Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, Rumors, Other Events, Apple
No Beatles at next week's event?

But now the rumor mill (so, again, grain of salt with all of this) says it's a no go on the Beatles. There will be a new iPod, and supposedly a brand new Ringtones system will be brought to the iPhone, where you can use iTS purchased music as a ringtone, but we won't actually meet the Beatles.
Then again, no one really knows but Apple-- Gruber speculates that since the event is being held at Moscone West, McCartney will be on hand to play live. And let's be realistic-- even though there is evidence for both a new iPod and the whole ringtones thing, no one's really sure what's going down anyway.
So, as usual, we'll have to wait until next Wednesday to find out (or at least until next Tuesday, when the New York Times confirms what blogs have been saying all alone). What do you think?
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sam said 6:08PM on 8-30-2007
Macworld UK reported yesterday that there is to be a corresponding ("tandem") event held in the UK:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itunes/news/index.cfm?newsid=18942
I haven't seen this mentioned on TUAW, and the title of the article is somewhat misleading: "Apple confirms 5 Sept special event - new iPods", which is odd, as the article specifically states that the introduction of a new iPod is speculation.
Sam
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Jon said 6:15PM on 8-30-2007
Are there actually Beattles fans out there that don't already own their music? I really can't understand why people buy digital music that can only be played on one device.
I actually still buy "compact discs"! Some of you kids may be too young to have heard of these, but you can get them at "stores" (requires driving, and probably a little walking). Then you can rip these CD's to your computer and do whatever you feel like with that new digital copy, oh and it sounds a hell of a lot better than the 128kbps crap you get from iTunes.
By the way, I've had an iPod for years, and an iPhone now and I love them. I just don't like copy protected music.
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Quix said 6:20PM on 8-30-2007
Good grief, enough about the Beatles + iTunes rumors! As Jon said, doesn't everyone already own all the Beatles' music on CD (or vinyl)?
Getting the Beatles into iTunes would hardly be the earth-moving event the blogosphere makes it out to be. Yawn.
Getting those lame wankers at Universal to put their catalog DRM-free, 256 kbps in iTunes - now *that's* important stuff.
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Matt said 6:32PM on 8-30-2007
10.5?? any chance??? PLEASE O PLEASE!!
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adam bucci said 6:40PM on 8-30-2007
i still think its a wireless capable ipod with a fleet of zeppelins streaming owners playlists around the world.
that or its something to do with jay-z....
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carl said 6:45PM on 8-30-2007
i still think the Beatles thing is going to happen. I don't know if anyone else noticed/mentioned this, but look at the title of the CD before the main cover - it is the Beastie Boys' The Mix Up... BEAS... next alphabetecially would be BEAT...LES?
Carl
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midloviking said 7:08PM on 8-30-2007
McCartney was at the Yankee game last night, so he's in the US.
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YodaMac said 7:15PM on 8-30-2007
So the Beatles may be important to some folks, and not to others. Whatever.
I do, however, get tired of people complaining about iTunes music being limited somehow. You say I can only play them on ONE device, but my iTunes music plays fine on my multiple iPods, my AppleTV, my iPhone, and my Mac Mini - which means I can listen to it at home, work, driving, shopping... wherever I am. Seems plenty portable and versatile to me as a Mac user.
I think the people who complain about iTunes music must also be the ones who still think Apple charges too much money for its products....
I'm no obsessed 'audio-phile', so portability is more important than pristine when it comes to my music. When you're outside in the real world driving in your car listening to your tunes, it's not like you need or can get a perfect symphonic sound experience anyways.
I'm old enough to remember CDs (and cassette tapes, and 8-track, and records)... I'm just glad I don't have to buy them anymore. :)
Now if only I didn't have to buy DVDs either.... (c'mon iTunes! More Movies! and HD!)
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jdubbs said 7:22PM on 8-30-2007
Perhaps it's just coincidence, but the forthcoming single from Madonna's new album, a collaboration with Timbaland, is called "The Beat Goes On". Can't imagine how this could relate to an iPod announcement (Madonna's music is already on iTunes) but she did appear once with Steve at a keynote presentation...
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rLando said 7:42PM on 8-30-2007
I'm so hyped up about the Beatles. Sure, I've got every one of their physical CDs, but it's the remasters I'm looking forward to. I don't care if (DRM-Free) iTunes or the physical CD comes first, I'm stoked and I'm buying, however if the alleged iTunes Beatles announcement has nothing to do with the remasters, I'll pass. I also wouldn't bother buying them if it's 128k over 256k.
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Reg Muffet said 8:49PM on 8-30-2007
A man called Merlin told me there will be a special edition "Yellow Submarine" iPod.
Of course, at the time he was waving at Lucy in the sky with diamonds, and had been running across strawberry fields forever before heading down Penny Lane, but I believe him.
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rish said 10:18PM on 8-30-2007
Could be the launch event for Madonna's new track - the beat goes on plus the ipods
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MrRom92 said 10:33PM on 8-30-2007
a man appeared on a flaming pie, and told me "the fucking vinyls are going to blow away any downloads you kids are gonna make"
seriously. invest in a fucking turntable, some good cables, speakers, a preamp, and some good vinyl. itl be worth it.
currently i think im saving up for clearaudio's beast of a player. it costs like as much as some houses, and im only 15 so the lottery is not gonna really work in my favor for another 3 years.
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John Stone said 7:06AM on 8-31-2007
The corresponding ("tandem") event held in the UK is at BBC Television Centre not a regular place for launching commercial products. However it does have television studios and is wired up to transmit to anywhere in the world. If a Beatle or two were to perform then it is an idea place to locate a launch.
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The Jones Boy said 12:31PM on 8-31-2007
Beatles iPod Please, Please Me!
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Erdem Üney said 8:45PM on 8-31-2007
I bet with the video screen iPod, Apple is going to release a "real" SDK for both of the new iPod and the iPhone. At least I wish they do. =) We'll see on the 5th.
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Neill Milton said 9:47AM on 9-04-2007
Edith Bowman announced last Friday afternoon that Paul McCartney will be a special guest with a big announcement on her BBC Radio 1 afternoon show on ... Wednesday 5th September, hmmmmmm?
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Daniel said 12:50PM on 9-04-2007
If they release studio rehearsal tracks and other unreleased items, then yes, it would be great having Beatles stuff on iTunes. Otherwise, it's no different than the CDs that come out every few years that just repackage various Beatles tracks (ie. 1, Masters...etc.).
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Andrew M. said 10:16PM on 9-04-2007
I was looking forward to that announcement. I hope it happens.
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