The xD Format

• Though also manufactured by companies such as Kodak and Lexmark, the xD format was used exclusively in Olympus and Fujifilm products. This proprietary memory format allowed Olympus and Fujifilm to generate more profit from consumers that had already purchased their products.
  
  

Comparison to SD Memory Cards

• Designed by Olympus and Fujifilm, the xD memory card format is similar in many respects to the more popular SD format created by SanDisk. The similar name, internal structure, and form factor caused some confusion in consumers, who often mistook the card for an SD card.
  
  

Specifications

• While xD memory cards range in capacity from 256 MB to 2 GB, they are primarily used in cameras and other consumer electronics, such as voice recorders. They tend to be more expensive than similar cards in other formats.
  
  

Obsolescence

• In spring of 2010, it was announced that new models of Olympus cameras will also feature SD card compatibility, and that the company is phasing out the xD format.