Memory Stick and the TH55

[Moose Man]

Here is a footnote for the TH55 and memory stick: Memory Stick media (sold separately) is required for playing back audio and video content. Supports ATRAC3 secure audio content only when used with MagicGate Memory Stick media in capacities up to 128 MB. Tested to support Memory Stick Pro media capacities up to 1GB, does not support high speed transfer, does not support access control security function, and does not support MagicGate copyright protection in Memory Stick PRO media.

I've ordered a TH55 and would appreciate some help with this "note".

The way I read it I can use a 1GB memory pro stick but can't use a magicgate style -----does this mean that I can't record CD's or MP3's or does it mean that I just can't use Sony's ATRAC3 system of recording with a Memory Stick Pro?

Thanks for any help on this issue since I'm not that good with the whole memory stick issue and Sony's - it's never been an issue on the Palm side. :)

[Icthus]

Originally posted by Moose Man
...does this mean that I can't record CD's or MP3's or does it mean that I just can't use Sony's ATRAC3 system of recording with a Memory Stick Pro?....

You can put as many mp3s as you want on a memory stick pro. I believe you have to use the magicgate to play ATRAC3, but I have never bothered messing with this. If you have a memory stick, or memory stick pro, and want to use mp3s, it will work just fine.

[bscherokman]

I currently have a Tungsten E and have ordered the TH55 from BB. I know nothing about memory sticks. Any suggestions on which type is the best to get. I probably will need a 256 or 512. Thanks for the help.

[xynos]

You're probably better off with a Memory Stick Pro - it can be used with the newer products from Sony, like their cameras and computers.

[uwilloz2me]

I have a 128 Magicgate MS and it works great with my MP3's.

[Pharoz]

There are 4 different types of memory stick available.
The most common is the blue stick, which can only support up to 128mb. The others are memory stick PRO(holds up to 1GB), memory stick DUO(half the size of a regular memory stick and holds up to 512mb, but only 256mb available at a time, which is controlled by a slide on the stick), and MagicGate Memory stick(color is white and holds up to 128mb, but is also able to play sony proprietary ATRAC3 format, which is a more efficient compression scheme for MP3).

More info can be obtained at
http://memorystick.org/eng/aboutms/family.html

[Moose Man]

Thanks for the quick info and the links.

I remember my T615 from two years ago and thought that the ATRAC compression was the only real issue with using MagicGate sticks.

My only offering at this time - I've had bad luck with SanDisk SD cards as noted on my T3 and iQue so I'll stay away from them.

Thanks again for the help - I wanted to have a good card by the time my TH55 gets here so I can immediately transfer the stuff from my T3.

Pharoz - I had googled for memory stick and didn't get that link so a special thanks to you.

[FETT]

Go for the MS PRO, I owned a 128 Magic Gate and never used the atrac3 format. Too lazy to convert all my music to atrac3.

[skccs]

Originally posted by Moose Man
Here is a footnote for the TH55 and memory stick:

I've ordered a TH55 and would appreciate some help with this "note".

The way I read it I can use a 1GB memory pro stick but can't use a magicgate style -----does this mean that I can't record CD's or MP3's or does it mean that I just can't use Sony's ATRAC3 system of recording with a Memory Stick Pro?

Thanks for any help on this issue since I'm not that good with the whole memory stick issue and Sony's - it's never been an issue on the Palm side. :)

Reading the second part of this footnote makes me really get strange feelings!!?? I got my MSPRO not only because of the larger amount of memory, but because of its higher data trasfer (read/write) speed (sony's development of memory expansion was here clearly behind the sd-cards until the MSPRO came out) and now this means that they did build in a cheap ms-slot which can not use the highter speed of my memory-stick !!! Who could have came to thoughts like that, aarghhh!

[bscherokman]

So if the TH55 will not take advantage of the faster rates for the MSPRO then we could pay less and just get the regular MS. Is that correct?

[xynos]

the regular MS stops at 128mb. If you're content with that limit, then yes, by all means,get the regular MS.

[jumpyg]

the regular MS stops at 128mb. If you're content with that limit, then yes, by all means,get the regular MS.

Not quite. Several vendors sell a Memory Stick Select, with two 128 MB modules on the same stick. The only hitch is you have to slide a little button to switch between the modules.

[xynos]

effectively its still a 128mb memory stick :P

[izadwen]

It's the same for the UX50 - why all the fuss?

[izadwen]

Actually I looked at the NX80 and the NZ - ALL have the same statement.

[xynos]

Actually, that was what I asked from winexprt since I was wondering which machine can take advantage of the extra speed on the MS Pro.

[skccs]

ahaaaa! I didn't remark that the same is true for the previous clies. Strange.

[Moose Man]

Having dealings with an iQue 3600 from Garmin and their SD reading speeds - there is a big difference in the refresh of the maps on the Que based upon the speed of the SD card. Noticeable depending upon the various SD card manufacturers.

Althought the TH55 doesn't appear to support high speed transfers - I'd have to say that it's still an advantage to get the Pro card especially if I decide to get a MS card reader/wirter in addition to the Th55. Then the card reader/writer would be able to utilize the effective high speed capabilities of the Pro card.

Now here is another question?

The footnote states that it only supports ATRAC Magic Gate up to 128MB - ok that's fine because at the time of the TH55 release annoucment that was the largest MG card available - but Sony has since released news of pending larger cards in the new "cobalt blue" color scheme that will go up to 256MB.....now was the limitation part of the hardware/software or was it strictly a design limitation of the previously smaller MG cards?

I think what I'll do is order a 512 Pro for my needs and if I can record ATRAC to it above the 128MB limit fine - if not fine as well. I have Sonic Stage already and should be able to exceed the limit once I've got some method of mounting it to the PC either a MS Card reader/writer or through the TH55 as well.

One other quick note - SonyStyle officially doesn't have an expected ship date for my TH55 - I'll advise when they do.

[orol]

I have UX50 and there the MS PRO is cca 4 times faster then the regular "blue" MS ..

[UKClieBoy]

Moose Man - You cannot use atrac files from Sonicstage with Pro sticks, only mp3 files. Only the old Magicgate sticks will work (white ones, upto 128 Mb capacity) with atrac.

The new 256 (2 x 128) Cobalt blue card MAY support atrac, but no-one has tried this yet!

[7ma?]

sorry if this is a stupid question, but will the MS duo work with the th-55?

[Gazpacho]

Originally posted by 7ma?
sorry if this is a stupid question, but will the MS duo work with the th-55?

Nope. Not without the adapter.

[Moose Man]

Originally posted by UKClieBoy
Moose Man - You cannot use atrac files from Sonicstage with Pro sticks, only mp3 files. Only the old Magicgate sticks will work (white ones, upto 128 Mb capacity) with atrac.

The new 256 (2 x 128) Cobalt blue card MAY support atrac, but no-one has tried this yet!

Thanks - I meant to state that I was simply going to try it. If it worked great - if it didn't fine I'll stick with MP3 format. I'd rather have more memory then songs and I'll probably end up using the 512 Pro for data, photos etc and couple it with several of the newer Cobalt Blue MS MG compatible 256MB for music later down the road......


This whole MS scenario is confusing to us converting Palm'ers. I mean SD is SD other than the VFS speed......;)


EDIT: Flash-memory-store.com sells a Lexar MSPro 1GB card with Magic Gate for $529....I wonder even though the footnote states the 128MB limit, why wouldn't this 128 limit be extended if the card itself is 1GB or even 512MB and Magic Gate enabled?

[7ma?]

Originally posted by Gazpacho


Nope. Not without the adapter.

when i buy a MS duo does it come with the adapter?

[bscherokman]

I know that with SD cards for Palm San Disk is very slow and not worth the money saved. I noticed that the San Disk Memory Stick Pro 512 is about $100 less than the Lexar. Is a San Disk Memory Stick Pro bad and something I should stay away from?

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by 7ma?


when i buy a MS duo does it come with the adapter?

Yes. Every Duo I've seen on sale (at SonyStyle and other places) includes an adapter.

[Unregistered]

Oh, and CLIEs probably cannot support the fastest MSPro speeds due to battery drain issues.

The real beauty of higher xfer speeds comes when you use an MSPro r/w with a USB port. To xfer MP3s to your CLIE, you'd be better off dumping them directly to the Stick instead of using MS Import or whatever.

[bcringo]

Originally posted by bscherokman
I know that with SD cards for Palm San Disk is very slow and not worth the money saved. I noticed that the San Disk Memory Stick Pro 512 is about $100 less than the Lexar. Is a San Disk Memory Stick Pro bad and something I should stay away from?

Does anybody have any advice on this question? Buy.com has the San Disk 512mb MS pro for 156.78
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10345434&hdwt=30421&loc=101&sp=1

Is this a good MS or should we stay away?

[ckhalleran]

I'm a PDA newbie so please forgive my dumb question as I wait for my TH55 to ship. With a MS Pro, does the Magicgate feature prevent you from taking MP3's that I've ripped from my own CD's, and copying them (via USB?) from my PC to the TH55's memory stick... the Magicgate feature isn't going to think I'm violating a copyright and not play my MP3? Thanks, Chris