Beatles iPod comes loaded with CDs, not MP3s

Collector's Box arrives, still no iTunes

Tom Porter, Wed 22 Oct 2008, 12:58 pm UTC

The Beatles For Sale... again

So, Apple Records and Apple Inc have put trademark disputes on the back-burner to bring you the 'Limited Edition Ultimate Collector's Box: Beatles iPod Set.' Unfortunately, and not as previously reported, the iPod isn't pre-loaded with the entire Beatles back-catalogue. Instead, the box includes 16 strange objects called 'CDs', which you'll have to rip and upload yourself…

The 'specially-designed' wooden presentation box contains 13 studio albums, the two Masters CDs and the Love compilation. The iPod itself is a 120GB classic in black, etched with The Beatles' logo on the front and Abbey Road on the back. There's also a single black guitar pick engraved with 'something indistinguishable.'

The good news is that there are more than 100 available: there are actually 2500. The bad news is that they'll set you back $795 each.

It's interesting that Apple hasn't included the music in digital format. Although that's probably because The Beatles catalogue is still not available on iTunes. At least this set-up means buyers will own the music in CD quality.

The box is available exclusively from Bloomingdales.