The Beatles Stereo 16GB USB drive. (Credit: Apple Corps Ltd./EMI Music)
The Beatles have taken the first move to real digital distribution. In a surprise move, Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music announced Tuesday they will release a limited edition of 30,000 Beatles stereo USB apples on Dec. 7 in most of the world, except North America, where they will be available Dec. 8. A price on the drive was not initially available, but the Beatles Official Store has it listed for $279.99 USD or 200 British pounds.
The apple-shaped Beatles Stereo USB Drive, pictured above, will feature re-mastered audio for the Beatles’ 14 stereo titles, as well as all of the re-mastered CDs’ visual elements, including 13 mini-documentary films about the studio albums, replicated original UK album art, rare photos and expanded liner notes. A specially designed Flash interface has been installed, and the 16GB USB’s audio and visual contents will be provided in FLAC 44.1 Khz 24 bit and MP3 320 Kbps formats, fully compatible with PC and Mac.
The statement announcing the USB release also said "discussions regarding the digital distribution of The Beatles catalogue will continue. There is no further information available at this time." But the release of these USB drives opens the door to a digital release, either on iTunes or elsewhere.
For further reading:
- Beatles Stereo USB Drive now available for $239
- Baby, you can buy my drive: With surprise announcement, Beatles go their own way digitally
Comments
Aww it looks so cute. But I guess it won't be cheap.
16MB? Don't you think it was 16GB instead? 16Mb would be way too small to hold all that digital information.
Only 30,000? God I can only imagine how expensive this will be...COME ON APPLE!
Ken: No, it's 16GB. Just got a correction. Thanks for noticing.
They should make more 30,000 at least they are in FLAC and not just mp3 hopefully The Beatles coming to iTunes in the future will push them into lossless downloads.
Thanks Steve... I'd be interested if Apple pushed the sonic envelope and went higher in resolution for greater fidelity. At the same time I think that this is the way digital distribution is going; smaller packaging, greater utility. The only thing I wish they would do is include an oggdrop utility for Linux users.
On the uk store it says 100 only, £200 each.
Odd that they'd release this in N. America on the day John was gunned down, no?
It says it will be provided at FLAC 44.1 Khz 24 bit. I know FLAC is lossless, but how does that compare to the CDs? If I ripped the CDs using iTunes and Apple's lossless, what would be the difference? And while most people probably wouldn't notice the audible difference, that's not my question. I just want to know what the theoretical difference is if anybody knows.
The apple looks cute, I'll have to hang one from my Christmas tree.
I don't like the release date. Too creepy.
US store says $279.00
why bother i have the cd's !! who's cares
From glorious vinyl to CD to this...I shudder to think what the next format will one day be (funny how the price increases while each format grows smaller and smaller).
"But the release of these USB drives opens the door to a digital release, either on iTunes or elsewhere."
The Beatles' music has been available digitally since 1987.
I can't tell you how little I care about this. I have bought this music on vinyl multiple times - I played the albums and 45s so often they wore out - on CDs, and then on Capitol version CDs, and the re-masters. The difference in between the re-masters and the un-remastered music is so slight it wasn't worth the $200+ investment. I'm not investing in this materil again.
Frank Caesar Branchini says:
I can't tell you how little I care about this. I have bought this music on vinyl multiple times - I played the albums and 45s so often they wore out - on CDs, and then on Capitol version CDs, and the re-masters. The difference in between the re-masters and the un-remastered music is so slight it wasn't worth the $200+ investment. I'm not investing in this materil again.
I agree... This is a total sham on Beatles fans. I am so glad that I didn't jump on the remaster bandwagon. I have been saying this all along.
Yes it's a gimmick but if you passed on the remastered CDs you passed on something wonderful. Rather tan this they should have co-opped with Apply Inc for a Beatle branded iPod all loaded. They would have gotten a ton more publicity and buyers.
An interesting object, and I don't just mean its shape, but it seems flawed to me. 24-bit lossless audio: great for audiophiles. MP3 files: great for people with portable music players. But wouldn't both those groups tend to prefer the mono versions? The audiophiles because mono is What God- sorry, The Beatles Intended, and people who listen on the go because the mono mixes are more comfortable on earphones.
24 bit flac audio will be *significantly* superior to the 16 bit audio on the remastered CDs. that really is a huge difference.
would have been nice to have the choice on 9/9/09!
This is a way for the Beatles to get all the profit for the downloads. That's the bottom line.
I wouldn't hold my breath for I-Tunes either. Besides, the new CDs are enough for me.
FLACs ripped from standard CDs are 16 bit quality. 24 bit quality is equal to a DVD-A or SACD version. It will NOT be possible to make CDs from these FLACs, only DVDs. But as pointed out, the only possibly better-sounding version than this would be a pristine copy of original vinyl.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!