MagicGate
Encyclopedia
MagicGate is a copy-protection
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...

 technology introduced by Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....

 in 1999 as part of the Secure Digital Music Initiative
Secure Digital Music Initiative
Secure Digital Music Initiative was a forum formed in late 1998, composed of more than 200 IT, consumer electronics, security technology, ISP and recording industry companies, ostensibly with the purpose of developing technology specifications that protected the playing, storing and distributing...

 (SDMI). It works by encrypting the content on the device and using MagicGate chips in both the storage device and the reader to enforce control over how files are copied.

MagicGate encryption is used in the memory cards of the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...

 and, , has been introduced into all of Sony's Memory Stick
Memory Stick
Memory Stick is a removable flash memory card format, launched by Sony in October 1998, and is also used in general to describe the whole family of Memory Sticks...

 products. Some devices, such as Sony's Network Walkman, will only accept Memory Sticks which use MagicGate technology.

All Memory Stick Duo cards equipped with MagicGate can be identified by a notch located on the rear end of the card.

Support

Few (USB or PCMCIA) Memory Stick compatible card reader
Card reader
A card reader is a data input device that reads data from a card-shaped storage medium. Historically, paper or cardboard punched cards were used throughout the first several decades of the computer industry to store information and programs for computer system, and were read by punched card readers...

s actually support secure MagicGate. Though it seems most manufacturers list Memory Stick Pro/Pro Duo (MG) compatibility (with MG meaning MagicGate) it seems they don't necessarily support the security portion of MagicGate (even Sony itself does not on certain readers) so caution is to be advised when purchasing a card reader/writer for use with SonicStage
SonicStage
SonicStage is the name for Sony software that is used for managing portable devices when they are plugged into a computer running Microsoft Windows. It comprises a music player and library manager, similar to iTunes, Windows Media Player and RealPlayer. It is used to manage the library of ATRAC...

 (Sony CONNECT). Non-MagicGate memory card reader/writers do not show up in SonicStage, with the notable exception of Sony Ericsson phones.

Current Sony devices that support MagicGate DRM as of summer 2007:
  • Most Memory Stick capable Sony VAIO notebooks and desktops
  • PlayStation Portable – The PlayStation Portable in service mode will only boot to Memory Sticks with MagicGate enabled
  • PlayStation 3
  • MSAC-US40 USB Memory Stick Card Reader/Writer.
  • PlayStation 2


Current Sony Devices that do not support MagicGate DRM as of summer 2007:
  • All U.S. Sony Ericsson phones – most Sony Ericsson phones should show up in SonicStage for MP3/AAC transfer
  • VGP-MCA10 PCMCIA Card Reader/Writer – does not sport the MagicGate logo
  • Sony 17 in 1 Card Reader/Writer MRW62E/S1/181
  • Sony AVCHD
    AVCHD
    AVCHD is a file-based format for the digital recording and playback of high-definition video....

     camcorders such as HDR-UX5/UX7


Current Sony Devices that do not support MagicGate DRM as of summer 2007, but the support may be possible via future firmware updates:
  • Mylo
    Mylo (Sony)
    My Life Online is a device created and marketed by Sony for portable instant messaging and other Internet-based communications, browsing Internet web sites and playback and sharing of media files. The pocket-sized, tablet-shaped handheld device has a screen which slides up to reveal a QWERTY...

    Personal Communicator – Mylo's 1GB internal memory can be used with SonicStage and supports OpenMG
  • Sony Portable e-Reader PRS-500 & PRS-600 – may show up in SonicStage for MP3/AAC transfer.

State of DRM

As of June 2009, the future of MagicGate DRM is unknown. MagicGate slots are still a part of the default Vaio configuration as of May 2010; however, in March of 2009 Sony Electronics announced they were phasing out the Sony CONNECT service in favor of Windows Media Audio & Windows Media DRM, though they have not officially announced plans to continue a Windows Media DRM music service, either. The continued development of the SonicStage software past version 4.3 and support for MagicGate DRM is as yet unknown.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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