iTunes update out. version 7.4

[boer]

Nokia Music Store

Nokia isn't trying to run a music store.

No they currently are not. Their Nokia Music Store will not open until later this year. Google it up.

 

[bignumbers]

What bugs me about this is ringtones can only be made from iTunes Store purchases (for an extra buck). Does Apple somehow know the copyright on all other sounds in my computer? My iTunes has many, many hours of content from the archive.org/etree.org live music archive. I also have a reasonable collection of music written by myself or others and given away for free on the internet (without restriction).

What's next - will Apple only allow iTunes Store-purchased audio to be added to iMovie/GarageBand because it might be played online? I mean iMovie has a built-in share-on-youtube feature.

I do NOT have a problem with Apple charging the buck for iTunes Store purchased content when the artists have said that's what they want. It's the artists' music. I have a HUGE problem when Apple prohibits the legal use of other music as ringtones.

Here's a curiosity - what happens if an artist who has music on iTunes (probably an indy artist) says "Our license allows for ringtone usage for no added fee." Will Apple allow free ringtone conversion? Or still charge the buck? Or just remove them from the ringtone list altogether because they don't fit "the mold?"

 

[schulzmc]

There are like 15 of those people in the entire world!

Then I must be one of the 15.

Look - I know that this is not a popular opinion on forums like this, but the law is the law, whether I like it or not. Making a ring tone from a song without the artist/publisher permission is theft. Petty theft, but theft nonetheless.

I wouldn't steal a pack of gum from a store, so why should I steal the use of a song? I don't like that they make me pay for air at a gas station, but that doesn't give me the right to circumvent the machine and take the air for free.

The simple fact is the artists who wrote/performed the song and the companies that represent them own the rights to that song and can determine how you can use what is their property. They've decided playing the song on your iPod, your iPhone, your computer, and through any number of speaker/stereo systems is fair use that you already paid for. They've further decided that if you want to cut down their song and use a portion of it as a ring tone on your phone you have to pay extra for that. You can agree that's a fair deal and pay to use the song, or you can say it's a rip off and write your own music for a ring tone - but it IS illegal to use the song without their permission.

When you think about it, $2 for full use of a song in my iPod, iPhone, Computer, and as a ring tone is not a bad deal.

 

[Evangelion]

Whats with the ringtone deal?

1. You buy a song.
2. Then you decide that you want it as a ringtone.
3. You then choose a part of that song you already bought and you have to buy it AGAIN?

Is this a joke? I already bought the song. Why should I pay once more?

Is there something I'm missing here?

Ringtones carry a lot higher royalty-rates than normal songs do.

 

[dukeblue91]

First Sync

If you uncheck sync Ringtones before you sync your iPhone,
it will not take away your current ringtones you put on via 3rd party.
Hope this helps someone

 

[Island Dog]

I'm still disappointed with the ringtones, not sure if I will use a 3rd party or not. I wish iToner had a Windows version.

 

[milo]

Looks like the makers of the 3rd party tools will have to work some more.

It does rather take the cake that Apple, as one of the market leaders in music creation software, don't give you the simple capability to use the music you create as a ringtone. At least add it to Garageband, for goodness sake.

The problem is how would they allow music you created but not files you ripped from CD or downloaded from napster? Because you know that's what the record companies are insisting on.

The answer to this is simple, but people just don't seem to get it.

The record companies make billions from selling ringtones. In their contract with apple, they insist that apple pay them extra for ringtone use, and block "open" file usage as ringotnes (since that would completely kill ringtone sales on the device). It's the same reason iTunes doesn't rip dvd's - movie studios only agreed to sell content if apple agreed to leave that feature out.

Apple can accept these terms, or they can give up all sales of major label material in itunes.

If you were in apple's shoes, can you tell me with a straight face you'd give up a huge portion of the iTunes catalog just to let users use their own files as ringtones?

 

[lazyrighteye]

You're somebody! (Not sure if anyone else here gets the movie reference.)

iTunes 7.4's help system seems to have no information about ringtones. I wonder how many ringtones Apple will sell to people who just want to try the feature, without owning an iPhone!

"Somebody's shooting at these cans!"

I'd like to see, but seriously doubt, that Apple will ever allow ringtones made from anything NOT purchased via the iTunes Store. They can't. *cough* RIAA *cough*

Would be cool if you could make custom ringtones in Garageband and use those. I see no reason that feature wont' creep into iTunes in the future...

 

[Kedrik]

Nope!

If you uncheck sync Ringtones before you sync your iPhone,
it will not take away your current ringtones you put on via 3rd party.
Hope this helps someone

I can confirm that this doesn't work. I put my ringtones back on and unchecked Sync ringtones, and they were gone again. Seems like it should work, but it doesn't.

 

[milo]

I can set any audio file on my Nokia N95 as a ringtone. It also comes with a utility to rip and sync CDs to the phone.

Wonder why they were "allowed" to do this.

Does nokia sell any songs? If not, the record companies have no leverage to keep them from doing it.

No they currently are not. Their Nokia Music Store will not open until later this year. Google it up.

And at that point, they will stop selling phones that allow the use of any file for a ringtone.

Will Apple be cutting the price of ringtones too in the near future? Pricing is insane.

If pricing is so insane, tell me who sells ringtones cheaper, especially who sells ringtones PLUS a full version of the song for mp3 players for that price?

I've been asking that question since yesterday and have yet to hear a single answer.

 

[losx12]

Hey, at least you got your wishlist. I'd love better Podcast management. Right now you apply settings to all podcasts, and I'd love to apply them individually. I'd like to say keep only the most recent of podcast A, but every one of podcast B. You can't do that now - one setting for all podcasts.

You can already do this, right-click the Podcast you want to keep all episodes from and select Do Not Auto Delete.

 

[williedigital]

I'm fine with the paying for ringtones deal, but they should at least provide a larger library of non-musical, "normal" ringtones. I don't see a good reason why there shouldn't be hundreds of those to choose from.

 

[AdMan2007]

This is pointless. Can't you just make your own for free? I do that for my Razr with little effort.

Jester, can you provide any instructions on how to do this? I have a Razr, too. Thanks!

 

[sanford]

I can confirm that this doesn't work. I put my ringtones back on and unchecked Sync ringtones, and they were gone again. Seems like it should work, but it doesn't.

I think this should send a clear message to iPhone owners: unless it is certified or authorized by Apple, don't buy any software or hardware for your iPhone. I mean, it's not like we weren't warned. Jobs said when they pre-announced the iPhone like half a year in advance that they weren't allowing third-party native applications or installations to iPhone; that was the policy he stated, subject to later review as the market demands. He was completely forthright. We knew. Ambrosia should never have said their product was future-proof.

And I know Jobs said it's $1.98 for ringtone, touting it as being better than the usual $2.49. Really, though, it's half that, only $.99. You really can't count the cost of the song, because you get the freaking song, too, and if you buy a song for a ringtone that you wouldn't otherwise want, you really are crazy.

Also, with music ringtones, the joy wears off, let me tell you. Try it a month and most of you will be setting your phone to make the most simple, stock ring available.

 

[mambodancer]

What bugs me about this is ringtones can only be made from iTunes Store purchases (for an extra buck). Does Apple somehow know the copyright on all other sounds in my computer? My iTunes has many, many hours of content from the archive.org/etree.org live music archive. I also have a reasonable collection of music written by myself or others and given away for free on the internet (without restriction).

What's next - will Apple only allow iTunes Store-purchased audio to be added to iMovie/GarageBand because it might be played online? I mean iMovie has a built-in share-on-youtube feature.

I do NOT have a problem with Apple charging the buck for iTunes Store purchased content when the artists have said that's what they want. It's the artists' music. I have a HUGE problem when Apple prohibits the legal use of other music as ringtones.

Here's a curiosity - what happens if an artist who has music on iTunes (probably an indy artist) says "Our license allows for ringtone usage for no added fee." Will Apple allow free ringtone conversion? Or still charge the buck? Or just remove them from the ringtone list altogether because they don't fit "the mold?"

Just use one of the shareware apps to install it. Why is that so hard to understand?

 

[Small White Car]

Whats with the ringtone deal?

1. You buy a song.
2. Then you decide that you want it as a ringtone.
3. You then choose a part of that song you already bought and you have to buy it AGAIN?

Is this a joke? I already bought the song. Why should I pay once more?

Is there something I'm missing here?

You have to pay to see a movie in the theater and then pay AGAIN to get it on DVD.

The music folks see this as the exact same thing.

NOT THAT I AM DEFENDING THEM. No need to complain to me, I'm just explaining how they think.

 

[mambodancer]

I think this should send a clear message to iPhone owners: unless it is certified or authorized by Apple, don't buy any software or hardware for your iPhone. I mean, it's not like we weren't warned. Jobs said when they pre-announced the iPhone like half a year in advance that they weren't allowing third-party native applications or installations to iPhone; that was the policy he stated, subject to later review as the market demands. He was completely forthright. We knew. Ambrosia should never have said their product was future-proof.

And I know Jobs said it's $1.98 for ringtone, touting it as being better than the usual $2.49. Really, though, it's half that, only $.99. You really can't count the cost of the song, because you get the freaking song, too, and if you buy a song for a ringtone that you wouldn't otherwise want, you really are crazy.

Also, with music ringtones, the joy wears off, let me tell you. Try it a month and most of you will be setting your phone to make the most simple, stock ring available.

No, it sends a clear message to software developers to update their software. iToner and products like it were develped prior to this announcement. Now, with the addition of a ring tones feature in iTunes and iPhone, I suspect updates to these programs will be even better because that suppport is built in and specific folders and ways to manage ringtones are now supported by Apple.

 

[3282872]

Jester, can you provide any instructions on how to do this? I have a Razr, too. Thanks!

Yeah, I had a RAZR and I bluetooth synced it with my Mac. When you pair your RAZR with your Mac (now, assuming your RAZR isn't Verizon, which crippled the bluetooth object exchange capability on all their phones to make you use their "Get It Now" service), you can "Browse" the device through the bluetooth options. When browsing, you should see folders such as "Pictures", "Sounds", etc. As I recall, when you make a ring tone, just make certain it is roughly 30 seconds in length, mono (not stereo) and roughly 100k or less and in .mp3 format. Drag and drop the ringtone into the sounds folder (I think it was sounds, maybe there is a ringtones folder, it has been a while), and you're done. The ringtone/song should be in your phone.

Hope this helps.

Unfortunately, Apple has disabled ALL bluetooth to PC/Mac capabilities on the iPhone. Not so cool.

 

[TheScavenger]

I haven't actually seen a song that is "ringtones" capable yet.

Josh

 

[D*I*S_Frontman]

Dead On

Then I must be one of the 15.

Look - I know that this is not a popular opinion on forums like this, but the law is the law, whether I like it or not. Making a ring tone from a song without the artist/publisher permission is theft. Petty theft, but theft nonetheless.

I wouldn't steal a pack of gum from a store, so why should I steal the use of a song? I don't like that they make me pay for air at a gas station, but that doesn't give me the right to circumvent the machine and take the air for free.

The simple fact is the artists who wrote/performed the song and the companies that represent them own the rights to that song and can determine how you can use what is their property. They've decided playing the song on your iPod, your iPhone, your computer, and through any number of speaker/stereo systems is fair use that you already paid for. They've further decided that if you want to cut down their song and use a portion of it as a ring tone on your phone you have to pay extra for that. You can agree that's a fair deal and pay to use the song, or you can say it's a rip off and write your own music for a ring tone - but it IS illegal to use the song without their permission.

When you think about it, $2 for full use of a song in my iPod, iPhone, Computer, and as a ring tone is not a bad deal.

This is the most insightful and accurate post thus far, IMHO.

Obviously, we are all a little torked by having to essentially repurchase something we already have. But as far as the rights of the artist/copyright holder go, they license their intellectual property under very specific terms and conditions. If they say, "we give you permission to listen to our intellectual property for your private enjoyment, but you'll have to pay extra for ringtones, which are essentially public performances of our work", then you have a choice--agree to the artist/copyright holder's terms, or don't buy their music. Write your own.

Or, if you are unethical, just find a 3rd party ringtone ripper, violate the terms of use as established by the artist, and screw him/her/them out of their absolutely legal and just compensation.

Apple is not the money-grubbing arm-twister here. To have the works of all of the major-label artists in their sizable catalog, they are absolutely compelled to do something like this. Appple is constantly having to strike a balance between end user use rights and artist/copyright holder rights. The 10-burns-only of a single unaltered playlist is an example of these sorts of compromises. So is a ringtone fee, unfortunately.

Of course, this goes back to the fundamental issue: the completely immature, selfish attitude of "it is my God-given right that anything my ears can hear should be in my iTunes Library."

You ringtone pirates all must have a great deal of contempt for the musicians you listen to and routinely steal from. It is NOT a victimless crime. And it IS a crime.

And no, I don't work for the RIAA. I am a recording artist on iTunes. I get $.59 for every download. I am the face of this "victimless" crime you evidently have no proplem perpetrating.

 

[mambodancer]

I'm fine with the paying for ringtones deal, but they should at least provide a larger library of non-musical, "normal" ringtones. I don't see a good reason why there shouldn't be hundreds of those to choose from.

Just go to the iTunes Music store, type in "Ringtones" and you will get your wish. It's been there for the last few years.

FYI-do the same thing for Sound Effects if you want to add additional sounds to iMovie or iDVD. Very cool.

 

[vrillusions]

The Cyberduck (SFTP client) method works without subsequent iTunes 7.4 erasure if the ringtones are placed in

/var/root/Library/Ringtones​

instead of

/Library/Ringtones​

I'd expect updates to the various ringtones apps will be quickly forthcoming. The question is now, will this still work after the next iPhone firmware update for the Wifi iTunes Store?

Haven't read all comments, but i can confirm this works. I ssh'd into the phone, I had to make the Ringtones folder in /var/root/Library, then moved the ringtones from /Library/Ringtones to /var/root/Library/Ringtones (this was all before first sync with new itunes). I then synced and it's still there.

 

[Poll Smoker]

Look - I know that this is not a popular opinion on forums like this, but the law is the law, whether I like it or not.

Not all laws are just.

If everyone thought the way you do, black people would still be sitting at the back of the bus.

 

[sanford]

No, it sends a clear message to software developers to update their software. iToner and products like it were develped prior to this announcement. Now, with the addition of a ring tones feature in iTunes and iPhone, I suspect updates to these programs will be even better because that suppport is built in and specific folders and ways to manage ringtones are now supported by Apple.

And Apple will intentionally -- or unintentionally, I mean, they make no promise to support this stuff -- break it every time. It's not worth paying $20 for something I can't use for a week every time Apple updates OS X or iTunes or the iPhone.

Mobile carriers have been selling ringtones on locked phones for years. Why is everyone so upset Apple is doing it? Their concept is cheaper, you get the whole song, too, and you get the part of the song you want. Sounds like a better deal than any other mobile phone ringtone service. Remember, hardly all phones have allowed making your own ringtones and sending them over via infrared, BT or MMS.

 

[Poll Smoker]

This is the most insightful and accurate post thus far, IMHO.

Obviously, we are all a little torked by having to essentially repurchase something we already have. But as far as the rights of the artist/copyright holder go, they license their intellectual property under very specific terms and conditions. If they say, "we give you permission to listen to our intellectual property for your private enjoyment, but you'll have to pay extra for ringtones, which are essentially public performances of our work", then you have a choice--agree to the artist/copyright holder's terms, or don't buy their music. Write your own.

Or, if you are unethical, just find a 3rd party ringtone ripper, violate the terms of use as established by the artist, and screw him/her/them out of their absolutely legal and just compensation.

Apple is not the money-grubbing arm-twister here. To have the works of all of the major-label artists in their sizable catalog, they are absolutely compelled to do something like this. Appple is constantly having to strike a balance between end user use rights and artist/copyright holder rights. The 10-burns-only of a single unaltered playlist is an example of these sorts of compromises. So is a ringtone fee, unfortunately.

Of course, this goes back to the fundamental issue: the completely immature, selfish attitude of "it is my God-given right that anything my ears can hear should be in my iTunes Library."

You ringtone pirates all must have a great deal of contempt for the musicians you listen to and routinely steal from. It is NOT a victimless crime. And it IS a crime.

And no, I don't work for the RIAA. I am a recording artist on iTunes. I get $.59 for every download. I am the face of this "victimless" crime you evidently have no proplem perpetrating.

Blah blah blah.