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!

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