Samsung NAND promotional image (via Samsung)
Just recently Samsung has stated that it has begun production of their fastest embedded memory for mobile devices. The Samsung Embedded Multimedia Card (eMMC) Pro Class 1500 will become available in 16, 32, and 64 gigabyte capabilities. The increase in storage size will help mobile device systems run better, faster, and more efficiently. The memory will also be helping out the processors within smart phones, which are already running close to 2.0 GHz with up to 4 processing cores. As a result, system performance and user experience for much mobile device applications such as web browsing, augmented reality, and video recording/playing will substantially increase.
The fastest embedded NAND storage was made possible through multiple technologies integrated into the device. Samsung utilizes a 20-nanometer manufacturing process along with a quick toggle DDR 2.0 memory with its own controller and a new JEDEC memory standard. The next generation standards allow the device to work about 4 times faster than existing chips reaching 1500 inputs/outputs per second (IOPS) when writing data and 3500 IOPS while reading data. That amounts to 50 MB/s while writing data and 140 MB/s while reading data.
The device will be meeting the demand for thinner designs for smart phones and tablets. The 64GB eight-die stack will be the thickest one measuring in at only 1.2 millimeters thick. That means a 1.2 mm thick card weighing only 0.6 grams will be capable of storing up to 16,000 MP3 files, as the company touts. Samsung has begun production of the eMMCs, but it has not been announced if any other companies would be using them. Although it is highly contradictory, we could see the devices begin to show up in Apple products real soon.
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