I really don't think Sony named it the "PIT-IN" on purpose, but the company does have an interesting adaptation of their new Hi-MD technology on the horizon. The PIT-IN is an external drive for using Hi-MD and conventional MD as a data storage medium. Since it connects under the USB Storage class, storing data on MiniDiscs can't get any easier; transferring files to and fro is just "drag-and-drop." Hi-MD discs provide about 1GB of storage, and conventional MD about 305MB. Unfortunately, it cannot act as a portable audio player. But at about 15,000 yen for the drive itself, the PIT-IN provides an interesting alternative to USB flash memory. Assuming it ever gets out of Japan, anyway.

Press Release [Sony]

Contact information for this author is not available.