What happened to the iPhone's Ringtones tab?

See that picture on the right? It comes straight from the iPhone's Q&A page. Go ahead, count the iTunes tabs... we'll wait. Right, 8 tabs. Up until now, Apple's only been showing the iPhone's iTunes sync with 6 tabs: Summary, Info, Music, Photos, Podcasts, and Video. So what can we expect on the other two (assuming this isn't another graphics screw-up)? Well, MacRumors is speculating Ringtones on one of them, and we think they're right. After all, we photographed a Ringtones tab during the iPhone's MacWorld debut. They're reporting that the unreleased iTunes version 7.3 -- listed as a requirement on the iPhone specs page -- will introduce a steep, $0.99 ringtones service to create your own 30 second ringtone from available iTunes (store) tracks. No word on whether it will work with tracks you already own. Whatever the case, Apple certainly seems poised to make good on their promise to "surprise and delight" iPhone owners with software updates. $0.99, though? If true, well, it would definitely be surprising since that's the cost to purchase a full single. Now, what could that other tab be for?

Update: And sure enough, Apple's dropped the image back down to six tabs. (Shown above.) Why fight it, Cupertino? You know we're all watching. Thanks, Duvi.

[xbit @ Jun 27th 2007 3:53PM]

Wow, my phone four years ago supported MP3/AAC ringtones. I've long since given it away.

[Mike Holzapfel @ Jun 27th 2007 4:53PM]

Is there a commision based system for Apple news we are not aware of?

J/K, I know Engadget is an impartial reporting site, but the new Apple post every 5 minutes is getting old.

Btw, some of us don't use the RSS feeds, just go to the website.

[nd @ Jun 27th 2007 5:02PM]

That's what the scroll wheel is for. Tool.

[Craig @ Jun 27th 2007 5:40PM]

in response to Mike Holzapfel's post, i don't like the new comments system where responses are posted directly below the original post. it seems good in theory, but it encourages posters (like Mike) to post irrelevant comments under the first post so that their comment will be seen. it's also tougher to monitor new comments because they're snuck into the middle, rather than added to the end.

[Tom @ Jun 27th 2007 3:58PM]

Are we going to get a blog post if they change an icon too? 'Cause I'd love that.

When showing hardware and software that isn't out yet, there are bound to be inconsistencies. It's not news, for christsake - it's two tabs, probably for features we already know about. Nothing new here - and news has to be new.

[Nando @ Jun 27th 2007 4:33PM]

I agree.

Move over Paris Hilton. World, meet the new attention whore...the iPhone.

[aaronlh @ Jun 27th 2007 4:44PM]

Are you going to continue to post comments on news stories you don't want to read?

[Sean @ Jun 27th 2007 4:55PM]

It's a BLOG for Christssake! It's about gadget interest, opinions, and speculation. Please stop being disappointed that every post isn't newsworthy. Engadget ain't the press.

[Tom @ Jun 27th 2007 6:00PM]

It's a tech NEWS blog, Sean. And, speculation is one thing, but it's a frickin' tab in iTunes. That ain't news that you've gotta shout to the world about.

[Tom @ Jun 28th 2007 6:41AM]

Aaronlh:

This is actually the first time I've commented as saying "stop doing this!". I'm 100% okay with the iPhone coverage - but there does come a point where too much is too much. A big ol' paragraph on the possibility of two tabs related to functions we most likely already know about is a bit too much, in my opinion - or do you just not want me to voice my opinion? Or would you rather that you simply stop posting comments in reply to comments that you don't want to read?

[Pieter @ Jun 28th 2007 7:03AM]

Yes, the attention iPhone has received is unprecedented... But Engadget is reporting to a very large audience, and contrary to a striking number of commenters, some of those people are either simply interested in iPhone or are casual browsers being redirected to Engadget from another website on account of the iPhone hype.

Engadget, having thrived for over three years, incontrovertibility understands what should be reported. I would certainly agree that the coverage is excessive, but it really doesn't accomplish anything to complain about how much attention Engadget, or any blog for that matter, has given to this over-hyped device. If you're not interested don't read the article, and especially don't make that umpteenth, superfluous comment. You're merely adding to the fire, failing to present an alternate or informative view point, thus defeating the purpose of the comment system in the first place.

[KM @ Jun 27th 2007 5:50PM]

Paris Hilton and the iphone, both WAY overexposed.

But which one would you want to multi-touch?

[Nick @ Jun 27th 2007 6:08PM]

the iPhone

[paloooz @ Jun 27th 2007 4:00PM]

Yeah, I was pretty flustered about not being able to make my own tones. YTMND + Audacity = excellent ring tones. :)

But, I'm going to get an iPhone anyhow ... everything else makes up for that. I'm sure it had something to do with AT&T not making money from people making their own tones, though that sounds a bit Verizon-esque, it may be true. Think about it - it's an iPod. It's designed to play MP3s and AACs ... why can't it play them when you get a call?

[raaaaaa @ Jun 28th 2007 5:11AM]

why the F#$%^ would I want to pay $1.00 for a ringtone when I can make my own. Holly S#$% here comes the nickle & diming

[Reuben @ Jun 29th 2007 2:17PM]

Keep in mind, most people have been paying $2.00 plus for ringtones for a while now. Being able to make your own ringtone for $.99 isn't really all that bad. I like making my own ringtones for my Motorola L2 as well, but $.99 apiece just is not outrageous when compared to other companies.

[adelossa @ Jun 27th 2007 4:07PM]

did anyone else think that engadget spelled "happened" wrong?

[Cory @ Jun 29th 2007 10:13AM]

just proof that all of this iphone posting is causing someone's "e" key to become flaky...

[Jon @ Jun 28th 2007 12:44PM]

They intended on puting an "i" there but used their daily quota on the next 4 iphone articles.

[lysdexia @ Jul 7th 2007 6:04PM]

No, ye modern English-speakkrs spell/say everything wrong.

[dcny @ Jun 27th 2007 4:10PM]

thats the only reason im not getting it the ringtones no young person wants a phone that doesnt real music tones, no one wants boring ass ringtones especially young people

[Modano @ Jun 27th 2007 4:55PM]

Maybe a few young people will want these ringtones- the ones who can write better than a drunken ape.

[dcny @ Jun 27th 2007 5:09PM]

What young person wants boring ass ringtones when i mean young i mean under 20 who cares about you old ass people your time is over go retire somewhere

[Razor @ Jun 27th 2007 5:22PM]

If every one over the age of 20 retires then who will be left to teach you how to write at least a 5th grade level? You’ll be doomed to stupidity for the rest of your life!

[CaptSaltyJack @ Jun 27th 2007 5:31PM]

F'ing brat. If it weren't for us "old" people, you wouldn't HAVE cell phones, TV shows, video games, etc., to keep your puny mind occupied. We are the creators of your world. Punk-ass.

[dcny @ Jun 28th 2007 8:27AM]

what the fuck else have yall old people done fuck up the earth, who is the main consumer of products young people . name one young person that doesnt have a ipod,sandisk, zune or someother mp3 player, a cell phone, most consumers of electronic products are young people, either they paid for it or they've gotten there parents to either way who is the one that actually uses the products the most. dont yall old people have better things to do than look on the internet complaining about shit. complaining doesnt do any good it rarely changes what a company puts out.

[Nick @ Jun 27th 2007 6:13PM]

Notice how you are the only one who doesn't grasp the concept of punctuation? Maybe you should keep a few of those old-timers around so that you don't come off being ignorant.

[dcny @ Jun 27th 2007 6:17PM]

CaptSaltyJack

when did you create anything. you probably had nothing to creating anything so why are you talking.

TV's were probably invented before you were born unless you were born in the 40's and if so why are you wasting time on replying to a child reply to a post

young people are the ones who are buying or getting there parents to purchase the stuff you "old" people, then the majority of the companies that manufacturer these products would be out of business

How do you create my world whats the defention of world jackass, you cant invent the world or my world cause you don't know what it is

[paloooz @ Jun 27th 2007 7:01PM]

>CaptSaltyJack
>
>when did you create anything. you probably
>had nothing to creating anything so why are
>you talking.

He said "us 'old' people" not "if it weren't for me" ... you totally missed the point of his post. Way to go.

>TV's were probably invented before you
>were born unless you were born in the 40's
>and if so why are >you wasting time on
>replying to a child reply to a post

Yes, TVs were invented long before CaptSaltyJack was born (hopefully ... if not CaptSaltyJack is REALLY OLD!!) but that's not at all what he was saying. Kids like you do not invent things. Kids like you buy them, if it weren't for us "old" people inventing things, kids like you would have nothing to buy.

We make the product, you make the market. Without the product, there is no market.

>young people are the ones who are buying
>or getting there parents to purchase the
>stuff you "old" people, then the majority
>of the companies that manufacturer these
>products would be out of business

Have you no common sense? Without us, there would be no 'stuff' for you to buy.

>How do you create my world whats the
>defention of world jackass, you cant invent
>the world or my world cause you don't know
>what it is

Defention? You've got to be kidding me. Anyway, clearly you're an idiot or a troll, I'm done with you.

[Tony Bowman @ Jun 27th 2007 4:12PM]

and the further monetization of basic services begins!

but then again, they might surprise us with a way to use our own song for free.

[Jon @ Jun 27th 2007 4:00PM]

For Apple apologists who will pay roughly $2400 over the next two years for an already outdated phone I am sure $1 is considered cheap for a 30 second ringtone.

Apple Iphone: "It’s what Apple computers have become"

[andres @ Jun 27th 2007 4:37PM]

honestly... I won't be happy with Engadget's cover of iPhoneMania. That is until i'm told how many gallons of skim-milk calcium fortified I could purchase at same cost of the iPhone, +2yrs service and all likely accessories included. That will really break it down for me and assist me on making my decision on whether or not to buy.

[Brad @ Jun 27th 2007 6:45PM]

Disclaimer: I love gadgets. Especially new ones.

About two years ago, I purchased a RAZR for about $200. I've been paying about $45/month for service. Add some tax (5.5%) to the purchase price, and my 2-year price for a RAZR (sans internet) comes in at $1291.00.

Now for the iPhone, let's chop $200 off the phone because it's also an iPod... just try to fit more than three songs onto my RAZR. I dare you. We're at $300+5.5% tax. My choice of monthly fee would be the $59.95 plan (same minutes as the RAZR plan). Throw in some taxes and fees to that to get about $65/month. That yields a 2-year price of $1876.50.

The difference is $585.50, which is $24.40/month. Would I pay $24.40 a month for internet on my phone? You bet I would. Especially since my city has municipal wifi, which will kick the pants off EDGE.

Face it, for an enthusiastic gadget buyer, the iPhone is not a fiscally-irresponsible decision.

[Mile @ Jun 27th 2007 4:16PM]

I want my iphonE to have a ringtone that sounds like the shaking noise a vibrating phone makes. Hopefully, that will be built in.

[Eric @ Jun 27th 2007 4:23PM]

Right after you pay to have it enabled a la draft N.

[fli @ Jun 27th 2007 4:17PM]

Engadget has become the regular iphone central huh ? well its all in good fun we wouldn'tt expect u to miss ur portion of this cash cow...

[Matt @ Jun 27th 2007 4:23PM]

If you don't like it, you're welcome to use the non-iphone feeds, and stop your bitching.

[brad @ Jun 27th 2007 4:26PM]

does anyone know if this phone as a vibrate function for when calls are recieved... i havent heard anything about that yet

[Chicksta @ Jun 27th 2007 4:33PM]

I remember seeing that in one of the demos, but I can't recall which. Hopefully it's easy to make a shortcut to turn that on.

[Modano @ Jun 27th 2007 4:59PM]

It does vibrate. Watch the guided tour movie- vibration is mentioned under the "Sounds" section.

[Alex @ Jun 27th 2007 4:27PM]

What would be cooler would be on-hold music selected from your iPhone music collection.

[JD @ Jun 27th 2007 4:27PM]

Normally I don't get along too well with people who type in all caps, but this time I actually agree with you up until the last two sentences.

Everyone chill out. It's just a blurry tab until Friday, and then we can all find out what it is and get on with life.

[jps @ Jun 27th 2007 4:27PM]

For legally downloadable music ringtones, Apple's $0.99 price will be one of, if not THE cheapest. Calling it "steep" when sprint and other companies offers ringtone donwloads at $2.49 is just straight up ridiculous.

[nikster @ Jun 27th 2007 4:58PM]

I was thinking the same thing. You'd think Engadget would know about ringtone pricing.
Yes, ringtones are ridiculously overpriced pretty much everywhere in the world - but whatever, if retarded teens (or their parents) pay for it, I don't care.

[Jomo @ Jun 28th 2007 9:56AM]

You are correct, it IS cheap... However, you're missing two points...
firstly is the ringtone is only 30 seconds long, big woop...
secondly, the fact remains that you cannot use your own mp3's as a ringtone, you are FORCED to buy a ringtone from itunes, despite the fact that nearly all phones that play mp3's allow you to set them as a ringtone with no restrictions and no DRM interferance.
The I-phone forsakes some standard phone features for some new, flashy ones.... The question seems to be do you prefer the features that the Iphone has introduced, or the ones everything else has?

[tyler @ Jun 27th 2007 4:28PM]

THIS JUST IN: The iPhone will NOT have a button for . OH MY GOD.

[Franklin @ Jun 27th 2007 4:29PM]

Um, aren't ringtones from other carriers $2? So how is $0.99 steep?

[Mile @ Jun 27th 2007 4:30PM]

It's not just the .99 it's the new tab. Ringtones has its own tab. That's steep.

[Rohit Kapur @ Jun 27th 2007 4:32PM]

First of all, "another graphics screw-up"? Whoever confirmed that the 80GB thing was a screw-up??

[Mile @ Jun 27th 2007 4:33PM]

JD:
I don't want you to have to wait until Friday.

The blurry tab is for: Pr0n. iphoNE Pr0n.