Apple Asks You To Pay Them Twice for the Same Song

**Chris Leckness** · 09-06-07, 10:15 AM

OK, let me get this strait. I go to the iTunes Store, purchase Round and Round by Ratt for $0.99, and then Apple is NICE enough to allow me to pay another $0.99 to download a 30 second ring tone version of the same song? Am I reading this correctly? Oh boy, I am so happy. I get to pay double for my music?

If you don't have to buy the song and just download the ring tone, I can see a value. But If I buy your song for $0.99, do I not own it? Shouldn't you "Give" me the ringtone free? I know there are many more important issues to complain about in this world, but double charging me for DRM content rubs me the wrong way. What do you think?

Jesus Diaz of Gizmodo thinks..."You will be able to pick any segment of the song for the ringtone, using a graphic editor to customize them to a total length of 12 to 21 seconds. The ringtones will sync automatically with your iPhone. And yes, for 99 cents on top of the song price, it's a rip-off."

Update: PT (Phillip Torrone) from Make Magazine confirmed that you *can't* make your own ring tones from songs you own the new itunes. Of course, there are workarounds and he will post a how to soon!

For the first time, iTunes users will be able to customize actual tracks to create their own iPhone ringtones. With half a million tracks to choose from, iTunes gives you creative license to select, edit, and play.

Create your unique ringtone from more than half a million songs on the iTunes Store. Buy a song for 99¢. And turn it into a custom ringtone you can buy for 99¢. At $1.98, that's still less than most ringtones sold elsewhere. The ringtone is entirely your creation. And the song is yours to keep forever. Talk about win-win.
Ringtones made easy.

You and iTunes are old friends by now. Which means getting your ringtone on your iPhone is easy. Choose a purchased song in your library marked with the ringtone symbol. Using the ringtone editor, take any portion of the song - up to 30 seconds - then set fade in, fade out, and playback delay. Once you've created the perfect ringtone, click to buy it for only 99¢. Then sync your iPhone and wait for the calls to rock 'n' roll in.
Infinite possibilities.

Personalizing your iPhone ringtone is only the beginning. You can also create individual ringtones for any of your callers. Have the blues play when your office calls. For fun, assign your mother-in-law some heavy metal. Or rise and shine to a ringtone by setting it as an alarm sound. With half a million songs to choose from on the iTunes Store, you'll wish you knew more people.

PS. Why don't you refund me $200 x3 for the iPhones I've bought? Just Kidding, Early Adopter fees are non-refundable.

Apple - iTunes - iTunes Store - Ringtones

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stevenator65 · 09-06-07, 10:45 AM

I feel the sarcasm. But they are appealing to the user who wants things simple, whereas windows and windows mobile users are willing to be creative. You have to pay for the simplicity.

Pocketbrain · 09-06-07, 11:04 AM

I always just use Audacity to make a ringtone from .mp3's I have ripped myself. I don't know if it will handle Apple DRM, but one could always burn to CDA then rip and edit.

And, yes, you have paid DRM fees for that song you are cutting up at iTunes, but I guess they can claim it is a service fee. That doesn't really float, as the cost is the same for somebody who owns the ringtone alone. Apple should tumble to the fact that value-adding always attracts customers and allow you to make ringtones from tunes you already own for free.

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spunker88 · 09-06-07, 09:00 PM

Dont use itunes for ringtones then. They just want to rip you off anyway.

Just use mp3s and make ur own for free.