Editing Memory Stick (section)

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

=== Memory Stick ===
[[File:Memory Stick Front and Back.jpg|thumb|The original Memory Stick]]
[[File:MSG-128A.jpg|thumb|Sony Memory Stick with MagicGate]]
Introduced in July 1998. The original Memory Stick is approximately the size and thickness of a stick of chewing gum. It was available in capacities from 4&nbsp;MB to 128&nbsp;MB (1 MB = one million bytes). It was available both with and without [[MagicGate]] support. The MagicGate-capable memory sticks were white-colored, while the standard version was purple. The original Memory Stick is no longer manufactured.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

=== Memory Stick Select ===
[[File:Memory Stick Select.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Lexar]] 256&nbsp;MB Memory Stick Select with memory switch]]
In response to the storage limitations of the original Memory Stick, Sony introduced the '''Memory Stick Select''' at [[Consumer Electronics Show|CES]] 2003 on January 9.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dpreview.com/articles/8431534296/mspro|title=Sony Memory Stick Pro and Select|website=dpreview.com}}</ref> The Memory Stick Select contained two separate 128&nbsp;MB partitions which the user could switch between using a physical switch on the card. This solution was fairly unpopular, but it did give users of older Memory Stick devices more capacity. Its physical size remained the same as the original Memory Stick.

=== Memory Stick PRO ===
The '''Memory Stick PRO''', introduced on January 9, 2003, as a joint effort between Sony and [[SanDisk]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press_Archive/200306/03-0617E// |title=Sony.net |website=Sony.net |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> would be the longer-lasting solution to the space problem. Most devices that use the original Memory Sticks support both the original and PRO sticks since both formats have identical form factors. Some readers that were not compatible could be upgraded to Memory Stick PRO support via a [[firmware]] update. Memory Stick PROs have a marginally higher transfer speed and a maximum ''theoretical'' capacity of 32 GB,{{efn|reference=In this article the unit symbol 'GB' is used to mean 1000^3 bytes (1 [[gigabyte]])}} although GB-sized capacities of more than 2GB are only available in the PRO Duo form factor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sony Compatibility Chart – Digital Still Camera|url=https://www.sony-asia.com/support/resources/en_AP/html/Compatibility/MemoryStick/Digital_Still_Camera.htm|access-date=2021-04-05|website=Sony-asia.com}}</ref> ''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 high-speed 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. {{As of|2020}}, 512 MB<!--note, not GB--> Memory Stick PRO can be bought.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

=== Memory Stick Duo ===
Introduced in July 2002. The '''Memory Stick Duo''' was developed in response to Sony's need for a smaller flash memory card for pocket-sized digital cameras, cell phones and the [[PlayStation Portable]] (the latter of which supported the Memory Stick PRO Duo variant). It is slightly smaller than the competing [[Secure Digital]] (SD) format and roughly two thirds the length of the standard Memory Stick form factor, but costs more. Memory Stick Duos are available with the same features as the larger standard Memory Stick, available with and without high speed mode, and with and without MagicGate support. The Memory Stick PRO Duo has replaced the Memory Stick Duo due to its 128&nbsp;MB size limitation, but has kept the same form factor as the Duo.

[[File:Memory Stick Duo Adaptor.jpg|thumbnail|right|Memory Stick Duo Adaptor and Memory Stick PRO Duo]]
A simple adapter allows Memory Stick Duo to be used in devices designed to accept the original Memory Stick form factor.

=== Memory Stick PRO Duo ===
[[File:MS-PRO-DUO.JPG|thumb|left|A Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo (2&nbsp;GB)]]
The '''Memory Stick PRO Duo (MSPD)''' quickly replaced the Memory Stick Duo due to the Duo's size limitation of 128&nbsp;MB and slow transfer speed. Memory Stick PRO Duos are available in all the same variants as the larger Memory Stick PRO, with and without High Speed mode, and with and without MagicGate support.

Sony has released different versions of Memory Stick PRO Duo. A Memory Stick PRO Duo with MagicGate was released as a 512&nbsp;MB stick.{{Citation needed|reason=Existing citation link no longer valid|date=February 2020}} Additionally, a 16&nbsp;GB version in March 2008 and another a 32&nbsp;GB version on August 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/08/21/sony-bumps-the-memory-stick-pro-duo-capacity-up-to-32gb/ |title=Crunchgear.com |website=Crunchgear.com |date=August 21, 2009 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> In 2009, Sony and SanDisk also announced the joint development of an expanded Memory Stick PRO format tentatively named "Memory Stick PRO Format for Extended High Capacity".<ref name="techon">{{cite web|url=http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090108/163799/|title=SanDisk, Sony to Expand Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick Micro Formats|publisher=Nikkei Business Publications|date=January 8, 2009|access-date=January 5, 2010}}</ref> Sony has since finalized the format and released its specification under the new name, ''Memory Stick XC'' (see below).<ref name="sonyinsider">{{cite web|url=http://www.sonyinsider.com/2009/08/05/sony-finalizes-backwards-compatible-memory-stick-xc-with-2tb-maximum-capacity/|title=Sony Finalizes Backwards Compatible Memory Stick XC With 2TB Maximum Capacity|last=MacManus|first=Christopher|date=August 5, 2009|website=Sonyinsider.com|access-date=January 5, 2010}}</ref>

There exist adapters for those who want to use microSD cards, on devices that only support Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, that allows those to use the storage on a microSD for files on the device in question.

=== Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo ===
[[File:SDMSHX3-008G-J31.jpg|180px|thumb|PRO-HG Duo (8&nbsp;GB)]]
On December 11, 2006, Sony, together with [[SanDisk]], announced the '''Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo'''. While only serial and 4-bit parallel interfaces are supported in the Memory Stick PRO format, an 8-bit parallel interface was added to the Memory Stick PRO-HG format. Also, the maximum interface clock frequency was increased from 40&nbsp;MHz to 60&nbsp;MHz. With these enhancements, a theoretical transfer rate of 480&nbsp;Mbit/s (60&nbsp;MB/s) is achieved, which is three times faster than the Memory Stick PRO format.

=== Memory Stick Micro (M2) ===
{{Distinguish|text = [[M.2]], a form factor for [[expansion cards]]}}
[[File:Sony Memory Stick Micro M2 - 1GB-0423.jpg|alt=|thumb|90x90px|Memory Stick Micro]]
In a joint venture with [[SanDisk]], Sony released a new Memory Stick format on February 6, 2006. The '''Memory Stick Micro''' ('''M2''') measures 15 × 12.5 × 1.2&nbsp;mm (roughly one-quarter the size of the Duo) with 64&nbsp;MB, 128&nbsp;MB, 256&nbsp;MB, 512&nbsp;MB, 1&nbsp;GB, 2&nbsp;GB, 4&nbsp;GB, 8&nbsp;GB, and 16&nbsp;GB capacities available. The format has a theoretical limit of 32&nbsp;GB and maximum transfer speed of 160&nbsp;Mbit/s. However, as with the ''PRO Duo'' format, it has been expanded through the ''XC'' series as ''Memory Stick XC Micro'' and ''Memory Stick XC-HG Micro'', both with the ''theoretical'' maximum capacity of 2&nbsp;TB.<ref name="sonyinsider" />{{efn|reference=In this article the unit symbol 'TB' is used to mean 1000^4 bytes (1 [[terabyte]])}}

The M2 comes with an adapter, much like the Duo Sticks, to ensure physical compatibility with Memory Stick PRO devices. However, not all devices with a PRO slot are compatible with the M2/Adapter combination, as the firmware of older devices don't support the higher capacity of some M2 cards. One example is certain [[Sony CLIÉ]] [[Personal digital assistant|PDA]]s which don't support cards larger than 2&nbsp;GB.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sony-asia.com/microsite/memorystick/comp_chart/Clie_Handhelds.html |title=Sony Compatibility Chart – Clie Handhelds |website=Sony-asia.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref>

Sony announced on June 1, 2009, that M2 support in [[Sony Ericsson]] phones would be dropped in favor of [[microSD]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/Exclusive--Sony-Ericsson-Dropping-Memory-Stick-Micro |title=Trusted Review – Sony Ericsson Dropping Memory Stick Micro |website=Trustedreviews.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref>

The [[Sony RX#RX0 II|Sony DSC-RX0 Mark II]] made a revived usage of M2 slots.

=== 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).<ref>{{cite web
|url=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
|title=Sandisk and Sony to expand "Memory stick pro" and "Memory stick micro" formats
|publisher=SanDisk
|date=January 7, 2009
|access-date=August 12, 2009}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Christopher MacManus |url=http://www.sonyinsider.com/2009/08/05/sony-finalizes-backwards-compatible-memory-stick-xc-with-2tb-maximum-capacity/ |title=Sonyinsider.com |website=Sonyinsider.com |date=August 5, 2009 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> The Memory Stick XC has a maximum ''theoretical'' 2&nbsp;TB capacity, 64 times larger than that of the Memory Stick PRO Duo which is limited to 32&nbsp;GB. XC series has the same form factors as PRO series, and supports MagicGate content protection technology as well as Access Control function as PRO series does. In line with the rest of the industry, 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.<ref name="Windows FAT32 Formatting">{{cite web|title=Windows FAT32 Formatting|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Convert-a-hard-disk-or-partition-to-FAT32-format|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref><ref name="SanDisk exFAT KB">{{cite web|title=SanDisk exFAT KB|url=http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3389/~/operating-systems-that-support-the-exfat-file-system|website=Kb.sandisk.com|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref> A maximum transfer speed of 480&nbsp;Mbit/s (60&nbsp;Mbyte/s) is achieved through 8-bit parallel data transfer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oss-formats.org/en/memorystick/outline/xc.html |title=Oss-formats.org |website=Oss-formats.org |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> No Memory Stick XC cards were released to the market, likely due to domination of [[Secure Digital|SD]] cards; its equivalent here is named [[SDXC]] and eventually became more successful than any other exFAT-based memory card format.

=== Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX ===
Sony announced the release of the Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX on May 17, 2011, which was considered the fastest card ever made by the manufacturer. It measures 20 × 31 × 1.6&nbsp;mm, with 8&nbsp;GB, 16&nbsp;GB, or 32&nbsp;GB versions available. Also, the format offers a maximum transfer speed of 50&nbsp;MB/s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://presscentre.sony.co.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=6713|title=Sony UK – Press Centre|website=Presscentre.sony.co.uk|access-date=December 29, 2021}}</ref>