Beatles go digital with limited edition Apple USB

Limited to 30,000 drives, the "exquisitely crafted" drive will included The Beatles’ 14 stereo titles

No Apple iTunes debut yet, but The Beatles will be offering digital conversions of the recent digitally re-mastered catalogue on CD shortly via Apple Records and EMI.

Apple and EMI are set to release a "limited edition stereo USB" on 7 December, a day later in the US, apple shaped USB drive containing the well received Remasters.

Limited to 30,000 drives, the "exquisitely crafted" drive will included 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.

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No Apple iTunes debut yet, but The Beatles will be offering digital conversions of the recent digitally re-mastered catalogue on CD shortly via Apple Records and EMI.

Apple and EMI are set to release a "limited edition stereo USB" on 7 December, a day later in the US, apple shaped USB drive containing the well received Remasters.

Limited to 30,000 drives, the "exquisitely crafted" drive will included 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.

Sadly they appears no room for the mono Remasters, also released in September.

A specially designed Flash interface gives access to all the elements contained within. Weighing in at 16 GB, the USB's audio and visual contents will be provided in lossless FLAC 44.1 Khz 24 bit and MP3 320 Kbps formats, fully compatible with Mac and PC. FLAC files can be played on a Mac using VLC player and burnt to disc using software such as Roxio Toast.

US Beatles fans will be expected to pay $279, while a limited number of drives will be available in the UK for around £200.

The USB drive includes:

• Please Please Me

• With The Beatles

• A Hard Day's Night

• Beatles For Sale

• Help!

• Rubber Soul

• Revolver

• Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

• Magical Mystery Tour

• Yellow Submarine

• The White Album

• Abbey Road

• Let It Be

• Past Masters