Improved Memory Card Format from SD: the SDHC

The SD Card Association showcased at the CES event a new memory card format, and it will present the specifications for this innovation in the near future. The card will offer superior volumes of data, well over the 2 GB standard which is now common. This means that the new memory card will be quickly adopted by the new generation of audio/video and telecommunications devices, from camcorders to cell phones and computers, digital still cameras to plasma televisions and PDAs, among others.

Paul Reinhart, Executive Director of the SD Card Association, highlighted the increasing demand for memory cards with greater storage capabilities, and the SDHC will revolutionize the digital device industry by giving users the possibility to connect less frequently to a computer in order to discharge the multimedia content saved on the memory card.

The SDHC format is based on three important branches: SD-Audio, SD-Video and SD-Binding. SD-Audio will allow users to easily move music libraries between a variety of SD-enabled devices, to include cell phones, portable audio players, computers, car stereos and other mobile devices. The SD-Video specifications allow consumers to capture video, even MPEG-2 quality, and move it to an SD-Video enabled product securely. Last, the SD-Binding specification allows carriers/cell phone operators to provide security for content downloaded to their specific network mobile phones.