CompactFlash Cards Step Aside - XQD is On the Way

CompactFlash cards aren't getting the kind of love today that they did a few years ago. SD cards are cheap and are capable of high speeds and capacities. They're also more compact than CompactFlash cards, which makes the name seem a bit silly.

The CompactFlash Association has announced that there's something new on the way. It's called XQD and it's designed to step things up significantly. The cards will be just a bit bigger and thicker than SD cards and will aim for actual write speeds of 125MB/sec or higher.

"The XQD format will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications," says CFA chairman Shigeto Kanda, "and widen the memory card options available to CompactFlash users such as professional photographers."