Samsung 8GB Flash Chips

Samsung today began sampling a new, extra-high capacity version of its moviNAND flash chip. The chip maker said it has successfuly produced chips that store four, 16 gigabit flash memory units -- allowing for 8GB on a single chip. The technology should allow even smaller or less expensive music players to hold 2,000 songs and GPS units to cover the entire Western world with map data and points of interest. Such an advancement will also allow players with two chips, such as the iPod nano, to store a full 16GB of memory without increasing in size.

The new flash memory is also twice as fast as today's 4GB chips, Samsung says: a new MultiMediaCard interface processes data as quickly as 52MB per second, partly eliminating the transfer bottleneck faced by flash storage. The Korean firm plans to ship the 8GB chips on a wide scale this spring, though no specific companies have been named as using the extra capacity.

By Electronista Staff