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Topic: Doubts about SD / MMC Memory cards... (Read 2082 times) previous topic - next topic
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Doubts about SD / MMC Memory cards...

Hi all.
I'm taking a look to MP3 portable players, and the memory card ones are divided basically in 3 kind of memory media:
- MMC (Multimedia card)
- Memory Stick
- SD
- Compact Flash

I have a doubt hope could explain me:
Have SD memory cards any kind of copy-protection or something that way...
I've readed some references "here and there" but nothing clearly explained...
I don't want to buy a player and later have problems hearing my MP3s in it due to a protection system...

Best regards.
b:.
 

Doubts about SD / MMC Memory cards...

Reply #1 –
Hi,

On a SD card you can store files in two ways:
- the legacy (MMC) way, i.e. free storage where any device can read and write anywhere on the card
- the copy-protected (SD) way, where access is restricted by the cryptographic engine that's inside the card.

In the second case, in practice only "legitimate" players can authenticate with the card, and understand (read) the data. The data must have been written in specific writers for this to work.

The MMC cards only support the 1st case. Thus virtually no SD players accept them.

For the memory stick, same thing:
- MMC card = memory stick
- SD card = magic gate memory stick

CompactFlash has no such annoyances, but they drain more power - and it's hard to find CF music players.

Edit:

Here are arguments against the stupidity of media copy-protection:
- it's not copy-protection:  it's read-protection !
- what's the point:  I always keep the source music files archived anyway.
- the pc-side (Realnetworks!!) bundled software sucks big time.  Playlist creation doesn't work. I can't change the playback order of songs.

And finally, the best thing:  warning !!!  it seems I can't even write my SD card using another SD writer than the one which came with my player !!!!  I got this confirmed by Panasonic:

he wrote:  "you can't write to an SD card using your laptop's integrated SD slot.  You have to use the USB SD reader for that."

my answer (fictious):    "Pardon me ?!?  Then what's the point of having an SD slot, you baboon ?"

I think these companier should start to understand the everyday annoyances of having to deal with a copy-restriction system which is designed to be nobody's friend. It's just a worthless annoyance, just like with Minidiscs.