Companies Jointly Develop New
Specifications to Meet Needs of Professional Photography and Video
Markets
Milpitas, Calif., November
29, 2010-SanDisk Corporation
(NASDAQ:SNDK), Nikon Corporation and Sony Corporation today
announced the joint development of a set of specifications that
addresses the future requirements of professional photography and
video markets. The three companies proposed the specifications to
the CompactFlash® Association (CFA)1, the international
standards organization, with the intent to standardize the
format.
Professional photography and High
Definition (HD)2 video applications require a new
generation of memory cards capable of processing significantly
larger files. To address the imaging industry's future speed and
capacity demands, SanDisk, Nikon and Sony proposed a new card
specification whose performance and storage capabilities surpass
those of existing memory cards. Once accepted, the new format will
enable exciting new possibilities in the professional imaging and
video markets.
The proposed specifications achieve
data transfer rates of up to 500 megabytes per second
(MB/sec)3 (theoretical maximum interface speed) using
the highly versatile PCI Express4 interface. The
increased speeds will enable imaging and video applications that
could not be accomplished using the current CompactFlash
specification's Parallel ATA (PATA)5 interface. CF6.0,
released in November 2010, offers maximum performance of up to
167MB/sec.
The new specifications' faster
speeds enable continuous burst shooting of massive RAW images. The
enhanced performance also allows users to quickly transfer
storage-intensive high-resolution photos and videos from the card
to a computer. The specifications combine high-speed data transfer
with low power consumption via a power scaling system to extend
battery life.
In addition to industry-leading
performance capabilities, the new memory card specifications also
meet the future capacity and durability requirements of
professional imaging applications. The proposed new specifications
have the potential to extend theoretical maximum capacities beyond
two terabytes (TB)6, making them especially useful for
high resolution images and HD video applications. Similar in size
to a CompactFlash® card, the new specifications' access control
function and highly durable form factor produce a combination of
physical ruggedness and reliability that is indispensable for
professional usage models.
"This ultra high-speed media format
will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications,
and widen the memory card options available to CompactFlash users
such as professional photographers," said Mr. Shigeto Kanda of
Canon, chairman of the board, CFA. "This next generation format is
expected to be widely adapted to various products, including those
other than high-end DSLRs."
"The ultra high-speed media, which
will be realized by this new card format, will expand the
capability of digital SLR cameras and other professional digital
imaging equipment," said Mr. Kazuyuki Kazami, operating officer,
vice president and general manager, development headquarters,
imaging company, Nikon Corporation.
About SanDisk
SanDisk Corporation is the global leader in flash memory cards -
from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer
branding and retail distribution. SanDisk's product portfolio
includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and
camcorders; digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for
consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices;
and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P
500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United
States.
About Nikon
Nikon has been a pioneer in optical technology to develop worldwide
since its inception in 1917.Today, Nikon offers a wide range of
products utilizing advanced technologies, from consumer optics such
as digital cameras and other camera-related products, binoculars
and ophthalmic lenses, to industrial precision equipment including
IC and LCD steppers and scanners, microscopes and measuring
instruments.
About Sony
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game,
communications, key device and information technology products for
the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures,
computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely
positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company
in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of
approximately $78 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.
Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/
1CompactFlash Association
(CFA) is an international standards organization developing
specifications for CompactFlash products.
2Full HD (1920X1080X30fps, HD & 3D video support may
vary based upon host device, file size, resolution, compression,
bit rate, content and other factors. See www.sandisk.com/HD
3Based on SanDisk internal testing; performance may be
lower depending upon host device. 1 megabyte (MB) = 1 million
bytes.
4PCI Express is a serial interface, a computer expansion
card standard.
5ATA(Advanced Technology Attachment) or PATA (Parallel
ATA) is an interface standard between PC and storage devices
6 1 terabyte (TB) = 1 trillion bytes.
SanDisk's product and executive
images can be downloaded from
/corporate/media.asp
SanDisk's web site/home page address:
© 2010 SanDisk Corporation. All
rights reserved. SanDisk, the SanDisk logo and CompactFlash are
trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States
and other countries. Other brand names mentioned herein are for
identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their
respective holder (s).
This press release contains certain
forward-looking statements, including expectations for new product,
format and standard introductions, technology measurement
standards, applications, features, markets, specifications and
customers that are based on our current expectations and involve
numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause these
forward-looking statements to be inaccurate. Risks that may cause
these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include among
others: the market demand for our products may grow more slowly
than our expectations or there may be a slower adoption rate for
these product, formats and standards, our products may not perform
as expected and the other risks detailed from time-to-time in our
Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including,
but not limited to, our annual report on Form 10-K and our
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. We do not intend to update the
information contained in this press release.