Wednesday, June 13 2007

First miCard USB flash drive unveiled


Earlier this month the MultiMediaCard Association annuonced a spec for a new memory card format, but no actual memory cards were announced. That's now changed. Pretec today showed the "S-Diamond," the first miCard, at Computex 2007, a computer technology trade show in Taipei. Pretec says the card measures 40 percent smaller than a miniSD card, and can be converted to an SD/MMC card via an adapter. Capacities will range from 128MB to 8GB, with a theoretical maximum capacity of 2048GB, according to Pretec.

For details, read the Pretec press release:

Pretec, the pioneer of the world's smallest USB Flash Drive, has now released their new product “S-Diamond”, which is the 1st in the world to implement miCARD, a new flash memory card standard from MMC Association capable of supporting both USB and SD/MMC specifications. S-Diamond will debut at Computex 2007 in Taipei at Pretec booth (Hall 4; Booth T202B) and MMCA/OMIA booth (Hall 3; 454, 452, 503, 501).

Measuring only 21mmX12mmX1.95mm, miCard is the smallest USB flash drive in the world, with an area 40% smaller than miniSD (volume is about 18% smaller than miniSD). miCard can also be an SD/MMC card with an inexpensive adapter. The specification of miCard should be able to be released to MMCA members later this year. S-Diamond is the 2nd generation of Pretec i-Disk Diamond series, which has been the smallest USB flash drive for years, which can now also serve as an SD/MMC card, saving not only consumers cost, but also saving hassles by getting rid of card readers and carrying multiple flash cards in different form factors.

Capacities range from 128MB to 8GB (with a theoretical maximum capacity of 2048GB). Production is scheduled by Q3. A version implementing MU-Bus, which is low-power or digital USB technology, will be introduced by Q4, which can possibly usher the era of 4C convergence, to make S-Diamond / miCard to be the center of convenient data exchange among all Computers, Communication devices, Consumer electronics and Car electronics.

Pretec will also show "C-Diamond", a multiple function USB product with "stackable" features of i-Disk Diamond, a much miniaturized version of the patented Pretec i-Disk Connect, which is a versatile capacity and/or function expandable USB flash drive which is as easy to use as playing with Lego's. Such device is a dual-function USB flash drive with built-in hub, the first one in the world available by Pretec almost 2 years ago. Pretec will also demonstrate the 3-function "i-Disk Mobile Trio”, another patented multiple function USB storage product with Laser pointer and mobile phone charger functions at Computex Taipei 2007.


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