Forty years after The Beatles' breakthrough, Paul McCartney continues to break new ground, this time in cyberspace. While preparing a new DVD, he prodded gearheads at Apple and Inter-Actual to hasten development of software to allow all computer users entree to a secret Web site.

McCartney's two-hour Back in the U.S. DVD, out Tuesday, enables Apple users for the first time to access a restricted Web site via a DVD. Earlier versions of DVDs with keys to cyberspace vaults were compatible only with PCs.

''Wow, for a non-tech person, I'm suddenly on the cutting edge,'' McCartney says. ''This is a first for music and Mac users. We're calling it a ticket to the future.''

The $25 DVD captures 30 songs from last spring's Driving USA Tour, plus footage from sound checks, backstage and his private jet. McCartney initially shrugged off the Mac users, about 5% of computer owners, who wouldn't get the cyber link. He says, ''I thought, oh well, it's a pity, but we have to accept it. Then I started to ask around and found out that the Mac users are musicians and artists and filmmakers. Uh-oh. I'd heard Mac might be trying to get the technology. Maybe we could nudge them.''

McCartney and publicist Paul Freundlich pressed Apple's Steve Jobs and InterActual executives, who were persuaded after attending the ex-Beatle's concert.

''They were looking at next year, but when they heard about what we wanted to do, they decided to hurry up,'' McCartney says. ''After the gig, (Freundlich) came to the tour bus and said, 'It's done.' I was really excited.''

McCartney, whose career started in the vinyl era, is now plotting enticements for the site.

''It's like a ticket to another show,'' he says. ''Imagine if you had an Elvis record that you could play on one device and then put on another machine to get an Elvis hologram. We're entering this magical phase where the possibilities are endless.''
 
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