Lexar Professional 233x CF cards

Lexar Media announced that it has enhanced the performance of its Professional line of CompactFlash® (CF) memory cards to 233x, a significant speed advancement over the line's previous speed-rating of 133x. The Lexar Professional 233x CF memory cards are now UDMA (Ultra Direct Memory Access) enabled and capable of minimum-sustained read and write speeds of 35MB per second - a considerable improvement over the previous read and write speeds of 20MB per second. These exceptionally fast cards are available in three popular capacities, including 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB, and deliver professional-level performance for a wider range of digital SLR users, including professionals and photo enthusiasts seeking high-capacity and high-speed performance. Lexar Professional 233x CF cards also greatly improve digital imaging workflow and convenience by reducing the time needed to transfer images from the card to the host computer. The new cards are also complemented by the line of Lexar Professional UDMA-compatible high-speed card readers.

"With the recent surge in popularity of digital SLR cameras, professional photographers and photo enthusiasts require flash memory cards that not only safely store all of their images, but also are fast enough to keep pace with rapid shooting," said Greg Agustin, senior product marketing manager, Lexar. "The new Lexar Professional 233x CF cards provide the reliability, speed, and capacity photographers require to shoot continuously and confidently, while improving post-production workflow capabilities."

The Professional 233x CF line enhances the performance of the broad Lexar Professional line, which includes Lexar Professional 300x CF products ranging from 2GB to 16GB in capacity, and Lexar Professional Secure Digital 133x products ranging from 2GB to 8GB. With this enhancement to the line, Lexar provides improved performance and choice of capacity throughout its Professional memory card offering.

The new Lexar Professional 233x CF cards include a limited lifetime warranty, free dedicated technical support, and the full version of Lexar Image Rescue™ 3, Lexar's award-winning image recovery software. Lexar Professional 233x CF memory cards will be available in October.

Lexar will be displaying the Professional 233x CF cards at Photokina 2008.

About Lexar Media, Inc.

Transcend Boosts Data Transfer Rate of CompactFlash Cards to 45X

Version en français à venir

At the end of 2002, Transcend announced the availability of its Ultra Performance 30X CompactFlash memory cards. In August 2003, Transcend released the improved, Ultra Performance 45X CompactFlash memory cards in capacities of 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GB.

Data transfer at 1X represents a rate for flash memory of about 150KB/sec. Ultra Performance 45X therefore boosts data transfer to a maximum data transfer rate of about 6.8MB/sec. This increase in data transfer rate is extremely beneficial when using devices such as high-resolution digital still cameras. With the rapid growth in digital image resolution from 1 megapixel and 2 megapixel CCD/CMOS sensors to 4 megapixel or even 6 megapixel CCD/CMOS sensors, the data transfer rate of Flash memory becomes a critical factor. Testing of Transcend’s Ultra Performance 45X CompactFlash Card indicates that it achieves a read speed of up to 8 MB/sec and a write speed of up to 6.6MB/sec—3 to 4 times faster than a traditional CompactFlash Card. The Transcend Ultra Performance 45X CompactFlash card is the ideal companion for high-resolution digital cameras and other high-performance applications that require CompactFlash memory cards.

In addition, Transcend insists on using original SLC (Single-Level-Cell) NAND Flash chips for all of its CompactFlash cards (including 45X, 30X, 25X and normal speed). CompactFlash cards made with SLC chips have a higher write speed, lower power consumption, and superior durability compared with CompactFlash cards made with MLC (Multi-Level-Cell) chips.

• Fully compatible with CompactFlash Association and PCMCIA card standards
• True Plug and Play
• Adoption of original SLC NAND flash chips
• Low power consumption
• Storage capacity up to 2GB
• Single Power Supply: 5V ± 10% or 3.3V ± 10%
• Recommended operating temperature: 0ºC (32°F) to 70ºC (158°F)
• 5-year warranty
• Capacity: 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB

Source: Transcend - Press Release - 01.08.2003

Transcend CompactFlash Memory Card 1GB

Version en français à venir

DEC 05, 2002 - Transcend CompactFlash Memory Card Capacity Reaches 1GB

Now businessmen can carry a library of information in their pocket and professional digital photographers can get an entire photo shoot on a single memory card. Transcend Information Inc., the professional memory module and flash card manufacturer, has doubled the available capacity on a single Transcend Type I CompactFlash Memory Card to 1GB.

CompactFlash is the world's most popular removable mass storage device. CompactFlash was designed based on the popular PC Card (PCMCIA) standard, and the technology has resulted in the introduction of a new class of advanced, small, lightweight, low-power, mobile products that has significantly increased productivity and enhanced the lifestyle of millions of people. These mobile products include: digital cameras, digital MP3 players, handheld PCs, personal communicators, automobile PCs with GPS, digital voice recorders, digital photo printers, medical monitoring equipment, and many other devices.

With the rapid increase in the number of devices using CompactFlash memory cards, and people's enhanced reliance on them, capacity, stability, and reliability are the major factors users consider when selecting flash memory. Roy Wong, product manager for Transcend stated:

"Transcend's 1GB CompactFlash Memory Card uses four 2Gbit NAND Type flash memory chips with a high performance controller. The read speed is up to 5.2MB/sec and the write speed is up to 3.2MB/sec. The 1GB CompactFlash Memory Card has also passed compatibility testing to ensure users a hassle-free, worry-free digital life experience."

• Fully compatible with CompactFlash Association and PCMCIA card standard
• True Plug and Play
• Low power consumption
• Storage capacity up to 1GB
• Single Power Supply: 5V ± 10% or 3.3V ± 10%
• Recommended operating temperature: 0ºC (32°F) to 70ºC (158°F)
• 5-year warranty
• Capacity: 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB

www.transcendusa.com

Source : Transcend - Press Release - 05.12.2002

512MB Transcend CompactFlash Memory Card Announcement

Version française à venir

In August 2001, Transcend Information, Inc. announced that CompactFlash Memory Card Capacity Leaps Ahead to 512MB

Now, businessmen can carry a library of information in their pocket, and professional digital photographers can get an entire photo shoot on a single memory card. Transcend has doubled the available capacity on a single Transcend CompactFlash Memory Card to 512MB. In addition, all Transcend flash memory cards are now in a newly designed package, makes it even easier to spot Transcend flash memory on retailers's shelves.

CompactFlash is the world's most popular removable mass storage device. CompactFlash was designed based on the popular PC Card (PCMCIA) standard, and the technology has resulted in the introduction of a new class of advanced, small, lightweight, low-power, mobile products that has significantly increased the productivity and enhanced the lifestyle of millions of people. These mobile products include: digital cameras, digital MP3 players, handheld PCs, personal communicators, automobile PCs with GPS, digital voice recorders, digital photo printers, medical monitoring equipment, and many other devices.

With the rapid increase in the number of devices using CompactFlash memory cards, and people'ss enhanced reliance on them, capacity, stability, and reliability are the major factors users consider when selecting a flash memory. Roy Wong, product manager for Transcend stated: "Transcend's 512MB CompactFlash Memory Card uses 4 1Gbit NAND Type flash memory chips with a high performance controller. The read speed is up to 5.2MB/sec and the write speed is up to 3.2MB/sec. The 512MB CompactFlash Memory Card also passed compatibility test to ensure users a hassle-free, worry-free digital life experience."

With the announcement of the new 512MB CompactFlash Memory Card, Transcend also presents new packaging for Transcend's flash memory products, including CompactFlash Memory Cards, SmartMedia Memory Cards and MultiMediaCard Memory Cards. The newly designed packaging comes with a user's manual, a warranty card, and a hard plastic memory card-carrying case, that helps users get the most out of their flash memory. The carrying case is specially designed for users to hold and protect the flash memory card during transportation. Once in this case, the memory card can be safely carried in a pocket, briefcase, purse, backpack, and etc.

Panasonic, SanDisk and Toshiba Agreement

SD Memory Card

Photo (c) Sandisk

Matsushita Electric Industrial, best known by its Panasonic brand name, SanDisk and Toshiba have reached an agreement on comprehensive collaboration to jointly develop, specify and widely promote a next generation secure memory card. The announcement was made at joint press conferences in Tokyo, Japan, Osaka, Japan and Redwood City, CA.

The global market is growing rapidly for flash-memory based removable storage cards. These cards provide a compact, reliable, and easy-to-use medium to store high volumes of visual, audio and other data for digital music players and cameras, personal digital assistants (PDAs), video cameras, cellular phones and other digital consumer electronics products. Several major formats including SmartMedia, CompactFlash and MultiMediaCard are gaining solid support as leading media to meet these requirements. In addition to these segments, recent years have seen an increased need for methods to improve copyright protection for artists and other content owners and provide greater data security for users.

The agreement announced today is aimed to jointly develop a small size, high speed read/write next generation memory card capable of providing a high level of copy protection for music, movies and other artistic and commercial content. Each company will aggressively promote development of application products for this card.

The agreement is as follows

• The three companies will collaborate to develop the next generation SD Memory Card, and promote the card to make it widely used in the industry through standardization.
• The three companies will promote to develop application products in the field of digital AV equipment and digital network equipment using the SD Memory Card.
• The three companies will develop products taking into consideration the copyrights of software creators and content providers.
• The three companies will establish a licensing entity which will widely license the SD Memory Card. Both SD Memory Card manufacturers, and equipment producers who manufacture end-user products such as Internet music players and cellular phones, will be required to obtain licenses from the licensing entity.

Outline of the SD Memory Card

• Size: 24mm x 32mm x 2.1mm 9 pins
• Capacity: 32MB, 64MB (2000) / 256MB (2001)
• Speed: 10MB/sec / 2MB/sec (2000)
• Features: Powerful security and copy protection (SDMI compliant)

Sampling of the new SD Memory Card will begin in the first quarter of 2000. Production shipments are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2000. It is expected that application products that use the new card will be available in the first half of next year.

Features and advantages of the SD Memory Card include

• Unique and proprietary security functions are included in the card's controller, which facilitate the secure exchange of content between host devices and the card. The security level has been designed to comply with both current and future SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative) portable device requirements.
• Several flash memory chips can be stacked in the SD Memory Card which will provide higher capacity cards. This will ensure that the cards are capable of storing, for example, full-length movies in video and playback systems in the future.
• Despite the highly desirable small number of pins, the SD Memory Card is designed for exceptionally high read/write performance.
• A mechanical write protect switch prevents consumers from accidentally overwriting the card and destroying data, images or audio.
• The SD Memory Card has been ergonomically and electrically improved for its target consumer markets.
• The new SD Memory Card slots will also accept existing MultiMediaCards.

The three companies expect that CompactFlash (CF), SmartMedia memory cards and MultiMediaCards will continue their popularity in the current applications that only require relatively lower levels of security.

"Matsushita Electric and the Panasonic companies are delighted to be a partner in this effort to develop a technology that adds new value and features to the products consumers will use in the home, the workplace and everywhere in between," said Mr.Yoichi Morishita, president of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. "With the progress of recent digital network technology we are confident that the SD Memory Card will become a virtual standard for digital consumer electronics as well as for PC's. With this in mind, we intend to develop and build a new generation of digital consumer electronics devices such as Internet music players, digital camcorders and cellular phones which will employ SD Memory Cards"

Eli Harari, CEO and president of SanDisk, said, "We are greatly honored to be partners in this very important cooperation with two of the world's leading global corporations in consumer electronics. The sophisticated security of the SD Memory Card will unleash numerous exciting new consumer products and enable mass distribution of copyrighted content as well as e-commerce in a variety of multimedia and wireless/internet applications. The SD Memory Card provides an easy migration path for users of the highly successful MultiMediaCard for new applications requiring a high level of copyright protection and data security."

Taizo Nishimuro, Toshiba president and CEO, said, "Toshiba is unfolding a comprehensive strategy to promote removable memory cards, Toshiba's original NAND flash memory chips, and products and systems using the media. We welcome this opportunity to collaborate with Matsushita and SanDisk on the development and promotion of a new medium offering high-level security functions, an emerging but increasingly important element in the burgeoning market for silicon media. Toshiba is the leading supplier of SmartMedia, already established as a de facto standard in digital silicon storage and the SD Card will be a strong addition to our product portfolio, allowing us to expand our new business opportunities."

http://www.panasonic.com/
http://www.sandisk.com/
http://www.toshiba.com/