Power Outage At Toshiba Could Spell Flash Shortage

Mike McCrosky Solid State Memory

lightening buildingToday Toshiba announced a power outage at their plant in Yokkaichi.  Toshiba claims the power will be restored by Friday Dec 12th 2010.  There where no details about the outage, but it could have an effect on flash memory in Jan/Feb of 2011. Toshiba estimates that up to 20% of their production schedule will be effected by the power problem. Seems a little suspicious as prices for flash continue to decline, but that’s just my conspericy theory coming out. Apple could be the biggest customer effected by the problem as they use Toshiba for most of their MacBook Air SSD component.  However, Electronista reports that Apple has other suppliers such as Samsung, Hynix and even Intel. From what we know, Apple has a dual source policy program for events just like this. Source:  Electronista. Continue Reading

The Flash Tide Is Rising

Mike McCrosky Flash Memory News, Solid State Memory

If you haven’t noticed the shift yet, there is no doubt you’ll see it in 2011.  We are talking about the shift from disk drive storage to solid state storage.  Sure we’ve heard netbooks run off flash and some other high end laptops, but not until Steve Jobs announced their new MacBook will be all flash did we notice the tide beginning to change.

MacBook Air Flash Drive

I’m not glorify Steve Jobs as the man who saw this coming, no, but understanding that Apple is the largest consumer of flash memory in the world – puts a different perspective on things. Apple will single hand drive the consumer PC market away from disk drives to flash chips as their hard drives.  Apple will do this in two steps.  Step 1:  Pass along their great discounts they undoubtedly get as being the largest consumer and Step 2:  Decreasing boot time when the MacBooks are powered on. We all curse at our PC during boot up because it just doesn’t happen fast enough.  Folks who have iPads have already had the “crack” and are addicted.  This will spread with the advent of flash in the MacBooks.  This will undoubtedly challenge Windows competitors to equal the performance levels. The Wall Street Journal did a more pragmatic approach to the subject if you’re looking for numbers and details.  Check here. Continue Reading

32GB microSD Card From SanDisk

Mike McCrosky MicroSD, Solid State Memory

Lets start the clock ticking for when microSD media will take over the world for flash storage.

I am still amazed at the small size of the microSD media and it’s expansive ability to keep growing in GB capacity.  Today SanDisk is officially selling the 32GB version of their microSD card.  Sure, it’s $200 USD but when you are an overseas airplane ride and need hours and hours of video content to stream through your 3 inch screen, this will be very handy.  I will forget the fact that a DVD player is less than that…but we’re talking cool factor here.

The new 32GB card makes use of SanDisk’s three-bit-per-cell storage technology and is able to hold around 7,000 songs.  That translates into 19 solid days of listenting to music, without break, 24/7. So forget the $200 price tag and maybe you can be lucky like me and find a microSD card, 2GB capacity for $3 off Amazon.com. Continue Reading

45 Target CF Duplicator From Nexcopy – CF450PC

Mike McCrosky Compact Flash, Flash Memory News, Solid State Memory

45 Target CF Duplicator From Nexcopy – CF450PC

Nexcopy Corporation released a new line of flash memory duplication systems, the CF Duplicator 150PC, 300PC and 450PC. These PC-based systems are designed for high-volume data loading to CompactFlash (CF) cards and bring serious throughput to industries still relying on CF for critical applications.

CF Duplicator

Nexcopy adds unique functions to make bulk data jobs less of a grind. For instance, the Unique Data Copy mode allows loading different files to each CF card during a single run—ideal for serialized content. Meanwhile, the Short Image Copy mode only writes data clusters in use, dramatically cutting copy times for partially filled cards. For Linux Ext2 or Ext3 file systems, the Full Image Copy mode ensures every byte is duplicated without question.

The CF Duplicator line is modular. Pricing starts at $1,200 for the 150PC, with clear upgrade paths to the 30-port and 45-port units. This approach gives organizations flexibility: start small, scale later. Nexcopy also allows mixing duplicator boxes, meaning operators can copy SD cards, CF cards, and USB flash drives—all at once, from the same software interface. That’s a big win for production teams juggling multiple formats.

Copy Modes Built In

The Drive Manager software offers six copy modes to cover nearly every workflow:

  • File Copy
  • File Copy Add
  • Image File Copy (.img)
  • Unique Data Streaming to each card
  • Device Copy – short
  • Device Copy – full

Product details: CF Duplicator by Nexcopy

Where CF Still Matters

CompactFlash isn’t as mainstream as it once was, but it remains essential in industries that need speed, durability, and consistent performance. Photographers and videographers continue to rely on CF for high-resolution image capture and 4K/8K video. Industrial and embedded systems lean on CF cards for rugged reliability in environments where shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures are everyday realities. In medical imaging and patient monitoring, CF storage provides a stable backbone for secure data logging. Even in niche sectors like gaming arcades and forensic labs, CF holds its ground as a dependable medium.

By pairing robust hardware with smart software, Nexcopy’s CF450PC helps these industries keep CF media viable, efficient, and protected. For organizations still living in the CompactFlash world, this duplicator isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the workhorse that keeps production running on time.

Source: GetUSB.info

Continue Reading

Super Talent Announces New Compact Flash Cards

Mike McCrosky Compact Flash, Solid State Memory

Super Talent is pushing out a new line of Compact Flash cards, then CFast series.  The CFast has a maximum bandwidth of 375MBs which is nearly four times faster than a traditional high end CF card at 90MBs.

CFast compact flash

The new CFast storage card breaks the speed bottleneck between the SSD and the device by using a SATA interface. Super Talent has clocked these CFast cards at up to 200MB/sec read speeds. With a Super Talent CFast storage card installed, there will be no waiting time for the camera to catch up, and it will be much swifter to view pictures on a camera or to copy them to computer. Measuring 36.4 x 42.8 x 3.3mm for Type I CFast storage cards and 36.4 x 42.8 x 5.0mm for Type II, the same physical dimensions as the CompactFlash card, the CFast Storage Card has a single-chip controller and flash memory module. The SATA interface consists of a 7-pin signal connector and a 17-pin power and control connector. The card operates at 3.3V. Super Talent is offering five different CFast storage cards, 8GB and 16GB based on SLC (Single Level Cell) flash and 8GB, 16GB and 32GB based on MLC (Multi Level Cell) flash. The first generation of CFast storage cards supports transfer speeds up to 200MB/s. Source: SuperTalent. Continue Reading

Intel, Micron With 3-bit Cell Technology

Mike McCrosky Flash Memory News, Solid State Memory

Intel and Micron are two of the primary NAND flash memory makers and are partners in such manufacturing.  Earlier this month they announced new technology capable of 3-bit per cell storage which is based off 34-nanometer technology.

3-bit cell technology

The 3-bit per cell concept allows for more storage in the same realestat of flash memory.  This imporvement yields larger storage capacity of flash drives and SSD at a lower price. However, the new technology doesn’t come without some draw backs.  According to Kevin Kilbuck, Director of NAND marketing at Micron indicates the 3-bit per cell technology isn’t as stable as they’d like. For example, Kevin indicates the 3-bit per cell NAND technology will be found in less mission critical devices like USB flash drives, SD memory and CF memory.  The technology will not find it’s way into SolidState Disks until the manufacturing process is perfected.
“The companies explained that they need more experience in production volumes before they will be confident to position it as a chip suitable for the high-write environment of the SSD”
You can expect the 3-bit per cell to hit the streets sometime in Q1 of 2010. However, as with most technology, it’s on the way out before it’s ever even in; SanDisk and Toshiba disclosed in February that they had developed 4-bit-per-cell technology, which the two companies said was the highest-capacity flash memory technology in the industry. Continue Reading

Samson Q3 Is Portable Video Recorder With 32Gigs

Mike McCrosky Flash Memory News, Mobile Audio, Secure Digital, Solid State Memory

Samson just released a great looking product, the Q3.  It’s a hand held video recorder and what is particularly nice about this unit, is the huge microphone perched at the top.  Now it’s easier than ever to capture that perfect moment – in both video and audio.

Samson Q3

In addition to the well positioned microphone, the Samson Q3 also has an expansion slot via SD card for additional memory capacity.  Up to 32GBs to be exact.  Thus the title of the article.

Samson Q3 SD slot

The Samson Q3 also has VGA output so you can easily connect the device to your TV for instant viewing. Use HandyShare to edit and share video on your favorite websites including YouTube, Facebook and MySpace. You can connect the video recorder to your computer via USB connection. Continue Reading

Compact Flash Linux Computer

Mike McCrosky Compact Flash, Solid State Memory

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.

CF linux computer

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:
  • 43 x 37 x 5 mm
  • Compact Flash Type II Card
  • 16 Bit CF expansion bus Interfaces to CF cards
  • 32 bit Coldfire cpu
  • 32 MB SRAM
  • 8 MB FLASH
  • µcLinux
  • RS-232
  • Motorola BDM port
For more information visit the C-Data Solutions website.  Source via Hacker-Technology. Continue Reading

Surplus of NAND Flash Memory To Continue

Mike McCrosky Compact Flash, Flash Memory News, Memory Stick, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, Solid State Memory

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.

sandisk flash memory

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. Continue Reading

Solid State Drives Slurp Power Not Save It

Mike McCrosky Solid State Memory

As Gizmodo says, “swindled“  That’s what we are all feeling when Tom’s Hardware determined solid state drives don’t save power, they slurp it up like a 64oz soda from 7-11.

solid state drive power

The theory behind SSD (Solid State Drives) would be no moving parts, thus a big power savings.  This thought process seemed particularely promessing for portable laptops.  However, it seems the “moving parts” cousin – our traditional disk drives – do a better job at power management. Tom’s Hardware is drawing some conclusions from their experiment.  Since SSD has an “On or Off” mode this means when your laptop is on, that Solid State Drive is always drawing power; whereas, the old fashion disk drive only draws power when it’s searching for data and thus doesn’t always draw a certain level of power…in fact, these drives are optomized to only pull power at peak search times. Not sure how much water this theory holds, as the disk drives always need power just to know when a request is being made, but hey, Tom’s Hardware has more resources [for both testing and experience] so I’ll take their word at face value for the moment. Continue Reading

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