Filed under: iPod Family, iTS, iPhone
TUAW Gallery: iPhone Ringtones in Action
Gallery: iTunes Ringtones Gallery
iTunes Ringtones store have started going live in stages. First, a note appeared when I enabled the Ringtones column, informing me that the iTunes store allows me to create ringtones from many songs. Next, grayed-out ringtones started appearing next to some tracks. I purchased a track--two actually because the first one would not download no matter how many times I checked for purchases--and after it downloaded to my purchases tapped the ringtone bell to create my own ringtone. As the gallery shows, I was able to use the m4r/m4a rename trick to get my custom ringtones to sync with the iPhone. Ironically, $3 later, my purchased iTunes ringtone will not.
Dud.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
James Britton said 1:47AM on 9-11-2007
Another buck for a snippet of what I already own? Don't think so!
Reply
pinsleric said 1:51AM on 9-11-2007
actually I have been able to create, buy, and sync ringtones (but only a few are available to buy now)
Reply
Thayne Miller said 2:35AM on 9-11-2007
I just tested one right now and it worked great. All I had to do to make it work was make sure my machine was authorized to play purchased music--by trying to play the ringtone on my computer, THEN synching it to the iPhone.
IMO, not worth $0.99 since I already bought the song, I should be able to play it wherever I want. And for my own ringtones, I just use garage band to do the edits!
Reply
Jay B said 4:12AM on 9-11-2007
It's definitely finicky right now about what songs can and can't be bought as ringtones. There are several Wilco songs in my purchased playlist that don't have the ringtone icon next to them that still allow me to right click and load for editing.
Is anyone else having trouble with random purchased songs where the editor will disappear after only a second or two without actually loading the song?
Reply
Thayne Miller said 4:19AM on 9-11-2007
one thing that IS working is ringtone deletion! Now, when you delete a ringtone from the iTunes Ringtones tab, it will be reflected on your iPhone. To add a custom ringtone, just do the m4a->m4r->m4a trick and it works great! Thanks Apple!
Reply
Jersey said 7:34AM on 9-11-2007
I must be a loser ..... as none of the songs I've ever purchased are ringtone-able.
Reply
WickDC said 9:06AM on 9-11-2007
Here's a freebie for adding AAC files automatically so you don't have to all the manual changing and such. Haven't tested it.
http://www.rogueamoeba.com/utm/posts/Article/MakeiPhoneRingtone-2007-09-11-09-00.html
Reply
nicole said 9:16AM on 9-11-2007
I have the most latest version of iTunes and I do not have an option to view the ringtones column. I checked and there aren't any iTunes updates. Where do I find this option?
Reply
Nate said 9:17AM on 9-11-2007
Jersey, it looked that way for me at the start too. Give it some time. I think it goes through all your tracks and checks in the background.
Reply
nicole said 9:23AM on 9-11-2007
Never mind. You first have to click on the iTunes store and let it load, and then the ringtone option will be there.
Reply
Mike said 9:54AM on 9-11-2007
Wow, this is some pretty crappy implementation on Apple's part. You plug your iPhone in and the Ringtones column appears in your music library, but nowhere else! On top of that, there doesn't seem to be anyway to remove it (at least, it's not on the checklist of columns you get when you press CMD+J). I don't want this column in my music library, as more than 90% of my music is not from iTunes. I would much rather prefer to have it in my Purchased playlist, as those are the only songs that even stand a chance of having a ringtone option!
Reply
mingistech said 10:38AM on 9-11-2007
Re: Mike
You might wanna look a little closer before you start complaining . When you bring up view options in your music lib (CMD+J) Ringtones is a selectable option to add or remove.
See posted image.
http://tinyurl.com/yozzv2
Reply
Mike said 11:05AM on 9-11-2007
Any chance I'll be able to purchase ringtones that AREN'T music based. Little annoys me more than being forced to listen to someone elses awful taste in music when a phone rigns in public. I fully realize that my musical preferences may not be shared by many, and therefore choose to be considerate regarding my level of audible obnoxiousness.
Reply
Bill said 12:07PM on 9-11-2007
I created two ringtones on iTunes this morning just to see what they would sound like. One big problem: there's no apparent way to adjust the volume when you use the iTunes ringtone editor. One ringtone would up being way too loud, such that it sounds distorted when it plays on the phone. The other is so quiet (even though the song itself is very audible) that I can't hear it unless the phone volume is turned all the way up, which makes all the other phone sounds too loud. The iTunes editor is easy to use, but the result isn't very good.
Reply
LP said 9:57PM on 9-11-2007
Completely stupid question. I'm guessing that the ringtones created are only for the iPhone? So I can't put the ringtone on my verizon phone? I know, stupid, but had to ask.
Reply