Toshiba has unveiled at CES 2015 the first Secure Digital High Capacity memory card in the world to have built-in Near Field Communication capabilities that will allow users to preview the content of the storage device with a simple touch.
While other wireless cards make it easier for users to transfer their stored contents, Toshiba's new NFC SDHC card takes the convenience a step further by allowing users to see the contents of the storage device using a compatible smartphone, without the requirement of the card being inserted first into a computer or camera.
The NFC SDHC card will prove to be very convenient for users that have several SDHC cards in possession, as it is very difficult to keep track which images are stored in each one.
By using a smartphone with similar NFC capabilities and the Memory Card Preview app for Android, users can hold the NFC SDHC card near their smartphone to reveal the stored contents easily and quickly. This new method represents a much easier way to go through the contents of several SDHC cards, as opposed to having to plug them in one by one into a computer or camera.
The information that the NFC SDHC card can display includes the given name and the storage capacity of the card, the remaining available space in the card, and the type of data that is stored inside it. The app will also display a maximum of 16 thumbnail pictures for the user to be able to identify the images that are stored in the card.
The NFC SDHC card will come in capacities of 8GB, 16GB and 32GB. The cards will have ratings of UHS speed class of 1 and SD speed class of 10.
However, the NFC SDHC card does not have the ability to allow users to transfer their images wirelessly. For that feature, Toshiba has also unveiled the third generation of the company's wireless-enabled FlashAir SD card.
The new FlashAir III SD card functions as its own access point for wireless LAN and, like the NFC SDHC card, has an SD speed class rating of 10. The card also includes a feature that allows users to access the Internet and the card at the same time, along with improved picture sharing and management capabilities.
The FlashAir III SD card will come in capacities of 16GB and 32GB and will come with the FlashAir mobile app, which enables easy sharing of content with devices running iOS and Android.
The NFC SDHC card will be released to the market next month, but no price has yet been announced for the device. The FlashAir III SD card, on the other hand, will go on sale in March and will cost $80 for 16GB and $100 for 32GB.
