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.

[Jack Ballz @ Jun 27th 2007 4:33PM]

Ringtones for other carriers like Sprint are $2.50. Hell, SONGS for other carriers are $2.50. Some charge a bit over $3.00 for ringtones. If you can't pay $.99 to make an iTunes song a ringtone after buying an iPhone, you're a dumbass that needs to be kicked off the face of the planet.

Really, quitwit'thebitchin'. It's getting old. If you don't like the iPhone, don't post in an iPhone thread. Get out of the basement and get some fresh air.

I swear, the internet creates more dumbasses than the GOP.

[Rachel @ Jul 9th 2007 8:56AM]

Amen!

[Ryan @ Jun 27th 2007 4:40PM]

Seems to me as if something like this will hurt the fledgling Phone Sherpa (http://www.phonesherpa.com/) if you can make 30 second clips of otherwise regular iTunes tracks. Of couse if all the tracks on iTunes were DRM free, folks could be doing this today with their own tracks for free.

[Joshua Ghosn @ Jun 27th 2007 4:47PM]

Like new-borns, wristbands, babysitters et all!!!
"Wristbands, 500 Phones, 50 At a Time
A shopping mall concierge desk has revealed more details about how the iPhone sales might be handled this Friday, although it’s not clear if the policies extend to other locations. According to the modmyiphone Web site, an unnamed mall will be handing out 500 wristbands at 5 p.m. to insure fairness in selling the phones. The report sounds plausible: previous retail store events have demonstrated Apple’s interest in providing a safe and fair experience, although previous pay-offs haven’t been as super-hyped as the iPhone. Also according to the concierge, the first 50 persons in the waiting line will enter the store at 5:50 p.m., with additional groups of 50 admitted to buy their iPhones until the entire 500 iPhones in stock are sold, regardless of the hour. Based on those numbers, the Apple and AT&T stores would sell about 992,500 iPhones on the first day."
From http://www.modmyiphone.com/cmps_index.php

[A-Dog @ Jun 27th 2007 4:57PM]

I am sure the rampant iPhone chatter has nothing to do with the fact Apple has ads on the site.

[mulder @ Jun 27th 2007 6:02PM]

I'm sure it doesn't – it's just a coincidence. Now here, drink this kool-aid and it'll be ALL better.

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

yea...yea.. i agree, every thing just sucks. the iphone, the steve jobs, the apple, the every body that will buy it because they want it. I just hurts me not to see a iphone post here at the engadget,every non iphone post is a missed chance to show the ppl how much i phone is the sux. god!

[Rocker @ Jun 27th 2007 5:03PM]

Does anyone know where the SIM card goes? If the thing can't be opened for the battery then can it even be opened for the SIM?

It seems like with all the restrictions it would make sense that they don't let you swap users on the phone.

Any thoughts?

[jps @ Jun 27th 2007 5:11PM]

it goes in the top, you can see the slot in the pictures

[AirStrike X2 @ Jun 27th 2007 9:37PM]

I've heard that they've "locked" the phone to be only used on Cingular/AT&T. I'm not sure if they meant that the SIM card tray wouldn't be able to pop out but that dosen't make any sense.. I think they meant that the programming code is fixed that cannot be "unlocked" to be used on any other GSM carrier.. Though, I can be wrong but--

[T H @ Jun 28th 2007 4:47AM]

Only T-Mobile uses SIM cards from my knowledge.. and this isn't a T-Mobile phone. I'm assuming you've only ever had T-Mobile?

[Sean @ Jun 27th 2007 5:05PM]

I think it's hilarious that there's all this frenzy over a $600 phone (yes, that's right, it's a fancy cellphone), yet everyone panned the PS3 for being the same price. Don't get me wrong, I think the iPhone looks like it's going to be a great gadget. I'd love to have one, but if I had to choose which of the iPhone or PS3 I had to burn $600 on, I'd probably choose the PS3.

Thankfully, I don't have to make that choice.

[brett @ Jun 27th 2007 5:20PM]

the fanciness has zero to do with it. the fact that it's the only one on the market like it is dictating the price tag.

[andy @ Jun 27th 2007 5:23PM]

Me either.

Like most working stiffs, I can't afford either one.

[Fatima @ Jun 27th 2007 5:19PM]

Wait wait, your moaning about spending .99c when you spent $600+ on the phone?
Meh, i could careless more money for AAPL w00t.
Besides I stick with the default ringtone haha.

[Shaun McDonald @ Jun 27th 2007 5:31PM]

Compared to some of the prices for ringtones in the UK, which can be £4.50 or even more each, ~£0.50 will be rather cheap.

[focalfoto @ Jun 27th 2007 5:33PM]

has anyone heard of phonezoo.com! it allows you to make ringtones out of your music or view other peoples ringtones and send them to virtually any phone via a text message... FOR FREE!!!!

(i hope phonezoo finds a way to send it to the iphone)

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

I understand why they are selling ringtones but it is a bunch of crap. I can use my songs as ringers on my pocket pc today and it is 2 years old! I feel like every new tech is nickel and diming us and I for one am sick of it. The 360 and it's overpriced content as well as most cell providers screwing their customers on overpriced content (Verizon is the worst at this).
I really wish that these providers would quit crippling built in functionality and leave the choices with the makers of the phone, which in this case wouldn't have helped as Apple is seeing $$ in ringtones like the rest of the cellphone world but as usual, the consumer gets screwed.

BTW, that extra tab is for games - I would count on it.

[lysdexia @ Jul 7th 2007 6:18PM]

its

[Adnan Osmani @ Jun 27th 2007 6:20PM]

Guys...I have a feeling that engadget is secretly hosted at..

http://www.apple.com/PR

[Stephen @ Jun 27th 2007 6:20PM]

Surely tab 8 will be games? It would be crazy for iPod games (or specific iPhone games) not to be made to work on the iPhone?

[Addy @ Jun 27th 2007 6:20PM]

Hot tips for what to expect on engadget today:

6.00pm z0mg!! The font used on the iPhone disclaimer text in the Chinese manual has been changed!!! Shock! horror!

6.02pm False alarm on that story guys. Sorry. Our bad. It was the Dutch manual.

6.05pm Exclusive! Steve Jobs wipes own ass with 10 dollar bill. We take a closer look at the in depth details to this breaking story.

[Kevo @ Jun 27th 2007 6:20PM]

Has anyone mentioned if you can receive calls while the phone is docked/charging/syncing? It would seem reasonable to me, for a consumer to demand that they are able to receive calls at all times.

I ask because iPods basically shut down during charging.... at least mine did way back when I owned an ipod.

[KyleK @ Jun 28th 2007 7:24AM]

It's talked about in the Activation & Sync video on Apples site. If you get a call while it's syncing/charging, iTunes will pause so you can take the call.

[LegendZ28 @ Jun 27th 2007 7:15PM]

It will be a cold day in hell, before I pay a dime for a ringtone. If my phone doesn't have the ability to use my own songs/files as ringtones, then I'll be using whatever comes stock till I switch phones.

The price they charge for these things are outrageous.

[Jonathan @ Jun 27th 2007 7:19PM]

Engadget, STOP IT.

I don't care if the fanboys rank me down.

Many people don't use feeds, and it's SO ANNOYING to keep seeing iPhone, but not just iPhone, STUPID iPhone posts. Look at this post! Seriously! Who cares that two tabs were removed! Things are always changed before launch! This is so annoying it's driving me insane I'm off to Gizmodo.

I don't want to visit iPhone free engadget because some things about the iPhone ARE interesting. Like the reviews.

A missing TAB? Are you KIDDING? What the hell Tom!

[Sunny @ Jun 27th 2007 8:26PM]

You are probably the most worthless person on this site.

I've read many iphone posts and every time i scroll down the comments, you seem to always make an ass of yourself.

No one has a gun to your head forcing you to click any of the stories. I'm sorry you feel you are the only one that matters in the world, there are actually a bigger majority of people who enjoy the investigative and late breaking nature of engadget, like myself. ( not to mention the iphone, which is a pretty big deal for technology. )

Please do the world a favor and bury your head in the sand for a while. There will be plenty more iphone posts to come, and I hope each one will bring misery and suffering to you, in which point you will share with the world via comments, where we will proceed to realize how worthless you really are. Keep up the great work Jonathan.

[Charles R Hamilton @ Jun 27th 2007 7:59PM]

The picture on the "right" has 6 tabs. Unless you meant my other right.

[Malcolm @ Jun 27th 2007 8:07PM]

the pictures were just updated

[AirStrike X2 @ Jun 27th 2007 9:40PM]

Ok. What?

[AirStrike X2 @ Jun 27th 2007 9:41PM]

Oops wrong post above... was trying to Reply to Adnan Osmani

[Jared C. @ Jun 27th 2007 10:51PM]

Did you notice that the colors on the bottom also changed. There is yellow content now as well.

[carlos @ Jun 27th 2007 11:27PM]

"Has anyone mentioned if you can receive calls while the phone is docked/charging/syncing? It would seem reasonable to me, for a consumer to demand that they are able to receive calls at all times."

Yes, you can receive calls while docked. If you watch the video on Apple's site it says if you are synching when a call comes in it will cancel the sync so you can answer the call.

[Neptune5 @ Jun 27th 2007 11:43PM]

I WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE DAMN SIM CARD GOES

[Andr3w @ Jun 28th 2007 1:40AM]

Goes behind the battery, YES the battery is removable. You'll find out with everyone else tomorrow morning after 9am

[T H @ Jun 28th 2007 4:49AM]

Did you really just call it the "iLoser phone" and then type out "Bwahahaha"?

...who's the loser?

[Casey S @ Jun 28th 2007 4:52AM]

Post #7 Yeah!

[roc ingersol @ Jun 28th 2007 7:30AM]

You'd think it would be difficult for Apple to justify a price for ringtones, when complete songs only cost a dollar.

Then again, you'd think it would be blindingly obvious to give the iPhone voice dialing, A2DP, MMS, IM, etc.


Everyone hoped Apple's entry would shake up the way providers currently shake us down. So far, they're just as bad as everyone else - they just have a nicer handset.

[mitchell_pgh @ Jun 28th 2007 8:00AM]

Apple completely aside, paying for something the phone can (or should be able to) do is ridiculous. I feel like I'm being ripped off for some reason when ANY phone company forces me to pay. I'm paying for your service. If you want to OFFER ringtones for those that don't know anything about sound files, GREAT!

But don't disable the phone, THAT I'M PAYING FOR, so you can make a few extra bucks.

[The TruthBearer @ Jun 28th 2007 8:21AM]

Maybe the other tab pulls up the announcement that says, "We fucked up - please click here to download Flash."

[George @ Jun 28th 2007 8:30AM]

I'm at work all day, I cant have 50 cent as a ringtone.

[Galley @ Jun 28th 2007 8:59AM]

That's what I love about Mac users. They analyze every bit of minutiae.

[HektikLyfe @ Jun 28th 2007 11:18AM]

I am NEVER paying for my ringtones. NEVER. As for the final tab, I imagine it will be your AT&T billing information possibly including minutes etc. Nothing cool or mysterious. Zoom into the picture, it looks like it was just added on. The top of the final tab is perpendicular to the image, not the angle of the graphic.

[Jason Martin @ Jun 28th 2007 11:56AM]

I think the mystery tab will be Apple-approved (if not Apple-made) applications to install on the iPhone. Although they officially announced Web 2.0 and the like as the official iPhone SDK, I don't think that will last for long. I suspect Apple will begin distributing applications via the iTunes Store, and they will be managed in a separate tab, similar to the "Games" tab for the 5G iPod.

[Thomas @ Jun 28th 2007 2:18PM]

OK, have i got this right, we have a smartphone coming out mid 2007 with 4 or 8GB of memory, WIFI, multi touch screen, and we can't just choose our own mp3's as ringtones ?? Come on, my 4 year old T610 could do that.

[chris DeWitt @ Jun 28th 2007 3:44PM]

i guess you dont know it costs over 2 bucks on every other phone to buy a REALLY crappy ringtone

[drole.homme @ Jun 28th 2007 5:41PM]

Ringones WILL be available. Apple is working out everything, so if not included with v7.3 then in a few months. The last button, access to AT&T myAccount. They said iPhone users will have access to AT&T account information (for minute and text meters and payments) via iTunes. Maybe the last tab will be for that. Who knows, only 48 hours will tell.

[jere @ Jun 30th 2007 11:31PM]

My ringtones currently cost 2.50, so 99 cents is better. Still, it would be awesome if they let you, for free, just create ringtones from your songs in itunes.

[Better Than You @ Jul 2nd 2007 6:10PM]

It's NOT just a phone, you idiot. A phone makes and receives calls. The iPhone is also a video iPod. Do you know what that is? You can also surf the Internet...the REAL Internet! And geez, why don't you educate yourself on this device and learn all about it before saying something as stupid as "it's just a phone." You're probably actually that fat guy representing the PC in the Apple commercials. Are you THAT hung up and jealous of Apple's ingenius products/operating system/computer etc....?? The proof in in the pudding, baby, and Apple wins hands down. The iPhone will revolutionize the mobile device industry. Just read the New York Times article "Chasing the iPhone." Read it and weep dear PC loser user.

[Jeff @ Jul 5th 2007 5:13PM]

Actually Jomo, you are not forced to buy from iTunes. I've got Phone Sherpa up and running on mine and the sound quality of the ringtones is killer. BTW - I'm taking the songs directly from my iTunes. That said, my files are not locked and it only works for unlocked files.