Definition of Multimedia Card
A multimedia card (also called an MMC, flash card, media card, compact flash card, memory stick and memory card), is a memory device used to store pictures, songs and other data. Multimedia cards are used in digital cameras, PDAs (personal digital assistants), camcorders, MP3 players, cell phones and other devices. When multimedia cards first became popular in the 1990s, they could store 4 to 16 megabytes. The technology has changed drastically in the last decade.
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Current Multimedia Card Technology
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Multimedia Card Used in a Cell Phone Modern multimedia cards can store up to 100 gigabytes of data, which is as much as some hard drives. A 100 gigabyte card can store 25 full-length, DVD-resolution movies or over 1,500 hours of music, all in the size of a matchbook. The fastest multimedia cards can transfer data at a rate of 100 megabytes per second.
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What Is Inside a Multimedia Card
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Multimedia cards contain a circuit board with memory chips on it and a connector; it is then covered with a metal or plastic housing. The memory chips are different than the RAM (random access memory) chips in your computer. When you turn off the power for your computer, the RAM chips loose whatever is being stored on them. This is called "volatile" memory. The memory chips in a multimedia card are "non-volatile," and when the card is disconnected from power, the information stored on them is not erased.
Types of Multimedia Cards
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Common multimedia cards range in size from matchbook- to fingernail-sized. There are dozens of different types of multimedia cards, and some of the more common are: CompactFlash (CF), Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick Duo, MagicGate, MultiMediaCard (MMC), Reduced Size MultiMediaCard (RS-MMC), MMC Mobile, Secure Digital Card (SD card), SD mini, SD micro, SmartMedia and xD-Picture Card. As this industry matures, some of these are being phased out. The more common ones are the CF, SD, SD mini, SD micro and xD.
Multimedia Cards Used in Cameras
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When you are buying a multimedia card for your camera, remember multimedia cards are also rated by speed. Faster cards are used in digital cameras because the camera must store each image before the camera can take another picture. When selecting a multimedia card for your camera, you will want to get the fastest one your camera can use.
Choosing a Multimedia Card
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First consider what type of multimedia card your device requires. If your device uses a proprietary card, your choices are limited (Sony frequently uses proprietary cards), and cards will be more costly. SD cards are very popular now and Micro SD cards often come with adapters that allow you to use the micro card in larger card slots. Since SD cards seem to be here to stay, you may want to purchase a Micro SD card with an adapter; this will allow you to use the card in cell phones and other small electronics in the future, as well as with cameras and digital camcorders.
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Resources
- Photo Credit "Sandisc ExtremeIII CF cards" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: geishaboy500 (THOR) under the Creative Commons Attribution license. "I have a small memory - and so has my phone" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: exfordy (Brian Snelson) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
