suport for two MicroSD cards! 128GB+128GB!

[InGearX]

good day everyone

in short:
I am really wondering - why don't manufacturers ever make a devices with multiple SD/microSD slots ?

in details:

well they do: laptops/PCs - and we love that ..

but dual or four or more slots on phones or other media would rock .. it would be a real and critical swaying factor for some - of two similar phones - but if one had support for two or three or four media cards...

I like many LOVE media and sometimes in HD - some movies are 4-8+ GB

what are the actual reasons that there aren't any dual microSD slots?

is it THAT hard to implement? many make phones with even two SIM cards (which is more hardware+software complex...)

is it the assumption that 50% of people will not need this? or 30% or 90%? I think the people are ready - most would find a second microSD card to pop in / easier to copy/share from card to card ... vs card-phone-card ...

is it some idea - less hardware = less chances of something breaking = stronger product = keep it simple?

what do you suspect? what do u think?

what are the reasons?

what do u know for sure?

more importantly - how can we reach-out to companies/manufacturers .. essentially drawing board designers ... to entice them to deliver this? to let them know that it's minimal investment with great advantages ...
and will put them as a leader for those that want storage (and we all do)



looking forward to an interesting discussion

thank you...

 

[iowabowtech]

Well, a lot of manufacturers are moving away from sd slots altogether and partitioning the internal memory to act as the local storage mechanism. So I don't see additional cards in the future personally.

One can debate the concept of physical card vs storage partition to death but file security is certainly a top ranking argument for the elimination of physical cards. Especially when coupled with recent changes to hide developer options and more specifically, usb debugging. Add in the somewhat recent changes to the sdk which requires device authorization to a host machine that can only be accessed on a fully booted device - or through a custom recovery which is a known chance of entry decided upon by the end user that made it available and it kinda seems like there's a trend developing here. Add cloud storage integration (newest Gapps are ripe with the concept and have been for some time) and it seems like all roads lead to the same intersection.

Bottom line, I see the future involving less easily accessible storage rather than more. I'm not saying that's a + or a - in my book, just saying what I see coming down the road. I could be wrong though, often am.

 

[mikedt]

good day everyone

in short:
I am really wondering - why don't manufacturers ever make a devices with multiple SD/microSD slots ?

in details:

well they do: laptops/PCs - and we love that ..

Actually most laptops only take one SD card at a time with their internal readers. Sometimes it's a multi-slot, for using things like memory sticks as well. You can use additional outboard USB SD readers of course. In fact you can do the same with any Android device that has a USB port. With desktop PCs you can do whatever you like with those, adding internal card readers.

but dual or four or more slots on phones or other media would rock .. it would be a real and critical swaying factor for some - of two similar phones - but if one had support for two or three or four media cards...

I like many LOVE media and sometimes in HD - some movies are 4-8+ GB

Storing and watching HD Blu-ray rips on a cellphone is a bit overkill IMO. I transcode them down, I found doesn't make much difference when watching them on a 4 or 5 inch screen anyway.

what are the actual reasons that there aren't any dual microSD slots?

is it THAT hard to implement? many make phones with even two SIM cards (which is more hardware+software complex...)

Dual SIM is an idea that came from China, where manufacturers identified a definite need for this feature. Which is due to how the carriers operate here, basically it saves carrying two phones around with you. Just about all phones sold by American carriers only take one SIM, in addition they're usually locked.

is it the assumption that 50% of people will not need this? or 30% or 90%? I think the people are ready - most would find a second microSD card to pop in / easier to copy/share from card to card ... vs card-phone-card ...

is it some idea - less hardware = less chances of something breaking = stronger product = keep it simple?

what do you suspect? what do u think?

what are the reasons?

See above for my reasons and ideas.

 

[Hadron]

good day everyone

in short:
I am really wondering - why don't manufacturers ever make a devices with multiple SD/microSD slots ?

in details:

well they do: laptops/PCs - and we love that ..

Personally I'd rather my laptop didn't have an SD slot and that they'd put an extra USB in instead. A USB port is multi-purpose, and I can plug a card reader into a USB socket if I want to read a card. So for me a dedicated card slot is actually more of a waste than a bonus.

but dual or four or more slots on phones or other media would rock .. it would be a real and critical swaying factor for some - of two similar phones - but if one had support for two or three or four media cards...

I like many LOVE media and sometimes in HD - some movies are 4-8+ GB

what are the actual reasons that there aren't any dual microSD slots?

is it THAT hard to implement? many make phones with even two SIM cards (which is more hardware+software complex...)

is it the assumption that 50% of people will not need this? or 30% or 90%? I think the people are ready - most would find a second microSD card to pop in / easier to copy/share from card to card ... vs card-phone-card ...

Actually the manufacturers are well aware that most customers whose devices have a single SD slot never buy an SD card, or never change the (usually small) card which comes in the slot. So I suspect multiple slots is far more of a niche than you think, and manufacturing for niches is a very risky strategy.

 

[kate]

The first two reasons that come to mind are cost and space.

Adding a second MicroSD card slot would add to the cost manufacturing of the phone for a feature that I'm guessing a small percentage of people would use. And even though the card slots are small, space is limited on devices that fit in your hand.

 

[Slug]

why don't manufacturers ever make a devices with multiple SD/microSD slots ?

Some do, by supporting USB OTG via the microUSB port. All you need is a $10 host cable and you can connect anything that has a standard USB interface. I've successfully mounted a 320GB external drive as well as various CF and microSD cards via a tiny card reader.

 

[Sandgoose]

I would imagine 2 slots would cost a little on both money and device size and maybe not have much wide appeal? I mean I still have 8gb internal storage and 14 gb external storage free, maybe I just don't use my phone enough? (I detest 'gamepad' emulation so don't have loads of games install) but I would love to know why more tablets don't just use full sized usb slots ?

 

[Goodspike]

Look how many people buy phones without any microSD card slot and you'll see the reason why phones with two microSD slots are not available.

 

[dibblebill]

Curiously, I thought my Acer a500 had a hidden second microSD slot. I realized later it was a SIM slot for the 3G model.

 

[Slug]

I would love to know why more tablets don't just use full sized usb slots ?

The primary reason, I suspect, is physical size; a standard Type A USB port is larger than the depth of most tablets.

 

[Gmash]

I'd be happy if more phones had even one SD card slot.

 

[Eugene]

+1 here, so many are removing the SD card slot so I can't find any new phones I can use. I am in the small minority that needs more space than the phones ship with.

 

[InGearX]

Well, a lot of manufacturers are moving away from sd slots altogether and partitioning the internal memory to act as the local storage mechanism. So I don't see additional cards in the future personally.

One can debate the concept of physical card vs storage partition to death but file security is certainly a top ranking argument for the elimination of physical cards. Especially when coupled with recent changes to hide developer options and more specifically, usb debugging. Add in the somewhat recent changes to the sdk which requires device authorization to a host machine that can only be accessed on a fully booted device - or through a custom recovery which is a known chance of entry decided upon by the end user that made it available and it kinda seems like there's a trend developing here. Add cloud storage integration (newest Gapps are ripe with the concept and have been for some time) and it seems like all roads lead to the same intersection.

Bottom line, I see the future involving less easily accessible storage rather than more. I'm not saying that's a + or a - in my book, just saying what I see coming down the road. I could be wrong though, often am.

iowabowtech - where do you see this?

I know iPhone did this

And was kicked in the teeth by Android

Every single friend of mine that has iPhone complains that it can't take microSD cards

Heck most that did switch - switched for that reason alone!

===========
Cloud storage - will never be compared to here and now

===========

Security - software options - you can treat alllll data on microSD encrypted .. (Some manufacturers from BlackBerry to custom soft have this .. All the way to TrueCrypt on win..)

Id always go for a phone/device with removable storage - its an awesome feature/option

 

[Shocky]

Hopefully the next devices will have more internal storage, 32GB really needs to become the minimum, with or without an sdcard slot.

It would be nice to have two sdcard slots but I don't think there's any demand so unlikely to happen. Surely one 128GB would be enough?

 

[InGearX]

Actually most laptops only take one SD card at a time with their internal readers. Sometimes it's a multi-slot, for using things like memory sticks as well. You can use additional outboard USB SD readers of course. In fact you can do the same with any Android device that has a USB port. With desktop PCs you can do whatever you like with those, adding internal card readers.

I know ..
my Sony VAIO has SD.. and DuoPRO..

Storing and watching HD Blu-ray rips on a cellphone is a bit overkill IMO. I transcode them down, I found doesn't make much difference when watching them on a 4 or 5 inch screen anyway.

it's an example

thousands of things someone might want to have data for..

having music

maybe having best pictures / videos for past few decades ... etc .. list is endless ... imagine ...

Dual SIM is an idea that came from China, where manufacturers identified a definite need for this feature. Which is due to how the carriers operate here, basically it saves carrying two phones around with you. Just about all phones sold by American carriers only take one SIM, in addition they're usually locked.

right if it wasn't for the innovative approach - we wouldn't have this option

I'm often overseas .. many live overseas (95% of the world) .. and it's an amazing feature ..

 

[InGearX]

Personally I'd rather my laptop didn't have an SD slot and that they'd put an extra USB in instead. A USB port is multi-purpose, and I can plug a card reader into a USB socket if I want to read a card. So for me a dedicated card slot is actually more of a waste than a bonus.

it's a personal preference ...
I like to have it all..
I like always having it in there - always ready to cake in an SD card..
my VAIO has 3 USBs + SD + ProDUO (I always keep 8GB in there and it acts as real time background backup - a bit like a small solid state backup drive ...)

Actually the manufacturers are well aware that most customers whose devices have a single SD slot never buy an SD card, or never change the (usually small) card which comes in the slot. So I suspect multiple slots is far more of a niche than you think, and manufacturing for niches is a very risky strategy.

sorry mate - but where do you get such "statistics"
who can even do such research .. I'd like to see how ..
it's possible

links please ..

 

[InGearX]

The first two reasons that come to mind are cost and space.

Adding a second MicroSD card slot would add to the cost manufacturing of the phone for a feature that I'm guessing a small percentage of people would use. And even though the card slots are small, space is limited on devices that fit in your hand.

I agree ..

additionally - by increasing features - especially physical ones as such - increases the risk of one breaking and device being deemed as bad .. so in much of manufacturing is keep it simple .. :/
less buttons
less features
less chances of something going bad

it's the innovators ... the pioneers ... that are not afraid to go the extra mile and make it right are the winners .. in life just as in manufacturing and etc...

 

[InGearX]

Some do, by supporting USB OTG via the microUSB port. All you need is a $10 host cable and you can connect anything that has a standard USB interface. I've successfully mounted a 320GB external drive as well as various CF and microSD cards via a tiny card reader.

AWESOME!!!

Thank you!!!

this will work splendid for me!!!

what exact model 320GB external drive was it? cause I double my 1TB or 2TB WD drives will work - due to USB power :/

I recall trying this in August 2010 on my Archos IT (it had 500GB inside of it anyway) and it did not work with this hack .. so I gave up .. but I have seen this reported ..

now I see that this is in full swing ...

this is great!!!

PS youtube ...

Samsung Galaxy S3 & S2: How to Increase Storage Using USB OTG - YouTube
CNET How To - How to use USB devices with Android - YouTube
USB OTG on Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (Wireless Keybard Mouse, External Storage Drive) - YouTube
How to Make an OTG USB Host Cable! - YouTube
Samsung GS3 USB OTG Tested - YouTube

 

[Hadron]

sorry mate - but where do you get such "statistics"
who can even do such research .. I'd like to see how ..
it's possible

links please ..

I remember the manufacturers making this statement a couple of years ago. And they definitely have a vested interest in knowing this sort of thing, and will have done market research to check.

No way I'm going to dig out links this morning. But from my own observation of general phone users, rather than the enthusiasts you find here, it rings true.


BTW using external hard drives via OTG may require that the drive be powered. I do have one of those micro usb microsd readers, and use OTG with memory sticks all the time.

 

[Eugene]

Yes USB OTG is pretty much standard now but you won't get enough power for most hard drives, I'd say stick with big USB flash drives to keep from having to carry a powered hub.

I thought about stripping the outside off a cable and embed it inside myphones case then bring another port out for power, basically make a short extension to feed power through with the data pins split out into the guts of a USB flash drive then enclose it inside the case. But if the manufactureres had a clue we wouldn't need to. If they keep removing features of android we'll be left with nothing but a copy of iphone. We need the features to keep people from going to the dark side.

 

[PaulS]

This may be of interest,

Android 4.3 Supports SSD TRIM, Improves Storage Performance | NextPowerUp


When Google described Android 4.3 to the press at its press-meet last week, it missed out what is perhaps the operating system's biggest feature change over Android 4.2. It's discovered that Android 4.3 can issue TRIM command to storage devices. This should have a profound impact on storage performance.
TRIM is a garbage collection feature that helps negate write performance reduction in flash-based storage devices, that result from deleting and re-writing data. Unlike on magnetic storage devices like hard drives, where fresh data can simply be overwritten on parts of the media that has previously deleted data; deleting or rewriting data on a flash-based storage device entails electrically erasing and reprogramming NAND flash cells, which causes a reduction in write performance. TRIM negates this by marking deleted data for the SSD controller to erase while the device is idling, making sure cells holding deleted data are erased and ready to be written on, at the rated speeds.
An increasing number of smartphones and tablets use SoCs with eMMC and ATA SSDs that technically support TRIM, but lacked support from Android, until recently launched version 4.3 "Jelly Bean." Anandtech discovered that older Google Nexus devices, which recently received Android 4.3 updates, like Nexus 7 (2012), and Nexus 4, showed higher storage subsystem performance after their operating system upgrade.


:car:

 

[Shocky]

I remember the manufacturers making this statement a couple of years ago. .

Which manufacturers? link? Not saying your wrong but it would nice to see the source for this information.

 

[Eugene]

There seems to be somewhat of a disconnect between what people want and what Google wants. Google wants you to store everything in the could to pay the fees.

 

[Hadron]

Can't remember which - may have been HTC or Samsung. The context was the amount of internal storage in telephones as well as sd cards.

Google have an interest in cloud storage, but I don't think most manufacturers have. If a manufacturer believed that there was a market for multiple sd slots they'd have done it - Samsung certainly give the impression that they'll try anything, and some of their handsets are large enough.

 

[iowabowtech]

Well, a lot of manufacturers are moving away from sd slots altogether and partitioning the internal memory to act as the local storage mechanism. So I don't see additional cards in the future personally.

One can debate the concept of physical card vs storage partition to death but file security is certainly a top ranking argument for the elimination of physical cards. Especially when coupled with recent changes to hide developer options and more specifically, usb debugging. Add in the somewhat recent changes to the sdk which requires device authorization to a host machine that can only be accessed on a fully booted device - or through a custom recovery which is a known chance of entry decided upon by the end user that made it available and it kinda seems like there's a trend developing here. Add cloud storage integration (newest Gapps are ripe with the concept and have been for some time) and it seems like all roads lead to the same intersection.

Bottom line, I see the future involving less easily accessible storage rather than more. I'm not saying that's a + or a - in my book, just saying what I see coming down the road. I could be wrong though, often am.

iowabowtech - where do you see this?

I know iPhone did this

And was kicked in the teeth by Android

Every single friend of mine that has iPhone complains that it can't take microSD cards

Heck most that did switch - switched for that reason alone!

===========
Cloud storage - will never be compared to here and now

===========

Security - software options - you can treat alllll data on microSD encrypted .. (Some manufacturers from BlackBerry to custom soft have this .. All the way to TrueCrypt on win..)

Id always go for a phone/device with removable storage - its an awesome feature/option

Well, the change to hide developer options to reduce the average user from enable debugging happened I believe at Jellybean. Maybe even ICS, can't remember for sure. And the change to the sdk to require authorization happened an update or two ago so those are knowns.

If you're asking where I'm seeing the lack of physical sd cards, I'd point to the Nexus devices first. Seems to me Google is starting to trend in that direction and has been for awhile now so it seems possible other manufacturers MIGHT follow suit. That said, it's a free market so if any manufacturer thinks they'd be better served to keep card slots, they can do that. Samsung seems to be on that train for now anyway.

Other examples are some recent flagships. HTC One...no sdcard for all but Asian variants. LG G2...no sdcard for any variant that I'm aware of, not sure about Korean. So to me that says something. Google/HTC/LG's latest flagships don't include physical sd cards.

I say again though, I'm not saying I think it's absolutely the way to go - I'm just saying I'm watching the trends from some of the big players in the game and I'm seeing things trending toward dropping slots. I'm a fan of choice, so I'm glad there are options out there for cards or lack thereof to suit the needs of everyone.