Memory Stick - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

7/28/2019 Memory Stick - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

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three different size of Memory Stick

Media type Flash Memory Card

Capacity 4 MB to 256 GB (maximum

theoretical size: 2 TB)

Developed by Sony

Extended to Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick

Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo,

Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo and

Memory Stick Micro

Memory Stick

Memory StickFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Memory Stick is a removable flash memory card format,

launched by Sony in October 1998,[1] and is also used ingeneral to describe the whole family of Memory Sticks. In

addition to the original Memory Stick, this family includesthe Memory Stick PRO, a revision that allows greatermaximum storage capacity and faster file transfer speeds;Memory Stick Duo, a small-form-factor version of theMemory Stick (including the PRO Duo); and the evensmaller Memory Stick Micro (M2). In December 2006Sony added the Memory Stick PRO-HG, a high speedvariant of the PRO to be used in high-definition video andstill cameras. Memory Stick cards can be used in Sony

XDCAM EX camcorders via the MEAD-SD01 adapter.[2]

Contents

1 History2 Applications3 Formats and form factors

3.1 Memory Stick3.2 Memory Stick Select3.3 Memory Stick PRO

3.4 Memory Stick Duo3.5 Memory Stick PRO Duo3.6 Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo3.7 Memory Stick Micro (M2)3.8 Memory Stick XC3.9 Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX

4 Mark 2 Certification5 See also6 References7 External links

History

The original memory stick was launched in October 1998, was available in sizes up to 128 MB, and asub-version, Memory Stick Select allowed two banks of 128 MB selectable by a slider switch, essentiallytwo cards squeezed into one. The largest capacity Memory Sticks currently available is 64 GB. According to

Sony, the Memory Stick PRO has a maximum theoretical size of 2 TB.[3]

As of January 2010, it appears that Sony is beginning to combine support for SD/SDHC and Memory Stick

formats in their products. All digital cameras and camcorders announced by Sony at the 2010 ConsumerElectronics Show can use SD and SDHC cards as well as Memory Sticks.[4][5][6][7][8] Furthermore, Sony is

releasing its own line of SD cards.[9] Many claim this development as the end of the format war betweenMemory Stick and SD card. However, Sony has not abandoned the format, and has indicated it will continue

mory Stick - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_Stic

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Lexar 256 MB Memory Stick Select

with memory switch.

development of the format for the foreseeable future. A prime example is the development of WiFi transfers

through a special Memory Stick Pro-Duo which is still in development.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

Applications

Typically, Memory Sticks are used as storage media for a portable device, in a form that can easily beremoved for access by a personal computer. For example, Sony digital compact cameras use Memory Sticksfor storing image files. With a Memory Stick-capable Memory card reader a user can copy the pictures takenwith the Sony digital camera to a computer. Sony typically includes Memory Stick reader hardware in its firstparty consumer electronics, such as digital cameras, digital music players, PDAs, cellular phones, the VAIOline of laptop computers, and the PlayStation Portable.

A special Memory Stick can be inserted in the hindquarters[17] of Sony's AIBO robot pet, to enable the useof Aibowaresoftware intended for use on AIBOs. The Sticks include a copy protection mechanism used bythe robot, allowing users to write programs. These are referred to as programmable orprogramming. Only8 MB and 16 MB versions are available.

Formats and form factors

Memory Sticks include a wide range of actual formats, including three different form factors.

Memory Stick

The original Memory Stick is approximately the size and thickness of a stick of chewing gum. It was availablein sizes from 4 MB to 128 MB. The original Memory Stick is no longer manufactured.

Memory Stick Select

In response to the storage limitations of the original Memory Stick,Sony introduced the Memory Stick Select. The Memory Stick Selectwas two separate 128 MB partitions which the user could switchbetween using a (physical) switch on the card. This solution was fairlyunpopular, but it did give users of older Memory Stick devices morecapacity. Its size was still the same as the original Memory Stick.

Memory Stick PRO

The Memory Stick PRO, introduced in 2003 as a joint effortbetween Sony and SanDisk,[18] would be the longer-lasting solution to the space problem. Most devices thatuse the original Memory Sticks support both the original and PRO sticks since both formats have identicalform factors. Some readers that were not compatible could be upgraded to Memory Stick PRO support via afirmware update. Memory Stick PROs have a marginally higher transfer speed and a maximum theoreticalcapacity of 32 GB, although it appears capacities higher than 4 GB are only available in the PRO Duo formfactor. High Speed Memory Stick PROs are available, and newer devices support this high speed mode,allowing for faster file transfers. All Memory Stick PROs larger than 1 GB support this High Speed mode,and High Speed Memory Stick Pros are backwards-compatible with devices that don't support the HighSpeed mode. High capacity memory sticks such as the 4 GB versions are expensive compared to other types

of flash memory such as SD cards and CompactFlash.

Memory Stick Duo


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Memory Stick Duo Adaptor and

Memory Stick PRO Duo.

A Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo.

16GB

PRO-HG Duo (8GB)

The Memory Stick Duo was developed in response to Sony's need for a smaller flash memory card forpocket-sized digital cameras, cell phones and the PlayStation Portable. It is slightly smaller than thecompeting Secure Digital (SD) format and roughly two thirds the length of the standard Memory Stick formfactor, but costs more. Memory Stick Duos are available with the same features as the larger standardMemory Stick, available with and without high speed mode, and with and without MagicGate support. TheMemory Stick PRO Duo has replaced the Memory Stick Duo due to its 128 MB size limitation, but has keptthe same form factor as the Duo.

A simple adapter allows Memory Stick Duo to be used in devicesdesigned to accept the original Memory Stick form factor.

Memory Stick PRO Duo

The Memory Stick PRO Duo(MSPD) quickly replaced theMemory Stick Duo due to theDuo's size limitation of128 MB and slow transfer

speed. Memory Stick PRODuos are available in all thesame variants as the largerMemory Stick PRO, with andwithout High Speed mode, and with and without MagicGate support.

Sony was released two different versions of Memory Stick PRO Duo.

One is a 16 GB version on March 2008 and other is a 32 GB version on August 21, 2009. [19] In 2009 Sonyand SanDisk also announced the joint development of an expanded Memory Stick PRO format tentativelynamed "Memory Stick PRO Format for Extended High Capacity" that would extend capacity to a theoretical

maximum of 2 terabytes.[20] Sony has since finalized the format and released its specification under the newname,Memory Stick XC.[21]

Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo

On December 11, 2006, Sony, together with SanDisk, announced theMemory Stick PRO-HG Duo. While only serial and 4-bit parallelinterfaces are supported in the Memory Stick PRO format, an 8-bit parallelinterface was added to the Memory Stick PRO-HG format. Also, themaximum interface clock frequency was increased from 40 MHz to

60 MHz. With these enhancements, a theoretical transfer rate of 480 Mbit/s(60 Mbyte/s) is achieved, which is three times faster than the Memory StickPRO format.

Memory Stick Micro (M2)

In a joint venture with SanDisk, Sony released a new Memory Stick format on February 6, 2006. TheMemory Stick Micro (M2) measures 15 12.5 1.2 mm (roughly one-quarter the size of the Duo) with64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, and 16 GB capacities available. The formathas a theoretical limit of 32 GB and maximum transfer speed of 160 Mbit/s. However, as with the PRO Duo

format, it has been expanded through theXCseries asMemory Stick XC Micro andMemory Stick XC-HGMicro, both with the theoretical maximum capacity of 2 TB.[21]

The M2 comes with an adapter, much like the Duo Sticks, to ensure physical compatibility with MemoryStick PRO devices. However, not all devices with a PRO slot are compatible with the M2/Adapter


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Memory Stick

Micro.

combination, as the firmware of older devices don't support the higher capacity of someM2 cards. One example is certain Sony CLI PDAs which don't support cards larger

than 2 GB.[22]

Sony announced on June 1, 2009 that M2 support in Sony Ericsson phones would be

dropped in favor of microSD.[23]

Memory Stick XC

On January 7, 2009, SanDisk and Sony announced the Memory Stick XC format

(tentatively named "Memory Stick Format Series for Extended High Capacity" at the time).[24][25] TheMemory Stick XC has a maximum 2 TB capacity, 64 times larger than that of the Memory Stick PRO whichis limited to 32 GB. XC series has the same form factors as PRO series, and supports MagicGate contentprotection technology as well as Access Control function as PRO series does. In line with the rest of theindustry, the XC series uses the newer exFAT file system due to size and formatting limitations of FAT/FAT16

/FAT32 filesystems used in the PRO series.[26][27] A maximum transfer speed of 480 Mbit/s (60 Mbyte/s) is

achieved through 8-bit parallel data transfer.[28]

Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX

Sony announced the release of the Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX on May 17th, 2011 which wasconsidered the fastest card ever made by the manufacturer. It measures 20 x 31 x 1.6 mm, with 8GB, 16GB

or 32 GB versions available. Also, the format offers a maximum transfer speed of 50 Mb per second. [29]

Mark 2 Certification

As of early 2008, Mark 2-certified versions of the Memory Stick PRO Duo became available. The Mark 2designation indicates the Memory Stick is suitable for use with AVCHD recording products or other faster

Memory Stick enabled devices by providing appropriate minimum write performance.[30]

See also

CompactFlash CardComparison of memory cardsFormat warMultiMediaCard

SD CardSmartMedia CardSxSxD Picture Card

References

^ "Sony Global Press Release Sony Announces"Memory Stick" Recordable IC Memory CardProducts New Format Supports Recording andPlayback of Audio/Video Content"(http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press_Archive

/199807/98-067/). Sony.net. Retrieved November13, 2011.

1.

^ "MEAD-MS01 Memory Stick card adapter2.

(Sony)" (http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-xdcamexsite/cat-accessories/product-MEADMS01/). Pro.sony.com. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.^ Nikkei Electronics Asia (January 8, 2009)."Nikkeibp.co.jp" (http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp

/english/NEWS_EN/20090108/163799/).Techon.nikkeibp.co.jp. Retrieved November 13,

3.


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2011.^ "Sony.com" (http://news.sel.sony.com

/en/press_room/consumer/digital_imaging/digital_cameras/cyber-shot/release/55922.html).News.sel.sony.com. January 6, 2010. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.

4.

^ "Sony.com" (http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/digital_imaging

/digital_cameras/cyber-shot/release/56053.html).News.sel.sony.com. January 6, 2010. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.

5.

^ "Sony.com" (http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/digital_imaging/camcorders/release/56198.html).News.sel.sony.com. January 6, 2010. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.

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^ "Sony.com" (http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/digital_imaging/camcorders/high_definition/release/56267.html).News.sel.sony.com. January 6, 2010. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.

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^ "Sony.com" (http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/digital_imaging/camcorders/release/56305.html).News.sel.sony.com. January 6, 2010. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.

8.

^ "Sony.com" (http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/digital_imaging/memory_stick/release/56274.html).News.sel.sony.com. January 6, 2010. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.

9.

^ Taub, Eric A. (January 7, 2010). "Sony'sMemory Stick: Bowing to Reality"(http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01

/07/sonys-memory-stick-bowing-to-reality/). TheNew York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2010.

10.

^ Velocity. "Forbes.com" (http://blogs.forbes.com/velocity/2010/01/07/betamaxed-sony-flushes-its-flash-card-down-the-memory-hole/). Forbes.Retrieved November 13, 2011.

11.

^ "FT.com" (http://blogs.ft.com/techblog/2010/01/beginning-of-the-end-for-memory-stick/).Blogs.ft.com. January 7, 2010. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.

12.

^ "Endgadget.com" (http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/live-from-sonys-ces-2010-press-event/). Engadget.com. January 6, 2010. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.

13.

^ "IEEE.org" (http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/consumer-electronics/standards/ces-2010-sony-finally-backs-down-on-memory-stick-technology). Spectrum.ieee.org. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.

14.

^ McCracken, Harry (January 7, 2010).

"PCworld.com" (http://www.pcworld.com/article/186178/is_it_the_end_of_the_road_for_memory_stick_hope_so.html/). PCworld.com. Retrieved November13, 2011.

15.

^ "APCMAG.com" (http://apcmag.com/sony-admits-defeat-on-memory-stick.htm).APCMAG.com. Retrieved November 13, 2011.

16.

^ "CBS News, 48 Hours AIBO, The DigitalWonder Dog: Sony Spends Millions On RoboticCanine" (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/08

/19/48hours/main59024.shtml). Cbsnews.com.February 11, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2011.

17.

^ "Sony.net" (http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press_Archive/200306/03-0617E//).Sony.net. Retrieved November 13, 2011.

18.

^ posted on August 21, 2009 (August 21, 2009)."Crunchgear.com" (http://www.crunchgear.com

/2009/08/21/sony-bumps-the-memory-stick-pro-duo-capacity-up-to-32gb/). Crunchgear.com.Retrieved November 13, 2011.

19.

^ "SanDisk, Sony to Expand Memory Stick PRO,Memory Stick Micro Formats"(http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN

/20090108/163799/). Nikkei BusinessPublications. January 8, 2009. Retrieved January 5,2010.

20.

^ ab MacManus, Christopher (August 5, 2009)."Sony Finalizes Backwards Compatible MemoryStick XC With 2TB Maximum Capacity"(http://www.sonyinsider.com/2009/08/05/sony-finalizes-backwards-compatible-memory-stick-xc-with-2tb-maximum-capacity/). Sony Insider.Retrieved January 5, 2010.

21.

^ "Sony Compatibility Chart Clie Handhelds"(http://www.sony-asia.com/microsite/memorystick

/comp_chart/Clie_Handhelds.html). Sony-asia.com.Retrieved November 13, 2011.

22.

^ "Trusted Review Sony Ericsson DroppingMemory Stick Micro"(http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/Exclusive--Sony-Ericsson-Dropping-Memory-Stick-Micro).Trustedreviews.com. Retrieved November 13,2011.

23.

^ "Sandisk and Sony to expand "Memory stickpro" and "Memory stick micro" formats"(http://www.sandisk.com/about-sandisk/press-room/press-releases/2009/2009-01-07-sandisk-and-sony-to-expand-%E2%80%9Cmemory-stick-pro%E2%80%9D-and-%E2%80%9Cmemory-stick-micro%E2%80%9D-formats). SanDisk. January 7,2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.

24.

^ POSTED BY Christopher MacManus."Sonyinsider.com" (http://www.sonyinsider.com

/2009/08/05/sony-finalizes-backwards-compatible-memory-stick-xc-with-2tb-maximum-capacity/).Sonyinsider.com. Retrieved November 13, 2011.

25.

^ "Windows FAT32 Formatting"(http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-

vista/Convert-a-hard-disk-or-partition-to-FAT32-format). Microsoft. Retrieved June 28, 2012.

26.

^ "SanDisk exFAT KB" (http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3389/~/operating-systems-that-support-the-exfat-file-system). Retrieved June

27.


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28, 2012.^ "Oss-formats.org" (https://www.oss-formats.org

/en/memorystick/outline/xc.html). Oss-formats.org.Retrieved November 13, 2011.

28.

^ http://presscentre.sony.co.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=6713

29.

^ "Press Release Sony Announces 16GBMemory Stick PRO Duo with Mark2 certification"(http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer

/digital_imaging/memory_stick/release/32621.html). News.sel.sony.com. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.

30.

External linksSony's official One Stop Site for Formats (https://www.oss-formats.org), with some specifications of theelectrical interface.Memory stick products at Sony Singapore (http://www.sony.com.sg/productcategory/it-ms-memory-stick-media).SanDisk and Sony develop Memory Stick Micro (M2) format (http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo

/News/Press/200509/05-0930E/) SanDisk/Sony press release, September 30, 2005.SanDisk and Sony announce "Memory Stick Pro-HG" (HG) format (http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo

/News/Press/200612/06-1211E/index.html) December 1, 2006.Complete Memory Stick Media Compatibility Information for Sony Digital Cameras(http://esupport.sony.com/perl/support-info.pl?info_id=12) Sony eSupport July 2011.

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