| 2009 has been a very active year for the | | | | so audiophiles who think that CDs are too "cold" |
| Beatles, despite the fact they have been broken | | | | sounding can finally get their Beatles fix in a |
| up for over 30 years. Following the release of | | | | format that caters to them. |
| Beatles Rock Band and the remastered Box Set | | | | Second, if you buy the Beatles USB Apple instead |
| collections, soon 30,000 fans will be fighting for | | | | of the box set you will get mp3 versions of the |
| the chance to buy the Beatles USB Apple which | | | | tunes, in a high-quality 320kbps format, and they |
| comes out on December 8th. This is a limited | | | | are DRM-free, unlike most iTunes mp3s. DRM |
| edition "box set" in the form of a green aluminum | | | | stands for Digital Rights Management which places |
| apple, which has a removable USB drive containing | | | | access restrictions on the content, so it's better |
| all the same music as in the stereo box set. Either | | | | not to have it. This is a significant release, as it |
| the box set or the USB will give you a | | | | represents the first time that the Beatles have |
| comprehensive Beatles collection, but the much | | | | decided to release any of their music in mp3 |
| smaller USB package actually has much more in it. | | | | format. To this day you still cannot buy the |
| The music on the Beatles USB Apple is the same | | | | Beatles tunes on iTunes or other download sites |
| as the stereo box set in terms of the albums and | | | | that sell mp3s, but you can get them all on the |
| songs that are included. It has the stereo mixes | | | | Beatles USB Apple, and transfer them to your |
| of all the major studio releases from the Beatles | | | | iPod from there. The final temptation of the |
| career, including the classic albums you would | | | | Beatles USB Apple is that as of now, there are |
| expect. Revolver, Rubber Soul, Sgt Pepper's | | | | only going to be 30,000 of them for sale, so they |
| Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles (White | | | | will probably be hot collectors items. |
| Album), Abbey Road, and Let it Be are all included | | | | If you don't use CDs anymore, or you are an |
| here, as well as the early albums. All the hits and | | | | audiophile, and you are looking to get the whole |
| B-sides that were not included on a regular | | | | Beatles collection at once, the Beatles USB Apple |
| Beatles album, like "Hey Jude" and "Revolution", | | | | is a great option, especially since it has the USB |
| are also part of this set. The key advantage of | | | | functionality plus higher quality music files vs the |
| the USB version is that it contains all of this music | | | | CD formats. All the visual materials, including album |
| in two formats, neither of which is used on the | | | | artwork, expanded liner notes, and a 13-minute |
| CD releases or the box set CDs. The first is | | | | documentary film are also on the Beatles USB |
| high-quality FLAC 44.1 Khz 24 bit format sound | | | | Apple, so there is really nothing missing vs the |
| files, which are a step up from 16 bit CD quality, | | | | box sets, except for those pesky CDs. |