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Update (12/20/08) As we wrote on Examiner.com Friday, the Beatles iPod is now down to $499. (It was $599 last week.) And we've been unable to get a confirmation from Bloomingdale's that it's no longer available for sale online. We tried to search and got the same error Rock Stamberg did.
Update (12/16/08) Rock Stamberg points out to us that if you search for the Beatles iPod online, you get a prompt saying it's no longer available. But it's still being sold in the stores.
Update (12/15/08) We visited our local Bloomingdale's Saturday and found the price of the iPod was down to $599 and several Beatle clothing items were on sale. Not too surprising because of the original prices, but even the sale prices are still high. If you were thinking of buying them, you might want to head over there or check their website.
Update (11/11/08) If you're on Bloomingdale's mailing list, you may have received a note about their sale from Nov. 12-16, including 10% off Men's Electronics. We assume that includes the Beatles iPod.
Update (11/3/08) The Beatles aren't the only ones working with Bloomingdale's this year. So is Tony Bennett, according to Billboard.biz, which, as fans of Tony's, we're happy to hear about.
Update (10/26/08) I guess we in the States should consider ourselves lucky. According to Kris Abel's Tech Life blog, the Beatles iPod is not available in Canada. Any Canadian readers want to confirm this?
Update (10/25/08) Some pictures from the event Wednesday night in Palo Alto, CA. Yes, they did serve a Yellow Submarine martini free to customers. (We tasted one. It was very good.) They had the Beatles iPod on display and Beatle music by a DJ cranked up in the store.:
Update (10/24/08) We couldn't get it all done tonight, but we'll have some pics from the event. We met several Beatle fans. The store had a pre-made clip Beatles clip compilation running during the event. And --- we saw the Beatles iPod in person.
Update (10/23/08) Just a reminder we'll be at the Bloomingdale's at Stanford Shopping Center, 1 Stanford Shopping Centet, Palo Alto, CA., tonight at 6 p.m. for their Beatle event.
Update (10/22/08) On 10/18, we mentioned a Beatles event at the Bloomingdale's at Stanford Shopping Center, 1 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA., from 6-8 p.m. to help introduce the Beatles iPod and the Beatles clothing line. We also mentioned something special happening there: We'll be making a special guest appearance at the event, talking about Beatles news and stories. If you're in the area, please stop by and say hello.
Update (10/22/08) Media report from the Orange County Register.
Update (10/21/08) The Beatles iPod is now online at Bloomingdale's site.
We saw a blog promoting a free engraving for your Beatles iPod if you Fed Ex'd it to EtchStar. As unusual as that sounds, a Bloomingdale's spokesperson told us this is legitimate. How many people, though, will want to ship off their iPod right after buying it?
Wired's blog has its roundup of the Beatles iPod story. In an earlier version (it was revised sometime during the day), the magazine compared the Beatles version with the limited edition "X-Files" version released in August and gives the Beatles version higher marks, though says the "X-Files" would sell better, presumably, we're guessing, because of the price. The Beatles iPod does come with all those CDs. Just wondering, though. Is there anyone who doesn't have all those CDs now?
Update (10/18/08) For those of you in the San Francisco/Peninsula area, Bloomingdale's at Stanford Shopping Center has a special event to introduce their Beatles line next Thursday (Oct. 23) from 6-8 p.m. More details, including a possible special surprise, to come.
Update (10/17/08) We gave you the bare bones info on the Beatles iPod yesterday, but here are the full details from the information sheet sent to us Thursday by Bloomingdale's, with views of the box outside and inside. Bloomingdale's tells us the iPods will be on their website (www.bloomingdales.com) Oct. 21 and in all stores Oct. 22, though some stores, they tell us, have them now:
THE BEATLES
LIMITED EDITION ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S BOX
$795.00
Box Contents:
- A Numbered 120G iPod classic in black
- etched on front with "The Beatles" logo
- etched on back with "Abbey Road"
- 13 Original Beatles CDs, plus two Past Masters and LOVE
- Guitar pick engraved with "Love The Beatles"
- Collector's box designed by Psycho Bunny
Limited quantities. Available in all Bloomingdale's stores and online at bloomingdales.com
Here is the press release announcing the Beatles clothing line being carried at Bloomingdale's:
THE BEATLES 'LOVE' BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL INSPIRES
NEW MEN'S STORE INSTALLATIONS AT ALL BLOOMINGDALE'S
NEW YORK, NY, August 2008 . . . Bloomingdale's has announced a unique and first-ever designer assortment of new men's apparel and accessories, inspired by the hit show The Beatles 'LOVE' by Cirque du Soleil, that will be among the season's most sought-after gifts.
The products have been developed in partnership with Signature Networks, Apple Corps' North American agent, in partnership with The Beatles 'LOVE' by Cirque du Soleil, the current production at The Mirage in Las Vegas, which celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles. Among the designers and manufacturers to be featured are Marc by Marc Jacobs, Katharine Hamnett, Psycho Bunny, John Varvatos for Converse, Hickey, Trunk and Theory.
"The Beatles historic influence on music, fashion and culture is as strong today as it was four decades ago;" said David Fisher, executive vice president, general merchandise manager for Bloomingdale's Men's Store. "This collection takes the product to an entirely new level of design and sophistication. The collaboration with Apple and Cirque du Soleil allows us to use new resources, images and graphics to build an entirely fresh assortment of collectible product."
The collection runs from men's suiting to velvet jackets, cold weather gear to cufflinks. Some items strike a familiar chord with album cover designs and song titles like "Hey Jude" and "All You Need is Love," while others pay homage with subtle patterning details. Specially designed shops will create a total environment, inspired by The Beatles 'LOVE' by Cirque du Soleil, of products, imagery and sound in all Bloomingdale's Men's Stores by late October. All items in the shops will be exclusive to Bloomingdale's. Shops will also offer customers the opportunity to win trips to Las Vegas to experience the Cirque du Soleil spectacular first hand.
LOVE, a Cirque du Soleil creation and co-production with Apple Corps Ltd., celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles and is presented exclusively at The Mirage in Las Vegas. The project was born out of a personal friendship and mutual admiration between the late George Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté. The accompanying Grammy award-winning soundtrack was created by Sir George Martin along with his son Giles using the entire archive of Beatles recordings.
Bloomingdale's is America's only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store; and a division of Macy's, Inc. It was founded in 1872 and currently operates 40 stores in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, Nevada and California. For more information, or to shop any time, visit www.bloomingdales.com.
Here is a search URL for the Bloomingdale Beatles products.
Another Bloomingdale's graphic (below) that shows the iPod and some of the clothing line. (Thanks to Grappa6771)
Update (10/16/08) There are pictures of several Beatles items on Bloomingdale's website. The Beatles iPod was there earlier yesterday, then was missing when we looked again last night. The listing shows the iPod comes in a case that includes all 13 original Beatles albums, the "Past Masters" and "Love" albums on CD, plus an Abbey Road theme for the iPod, according to the description. The price for the limited edition iPod: $795. (No, that's not a misprint.) (Thanks to Grappa6771.)
And here's a few details from a previous Bloomingdale's press release about the Beatles-wear they'll be carrying:
"Bloomingdale's has previously announced its unique and first-ever designer assortment of men's apparel and accessories, inspired by the hit show The Beatles 'LOVE' by Cirque du Soleil, that will be among the season's most sought-after gifts. These products have been developed in partnership with Signature Networks, Apple Corps' North American agent, in partnership with The Beatles 'LOVE' by Cirque du Soleil, the current production at The Mirage in Las Vegas, which celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles. Among the designers and manufacturers to be featured are tees by Trunk, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Katharine Hamnett, pocket squares, scarves and cuff links by Psycho Bunny, hoodies and jackets by John Varvatos for Converse, a suit and overcoat by Hickey, and a velvet blazer by Theory. The collection hits all Bloomingdale's stores on October 15."
(Thanks to Grappa6771)
Update (10/13/08) A good source tells us that the new Beatles iPods being sold at Bloomingdale's will not have Beatles music pre-loaded on them.
Update (10/9/08) In a short item, Newsday reported the chain has the new Beatles items out for sale in New York. "Stop by the dedicated shop at the Roosevelt Field for a chance to win three nights at The Mirage Las Vegas (including airfare) plus a pair of VIP tickets to the show," the item says.
Update (9/4/08) Some of the new Beatles items at Bloomingdale's are on their site. (Thanks to Grappa6771.)
Update (7/14/08) Adam Powell sent us mockups he found around the Web of Beatle iPods:
Update (7/13/08) A comment from Rick Holland:
Hi Steve,
First the Iranian missile pic, now the "Yellow Submarine" iPod! If
you look closely at the headphones and wire, particularly where they
cross over the iPod you can see that the photo has been badly
photoshopped.
And what's the deal, if true, about only 100 of them? Might as well
bind them in leather and slap a Genesis logo on it.
And lastly, with Apple's retail presence, does a USA-only partnership
with Bloomie's, of all places, make any sense?
Good thing we're hearing about this as well as the long-awaited
Monopoly game while less important projects like the remasters, Shea,
and Let It Be rightly remain on the back burner!
Rick
Comment: Agreed.
Update (7/12/08) We got a reply from Bloomingdale's confirming the information about the Beatles items -- including the iPod -- is accurate. And Rolling Stone.com has a picture that may or may not be the new iPod.
(7/11/2008) Could a Beatles iPod be under your Christmas tree? Retail news site Fashion Week Daily says so. An item touting Beatle licensed Christmas gifts reports that a limited edition Beatles iPod, limited to only 100 nationwide, will be available. The store will sell Beatles CDs, since the songs aren't available for digital download legally, it says.
The site also reports that Bloomingdale's department store has retained exclusive rights to Beatles images from Apple Records and will feature artwork from album covers, photographs, posters and promotional materials on a variety of accessories and apparel. Marc Jacobs will feature images on t-shirts, Theory has designed a classic blazer with white Beatles silhouettes, Converse by John Varvatos has created a "Let it Be" sleeveless gray hoodie, track jacket and denim jacket, Outpost Trading Company has designed retro tees, while Met View introduced a "Storm System" overcoat fit for Sergeant Pepper.
Bloomingdale's press representative did not return a request for confirmation about the products when contacted by Abbeyrd's Beatles Page.
Additionally, the site reports that a classic Columbia Records artist (guesses ... Dylan, Springsteen?) will give a surprise performance Nov. 20 to kick off the holiday season.
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