Set to debut Dec. 8 in North America, the green, apple-shaped USB device will contain 16 GB of the band's digitally remastered music, short documentaries, album art, photos and liner notes.
The release marks the
first time the band's songs have been available in digital format. Previously, the Beatles' music could only be purchased on CD. On Sept. 9, a completely remastered catalog was issued in conjunction with
The Beatles: Rock Band video game, an expansion to the popular karaoke-style series.
The USB device will contain MP3 and FLAC versions of 14 stereo titles, all of the visual elements of the remastered CDs, 13 mini-documentary films about the studio albums, replicated original UK album art, rare photos and expanded liner notes. It will retail for $279.99.
An apple-shaped container was chosen to house the collection as a reference to Apple Corps, which publishes the Beatles' music.
The publisher sued Apple Computer in 2003 over the iTunes music service in a continuing trademark dispute. No Beatles songs have ever been available for download using iTunes.
