Beatles Catalog Goes Digital, Inside a Plastic Apple

Nowadays, online music stores such as iTunes dominate the music industry. CDs are becoming less popular because of their digital rivals. Usually, digital music is downloaded from these online music stores (or regrettably by using illegal programs such as LimeWire) directly onto the computer. EMI has come up with a novel approach. It is now selling the Beatles catalog on an apple-shaped USB stick.
One might think that such an innovation is pointless. After all one could always simply download the Beatles’ music from iTunes, buy their CDs, or even find illegal copies somewhere online. However, EMI’s plastic apple provides several distinct advantages. The content is quite impressive. It contains 14 albums, documentary films, photos, cover art and liner notes. The music itself is in a DRM free, lossless FLAC format and it is 24-bit, which is better than CD.
Thirty thousand of these special Beatles catalogs will come on the market on December 7th. Despite the considerable content these catalogs are expected to sell for less than $300. Overall this product is original and will satisfy any Beatles fan.
The idea of selling music-filled USB sticks is innovative and compelling. With this, one can pass on music to friends legally, and save it onto multiple computers. Whether this method will catch on or not, only time can tell.
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/11/beatles-catalog-goes-digital-inside-a-plastic-apple/