dingie ringies

[kip_w]

.
We upgraded our T-Mobile to a better phone recently. Unfortunately, it lacks a capability our worse phone had, of being able to record a ring tone acoustically over the built-in microphone. As a result, I have to choose from an array of, frankly, undesirable sounds for my ring.

I spent some time today on the phone with tech support specialists, asking

if I could record one with the microphone (no),
if I could put an mp3 on that I recorded myself (no),
if I could use a USB to the computer to transfer a file (no),
if I could pay for a month of extra service and email it to myself (no),
if I could upload it to a provider who would then let me download it (no).

They also said the ringtone I recorded on my Siemens phone is still on the phone, not on the SIM chip that saved all my phone numbers for me. After a while, he even said that the mp3s wouldn't work as ringtones, only "HiFi Ringtones" and "Mega" ringtones. He mentioned that I could convey files over from another Bluetooth device, but I don't have one except for Cathy's phone.

I'm pretty much out of ideas at this point, but I still don't like any of the [insert adjective here] sounds that they think I want to have come out of my pocket whenever someone calls. Does anybody here know what I could do? I'm already setting it to vibrate, but there are times I might want to be able to hear it ringing in my backpack.

Oh yeah. It's a Motorola RAZR V3. Grey.
.

Comments

[rtred.livejournal.com]

I believe there are "unofficial" ways that this can be done. Do a Google search.

I paid $10 for ringtones for my phone and got the Theme from The Avengers, Mission Impossible, and a sample of Gregorian chant!

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I tried Google searching, which led me mostly to people who wanted to sell me ringtones they had. Before I buy something someone else has, I'll keep exploring ways to get "The Cursing Polka" and "Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish" on there. What keywords did you use?

[hawkida.livejournal.com]

This help?

http://stephen.evanchik.com/node/43

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Alas, I have not the Unix chops, but I'll keep the link on hand just in case. Thanks!

[sarah-ovenall.livejournal.com]

do you use Mac or PC? I'm on Mac and used a couple of free programs to convert a sound file (of Derek Flint's phone ringing) and upload it to my phone. My phone is with Verizon, which officially won't let you use any ringtone you didn't buy from them. I'm sure there are PC programs that do the same thing.

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

I use both. Heh; I've played with that sound bite -- not sampled, just on keyboard. That one I might almost be able to program in with the cumbersome little system they have on the phone for allegedly programming your own rings (you have to input the whole thing before you can listen to note one, for starters).

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

If he's saying that you can't use MP3s as a ringtone on a RAZR with T-Mobile, he's either mistaken or lying. I used to do it all the time; the Dalek EX-TER-MI-NATE that I used to use on my RAZR was an MP3 from the Beeb.

For about $20, you can get a bluetooth dongle for your computer and use that to load MP3s as ringtones (or you can spend $80 for Motorola Phone Tools and a USB cable -- the bluetooth dongle is cheaper, and yuo can use it to get the pics from the camera as well).

If you want help on doing it, give me a call when I get back from Toronto -- I'm on T-Mobile as well, so if you have family plan, it's free to call me.

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think the dongle might be the thing. I was at Best Buy today (my earphones unexpectedly went stupid in one ear), but I didn't have time to stray off my mission as I had to go get Sarah.

I already have a USB cable, and I had the phone hooked up to my computer, but it didn't recognize it. Say, I haven't tried it with my Mac yet.

Yeah, it sounds like I need to call you when you get back. Thanks!

oh, I just adore success!

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Okay, I tried my G4 laptop, and it had what I needed. There was some learning curve while I tried to get the two Bluetooth units talking to each other. I finally broke the stalemate by rebooting the Mac. After that, they sniffed each other and decided they were okay, and I transferred the files and made them official ringtones for "incoming call" and "message."

Woo hoo! And of course I can transfer other files as well. Here's to more inspiring wallpaper.

Thanks to everybody who mentioned the dongle. I ended up not needing one because the Mac has one built in, and it was about time I got some use out of it.

Re: oh, I just adore success!

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Excellent.

The USB cable won't work without MPT, but with bluetooth, many things are possible.