News
Apple announces ‘Rock and Roll’ event on Sept. 9
Apple has sent out invitations to select members of the media inviting them to a special event on September 9th. Featuring a large iPod silhouette graphic at the top sporting the phrase “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it,” the invite states that the event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, CA, and that it will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple is widely expected to announce its fall 2009 iPod lineup at the event, and iLounge will be there to cover it live.
Notable is the “only rock and roll” reference, which appears to be a simultaneous dismissal of rumors that the event might be focused on more than just Apple’s “music” business—iPods—and a reference to the Rolling Stones, who traditionally were seen as rivals to The Beatles. The September 9 date of the event coincides with the release of The Beatles’ entire backcatalog in remastered CD format, as well as a widely publicized tie-up for a special Beatles version of the game Rock Band; these events, combined with Apple’s longstanding interest in offering The Beatles’ catalog in digital format on iTunes, have led many to speculate that the event would include such an announcement. If so, the theme of the invitation provides only the most modest hint that such a thing could be possible.
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1
This is disappointing. Either the “It’s Only Rock and Roll” headline is a red herring, or Apple’s ego is getting the better of it again. Staging a music event on 09.09.09 – a day that’s been heralded as the next coming of the Beatles for the better part of a year – without announcing that the Beatles are coming to iTunes feels like a desperate attention grab. I can see it now—Apple will trot out Mick and Keith instead for a limited Rolling Stones shuffle while a great opportunity for making music history just goes down the drain. (No disrespect to the Stones, of course.)
Posted by Nancy on August 31, 2009 at 11:21 AM (PDT)
2
Perhaps 9-9-9 is code for “no, no, no” as in no Beatles in iTunes
Honestly, I can’t understand the infatuation with getting the Fab Four into the digital marketplace. If The Beatles are that important to someone, why not own a piece of history and buy the real thing on vinyl? Even a CD has more tangible value than an iTunes download. No disrespect to The Beatles of course, or to you Nancy. I just have a hard time seeing the historical value in selling Rubber Soul on iTunes.
Posted by rockmyplimsoul on August 31, 2009 at 11:43 AM (PDT)
3
will these new ipods be available for purchase at the apple store on 9-9-09? or will we have to wait?
Posted by TP on August 31, 2009 at 11:51 AM (PDT)
4
Using a Stones lyric to advertise a Beatles event would be a pretty big smack to the Beatles. I can’t see it happening now. If anything, it seems like the Stones lyric was used intentionally to give the Beatles the raspberry. If memory serves, once upon a time there was a pretty big Stones/Beatles rivalry.
Posted by jmelrose on August 31, 2009 at 11:51 AM (PDT)
5
Wow… wish I’d re-read the story before posting. A lot of what I said, iLounge already covered. Sorry!
Posted by jmelrose on August 31, 2009 at 11:53 AM (PDT)
6
For those who think that Beatles fans should just buy CDs instead of waiting for iTunes, remember that CDs don’t allow you to buy individual tracks. I own some Beatles CDs, but I don’t own all of them, and would like to pick up additional tracks without buying the entire Beatles library.
Posted by BJ Nemeth on August 31, 2009 at 12:29 PM (PDT)
7
Pleeeeeeeease Apple, give us a 64GB Touch Pleeeeeeease!!!!!!
Posted by DougFNJ on August 31, 2009 at 1:35 PM (PDT)
8
I am sure if they bump up the touch it will be 64GB. Nice from where they started, but still less than my classic which is almost full. Plus I’ll be buying apps now so I’ll need even more room. If its a 128GB touch, then I know what I am buying myself for my birthday next week.
Posted by jeff on August 31, 2009 at 1:52 PM (PDT)
9
I’m just hoping for Apple to do something, anything, more than more of the same. Last year’s ultra conservative quarter-step they relied on after they introduced the touch, modern classic, and the full featured nano the year before in 2007 was functional, but hardly exciting.
Posted by Code Monkey in Midstate New York on August 31, 2009 at 6:15 PM (PDT)
10
Interesting, the iPod in the picture shows no sign of being the traditional click wheel type. Just another sign that touch screen models are taking over.
Posted by Jerome on August 31, 2009 at 8:44 PM (PDT)
11
They’ll probably announce special addition Beatles ipods like the one that U2 had.
Posted by Poop on August 31, 2009 at 10:04 PM (PDT)
12
Got to agree with some other posters — I, too, can’t understand the obsession with having the Beatles on iTunes. No matter how high you rate them, it’s still just some more tracks among millions.
As to the new iPods — surely it has to be more touch screens and higher capacity. What else can they realistically do? Although the fact that the whole iPod range seems to be being discontinued suggests a major overhaul of the entire line-up.
Posted by Jon Myles on September 1, 2009 at 3:01 AM (PDT)
13
It’s well-known that the new iPod Touch will have a 3.2 megapixel camera/video camera. What about GPS? Geotagging anyone?
Posted by Carmichael on September 1, 2009 at 9:57 AM (PDT)
14
I’m thinking a Beatles digital box set with unreleased tracks and a bump in capacity for the touch output of Hi Def from the touch would be nice.
Posted by Steven Bates on September 1, 2009 at 12:39 PM (PDT)