It's the end of the road for MiniDisc
Sony will make its last MiniDisc hi-fi system in March, bringing an end to the format which it launched in 1992. It ceased production of MiniDisc Walkmans in 2011.
The Japanese firm had hoped at the time that MiniDisc would become the digital recording format of choice to replace analogue cassette, but it faced a format war with Philips's rival Digital Compact Cassette (DCC) system, and neither ever really took off.
MiniDiscs initially offered 74 minutes recording time, and this was later increased to 80 minutes. Data was stored on re-writable magneto-optical disks 2.5in (64mm) in diameter, and housed in a square plastic shell.
In other news from Sony, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the successor to the PlayStation 3 games console will be revealed at a New York press conference on February 20th.
A teaser video has been released by the firm promoting a PlayStation event with the slogan "Be the first to know".
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Comments
I really liked the MD format. Was great for use in the car, you could just take the disk out, chuck it on the seat and put another one in!
iPod have HORRIBLE sound quality! Never ever buy one! There are much better option out now. FLAC forever!
I thought that too, cannot believe they are still making them!
I've got a Sony "NET MD" portable at home. the screws all rattled loose from the casing on a bumpy 4x4 drive in Morocco and I never screwed it back together. Bought my first iPod when I got back. Think it was Jan 2006.
Same here.... A fully working deck with over 200 pieces of MDs... Hook it up to modern DAC and it still sounds good.
I still got a full working Mini disc player.. really good format I think.. killed by ipod
Haven't seen them for years. Thought they had already ceased production. Though I seen to recall something like them (using less compression???) being used for audio 'packages' in local radio.
The saddest day for me now....