DRAMeXchange published a market research paper stating that NAND flash memory will continue to flood the market at lower prices. NAND flash memory is primarily used for storing songs, photos and other data on gadget type devices like digital cameras, MP3 players and iPods. The biggest contributing factor on why the market will continue to see cheap NAND is lack of sales.

Since production forecasts run months ahead, the market has sitting inventory. To move this inventory prices are continueing to drop. For example, DRAMeXchange reported a drop of 20% in June for NAND memory related devices.

The NAND flash market has been so bad that the creator of the chips, SanDisk, on Monday reported a surprise loss of US$68 million for the second quarter. The company blamed the supply glut for its problems, pointing out that it sold a record amount of flash, 120 percent more than the same time last year, but that prices are down 55 percent compared to then.

SanDisk also reported the flash memory pricing might get worse [better for us] in the third quarter. So, it might be a good idea to start picking out your Christmas items now and make sure it’s some type of flash gadget.

On the flip side, with today’s surplus means these companies are cutting back production as well, so once this flood dries up, we could see a shortage for NAND and prices jumping up…and the cycle goes on.

Source: Network World.

Not that a single rack mount unit which can record to CD or CF card is all that ground breaking, the conveninece of taking a live event and dumping to CF instantly is an interesting prospect.  Once more, the TASCAM SS-CDR1 will convert CDDA audio from Compact Disc to Compact Flash.

The SS-CDR1 is designed for applications which previously used cassette or MiniDisc recording to transition those digital recordings the CD or Compact Flash cards.  The SS-CDR1 records in WAVE or MP3 formats to Compact Flash media. A slot-loading CD transport is provided CD recording, MP3 conversion and audio transfer. The recorder includes balanced and unbalanced audio inputs and outputs, RS-232 and parallel control and a wired remote control.

Price for the SS-CDR1 is set at $599.  WOW – that’s some serious hardware cost for a CF recorder. (more…)

Sans Digital is delivering a dual Compact Flash design that might rival some solid state drives at half the cost and with significant benefits. What Sans Digital has come up with is putting two Compact Flash cards into a 2.5″ enclosure to make it look and feel like a SSD drive. Using two 16GB cards and some RAID configuration the dual flash memory becomes a 32GB hard drive. Although this isn’t the biggest drive size, it does rival entry level SSD storage devices.

So here’s the kicker; putting two high performance Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash cards together would only cost a user about $360. Compare that cost outlay with a $860 SSD drive [of about the same storage size] and you’ve got yourself a clear winner on what direction to take.

“Unlike existing RAID units that employs hard drives for storage space, the CompactSTOR CS1T utilizes pocket-sized lightweight Compact Flash cards as storage memory for data safekeeping. Designed with the same size and connectors as a 2.5” SATA hard drive, the CS1T is compatible with the hard drive slot of laptops, industrial PCs (IPC), small form factor computers, and 2.5” hard drive enclosures.”

In addition, the Compact Flash configuration has lower power consumption and less noise and heat output. The only issue we see is the performance difference between the two. The entry level SSD storage units average [according to spec] about 90Mbytes/s write whereby the Sans Digital solution is about a 3rd less at 30Mbytes/s write speed.

The Sans Digital product is called the CompactSTOR and retails for about $45 for the dual bay Compact Flash base and enclosure, memory, of course, is sold seperately.

The list is log on how many people have expressed interest in a CompactFlash down loading device for bulk data transfer (not!). But despite whatever circle I run in, Delkin came out with a 4 unit CompactFlash ImageRouter for concurrent transfer of data off CF to HHD.

I would imagine this product is geared towards the professional photographer who quickly fills CF media with high-res images and needs a clean off-loading device. The Delkin ImageRouter is UDMA and once four (or less) CF cards are loaded you start the process and walk away. With USB connectivity you can expect data transfer rates of 19MB/s and incase 4 ports isn’t enough, you can daisy chain the ImageRouter together for 8 port download. The built-in USB hub handles the rest.

ImageRouter can be purchased separately or with BackupandBurn software. BackupandBurn automatically renames files based on user-set parameters. Users can specify how the files are re-named and re-numbered and even have Jpeg and RAW files automatically sent to different folders. Images can also be copied to multiple locations and automatically burned to a CD or DVD.

Delkin ImageRouter product page.

Here is an out-of-the-box solution for turning those high capacity Compact Flash memory cards into SATA hard drives. The CF to SATA hard drive adapter is ideal for using CF as a bootable device containing OS or application data.

The adapter is compatible with Compact Flash type I and II and will provide a full functioning SATA interface.

The adapter card is also fully compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Linux – in case the application is something other than embedded.

The CF to SATA adapter is $25 without power supply and $35 with power supply so a reasonable price for what you get. (more…)

Okay, so UDMA is not U-Da-MAn but the new Lexar card reader is cool enough looking to make them “the man.”

The new UDMA (Ultra Direct Memory Access) is a pop-top design which upon clicking the top cover (say on the Lexar logo) the card reader slots pop up for flash memory access.

The Lexar card reader connects to your PC via mini-to-full-size USB cable. The device readers either CompactFlash compatible or SDHC compatible SD cards.

So just to bring everyone up-to-speed: What is UDMA technology?: (more…)

With the recent announcement from The CompactFlash Association (CFA) to develop an SATA interface for CF memory is another positive sign that solid state memory for laptops and computers will become the normal.

Despite the fact of Mr. Shigeto, chairman of the CFA board, indicates this move is to further solidify CompactFlash memory as the primary memory storage for non-consumer, embedded and single board products, I think the writing is on the wall for gaining a larger market share of the PC market.

So what is the advantage of SATA interface? Speed. Currently the PATA specification is about 133MB/second and having SATA interface will greatly increase that speed(althogh no target speed was given – just “faster”).

With CompactFlash card slots are in over 360 digital cameras, over 165 handheld/palm-size PCs and over 705 other electronic platforms including embedded systems, single board computers, data recorders, heart monitors, defibrillators, etc. the faster transfer speed will ensure performance to the user with out a bottle-neck of memory.

Press Release: SATA Interface to Compact Flash

Lexar remains the head of the pack with their new UDMA enabled card reader and SDHC card reader series. The Ultra Direct Memory Access reader (Lexar Professional UDMA FireWire 800 Reader) conforms to the high-performance flash memory protocol for CompactFlash while the Lexar Professional Dual-Slot USB Reader can read both SD and SDHC flash memory.

Both Lexar card readers are do out by end of Q2 2007 with price points of $80 and $50 respectively. (more…)

Finally a digital picture frame which holds some worth, the Kodak EASYSHARE digital picture frame is loaded with features. First, as any Kodak buff would expect the digital display is fine tuned to Kodak color standards then stack on some MP3 capability to sooth the sole of those fond memories.

Next, bring pictures to life with the EASYSHARE picture frame’s capability to play MPEG 1, 4, MOV and AVI files then funnel those joyous moments through the built-in stereo speakers – load these formats up via compact flash, secure digital, multimedia card, xD, memory stick or interface via USB. And if this isn’t enough (more…)