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We'd put forth the theory that Microsoft and Samsung would eventually
certify microSD cards specifically for use with Windows Phone 7
devices after they finally came to terms with the fact that the
microSD drama surrounding the Focus was going to lead directly to
broken devices and broken hearts -- and sure enough, that's exactly
what's happening. We just received this statement from AT&T,
pointing out that the platform is extremely finicky when it comes to
microSD selection -- so finicky, in fact, that only "Certified for
Windows Phone 7" cards should be used. No such cards are currently
available. Here's the full statement:
"Windows Phone 7 requires a certified high-speed microSD card for
optimal performance. Because the Samsung Focus is expandable via a
microSD card, only microSD memory cards certified for Windows Phone 7
should be used. This information is not currently marked on any
microSD packaging in market today. As a result, we are advising
customers to delay purchasing an external microSD card until the cards
identified as "Certified for Windows Phone 7" are available
commercially or in AT&T stores."
Coincidentally, we appear to have fried a card after moving it in and
out of our own Focus today to the point that no PC, phone, or camera
can read it anymore, so this is definitely a real problem that needs a
real solution. It's odd that Microsoft appears to have been fully
aware of this situation prior to release and yet AT&T's only now
drawing the line, but we can't even imagine the kinds of bureaucratic
head-butting that happens between corporations the size of AT&T,
Microsoft, and Samsung. In the meantime, be careful out there, folks.
Update: The Focus is in the microSD hurt locker on at least two fronts
here. First, the platform is definitely finicky in terms of card
specification -- Microsoft's support docs explicitly say the
requirements are more stringent than just the SD class:
"Determining whether an SD card is Windows Phone 7 compliant is not a
simple matter of judging its speed class. Several other factors, such
as the number of random read/write operations per second, play a role
in determining how well an SD card performs with Windows Phone 7
devices."
But what appears to have fired our card is the fact that any card
inserted into a Windows Phone 7 device "will no longer be readable or
writable on any other devices such as computers, cameras, printers,
and so on" according to documentation on Samsung's site -- including,
amazingly, the ability to format the card. That's hardcore, and it
also explains why these guys are so skittish about external storage in
general and why so few WP7 devices support it at this point.
Update 2: We've just been slid some more details on the specs
Microsoft is looking for to certify cards -- turns out it has a lot to
do with random access speed, not total throughput, as the company's
support docs imply. It's the latter value that's identified by a
card's class (the big number that's often stamped on the card), so
that's why Microsoft can't just say "any card Class 6 or higher is
fine" or something to that effect. What's upsetting is that we're
hearing the cards that work best can't be bought by consumers --
they're only sold in bulk, which probably explains why the cards
installed in the Focus are fine and nothing else is (at least,
according to AT&T) at the moment.
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