Memory Stick is a format for removable flash memory data storage devices, created by Sony in October 1998 as an alternative to CompactFlash, Secure Digital, Multi Media Card, and SmartMedia for use in their own devices. While Sony uses the format almost exclusively, it has not proved popular with other manufacturers.

The original standard was about 50% longer than a Multi Media Card and slightly thicker; Sony advertising describes it as "about the size of a stick of gum". It has since been joined by a smaller standard, Memory Stick Duo, which is half as long. Both of the original Memory Stick formats were a shade of purple (The DRM MagicGate variants are white).

The original Memory Stick interface could only address 128 MB of memory physically. This led to the introduction of Memory Stick PRO variant with faster transfer speeds and a capacity of 256 MB and higher. Likewise, there's a Memory Stick PRO Duo with the faster speed and higher capacity but the same smaller form factor as Memory Stick Duo.

In typical use Memory Stick is used as a storage media on a portable device, and the contents are then transferred to a computer. Since Sony is a major copyright holder in the music industry, some newer Memory Sticks have added an encryption system, MagicGate, in order to block moving content between more than one computer.

For example, a Sony digital camera will store images onto a memory stick. The memory stick may be removed and plugged into a computer or printer with an appropriate slot so the images may be transferred to the computer or printed. However if the content was written to the Memory Stick using software aware of MagicGate (like music "burning" software), that content cannot then be moved to another machine.

Sony is slowly phasing out the old purple and white Memory Sticks, replacing them with comparable technology based on the MS PRO specs. To add to the confusion, SanDisk has released a few new types of Memory Stick which they claim have faster transfer rates and higher tolerances for operating in "extreme" environments.

Specifications

Standard transfer speeds

• max write speed - 14.4 Mbit/s (1.8 MB/s)
• max read speed - 19.6 Mbit/s (2.5 MB/s)

PRO transfer speeds

• Transfer: 160 Mbit/s (20 MB/s)
• Minimum write speed: 15 Mbit/s

Form Factors

• Standard: : 50.0 mm (W) x 21.5 mm (H) x 2.8 mm (D)
• Duo: 31.0 mm (W) x 20.0 mm (H) x 1.6 mm (D)

See also: removable media

External link

• Memory Stick FAQ (http://www.memorystick.com/en/support/faq.html)

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