Apple Fails In Attempt To Stop Ringtone “Pirates”
A game of cat and mouse is developing between Apple and some iPhone users. Apple has
just released a software upgrade that prevents users from turning tracks they purchase into
ringtones.
But as early as Saturday new work-arounds were being posted on the net, and third party apps like iToner had upgraded to again make ringtone creation easy. Apple’s new concern with ringtone creation seems aimed a protecting a its own custom ringtone maker announced last week which requires track purchase from iTunes and a 99 cent fee.
COMMENTARY: It seems short sighted that anyone in the music or download industry should waste so much energy restricting consumer use of purchased tracks. After all, isn’t re-conversion from P2P grabber to buyer essential to the music industy’s future?
Apple’s moves will annoy only a small percentage of its customers, but it this is the same small tech savvy group that serves as trend setters and guides for their peers.
For the life of me, I have never understood why once someone has legitimately purchased a track, they should need to pay anyone more money to use it as a ringtone.
If a private individual wants to use 30 seconds of a purchased track on their own device (any device) for their own purpose (ANY PURPOSE!)- just what about that is not “fair use?”
But hey, I don’t “get” bottled water, either. And, as far as I’m concerned that’s just what ringtones are.
And I figured Apple would have been above this… very, very petty. First you screw the early adopters for $200, now you nickel and dime them. Waytogo Steve!
Apparently it’s in the iTMS EULA that thou shall not use purchased music for ringtones. Apple apologists are claiming this as more evil work of the RIAA. Of course, there isn’t anything attached to that bit attributing authorship and considering both parties stand to profit from an additional 99 cents for a ringtone, I have to assume both sides are guilty. Of course try telling that to the Apple cult.
(Appreciate the irony, I’m typing this on my MacBook, listening to iTunes.)
Personally, I find mp3 ringtones very annoying, so it’s not like I’ll be using this anyway. Goddamn though, the Steve Jobs worshipers get old.