Smart media flash cards are memory storage cards for computerized or digitalized devices that can make your business more efficient and organized. These memory devices can help you keep your digital media safe and easily transferable between all of your digital technology.

Working with computers, cell phones, digital cameras and other electronic devices can be risky if you aren't fully prepared. Be sure you are making the most of smart media cards by evaluating the sizes, prices and convenience they can offer your business. Consider the following to ensure you are maximizing your smart cards:

1. Mix up the sizes of your smart media cards.

2. Be smart about the use of your memory.

3. Use smart cards to create more memory storage space but not blow the bank.

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Use a variety of smart media memory cards to store different types of memory

Depending on what and how much memory you plan on storing, consider using multiple memory cards for different purposes. This will allow you to keep memory separated by categories and to purchase only the smart card size that you need for each.

I recommend: Watching The Net gives you a thorough outline of different types of digital smart media cards. Indiana University provides a great explanation about the units of digital media storage.

Reuse smart media cards over and over again

The best thing about smart media cards is that you can transfer media, back it up and store it permanently on drives and other devices. Consider having certain smart cards for transferring media and other larger memory cards to store media permanently. Transferring media between devices will then allow you to wipe the smaller media cards clean in between uses, making room for more media files.

I recommend: Newegg can help you to select the right smart media card for your digital camera. HowStuffWorks can help you to understand how your smart cards actually work to store your media.

Stick to a budget for your smart media cards

With several sizes and brands available, there are smart media cards for sale that appeal to every budget. Decide how much you want to spend on transferring and storing media files, and choose your cards from there. Keep in mind that these memory cards will likely be housing important media files.

I recommend: Suppliers of smart media cards such as MemorySuppliers.com offer a variety of smart cards at wholesale prices. OEWMPCWorld carries a selection of prices and sizes of smart cards.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep in mind that going with a lower priced card won't necessarily mean a lower quality of content, whether it be photo or audio.
• •  For digital photographers, it's always a good idea to have at least two cards in the case of a lost card or if one becomes corrupted.

Memory cards sit inside your digital camera and store the images you shoot. In the early days of digital photography, SmartMedia cards were considered the state-of-the art memory cards. Today’s memory cards are smaller, yet they store more images and transfer them to your computer faster.

Some points to remember about memory cards:

1. Although digital camera memory cards come in several flavors, your choices are limited to cards that are compatible with your particular camera.
2. If your image files tend to be large, look for cameras that take memory cards with a capacity of at least 1 GB. Check the manufacturer’s website to get an idea of the number of images you can store on the memory card that comes with your camera.
3. When selecting a camera, also consider the operating speed of its memory card. With a high-speed card in the right camera, you can shoot photos faster and download the images more quickly.

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SmartMedia cards: the originals

SmartMedia is an ultra-compact flash memory format that Toshiba introduced in 1995. SmartMedia memory cards, which store up to 128 MB of data, used to be among the most popular memory cards for digital cameras, particularly Olympus and Fuji models. Although SmartMedia cards are being phased out, you can still find them.

I recommend: Visit MemorySuppliers.com and OEMPCWorld.com for SmartMedia memory cards with capacities of 32 MB, 64MB and 128 MB.

Secure digital memory cards

You might consider secure digital cards the heir apparent to SmartMedia cards. Secure digital cards are smaller and are available in capacities ranging from 128 MB to 2 GB. Secure digital cards are similar to MultiMediaCards, which can be used in some cameras that call for secure digital cards.

I recommend: FlashMemoryStore.com and HiTech Vendors sell secure digital cards from SanDisk and other top manufacturers.

xD-Picture memory cards

With capacities of 16 MB to 1GB, xD-Picture cards are even smaller than secure digital cards. They're designed for Fujifilm and Olympus cameras.

I recommend: Fujifilm and Olympus sell xD-Picture memory cards for their respective cameras. For xD-Picture cards from other manufacturers, check Super Warehouse.

CompactFlash memory cards

CompactFlash memory cards can store 128 MB to 8 GB of data. These cards are available in two versions: Type I and Type II. Most digital single lens reflex cameras accept both, while many of the smaller digital cameras that call for CompactFlash memory cards accept Type I only.

I recommend: OEMPCWorld.com is among the many online sources for Type I CompactFlash memory cards. You can also purchase Type I cards direct from CompactFlash card maker SanDisk. For Type II cards, visit Nextag.

Need memory sticks instead of memory cards?

Memory sticks are used primarily in Sony digital cameras. Memory sticks capacity ranges from 128 MB to 1 GB.

I recommend: Shop for memory sticks at TigerDirect and Newegg.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Secure digital cards aren't just for digital cameras. They can serve as memory cards for some PDAs, phones and MP3 players.
• •  Don't remove your camera memory card until the camera's writing light goes out and you have turned off the camera. If you remove the card while the images are still being written to the card, it will destroy the images.
• •  If a memory card gets corrupted, you may be able to rescue the images on the card with hard disk repair software.

Digital technology is growing by the minute, making smart media cards education and training crucial to the safe-keeping of your company's digital files. Smart cards are used for virtually every piece of digital equipment that you own: digital cameras, computers, cell phones, and many other electronic devices. It is important to know what types of smart media flash cards will work best for your business.

When you buy smart media cards, it is important that you have smart media card education and training in order to make an informed decision. You want your digital media to be the right size as well as compatible with your devices.

Before purchasing anything from suppliers of smart media cards, consider:

1. The Internet is an endless source for information on smart media cards. Do your research to ensure that you make the right decision.

2. A short online course or seminar can help you make all the right decisions when it comes to purchasing your smart cards.

3. A degree or certification in information technology could help you to fully understand smart media and use applications to your advantage.

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Search online tutorials to educate yourself on smart media memory

Technology and smart media supplier websites can help by laying out the major differences between smart media cards. Reading the specifications and learning about the various uses and applications for each type of card can help to point you in the right direction.

I recommend: The Video Advisor outlines the different types of smart media cards for sale. Hardware Secrets provides an in-depth tutorial on digital smart media cards.

Take online courses to further your smart media cards education and training

Attending an online course or seminar is an easy way to become educated on the world of smart media. If you are going to be purchasing numerous smart cards or have sensitive data, you may want to consider investing more time into your smart media cards education and training by taking one of these classes.

I recommend: Smart Card Alliance details their online smart card course. Sony offers a series of online seminars that cover flash memory.

Get a degree or certification in information technology to learn more about smart media memory

If you are interested in knowing the ins and outs of smart media cards, how they work, how they are best used, and how to assure your data is protected, getting a degree in technology may be right for you. There are many distance learning programs as well as options at your local college or university. Certification programs are also an option and are less time consuming than pursuing a complete four-year degree.

I recommend: Universities.com explains several different technology degree programs. Earn My Degree outlines several online technology certification programs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While learning about smart media cards, you may find it helpful to learn about the devices with which memory cards are used. As the function of the smart card changes with each electronic device, knowing how the media cards perform with each one may also help to keep your data protected.
• •  Assign a person in your company to be the expert on smart media cards. This person can then share useful tips and knowledge with yourself and other coworkers, saving you money while expanding your team's understanding.

Smart media cards are used in cell phones, digital cameras, camcorders and even some car stereos. These cards hold pictures, music and any other form of media. Smart media cards are an easy way to save and transfer media files from one device to another. The vast amount of types of smart media cards can be overwhelming. Learning the meanings of smart media cards key terms will assist you in finding the cards you need quickly and efficiently.

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SDHC

SDHC, or secure digital high capacity cards, use flash memory to enhance the capacity of the card. A SDHC card can hold 4GB to 32GB of memory. Most SDHC cards and SD cards are interchangeable.

I recommend: Educate yourself further on SDHCs at SD Association. Locate SDHC information at the Streetdirectory website. WiseGeek also has information about SDHC cards.

Micro SD

Micro SD cards are 5mm by 11mm in size and are generally used in mobile phones. These smart media cards use flash memory and can be used in a computer with an adapter.

I recommend: Visit MobileBurn.com for more information about micro SD cards. EHow also has information about micro SD cards.

Mini SD

Mini SD cards are 21.5 by 20 by 1.4 mm in size and hold between 16 MB and 256 MB of information. Mini SDs use flash memory and are compatible with many card readers.

I recommend: Phone Factor and WebMediaBrands have more information about mini SD cards.

XD

XD, or xD, picture cards are Extreme Digital picture cards. These cards can hold up to 512MB. The cards are have fast processing and high quality outputs.

I recommend: Visit PC Mag for more information about xD cards. Discover more information about xD cards at Babylon.

Flash memory card

A flash memory card is a smart media card that uses flash memory to save information. Flash memory uses flash technology instead of the mechanical technology used in hard drives and other memory devices. Flash memory does not require power to maintain the information stored on the card.

I recommend: Read more information about flash memory cards at Tech Target. Forbes.com also provides information about flash memory cards.

MLC chips

MLC chips, or Multi-Level Cell chips, are the most common chip used in SD cards. These chips use flash memory and store bits of information on three or more cells. This slows the speed of the card, however cards with MLC chips are normally less expensive than other cards.

I recommend: TheCAT has more information about multi-level cell technology. CBS Interactive also provides information about MLC chips.