Popular storage device with Fujifilm quality
The xD-Picture Card™ is a newly- developed ultra-compact storage media that is set to be a standard in the future of digital imaging. Despite its tiny dimensions, it boasts incredible storage capacities.
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16MB - - - N072980A
32MB - - - N072990A
64MB - - - N073000A
128MB - - - N073010A
256MB - - - N073020A
*Compressed image size varies depending on the subject being photographed, therefore the number of images that can be recorded on a card may vary.
Development of the xD-Picture Card™ Ultra-Compact Digital Camera Memory Media
Q: What does 'xD' actually mean?
A: It was inspired by 'eXtreme digital', suggesting the excellence of this new memory media for recording, storing and transporting audiovisual information.
Q: What is the rationale for this new format?
A: There is a consumer demand for greater memory capacity, as well as the development of smaller and more innovative digital camera designs. Also, speed of storage is increasingly an issue as large image files and movie files become more and more common.
Q: Which companies were involved in the development of the xD- Picture Card™?
A: The card format was jointly developed by Fujifilm and Olympus.
Q: Will Fujifilm cameras accept the Olympus xD-Picture Card™, and vice versa?
A: Yes, but the use of the original equipment manufacturer's cards are recommended to ensure total support. Q: Who will manufacture the xD-Picture Card™?
A: Initially, the production of the media will be by Toshiba Corporation.
Q: What will be the availability of the media?
A: xD-Picture Card™s will be available in all regions where Fujifilm and Olympus digital cameras are sold.
Q: What sizes of xD-Picture Card™ will be available?
A: There are plans to offer cards up to 8Gb in capacity. 512MB cards will be expected late summer 2003 with larger capacities (1GB, 2GB) appearing progressively from 2003.
Q: How big is an xD-Picture Card™?
A: Cards are an ultra-compact 20 x 25 x 1.7mm in size. With a volume of 0.85cc and a weight of 2g, the xD-Picture Card™ boasts the smallest form factor of any digital memory card, making it exceptionally portable and convenient. The miniature size of the new card will enable development of even smaller digital cameras.
Q: What accessories are available for the xD-Picture Card™?
A: DPC-R1, DPC-AD, DPC-CF.
Q: Are there any plans to produce a floppy disk adaptor for the xD- Picture Card™?
A: No. The floppy disk drive is becoming less popular, therefore it was not considered appropriate to provide an adaptor to support this format.
Q: Can the xD-Picture Card™ be used in cameras designed to accept SmartMedia™ cards?
A: No. Form factors mean that compatibility between the xD-Picture Card™ and SmartMedia™ - compatible cameras is not possible.
Q: Can the xD-Picture Card™ be used in other digital devices?
A: Though notionally designed and optimised for image storage, there are plans to adapt the new media for PDAs, audio players and other IT appliances.
Q: Does the xD-Picture Card™ feature ID copy protection in the same way as SmartMedia™ cards?
A: Yes.
Q: Can the xD-Picture Card™ be used to store music and movie data?
A: Cards are fully usable for both movies and music, and as they include an ID, they can be encoded for copy protection.
Q: Can the new cards be used with mobile telephones?
A: There are no indications of such use at present.
Q: Why is there no write-protect feature?
A: Research into other media has shown that write-protect is very rarely used. Also a greater degree of PC compatibility can be achieved by removing it. Q: What is the expected life of the cards?
A: Lifecycles will vary according to how the cards are used, but under normal circumstances, there is no reason for concern about the lifecycle.
Q: Will the cards be offered under the Toshiba brand?
A: This is to be confirmed.
Q: Does the consignment manufacturer, Toshiba, plan to release an xD-Picture Card™ compatible digital camera?
A: This is to be confirmed.
Q: Who holds the trademark for the new xD-Picture Card™?
A: The xD-Picture Card™ trademark is held by Fujifilm, Olympus and Toshiba.
Q: Will only Fujifilm and Olympus market the xD-Picture Card™?
A: Fujifilm and Olympus will be the first two companies to market the media, but a wide range of other digital camera manufacturers have been invited to join them.
Q: Will sales of SmartMedia™ cards continue?
A: Yes. Fujifilm will continue to sell SmartMedia™ cards. Indeed, several new cameras in Fujifilm's Christmas and 2003 range (including the FinePix F601, and the new FinePix F401) will be SmartMedia™ compatible.
Q: What is the current market share of SmartMedia™ cards?
A: SmartMedia™ cards account for around 40% of the current worldwide market, the largest share of any format.
Q: What is the likely compatibility of the xD-Picture Card™ with Fujifilm Digital Imaging (FDi) printing equipment and services?
A: It is expected that Fujifilm FDi printing systems will be made compatible. Requests will be made that other manufacturers' equipment is also made compatible. Existing Fujifilm products, such as, the SmartPix, and SmartPix Mini, will be compatible using one of the announced adapters.
Q: How will the price of the new cards compare with those of SmartMedia™ cards?
A: Prices are expected to be similar to SmartMedia™.