Sony, SanDisk announce plans for 2TB Memory Sticks, high-speed Memory Stick HG Micro

It's apparently not quite as far along as the newly-announced SDXC card format, but Sony and SanDisk have just announced that they're jointly developing a new Memory Stick format (tentatively dubbed the "Memory Stick format for Extended High Capacity") that'll reach the same dizzying 2TB heights as its SD counterpart. There's no more details on the format beyond that, unfortunately, but the pair has also announced that they're working on a new Memory Stick HG Micro format as well, which promises to boast a blazing 60MBps maximum data transfer speed. That's made possible, in part, thanks to a new 8-bit parallel interface with an increased 60MHz interface clock frequency. Sadly, there's no indication of a release date either of 'em, with the companies only going so far as to say that format licensing for both new formats is "scheduled to start in 2009."

[Fanfoot @ Jan 8th 2009 7:55PM]

"Sadly, there's no indication of a release date..."

The correct version of this would be:

"Sadly, Sony is continuing to push its proprietary format when it should have given up on it long ago."

[Flashpoint @ Jan 8th 2009 8:10PM]

SONY should take a lesson or two from Apple.

The next PSP (besides having 2 analog sticks, touchscreen cpacitive w/ virtual keyboard and an SSD drive) should mark the END OF UMD and instead, games should be distributed on Memory Sticks.

You then have the choice of playing the game from the stick - or uploading it to the SSD and playing it from there. At least you still have your physical media to hold onto.

If the Memory stick distribution is a bad idea, then an APP STORE-like SONY store should be available via Wifi for you to download entire new games - for a price - to the PSP. Of course, downloading 2 or 3GB isn't fast unless you've got CABLE or FIOS, but, I think most of us do - or most of us wouldn't really care if downloads took a couple hours if they had auto resume and could be backed up on our computers like APPS can on itunes.

[PeterF @ Jan 8th 2009 9:03PM]

They aren't going to let you copy the game from what you buy it on onto your system unless it requires the original media to run (like the 360) or else people would just pass games along for free.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 8th 2009 9:47PM]

There is always the possibility the PSP can lock the card's number of uses depending on the PSP's unique code.

Or, you could just go all out downloadable content.

[Taylor @ Jan 9th 2009 12:32AM]

@Flashpoint
"then an APP STORE-like SONY store should be available via Wifi for you to download entire new games"

It's called the Playstation Network, and it does exactly that. I don't own a PSP anymore so I don't know if it has had an update that allows it access to the Network but if not then there is no doubt that it is in the works.

As for the distribution method you mentioned, with games on their own solid state card, there would likely be major savings for developers and far less pain. The one thing they have to worry about though is when you put it in a format that computers can easily connect to you get more people ripping games.

[deedeedee @ Jan 9th 2009 2:41AM]

@Flashpoint
I don't see why you complain about the UMD, i think the format is fine for delivering games. Sony just need to include the option of game installation like on the PS3. i guess im traditional in that sense and still like my games in a physical format instead of digital copies.

[XIYL @ Jan 9th 2009 6:20AM]

@Taylor

PSP firmware 5.0 got actual Playstation Store access and you can download full games strait onto the PSP. They don't have a whole lot of games on there yet and I haven't bought anything from it but I do browse now and again.

[giuliop @ Jan 9th 2009 6:22AM]

"Sadly, Sony is continuing to push its proprietary format when it should have given up on it long ago."

*Exceptionally* well said.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 9th 2009 9:26AM]

Deedeedee
I don't see why you complain about the UMD, i think the format is fine for delivering games. Sony just need to include the option of game installation like on the PS3. i guess im traditional in that sense and still like my games in a physical format instead of digital copies.


I disagree. UMD requires a sizeable cartridge bay which would be better used by an SSD.
On top of that, spinning the disk requires more energy than a solid state memory card would require.

On top of thatIf you were going to install a game from UMD, what would be the point of them? That's why an SSD drive would be better. UMD's hold less than 2 GB and cost more than 3GB memory cards.

[tekdroid @ Jan 10th 2009 9:06AM]

The 'point' of UMD is cheap (and I mean CHEAP) replication for Sony and its partners. It's a low-cost way to distribute 'physical' copies up to 1.8GB. No, not cheaper than downloads, but not everyone downloads. Yes, much cheaper than flash media, and the savings are pocketed on the way, to the tunes of millions. As long as that's true, don't expect them to switch to a higher-cost medium for physical content distribution. I can only see this happening if they *really* want to dispense with optical drive size (and cost) issues on the actual hardware and the market as a whole is very receptive to downloads, which won't happen for ages, IMO.

CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays are with us for a reason: (relatively) cheap replication versus solid-state media of equivalent capacities. Convenience and size sure is great with flash media, but cost is another angle few people talk about; cost on the content producer's side, savings that make a big difference to their profits per unit, which make huge money for them when sold in the millions like they are.

[tekdroid @ Jan 10th 2009 9:12AM]

Flashpoint @ Jan 9th 2009 9:26AM
UMD's hold less than 2 GB and cost more than 3GB memory cards.
-----------
A fair comparison would be blank UMD and blank memory card. There are no blank (or rewritable) UMDs, so in actual fact you are comparing a pressed UMD with content on it (content which costs money to produce, which gives you entertainment, which you pay for, etc) versus a rewritable medium with no content on it.

Totally invalid cost comparison. The manufacturing costs of UMDs are FAR lower than the cost of flash memory of equivalent capacity. That is what makes a difference to the bottom line when you are replicating thousands / millions of these things.

[Electromodo @ Jan 8th 2009 7:58PM]

Good, finally I will not need the computer of NAS to store all my media files!

...though with HD movies and upcoming 3D-TV I suspect we will need more than 2TB... Oh, wait! Then I could buy several 2TB SD cards!!!

[Aguiluz @ Jan 8th 2009 7:59PM]

*stares at my 1GB Sandisk*

Bigger PSP storage? Sure!

[Aguiluz @ Jan 8th 2009 8:00PM]

(OFFTOPIC: Wha.... GRRR... Why did my avatar changed back? >:( I changed it two days ago!)

[creepinshadow @ Jan 8th 2009 7:59PM]

Lol, double post, i saw this just underneath this post?

[Matthew C @ Jan 9th 2009 1:00AM]

Yeah - wasnt this the topic of the previous article?

[BigD145 @ Jan 8th 2009 7:59PM]

A SD to Memory Stick adapter = this ^

[pr_master @ Jan 8th 2009 8:04PM]

A brand new car or a 2TB "Memory Stick Pro Quad format for Extended High Capacity".

You decide...

[ropeburn @ Jan 8th 2009 8:32PM]

lol Murph beat you to it. He totally snaked your scoop! LOL!

[sam @ Jan 8th 2009 8:53PM]

sony stop trying to push memory sticks on us, they are big ugly and propriatory, we dont want them!

Instead we have SDHC and microSD as our current popular flash cards and SDHC XC to come into the mix, we dont want memory stick formats tho, go bury it with mini disc players please.

Apple needs to stop with the whole displayport too! we have hdmi already go away apple.

[CausticOrbit @ Jan 8th 2009 9:07PM]

Little slow today, Engadget. I saw news for this this already and went 'I wonder if Engadget has info on this' just so I could amuse myself with the comments.

BUT NO OH WAIT you are too busy with the Palm Pre. Thus all other news should bow down and be ignored until you make like three or four posts for the exact same gadget in a single day.

[z-man @ Jan 8th 2009 9:54PM]

I WANT 2TB PSP STORAGE BY MAY 26 2009 AT 3:03 PM!!

(Thank you, go about your business now)

[Ryan @ Jan 9th 2009 12:40AM]

uhhh repost?

[Denver_80203 @ Jan 9th 2009 1:39AM]

Please god let this be the end of backup tape libraries. TAPE MUST DIE.

[James Dumoulin @ Jan 9th 2009 7:09AM]

omfg I agree...coding drivers for tape decks is messy business -_-;

[Baozer @ Jan 9th 2009 8:22AM]

I have a feeling that before the day I die, there will be petabyte sized memory cards the size of my thumb.

[Saikisen @ Mar 11th 2009 4:47PM]

and this is affordable?