iTunes 7.4.1 already released -- free ringtone workaround is NOT ok

by Ryan Block posted Sep 7th 2007 at 11:35PM

Just thought we'd let the droves of paranoid upgraders know in on a small bit of ~~good~~ bad news. Yes, Apple did already release a new version of iTunes tonight, 7.4.1, and we tested to see if said update "fixes" the ringtone-renaming hack (if you really want to call it a hack) that lets users supply their own ringtones sans Apple's $0.99 fee. Breathe not so easy: it may be legal (probably), but the hack did not continue to work just fine for us. More below.

Update: So yes, our previous ringtones carried over and we were able to add new renamed ringtones to iTunes -- but our readers are right in that 7.4.1 DOES block the renamed ringtone workaround moving forward. Our initial syncs went unblocked, but only until we tried to add new ringtone files. Once you actually attempt to sync new renamed ringtone files, well, then you're in for a heap o' pain (see above).

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Ringtones, Software, Apple

Tags: apple, hack, iphone, itunes, ringtones, update

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

kiari @ Sep 8th 2007 12:34AM

I tried the update and now my ringtones can't be synced with my iPhone. I did this on my Mac. Alas!

Neutral

alan westbrook @ Sep 8th 2007 12:35AM

Behavior was strange. I updated and synced and it claimed the files weren't supported by the iPhone. So I deleted the song from the Ringtones dir, and double clicked my originally created file and the sync went fine this time.

The only problem I have is that it seems impossible to delete a ringtone from the sync interface.

Highly Ranked

Graham @ Sep 8th 2007 2:45AM

Apparently if you switch the extension back from ".m4r" to ".m4a" the trick works again. Don't ask me why... More info here: http://joemaller.com/2007/09/08/make-custom-iphone-ringtones-work-with-itunes-741/

Neutral

Nijnsky @ Sep 8th 2007 4:54AM

some stingy biatches!

Neutral

Zondajag @ Sep 8th 2007 7:38AM

Ah that sucks. Thats a real shame.

Neutral

Cody Krieger @ Sep 8th 2007 9:37AM

That sucks...ouch.

Lowest Ranked

Karl Viklund @ Sep 8th 2007 9:58AM

Good by Apple to block this.

Neutral

cmoney @ Sep 8th 2007 12:59PM

why?

Neutral

vhlaxman @ Sep 8th 2007 11:12PM

so what ppl will crack it soon , find another method guys

Neutral

keithwwalker @ Sep 9th 2007 5:09AM

Apple = the NEW Sony in screwing you over for content

Neutral

VZW @ Sep 11th 2007 3:06PM

See, is you could do any sort of media messaging on the iPhone, you could save your own mp3's ripped from your own CD's as ringtones, as most of VZW's newer phones are capable of doing (in my case, the LG-en-V).

Good luck wiping the word "Sucker" scrawled on your forehood, iPhone users.