Apple releases iTunes 7.4 with iPhone ringtone maker, Wi-Fi iTunes music store support
By Will Park on Thursday, September 6th, 2007 at 11:46 AM PST In Announcements, Apple, Applications, Services, iPhone
You want ringtones? We got your ringtones right here. Well, it’s actually Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) that’s got your ringtones – and they’re not exactly “right here,” they’re in your iTunes’ iPhone window. After yesterday’s announcement that the long-awaited ringtone-making feature will finally be available to iPhone users, Apple has updated their iTunes to version 7.4, enabling the expected ringtone feature for your iPhone.
Simply purchase a compatible song and you’ll get the option to create a custom 30-second ringtone for an additional $0.99. Update your iTunes software and you’ll see the “Ringtone” tab that we’ve been expecting to see in iTunes for some time now. The ringtone feature should be fully functional by next week.
With iTunes 7.4, sync your favorite music and more with the new iPod nano (third generation), iPod classic, and iPod touch, plus create custom ringtones exclusively for iPhone with many of your favorite songs purchased from the iTunes Store. You can now also play purchased videos with closed captioning (when available), easily rate your favorite albums from one to five stars, and watch videos at a larger size inside the iTunes window.
The new version of iTunes is also said to include the Wi-Fi iTunes Store support that will allow the new iPods and iPhones to access the iTunes music store directly from their handheld device. The feature is still on lockdown so expect to see some iTunes-action on your iPhone by month’s end.
Apple’s finally done it – they’ve crossed the line (the line that up until now separated them from Microsoft and others) and have become a crass company, putting control and money too far in front of pleasing the customer.
What’s the final step that took them over the line? Allowing only songs purchased from iTunes to be used as ringtones on the iPhone.
Sure, Apple’s always provided basically closed systems. But that was OK with users because the what (and how) that Apple provided within those systems was more than enough to satisfy their users.
But not any more. Preventing a user from using any music file as a ringtone on their iPhone is downright rude and insulting.
Imagine if the iPod only let you play music purchased through iTunes. That would be totally ludicrous! And if it were the case, the iPod would never have become the phenomenon it is.
Preventing any music file from being used as a ringtone is just as ludicrous — and so non-Apple-esque that for the first time in my long love affair with Apple (beginning in 1980 with my Apple II+), I feel disgusted by Apple’s behavour.
Perhaps Apple’s ringtone policy will change, or perhaps it will remain their only one that is so agregious. However, I fear that it may instead be a harbinger of the slow and inevitable rottening of the core of Apple.
I pray it isn’t; but then, nothing lasts forever either.
-Ando
i use http://www.create-ringtone.com to make and send custom ringtones, wallpapers, MP3’s and Videos for FREE to cell phones around the world
i purchesed the iphone ringtone maker and it is not working the only thing that works is the alarm.
I’m with Ando on this. I love Apple but their attitude in this respect is downright disgusting! Every modern phone I have come across allows you to assign ANY sound uploaded to it as a ringtone. If you can choose you iPhone wallpaper from your photo albums then why not have the same function for your tunes as ringtones? I guess Apple knows they can’t sell wallpapers!
As for a 30 second limit, what a pathetic limitation that is. As an ipod the iPhone can play hours of music continuously, why should a ringtone be limited to 30s?
Apple, stop being so damn greedy!
I agree apple r greedy
I partially agree.
It’s just converted the source file into m4a even with the libraries
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