Beatles catalog comes to USB

(Credit: The Beatles)

No, the digitally remastered Beatles catalog hasn't come to Apple's iTunes. But it has come to an apple-shaped USB device.

Retailing for $279.99, the collection will be released December 8 in North America, three months after the September 9 release of the remastered set of the band's albums (as well as The Beatles: Rock Band video game). The apple shape is in reference to Apple Corps, the Beatles music publisher--which in the past, you may recall, sued tech giant Apple in a trademark dispute.

(Credit: The Official Beatles Shop)

When the release of the remastered Beatles catalog and Rock Band game were announced for September 9, 2009 (the band has a song called "Revolution 9"), speculation arose that a concurrently scheduled Apple Inc. announcement might bring the catalog, still unavailable for digital download on the Web, to iTunes. That didn't happen. But with the release of the USB collection, the albums are available in non-CD digital form for the first time.

In addition to MP3 and FLAC versions of 14 stereo titles, according to a release, the 16GB device contains "all of the remastered CDs' visual elements, including 13 mini-documentary films about the studio albums, replicated original UK album art, rare photos and expanded liner notes."

Correction 10:45 a.m. PST: This story initially misstated the release date. It is December 8 in North America. Also, the type of lawsuit Apple Corps filed against Apple Inc. has been corrected. It was a trademark dispute.

[Anonymous Hero]

Lossless and album art! This beats the hell out of an iTunes release.

[ikramerica--2008]

All for $280? Twice what an iTunes release would cost... ;)

[PineappleUnderTheSea]

@ikramerica: I think you're correct, the iTunes release will much cheaper, but that's not the way the publisher wants to play right now: maximize revenue by releasing CDs, DVDs, etc etc at full cost until demand goes down substantially. Only then will we see the Beatles on iTunes. This USB stick is a nice little gimmick, what's next, vinyl?

[solitare_pax]

Why are we still harping on the Beatles? They were great in their day, but hey, half the band is dead, and if the rest of them want to ignore the progress of the last quarter-century, that's fine by me.

In any case, I got their CD collection years ago, and added it to my iTunes, just so I didn't lose it in between moves.

[Mergatroid Mania]

@solitare_pax

The world still loves the Beatles because they had more talent in their pinky fingers than all the talent in most bands these days.

Lets face it, can you think of one single band put together in the last 10 years that will have this kind of fuss made about them 50 years from now? Of course not, and not only that but in 50 years from now people will still be "harping on The Beatles". People know talent when they hear it.

[jumpjetta]

Waste of plastic.

[PhaseDMA]

You can't really compare the would be price on iTunes to this. It comes on a 16GB flash drive, and clearly that isn't being considered into the price by most people.

[ikramerica--2008]

And BTW, I'm pretty sure that Apple Records sued for Trademark infringement (what copyright would Apple Computer have infringed on?), and the original settlement involved Apple promising not to create music. When Apple added multi-tone sounds to their computers and audio jacks in technical violation of the settlement, they included one system sound called "Sosumi", and Apple Records did in fact sue them. Because Yoko and Paul are greedy. The second lawsuit, over iTMS, actually had merit. The first was simply greed. Unless one agrees that Apple Records actually could legally trademark ANY image of an Apple, rather than a particular image of an Apple. I don't.

[ewsachse]

Yoko and Paul are greeedy. What about Ringo and Olivia (0George's wife)? As if Steve Jobs is not greedy. He loves fawning fanbois like you.

What is so wrong with The Beatles protecting their intellectual property from others who try to steal their works or trademarks? If the situation was reversed, I bet Apple Computers would sue the pants off a musical group and/or their record company.

[DrtyDogg]

You call Apple records greedy? At least they haven't sued a school for trademark infringement.

[ReasonableGuy]

By the way. The Trademark lawsuit was in England. If in the U.S. the result would likely have been different. The standard on Trademark Infringement in the U.S. then (and now?) is "likelihood of confusion." In other words, would a purchaser of an Apple computer have thought that they were buying something somehow connected to Apple Records? Alternatively Records could have argued "dilution" as in making the Records mark less noticeable and useful. But that would not have gotten anywhere because, after all, it is an apple - a product of nature, a word and shape that already was in wide use - by apple sellers worldwide.

[Mergatroid Mania]

Yeah, I bet the Apple execs are dropping a big fat steamer in their drawers over the Apple Records putting this out in the shape of an Apple. I wish I could have seen the look on their faces when this was announced.

You can bet that the only reason Apple doesn't sue over this is because they know they'd lose. They stole the Apple logo from the Beatles and they know it.

Suck it up Apple.

[dragonsky1]

Steve Jobs even admitted that Apple Computer was named so in honor of the Beatles. That isn't the same as steeling their name. I think their case, and the one of Monster Cable a while back, were just stupid. You don't see Sisco Wholesale suing Cisco Systems, do you? There are tons of companies out there with similar names. Deal with it!

[timba]

All the Beatles songs for 279.99 is ok if you are too lazy to get off your ass and go to local library and get all you want at no cost. Kevin

[jlopezcnet]

Who is this beatles? Never heard of them. They can't have that many songs for 300 bux.

[skunkpuddle]

enjoy the library and your mom's place

[ewsachse]

HA! HA!

No Beatles for iTunes losers.

[Perry_Clease]

Yes, because using iTunes it is impossible to rip Beatles tracks from a CD.

[gsmiller88]

Good luck on your 8 sales, Apple Corps.

[cloudmatt]

This would be an awesome thing for the crave give away some week. hint hint nudge nudge

[jlopezcnet]

Wow, I don't know who these guys are but they are directly infringing on Apple itunes and Apple logo. I wonder if they will be sued? This is a serious infringement.

[groobz84]

Ok...your an idiot. Beatles came way before Apple Corp., and besides they have no similar resemblance at all with each other. Ones green, the other is gray. one has a real stem, the other has a gay little leaf. One is a whole apple and the other has a bite taken out of it. No possible infringement lawsuit on the logos genius.

[agt37]

jlopezcnet - you are awesome.
The loser that commented to your post is the real idiot. It's called sarcasm jack-hole. I know it didn't exist back in the 60's when you bought your first beatles record, and getting to 1st base was a big deal, but it's '09 now. Learn to laugh at a good joke. That, or buy a time machine so you can move back to Pleasantville where you belong,

[jlopezcnet]

hahaha yeah, I still remember the Apple logo on the record player when my mom would play all her John Lennon tunes. I used to be enamored with that picture rotating round and round and round.... Crimson and clovers over and over...

[nashville2]

@jlopezcnet : "Crimson and clover over and over.."

That would be Tommy James and the Shondells, an American band. They are still great, by the way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C4HQQSz-K8

[sdipaola]

too little to late - if they put this out at the same time as the new CDs maybe.

but now everyone has a nice clean torrent folder. just goes to show they they don't get it and never will.

[One-Eared Gundark]

Not a big fan of the Beatles, really, but I can see how this would be good for a fan who hasn't already picked up the CD collection.

The price may be a bit high, but so is the convenience factor. Besides, it's a collectors item.

I'd pay that for a similar device loaded with a complete collection by other artists. I think it's cool.

[Mergatroid Mania]

I agree. If my favorite band came out with something similar I might pick it up. The thing is that it is a collectors item, and the morons saying it would be better if they could down-load it from iTunes just don't get it.

Lets see them sell their iTunes collection in fifty years for a huge sum of money.

[Drkknight686]

by Perry_Clease November 4, 2009 11:15 AM PST
Yes, because using iTunes it is impossible to rip Beatles tracks from a CD

Yea exactly, 270 dollars, yea its cool and might be a collectors item, but you can go out to the store and buy all these for less then that much. Also if your a huge beatles fan, you have all or most of these on cds anyway, so honestly this is pointless. Especially since you can just take those CDs and put them on itunes. Beatles not on Itunes, whatever, not like you can't put their songs in your library or on your Ipod. Not to mention with a CD you can decide what quality you want it to be played at...with this your just stuck with MP3 format.

My opinion...cool, but a waste of money.

[jumpjetta]

If someone really needs the little electronic plastic apple to feel cool, they've got some issues.

[DrtyDogg]

http://www.apple.com/ipodclassic/

[cassio1]

actually, they have 28k flac too... lossless.

[vmlenigma]

agghhh another Beatles Story, All I can say is that Im glad that there are ONLY 2 Left.

[NervClaX]

Wait until they're all dead. Then the money will REALLY start rolling in.

[electroplid]

why only stereo? I think it would have been really cool to include the mono masters as well...

[DrtyDogg]

mono is the way to go!

[LLIB_SETAG]

Ladies & Gentleman...The USBeatles!

Is it just me or is it WEIRD that the release date is 12/08/09 on the same day as John Lennon was assassinated...December 8, 1980?

" Some are dead & some are living. In my life, I've loved them all. " Day In The Life by Lennon / McCartney