SanDisk and Sony today announced the development of the "Memory Stick PRO-HG" format expanded from the "Memory Stick PRO" format.

"Memory Stick PRO-HG" media uses an enhanced, 8-bit parallel interface in addition to a conventional serial and 4-bit parallel interface. Maximum data transfer speed will be increased up to 480Mbps, or 60MB/s (theoretical value), three times as fast as that of “Memory Stick PRO” media. The minimum write speed at 8-bit parallel transfer is 120 Mbps, or 15MB/s;. These enhancements allow large data amounts of up to several gigabytes to be quickly transferred, as well as the real-time recording of high-resolution video and still images.

Since “Memory Stick PRO-HG” is an extended format of the “Memory Stick PRO” format, “Memory Stick PRO-HG” compliant host devices support the conventional “Memory Stick PRO” media as well as “Memory Stick PRO-HG” media. In addition, the “Memory Stick PRO-HG” media can be used conventional “Memory Stick PRO” compliant host devices as well as “Memory Stick PRO-HG” compliant host devices.

Major Specifications of Memory Stick PRO-HG

• Dimensions: Duo size (31 x 20 x 1.6) mm
• Connector Pin: 14-pin
• Capacity: 32GB (format maximum)
• Max. Data Transfer Rate: 480 Mbps (theoretical)
• Min. Write Speed: 120 Mbps (As of 8-bit parallel transfer), 40 Mbps (As of 4-bit parallel transfer)
• Operating Voltage: 2.7 to 3.6 V
• Interface: 8-bit / 4-bit parallel I/F and Serial I/F
• Max. Clock frequency: 60MHz