Memory cards are the main format used to store and exchange digital data: MP3 music files, photos and personal content such as word files, contact lists etc. Today you will find memory card ‘slots’ in digital cameras, mobile phones, MP3 players, tablets, notebook computers and many more devices. This overview should help you make sense of the various options available to you in the market today.
Flash Memory. Although of all memory card types only ‘Compact Flash’ cards actually bear the name, all memory cards (and sticks) are based on Flash technology. Many other devices such as USB Flash drives and MP3 players use Flash memory. However, as our focus is on memory cards, the various types of Flash cards we can discern today are:
- Secure Digital (SD/SDHC/SDXC)
- MicroSD (and MicroSDHC/SDXC)
- Compact Flash
- XQD
- Memory Stick (Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick ProDuo, Memory Stick Pro-HG)
- xD Photo Card
- Micro S