Secure Digital Memory

By Author: Harry Spencer
Total Articles: 20
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SD or Secure Digital Memory is one of the many varieties of flash memory; the technology was first introduced in 1999 and quickly established itself as a widely adopted standard for memory cards especially in the field of portable devices including many digital cameras.

Secure digital memory is what is known as non-volatile, which basically means it is a type of memory device that does not need to be stored in or connected to a device with a power source to maintain its data.

Although available in sizes from 512kb most secure digital memory these days can store between one and four gigabytes of data making them a very versatile medium for storage. And because they have been developed by a group of companies known as the Secure Digital Association they are a standard that has several easily distinguishable features.

Secure digital memory cards are approximately the size of a postage stamp and have a very distinctive and asymmetric design which ensures the correct insertion of the card to your device. They are also one of the few cards that feature a locking device that prevents accidental erasure of the data ...
... stored.

As more and more devices were developed that made use of secure digital memory and these devices required smaller and more compact storage mediums, several variations on the original medium were developed and these include MiniSD and microSD both of which became popular with mobile phones and other compact devices.

MiniSD and microSD usually both come supplied with adapters which enable them to be utilised in the standard secure digital memory interface as well as their own interface device.

Recent developments and the need for more storage have resulted in the SDHC or secure digital high capacity memory card allowing cards of over four gigabyte to be developed. There are a few things to consider when purchasing SDHC cards over the normal SD cards and the main one is that older devices may not be compatible with the newer technology, always check that your device has the SDHC logo or check that device can read SDHC cards. A common misconception with SDHC is that they are faster than standard secure digital memory, this may not always be the case but determining the speed is generally easier as there are three classes, Class 2 2.2MB/s, Class 4 4MB/s and Class 6 at 6MB/s.

The latest developments with secure digital memory are seeing major increases in storage capacity with the next generation SDXC (secure digital extended capacity) having the capability to store over 32GB and as large as two terabytes with speeds at up to 104MB per second. With these cards eventually being able to store more than 17,000 photos, 100 high definition videos or 60 hours of HD recording at super fast speeds of up to 300MB per second.
With the addition of a secure digital memory card reader you will be able to read the information stored on the card on your PC or Laptop without the need of the original device. This means data can easily be transported from one computer to another without the need for driver installation and can often transfer data faster than transfers with the original device.

Now a freelance writer Harry Spencer spent over 15 years in the industry with a good deal of knowledge in Secure Digital Memory in particular.