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  (Source: Cleverboy)

  (Source: Cleverboy)
Say goodbye to the $0.99 fee to make iPhone ringtones

It seems as though the good news continues to roll in for iPhone users. On Wednesday, Apple announced a $200 price cut for the 8GB iPhone and dropped the price on the 4GB model to $299 until supplies run out. Yesterday, Steve Jobs announced to the Apple faithful that those that purchased iPhones before the price drop would be given $100 of in-store credit to the Apple Store.

Today, there's even more good news to spread around concerning iPhone ringtones. Jobs announced on Wednesday that customers would be able to add ringtones to their iPhones for $0.99 -- this is in addition to the $0.99 price for downloading an iTunes music track.

This of course angered many people who felt that they were being charged twice to make a ringtone out of a song they already owned. Well, the aptly-named "Cleverboy" on the Mac Rumors forums has discovered a workaround for the $0.99 charge for a ringtone through iTunes.

Users simply need to duplicate and rename any AAC music file with the file extension "M4R". Next, double-click the file to add it to iTunes. Once in iTunes, the newly renamed M4R music file will show up as a ringtone under the "Ringtones" tab. Users can then sync their iPhone as usual and enjoy free ringtones.

According to Cleverboy, the hack works in both Windows and Mac versions of iTunes.

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Expect...
By EntreHoras on 9/7/2007 1:04:07 PM , Rating: 2
...this workaround to be disabled on the next ITunes update.




RE: Expect...
By mdogs444 on 9/7/2007 1:08:38 PM , Rating: 5
Even so, im sure there is a way to manually get the ringtone file placed onto the HD of the iphone. Just like there are free 3rd party programs to transfer songs/files to iPods, there will be one (if there isnt one already) to transfer to iPhone.

But its really shady for Apple to charge $1 to just change a 3 letter extension on a file.


RE: Expect...
By TomZ on 9/7/2007 1:29:45 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah, it's pretty lame if you ask me. Jobs is so arrogant and proud of Apple, but I think that making money off of things like that is not very dignified.


RE: Expect...
By tdawg on 9/7/2007 1:33:43 PM , Rating: 2
While I too think it's ridiculous to charge 99 cents to turn a track into a ringtone, they're apparently doing more for that 99 cents than just changing the extention. From what I've read, you can choose any 30 seconds of a track and that is what will be converted to a ringtone. This should cost no more than 10 cents, in my opinion.


RE: Expect...
By FITCamaro on 9/7/2007 1:46:16 PM , Rating: 1
Ok so they're changing the extension and adding a "bookmark" in the song as to where the phone should start and stop playing the song when it rings.

This should be a free tool. But yes you can bet on Apple fixing it in the next update. You know at least when Microsoft sells me something, I recognize a need to pay for it. Something that Apple thought up and implemented in less than a day shouldn't be charged for.

This stinks of Apple charging for a driver update to enable 802.11n capability in their laptops.


RE: Expect...
By ani4ani on 9/7/07, Rating: 0
RE: Expect...
By TomZ on 9/7/2007 4:11:34 PM , Rating: 4
This is DRM abuse, if you ask me. If I paid for a license to use a song, I should be able to pay it as a song or as a ringone or whatever. I shouldn't have to pay over and over for each type of use. This is exactly the kind of crap that DRM haters are talking about.


RE: Expect...
By cbo on 9/7/2007 7:33:06 PM , Rating: 3
RE: Expect...
By TomZ on 9/7/2007 8:07:09 PM , Rating: 2
^-- That's good stuff!


RE: Expect...
By SirLucius on 9/7/2007 1:55:40 PM , Rating: 2
The silly thing is that a lot of people have already made ringtones for their old phones though, and there's nothing stopping them from being able to use that 30 second clip on their iPhone other than Apple wanting to charge them to do so. I know several people that have songs not available on iTunes set as their ringtone as well.


RE: Expect...
By superkdogg on 9/10/2007 12:26:05 PM , Rating: 2
I have a pretty old, very plain Motorola phone. With their PhoneTools suite and a USB cable, I have the ability to edit any song on my computer and choose any portion of the song as my ring tone. For example, I can choose just one riff of a song and play 7.5 seconds 4 times instead of a 30-second portion. I can also capture a certain tone or set of tones and make my own 'ring' that isn't originally from a song.

That's better functionality without a hint of a surcharge.


RE: Expect...
By bhieb on 9/7/2007 5:19:53 PM , Rating: 2
Just another reason to stick with my HTC Windows Mobile, andy audio clip can be made a ringtone.

- Still hating apple...


RE: Expect...
By smilingcrow on 9/7/2007 5:27:55 PM , Rating: 2
Just wait a couple of months and they'll be reduced to 66c.


RE: Expect...
By KamiXkaze on 9/7/2007 7:42:18 PM , Rating: 2
Not hating Apple but agree with you on htc tho.

KxK


RE: Expect...
By spluurfg on 9/8/2007 1:08:04 PM , Rating: 2
Agree... I also like the fact that most HTC handsets cost $500 or less SIM-free, no contract... I find that pricing within the realm of 'sane'. I am eagerly awaiting a touchscreen Nokia though.


Speaking of free, here's an iPhone unlocker...
By softwiz on 9/7/2007 1:09:43 PM , Rating: 2
While somewhat unrelated, I happen to see this the other day and decided to mention it here.

As I don't have an IPhone to test this with, I don't know whether it works or not.

http://www.pqdvd.com/dvd-to-ipod-movie-video-conve...

(not a spam link, take it how you will)

If anyone tries it, maybe you'll report back the verdict.




By peritusONE on 9/7/2007 1:20:04 PM , Rating: 2
pqdvd is one of many dvd-to-* suites that exist. Cucusoft and imtoo are a couple of others that come to mind. I tried the trial versions of quite a few when I got my Zune, and if I remember correctly, pqdvd was one of the few that I actually really liked.

Never purchased any of them, though.


By Master Kenobi (blog) on 9/7/2007 1:37:41 PM , Rating: 2
Yes, this works. It worked with the iPod video and continues to work on the iPhone. Rapes your battery though, I wouldn't use an iphone for watching movies.


By Bioniccrackmonk on 9/7/2007 2:31:25 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Rapes your battery though, I wouldn't use an iphone for watching movies.


Agreed, especially since you have to pay to replace the battery. all the extra wear and tear will bring the life span down faster.


By enlil242 on 9/7/2007 2:45:29 PM , Rating: 2
There is also a Ringtone maker on that site. Anyone tried that yet? And, although it is true that the charge for the ringtone is to compensate the artists, I do not think a person should be charged twice.

Let's say I like the song Devil's Haircut by Beck. I want it as a ringtone. I should be able to have the option to purchase a snippet for, say, 59 cents. Or if I want the whole track, 99 cents. If I buy the whole track, I should be able to also use a portion of that track as a ringtone.

That seems perfectly logical to me. But than, we aren't business people out trying to make enough money for our stock to rise. Don't get me wrong, I'm a capitalist, but I also have a sense of what is and isn't fair.


By daftrok on 9/7/2007 6:24:38 PM , Rating: 2
Mann the main reason I'd want to get an iPhone is to watch movies on the go. Oh well...ooh an Archos...


Oh Apple!
By mankopi on 9/7/2007 2:31:08 PM , Rating: 2
Oh apple, hast thou not sayest thine things are perfect, unhackable and secure? Iphone hast exposed thine butt!




RE: Oh Apple!
By INeedCache on 9/7/2007 7:34:24 PM , Rating: 2
I don't believe this for a second. Apple products cannot be hacked.


RE: Oh Apple!
By TomZ on 9/7/2007 8:09:10 PM , Rating: 2
All the hacking on Apple products is poetic justice, after all the nasty things Apple has said about Windows w/r/t security. What comes around goes around.


RE: Oh Apple!
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 9/7/2007 9:03:52 PM , Rating: 4
Apple has relied on the Security though Obscurity model for the longest time, now its fading away. Welcome to the real world Apple, Microsoft is laughing now.


Already busted in iTunes 7.4.1
By xphile on 9/8/2007 5:12:53 AM , Rating: 3
They sure didn't wait around to kill it.




RE: Already busted in iTunes 7.4.1
By Enoch2001 on 9/9/2007 11:34:17 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah 7.4.1 eliminates this work around. I didn't even have the chance to try it out! :-(


By killerroach on 9/10/2007 9:42:01 AM , Rating: 2
And, according to Endagadget, it's been worked around yet again... after adding the M4R file to iTunes, then rename it to an M4A, and it should become a syncable ringtone next time you plug in your iPhone.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/itunes-7-4-1-ri...


DMCA people
By dagamer34 on 9/7/2007 10:02:04 PM , Rating: 2
So many posts with such little real info. Apple is tied under the DMCA to sell ringtones separately from the songs themselves. Record companies were able to last year, sneak in a provision in which they declared that ringtone sales and licenses were completely different from song sales and licenses even if they are the exact same digital bits stored on your phone.

While I'd be just as gung-ho to "hate the man" like the next guy, get your facts straight please!




RE: DMCA people
By rdeegvainl on 9/8/2007 2:20:52 AM , Rating: 3
http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/07/know-your-right...
that link says differently, i know it's not an original source, but if you can dispute it, please do.


Well...
By Locutus465 on 9/7/2007 4:38:18 PM , Rating: 1
This is great for as long as steve jobs doesn't screw it up for iPhone users...




RE: Well...
By sscilli on 9/8/2007 2:59:06 PM , Rating: 2
Charging as much as it cost to buy the original song to make it a ringtone is criminal(at least it should be). As I understand it your phone isn't going to ring for the whole song anyways, so your really paying 1 dollar to make a 30sec ringtone of a song you already own.


Is this a licensing issue?
By smilingcrow on 9/7/2007 4:00:11 PM , Rating: 2
As much I detest the idea of paying for the ‘privilege’ of using part of a song that I’ve already paid money for as a ring tone, in this case Apple’s hands may be tied by the terms of the licensing deals they have with record labels.
I find it funny that you are in affect paying for the right to advertise a song for the artist. Maybe instead they should be paying us to use their music as ring tones!

As a Windows user I can play copy protected WMA files that I have a license for and record them with Total Recorder and edit them in a simple WAV editor such as the one that comes with Nero. Then save as MP3 and transfer to my Sony Ericsson using Explorer and assign them as a ring tone. It takes a couple of minutes longer than the iPhone method but I have more control and it’s free provided you already have the appropriate software tools.

On a more pragmatic note, for the average person without audio editing skills and the relevant software whom might only change their ring tone once a year, paying 99c for a simple solution integrated into iTunes makes a lot of sense.




hmm..
By sprockkets on 9/7/2007 11:45:13 PM , Rating: 2
Since this shows how hard it is to get a normal ringtone on a formerly overpriced phone, it may explain why in the all its commercials all they can use is a 10 year old cell phone ring.




iTones (not a spelling mistake)
By Rotkiv on 9/8/2007 4:13:31 AM , Rating: 2
I have hard about a program ob the mac which will change normal audio into ringtones for the iPhone. It has been around for a while now. ::: iTones




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