• A Product Developer’s Video Guide to Implementing SD Express 

    As technology advances and requires faster data transfer speeds, adding PCIe® and NVMe™ architectures to SD memory cards delivers faster access to data files than the various legacy SD platforms. The huge increase in sequential and random access provided by PCIe/NVMe, the same interfaces used today by SSDs, enables new use cases of running applications… Read more »

  • Present and Future: Enhance the Gaming Experience with SD Memory Cards 

    From the 1989 Game Boy to the 2024 ASUS ROG Ally X, the experience of modern handheld gaming systems is evolving. The industry is undergoing a complete revival, as younger players dive into immersive new worlds and experienced players explore the reimagined classics.  According to Omdia, 19.3 million handheld gaming devices were sold globally in 2023…. Read more »

  • How to Prepare for the Future of Memory Technology with SDUC

    As emerging technologies like AI, virtual and augmented reality, drones and more continue to evolve throughout consumer electronics, the demand for high-capacity and high-performance memory solutions will be required. The SDUC standard is equipped to unlock the SDXC capacity limits, providing capacities of more than 2TB and up to 128TB. SDUC signifies a monumental leap… Read more »

  • Enhancing iPhone 15 & 16 Performance: The Role of SD Memory Cards

    In a significant shift for consumer electronics, the European Union announced a mandate requiring all smartphone makers to adopt USB-C as a common charging connector by the end of 2024. The objective aims to simplify consumer lives by decreasing the need for multiple charging cables and electronic waste. This echoes the right-to-repair movement, which aims… Read more »

  • The Role of SD Express in Enhancing Edge AI Applications

    The world of technology continues to rapidly evolve—a concept that is not foreign to us but remains entirely thrilling with the future of possibilities. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in mobile devices, wearable technology, IoT and edge computing devices continues to rise, creating exciting opportunities for innovation. From improving the energy efficiency of… Read more »

  • Navigating the Fast Lanes: SD Express Speed Classes

    In an era where digital content is not just consumed but created at unprecedented volumes, the role of storage technology has never been more critical. To meet the escalating demands for speed and capacity, the SD Association (SDA) continues to innovate and expand its range of speed classifications. Specifically, the recent introduction of the SD… Read more »

  • Five Years of SD Express: A Milestone of Innovation

    Since its inception, the SD memory card has been the unassuming hero of our digital lives. Largely unseen but quintessential, it has stored our precious memories, saved our vital data, and provided an indispensable level of flexibility and security. These removable cards have become emblematic of our advancing technological capabilities, largely due to innovation and… Read more »

  • The State of microSD and Trends to Watch in 2024

    The world of memory and storage technology is constantly evolving, and new advancements are being made each year. One such innovation is SD Express, which offers a broader range of benefits and advantages that are propelling storage technology forward. SD Express is a next-generation bus feature available for full-sized and microSD memory cards that combines… Read more »

  • New SD Express Specifications Introduce New Speed Classes and Next-Level Performance Features

    The SD Express specification represents a quantum leap in possibilities for the integration and use of removable storage in high-performance electronic devices and products. By having performance levels, such as transfer speeds up to 4GB/sec thanks to the use of PCIe® and NVMe® architectures, the SD Association (SDA) is ensuring that full-size SD and microSD form… Read more »

  • SD 9 Specification Bolsters Right-to-Repair Movement and Battle with E-waste

    As the transition towards a more digitally connected world continues unabated and international communities embrace the promise of an information society, entire new economies and systems are being born. This evolution offers unprecedented opportunities for humanity, but at the same time, the consequence of the exponential use of electronic devices and equipment on a global… Read more »

  • SD and microSD Memory Cards for Industrial Applications

    Removable storage has been an important element in the adoption and evolution of a vast array of consumer technology. Over the years, SD memory cards have also become an indispensable part of an even larger industrial ecosystem. Industrial versions of SD and microSD memory cards are different than those used for consumer applications, as they… Read more »

  • microSD Memory Cards and Their Importance with Smartphones

    Smartphones are becoming more and more advanced with the release of every update. For many people, smartphones are the center point of the workday and the source for entertainment options on personal time for most users. According to Statista, in 2023 there will be more than 6.8 billion smartphones in use around the world. That… Read more »

  • SD Express Takes Drones to New Heights

    With an increased awareness of consumer drones, high-resolution images and video capturing, the world has witnessed a widespread adoption of drones— from major motion picture studios to family farms and everything in between. These devices are used in education, entertainment, security and surveillance, firefighting, sporting events and much, much more. Drones have become a daily… Read more »

  • Anatomy of an SD Memory Card: What Matters Most for Photography and Videography

    The digital photography market was valued at $44.7 Billion in 2021 and according to recent research, it is projected to reach $58.41 Billion by 2030. The truth is the world of video and digital photography that we know and love today would never have been able to get to where it is without one key technology:… Read more »

  • The SD 9 Specification: Memory Cards Can Now Be Tightly Bound to Specific Hosts

    As consumers keep asking for devices with more storage capacity, faster performance and increased longevity, manufacturers have to continually adapt to meet the ever-changing demands. The ongoing evolution of SD and microSD memory cards illustrates this point well. For two decades, the SD Association (SDA) has developed progressive standards and technologies to drive new opportunities…. Read more »

  • SD Express Memory Cards: When Ultra-High-Performance Matters

    When the SD Association (SDA) first announced SD Express in June 2018, it set the bar high and opened a world of possibilities for manufacturers to integrate supercharged removable storage into their designs. SD Express is capable of delivering SSD performance levels of up to 4GB/sec. This makes it perfect for use in high-performance electronic… Read more »

  • SD Specification 9 Enables Manufacturers to Securely Replace Embedded Memory with SD Memory Cards in Devices

    The recently released SD Specification Version 9 (SD 9) delivers on the SD Association’s promise of continuous innovation by delivering new device boot support and advanced security features. The features are applicable for both microSD and full-size SD memory cards across all capacity types, from SD to the forthcoming SDUC memory cards. Bus support includes SD, SD UHS-I… Read more »

  • SD Memory Cards Move Medical Innovation Forward

    Healthcare is a very data-driven industry. Healthcare organizations depend on reliable, efficient access to patient records in order to make diagnoses and provide high-quality care. SD and microSD memory cards are employed in a number of medical uses for hospitals and medical devices. According to World Economic Forum, hospitals produce 50 petabytes of data per year…. Read more »

  • SD Memory Cards Secure Store Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies Offline

    According to CoinDesk, 2021 was the cryptocurrency industry’s biggest year ever. This banner year was credited to not only because token prices went up, which was highlighted by some seeing gains in thousands of percentage points, but also — and more importantly — crypto growth this past year came in the form of major adoption… Read more »

  • SD Memory Cards Play to Win for Video Game Industry

    Video games are a serious business and gaming is becoming woven into the lifestyles of societies everywhere. This ranges from a crossword puzzle on a mobile phone to an entirely immersive world – or even merciless sports video game tournaments where competitors fight for multi-million-dollar purses. Techjury recently published some demographics about who is playing:… Read more »

  • The State of the microSD Memory Cards and Trends to Watch in 2022

    Twenty-one years ago, the team working on the invention of the SD memory card envisioned the future. And the reality was beyond their wildest dreams. This was in the age of floppy disk storage – more than five billion were sold per year worldwide around that time. The first iPod was being released and smartphones… Read more »

  • Flash Storage in the Photography Industry

    We are living in an era of “pic or it didn’t happen,” where people find great joy, if not obsession, in documenting their lives through photography. Everyone with a smart phone has a camera ready at any moment of any day. When you add other devices such as drones, tablets and digital cameras, we are… Read more »

  • From Entertainment to Engineering, Virtual Reality is Turning Heads

    Virtual Reality (VR) technology allows a person to be immersed in a three-dimensional virtual, yet safe, environment. That virtual world may simulate a real-world situation or provide an experience completely out of this world. Participants experience the virtual world by using VR devices, such as headsets, glasses, gloves, and even full bodysuits. PCMag.com describes it as… Read more »

  • Benefits of Dashboard Cameras Becoming more Widespread

    Dashboard cameras, or dash cams, are beginning to be seen around the world in increasing numbers and for numerous applications. In the public sector, they have become nearly ubiquitous in police vehicles, busses, ambulances and so on. Commercially, they are found in taxis, delivery vans, corporate fleets, over-the-road semi-trucks and driving instructor vehicles. They are… Read more »

  • Memory Cards Boost Drone Usefulness

    Whether they are called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or even Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), drones are zooming across the sky more than ever before—and it’s only the beginning. The consumer market heavily uses drones for application such as aerial photography, surveillance, leisure, filmmaking and other recreational and light commercial purposes…. Read more »

  • Advances in Flash Memory and the Art of the Possible

    Flash memory cards are a vital component of any device they are a part of, and advances in flash memory capability contribute significantly to the development of device features. The continuing evolution of SD and microSD memory cards illustrates this point well. Better flash memory means better device performance Digital cameras are one of the… Read more »

  • The State of microSD: microSD Memory Card Trends in 2020

    The year 2020 has been like no other. The headlines, market changes and trends of this year have tested society in unprecedented ways and made most people around the world rethink not only priorities, but also what’s possible. In the midst of these challenges, the SD Association (SDA) marked its 20th anniversary. For two decades, the… Read more »

  • Maximizing the Value of Removable Storage

    It’s been 20 years since the SD Association (SDA) came on to the scene. Since then, the world’s technology has evolved feeding our insatiable thirst for better, faster, more efficient, more useful devices with massive storage capabilities either for personal or professional use. Throughout it all, the SDA has anticipated trends, as witnessed by the new SD… Read more »

  • The More You Know: The Evolution of SD Ratings for New Applications

    Each year brings us newer and more exciting technology to add to our connected lives. Cameras are becoming smaller with better resolutions, phones are starting to flip again with flexible screens and the amount of content we store is growing ever larger. All these devices we use require some sort of storage to retain that… Read more »

  • SD Association Delivers Gigabyte Speed Leap with New SD Express 8.0

    Millions of people across the world retreated into their homes this year as public health officials advised social distancing measures to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. With many outside attractions and activities shut down and closed off to the general public, people turned to their devices to stay connected and entertained in an… Read more »

  • The SD Memory Card Formatter
    How this handy tool solves your memory card formatting needs

    For many of us, SD memory cards are an easy way to keep our important files and precious memories stored safely. But if you use an SD memory card for a long time, files may begin to fragment. This can result in the performance of the SD memory card beginning to deteriorate. That’s when we… Read more »

  • After Two Decades of Success, the SD Association Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary and Looks Ahead to A Promising Future

    Twenty years ago, Bill Gates steps down as CEO of Microsoft, Sony releases the PlayStation 2 Gaming Console in Japan, the final Peanuts comic strip is published and the first crew to live on the International Space Station (ISS) arrives in space. Today, some of the most important events of that time seem like distant… Read more »

  • Lost Data and SD Memory Cards: A Primer

    While small and compact, SD memory cards are extraordinarily complex devices that are at the heart of our digital world. They are used in many different devices and applications including wireless communications, digital imaging and networking. Amazing technology, given their small footprint and the massive amount of storage SD memory cards can now provide. Critical… Read more »

  • Keeping It Real: How SD-3C Fights Counterfeit SD Memory Cards

    Most people in the world are decent, upstanding citizens who obey the rules – but not everyone is. That’s why we have institutions and organizations, both public and private, that ensure rule-benders aren’t getting away with misappropriation or illicit activity. In the technology sector, one of those organizations is SD-3C LLC (“SD-3C”). What is SD-3C?… Read more »

  • The State of the microSD Memory Card: 8 Trends to Watch in 2019

    It’s always helpful to reflect on where you’ve been and where you’re going – as well as take a good look at the environment around you, to see what might influence future developments – and that logic also applies to technologies, especially in the SD memory card ecosystem. The microSD memory card reached new heights… Read more »

  • Why microSD Express Memory Cards Rule: The Many Advantages of the PCIe and NVMe Standards

    In the nearly two decades since the SD Association (SDA) introduced its first memory cards, SD and microSD memory cards have cycled through numerous evolutions and industry trends. Now, the microSD Express memory card takes a giant step forward by giving the microSD form factor PCIe® and NVMe™ capabilities alongside the legacy SD interface. This… Read more »

  • The Triple Threat of Innovations Supporting SD Express

    PCIe® and NVMe™ solid state drives (SSDs) are the predominant solution in today’s client systems, used for storage in several applications. As PCIe/NVMe brings lower software stack overhead and reduces latency, it has become the most used interface in SSDs for desktops, laptops, all-in ones and two-in-ones. It is the preferred choice for servers, even… Read more »

  • A New Industrial Revolution: IIoT and SD Memory Cards

    We’re on the brink of a revolution – a new industrial revolution. Across the world, businesses are digitally transforming the way they operate, and the backbone of this transformation is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). IIoT comprises internet-connected, software-managed machinery and devices and the advanced analytics platforms that process the data they produce, all… Read more »

  • Living on the Edge: A Data Storage Revolution

    The future is here, and it requires removable storage – lots of it. Trends such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial IoT (IIoT), connected cars and automation are creating overwhelming volumes of data that need to be collected, stored and analyzed. Fast transmission, access and retrieval of the torrents of data from the cloud… Read more »

  • Growing Demand, Growing Capacity: An introduction to the new SD Ultra Capacity function

    In June 2018, the SD Association (SDA) released SD 7.0, introducing two major new functions: SD Express and SD Ultra Capacity (SDUC), which boosts the limits of traditional SD memory cards’ capacity to meet the needs of users everywhere, both consumer and industrial, by extending the potential maximum SD memory card capacity up to 128TB…. Read more »

  • Change for the Better: Introducing SD Express

    It’s not uncommon for consumer and business behaviors to influence major changes in an industry. Consider the constant demand for more storage. Billions of connected devices are expected to generate 155 yottabytes of data by 2021. Only 0.0013 percent (about two zettabytes) of that is expected to be captured, and only 4.2 percent is going… Read more »

  • Controllers: The Unsung Heroes in Achieving A2

    The brain is arguably the most important organ in the human body, managing and directing the function of all other systems, and turning the body’s collection of cells into a symphony of living matter. While our neocortex and limbic brain get all the glory – controlling the elements that make us human, such as logic… Read more »

  • Now Trending: SD Memory Cards

    When historians of the future look back on the top tech trends of 2017, certain technologies will likely stand out: blockchain, facial recognition, Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles and machine learning. However, those historians would be remiss to forget the ever-reliable microSD memory card. Specified and standardized by the SD Association (SDA), microSD memory… Read more »

  • SSDs, USB Drives, SD Memory Cards: Know the Difference

    Gone are the days when consumers and businesses had to use unwieldy floppy disks, cassette tapes and CDs for music, videos and files. Portable storage options are more efficient these days, giving users the flexibility to choose between such options as USB flash drives, SD memory cards and microSD cards, and solid-state drives (SSDs) for… Read more »

  • Delivering Advanced Mobile Application Performance with A1

    We live in a new, mobile-centric world where more people every day use smartphones and tablets to manage their lives. The content being captured with today’s mobile devices is significantly more advanced and sophisticated than previous digital data, generating much larger file sizes, and thus requiring devices with higher performance and larger storage capacities. New… Read more »

  • What to Know Before Storing Data on a SD Memory Card

    User experience, and the constant need for more efficient and cost-effective products, continue to drive innovation of new technology and the evolution of SD standards. For that reason, the SD Association is committed to defining and adopting new standards through its Technical, Compliance and Marketing Committees, representing the interest of more than 800 member companies… Read more »

  • The State of the microSD Memory Card in 2017

    As long as data caps, wireless network gaps and security concerns continue to exist, there will always be challenges retrieving content over open networks. The ability to store content locally and access it via smartphone will be necessary as long as the creation and consumption of data continues to grow at its rapid pace –… Read more »

  • Applications in Action: Introducing the Newest Application Performance Class

    Market needs are always evolving, and for the optimal user experience, manufacturers and consumers alike must stay in touch with updates to SD memory card standards. Most of today’s Android and Windows smartphones and mobile computing devices allow application data to be saved on removable cards. Additionally, when Google released Android Marshmallow in 2015, it… Read more »

  • Understanding the Difference Between Consumer and Industrial SD Memory Cards

    SD memory cards as a technology have a proven track record as the most successful removable storage form factor of all time. They are a simple, trusted and low-cost solution. They are also supported by a very large percentage of the consumer electronics industry, and SD slots can be found on many everyday devices, including… Read more »

  • Think Big: The Rise of 4K and 8K Content

    There’s been a lot of buzz lately in the consumer electronics market around one particular letter of the alphabet: K – as in 4K and 8K. 4K refers to a display device or content that has a horizontal resolution of roughly 4,000 pixels and vertical resolution of 2,000 pixels, whereas 8K is about 8,000 pixels… Read more »

  • The Card Versus The Cloud

    Card or cloud? That is the question that consumers and businesses will be asking themselves more and more frequently when they think about storing and sharing video, photos and other files – whether to upload the files to the cloud or save them on a local storage device like a microSD™ memory card, SD™ card,… Read more »

  • Removable Storage Flies High in Aerial Imaging

    Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are one of the most popular and quickly growing segments of the camera market, providing new possibilities for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Along with the explosive growth of this market comes an ever-growing demand for high-performance, high-capacity removable microSD storage to meet its needs. A Brief History… Read more »

  • The State of the microSD Memory Card in 2016

    When one thinks back to 2005, the year of the microSD memory card’s debut, it feels like far more than 11 years has gone by. YouTube was just a tiny startup company, and scientists were years away from cloning human stem cells. The iPhone was merely a twinkle in Apple’s eye, and the world’s population… Read more »

  • Why Older SD Memory Cards Are Still Relevant

    The SD memory card was born in the year 2000, when Bill Clinton was completing his second term as president of the United States. Sixteen years in human time may sound short, but in electronic technology time, it is an eternity. Today, more than a billion SD memory cards are being manufactured and sold around… Read more »

  • The More You Know: Choosing the SD Speed Class That’s Right for You

    Knowledge is power. Before you buy a pair of shoes, you need to know your shoe size. Before putting together new furniture, you should read the instructions. And you definitely need to make sure anyone who watches your children is a responsible, attentive adult. So why would you buy an SD memory card without knowing… Read more »

  • Why the SD Market Continues to Focus on Capacity, Security and Reliability

    As the world becomes more digitally focused, technology continues to evolve, and so do the tools used to store digital assets. Gartner says 6.4 billion connected things will be in use by 2016. The research firm also states 5.5 million new things will get connected every day, with no sign of halting innovation and technology… Read more »

  • How 3D NAND Can Continue Gigabytes Scaling, Enhance Applications

    Because 2D NAND’s ability to shrink is reaching its limits, the NAND industry has been working for a few years on 3D, which is expected to enable the flash memory industry to continue the Moore’s Law trend by increasing bit density and GB capacity of any given silicon area (see chart 1). In addition to… Read more »

  • Picture This: How to Select the Right Photography Memory Card

    While the average consumer uses a smart phone to take pictures, professional photographers need the quality and features that high-end digital cameras offer. But even the best camera will not perform at its maximum level without the appropriate memory card. Certain characteristics such as speed are critical for capturing a valuable image, especially for action… Read more »

  • The Next Frontier: New Applications for SD Memory Cards

    Sometimes, the most effective components of machinery are the ones users never see. Yet, without these building blocks, equipment would fail to perform properly. The same could be said of SD memory cards, the popular small form factor expandable memory technology used in many industries and applications today. The SD Association aids in the advancement… Read more »

  • Small but Mighty, the microSD™ Card Celebrates its 10-year Anniversary

    microSD cards have come a long way. For example, the first microSD cards were introduced to the market as a new method for expanding mobile phone memory 10 years ago. Today, about 75 percent of smartphone models on the market contain microSD slots, according to data from Strategy Analytics. The report also reveals that several… Read more »

  • Why SD Memory Cards Drive Reliable Storage in Automotive Applications

    Vehicles with sensor and compute intelligence, connected via the internet to the cloud or smart cars, are on their way to becoming mainstream around the world. One of the many applications enabled by these technologies is gaining popularity; some people are using dash-cameras/drive recorders to log their drives, so that they have evidence for insurance… Read more »

  • microSD Memory Cards Help Drive Mobile Sales

    microSD memory cards have supported successful mobile phone sales strategies since 2005, allowing device manufacturers to reduce costs and increase sales by offering a range of price points on the latest mobile devices. Specified and standardized by the SD Association (SDA), microSD memory card capabilities are continually enhanced to promote new design innovations with continual… Read more »

  • Bite-sized Storage Solutions for Industrial IoT Applications

    The Internet of Things (IoT) is taking over the world. According to a McKinsey Global Institute report, the impact of the IoT on the global economy could reach $6.2 trillion by 2025. The same report estimates that the market for connected devices will grow to 20 billion or 30 billion units by 2020. The use… Read more »

  • Computational Photography Will Revolutionize Photo Storage

    Computational photography has the potential to impact virtually every type of company involved in photography in any way — from makers of smartphones to PCs to, naturally, SD memory cards. Because it’s driven by software, it doesn’t just affect the overall storage capability for large files, but also the processing capacity that drives the software…. Read more »