Sony SD MicroSD memory cards launched

SD memory cards from Sony are on way. So far, Sony has made only Memory Stick Pros and Memory Stick Pro Duos for its hardware products. The SD card launch will be a significant step for Sony, as well as those who use its memory storage devices.

Sony will be making both SD cards and MicroSD cards. SD cards from Sony will be available fro 2 GB to 32 GB, while MicroSD cards will be available in 2 GB, 4GB and 8 GB formats.

Sony has not parted with any photographs of its new SD memory data cards. It is likely that the company may display some of its products at the Consumer Electronics Show currently under way in Las Vegas.

Does this mean that Sony will be moving away from its proprietary Memory Stick format? Sony says no. However, it must be recognised that today’s customers use and increasingly wide range of gadgets, and they would prefer a storage device which will be compatible with a wide range of gadgets. Personally, I find the Memory Sticks on my Sony Handycam irritating, since I can’t slide it into my laptop to copy media. In this aspect, my Canon digital camera is user-friendly, since it uses a regular SD card, which works on most card readers. Sony seems to have woken up late to the fact that using proprietary technologies in an ‘open’ world is not taking it anywhere.

However, Sony still swears by the better quality of its Memory Sticks: It said that Sony will continue offering a full range of Memory Stick media for consumer and professional products. It said that Memory Stick is Memory Stick is the recommended media for Sony products, offering a range of unique benefits. It said that high-speed “HX” Series’ capabilities are optimized while using the burst shooting mode in Sony’s Alpha DSLR cameras. Whatever may be its defence, it goes without saying that users would prefer something that can be slipped out one device and easily slipped into another.

Here Sony SD card prices, as announced by Sony

Sony SD card SF-2N1     2GB SD Class 4    $14.99
Sony SD card SF-4N4     4GB SDHC Class 4    $29.99
Sony SD card SF-8N4    8GB SDHC Class 4    $44.99
Sony SD card SF-16N4    16GB SDHC Class 4    $79.99
Sony SD card SF-32N4    32GB SDHC Class 4    $159.99
Sony SD card SR-2A1    2GB microSD with adapter    $14.99
Sony SD card SR-4A4    4GB microSDHC Class 4 with adapter    $29.99
Sony SD card SR-8A4    8GB micro SDHC Class 4 with adapter    $44.99

Sony also drew the attention of its potential SD card buyers to its animated picture sharing software (X-Pict Story) and a File Rescue software, both of which can be downloaded for free.