Memory Cards & SD Cards
Memory Cards have become the storage solution of choice for a wide range of portable media products. Their versatility and diminutive stature has made them an ideal transferable memory product for a wide variety of mobile phones, digital cameras and other portable products where onboard capacity is relatively low.
Multi-Purpose Portable Memory
When buying a memory card, you should always ensure that you are getting one that is compatible with your particular item. With so many variants around, it is imperative that you select the correct one; otherwise you run the risk of purchasing a memory card that doesn't even fit, let alone operate in your particular product.
Modern memory cards come in a wide selection of sizes, both physically and in terms of storage capacity. The four primary multi-purpose flash memory cards at the present time are SD cards, Mini-SD cards, Mico-SD and CompactFlash cards. Of course in the constantly change world of electronics new additions and variations are constantly introduced, however these remain the most used and widespread in contemporary commercial production.
Pioneering Memory Card Technology
The SD card was one of the first mass-manufactured flash memory cards available, with production beginning at the turn of the millennium. Unsurprisingly the SD memory card dwarfs the smaller Mini and Micro varieties, but maintains a very similar capacity and functionality. With an optimum capacity of around 16GB it is now primarily used in larger products, such as digital cameras and handheld GPS products.
CompactFlash cards are a slightly larger alternative to the SD card, with a very similar variety of multimedia applications. Many PDA's and other handheld computers utilise the CompactFlash card for their primary or secondary data storage requirements. PC's also often come with flash card drives so you can plug them directly into your computer and exchange data quickly and safely.
Miniature SD Cards
Mini-SD cards were introduced a few years later than the standard SD card. Shaving 10mm in length and 4mm in width of off the SD card (itself measuring W: 24 x L: 32mm); the Mini-SD offers the same storage availability and functionality of an SD card, but without the excess girth. The reduction in size allows the Mini-SD memory card to be used in far smaller products such as standard mobile phones, along with many of the products that the original SD was compatible with.
The Micro-SD is, as the title suggests, a miniature memory card. Measuring only W: 11 x L: 15mm, it is less than half the size of the SD and still considerably smaller than the Mini-SD. Despite its miniscule size, the Micro-SD can currently store up to 4GB of media; however this is likely to be increased further as the technology develops, with 8GB and 12GB versions already being mooted. As the smallest memory card currently available, the Micro-SD can be used in a whole host of products including modern super-slimline mobiles, Blackberries and PDA's.
Digital Camera Memory Storage
XD cards are designed specifically for use with Olympus and Fujifilm digital cameras. Therefore, unlike other memory cards, they can't be used in most other media appliances. However, due to their specialised functionality, they do have some key advantages over their multipurpose rivals; these include a lower power consumption to help preserve the camera's batteries and extra speed in processing and transferring photos.
Transferring Media
Transferring data between media can be done in a variety of ways and depends largely on the particular devices in question. Many devices come with, or are at least compatible with, cables that transfer directly between two different entities. Card readers are also available; these allow you to transfer your media straight from your PDA, mobile phone or other handheld device, on to your computer.
Many card readers are designed for the default SD size. However, SD card adapters are widely available; these allow the smaller Mini or Micro-SD cards to be slotted into what is essentially an SD card shell, making them compatible with all card readers and other media that require an SD card.