New iTunes Released

[psxndc]

Well, seeing as how we have all these software options coming out left and right that do the same thing, I don't see how this affects ANYONE here.

Only the ignorant should be offended by this, since they're the only one who'll pay for it. Smart folks have no reason to complain.

So who here wants to be the first to complain?

Me. People like myself that want to do the right thing(tm) are annoyed/offended by it. It has nothing to do with being smart or not, it's about not just doing an end-run around the system because it suits you.

I vote with my wallet. I won't be buying them and I guess I'll just be doing without.

 

[Amblinman]

Are there any other iPhone owners out there who are annoyed with Apple right now? Some of us just bought a $600 phone 2 MONTHS ago, and they just dropped the price, and released a new product that is almost the same thing without having to deal with at&t.

Thanks Apple. Remind me never to buy any new device you come out with for a couple of months ever again.

No, because I wanted a smartphone with media capabilities. If you purchased your iPhone just for the iPod portion of it, then you're a shmuck because of course Apple was going to release a new iPod that incorporated these features.

 

[ibwb]

The cell companies are ripoff artists when it comes to ringtones. Just because Apple is cheaper doesn't make them any more right.

And I've already GOT my music. Fair use doctrine tells me I should not have to pay to snip a piece of it into a ringtone.

Apple blew this one big time, boys and girls. iTunes should let you snip any song you already own into a ringtone, free of charge.

Argh... why can't people see below the surface with this? Apple doesn't own the songs! Apple has to negotiate ringtone rights from the music industry just like everyone else!

This is so obvious... why anyone would think that Apple has some mystical power to pull free ringtones out of the greedy bastards running the music industry is beyond me.

 

[Evangelion]

The cell companies are ripoff artists when it comes to ringtones. Just because Apple is cheaper doesn't make them any more right.

And I've already GOT my music. Fair use doctrine tells me I should not have to pay to snip a piece of it into a ringtone.

Apple blew this one big time, boys and girls. iTunes should let you snip any song you already own into a ringtone, free of charge.

you are paying extra because royalty-rights are a lot higher for ringtones than they are for normal songs. so either apple charges extra for the ringtones, or they sell them at a loss

 

[tribulation]

Jo...jo....jo....joke?
Is there really any need for a discussion on this pathetic "service"?

 

[3282872]

Actually, only Verizon charges for that service. If you have a bluetooth enabled phone through Cingular or T-mobile, you can make your own free ring tones and download them to your phone. Verizon was sued for falsely advertising the Motorola v710 as fully enabled bluetooth even though the company crippled the ObEx on the phones to force customers to pay for their "Get It Now" service (one of the reasons I left Verizon). They were sued and lost, having to pony up big bucks and insisted it was their business tactic and their right.

I don't agree with .99 additional for ringtones, even though it is just cents. It's the principle. Personally, I'll keep using iFuntastic 3.0.3 for ring tones and hacking.

 

[ts1973]

Argh... why can't people see below the surface with this? Apple doesn't own the songs! Apple has to negotiate ringtone rights from the music industry just like everyone else!

This is so obvious... why anyone would think that Apple has some mystical power to pull free ringtones out of the greedy bastards running the music industry is beyond me.

Spot on.

But on the other hand : every other smart (or less smart) phone can use songs as a ringtone, Apple chooses not to allow this.

 

[fastbite]

Apple can not take a price out of his sleeve, as some other posters indicate they need to negociate. And regardless the price for ring-tones seems Ok to me, I mean, how many ring tones do you need anyway?

 

[johnmcboston]

Argh... why can't people see below the surface with this? Apple doesn't own the songs! Apple has to negotiate ringtone rights from the music industry just like everyone else!

That would be true if I didn't own the song already. So you're saying it makes sense I pay $15 for a CD, then have to pay another dollar for any song from the CD I paid for to use as a ringtone on my own phone???

 

[damienvfx]

No, because I wanted a smartphone with media capabilities. If you purchased your iPhone just for the iPod portion of it, then you're a shmuck because of course Apple was going to release a new iPod that incorporated these features.

Oh I see, you wanted to pay $200 more. I should have known, and thanks for the name calling.

 

[ibwb]

Spot on.

But on the other hand : every other smart (or less smart) phone can use songs as a ringtone, Apple chooses not to allow this.

Fair enough, but those phones are made by companies that don't participate in the music industry at all. Free ringtones from Apple would mean no iTunes Store.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

You haven't even tried the new iTunes and you presume it doesn't work with your pre-existing music.

 

[Doctor Q]

Although you'd think a 30-second subset of a song shouldn't cost as much as the full song, you're not likely to buy a huge number of ringtones compared with your volume of music purchases, so the price isn't going to make a huge difference for most people. Even at these prices, I doubt many artists are going to get wildly rich off iPhone ringtone sales.

 

[mkrishnan]

I don't agree with .99 additional for ringtones, even though it is just cents. It's the principle. Personally, I'll keep using iFuntastic 3.0.3 for ring tones and hacking.

Once you learn how to make ringtones with a basic sound editor, it's more fun to do it yourself anyways. They don't have to be 30 seconds long. You can pick just the part you like. You can make the fades just how you like. And it still takes about 3-5 minutes at most to make one.

 

[Small White Car]

Me. People like myself that want to do the right thing(tm) are annoyed/offended by it.

Downloading music from P2P - WRONG
Downloading movies from torrents - WRONG
Copying my DVDs to give to friends - WRONG

Copying my DVD I bought to my iPod - NOT WRONG
Using a song I bought as a ringtone - NOT WRONG

--
Guess what? All 5 of those things are against the law. But only 3 of them are actually wrong.

I'll do the 2 up there that are illegal but that I don't consider wrong. For you see, I also "do the right thing."

Don't use terms like "do the right thing" when talking about something that has nothing to do with right or wrong. It's against the law, but that has nothing to do with morals.

 

[Porco]

I think this (charging for ringtones exclusively) is the most scummy thing Apple have done since they told everyone with an apple email address they had to buy .mac or lose it.

I'm sure hacks will take care of the issue itself, I just really think it screams corporate greed in a really horrible way. I like that for the most part Apple can take a very proud position in terms of fairness for their customers, but this stuff is as horrible as DRM, there is NO reason the iPhone couldn't use existing tracks as ringtones other than GREED.

Bad, bad move.

 

[ibwb]

That would be true if I didn't own the song already. So you're saying it makes sense I pay $15 for a CD, then have to pay another dollar for any song from the CD I paid for to use as a ringtone on my own phone???

Nobody is saying it makes sense. It's the stupidest thing ever! It's just not Apple's fault; they are stuck in this position by the fact that they work with the music industry. So blame the record companies, write your senator, whatever... but it doesn't make sense to go on a diatribe about how Apple is ripping you off. It's just blaming the wrong party is all.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Spot on.

But on the other hand : every other smart (or less smart) phone can use songs as a ringtone, Apple chooses not to allow this.

AT&T is the telco for the U.S. The telcos have a cross pollination contract with Apple. They've traditionally made a ton off of Ringtones.

With these price drops on iPhone AT&T's ROI is increased clients.

How Apple decides to leverage Ringtones may or may not have been a clause with AT&T who like the rest of the Telco industry made a fortune off of this market segment.

 

[bousozoku]

Maybe, because they can't afford Final Cut?

There are cheaper ringtone makers, though. I find songs made into ringtones annoying because the ringtones generally last longer than the conversations.

 

[miketcool]

What if it is content that I own the copyright too? My own content?

Then using a 3rd party app to make it into a ringtone wont get you in any legal trouble.

I belive the technicallity that the FCC and cell companies have when it comes to ringtone copyrights falls on the fact that you are broadcasting a protected material everytime you get a call. Technically, they could sue you for playing music too loud from your car because they could consider it duplication, or broadcasting without proper license. I'm not saying I'm ok with this, its really lame, but they have that law on us.

For me, MIDI ringtones are still the $#1T!

 

[3282872]

Are there any other iPhone owners out there who are annoyed with Apple right now? Some of us just bought a $600 phone 2 MONTHS ago, and they just dropped the price, and released a new product that is almost the same thing without having to deal with at&t.

Thanks Apple. Remind me never to buy any new device you come out with for a couple of months ever again.

I'm pissed. I didn't know there was a price drop until my friend informed me, I thought the keynote was over. I can't believe the iPhone is $200 cheaper. I know, a price drop may have been inevitable, but a $200 price drop this soon, AND discontinuing the 4 BG model? I'm disappointed...

...and don't get me started on the .99 additional price for a 30 second ringtone.

 

[SMM]

I agree 100%. It amazes me how forgiving most people on here are of Apple. If that was Bill Gates announcing that, as opposed to Steve Jobs, there would be lawsuits filed already.

We own it, we should be able to use it.

I leave the whining to the Newbie trollers. Amazing how many 10 posters come out of the woodwork right after Apple makes an announcement.

 

[Porco]

Fair enough, but those phones are made by companies that don't participate in the music industry at all.

My phone, made by SONYEricsson will play any MP3 or [unprotected] AAC file as a ringtone.

So... I buy an MP3 or make one in Garageband (not theretical - I have some of my own personally composed music on my phone), I can use it as a ringtone on my K800, I can't on an iPhone.

Fair? No.

That's SONYEricsson, Sony, who are very much participating in the music industry.

 

[milo]

.99 + .99 = Failure for Apple

Considering most ringtones are at least that much, what makes you think the decision was apple's? Do you really think the record companies would just let apple give away ringtone use for no extra charge?

What other companies sell ringtones plus "mp3" version for $1.99? Are there any?

 

[echeck]

I leave the whining to the Newbie trollers. Amazing how many 10 posters come out of the woodwork right after Apple makes an announcement.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I get so tired of these people that whine and complain about the lack of a service and then when the service is finally announced they simply whine and complain some more.

Can't have your cake and eat it too, people.