iTones restores ability to make your own Ringtones FOR FREE

I have decided to give Ambrosia software some of my hard-earned money after they took only 72 hours to fix their iToner software which was broken by iTunes 4.7. This software allows you to turn ANY MP3 or AAC file in your iTunes library into a ringtone on the iPhone. You don't get the fun and fancy ability to shorten them to 30 seconds, and technically it is against the iTunes EULA to use iTunes-purchases songs as ringtones. But it is entirely legal to use any tune you bought for your own use as a CD. Good job, Ambrosia!

Custom Ringtones for your iPhone

This appears to be all nice and legal. iToner claims to bring customer ringtones to your iPhone in a way that requires NO HACKS, no special recoding of your iPhone, and claims that it will keep working with all future versions of the iPhone. Of course, it is rumored that the 9/5 Apple event may debut this feature as a built-in function of iTunes. Even so, it is worth a look.

Update: OK, I installed the thing and have tried it out. So far, so good. You get 29 days of use for free (as nagware) with unlimited transfer of files in that time. It is easy to use - I created a playlist in iTunes and used the "Advanced" button to have iToner refer to that for my tunes. Once the tunes are on your iPhone, you can use as regular ringtones - general use or assigned to contacts. I have assigned "Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns as the ringtone for all of the guys I have pizza with every Tuesday, for example. Very cool. And this means you buy your songs ONCE and can use them for listening or for ringtones.