Apple Now Selling iOS-Enabled Fender Squier Stratocaster Guitar

Apple has never actually sold all-out musical instruments directly before, but the company has partnered up with Fender to bring a full-size iOS-enabled Squier Stratocaster guitar to Apple's online store. The guitar is fully playable and includes the traditional 1/4-inch jack so you can still plug into an amplifier to jam, but it also includes the capability to plug directly into an iOS device.

The $199 guitar has USB and iOS connectivity built-in, and it's designed to allow recording directly into GarageBand on an iPhone and iPad, and even a Mac. The USB output on the guitar is a Mini-B connection and a USB-mini to 30-pin adapter is included with the package, meaning users with a newer iOS devices that use Lightning will need a Lightning to 30-pin adapter.

Also included with the guitar is a 3.5mm headphone jack and "a high-quality headphone amp so that you can monitor the processed guitar signal right from the guitar itself." It's clear Fender is aiming this product directly at Garageband iOS and Mac users, but you'll have no problem using it as a traditional guitar with the 1/4-inch output.

Unfortunately, you can only buy the guitar online, since Apple isn't selling them at retail stores just yet, so if you're nervous about buying a guitar online and don't necessarily trust shipping companies to handle a full-size guitar, then you may want to wait to see if Apple will sell them at physical locations.

[via 9to5Mac]