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Apple cuts adapter and card reader prices to appease new MacBook Pro buyers

05 Nov

When Apple announced its new MacBook Pro last week, Mac fans were up in arms about the removal of its HDMI port, SD card reader and MagSafe power connector (among other things.) The new models have four Thunderbolt 3 ports (two on each side), and that’s it, thus requiring ‘dongles’ in order to use legacy connectors. SanDisk also produces an SD card reader (pictured) that plugs right into the side of the computer.

To help placate those who aren’t excited about spending nearly $ 120 just to get their SD card reader and HDMI port back, the company has cut prices of many USB-C and Thunderbolt adapters for a limited time.

USB-C to USB adapter: $ 19 to $ 9
Thunderbolt 3 to 2 adapter: $ 49 to $ 29
USB-C to Lightning cables (1/2 meter): $ 25 to $ 19 / $ 35 to $ 29
Multiport adapter w/HDMI, USB and USB-C: $ 69 to $ 49
Multiport adapter w/VGA, USB and USB-C: $ 69 to $ 49
SanDisk USB-C SD card reader: $ 49 to $ 29

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Apple’s Phil Schiller explains why the new MacBook Pro doesn’t have an SD card slot

04 Nov

There’s a fair amount of controversy surrounding Apple’s newly unveiled MacBook Pro laptops, with one major criticism from photographers focusing on the removal of the SD card slot. Owners must use an SD-to-USB adapter to physically transfer files from a card to the laptop, otherwise wireless transfer is the only option. When asked about this design decision during an interview with The Independent, Apple’s Phil Schiller explained that SD card slots are ‘cumbersome.’

When asked why the new MacBook Pro laptops don’t have an SD card slot, Schiller explained:

“Because of a couple of things. One, it’s a bit of a cumbersome slot. You’ve got this thing sticking halfway out. Then there are very fine and fast USB card readers, and then you can use CompactFlash as well as SD. So we could never really resolve this – we picked SD because more consumer cameras have SD but you can only pick one. So, that was a bit of a trade-off. And then more and more cameras are starting to build wireless transfer into the camera. That’s proving very useful. So we think there’s a path forward where you can use a physical adaptor if you want, or do wireless transfer.”

During the end of the interview, Schiller admitted that the level of criticism around the new MacBook Pro ‘has been a bit of a surprise.’ He went on to say that he has ‘never seen a great new Apple product that didn’t have its share of early criticism and debate — and that’s cool. We took a bold risk, and of course with every step forward there is also some change to deal with.’

Via: Independent

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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SanDisk 1TB SDXC card prototype unveiled at Photokina

20 Sep

Western Digital has introduced the first ever 1TB SDXC card, doing so under its recently acquired SanDisk brand. Though the card will not be available on the market anytime soon, the prototype does serve to highlight the next level in SD card capacity. This isn’t the first time SanDisk has unveiled a high-capacity prototype at Photokina; in 2014, the company unveiled its then-prototype for a 512GB SDXC card.

‘Just a few short years ago the idea of a 1TB capacity point in an SD card seemed so futuristic – it’s amazing that we’re now at the point where it’s becoming a reality,” said Stargate Studios CEO Sam Nicholson. ‘…High-capacity cards allow us to capture more without interruption, streamlining our workflow, and eliminating the worry that we may miss a moment because we have to stop to swap out cards.’

Though Western Digital is showcasing the prototype at Photokina, it has not stated when it anticipates the card being available commercially, nor what consumers can expect to pay.

Via: SanDisk

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Eye-Fi releases Mac software to extend SD card functionality past End of Life date

11 Aug

Eye-Fi was on the receiving end of some serious backlash after announcing the September 15, 2016 End of Life (EOL) date for its X2 and earlier generation SD cards. The company cited security concerns for cards released before March 2015, advising owners that it was very important they ‘cease using these products no later than’ the EOL date. Customers weren’t happy about this, and many vowed to avoid Eye-Fi products altogether in the future, prompting a new announcement from Eye-Fi: it has developed a new software utility that will keep the cards operational past the EOL date.

The new software utility is called ‘Eye-Fi X2 Utility,’ and customers can download a Mac version of it now. The company hasn’t committed to creating a Windows version of the utility, but states that it is ‘exploring the feasibility’ of doing so. Though the utility allows images to be transferred to a desktop computer, it doesn’t have all the features of Eye-Fi Center and Eye-Fi View, and requires all Eye-Fi software to be uninstalled from the computer before the new utility can be installed.

Furthermore, Eye-Fi warns that it doesn’t offer any warranties or help desk support for the utility, and that the new software is ‘a one-time release.’

In a post today, Eye-Fi listed the following utility features:

X2 Utility Highlights

Support for Pro X2 and all earlier generation products with the “Eye-Fi” branding as well as 3rd party branded cards from SanDisk and Visioneer
Activation and set-up of cards to transfer images to a PC or Mac via an infrastructure or direct network connection
Transferred images will be saved to a directory of users choosing but will be organized in a date based chronological order
Eye-Fi Center software must be un-installed from the PC or Mac prior to installation of the X2U
X2U will NOT integrate with Eye-Fi View nor Eyefi Cloud service: it will be limited to desktop transfer only

The company also issued the following advisory:

Today we are releasing the X2U on the Mac (OS X) platform. We will provide an updated notice if and when the X2U becomes available on Windows, and cannot guarantee such availability before the end of August and prior to the shutdown of Eye-Fi Center and Eye-Fi View.

The Mac version of the X2 Utility can be downloaded here.

Via: Eye-Fi

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Nikon D500 firmware update adds workaround for SD card errors

13 Jul

Nikon has released a firmware update for the D500, correcting the card error issue we discussed in our D500 review. The error — which happened once in our office and has been reported by many camera owners — manifests when some UHS-II SD cards are used (Lexar cards seem to be particularly affected). According to Nikon, these card errors are resulting from the cards themselves, not the camera.

The update takes the D500’s firmware from version 1.01 to 1.02, and only corrects the card error. Per Nikon’s changelog, the new firmware does the following:

Download Nikon D500 firmware version 1.02

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Samsung unveils 256GB EVO Plus microSD card

13 May

Samsung has introduced the EVO Plus 256GB UHS-1 Class 10 microSD card. According to Samsung, the new EVO Plus card has the highest capacity in its class, and is able to hold up to 12 hours of UHD video, 33 hours of Full HD video and up to 55,200 photographs.

The Samsung EVO Plus 256GB microSD card offers write speeds up to 90MB/s and read speeds up to 95MB/s, as well as the maker’s ‘4-Proof’ durability — it is magnet-proof, temperature-proof, waterproof, and x-ray-proof. A 10-year limited warranty accompanies the durability promises.

Samsung will launch its new storage card in the U.S., Europe, China and beyond (totaling 50+ countries) next month for $ 249.99.

Via: Samsung

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Sony enables XAVC S recording to SDHC card with a7R II and a7S II firmware update

28 Apr

Newly released firmware updates for the Sony a7R II and a7S II enable XAVC S format video recording to SDHC memory cards. Previously, XAVC S format video could only be recorded to an SDXC card. Sony makes a couple of notes on the use of SDHC cards for XAVC S video – any recorded files larger than 4GB will be split into multiple files to comply with a 4GB maximum file size limitation. Cards must also be at least SD Speed Class 10 and UHS Speed Class U1 or faster. Video recorded at 100Mbps or more must use a UHS Speed Class U3 card.

Download Sony a7R II firmware 3.20

Download Sony a7S II firmware 2.10

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Lexar launches USB 3.0 card reader for XQD storage

07 Apr

Memory card manufacturer Lexar has announced a new card reader for users of XQD format memory cards that uses the USB 3.0 standard. The XQD 2.0 USB 3.0 Reader is designed to be used with XQD 2.0 cards and to move large amounts of data in a short time. Lexar says the reader is particularly aimed at those shooting high quantities of Raw files and those recording 4K video, and claims the built-in USB plug on the reader makes it more portable and easy to use as no cables are required.

The reader is backward compatible with USB 2.0 devices, but obviously with some sacrifice in speed. Theoretically, USB 3.0 devices can transfer data at a rate of up to 640MB/s, which is ten times the theoretical speed of USB 2.0 devices. Currently the fastest read speed for a Lexar XQD card is 400MB/s.

The XQD 2.0 USB 3.0 Reader will cost £29.99/$ 34.99 when it becomes available at the end of this month.
For more information see the Lexar website.

Press release:

Accelerate workflow with high-speed file transfer

Product highlights

Provides professional-level high-speed transfer of RAW images and 4K video files
Accelerates workflow, leveraging SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology
Designed for use with XQD™ 2.0 cards
Compact, portable design for photographers and videographers on the go
Five-year limited warranty

Quickly transfer files on the go with the Lexar Professional XQD 2.0 USB 3.0 Reader. This professional-level, portable USB 3.0 reader easily offloads a large number of RAW images and 4K video from your XQD 2.0 card to your computer at USB 3.0 speeds, accelerating workflow and getting you back behind the camera faster.

Quickly offload RAW images and 4K video. Leveraging SuperSpeed USB 3.0 performance, this small but mighty reader makes it easy to quickly transfer a huge number of large files and speed through post-production. This makes it an excellent choice for professional photographers and videographers—either in the studio or on the go.

Convenient portability. With its compact, portable design, you can slip the reader into your pocket and go. No need to tote a bag or carry cables. Its simple plug-and-play design with USB 3.0 connector makes it easy to quickly offload content—wherever you are. For versatility, it’s backwards compatible with USB 2.0 devices at USB 2.0 speeds.

Rigorously tested. All Lexar product designs undergo extensive testing in the Lexar Quality Labs, facilities with more than 1,100 digital devices, to ensure performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Class 10 200GB microSD card on the way from Lexar

25 Mar

Memory manufacturer Lexar has announced a micro SDXC card with a capacity of 200GB and read speeds of up to 95MB per second. The company says the card is aimed at action cam users as well as owners of tablets and smartphones, and is suitable for both HD and 4K video recording. Lexar claims the 200GB capacity can hold over 15 hours of HD video footage, and that the UHS-1 card has a transfer speed rating of 633x.

The card comes packaged with a USB 3.0 card reader, a copy of the company’s Image Rescue recovery software, and a ‘limited lifetime warranty’. It will cost $ 129.99. For more details see the Lexar website.

Press release:

Lexar Announces 200GB High-Performance 633x microSDXC UHS-I Card

New High-Capacity Card Enables High-Speed Capture and Transfer of Multimedia Content

Key Messages:
* Delivers read transfer speeds up to 95MB per second 633x *
* Enables users to capture more than 17 hours of HD video; 33,000 photos; or 28,000 songs **
* Includes a USB 3.0 reader for high-speed card-to-computer transfer

Milpitas, CA, March 22, 2016 – Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory products, today announced the new 200GB Lexar® High-Performance microSDXC™ UHS-I memory card. Designed for sports camcorders, tablets, and smartphones, the UHS-I, U1 microSDXC card has read transfer speeds up to 95MB per second (633x)* and can capture up to 17 hours of 4K and Full HD video; 33,000 photos; or 28,000 songs.**

“Professional and everyday photographers are now more passionate about shooting high-quality video, on everything from digital SLRs to sports and aerial cameras, said Steffi Ho, product marketing manager, Lexar. “With the Lexar 200GB microSDXC UHS-I card, photographers can continue to capture and store large amounts of content on the go, without having to worry about running out of space.”

The 200GB Lexar High-Performance 633x microSDXC UHS-I card comes with a USB 3.0 reader, which allows for high-speed file transfer of photos and videos from the card to a PC or Mac®. The reader is also backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports and comes with a one-year limited warranty.

The 200GB Lexar High-Performance 633x microSDXC UHS-I card comes with a limited lifetime warranty and includes a lifetime copy of Image Rescue® software. Additionally, all Lexar product designs undergo extensive testing in the Lexar Quality Labs to validate performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability with more than 1,100 digital devices. The new card is currently available for purchase with an MSRP of $ 129.99. For more information about Lexar products, visit www.lexar.com.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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LED Buddha Vaults & Smart Card Entry: High-Tech Cemetery in Tokyo

05 Mar

[ By Steph in Culture & History & Travel. ]

rurden high tech cemetery 1

When visiting a deceased loved one at this Tokyo cemetery, you’ll swipe a smart card upon arrival at the door so that the particular LED Buddha statue representing the correct vault will light up, making it easy to locate on a wall of identical figures. At Ruriden, a futuristic charnel house belonging to Koukoko-ji temple, cremated remains are kept in storage lockers in this unusually high-tech environment, eliminating the need for loved ones to maintain graves.

Traditionally, each family in Japan would own a plot of land and a stone tomb in a physical cemetery, costing up to $ 40,000 and requiring upkeep and maintenance fees. But as space gets tighter in the urban areas, the prices for those tombs are getting out of control, and cemeteries like Ruriden are stepping in to offer an alternative.

ruriden high tech cemetary 2 ruriden 5

You may not even be able to touch the glass separating your hand from that little glowing buddha if your relative’s vault happens to be high up on the wall of 2,046 altars, but seeing the statue illuminated can help provide a sense of connection to the gravesite, and you can still access the remains.

ruriden 3

ruriden 7

When you visit, the remains will be delivered to a communal vault in the floor via a forklift and conveyer belt system. A digital slideshow puts images of your deceased loved one on display. Ashes are stored in these vaults for 33 years for family visits, before being buried below the Ruriden.

flow ruriden 4

600 of the plots are currently in use, and 300 more have been reserved by elderly Tokyo residents planning for their own deaths. Vice recently took a tour of the complex and spoke to people shopping for their own high-tech graves. Employees at the cemetery even speculate on the possibility of interactive, holographic representations of dead relatives in the future. Read the whole story at Vice.

ruriden 6