SDXC - SD cards up to 2TB

[strangways]

LAS VEGAS – CES – Jan. 7, 2009 – The next-generation SDXC (eXtended Capacity) memory card specification, announced today at the 2009 International CES, dramatically improves consumers’ digital lifestyles by providing the portable storage and speed needed to store weeks of high-definition video, years of photo collections and months of music to mobile phones, cameras and camcorders, and other consumer electronic devices. The new SDXC specification provides up to 2 terabytes storage capacity and accelerates SD interface read/write speeds to 104 megabytes per second this year, with a road map to 300 megabytes per second.

The SDXC specification, developed by the SD Association, leapfrogs memory card interface speeds while retaining the world-leading SD interface. Specifications for the open standard will be released in the first quarter of 2009. SDHC, Embedded SD and SDIO specifications will also benefit from the new SD interface speeds.

“SDXC combines a higher capacity roadmap with faster transfer speeds as a means to exploit NAND flash memory technology as a compelling choice for portable memory storage and interoperability,” said Joseph Unsworth, research director, NAND Flash Semiconductors, at Gartner. “With industry support, SDXC presents manufacturers with the opportunity to kindle consumer demand for more advanced handset features and functionality in consumer electronics behind the ubiquitous SD interface.”

Turning mobile phones into media centers
SDXC allows users to enjoy more from their mobile phones. Larger capacity and faster transfer speeds allow for expanded entertainment and data storage. A 2TB SDXC memory card can store 100 HD movies, 480 hours of HD recording or 136,000 fine-grade photos.

“With SDXC, consumers can quickly download higher quality content to their phones, including games, video and music – giving consumers a richer media and content experience,” said James Taylor, president of the SD Association. “The SD interface already has proven itself valuable in mobile phones. Now, SDXC memory card capabilities will spur further handset sophistication and boost consumer content demand.”

Shooting pictures at the speed of life
SDXC is also the first memory card specification to provide 2TB storage without hindering the high-speed performance necessary for high-end photography. It will provide maximum speeds even when the SDXC specification achieves its maximum 2TB storage capacity.

"SDXC is a large-capacity card that can store more than 4,000 RAW images, which is the uncompressed mode professionals use. That capacity, combined with the exFAT file system, increases movie recording time and reduces starting time to improve photo-capturing opportunities,” said Shigeto Kanda, general manager at Canon. “Improvements in interface speed allow further increases in continuous shooting speed and higher resolution movie recordings. As a memory card well suited to small-sized user-friendly digital cameras, the SDXC specification will help consumers realize the full potential of our cameras."

SDXC will enable camcorders to provide longer, professional level HD video recording with a small form factor.

The SDXC specification uses Microsoft’s exFAT file system to support its large capacity and interoperability in a broad range of PCs, consumer electronics and mobile phones. The exFAT system was designed for increased compatibility with flash media, from portability of data to interoperability with multiple platforms and devices on removable media.

“The SD Association is committed to answering and anticipating consumer demand for easy-to-use memory card storage that is interoperable in any device with a matching SD slot,” Taylor said. “The SDXC card gives consumers a new, yet familiar, high-performance card that will be used in hundreds of manufacturers’ device offerings.”

 

[Nektonic]

These would be great for any of RED's cameras, especially since they mention RAW images.

Although, is this still experimental? Are we supposed to be seeing this stuff soon or a long ways off still? 2TB memory cards seem too good to be true yet.

 

[sdhurley]

I just read about this development, maybe my idea of a camera that is a pair of glasses recording what I see is not too far off.

 

[Nektonic]

I just read about this development, maybe my idea of a camera that is a pair of glasses recording what I see is not too far off.

Somebody call William Gibson, we're going to have SDXC card slots installed in our heads.

 

[caseyhayward]

This might be more astounding news if the 2TB card weren't a target goal for 5 years from now. The next step in SDXC is a doubling of SDHC (64 GB) in late 2009. This sounds more like Moore's law than a revolution.

 

[combatentropy]

What's most interesting is the new bandwidth: 300 MB/sec. This is enough for uncompressed, 10-bit, HD video at 120 FPS.

This clears the way for more cameras from smaller companies, like RED, Ikonoskop and Otis Grapsas's. Before, they each suffered compromises.

RED used compression. The extra hardware and software does these things:

- complicates editing
- limits frame rate (processing bottleneck)
- adds heat (processor circuits)
- adds noise (fans)
- subtracts battery life (circuits + fans)
- adds size (circuits + fans + bigger batteries)
- adds more breakpoints (like "codec errors")
- adds cost (for all of the above)

Others, like Ikonoskop and Otis Grapsas, have chosen uncompressed, to clear away these problems. But that brought new problems. They had to:

(a) Make their own cards (Ikonoskop), which add a lot of cost and subtracts a lot of convenience, or
(b) Use hard drives, which are larger and more fragile than flash cards, or
(c) Use solid state drives, which are larger than flash cards, so the camera itself can be only so small.

Imagine a camera that uses media that:

- you can find in the neighborhood drug store
- is durable, because of no moving parts
- has enough bandwidth that the camera itself can simply write the data from the analog-to-digital converter straight to the card. So the camera can be smaller, lighter, cheaper, quieter, and lower-maintenance.