Inside Apple's iOS 5: iTunes Tone Store will offer more text alert options
When iOS 5 is released for the iPhone this fall, users will have the ability to purchase new, custom text message tones from the new iTunes Tone Store.
The new digital storefront is Apple's response to complaints that the company does not offer enough unique sounds to be played when a text message is received. Apple greatly expanded the number of SMS tones last year with iOS 4.2, but the new iTunes Tone Store looks to add even more options.
In the first developer beta of iOS 5, users can enter the iPhone Settings application, and choose "Sounds" and "Text Tone" as they currently can in iOS 4. But in the Text Tone menu, a new link is now available at the top that reads "Buy More Tones."
While the link is included in the operating system, the iTunes Tone Store is not yet live, as iOS 5 will not be available to the masses until this fall. Selecting the link to the store currently launches the mobile iTunes Store application, but users are only presented with the existing Ringtones page.
The new iTunes Tone Store is one of more than 200 user-facing features that will be added to iOS 5. The functionality was glossed over at this week's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote, where iOS 5 was shown publicly for the first time.
The iTunes Tone Store iOS 5 beta link currently directs to the Ringtones store.
The first iOS 5 beta, only available to developers, does not provide any additional text tones built in to the operating system. The collection of tones added with iOS 4.2 remain separated in a list titled "New."
While the new text tones were added with iOS 4.2, they were noticeably longer than the tones originally included in the iPhone operating system. Apple addressed that issue in iOS 4.3, shortening the text tones and also adding new SMS alert settings for repeating up to ten times.
The new digital storefront is Apple's response to complaints that the company does not offer enough unique sounds to be played when a text message is received. Apple greatly expanded the number of SMS tones last year with iOS 4.2, but the new iTunes Tone Store looks to add even more options.
In the first developer beta of iOS 5, users can enter the iPhone Settings application, and choose "Sounds" and "Text Tone" as they currently can in iOS 4. But in the Text Tone menu, a new link is now available at the top that reads "Buy More Tones."
While the link is included in the operating system, the iTunes Tone Store is not yet live, as iOS 5 will not be available to the masses until this fall. Selecting the link to the store currently launches the mobile iTunes Store application, but users are only presented with the existing Ringtones page.
The new iTunes Tone Store is one of more than 200 user-facing features that will be added to iOS 5. The functionality was glossed over at this week's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote, where iOS 5 was shown publicly for the first time.
The iTunes Tone Store iOS 5 beta link currently directs to the Ringtones store.
The first iOS 5 beta, only available to developers, does not provide any additional text tones built in to the operating system. The collection of tones added with iOS 4.2 remain separated in a list titled "New."
While the new text tones were added with iOS 4.2, they were noticeably longer than the tones originally included in the iPhone operating system. Apple addressed that issue in iOS 4.3, shortening the text tones and also adding new SMS alert settings for repeating up to ten times.
Comments
I don't want to buy more text tones, I want to be able to use my own.
You know that is an option, too, right?
You know that is an option, too, right?
Apparently not?
All I have now under Settings -> Sounds -> Text Tone are the six defaults or "None".
Can you enlighten me, oh inward looking one?
Apparently not?
All I have now under Settings -> Sounds -> Text Tone are the six defaults or "None".
Can you enlighten me, oh inward looking one?
Mea culpa. I was thinking of ringtones.
But you've to hand it to Apple. Without releasing a new phone, they effectively remade iPhone 4, iPod Touch and iPad into new devices with the new iOS: http://bit.ly/l49OYL.
Pretty neat trick!
Mea culpa. I was thinking of ringtones.
However, once the door for purchased text tones is opened, creating your own should not be an issue.
buy more tones
I believe I speak for many of us when I say:
let me use my own.
I believe I speak for many of us when I say:
The catch is that the 'many' that you speak of is only perhaps 1/10 of 1% of users. The rest don't really have an issue with the way it is now.
But I agree, once there's a way to add new tones via the store, adding privately should be possible. Hopefully they learned their lesson with ringtones that locking it down just makes for angry users.
I'm running 4.3.2 (8H7), and I still only have the original six text tone options. What am I missing?
However, once the door for purchased text tones is opened, creating your own should not be an issue.
That's what I'm guessing. It'll show up in iTunes (possibly locating your purchased ones within the Ringtones list) and you'll be able to add your own the same way as you can currently with Ringtones.
I don't care much about SMS sounds, several choices already. I want a choice of email sounds. Ever been in a room with a slew of iPhones? "beep" everyone grabs their phone.
This is possible in iOS 5, as well as changing calendar alert tones.
"Apple greatly expanded the number of SMS tones last year with iOS 4.2, but the new iTunes Tone Store looks to add even more options."
I'm running 4.3.2 (8H7), and I still only have the original six text tone options. What am I missing?
This. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^
"Apple greatly expanded the number of SMS tones last year with iOS 4.2, but the new iTunes Tone Store looks to add even more options."
I'm running 4.3.2 (8H7), and I still only have the original six text tone options. What am I missing?
Are you using an iPhone 4? That's the only one that got the new text tones.
How about 3rd party ones, perhaps via an app, or is that a no-go too? Honest question.
iOS has no method for adding your own notification sounds??
How about 3rd party ones, perhaps via an app, or is that a no-go too? Honest question.
Currently there is no option to--and there will likely never be the option to do so from a third-party app. There is potential, however, for this functionality to appear in iTunes when the feature is fully fleshed out. Think of it as being nearly identical to how ringtones are handled today.
This is possible in iOS 5, as well as changing calendar alert tones.
Good news. It's always felt odd that we had no control over that calendar alert sound.