Archive for December, 2011

XQD Is A New Compact Flash Specification

Mark McCrosky Compact Flash, Solid State Memory

The Compact Flash Association introduced a new standard recently.Â The standard was release because CF media continues to get press from high performing SD cards where most camera manufacturers are favoring.Â I suspect the SD format is more inviting because of the smaller form factor.Â Well this is where the XQD spec address’ that issue.

Key features of the XQD format include: a 38.5mm by 29.9mm by 3.8mm optimized size format, greater durability, scalable high performance interface, based on PCI Express 2.5Gbps today and 5Gbps in the future (instead of PCMCIA used by SD cards), and actual write speed targets of 125MB/sec and higher.

â€œThe XQD format will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications, and widen the memory card options available to CompactFlash users such as professional photographers,â€

said Shigeto Kanda CFA chairman and Canon executive. Licensing for CFA members will start in early 2012, and no camera makers have announced plans to use the format yet. Continue Reading 1 Comment

microSD Problems – Good Chance It’s the Media

Mark McCrosky MicroSD

Bunnie’s Blog had a great post about the different quality of microSD media.Â I think he’s gone into more detail then any other I’ve seen on the internet.Â What is worth noting in his article is the brand names that he investigated and the results that he found.Â I don’t want to repeat what has already been said, but if you’ve ever been in doubt about a microSD card you’ve purchased, this article will shed some light.