About the “Memory Stick” media

The “Memory Stick” is a small, lightweight IC type storage media that can hold considerably more data than a conventional floppy disk. It can serve not only to exchange data between two devices with “Memory Stick” slots, but it is also convenient as a removable external media for data storage.

The “Memory Stick” comes in two formats: the standard size “Memory Stick” and the smaller “Memory Stick Duo”. The unit is compatible with both formats.

“Memory Stick” types

There are six different types of “Memory Stick” designed for various applications.

“Memory Stick PRO”

This “Memory Stick” can only be used in equipment compatible with “Memory Stick PRO”. It incorporates a copy protection technology called MagicGate.

“Memory Stick”

This is the regular “Memory Stick”. It can store all kinds of data, except data that requires MagicGate copy protection.

“Memory Stick” (MagicGate/High-speed transfer compatible)

This type of “Memory Stick” incorporates the MagicGate copy protection and supports high-speed transfers. It can be used in all devices that support the “Memory Stick”. The unit does not support high-speed transfers.

“MagicGate Memory Stick”

This type of “Memory Stick” incorporates the MagicGate copy protection.

“Memory Stick-ROM”

This is a read-only type of “Memory Stick” that contains prerecorded data that cannot be deleted or overwritten.

“Memory Stick” (with the Memory Select function)

This “Memory Stick” has a number of separately addressable internal memory blocks (128 MB). The Memory Select switch at the rear of this type of “Memory Stick” lets you select the desired memory. It is not possible to use multiple blocks simultaneously or continuously.

What is MagicGate?

MagicGate is a copyright protection technology that must be present in the “Memory Stick” and on the device where it is to be used. MagicGate incorporates two security features: encryption of copy-protected data, and mutual verification of the “Memory Stick” and reader device. This serves to prevent the unauthorized copy and playback of copyrighted material. Because the HDD Photo Storage does not come with MagicGate, it cannot use data encrypted with MagicGate.

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