Apple set to launch ringtone service for iPhone September 5th?
By Sean Cooper 
posted Aug 31st 2007 2:23PM
posted Aug 31st 2007 2:23PM
The New York Post is reporting that Apple's September 5th dog and pony show is set to usher in the age of iTunes as ringtone-management software for iPhone. Apparently the rumored service will see iTunes able to convert any song into a ringtone -- for a fee, of course -- and you'll even have the ability to dictate which portion of the song becomes the tone. The offering will also include the ability to use previously purchased tunes as ringtones, and we're hoping your own music in iTunes, too. We're feeling this is long overdue, but can assume that Apple could have been in conversation with the labels to sort out the financials of all this magic. Watch this space next week for more news on pricing and availability -- if indeed, it actually pans out.
[Via AppleInsider]
[Via AppleInsider]
"Long overdue" indeed.
I just hope THIS isn't the big announcement though, lol.
But where's the money in that? Where else will carriers make their 300% profit on a 30 second song clip?
I agree w/ Nate- margin/markup is crazy high. Besides, Goldwave works perfectly well for me.
For those of you who spent $600 and signed a 2-year contract... are ringtones really going to make a dent in your wallet? Really?
No, because with iFuntastic... they're Free!.
They should have just allowed users to use Mp3s as ringtones just like the dozens and dozens of cell phones already on the market.
Then they wouldn't have to worry about any financials with record labels.
My Nokia 6230 from 3 years ago can play Mp3 ringtones.
Guarantee if you buy the DRM-free tracks you can use them as ringtones. Buy the cheaper $0.99 tracks? Too bad.
It's too little too late. If I want a recording of my friend Claire screaming my name, where can I find this on iTunes? If I want the theme song for Reading Rainbow. Is that on iTunes?
I'll stick the free ringtones I've been putting on my phone for 2 months no.
I agree, they don't have the Good Eats theme song, the Transformers theme song, the fights song from the Chicago White Sox + Bears from 50+ years ago, nor do they have the opening song from Sonic the Hedgehog.
Free ringtones for all!
This would be funny if it wasn't true!
I'm not an apple fan, and not a hater, but this really takes the biscuit, its phone company tactics from the dark ages....
Thankfully I'm in the UK and my nice new Sony P1i plays really nicely, and wowed a few iPhone users (yes to my surprise too) whilst in the states last month...
Actually, Claire was screaming my name the other night. I don't have an .mp3 of it though; sorry.
Guess I set myself up for that one. Hah!
I'm totally with you on that! I think what Apple is doing is pretty low. Very little class. They have the right to sell you whatever that want, however still, thats pretty low.
For all of you folks that wish that Apple would make a slide out keyboard. Be careful, Apple just might oblige you and decide to charge you... per key!
@2,
This is probably stipulated in the Apple-AT&T contract. If Apple gets a kickback from cell service fees, then Apple had to agree to not allow free unlimited ringtones on the iPhone. This is ever-so-minimally better than buying pre-canned mp3 ringtones, but just barely so.
The more knowledgeable will use easy workaround solutions anyway.
You mean iphone users can't use any sound file for a ringer as it stands now?
I don't hate you for doing it Apple, I just hate that you can get away with it.
Long overdue, yes... but appropriately overdue.
Apple has, unfortunately, a bigger obligation to the record companies in their protection than their customers. They need to ensure that legitimate ringtones will be paid for and placed on their phones. They also need a method so that users can purchase these things on the fly - using the phone's internet browser - much like every other company.
All this is leading to is iTunes integration - something that seems to be now going web based and something that takes TIME. We were fortunate enough not to have a delay for the phone's release, but a significant delay for "anticipated features" such as ringtones, maybe an iChat, maybe cut and paste.
Is it late, yes. Will it be good once it's out, yes. Did we have options prior to this impending release within a week of the phone's release? yes. Put ringtones on your phone however you want - hack it for free, pay through apple.
Whenever I hear someone else's phone ringing with some special ringtone, I feel that the person is obnoxious and childish.
I completely agree. I mean like, who do these people think they are, individuals? I bet these are the same people who go to like, Burger King, and actually choose what they want to eat. They probably also sign up for cable and pick the programming packages they want, and possibly even have a preference for what color car they drive.
Who do these people think they are? Certainly they aren't committed to serving The World State. They're obnoxious. And childish.
I'm surprised no-one seems to agree w/ you.
For me it's two things that keep me from wanting "snazzy" ringtones:
1st - When I hear them from other's phones I'm always thrown for a second at to what I'm actually hearing.
2nd - Everyone else's music (besides mine, of course) sucks. It's the same for me as hearing people w/ DUBS driving down the street in their El Dorado making me listen to their sh*tty music. Why should I be subjected to that? & you can't just ignore it or turn away. You *have* to listen.
There had better be an option to make a ringtone from music you already have. I don't buy music from iTunes (I rip songs from CDs that I buy), and there is no chance at all that I will be buying a song just so I can make a ringtone out of it.
or you can just stick to myxertones.com which does the same thing for free.
They charge you to 'convert' YOUR music into a ringtone?! ...unbelievable.
I will NEVER EVER pay for a ring tone. NEVER!!! The only reason they can get away with doing it is because some people do. I understand charging for music clips, I guess. But charging as much as they do for a sample? pfhsa.
I'm fine with Apple offering ringtones for a price. In fact, I support that.
What I DO NOT support is NOT letting the average user create their own.
It's not a "service" when they force you to pay them an additional fee for something the item YOU ALREADY PURCHASED (iPhone) should be able to do from day one. (AKA, so let me get this right... I pay for the phone... I pay for the service... and then I pay for something the phone should already do?)
It should be a great feature for those that don't want to figure out how to create the ringtones, figure out how to upload them, etc. etc. etc.
1. Ignore the fact that Apple may try to sell ringtones
2. Open ifuntastic and unshackle the iphone (or do it another way)
3. Transfer mp3s to ringtones folder
4. Proceed with life as usual
Seriously Apple, stop pissing people off you tards!
So.. I buy the iPhone. Then I buy the MP3. And then I pay Apple to crop it for me? Bugger that.
If that's what they really are releasing, it's the biggest non-event ever.
Huh I must have missed that rumour. I didn't know they were releasing the iPony and iDog. I wonder how long the warranty is, and can I get AppleCare for these two hot new products?
Wow. Now I'm even more glad I bought my blackberry. I can use whatever sound file I want. For free. Thanks for nothing Apple. You're starting to sound more like MS every day.
So, Brett... you're saying you can download music from iTunes and make it into a ringtone with a few clicks? Neat, gotta show me that sometime. ANYWAY... Let's hope they do this right and give iPhone owners FREE custom-ringtone capabilities and only charge for changing purchased tracks into ringtones. That's what it sounds like. Blackberries are great, but honestly you didn't buy it because you could turn random audio files into ringtones. iPhone owners can do this too, very very easily, got it? We just want Apple to support the process before turning to third party software.
Wait, let me get this correct. I thought the whole point of this rumored Apple service was to allow iPhone owners the chance to use their digital music files as a ringtone. If they can "do this too, very very easily," what's the point of this new service. And no, of course I can't take a drm-laden iTunes file and make it into a ringtone with a few clicks. I'm saying I can take any of my digital music (ie, ripped from my CDs) and put it on my Blackberry as a ringtone in a few clicks. Let's face it, this is how a majority of people get music on their iPhones (that and piracy). Very few buy all their music from the iTunes Store.
By the way, I really appreciate your sarcastic tone Cleverboy, though I can't say you live up to your name.
There's nothing quite like paying for something that you can already do with free software. Hopefully this isn't the case, if it is then I'll continue cropping and tweaking my mp3s with audacity.
You can actually already crop and tweak within iTunes (I do that to make my RAZR ringtones.) But you just won't be able to use those clips as ringtones on your iPhone.
It looks like you'll have to *officially* use this rigamarole service that you have to pay for. But as others have pointed out, at least there are easy workarounds. The people that will be paying for this, are the people that have been paying for ringtones for their other phones anyway...
Hey bitches don't criticize the Iphone and/or Steve Jobs.
Iphone >>>> ALL OTHERS
Ambrosia Software released iToner today. Very easy drag and drop management of ringtones. My phone is back to ringing ala Frank Zappa.
ok, so i buy an audio track on itunes for $1. I want to use it for a ringtone and i'm going to have to pay another buck or so to listen to it when my phone rings?? WTF apple?? Next thing you know toyota will be making you buy a second license for your car if you want to take a passanger anywhere, and then another if you want to use freeways instead of just local streets. Oh and Maybe a 3rd license if you want to use the trunk. DIE IN A FIRE STEVE JOBS. @#$% iphone.
Im just waiting for the update to come that will automatically charge my apple account everytime I fire up my Mac. Oh you want to use the computer that you purchased for more than just sitting there and looking pretty? well actually using the computer is added functionality and we're gonna have to charge you more money to do that.
Remember when Jobs wrote that letter about wanting things to be DRM free and yadda yadda go consumers!! I think screwing over your consumer who just jumped through hoops of fire to get your phone and will have to pay a lot to get their battery replaced could at least possibly get one break and not have to pay to make a F*cking ringtone.
do you need a mac to install ifuntastic?