What is this?
Well this is exciting… Apple just updated the splash screen of their website to the above graphic. We have no idea what it means, but at 4am tomorrow morning all will be revealed. Want to place bets on what’s in store? iTunes subscriptions or streaming from the cloud seem the only obvious possibilities but hit us up in the comments if you have any other bright ideas.
UPDATE: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the announcement will be the Beatles catalogue being added to iTunes, which has been part of a legal battle between Apple and the Fab Four ever since iTunes was launched. Not particularly exciting to us, but we can see how Mr Jobs and co would consider this a milestone.
UPDATE 17/11/10: Yup, it’s The Beatles. ‘Nuff said, but you can now find them right here on iTunes.
It’s a bold claim so must be something pretty decent/completely new.
My picks:
- iOS 4.2
- cloud based storage
- subscription service
- 90 second previews
(corksta has made 28 comments)
Yeah, wow … 90 second previews. AMAZINGg
I am prepared to be not-terribly-blwon-away by this. I’m an Apple fanboy from way back, but this smacks of the Jobs Reality Distortion Effect.
On a side note, anyone noticed that the iPhone repeating alarms are playing at the right time now? I assume that this just has something to do with the fact that Daylight Savings has been switched off in the US, rather than a proper fix. (Because, personally, getting a working version of 4.2 where the alarms actually *work* is currently more exciting for me than whatever is likely to be announced tomorrow.)
(suburban_ennui has made 74 comments)
I suspect something boring like Facebook integration with Ping again.
(camtab has made 468 comments)
I’m impressed that you figured out the time. Where’s NZ time? Wouldn’t be that hard to put on as its a NZ specific site…
(myopinion has made 58 comments)
Have to say I’m with suburban_ennui on this one… not expecting much here. With our neutered iTunes store, cloud based iTunes holds little appeal for me.
Now, if they were to announce a global iTunes store, THAT would be something worthy of such a provocative front page. Anything else will not measure up frankly.
Unless you’re in the US, they may have out hyped themselves.
(JimmyC has made 54 comments)
@ camtab:
They’re integrating with Twitter after Facebook turned them down. Likely to be mentioned during I would assume.
(Mak has made 222 comments)
Aside from the obvious streaming and subscription I’m not sure what this is about but I do get the feeling everything is going to fall into place this week. iOS 4.2 release, Apple TV update and this announcement sound like they are all linked.
Guess we’ll see tomorrow, I won’t be setting the alarm though
(Paul has made 323 comments)
And hot of the rumor mill press………
Apple have used the front page of Apple.com worldwide to let us know the long awaited Beatles back catalogue will be available in iTunes tomorrow.
Hey! Don’t shoot the messenger!
(Paul has made 323 comments)
I imagine it’s iOS4.2, plus some averagely interesting jiggery-pokery to do with a revamp for iTunes, probably cloud wotnots.
Which will be annoying at best for anyone outside the US since we don’t have infinite and fast broadband with which to access this cloud business.
(Bebe has made 12 comments)
@ myopinion: we did not “figure out” any times, that’s the invite/splash screen – found by reading the article. Google for a timezone converter.
(Mak has made 222 comments)
myopinion wrote:
You are very easily impressed
(Paul has made 323 comments)
Tv shows?? For all the other stores that don’t already have it? Steve said that was due to happen soon.,
iBooks? Download books from iTunes?
One thing I dont understand, we just got a update for iTunes a few days ago, does this mean we will yet see another before Xmas?
(kiwiboi22 has made 57 comments)
My question is this,
Will it be a keynote?
Or just a simple press relase,
Will steve grace the stage?
FYI, finally getting to use my first iPhone to post this! Yay I’m a big boy now
(kiwiboi22 has made 57 comments)
I’m totally with suburban_ennui on this one (comment #2). I’m sure I’ll hear about it in due course if it is anything interesting. I’ll place a side bet though… This will make more money for Apple the consumer electronics company.
(B.Hanson has made 15 comments)
kiwiboi22 wrote:
Nope, no keynote
kiwiboi22 wrote:
The site says check back tomorrow so I am guessing just everything we need to know will be live on Apple.com tomorrow with perhaps an accompanying press release but not via a keynote
kiwiboi22 wrote:
Congrats!
(Paul has made 323 comments)
Paul wrote:
Whoop-de-doo … as an avid iTunes user/iPod user since about 2003, and a Beatles fan, here’s a little known fact. You can take your Beatles CDs and copy them into iTunes. Amazing, isn’t it?
I can’t understand all the too-ing and fro-ing around The Beatles back catalogue and the iTunes Store. I bought the remastered box set last year from Amazon.com for, I suspect, less than the cost of downloading the catalogue in digital format.
(suburban_ennui has made 74 comments)
I can’t see Apple overlooking the fact that many more people like Apple products than love Beatles music, and don’t already have it. Apple must know full well they cop a lot of flack from fans and non-fans alike for their reality distortion field. Plastering such bold statements on the front of their webpage and then releasing the Beatles catalogue will do nothing to assist their credibility.
I’m hoping for a global iTunes store.
Expecting iCloud.
(JimmyC has made 54 comments)
suburban_ennui wrote:
Well looks like the Beatles rumor is a strong fave at the moment.
I’m with you though, just can’t understand the fuss, if you want the Beatles in your iTunes and on your iPod just import from Beatles CD’s which are readily available. The way this has been made to look though it’s like iTunes is the only place in the world you will be able to buy the Beatles.
Although I suppose if you have spent 7 years negotiating the deal you would make a song a dance about it.
Pretty lame use of the Apple homepage though IMO
Still 15 hours to go though, plenty of time yet for the Beatles rumor to be completely incorrect …… and then correct again……..then incorrect ………
(Paul has made 323 comments)
@JimmyC … securing rights for different territories is a legal minefield of epic legal proportions … I just can’t see it, although I am happy to be proved wrong.
(suburban_ennui has made 74 comments)
@suburban_ennui
I absolutely agree. But that would definitely be something to remember because of all those epic deals, rather than a re-re-re-re-re-release of Beatles music…
I guess my definition of unforgettable is potentially extremely different to Apples.
(JimmyC has made 54 comments)