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iOS 5 to sell text alert tones through iTunes

by Kelly Hodgkins Jun 8th 2011 at 4:30PM

The beta version of iOS 5 includes a new feature that lets you buy ringtones for alert messages, and it's just one of the 200 new features that are to debut in the new operating system.

The ringtone option is found in the settings menu under the sounds. Users select any of the available alerts, like Text Tone, New Voicemail or New Mail, to see a list of available sounds. You can choose from any of the default sounds as well as "Buy More Tones." Clicking on the "Buy More Tones" button in iOS 5 launches the Ringtones Store within iTunes.

This feature and others like it were apparently too small for Jobs and other Apple luminaries to mention in the Monday WWDC keynote. Expect to see more of these little gems surface over the next weeks as developers begin diving into the beta release of iOS 5.



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The beta version of iOS 5 includes a new feature that lets you buy ringtones for alert messages, and it's just one of the 200 new...
 

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Irontheater

I don't get it, how is paying to get a ringtone a good thing?

June 14 2011 at 2:32 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Leonick

Eh, yea this was right there in the WWDC keynote. When finishing up the iOS 5 part the had a bunch of new things written on there, iTunes Tone Store was one of the larger ones.

June 09 2011 at 8:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
noonesxhero

As long as I can still make my own in Garageband, I'll be happy.

June 08 2011 at 11:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sean McPartlin

Let me know how to make that stupid ding to change email notification when you can... Now the issue, what sound is different enough but not disrupting to a board meeting. You should hear the sound of new email to board members in The same room.

June 08 2011 at 10:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Spanky M

This is great.
Apple needs to make money.
There are kids with money who care about text tones.
Take the money from them and keep Lion cheap and iCould free for the adults.

June 08 2011 at 7:17 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Spanky M's comment
Irontheater

Steve Jobs: Wait, what did you say, who told you this top secret information, i'll be sending him to jail. [after i rip him of his money]. (mmm does this little kid with a Nokia have money? Oh, he is wearing decent shoes). *runs to him*:
"Hey kid, wanna pay me a lot while i give you crap, so you must pay me more to get decent things?"
Little kid: "Well ..."
Jobs: "GREAT" *Takes his money, give his an ipod Touch, and runs away*
*Back to PC*
You know i am a very loyal man who never cheats, how did you ever think i want to rip off people.

June 14 2011 at 2:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shannon Doherty

For shame. Seriously. You could make your own ringtones as well as buy before for phone calls. So why not both for text tones as well? This is the ONE feature besides notifications that I was truly interested in. After the Android-hack for notifications, I am really not looking forward to iOS. webOS may be my future.

June 08 2011 at 6:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Shannon Doherty's comment
Shannon Doherty

Yikes, I meant Android. I may have to go that route and spend the time I never had to spend on iOS to customize it deeply the way I like it.

June 08 2011 at 6:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Leonick

So because the iOS notification solution is a little bit similar (but implemented way better, takes 10secs of android to see that) you are switching to android? Hmmm.
There are only so many ways one can do a list of notifications :p

June 09 2011 at 8:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Oscar Goldman

Wait, wait. So, we're four+ years into the iPhone, and they still aren't fixing the disgraceful lack of selectable sounds for different events? Instead, they're offending customers with this scam?

How much much scorn do customers have to sustain from Apple before they finally revolt? Have some self respect.

June 08 2011 at 5:57 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Oscar Goldman's comment
ChopperDave

Oscar, there are selectable tones for different events (text, mail, calendar, etc.) in iOS 5, as well as customizable vibrations in the Accessibility options menu. Take a look at Engadget and iLounge; they have more screen shots and descriptions of the new features.

June 08 2011 at 7:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to ChopperDave's comment
Shannon Doherty

But why can't you make your own sounds?

June 08 2011 at 8:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down
Kyle

Additional text tones is great, but what I really want is a different vibrate style for emails and texts. For example, one vibrate for an email and two short vibrates for a text message.

June 08 2011 at 4:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
7 replies to Kyle's comment
Drew Russell

This has been showing up on my 4.3.1 firmware for a couple of days now as well. I don't think this is specific to iOS 5

June 08 2011 at 4:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Drew Russell's comment
Nick

I have 4.3.3 on my iPhone 4 and it's not showing up there, so I don't know what it is you're seeing...

June 08 2011 at 6:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Nick's comment
Rdnymllnsktr

Correct. Drew is wrong.

June 08 2011 at 8:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down
matthias215@mac.com

This better lead to user-addable alert tones. I hear most of the system alerts are configurable, and I have half a dozen themed sets ready to go.

June 08 2011 at 4:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to matthias215@mac.com's comment
Caribou

Same question here -- can we load our OWN tones?

June 08 2011 at 5:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Caribou's comment
Robert Soulliere

Not yet... I dumped custom ringtones into iOS5 and they show up in the Ringtones section, but not the text or email section. I am going to play with some file types and see what I can come up with...

June 08 2011 at 5:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down
Maldaen

If they're stored in iTunes like ringtones are, all you need is to make sure they're a specific file type and audio config and you should be able to add them yourself.

June 08 2011 at 5:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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