Q1 : Why are flash memory cards important to digital cameras?
A1 : As picture quality and resolutions on digital cameras have improved, the need to save and store larger picture files has increased.

Today leading digital camera manufacturers typically feature removable digital film cards for capturing, storing, and swapping images. Popular removable memory solutions include Compact Flash, Smart Media, Memory Stick, Multi Media Card, Secure Digital card and xD-Picture Card. Typically, most camera manufacturers include a low-capacity card with the camera. Users must download the photos to a computer after the card's capacity is reached. That's why for many typical picture-taking situations like vacations, weddings, or sporting events, the photographer needs more flash memory cards.

Q2 : What types of flash memory cards are available today?
A2 : There are different types of flash memory used for digital devices today:
Compact Flash, Smart Media, Memory Stick, Multi Media Card, Secure Digital, xD PictureCard, RS-MMC and miniSD.

Q3 : What is Compact Flash?
A3 : Compact Flash is a small form factor that combines non-volatile storage, high-capacity options and industry-standard compatibility, which is absolutely essential for digital cameras and handheld computing devices. Because they are designed to the guidelines set by the CFA (CompactFlash Association), a base-level assurance of compatibility has been set between all-certified Compact Flash cards and any Compact Flash-compliant device. Today, Compact Flash cards are available in capacities ranging from 32MB to 8GB, with speeds up to 21MB/sec.

Q4 : What is Smart Media?
A4 : Smart Media also use flash memory, but unlike Compact Flash, they require the controller functions for compatibility and other tasks to reside inside the device, rather than on the storage media. While this keeps the cost low, it cannot assure the forward and backward compatibility features that other flash memory cards with a controller can. Smart Media is a single flash-chip solution, thus limiting the card capacity and ability to store large high-resolution picture files. Today, 16MB, 32MB, 64MB and 128MB Smart Media cards are available.

Q5 : What is Secure Digital?
A5 : The Secure Digital (SD) Card is a revolutionary universal flash memory storage device designed to meet the converging security, capacity, ergonomic and performance requirements of emerging audio, video, data and multimedia consumer electronics markets. It also includes unique and proprietary security features implemented within the card’s controller. The security level has been designed to comply with Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) portable device requirements.

Q6 : What is MMC?
A6 : The Multi Media Card was introduced Nov. 5, 1997. The Multi Media Card weighs less than two grams and is the size of a postage stamp. Targeted initially at the digital camera and handheld device markets, other markets have also emerged to take advantage of the small size, solid-state data storage solution. The packaging is a simple molded package with a seven pad (pin) serial interface. The simple serial interface offers easy integration into various devices regardless of the microprocessor being used.

Q7 : What is RS-MMC?
A7 : New RS-MMC (Reduced Size MultiMediaCard) has the same width but almost half the length of existing MMC cards. RS-MMC cards will be 24 x 18 x 1.4 mm. It's clear that this new reduced size format is aimed primarily at the mobile phone / PDA market. It also offers digital camera manufacturers the opportunity to build even smaller digital cameras.
A reduced size card can be used in a full size MultiMediaCard with a simple mechanical expander that will make the card "regain" a full size format.

Q8 : What is mini-SD
A8 : In order to meet the demands of the cell phone market, a new product was recently developed the miniSD memory card. The miniSD card offers significant savings in card area and volume, two critical design parameters for the new generation of increasingly miniaturized mobile phones. Compared to a standard SD card, the miniSD card saves more than 40% of the printed circuit board area and more than 60% of the volume required to support the card in a portable device. A key benefit of the miniSD card is that it is both electrically and software compatible with the existing SD standard. It uses the same SD interface, including security features for content protection (CPRM-Content Protection Rights Management) as the standard SD card. As an extension of the existing SD card standard, the miniSD card allows mobile phone and consumer electronic developers to leverage their current SD-based designs with no changes to software or electronics. To allow interoperability with standard SD devices, it will also have an adapter that converts the miniSD card into the SD card form factor. The adapter allows the miniSD card to fit into existing SD card slots, and thereby provide compatibility with the rapidly growing number of SD compatible devices in the market.

Q9 : Why performance is important when talking about flash memory cards?
A9 : As digital camera applications, resolutions, and picture file sizes continue to grow; the "WRITE" performance has become a critical issue. Higher "WRITE" performance can significantly reduce the image storage time, which means less time for taking one photo.

Q10 : What is the difference between XtraPlus and XtraPro?
A10 : Because "WRITE" performance is so important, MICRODIA has implemented a system to indicate the speed difference, XtraPLUS & XtraPRO. XtraPLUS is for normal end users, and XtraPRO is faster in speed for high-end professional users. Currently, 82XtraPLUS offers 12.3MB/sec sustained write speed, and 140XtraPRO offers 21MB/sec sustained write speed.

Q11 : How many images can be stored on a flash memory card?
A11 : The number of pictures you can take varies depending on your camera model, resolution, picture mode and complexity of the scene being photographed. To calculate how many pictures your card can hold, divide the capacity of your card by the average file size of your images. As you change modes on your camera, the number of images will increase if you shoot in a lower resolution mode, and decrease if you shoot in a higher resolution mode.

Q12 : How many minutes of audio can be stored on a flash memory card?
A12 : The minutes of music that your card can hold depends on the rate and format at which your songs are recorded. Normally, a 32MB flash memory card can store 34 minutes audio in 128Kbps bit rate MP3 format.