The Beatles Go Digital on Limited-Edition USB Drives

By Geoff Duncan November 4, 2009

The music industry has been waiting for years for see when The Beatles would release their catalog to online music services…and many thought a deal was imminent when the Beatles agreed to go digital with The Beatles Rock Band. Now Apple Corps and record label EMI have announced another digital Beatles release, but it’s not bringing the Fab Four to iTunes or any other online music service: instead, fans will be able to snap up one of 30,000 limited-edition Beatles USB drives, featuring the digitally remastered Beatles catalog plus a bunch of extras.

Beatles on USB — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The 16 GB drives will carry the digitally remastered Beatles catalog in both 24-bit FLAC 44.1 KHz and 320 Kbps MP3 format; the drives will also feature 13 mini documentaries about the Beatles’ albums, images of original UK album art, and expanded liner notes. And, even better, the entire drive is shaped like the green Apple Corps logo.

Recommended Videos

Pre-orders will be available from The Beatles’ online store soon…but it’s definitely one of those items where if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it. To be one of 30,000 people to have the Beatles’ catalog on a USB drive, you’ll pay a cool £200—that’s about $330 USD. That’s about $50 more than the CD version of the digitally remastered Beatles catalog.

The drives launch December 7 in the United Kingdom, and December 8 in the United States.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Cars

Volvo’s much-anticipated EX30 EV to reach U.S. before year end

Front three quarter view of the 2025 Volvo EX30.

Volvo is switching gears again, this time to accelerate deliveries of its much-anticipated EX30 subcompact electric SUV so that it reaches the U.S. before the end of 2024.

The Swedish automaker last summer had postponed the U.S. launch of the EX30 to 2025, citing “changes in the global automotive landscape." The move followed the Biden administration’s 100% import tariff on electric vehicles made in China.

Cars

Rivian R2 EV’s new LG battery boosts storage capacity sixfold

Rivian R2

The Rivian R2, the EV maker’s much-anticipated affordable electric SUV, will be powered by U.S.-made batteries promising to store six times as much energy as those currently used.

South Korea’s LG Energy Solutions announced it will be supplying LG’s 4695 cylindrical batteries to Rivian as part of a five-year agreement.

Cars

Hyundai 2025 Ioniq 5 is under $44,000, with more range and NACS port

hyundai ioniq 5 44000 nacs 64149 large631652025ioniq5xrt

Hyundai is on a roll. In October, the South Korean manufacturer posted its best U.S. sales ever, largely driven by sales of its popular Ioniq 5 electric SUV.

Now, all eyes are on the Ioniq 5’s 2025 model, which is set to become available at dealerships before year-end. As Digital Trends previously reported, the crossover model adds a more rugged-looking trim level called XRT and provides additional driving range as well as new charging options.