SanDisk @ CES - SD card with built-in USB adapter

We got our hands on this sweet new SD/USB card from Sandisk. Yeah, you got that right: it pulls double duty as a normal-looking SD card, but flip it over, pop off the cover, and it slips into any USB port just like that. We're not sure why Sandisk hopes to cannibalize their own USB card reader market by putting everything into one package, but we are definitely, definitely not complaining. Think we can get them to do this with TransFlash or MiniSD? No? Well, click on to see some more pics.

Flipped open to reveal USB contacts (well, kind of). 

Inserted in a USB port. We are just so in love.

[Mario @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

This is exactly what I was waiting for, and I will definitively buy one of these.

[Phil Gross @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

That absolutely rocks. How strong did the hinges seem to be?

[Christian Meichtry @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

This really is an awesome idea. I use SD cards to watch movies on my pocket PC, now I'll have a neat way to transfer without carrying my card reader everywhere.

[Christian Meichtry @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

This really is an awesome idea. I use SD cards to watch movies on my pocket PC, now I'll have a neat way to transfer without carrying my card reader everywhere.

[Wes Felter @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Lexar has a similar idea; just eliminate flash cards altogether and use USB thingies instead.

http://www.lexar.com/ufc/index.html

[Kamalot @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

I say, "Wow!"

This is such a great idea!

[Jerrod @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Finally... a memory card with built in USB that DOESN'T suck. (i.e. Lexar's protruding USB connector, etc).

Very cool!

[Joey Geraci @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

isn't the usb interface thicker than an sd card though, I don't get it.

[isaac @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

well, it just connects to the data transfer points, not into the entire plug, so it just slipsunder or over that little flap inside the usb port. It may be cutting lexar off at the pass, as the trade off for cannibalizing it's card readers

[Lucas Cain @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Only the metal shielding around the USB plug is thicker. Do away with the shield and you got that little sliver of a plug

[Jerrod @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Joey--- it doesn't need to fill the area of the common metal USB sheath... just make contact with the pins.

Look inside any USB plug... the thin board with contacts on it is all that's REALLY required.

[Susan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Joey...if you don't get it...try dating a girl...

[james v @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

even if the hinges bust off, it'll still work, you'll just be left with this:
http://www.everythingusb.com/news/index/5929.htm

[RP @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

And how would dating a girl help? Unless of course, you are thinking beyond the mind of a 15 year old date... which is disturbing.

[RP @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

By 15 year old date, I meant between 15 year olds. Not one that lasted 15 years. Just wanted to clarify that.

[anthony @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

It looks just like an RS-MMC with a thin USB plug coming out the bottom... it's perfect!!

[anonymouse @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Yes, they are cannibalizing thier own card reader market, but there's a basic rule of business which states:

If you don't cannibalize your own product line, then somebody else will.

There are countless examples of companies which didn't understand this, or were unable to follow through. TiVo is a good example of failure to cannibalize -- thier product has become a commodity and they still haven't ever made any money.

[Steven Fisher @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

That's a thig of beauty. I hope I can pick up a couple next time I'm in Canada and leave my SD card reader at home next overseas trip.

[Antonio Hernandez @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

It will work perfect for PDA's, I'll will need one!

[Trachalio @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

So does anyone have an idea when this is supposed to hit the market? Price point? Having one of these means not having to lug around a card reader anymore, albeit a small Jumpdrive Trio (http://www.everythingusb.com/hardware/index/Lexar_JumpDrive_Trio.htm). But one less gadget makes daddy happy!

[NitroNeo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Nice idea but it interferes with neighboring ports don't you think?

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Nice Observation.... O.O
At first it seems to be a great solution, but nothing cant be so perfect. Anyway its better to carry this SD with USB integrated that carry a reader. But i Agree with Wes Felte .. may be everybody should use the same standard and no more adapter will be needed.

[Allos @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

So is Sandisk just buying these SD/USB cards from Digimaster and then adding the little cap onto them before selling them under the Sandisk name?

If so, what's keeping Digimaster from doing the same?

Any idea on whether Digimaster or Sandisk might have patents for their innovation?

I think this will be a fairly big money maker. Its definitely on my buy list.

[Allos @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

So is Sandisk just buying these SD/USB cards from Digimaster and then adding the little cap onto them before selling them under the Sandisk name?

If so, what's keeping Digimaster from doing the same?

Any idea on whether Digimaster or Sandisk might have patents for their innovation?

I think this will be a fairly big money maker. Its definitely on my buy list.

[sergio @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

went cant i buy this article? and its available in 1GB?

[Gary Langston @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

I just want an SD card to USB adapter so I can plug usb devices like hard drive to my PDA. Can this be done? If so you could add Scanners, camera's etc.

[Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Hmmm, does that mean that you could then use a female to male USB converter, and connect one of these USB HD mp3 jukeboxes that also act as a USB hardisk (Anything by Archos for example not sure if the IPOD has this feature tho) to the USB end and SD PDA to the other, giving you a massive HD on your PDA? Is the card USB 1 or 2????

As far as cannibalisation is concerned, Sandisk are in the Data storage and retrival business NOT the SD card making business. If needs and products change - they have to to. No point flogging a dead horse.

[George @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

I want one NOW!
:)

[Kai920 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

WHEN is this thing coming out?

[Trevelyan Bloomfield @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Yes Yes Yes!
when, where, how much?..
this is exactly the product I want for my Treo. Fair comments on USB speed, but the convenience outweighs the possible "slow" speed

[Marian @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Pretty nice product, but I really wonder how long it will last until it breaks.

[Msquared @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

NitroNeo: Perhaps it will interfere with neighbouring USB ports, but only on those that are stacked next to one another. Vertical stacking is just as common, and this device would probably be OK for those.

Besides, I'm sure that you won't keep the device in your desktop or laptop contantly anyway, only temporarily to transfer files...

I'm currently hunting for an Australian seller. If someone knows of one, please let me know! (there is a contact form on my website, linked above...)

[John Toro @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

This is great. I wonder if the biggest memory capacity will top out at 2GB? Will there be a similar model for MMC Multi media cards that are used by nokia Cellphones?

Check out the source OEM...
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/peripherals/storage/digimaster-sd-card-with-usb-interface-028238.php

[John Toro @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

This is great. It's a product long overdue. I wonder if the biggest memory capacity will top out at 2GB? Will there be a similar model for MMC Multi media cards that are used by nokia Cellphones?

Check out the source OEM...
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/peripherals/storage/digimaster-sd-card-with-usb-interface-028238.php

[John Toro @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

This is great. It's a product long overdue. I wonder if the biggest memory capacity will top out at 2GB? Will there be a similar model for MMC Multi media cards that are used by nokia Cellphones?

Check out the source OEM...
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/peripherals/storage/digimaster-sd-card-with-usb-interface-028238.php

[J. J. @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

FYI, this is officially called Ultra II SD Plus. They are being sold now in some online locations, but not many (or any that I can tell) major retail stores. Approx. $80 for 512MB and $110 for 1GB. See this TreoCentral thread for up-to-date info: http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?p=639723&posted=1#post639723

[matt b @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

*crack* damn...

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

This one doesn't look very solid

[SD Card @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Good Topic!

[Michael Saputo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

I purchased a 128MB flash card for my verizon V710 phone and apparently it could NOT handle its capabilities. Now I'm on my second after returning my first one because everytime I went to access it, it made my phone freeze and I would have to shut it off or remove the flash card. Now, with my 2nd flash card, I still have the same problem and I'm out $40 as it lasted long enough for the store warranty to expire from my initial purchase. I just want another replacement or better yet, a product that will handle the capabilities initially promised to me with my purchase of your product. Thank you.

[roger @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

I have the 512mb flavour of this card, and was thrilled with it - until it got stuck inside my camera. It seems the slight lip on the usb plug part of the card does not go well with certain canon cameras (mine is a A620) and gets caught up on something inside the sd bay. Eventually got mine out by sliding a knife along the face of the card and unhooking it.

I think I am going to stick to normal sd cards for the time being.

[Nikyzf @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Neat idea but looks too fragile. I think a better idea is this http://www.mobymemory.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Reader%5FUSB2%5FSD%5FMMC

Converts any MMC/SD card into a USB pen-drive and is a great way to carry a spare card. I have one and am really pleased with.

For other cards, see http://www.mobymemory.com/Memory_Card_readers.asp

[Shakers1987 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

As per comment no 41. Literally just purchased a brand new Canon Powershot A620 and to go with it the 1GB Sandisk Ultra II Plus USB. Dead happy with the setup until first attempt to get card out failed. How to screw up a new camera. Not happy. I did a lot of research on this card and read nothing about incompatibility issues.

[InfoMedUSA @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Not bad idea!

[Jack Repenning @ Dec 19th 2005 2:49AM]

Warning! Tread with caution! I just picked one of these up, and I am NOT a happy camper!

When I slid it into my device (Treo 600), I noticed it had a just slightly snugger fit than my old (Lexar) SD card. Seemed no harm. Until it got all the way in and I realized ... I can't get it back out! It's stuck! So here I sit with a completely empty card (because of course I had to play with it a bit before transferring data), a so-called "removable" card that can't be removed, and the USB feature is quite unused and unusable because I can't get the dang thing out of the phone/camera/PDA!

This is NOT what I signed up for!