Beatles go digital for real: Apple Corps and EMI announce limited edition stereo USB drive

November 3, 10:15 AMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

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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