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Producer mixes up original iPhone ringtone with Siri to create awesome beat
Talented Indian producer, MetroGnome, took the most recognizable iPhone ringtone, added some Siri and overlaid his own beats to create a fabulously catchy mix that every Apple fan will love. He shared the tune online and, best of all, filmed himself creating it. [Via TechCrunch]
Ringtone creationism not for sale in iTunes 10, but DIY method still seems to work
Not that we've ever been a fan of paying an additional 99 cents to turn an already-purchased track into a seconds-long ringtone, but if you fancied the option in iTunes 9.2.1, we're sad to inform you that yesterday's update seems to have nixed said option. But hey, look at this way, now you can learn a new skill: how to make iTunes 10 ringtones free of charge with some filename finagling. The old method still seems to work just fine (instructions via More Coverage link below), so turn that .m4-frown upside down!
AT&T gets slapped for deceptive third-party charges
Suffering a rash of complaints after allegedly free ringtone downloads from shady random companies started showing up on AT&T subscribers' bills, the state of Florida stuck it to the carrier -- and they've agreed to pay up. AT&T and the state have jointly announced that as much as $10 million or more could ultimately be refunded to customers, depending on how many folks file claims, in addition to a $2.5 million fine payable to the state itself and $500,000 for educating consumers on "safe internet use." What's really funny about the whole deal is that Florida's attorney general has flat-out admitted that they went after AT&T only because the actual offenders -- the fly-by-night shops operating the free ringtone schemes -- were too difficult to round up and sue. The carrier has said that it has since made unauthorized charges more difficult to rack up, and is quick to point out that other carriers have been just as guilty of allowing the shady dealings; indeed, Florida says there are other investigations underway.
Some guy offering silent ringtone
We think this is a joke, but we're actually more afraid that it's not. San Francisco-based "conceptual artist" Jonathon Keats has generously offered his latest composition, "My Cage," free of charge as a ringtone through mobile multimedia vendor Start Mobile. But wait, there's a catch, it's four minutes and thirty three seconds of pure silence. And it's not the kind of silence teens can hear, either -- it's actually pure silence. So pure, in fact, that Start Mobile keenly points out that "the silence may take place without the listener being aware of it." While we think it really doesn't serve the intended function of a ringtone in the purest sense of the word, we can't argue with the price: free. Let us know in comments what percentage of calls you manage to answer, mkay?
Verizon Wireless to give away ringtones on New Year's Eve
It seems that Verizon Wireless is in the holiday spirit this year and are going to give away one free ringtone to every customer on December 31st. Customers will be able to take advantage of this by texting the word "tone" to "2007." In return, they will receive a message with the instructions on how to download their free ringtone. With this being a promotion, we're thinking that your choice of content might be limited (What, no B.I.G.?). If anyone decides to take advantage of this, drop us a line and tell us about the ringtone choices.
