Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iTS, iTunes, iPhone
iTunes ringtones officially became available in the US iTunes store late last night (or early this morning, depending on where you live). It looks like fun, but will cost you another buck. Considering that you can make your own (until Apple breaks this routine again), we're wondering: Will you buy iTunes ringtones?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
spathiwa said 10:43AM on 9-11-2007
You need to add another response to this quiz:
d) No, on principle. I should be able to use any music I've already purchased as a ringtone. It's bullshit to use contract law to override my rights to make a profit selling me something I already have a legal right to use by fair use
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Jeremy said 10:48AM on 9-11-2007
Might I suggest a choice of "No, songs used as Ringtones are tacky and sound like shit. They only server the purpose of letting the people around you know how God awful your choice in music is."
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B said 10:51AM on 9-11-2007
Or another response:
e) No, the last thing the world needs is another obnoxious ringtone.
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Kristy Lamb said 11:03AM on 9-11-2007
The time and energy required to roll my own ringtones (and then redo them after every iTunes update) is worth far more than 99 cents to me - so I'll just pay for ringtones if I really want them and spare myself the headache and time!
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kevinm said 11:07AM on 9-11-2007
NO, I roll my own!
an xtra $.99 to turn you're already bought song into a 15sec ringtone? yeah right.
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Jorge Casanova said 11:10AM on 9-11-2007
For Dave Caolo or anyone that has noticed, I buy songs from the iTunes Music songs and then burn/rip them to remove the DRM, are these songs still recognized as ringtone-able songs by iTunes?
Jorge
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Tanner said 11:14AM on 9-11-2007
If you'd add 'I don't have an iPhone (yet) and can't but will/won't' options I'd vote :D
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Carl Caum said 11:21AM on 9-11-2007
You know, judging by Apple in the past, I'd say they wanted to provide the service for free but since AT&T would loose buttloads of money, they complained. Hence, Apple is charging for ringtones and paying AT&T so they're happy. I mean really, why tell someone "Here's all the tools you need to create whatever ringtone you desire yourself. Now pay us 99 cents for allowing you to do all the work." This reeks of AT&T.
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Gordon Werner said 11:31AM on 9-11-2007
Where's the "Ringtones Suck and should be banned" option?
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Micah Neumark said 11:32AM on 9-11-2007
I think a lot of people want a different ringtone for every caller. Me, I just want a couple, so three or four dollars a year or so is not so much to ask. I mean, it probably should be free on principal, but, you know the saying: choose your battles. To me, this is one battle not worth fighting.
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Johnny Thrash said 11:48AM on 9-11-2007
Ban ringtones? Why not choose something more adult to ban... like talking on the cell phone while driving without using some sort of hands-free device/headphones?
People can be so trivial.
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halhiker said 11:48AM on 9-11-2007
#8
After the iPhone debacle I think it's hard to judge Apple by what it's done in the past. I think they are just taking advantage of the fact that other phone charge a completely stupid amount for ringtones and that people pay for them. Certain geeks will always get something free but I think most people will buy them just because it's easy.
I think most customers will buy one or two (my wife will have the "Hallelujah Chorus" for when I call) but it will never be a big profit center. How many ringtones could a person really want?
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mahalis said 11:52AM on 9-11-2007
Jorge - I've gotten burned/ripped songs to work fine on the iPhone as ringtones. Don't know about iTunes compatibility - I just scp them to the phone itself.
Anyhow, no, not paying for ringtones when I can make my own. Garageband makes a mighty fine song-trimming tool, and it exports m4a files by default.
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nosebag said 11:53AM on 9-11-2007
Yup, an option for "Ringtones are a tacky waste of time" is sorely needed here!
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Edsel said 11:54AM on 9-11-2007
What an ignoble way to declare Apple's "Be different" ideology - buy our ringtones.....BLAH!
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Dennis said 11:59AM on 9-11-2007
What about the option for "Why in the hell would I actually use an audible ringer if I have a vibrate option?"
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Graham Hall said 12:01PM on 9-11-2007
It's easier to just pay the 99¢ for protected songs, but I'll just make my own when I can. :)
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nosebag said 12:03PM on 9-11-2007
#12
I don't know about the US, but here is the UK there are loads and loads of ringtone services making millions. They tent to charge £1 to £3 ($6) per week for which you get 2 or 3 tones a week.
Generally speaking it's teenagers who use it so they always have the number 1 single every week. One of the biggest is Jamster, owned by Newscorp and Verisign.
I'm surprised to see Apple marketing ringtones, as unless they release a really low cost handset at some point then they are missing the normal ringtones market.
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Patrick Griffin said 12:09PM on 9-11-2007
you guys are missing the point. TEENAGERS!
if they can afford a large iPod, they can now afford an iPhone. TEENAGERS!
the reason Britney Spears and Madonna can be pop stars. TEENAGERS!
making "Highschool Musical" successful. TEENAGERS!
will buy every song they own as a ringtone. TEENAGERS!
the reason why Apple Computer Inc changed their name. TEENAGERS!
Disney has learned it, and Apple is too. Invest in young people, and the rest will follow - money money money!!!!
Please, Apple, give us an updated Mac Pro. Give us Leopard which can address huge memory! Give us iMacs with more memory and PCI-extreme expansion and eSata out.
Stop focusing on the TEENAGERS so much!!!
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bloodthirstyrobot said 12:10PM on 9-11-2007
Add me to the "ringtones suck and should be banned" category.
No one wants to listen to your crappy taste in music.
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