Sony's advanced 1 GB Memory Stick Pro format offers a glimpse into the future of digital devices when rapid advancements towards the broadband era and fast evolving hardware and software will bring about a rich diversity of advanced applications such as real-time recording of high-resolution moving images on Memory Sticks.

Sony has developed 1 GB Memory Stick Pro format together with SanDisk Corporation to ensure that the information can be captured quickly and abundantly. The 1 GB Memory Stick Pro format integrates new technologies and features including:

High Capacity - On a Memory Stick Pro, users can enjoy and record approximately 16 CDs, 385 JPEG images in 5.0-megapixel quality, that is more than 10 rolls of 24/36 film, 24 minutes of DVD quality video (MPEG2), and six hours of MPEG4 (384 Kbps) moving images.

High Speed - In addition to an improved transfer speed of up to 160 megabits per second (Mbps), an advantage of the Memory Stick Pro format is the minimum write speed of 15 Mbps that can be realized with optimized 1 GB Memory Stick Pro format-compatible devices.

Real-time Recording - 1 GB Memory Stick Pro technology also incorporates software specifically designed to offer real-time recording of data. With compatible devices, users can now rest assured that their Memory Sticks and more importantly, the content on the Memory Stick, will not be compromised when they accidentally remove the card before all of the data has been transferred or recorded.

Data Security - Tentatively dubbed the Access Control Function, the new protection technology has the capability of securing content on the Memory Stick, preventing others from accessing the files in the event the 1 GB Memory Stick Pro memory card is stolen or lost. The Memory Stick Pro format also includes the MagicGate copyright protection technology, which provides secure transfer and playback of commercial and copyrighted content, such as digital music, video and games.