Fans of the filename-extension workaround to get iTunes to recognize your homemade ringtones for uploading to the iPhone will be sad to hear that Apple has again updated iTunes. Why would anyone be sad to hear that a new version has been released? Well, the new iTunes 7.4.2 basically kills the ringtone-renaming-workaround (and all software that takes advantage of the loophole)- which means that you’ll most likely have to start paying to get your custom ringtones onto the iPhone.
The good news is that you can still use Ambrosia Software’s iToner software ($15) instead of paying Apple a $1 (on top of the $1 you’ll spend to download the song first) for each custom-created ringtone. Ambrosia Software says that iToner communicates directly with the iPhone, rather than working with iTunes to upload their ringtones – so, short of an iPhone update, the iToner software should work with any iTunes version bump-ups.
Grab iTunes 7.4.2 here, or not. We’re going to hold off on this update for a while – we like free ringtones.