Kingston Technology Press Release

Kingston Technology Launches New “Ultimate” Line of SD Cards

Aimed at professional digital users SD Ultimate Cards’ use 133X Speed

[17 May 2005] Kingston Technology today announced the further expansion of its Secure Digital (SD) Card product line with the release of new ultra-performing ‘Ultimate’ SD cards, initially shipping in 512-MB and 1-GB capacities.

The new SD Ultimate cards offer significant performance benefits over the current Standard and Elite Pro lines of SD cards, including 133X super-fast transfer rates of larger size files—ideal for the photographic demands of enthusiasts and professional digital camera users.

“Kingston Technology developed the SD Ultimate line to offer a greater array of choices for the professional and enthusiast using digital cameras,” said Jim Selby, Product Marketing Manager EMEA, Kingston Technology “Our SD Ultimate cards provide superb performance to help users optimise their high-end digital equipment—whether it is a digital camera, an MP3 player or a PDA,” continued Selby.

Nikon’s new 6.1-Megapixel D50 SLR is one of the first digital cameras to standardise on high performance SD cards. Targeting the broadest range of consumers, Nikon touts the D50 as the smallest, lightest and easiest-to-use Nikon digital SLR camera to date. The Nikon D50 is due in stores in June and Kingston Technology will have SD Ultimate cards ready to support it.

“X” Speed Ratings
Many current devices are sold with an ‘X’ speed rating, much like CD-ROM drives, to give users a performance indicator of how fast the card can transfer (read and/or write) images. Some manufacturers use ‘X’ to indicate read or write speeds; others use both as ‘data transfer’ and a few manufacturers do not define their cards’ speed at all. Kingston Technology X-speed ratings are based on ‘write’ speed and X-speed performance is a function of MegaBytes per second (MB/sec) of write speed.

Higher X-speed ratings equal faster cards. Starting with the rollout of the SD Ultimate 512-MB card, part #: SD/512-U and SD Ultimate 1-GB card, part #: SD/1GB-U; the cards will have an MSRP without VAT of £31 and £70, respectively.

Kingston SD Ultimate Features and Specifications:
Capacities – 512 MB, 1GB
Dimensions - .94” x 1.25” x .08” (24mm X 32mm X 2.1 mm)
Speed Rating** - 23MB/sec. read rate; 133X / 20MB/sec. write rate
Operating Temperature – 32 degrees F to 140 degrees F (0 degrees C to 60 degrees C)
Storage Temperature - -4 degrees F to 185 degrees F (-20 degrees C – 85 degrees C)
Standardized – complies with SD Association specification standards
Small – about the size of a postage stamp
Secure – built-in write-protect switch prevents accidental data loss
Simple – as easy as plug-and-play
Reliable – lifetime warranty
Economical – low power consumption is easy on device’s batteries
Data Retention – up to 10 years

About Kingston Technology
Kingston Technology is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of memory products. Kingston Technology operates manufacturing facilities in Malaysia, Taiwan, China and Fountain Valley, Calif., including Payton Technology Corp., Kingston Technology’s back-end processing facility supporting memory packaging, test and logistics. With the advent of Payton, Kingston Technology supports all memory processing functions from receipt of wafer to completed module. Kingston Technology serves a network of distributors, OEMs and retail customers in more than 3,000 locations worldwide.

For more information on Kingston Technology, call the European toll free number on 00800 8888 0101 or go to www.kingston.com/uk