xD is the successor to the horribly doomed SmartMedia format. The SM guys couldn't stomach SD and decided to build an entirely new proprietary format. :evil:

--janak

It's too bad SD won't allow open source drivers. Right now you can't use SD cards in Familiar Linux (well, you can't in ANY Linux) and no one wants to put up with the hassles of maintaining all the binaries, so your forced to stick with MMC, or CF.

[Jonathan1]

Actually would this be a bad standard? Seriously. Imagine having one of these chips built into the Pocket PC in addition the the standard external expansion slots. Or if not built into it put it under the battery sort how there is an open slot in the 54xx series iPaq for future models to incorp a SIM.
See: http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/images/5455-30.jpg
For those that don't know what I'm talking about.

So in addition to your 64MB of internal RAM you also get another 128, 256, or more of nonvolatile built in storage out of the box.

[st63z]

^ If you're talking embedded flash storage, I see no reason to "embed" such memory in a removable card format to begin with?

I was also thinking about miniSD replacing SIM, but I guess it doesn't make sense either since you want to be able to swap storage cards in/out of the phone at will :)

[Janak Parekh]

It's too bad SD won't allow open source drivers. Right now you can't use SD cards in Familiar Linux (well, you can't in ANY Linux) and no one wants to put up with the hassles of maintaining all the binaries, so your forced to stick with MMC, or CF.
Note I didn't say SD is any "more" open, but it has broad adoption and the price is going down quickly. Hopefully broader support amongst open source solutions will eventually be there.

--janak

[dean_shan]

That's nice that it is compatible with a SD slot otherwise it would be another format in the crowded market. (Sony kill the MS please, nobody likes it. It is Beta all over again just give up)

[krisbrown]

What's with this SD/MMC thing anyway, how come SD's come out in larger sizes first, who's making them and who wants a secure digital function anyway?

Buy an SD and you'll get backward compatability problems with older devices, whats the point?

[R K]

I've seen such computers and naturally SD cards are always usable if the computer has a card reader. But what I meant was that it'd be great if SD became such a widespread standard that one could rely that all new computers would support the card. Just like one can be sure that every computer has a cd-drive.

Thanks to the Sandisk Cruzer I bought I can use my SD cards in any computer, but having a slot in every computer (or in the monitor, even) by standard would be great. It isn't be a question of cost anymore, it'd only require a joint decision from the manufacturers to start supporting the format.

I don't think it's going to be happening--not with SD anyway.
SD is not a royalty-free standard. I'm sure manufacturers are going to be a bit annoyed at having to pay Panasonic every time they want to include SD into something.

MMC was actually a very promising open standard, but it seems like no one's using them these days. The biggest MMC Card available is 128MB, which pales in comparison to SD.

[Bob Anderson]

Arrghh... another "standard"...

I'm tired of new standards. As far as I was concerned CF was good. Then MMC/SD came along, and, well, I'm warming up to that format. But this mini-SD thing is just too darn small!

[Jonathon Watkins]

Well at least this new standard is semi backwards compatible..... :?

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

That's nice that it is compatible with a SD slot otherwise it would be another format in the crowded market. (Sony kill the MS please, nobody likes it. It is Beta all over again just give up)
At least the Betamax was a superior solution.

What I get more concerned about is that with these newer smaller standards, it get's easier and easier to lose them. These cards could fall though a crack and I'd never know where to find it!

[Pony99CA]

I've seen such computers and naturally SD cards are always usable if the computer has a card reader. But what I meant was that it'd be great if SD became such a widespread standard that one could rely that all new computers would support the card. Just like one can be sure that every computer has a cd-drive.

Thanks to the Sandisk Cruzer I bought I can use my SD cards in any computer, but having a slot in every computer (or in the monitor, even) by standard would be great. It isn't be a question of cost anymore, it'd only require a joint decision from the manufacturers to start supporting the format.
I don't think it's going to be happening--not with SD anyway.
SD is not a royalty-free standard. I'm sure manufacturers are going to be a bit annoyed at having to pay Panasonic every time they want to include SD into something.

I don't know. Some Fujitsu laptops (http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=AC) include an SD slot (which also supports Memory Stick :pukeface:), so some companies are willing to do it.

I also think that all desktop computers, with their larger front panels, should include PC Card/CF/SD slots, or at least an option to replace the floppy with a multi-format card reader.

Steve

[JonnoB]

I don't know. Some Fujitsu laptops (http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=AC) include an SD slot (which also supports Memory Stick :pukeface:), so some companies are willing to do it.

I also think that all desktop computers, with their larger front panels, should include PC Card/CF/SD slots, or at least an option to replace the floppy with a multi-format card reader.

Steve

All Toshiba notebooks now have SD slots... some have CF slots too, but all have SD. Also, I am starting to see SD slots appear in printers (both HP and Epson photo printers) and in some desktop computers. I can see SD replacing the floppy - we just need to be able to boot off of them.

[Pony99CA]

All Toshiba notebooks now have SD slots... some have CF slots too, but all have SD. Also, I am starting to see SD slots appear in printers (both HP and Epson photo printers) and in some desktop computers. I can see SD replacing the floppy - we just need to be able to boot off of them.
I almost said that the SD would replace the floppy, but I realized two things.

First, we already have a replacement for the floppy -- the CD. Almost everyone ships software on CDs now, and very few developers that I know of use floppies any more. The last software that I got that came on floppies that I can recall was my WiFi network drivers, and that was July 2001.

Granted, much of the move to CDs was because programs have gotten bigger, but CDs aren't that expensive any more.

That leads to my second point -- cost. For comparison, here's what $17-18 will get you at Buy.com.

100 floppies (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10232222&hdwt=30402&loc=101) -- about $0.17 per disk and about $0.12 per megabyte.
25 CD-RWs (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10275230&hdwt=30444&loc=101) -- about $0.69 per disc and about $0.001 per megabyte.
One 16 MB SD card (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10307343&hdwt=30421&loc=101), at a cost of about $0.55 per megabyte.

So SD is still comparatively expensive, both on a per-unit and per-megabyte basis.

The only real downsides to CDs are size and some convenience (burning is more difficult the copying, unless CD-RWs can be treated just like any other disk -- I don't use them).

Floppies still have a use if you need to move a small amount of data in a non-networked environment, but that's about it. For large amounts of data, you almost have to use CDs; CF and SD can be used, but readers aren't nearly as pervasive as CD drives. In a networked environment, you don't really need any physical transfer medium, of course.

Flash media certainly has its place -- in small devices like PDAs, phones and digital cameras -- but until the cost comes way down and readers become as common as CD drives, I don't see it replacing the floppy (or CD).

Steve