Overview

---

• A MiniDisc (MD) is a disc-based data storage device intended for storage of digitized audio.
• The recording is performed by a magnetic recording head,
  and requires an increased amount of (battery) power (laser in write mode).
• The playback is done by the laser alone, similar to a CD player.
• The technology was announced by Sony in 1991 and introduced January 12 1992,
  and is capable of storing any kind of binary data.
• It is based on ATRAC/ATRAC3, using various bitrates, and sampling directly from the analog input.
• It includes a digital rights system for recording from the digital (optical) input.
• Some modern recorders have USB connectors but require special software for operation.
• Standard discs can store 80 minutes of recordings (or indeed a few minutes less).

Market history

---

Along with Philips and Matsushita' Digital Compact Cassette (DCC) system, the MiniDisc was targeted as a replacement for analogue cassette tapes as the recording system for Hi-Fi equipment but, as a consumer format, MiniDisc has met with only limited success, though it has enjoyed a loyal niche following in some circles. It did not catch on in the U.S. and Europe as well as Sony had hoped; in Japan, it is still relatively popular, though quickly being replaced by flash and HDD-based audio players like Apple's iPod. The low initial uptake of the format was attributed to the small number of pre-recorded albums available on MD as a relatively small number of publishers embraced the format. The initial high cost of equipment was also a factor. The pre-recorded disks disappeared from the market rather suddenly — coincidentally, once the cost of a blank disc plus the cost of the compact disc version became less than the cost of the equivalent pre-recorded minidisc.

The company avoided the mistake that it had made in the 1970s with the Betamax video recording system, and this time licensed the MD technology to other manufacturers, with JVC, Sharp, Pioneer, Panasonic and others all producing their own MD systems. In recent years MiniDisc has faced new competition from CD-Recordable, solid-state memory recording (flash memory), and hard disk recording, while the popularity of traditional cassette tape refuses to wane in certain quarters. MiniDisc is widely respected as being a very reliable format when it comes to portable audio storage, such as field recording.

More on [ MiniDisc ]

NYT > Dining & Wine

Choice Tables: Alive and Evolving: the Paris Bistro
By MARK BITTMAN Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:01:59 -0000
Offering reliable and affordable food, the bistro choices are better than they have been in years.
Journeys: Japanese Baseball: Root, Root, Root and Buy Me Some Eel
By INGRID K. WILLIAMS Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:03:42 -0000
Attending a baseball game provides an illuminating peek into Japanese culture and an opportunity to taste some culinary curiosities.
Explorer: Tasting Slovenian Cuisine Right at the Source
By HANNAH WALLACE Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:10:28 -0000
The Karst, in the country’s southwest region, is known for its gastronomic heritage and family farms that welcome travelers.
Bites: Restaurant Review: BioMio, Copenhagen
By SALLY McGRANE Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:03:03 -0000
The dishes at this entirely organic restaurant are vegetable-loaded, simple and tasty.
The Minimalist: A New Spin Cycle for the Common Dip
By MARK BITTMAN Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:55:29 -0000
If you substitute “thick purée” for “dip,” the options are limitless — like this one, made from peas, mint and Parmesan.
Field Report: Home Sweet (Urban) Homestead
By CHRISTINE MUHLKE Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:52:50 -0000
A new kind of preservation society attends a D.I.Y. dinner party in Oakland, Calif.

YBW News

Sneak Preview of Alinghi Cat
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:58:12 -0000
America's Cup Defender reveals its secret cat in Switzerland. Matthew Sheahan was there
Revolutionary eco-ship design
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:37:27 -0000
Plans have been revealed for a revolutionary new breed of eco-friendly cargo ships.
Shoretalk: This Week's Programme Now Online
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:17:28 -0000
In his final report from the Volvo Ocean Race 08-09, Guy Swindells looks back at the race with the three top placed skippers

RSS - Hot Flashes Climbing News

Hard New Route in Alaska's Hayes Range
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:36:00 -0500
7/03/09 - Samuel Johnson and Matt Klick made the first ascent of the northern ridge on 11,140-foot Mt. Balchen in Alaska’s Hayes Range in a lightweight two-day climb.
Two New Routes in Alaska Range
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:58:00 -0500
7/02/09 - British climbers James Clapham and Gavin Pike climbed new routes on Peak 11,300' and Mt. Church in the Ruth Gorge area of the Alaska Range.
12 Year Old Girl Climbs 5.13c/d
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:20:00 -0500
7/02/09 - Zhenja Kazbekova, a 12-year-old Ukrainian girl, has climbed New Kenigsberg (8a+/8b or 5.13c/d) at the Krasny Kamen or “Red Stone” sector, in Crimea, southern Ukraine. This would make her the youngest girl redpoint a route of this grade.

Planenews Aviation News Portal

Drink Guinness, Win a Space Flight.
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:04:17 -0400
Belly up to the space bar boys. The dark beer masters are serving up a wild contest that will let two lucky people ride for free aboard the suborbital Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo spacecraft...
World's Only Flying Pitcairn PA-18 Arrives in Oshkosh.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:11:55 -0400
Around this time last year, Jack and Kate Tiffany, of Spring Hill, Ohio, Jim Hammond, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and the crew of Leading Edge Restorations were anticipating the flight of the recently restored Pitcairn PA-18 Autogiro to Oshkosh for AirVenture 2008. However, the rotor blades were significantly damaged during testing about a week prior to Oshkosh and the flight had to be called off...
Marines Fly First MV-22 Osprey MEDEVAC.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:11:28 -0400
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit made history June 25 when it used two MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced) to conduct a ship-to-shore emergency medical evacuation of a Sailor from the USS Bataan...

msnbc.com: Pet health

Poll: Americans consider pets family
Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:50:16 -0000
Susan Jacobs and her companion Kingston both like chicken and collards, chilling on the couch and riding in her convertible with the breeze tussling his curly black hair.
Dogs being trained to sniff out diabetes
Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:29:30 -0000
Dogs are being trained in Britain as potential life-savers to warn diabetic owners when their blood sugar levels fall to dangerously low levels.
Couple pleads guilty in toxic pet food case
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:54:12 -0000
A Las Vegas-based company and its owners have pleaded guilty to distributing a tainted ingredient used to make pet food that killed potentially thousands of animals.

Subscribe to Recreation RSS feed