How To: Create Your Own Custom Ringtones For Your iPhone

This article was previously published on cricketsoda.com by yours truly....

*This will require that you have iTunes installed on your pc. I’m not certain which versions of iTunes this method will be supported by but I have version 8.2.1.6 and it works like a charm. I’m sure it will work with later versions as well.*

*For this to work correctly, you will need to be able to see file extensions when viewing a file from it’s location, e.g. your music folder, etc…

To enable file extension viewing you will need to follow these steps:
(This is using Vista but the instructions will be similar for other os’s as well)

1) From your start menu, go to control panel and then click on ‘Appearance and Personalization’. From there, click on ‘Folder Options’.
2) In ‘Folder Options’, click the ‘view’ tab and then locate ‘Hide extensions from known file types’. Make sure the box next to this is unchecked then click ‘apply’ and close the box. *

Now you’re ready to begin. *Note, the song you wish to use should already be in your iTunes library, If not, add it first. Also, you can use only 39 seconds or less of a song to create a ringtone, otherwise your iPhone will not recognize it as a ringtone. You should listen to the song first and take note of the time of the particular part of the song you wish to use. You will need this time in an upcoming step.*

1) Open iTunes and locate the song you wish to use.
2) Right click on the song and select ‘Get Info’. Then select the ‘Options’ tab.
3) Check the boxes ‘Start Time’ and ‘Stop Time”. Here you will insert the start and stop times you took note of earlier before beginning, remembering that it can only be 39 seconds or less. Do this and then click ‘OK’. (After you have finished creating your ringtone, remember to go back and uncheck those boxes)
4) Right click on the song again and select ‘Create AAC version’. This will create a new, shorter version of the song you want to use. You will see it either above or below the song. Remember, it will be 39 seconds or less so that is how you will distinguish it from the original song.
5) Here comes a bit of a tricky part but it’s not so bad. You need to copy the new, shorter version of the song and put it in a folder outside of iTunes. Be sure to put it somewhere where you know where it is. Once that is done, you need to delete the short version from iTunes. This is an important step, it HAS to be done.
6) After deleting the short version from iTunes, go to where you copied it to. Right click on it and choose ‘Rename’. Here is where you change the file extension (see beginning of this post if you can’t see the file extension)
7) Change the file extension to m4r.
Now copy the file back to your iTunes library and it will show up in your ringtones section. Sync your phone and the ringtone will be there to use.

VOILA!!! That wasn’t so hard, now was it!

p.s. Remember to go back to the original song in your iTunes library and uncheck the start and stop boxes. This method can be used on any song in your iTunes library not just songs purchased through iTunes. I, myself, have never purchased a song through iTunes and have only used songs that were already on my computer.

Let me know how it worked for you!

Effective repairs

It occurred to me today that fixing one's self is just like fixing a car. You need to go for the long term fix rather than the short term fix.

You wouldn't want to do a quick fix only to run into more problems later on, right? On the same note, though, quick fixes for people are easier to manage and can lead up to the bigger fix rather than trying to jump headfirst into the solution and having it backfire or not take.

I guess, as they say, baby steps rather than giant steps....

I'll get there, eventually.

I'm a Cricketsoda.com Supastar!

Well, I've just had another contribution of mine published on cricketsoda.com ...

I think I'm starting to become popular there...lol

Check it out here:

Hope you enjoy and get a few laughs! :~D

The time draws nigh...

In less than 2 weeks I'll be going to begin a new life in another country....and I'm ECSTATIC!!!!!!!

Taking Mom with me to meet Kat and her family, too. It's going to be the trip of a lifetime!

I'll be posting pics as soon as we have some to post......

Breathe

I heard a song yesterday that really made me think. It's a good one for me right now, what with me trying to get back to my roots, trying to restore my faith in myself and in humanity and all, I don't know, it just struck a chord with me and I really liked it.

It's called 'Breathe' and it's by a guy named Alexi Murdoch. Here is a youtube vid of him performing it live at some record store in Fla.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtaOyo3YaqI

I hope you all like it as much as I did.

And don't forget to breathe.

Calling all callers

So I usually spend quite a bit of money each week talking to my girl in the Philippines right? Well, with Skype I have saved a ton of money and you can too! By now just about everyone has heard of Skype and alot of people are already using it, too so why shouldn't you? Check it out!

Thoughts and Prayers

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have lost loved ones in the Philippines over the past few weeks due to the recent round of typhoons to hit the country. Thankfully, this last one didn't do as much damage.

I encourage everyone who is able to, to donate what you can to the Red Cross relief efforts to help those who have lost everything. Something to remember also is that US dollars go a looong way in the Philippines so anything you can give to help will surely help alot.

If you have loved ones in the Philippines and you need to send them money, or you want to try to help out, you may want to consider using Xoom.com to send money instead of Western Union. The transfer rates are much much lower than WU's. I've been using Xoom for almost 3 years now and it's saved me a ton of money. I've got links to Xoom on the side of my blog here or you can use this one:




I'll be going to the Philippines in a little more than a month and I'm hoping to have the opportunity to maybe help in rebuilding some homes or volunteering in some other way to help out. I'll keep this blog updated with the efforts and results. I've been meaning to add another post but I find myself getting busy and taking care of last minute details before my trip, which is always the case, even if I'm not preparing for a trip....I always find I'm too busy to keep up with a blog.
Yet another thing I find I need to change about myself....taking time each day for reflection and introspection, which I then share here, for the world to see. Even though I'm sure no one reads this, it's still beneficial to me. It helps me to feel like I'm changing, reverting back to the guy who could connect with people again.
Till next time, remember to keep those affected by these disasters in the Philippines and elsewhere in the world in your thoughts and prayers.

I almost forgot!!!!

One more tidbit before I go to sleep, I got another article published on cricketsoda!!!

It's about creating custom ringtones for your iPhone using iTunes and it's cool because you can use any song in your library, not just songs you've bought.

Check it out here.

Be sure to let me know what you think and how it worked for you etc, etc...
You can also check out some of the other stuff I've written there, too!

Pacsun has free shipping?!?!

So I was looking online to find some stuff to take with me on my upcoming trip since just about everyone in the Philippines likes to receive pasalubong (souvenirs) from the U.S. and I came across Pacsun's website and they're offering free shipping on orders over 50 bucks. And judging by the sales they have going at the moment you can get a bunch of stuff for that $50!

They've got sandals starting at $7, tees for $10 and the list goes on and on....

I imagine I'll be spending more than the required $50 for the free shipping, though....lol




FREE Shipping on orders over $50

A New Start

This blog is, for me, a new beginning or a new start of sorts.

In a little more than a month, I'll be moving halfway around the world to begin a new life. I'm moving to the Philippines to be with my girlfriend/fiance. We will be opening our own little restaurant to pass the time with.

Now that you know a little about my future, it's time to tell a little about my past, since my past is the main reason for this particular blog.

This blog represents, for me, a clearing of the air or a return to the past, a past where I was a better, nicer person before I became so jaded and world-weary, like we all become eventually. Every life experiences it's ups and downs, whether rich or poor, black or white or etc etc. It's what we do with and in the aftermath of these ups and downs that defines us as a person, in my opinion. And, I have to admit, some of the things I've said and done I'm ashamed of even downright appalled at. I've been mean and spiteful for very little reason and oftentimes for no reason at all. I've been deceitful and shady and done things considered criminal. For those things, I've paid the price already. It's for the less physical things, the less apparent things, that I now make penance for.

For and to all those people I've wronged, whether they know it or not,

I'm sorry.

I have no excuse, at least no good excuse. Sure, maybe I was having a bad day, maybe I just lost a job, or couldn't pay the rent on time and, in my frustration, I said things that shouldn't have been said.

I'm sorry.

Will these sorrys make up for my actions? Probably not but I need to say them. I need to add closure to my old life so that I can move on with my new one.

I used to be such a mellow dude and despite what people have told me, I don't think it was all because of the amount of pot I smoked, although I'm sure that helped. I used to be kind and gentle and I hardly ever got mad or even upset. Never had a bad word for ANYBODY. I stuck by that time honored axiom 'If you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all'.

As I grew older and life's battles began ending in more losses than wins, I started noticing almost imperceptible changes in my attitude. Actually, it was other people who began pointing it out to me and when I started getting mad because people were pointing it out to me, I began to realize that they were right. I was changing.

At first, I thought these changes, ever so slight, were a good thing. I was becoming a bit more tough and a little less prone to having people walk all over me and use me, which was a common thing that I didn't mind so much because it generally wasn't that bad. As a result of these changes I stopped listening to people. That's the worst thing I could have done. In hindsight, I realize now that when you stop listening to people, you stop seeing them, as well and that's never a good thing. When I stopped listening to and seeing people, I stopped caring. That's gotten me to where I am today. Feeling remorse and guilt over a million small slights handed to people who may but mostly may not have deserved them.