OPINION: Need this?
By Paul Sweeting -- Video Business, 9/26/2008
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That’s what analysts and commentators are wondering in the wake of announcements last week from SanDisk and Toshiba regarding the use of NAND flash-based memory cards for storing recorded music and downloaded video.
SanDisk, in conjunction with the four major music distributors, announced a new configuration it calls slotMusic—essentially complete albums preloaded onto 1GB microSD cards that can be played in MP3 players, mobile phones and other devices equipped with microSD card slots.
SlotMusic cards will initially be sold through Best Buy and Walgreens outlets alongside their CD offerings.
Toshiba, meanwhile, unveiled a new partnership with NCR and MOD Systems to develop a new system that will allow consumers to quickly load movies onto devices equipped with SD cards from ATM-like kiosks in retail locations.
The partnership has not secured content from the major studios yet, but the companies said they expect to have roughly 4,000 movie and TV titles available by the time the service launches sometime next year.
Read the full column on ContentAgenda.com.