Yes, you read the title correct. We now have a dual processor on Compact Flash cards. The new SanDisk Extreme Pro clicks along at an impressive 90MB/s transfer rate.
Just what the doctor ordered for the professional photographer and photo analysis equipment applications.
So what does this mean for transfer rates? Well consider a typical [high performance] CF card runs at 45MB/s write speed. The new dual processor CF card runs [basically] twice as fast.
Of course the device itself is only half the equation, you still need a host who can accept such fast speeds, such as the Canon EOS 7D or Nikon D300s dSLRs to name a few.
For those who have the camera already, you might need the SanDisk Extreme Pro ExpressCard Adapter which plugs into the ExpressCard slot on laptops. Compared with typical card readers which offer up to 20MB/s transfer rates, the SanDisk adapter allows up to 90MB/s read and write speeds.
The Extreme Compact Flash series is targeted at enthusiasts and available in 8GB (S$139 (US$99.43)), 16GB (S$269 (US$192.43)) and 32GB (S$399 (US$285.43)) capacities.
For professional photographers who need fast, high-capacity media, the Extreme Pro comes in 16GB (S$413 (US$295.44)), 32GB (S$741 (US$530.08)) and 64GB (S$1,382 (US$988.63)) versions. The new cards are in retail stores now.
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For those who know, the Samsung branded NAND flash memory is considered the Tier 1 quality that everyone talks about. It’s the best stuff out there…highest quality, best in performance, yet always a touch above others [Micron, Hynix, etc] in price.
Well that might change because Samsung is entering the retail market with their solid state flash of Secure Digital, Compact Flash and microSD media.
Samsung will release sizes from 4GB to 16GB capacity before the end of 2009. These cards will be in the ‘Plus’ memory card class and compliant with the Secure Digital class 6 performance standards. Cards boust a speed range of 17Mbps to 45Mbps.
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RiDATA introduces the ultra fast speed Compact Flash memory card at 300X normal data transfer speeds. The Supreme Compact Flash card is a 16GB haven for data storage. President Harvey Liu claims the CF card was designed for photographers needing high performance flash memory for those ultra large digital files the pros are taking, but he might be missing one critical target market – embedded designs.
As solid state memory is becoming cheaper and performs better, many embedded products are going the route of Compact Flash. These embedded designs and products need large capacity and high performance.
For example, did you know that most slot machines use either CF or SD solid state media to run the graphics you see when sitting at the slots? The display screen with graphics and information which come from your registration card are powered from a solid state drive. This is just one example of how embedded products are going more towards Flash Memory for data storage and processing.
RiDATA Supreme Compact Flash card is available through the retail channel with a 2 year warranty. Pricing is “competitive” but no price point was given in the press release or the RiDATA website.
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C-Data Solutions has a mini computer the size of a Compact Flash card. Yes, that’s right. The form factor of this Linux computer is that of a Compact Flash card. The solution uses a CF DAQ card as the main processor and you can expand for additional flexibility using the CF COMM cards.
The Compact Flash Computer utilizes Motorola’s Coldfire MFC5272 processor. The on-board flash memory file system provides storage for the operating system (ucLinux) and user applications. Expansion is via a 16 bit bus compatible with Compact Flash devices. Up to eight devices can be integrate into a system using the Bus Extension Unit (CF type II device).
Here are the impressive specifications to the CF Linux computer:
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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?:
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Yes, you read the title correct. We now have a dual processor on Compact Flash cards. The new SanDisk Extreme Pro clicks along at an impressive 90MB/s transfer rate.
Just what the doctor ordered for the professional photographer and photo analysis equipment applications.
So what does this mean for transfer rates? Well consider a typical [high performance] CF card runs at 45MB/s write speed. The new dual processor CF card runs [basically] twice as fast.
Of course the device itself is only half the equation, you still need a host who can accept such fast speeds, such as the Canon EOS 7D or Nikon D300s dSLRs to name a few.
For those who have the camera already, you might need the SanDisk Extreme Pro ExpressCard Adapter which plugs into the ExpressCard slot on laptops. Compared with typical card readers which offer up to 20MB/s transfer rates, the SanDisk adapter allows up to 90MB/s read and write speeds.
The Extreme Compact Flash series is targeted at enthusiasts and available in 8GB (S$139 (US$99.43)), 16GB (S$269 (US$192.43)) and 32GB (S$399 (US$285.43)) capacities.
For professional photographers who need fast, high-capacity media, the Extreme Pro comes in 16GB (S$413 (US$295.44)), 32GB (S$741 (US$530.08)) and 64GB (S$1,382 (US$988.63)) versions. The new cards are in retail stores now.
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