Toshiba has announced the world's first 64GB SDXC memory card.
SDXC stands for Secure Digital eXtended Capacity and is the next generation of memory card sanctioned by the SD Association, founded by Panasonic, SanDisk and Toshiba. The theoretical maximum capacity is 2TB, or 2,000GB, but that's most likely some years off.
Pretec showed off the first SDXC card at CeBIT earlier this year, but Tosh has still pipped Panasonic's planned 64GB card to the post. Whether it'll be the first to hit shelves remains to be seen, with samples going to manufacturers in November and retailers next spring.
Before you go getting too excited, however, bear in mind that SDXC cards won't work with existing SD-compatible devices, like that camera you just spent half a monkey on.
SDXC and new SDHC cards, including the 16GB and 32GB cards also announced by Toshiba this week, use the UHS104 ultra high-speed SD interface that will work with existing devices. But SDXC uses Microsoft's proprietary exFAT file system and so it seems the cards won't be recognised by your current camcorder or MP3 player.
We've contacted Toshiba to find out about any plans for SDXC-compatible devices, and what will actually happen when you put SDXC into your current gadgets -- presumably a disaster of Biblical proportions: the dead rising from the grave, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... that sort of thing. We'll keep you posted.