4 GB SDHC Memory Card from Panasonic

Posted By: Ryan Friday, March 10, 2006 8:40:36 AM

Panasonic today announced that it is developing a 4 GB SDHC (SD High-Capacity) Memory Card based on the new SD Specifications Version 2. The new specifications were established to meet the growing demand for High Definition video and high-resolution image recording used in many SD enabled devices. The 4 GB SDHC Memory Card is scheduled for global release in the summer of 2006.

SDHC 4gb SD Card from PanasonicSD Spec v2
Since its introduction in the year 2000, the SD Memory Card has been accepted by a wide range of digital devices, backed by its four main advantages - compact size, high data storage capacity, fast data transfer speed and advanced copyright protection features. The demand for higher-capacity SD Memory Cards still continues to grow due to the widespread use of high-resolution digital cameras and semiconductor audio and video players. Reacting to remarkable growth in the market for such devices, the SD Card Association released SD Specifications Version 2.00 for the capacity beyond 2 GB.

With the new specifications, it is now possible to develop FAT 32 based SDHC Memory Card with capacities up to 32 GB. In addition, the new Specifications Version 2.00 specified to guarantee the minimum sustained data transfer speeds by establishing card performance classes (Class 2: 2 MB/s; Class 4: 4 MB/s; Class 6: 6 MB/s) for recording the streaming MPEG data. The previous versions of the specification did not provide common standards for sustained data transfer speeds.

The new approach allows users to select card performance based on the needs of particular applications such as HD video and other MPEG applications with high data storage capacities. The new specifications continue to offer copyright protection features, making it an ideal solution for digital content distribution.

Current Prices on 4GB SD Cards

Thanks to hkklife for the tip.

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New high-density SD format shown by Pansonic

hkklife @ 3/10/2006 9:35:03 AM # Q
http://tinyurl.com/k262a


Finally, an end to the headaches associated with trying to get 1,2, and 4gb SD cards working on "certain" products' SD slots.

I wonder if anyone will be able to make a current SD device compatible with the new stuff via a firmware update (highly unlikely)?

2gb SD prices have PLUMMETED in the past two months-maybe it's a sign of the end of the road for SD in its current form?

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX

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Treo 700p

Caspian @ 3/10/2006 12:40:56 PM # Q
Now all we need is the Treo 700p to put it in. I can watch the Lord of the Rings and listen to MP3s all day.

David
Palm III> Palm IIIx> Palm IIIc> Sony T615> Sony T665> Sony TH55
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This thing is FAT 32

bombastinator @ 3/10/2006 1:24:54 PM # Q
This card (as well as any other card over 2 gig) requires a 32 bit addressing system to function. FAT 32 would be the standard choice. Unfortunately, unless this has been changed in recent firmware updates, AFAIK the treo 650 does not run FAT 32. I understand there is a firmware hack available, but I have no knowledge of it's stability or other complications involved.
RE: This thing is FAT 32
Simony @ 3/10/2006 6:25:00 PM # Q
The buzz over at treocentral.com is that the FAT32 hack works. Apparently, the code was lifted from the LifeDrive update. There is also some speculation that the Treo 700p (if it ever sees the light of day) will run FAT32.

(Shadowmite, if you are here, please feel free to correct/clarify.)

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Ugh I just want 2GB

sremick @ 3/10/2006 2:25:09 PM # Q
Man, I'd just be happy with 2GB on my T3. Sadly I'm stuck with 1GB. And no, I'm not going to replace my T3 with a newer Palm since all the new Palms suck and require me to compromise too many critical features.

When Palm creates a new handheld that's not 3 steps forward and 5 steps back, then I'll upgrade.

Last I knew, anything more than a 1GB card on a T3 was a dead-end. And I did a LOT of reading. Anyone heard otherwise recently?

http://vtbsd.net/winhelp/

RE: Ugh I just want 2GB
hkklife @ 3/10/2006 4:54:59 PM # Q
You'll be lucky to see anyther handheld PERIOD from Palm, much less one exceeding the T3 feature-for-feature.

That said, there are two possible solutions for you:

1. SOME people have claimed to have success getting certain brands/speeds/types of 2gb cards working on their T3s. I know there was a Brighthand thread a while back about this.

2. You can try for the hacked FAT32 driver on your T3. I've never messed with this personally.

3. The T3 *CAN* unofficially go up to 1.5gb. I know those cards are rare but they DO exist. Not sure if they are still being sold/produced but they are out there. I am also uncertain if that capacity adheres to the official SD consortium standard but again, I read on BH last year that some folks had good luck with their T3s seeing all 1.5gb (reading & writing). I think the cards had a blue & yelow label on them...



Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX

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4-Gig SD cards? For what?

OMEGON @ 3/13/2006 10:19:20 AM # Q
Does anyone know what Palm model can use this? My understanding is that there is a 1.5 Gig limitation. If this is a built-in constraint of the CPU, can't we get a patch so that we could use a 'whole 2 gigs', let alone 4? I have a Tungsten E2 and don't believe it will recognize past 1.5 gigs.
Anyone know?

OMEGON
RE: 4-Gig SD cards? For what?
AdamaDBrown @ 3/13/2006 2:21:10 PM # Q
The TX and Lifedrive should both be able to use a 4 GB card. A few other models like the Treo should be able to use it with a little hacking. There's no known patch to increase the capacity of the E2, I'm afraid. It's not a constraint of the CPU, it's device specific.

All the newer memory formats are a SCAM
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 3/14/2006 4:20:40 PM # Q
CompactFlash is STILL the best format yet devised. That's why professional digital cameras still use CompactFlash.

The endless incommpatible variations of Memory Stick (Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Micro/"M2") and SD (SD, MMC, MiniSD, MicroSD) are just a way to fleece consumers. The latest joke is manufacturers putting in slots for hideously overpriced (and low capacity!) MicroSD where a cheap, regular SD card would easily fit. SanDisk, Sony, etc. obviously "encourage" this planned obsolescence...

TVoR

RE: 4-Gig SD cards? For what?
kdhunter @ 3/28/2007 7:42:42 PM # Q
Actually, I have a 2gb card that works quite well with my Tungsten E2. I had to format it while it was in the machine.

RE: 4-Gig SD cards? For what?
John Pawlak @ 4/8/2007 11:35:05 PM # Q
Which 2 gig SD card are you using (what brand)? I've tried everything I can think of to get a 4 gig card to work (loading FAT 32 drivers, etc). Without any success.

I use the E2 as a MP3 player and the 1 gig limit is really a drag when 4 gig cards are now so cheap.

Thanks,

John


RE: 4-Gig SD cards? For what?
lichan @ 4/19/2007 2:32:29 PM # Q
kdhunter, I have been unable to get anything but a 1GB SD card to work in my E2. What SD card did you use? What machine did you format it in, your E2 or your PC? If in the PC, exactly what command and options did you use to do so? Please use Filez.prc to get the details(mainly size and version id) of the E2's FATFS.prc and SlotDriver:SDIO-sdsd.prc files and list thm? This is the first time anyone has gotten an SD card > 1GB to work and many E2 owners would be eternally grateful for any information.

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Good overview of SDHC

hkklife @ 3/14/2006 3:42:51 PM # Q
http://brighthand.com/article/Intro_to_SDHC_

Palm could try to wring the last inch of life out of FrankenGarnet and tout the TX/LD/whatever '06 models are released as "SDHC compliant"...when it's nothing more than a FAT32 driver being available for those devices.

Question:

The BH article says that SDHC can go up to 32gb in size. Is that an inherent limitation of the SD spec or a FAT32 partition size limitation? Or just a size that seems "big enough" for the forseeable future?

I seem to recall my final PIII desktop PC having a 120gb HD formatted under FAT32 with no problems in a single partition-it was a BIOS issue that prevented drives larger than that IIRC from being fully recognized.

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX

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