No Beatles... but Custom Ringtones?

[MacRumors]

AlleyInsider claims (reliability unknown) that "a well-informed source" has told them that the Beatles will not be introduced at Apple's media event next week.

Their source does expect a new iPod, but also a new Ringtone feature for iPhone users. According to their source, users will be able to make ringtones out of songs they've already purchased from iTunes. They also claim, however, that Universal songs won't be available for this feature.

In the days leading to the iPhone launch, we had heard from reliable sources that Apple was working on incorporating Ringtone features into iTunes, but that report claimed the service would cost $.99.

Article Link

[O and A]

Finally ringtones. I hope it works with any file ITMS or not.

[Zwhaler]

Then why all the Beatles references? I don't care though, I own their music. I just want new iPods.

[Drizzt]

I don't think that the Beatles has ever been compared to ringtones I think the Beatles catalog will be introduced to iTunes on the 5th.

[zedsdead]

I still am banking on the Beatles as well...not that I need them either...but I do WANT RINGTONES! And HD movies on Apple TV...and have the iPhone act as an Apple TV remote...and a moble iTunes store...hopefully at least one will be true.

[Gherkin]

Can anyone actually confirm that the final Beatles press release had "the beat goes on" at the end? Are we all just trusting Appleinsider on this?

[Snowy_River]

Originally Posted by Macrumors

AlleyInsider claims (reliability unknown) that "a well-informed source" has told them that the Beatles will not be introduced at Apple's media event next week.

And do we know what kind of track record they have with rumors? Or are they a new entry onto the field, so to speak?

Their source does expect a new iPod, but also a new Ringtone feature for iPhone users. According to their source, users will be able to make ringtones out of songs they've already purchased from iTunes. They also claim, however, that Universal songs won't be available for this feature.

Well, if it can discriminate between songs, then this sounds like a shot across Universal's bow. A little bit of retribution for U not playing nice with contracts and DRM-free music?

In the days leading to the iPhone launch, we had heard from reliable sources that Apple was working on incorporating Ringtone features into iTunes, but that report claimed the service would cost $.99.

Article Link

[xtbfx]

Let's hope Apple doesn't screw this up and make it JUST iTunes purchases/downloads for ringtones. We should be able to add any ringtone we want to our iPhones.

AND I want the ability to manually manage music/videos on the iPhone like the iPod has. It's stupid to be this far behind the iPod when the iPhone is supposed to be "the best iPod ever made."

[Frisco]

Who cares about the Beatles?

[Nemisis]

That'd be sweet...even though I don't have an iPhone.

Is there any chance at all that it will be available for people without iPhones?

[netdoc66]

What utter spoonfed apple dribble. A normal cell phone would have have something as simple as ringtones day 1. As for Apple TV I guess they needed a few 100,000 moron's like me to cop a few mill for vacation money. Color me Apple-unimpressed in 2007

[/dev/toaster]

I have purchased quite a bit of content from iTunes. I don't mind paying for the content.

With that being said, I will be very pissed off if I am expected to either pay again to have the media I already purchased as a ring tone or to create my own custom ring tone. (From whatever source, CD, recording of my own voice, whatever)

However, I don't think Apple would go that route ... it would piss a lot of people off.

[zap2]

Originally Posted by Frisco

Who cares about the Beatles?

I do!!



But either way, I'll be happy...or both!!

[Doctor Q]

Will we have a choice of Ringtones and Ringtones Plus?

[bdkennedy1]

I say ********. Apple has Beatles album covers on the invitation for the event.

[BornAgainMac]

Eventually, by the time the Beatles come on iTunes, nobody will be old enough to remember them. Now is the time because of that Road ahead is shorter than the road behind for their target audience.

[skellener]

What's the big deal about The Beatles? Go to any used CD store and buy any of their albums dirt cheap and rip it in whatever format you like. Why is everyone so obsessed with iTunes downloads for The Beatles? It's not like any new songs are coming out. They're out now, digitally, better quality than will be available from iTunes and no DRM.

As far as possible re-masters...anyone interested in re-masters isn't going to waste time with compressed downloads. They'll buy new CDs or even SACD or DVD-Audio. So if you want The Beatles...just go get them right now.

[skellener]

Originally Posted by netdoc66

Color me Apple-unimpressed in 2007

I hear 'ya. It's been a lousy year. The new iMac is the first real interesting thing I've seen all year. We still have Leopard to look forward to.

[izzle22]

Originally Posted by Frisco

Who cares about the Beatles?

A lot of people including myself care about the Beatles. They are the reason we have any good music today. That being said I already own everything they have ever done and wouldn't buy any of their music from iTunes. I think it would be a great accomplishment for Apple and the Beatles to finally get them in the store for others who DO care about them.

[nemaslov]

No Beatles til 08 early maybe Macworld. A new Ringo Hits came out yesterday and McCartney has a three disd career spanning DVD of his solo video work coming in November.

They will NOT compete with themselves.

It will be a huge CD remasters push and iTunes push in the first quarter of 08.

Forget the downloads. These remasters will sound amazing have both stereo and mono mixes on one disc and then a second with 5.1 surround . They will also include the singles they were recording around the same time as each album, as the Beatles never issued singles that were album cuts. AT least not in the UK. Only Capitol in the US and later hits collections included singles. The Beatles didn't want their fans to have to rebuy songs. Yes this is true.

[Me1000]

Why would I pay $0.99 for a ringtone, when I could pay the same price for the song, then make it a ringtone?

[Gherkin]

Originally Posted by skellener

What's the big deal about The Beatles? Go to any used CD store and buy any of their albums dirt cheap and rip it in whatever format you like. Why is everyone so obsessed with iTunes downloads for The Beatles? It's not like any new songs are coming out. They're out now, digitally, better quality than will be available from iTunes and no DRM.

As far as possible re-masters...anyone interested in re-masters isn't going to waste time with compressed downloads. They'll buy new CDs or even SACD or DVD-Audio. So if you want The Beatles...just go get them right now.

With that logic, why buy ANY music off the iTMS? Some people really like this digital direction music is going in and would gladly buy digital versions of Beatles albums. Apple will most likely have a Beatles-complete set which is very appealing to some people.

As for why it's such a big deal, the Beatles are the best selling artists ever in the history of music (Elvis and Michael Jackson are argued as best selling as well, but regardless, Beatles are at least in the top 3 EVER). Their music being available for digital download is very symbolic for the industry as a whole.

[Hairball]

If the story about the Beatles is true, that's too bad. I've been waiting for a updated remastering of their stuff.

[Gherkin]

Originally Posted by skellener

I hear 'ya. It's been a lousy year. The new iMac is the first real interesting thing I've seen all year. We still have Leopard to look forward to.

The new iMacs impress you, but the iPhone doesn't?

[Chundles]

Originally Posted by bdkennedy1

I say ********. Apple has Beatles album covers on the invitation for the event.

No they don't. None of the covers on the invitation are from Beatles albums.