Markus

Oh, and it *is* The Beatles on iTunes:
http://www.macrumors.com/2010/11/16/...-itunes-store/

*sigh*, how very boring for the majority of people.

JackClark

It's a fitting announcement that's for sure, beautifully presented in a way that only Apple could. I'll show my Mum, she'll love it.

Stones or Beatles? Apple or PC?

Jaybird-UK

what a load of bllocks. Apple up its own ****.

JackClark

I nearly bought A Hard Day's Night and probably will.

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/a-h...ht/id401132835

I know I said Woop De Doo, but I do think it's a good thing, The Beatles are not N-Dubz or one of those television creations, they deserve a fanfare and that's what they got. British Music will top the charts this season and we should be proud.

I would have preferred a new MacBook, but hey.

jods

What a pile o shoite

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Yawn.....

Big deal, music that has been out forty odd years available on gadget, anyone with half a brain will have ripped the tracks to their Ipod if they want them anyway.

As for Apple "Cloud" based music, hmm that would be fun, imagine the Norman Collier remix of every track you listen to, like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYpQyJ_bTiw

Dedrater

Pmsl @ Apple, Pirate Bay didn't make such a big deal about it when they made the complete collection available on their website 5 years+ ago and you didn't have to install bull**** Itunes either.

Who is going to pay £125 for low quality mp3s, that only exist as 0s and 1s? when you can order the complete collection on CD for similar money or less.

In any case, people who wanted The Beatles in a digital format, probably first sorted this out over 10 years ago by ripping their own bought CDs, well I did, so who is this press release targeting?

I can't see the sub 30yo age group being particularly bothered by this genre and everyone above who was ever interested probably owns them on vinyl/tape/CD and if they don't, then spending that much money on Itunes, when they were too tight to buy them on cd, then, it most certainly will be a day they won't forget

JackClark

A lot of people will buy, probably record breaking. People don't want CD's any more and don't care if there's a better format, they want a nice shop front, a great experience and compatibility. I have boxes of CD's getting dusty in the loft. Pointless waste.

I'm surprised you of all people don't have a machine capable of running iTunes.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Yes, millions of us have been itching to hear this band called Beatles and cant wait to hand over £125
for their back catalog

I think some will buy it because of the hype but anyone over 30 will have it on Vinyl, Tape, Cd and will have got it on Mp3 from somewhere, anyone under 30 will not give a flying toss and will be listening to Disorientated Rascal or Tiny Tantrum.

JackClark

Care to wager?

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

No, because I may be wrong and have underestimated the flock mentality, I reckon that they could claim
exclusive rights to the work of Paul Francis Gadd and sell it to the Apple faithful.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Crikey this is poor even by Apple's self indulgent standards.

Dedrater

Agree, people generally don't want CDs, but who wants to be ripped off? How can the digital format be as, if not more expensive than the physical product, which one could rip how ever they like.

If you like the Beatles that much, you would at least want it in quality that is not available on Itunes, but superior sound quality version is available on .torrent and Usenet.

Apple are behind the times here by about 10 years Jack

JackClark

It's so easy to hate. Apple do a fantastic job of promoting a Great British band and still the anti crowd come out of the wood work with their glasses half empty.

If you don't like it don't take any notice, all you're doing is creating hype you're crying about.

JackClark

I'll tell my mother there's an illegal torrent available, don't bother pushing that buy now button then instantly enjoying a great product with exclusive content, too simple.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Apple do a great job of promoting a great British Band, forty years after they split up and after decades of acrimonious litigation over the use of the name Apple and tit for tat battles every few years.

Dont get me wrong, I like Apple stuff and I myself have an Ipod Touch I use a lot and for that I have some gratitude, a great product, but I cant get all that excited about them making a racket about some music thats been around since before even I was born, its like getting excited because Tesco are selling Texan Bars again, in fact that was more exciting as I didnt have a good copy of a Texan bar already.

Its marketing, pure and simple but not worthy of a big self congratulatory spank fest.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Er, because the band split up 40 years ago and their music has been available on every format including digital media for as lomg as anyone can remember.

Apple just spin everything no matter how lame and the sheep follow. It's the tail wagging the dog.

Dedrater

Most likely correct, Apple have probably set aside millions to buy there own music back via Itunes.

Jaybird-UK

I love this from TUAW

JackClark

Perfect. I Wanted a unicorn but imagine the hate when I rode that into Scoobynet.

Oakers

http://i51.tinypic.com/acybsw.jpg

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

How Much???? £125 for the box set The box set can be had for £95 brand new from amazon!

Most albums can be had for £8 a shot on a genuine hard copy from other sources (eg red or blue album, of which are £18 each on itunes). Why would I want to pay more for a highly compressed download of which by its very nature is inferior in quality? They've been around for 40 odd years, so its not like it the latest must-have thing needed at this very instant.

The comments on teh customer reviews echos the same

As they say, a fool and his money....

JackClark

I'd want more than £30 to rip those Albums, scan the artwork and steal the extra content. As for the quality, I very much doubt the original recording is as good as iTunes can deliver.

And how about making your own compilation, I can get 10 tunes of my choice for £10, bargain eh.

The comments do say the same, that it's easy to be a stingy, moaning old bugger.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Oh dear, you do have a habit of making sily comments in defence of Apple don't you?

The orginal reordings of the latter half of the Beatles material at least is way in excess of anything iTunes can muster quality wise. Yes they were recorded on analogue equipment, but they actually sound the better for it... digital is convenient and easy, but actually no better than a decent analogue source even at sensble bitrates.... compressed down to the usial iTunes/MP3 fodder and it is just abysmal.

I once tried my iPod through my Naim system.... emphasis on the once there, it was shockingly bad.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

No scanning of art work needed. Even microsoft sorts out the titles and artwork automatically. Want the lyrics? Google it. To rip a CD: Pop the disk in and let it do the rest - even iTunes can do that quite easily IIRC.

Compilations are just a drag and drop process. No harder than clicking "buy" ten times.

Quality depends on which album, I seriously doubt that Sgt Peppers will be in superior quality to the hard copy versions. Unless you don't have a proper Hi-Fi.

Nope, not sold. Its not about being stingy, it about the principal of getting what you pay for. Even if its just a music track, that £30 saved on the box set can spent on another three albums! Or another thirty tracks off iTunes.

Ant

This is what annoys me about digital content , how can they justify charging more/ same as a hard copy. Ebooks are a prime example.

They wonder why piracy exists.

JackClark

I'm pretty sure you can only get a compilation on iTunes, I don't believe anywhere else sells individual tracks.

I don't quite understand the get what you pay for argument. I want a Beatles album or track on my iPod I pay for it I get it, it's beautifully presented, sounds great and is zero hassle. Each to there own, you crack on buying CD's you won't hear me moan.

Markus

Not all ebooks are more expensive than their paper equivalents. I think part of the problem is down to publishers, they still want their money, regardless of wether it's paper or digital. There could be other reasons, but I'd need to chat with the merch team to find out what they are, I just QA the iOS apps you use to read the things

If you take, for example, Iain M Banks' latest Surface Detail. hardback is $18.17, ebook version (guess where from ) is $14.99. Granted the paperback version will be cheaper, but it's not out until May next year. These are CAD prices btw. Sometimes they are more expensive, and it is annoying.

In addition to this, if the publisher uses Agency Pricing then you re not allowed to offer any kind of discount on the ebooks either, this was one of the mandates of the scheme. I believe it was drummed up by Apple when they started getting into the ebooks arena.