Apple to Launch Pre-Cut Ringtones at Next Week's Media Event? [Archive]

MacRumors

Sep 2, 2009, 10:28 PM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/09/02/apple-to-launch-pre-cut-ringtones-at-next-weeks-media-event/)

CNET reports (http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10338887-93.html) that Apple has obtained the rights to distribute pre-cut ringtones via iTunes and is rushing to have the feature enabled in time for next Wednesday's media event (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/08/31/apple-issues-invitations-for-september-9th-media-event/).Owners of Apple's iPhone have long had the ability to create custom-made ringtones for their devices. The new music snippets are mainly a convenience, as they make it possible for iPhone owners to obtain a pre-cut ringtone instead of having to create their own.

Apple will announce the ringtones on September 9, the day the company has scheduled a press event, if managers can get them ready in time to sell, the sources said. An Apple spokesman declined to comment.Custom ringtone creation was added to iTunes (http://www.macrumors.com/2007/09/11/apple-adds-ringtone-support-to-itunes/) in September 2007 and allows users to create their own ringtone snippets up to 30 seconds in length from iTunes Store songs for $0.99 each. There is no word on pricing for the new pre-cut ringtones or for what portion of the catalog the feature will be offered.

Article Link: Apple to Launch Pre-Cut Ringtones at Next Week's Media Event? (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/09/02/apple-to-launch-pre-cut-ringtones-at-next-weeks-media-event/)

andy721

Sep 2, 2009, 10:31 PM

Or make your own and use iFile on jailbroke iPhone.

Minimoose 360

Sep 2, 2009, 10:32 PM

Dmac77

Sep 2, 2009, 10:35 PM

I have a hard time believing this. I honestly don't think anything revolutionary is going to be done at the media event. I mean what else can they do to iPods and iTunes?

Don

AidenShaw

Sep 2, 2009, 10:39 PM

I have a hard time believing this. I honestly don't think anything revolutionary is going to be done at the media event. I mean what else can they do to iPods and iTunes?

Don

Take another toke from the RDF hookah... Inhale. Exhale. Inhale deeply.

Ahhhh. The media event is revolutionary....

;)

mr_matalino

Sep 2, 2009, 10:39 PM

Didn't the cell phone provider rip us off once already with this stupid feature? I fell for it and paid $1.99 (!) for a stupid 15 second mono-tone sounding-like piece of crap. I would be upset if Apple implemented this feature. They should know their consumers better than this...

Dmac77

Sep 2, 2009, 10:42 PM

Take another toke from the RDF hookah... Inhale. Exhale. Inhale deeply.

Ahhhh. The media event is revolutionary....

;)

Yes, your right. The new Nano is 1/10000000th of a mm thinner. I must go by the new Nano, it's size is so revolutionary.

Don

westernmass

Sep 2, 2009, 10:42 PM

how about new tones for text message alert. Really why are folks paying for ringtones they can make for free??

mrbrightside623

Sep 2, 2009, 10:43 PM

I actually use garageband to cut my own ringtones for my iPhone and for windows.... I use iRinger or iPhonerRingToneMaker so its convenient for me....

jupp0r

Sep 2, 2009, 10:44 PM

I'm still thinking that MacBooks could emerge to Intel's new platform. Anyone?

drakeshipway

Sep 2, 2009, 10:46 PM

I just make mine for free by converting a 30 second part of a song to a .m4r file. (Because you can't create your own in the Canadian iTunes store) It works great.

Dmac77

Sep 2, 2009, 10:47 PM

I'm still thinking that MacBooks could emerge to Intel's new platform. Anyone?

Umm... What are you talking about???

Don

jav6454

Sep 2, 2009, 10:55 PM

It will make it convenient for people on the go and those who don't want to bother themselves editing out.

Personally, I'd like to stay with the Custom-Made ringtones.

klittle32

Sep 2, 2009, 10:55 PM

I'm still thinking that MacBooks could emerge to Intel's new platform. Anyone?

No.

hogo

Sep 2, 2009, 10:55 PM

yeah, i guess this is meant for non-mac user's? garageband has been makin' ringtones for awhile now.

Dimwhit

Sep 2, 2009, 11:00 PM

Doesn't anyone who wants a ringtone just make it on their own, anyway? It's so easy to make a ringtone from any song right in iTunes.

gibbz

Sep 2, 2009, 11:01 PM

Or you could go here (http://audiko.net/) and get them precut for free.

InkMaster

Sep 2, 2009, 11:02 PM

May I be the first to say, who the hell cares about ringtones?

BJWanlund

Sep 2, 2009, 11:02 PM

I really don't care about this rumor.

I'd rather have custom SMS ringtones for my iPhone than this b.s. any day of the week.

BJ

PoitNarf

Sep 2, 2009, 11:02 PM

Musical ringtones are for teeny boppers.

aznkid25

Sep 2, 2009, 11:04 PM

I posted the same thing earlier here:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=77864
Can they be merged?

SFStateStudent

Sep 2, 2009, 11:05 PM

Oh great, additional charges to my credit card that I can actually "do for free" via GarageBand....:eek::eek::eek:

synth3tik

Sep 2, 2009, 11:08 PM

An audio snippet up to 30 seconds long should not cost any more then $.40. Honestly.

dicklacara

Sep 2, 2009, 11:14 PM

Michael CM1

Sep 2, 2009, 11:15 PM

What's sad is how dumb yet smart this is. It's dumb because any Mac user with non-DRM songs can cut a ringtone for free in Garage Band. It's not exactly rocket science. But it's smart on Apple's part because 1) not everybody has GB, and 2) some people really can't figure this out and will pay $3 for a stupid song snippet.

Why more than 99 cents is ever charged for a ringtone is beyond me. I guess it's kinda like the store with a 2-liter drink for 99 cents but a cold 20-ounce is $1.39.

cyper2002

Sep 2, 2009, 11:16 PM

I think you would have to be an idiot to pay for ringtones when you can make them for free in iTunes. Besides, we have already payed for the music on our iPhones so we should be able to choose it as a ringtone right on the phone. It's stupid that we can't do this, considering that other phones do.

Eidorian

Sep 2, 2009, 11:20 PM

Is Apple laying low for the next few months?

Dimwhit

Sep 2, 2009, 11:22 PM

What's sad is how dumb yet smart this is. It's dumb because any Mac user with non-DRM songs can cut a ringtone for free in Garage Band. It's not exactly rocket science. But it's smart on Apple's part because 1) not everybody has GB, and 2) some people really can't figure this out and will pay $3 for a stupid song snippet.

You don't even need Garage band. You can use iTunes itself to create the ringtone.

NT1440

Sep 2, 2009, 11:23 PM

Why does everyone expect something revolutionary at this event? They do it EVERY FREAKING YEAR, and for some reason people think theres going to be something other than a normal ipod update and other media related small news. Its almost always a bunch of the smaller announcements bunched together in one event.

Eidorian

Sep 2, 2009, 11:24 PM

You don't even need Garage band. You can use iTunes itself to create the ringtone.Which also means you don't even need OS X...

twoodcc

Sep 2, 2009, 11:24 PM

i already make my own in garageband for free. granted, the quality isn't as good, but still it's free

gocardsfan1

Sep 2, 2009, 11:25 PM

You don't even need Garage band. You can use iTunes itself to create the ringtone.

Can you elaborate on this please? I never knew this was possible.

spillproof

Sep 2, 2009, 11:32 PM

Can you elaborate on this please? I never knew this was possible.

Surprisingly it is on Apple's support page (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1358)

ziggyonice

Sep 2, 2009, 11:33 PM

Can you elaborate on this please? I never knew this was possible.

They're referring to the option of downloading a ringtone from iTunes for 99¢. When you do so, an audio waveform of the entire song appears in the iTunes window. You select 30 seconds of the song that you want to make into a ringtone. Done.

CharBroiled20s

Sep 2, 2009, 11:33 PM

Can you elaborate on this please? I never knew this was possible.

It's really really really easy.

Pick a song, Right-click and select "get info"
Select the "Options" tab.

set your beginning and end times to the part of the song you want for the ringtone (the total time from beginning to end for your ringtone can NOT exceed 30 seconds).

Then click OK and right click the song again. Select "Create AAC Version"

When that finishes, right click the newly created song and select "Show in Windows Explorer"

The song will be highlighted in the folder that pops up.

Rename it's extension from M4A to M4R

Now just add your newly created ringtone file into itunes and thats it... (you can just drag the file onto the itunes app and it'll be added for you)

Thats about it, sync your phone (make sure your phone is setup to sync Ringtones or it won't copy to the phone)

You set the ringtone on the phone under Settings>>>Sounds>>>Ringtone

Roessnakhan

Sep 2, 2009, 11:41 PM

Hey, if it makes them money and people are too lazy to do it themselves (it literally takes less than a minute to make your own ringtones), so be it.

pruppert

Sep 2, 2009, 11:49 PM

Substitute *keynote* for *episode*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzyd91NFx-Y

sonictonic

Sep 2, 2009, 11:56 PM

Wow - who cares.

Anyway I'm O.K. with it, so long as they don't replace the "create your own" option. Now that would be STUPID.

Gatteau

Sep 2, 2009, 11:59 PM

Woah if they're making an event just for that.

wonderbread57

Sep 3, 2009, 12:12 AM

Steve: Ladys and gentlemen I give you, the ring tone :):apple:

arn, have we completely forgotten about page 2?

AidenShaw

Sep 3, 2009, 12:15 AM

Which also means you don't even need OS X...

Good for the 95% of us who don't use OSX !!

:cool:

simsandwhich

Sep 3, 2009, 12:35 AM

Woah if they're making an event just for that.
Crawl out of your hole and notice the iPod hype that's been building up. Also notice the tagline for the media event.

Still think it's a media event dedicated to an unknown change in ringtones?

Evangelion

Sep 3, 2009, 12:40 AM

stuffradio

Sep 3, 2009, 12:43 AM

Even though I have Mac OS X and Garage Band... you don't even need that... you could use like Audacity or something.

Ericatomars

Sep 3, 2009, 12:46 AM

Big deal

JeffDM

Sep 3, 2009, 12:55 AM

An audio snippet up to 30 seconds long should not cost any more then $.40. Honestly.

I think the rationale goes that you're paying for a public performance license, since you're likely to have it within an earshot of people in public. Not that I agree with it, that rationale falls apart because some people play music when they have their windows open, convertible tops down, portable sound systems and so on.

Woah if they're making an event just for that.

Why invite all those people just for stupid ringtones? That would be lame. This is likely an iTunes/iPod event, where they show off new iPod updates and likely roll out some catalog additions of music from some old band. Ring tone announcements, if any, will probably be just a couple minutes out of a 90 minute presentation. Ring tones aren't that big of a market anymore, half a billion in the US a couple years ago and declining.

rjpv

Sep 3, 2009, 01:04 AM

I really don't care about this rumor.

I'd rather have custom SMS ringtones for my iPhone than this b.s. any day of the week.

BJ

I agree! The impossibility to customize the SMS/Email alert ringtones is just a big pile of B.S.

In the same way how you can customize the ringtone for incoming calls why can you don't do it for SMS? I mean, how difficult can it be to copy paste the code of changing the ringtone from call into the code for SMS? really?

akm3

Sep 3, 2009, 01:33 AM

I have a hard time believing this. I honestly don't think anything revolutionary is going to be done at the media event. I mean what else can they do to iPods and iTunes?

Don

Add a rapidly searchable tagging system, for starters.

TAPelicious.com

Sep 3, 2009, 01:49 AM

what for would we want pre-cut ringtones? it makes not really sense to me!
we can cut them as we want already!! :)

AAPLaday

Sep 3, 2009, 02:00 AM

This might be one of the new features but it won't be the main and there will be other things coming which hopefully make this worth while. iTunes in 64 bit would be welcome with speed enhancements as after my snow leopard update iTunes is by far my slowest app with all the media I have on it.

MacFly123

Sep 3, 2009, 02:10 AM

I prefer GarageBand for FREE! :D Why would I want to pay for ringtones? :rolleyes:

donlphi

Sep 3, 2009, 02:15 AM

This event is starting to resemble something I expected.

Tell me they are finally going to release the Hi-Fi II while they are at it.

Enjoy your cameras. :(

wackymacky

Sep 3, 2009, 02:17 AM

Maybe I'm just lazy, but I can understand someone paying a buck for a ringtone they can't be bothered to make them self.

Mind you, I'm so lazy I just use the default ring tome anyway.

Detektiv-Pinky

Sep 3, 2009, 02:45 AM

I prefer GarageBand for FREE! :D Why would I want to pay for ringtones? :rolleyes:

You Socialist! ;)

I think it is all about handing more money over to Apple...

andy721

Sep 3, 2009, 02:51 AM

You Socialist! ;)

I think it is all about handing more money over to Apple...

You Capitalist :D Bang, give me your money

str1f3

Sep 3, 2009, 02:51 AM

Musical ringtones are for teeny boppers.

If you weren't going to say, I was.

BongoBanger

Sep 3, 2009, 03:17 AM

Wait... does this mean you can't link directly to your onboard music library on an iPhone if you want to use a track/sound for your ringtone/alarm/e-mail/SMS notification? And can you link different sounds to different profiles?

tomasio

Sep 3, 2009, 03:20 AM

...otherwise such crappy "innovation" would never made it as main theme on a conference. I am still hoping that this is just a rumor ; )

sonictonic

Sep 3, 2009, 03:34 AM

How many other people here would much rather see Apple update the list of default ringtones to include more NORMAL sounding phone rings? We have some old and stale ring "tones" and a bunch of weird crap (Duck? Dog bark? really? REALLY?) - how fricken hard is it to make some NICE, clean, modern ringtones that sound like a modern phone actually ringing and not making a stupid, lame sound effect or dumb top 40 song?

/end rant

:D

svalentine

Sep 3, 2009, 04:07 AM

More animal sounds please.
/sarcasm

Data

Sep 3, 2009, 04:24 AM

i Find i strange people still wanna pay for ringtones when you can make them in a minute for free .

AAPLaday

Sep 3, 2009, 04:36 AM

i Find i strange people still wanna pay for ringtones when you can make them in a minute for free .

I find it funny that people EVER paid for ringtones :)

NightFox

Sep 3, 2009, 04:37 AM

It's really really really easy.

Pick a song, Right-click and select "get info"
Select the "Options" tab.

set your beginning and end times to the part of the song you want for the ringtone (the total time from beginning to end for your ringtone can NOT exceed 30 seconds).

Then click OK and right click the song again. Select "Create AAC Version"

When that finishes, right click the newly created song and select "Show in Windows Explorer"

The song will be highlighted in the folder that pops up.

Rename it's extension from M4A to M4R

Now just add your newly created ringtone file into itunes and thats it... (you can just drag the file onto the itunes app and it'll be added for you)

Thats about it, sync your phone (make sure your phone is setup to sync Ringtones or it won't copy to the phone)

You set the ringtone on the phone under Settings>>>Sounds>>>Ringtone

...and that's exactly why people will pay 99c for a pre-cut one.

mkjj

Sep 3, 2009, 06:08 AM

We still can't even buy ringtones from iTunes here in the UK even if we wanted to!

talkingfuture

Sep 3, 2009, 06:36 AM

I hope there is something more exciting than this at the event!

Stella

Sep 3, 2009, 06:49 AM

LOL - there's no way I'm paying to have a 30 second clip of music I already own... think I'll use existing free ways of doing this.

inkfid

Sep 3, 2009, 06:49 AM

why is everyone saying the same thing over and over.. and why does everyone seem to think that this event is to launch ringtones?

it's pretty funny.

this is just the yearly keynote on iPods/iTunes which will show any new hardware/software adjustments/features.

ringtones may be a part of it but not much.

i would like to see the ability to customise a tone for SMS though.

my best guess is that they will mainly feature iTunes 9, which is rumoured to have a way to manage iPhone app, a social networking part (links to twitter/facebook or whatever). maybe some cosmetic changes to iPod family.

doctoree

Sep 3, 2009, 06:56 AM

Pre Cut Ringtones, wow this is huge! I'd imagine Apple organizing a special event just for that.

Shagrat

Sep 3, 2009, 07:05 AM

What's with all the whining? If this rumor is true, they would probably spend few minutes talking about it when they demo iTunes 9. Or do you really think that ringtones are going to be major part of the event?

EDIT:

AidenShaw: why do you always have to be such an ass?

If it walks like an ass, and sounds like an ass...

As some have already observed, if they think that Apple will have a media event JUST to launch pre cut ringtones then either they are suffering from REALLY low expectations, or Apple are really in the s***!

I am starting to find these rumour pages less and less interesting, as time goes by...:p

cookie1105

Sep 3, 2009, 07:22 AM

This could be one of those notorious :apple: leaks. Feeding employees misinformation to find the leak.

Bet you it doesn't feature in the final keynote :cool:

zacheryjensen

Sep 3, 2009, 07:31 AM

Eh this rumor seems off-target. If there's any truth to this, it's going to be the ability to send ringtone cuts you made to friends so they can buy what you think is cool. That's what social networking is all about at the core, subscribing to other peoples' opinions.

sinsin07

Sep 3, 2009, 07:36 AM

[QUOTE=rjpv;8410069...In the same way how you can customize the ringtone for incoming calls why can you don't do it for SMS? I mean, how difficult can it be to copy paste the code of changing the ringtone from call into the code for SMS? really?[/QUOTE]

Custom ringtones has the same difficulty that cut and paste, spotlight, landscape (expanded) did, EPIC

Chupa Chupa

Sep 3, 2009, 07:43 AM

Clearly this article is an omen its gonna be a slow news day. Labor Day Weekend has begun.

Evangelion

Sep 3, 2009, 07:43 AM

LOL - there's no way I'm paying to have a 30 second clip of music I already own... think I'll use existing free ways of doing this.

Well, it could be for songs that you don't own....

As to Apple charging money for ringtones user makes from his own songs... That boils down to licensing. Licensing-costs are a lot higher for ringtones than for normal songs. So when user transforms his $,99 song in to ringtone, the rightsholder loses out on the money they normally get when they license their content to be used as ringtones. That's why Apple charges money for the service, since they have to license ringtones separately.

The Phazer

Sep 3, 2009, 07:43 AM

Maybe I'm just lazy, but I can understand someone paying a buck for a ringtone they can't be bothered to make them self.

Mind you, I'm so lazy I just use the default ring tome anyway.

Indeed. One wonders if cooking forums have similar reactions to the existance of Pizza Hut, despite the fact making a pizza yourself is really easy and fairly quick.

People will pay to not have to do trivial tasks themselves. Nothing wrong with offering that as a service as long as it doesn't remove the ability for those with the inclination from doing it themselves.

Phazer

Truffy

Sep 3, 2009, 07:56 AM

It's almost worth getting an iPhone to revel in the ring tone loveliness. :rolleyes:

peterdevries

Sep 3, 2009, 08:06 AM

Wait... does this mean you can't link directly to your onboard music library on an iPhone if you want to use a track/sound for your ringtone/alarm/e-mail/SMS notification?

No, unfortunately you can't.. You can convert non DRMed songs using Garageband though, but it's a bit fiddly.

And can you link different sounds to different profiles?

Yeah, the (standard) ringtones that are on the phone, but not the music you have in your iTunes library on your iPhone..

unshift

Sep 3, 2009, 08:13 AM

i Find i strange people still wanna pay for ringtones when you can make them in a minute for free .

its not really free if you do it yourself - lost time and opportunity cost - am sure some folk earn more than $0.99 a minute - makes it cheaper to download

RyanR.

Sep 3, 2009, 08:39 AM

I have a hard time believing this. I honestly don't think anything revolutionary is going to be done at the media event. I mean what else can they do to iPods and iTunes?

Don

I see it now Steve and Paul go out on stage to welcome everybody and there are one or two press people... and crickets in the background:D

Really I agree with you if most of the rumors are true. Thought maybe there would be "one more thing"(tablet, :apple:TV refresh) , but it sure doesn't look like it and is it just me or doesn't it seem like a waste of money to have a press media event for camera's and ring tones??? :rolleyes:

I hope there is something big in this announcement. I would not expect Steve to give it much less be there with his head held low.:(

iOrlando

Sep 3, 2009, 08:42 AM

i thought anyone could make their own ringtunes using itunes songs already. this is news to me that people pay for it

arkitect

Sep 3, 2009, 08:46 AM

its not really free if you do it yourself - lost time and opportunity cost - am sure some folk earn more than $0.99 a minute - makes it cheaper to download

:confused:
And the time spent looking for the ringtune is somehow free?

Besides, if they're doing this while they should be working… well they won't be worth more than $0.99/minute very soon. ;)

Shasterball

Sep 3, 2009, 08:50 AM

grimmace

Sep 3, 2009, 08:55 AM

Perhaps this is more than we think. Maybe Apple is making custom music. Maybe they are making new ringtones and selling them. I see no need for just clipping songs as we can all do that now.

Bubba Satori

Sep 3, 2009, 09:11 AM

Ringtones ? Bag of stupid. :mad: Somebody wake me up when Apple releases lots of exciting new computer stuff in the next couple of years, m'kay. :rolleyes:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/21/33570155_fa856e2578.jpg

zjmuse

Sep 3, 2009, 09:15 AM

I really don't care about this rumor.

I'd rather have custom SMS ringtones for my iPhone than this b.s. any day of the week.

BJ

Oh man yes, I would be excited if they finally allowed that!

Pre-cut ringtones really don't matter, but maybe this could lead to over the air purchases of ringtones from the phone? (Still wouldn't buy them because I can wait for free at home with my own)

sishaw

Sep 3, 2009, 10:29 AM

If THAT is what the event is about.....epic fail.

Seriously? WHY in the WORLD would we want pre-cut ringtones when we can cut them as we see fit already? Even if it's a lower price...

I wanna see some Beatles on dat dere iTunes :]

For some reason, only a very few of my songs are eligible to be made ringtones via iTunes. I'm sure others have the same experience--the songs you really want are not eligible.

Perhaps this goes along with more availability of songs for ringtones.

sishaw

Sep 3, 2009, 10:30 AM

i thought anyone could make their own ringtunes using itunes songs already. this is news to me that people pay for it

Yes, but a lot of songs don't come with that permission enabled. Of course, there are other ways to go about it.

Master Chief

Sep 3, 2009, 11:43 AM

I just got this popup in iTunes:

You can create iPhone ringtones from many songs purchased from the iTunes Store. Do you want to check to see which songs can be used to create a ringtone? And that's the first time ever I've seen this. Something changed, obviously.

ejrizo

Sep 3, 2009, 11:44 AM

I don't think you guys are getting it. This is not for us but for people that I know that have iPhones and don't even sync to computers let alone a mac. I hear people in the office and around with feeakin UFO sound effects as a ringtone because they just can't buy one over the air. Give all those people the ability to buy a pre cut ringtone over the air and you got lots of money rolling in and you have lots of people happy that they don't have to put up with apples horrible standard ringtones on the iPhone.

zedsdead

Sep 3, 2009, 12:05 PM

FF_productions

Sep 3, 2009, 12:54 PM

You can make ringtones in iTunes for FREE for christs sake, just select a 30 second piece of a song, mark the in and out, export it as a Mp4, then change extension to .m4r and YOU ARE DONE.

God I hope people are smart enough to save their money and do that.

Truckondo

Sep 3, 2009, 02:38 PM

I noticed an article today that got me thinking they are going to allow sms tones. I guess Namco has precut sounds for ringtones on the itunes store. Some of them being 1 second long such as the sound of pacman eating a ghost. I for sure wouldn't use a 1 second ringtone for a phone call. Wishfull thinking I guess. Hopefully they work the same was as ringtones so I can make them for free.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/03/namco-bandais-new-itunes-sounds-will-eat-up-your-money

krnageskillz

Sep 3, 2009, 06:24 PM

Its about time you can download ring tones direct from iTunes. I have never been able to create my own from a song I purchased as they all seem to be not compatible with the feature.

I would also like to see the ability to download new MSG ring tones and new em@il tones.

Bjohnson33

Sep 4, 2009, 11:43 AM

I have a hard time believing this. I honestly don't think anything revolutionary is going to be done at the media event. I mean what else can they do to iPods and iTunes?

Don

I think you're right - it'll be more "evolutionary" than "revolutionary". We can't expect a game-changer like the iPhone to come along every year :).