ringtones

The time has finally come, and iOS 5 will be available to the general public October 12. During the last four months, we have been covering some of the key features of iOS 5 to ensure we were prepared to help you on the first day of iOS 5's release. Below you will find 15 tips and tricks to help you master iOS 5, and maybe even allow you to show off a bit to your friends. … Read more

Have you ever wished you could set different ringtones for different types of e-mail the way you can for phone numbers? You can, with the latest version of Gmail (2.3.5), now available in the Android Market. With it, you can set distinct ringtones for each Gmail label you use. Here's how:

Before starting, make sure you have at least one Gmail label created and a filter that uses that label.

Step 1: Open your Gmail app and press the Menu Key, More, then Settings.

Step 2: If you have more than one Google Account set up on … Read more

iOS 5 is packed full of new features that iOS users are sure to love. While most consumers will have to wait to get their hands on it until it's officially released this fall, we have been able to get our hands on a developer preview. So, we're bringing you How To blog posts to give you a preview of new features, and how they work.… Read more

Tired of hearing the same old boring ringtone? We know the feeling--so we decided to make an easy-to-follow guide for making a ringtone using the music you already own. Making a ringtone on OS X is a simple process. You will just need to have have GarageBand 4.1.1+ and iTunes 7.5 or above installed on your Mac. … Read more

Zedge is a popular, community-powered app that helps you find Android wallpaper, ringtones, and notification sounds. Because of its huge selection of high-quality content and its simple interface, it is easily one of the best resources available for customizing your Android mobile device.

With the Category Selector and Sort tool, you can sift through Zedge's gigantic database of wallpaper, ringtones, and notification sounds with relative ease. Anything you find, you can then download or share through Twitter, Facebook, or any other supported apps. There's also a Favorites list, which, considering the enormity of the database, is not only … Read more

Cutting your own ringtones from songs in your mobile library isn't hard at all, and there's even one ingenious Android app that takes a much more creative approach than the usual slice-and-serve.

iPhone apps also handily make ringtones. Apart from choosing the start and stop times--which can be frustrating and time-consuming depending on your level of meticulousness--the most trying portion of the creation process is transferring your newly created selection to iTunes and then back to your computer as a ringtone.

No, it doesn't make sense, but the apps show you how to do it and ultimately … Read more

Wondershare's new iMate is a multipurpose Windows utility for iPhone, iPod, and iPad owners. With it you can rip DVDs, convert videos, copy music and photos from your iDevice to your PC, create ringtones, and more.

It normally costs $59, but from now until April 2, you can get Wondershare iMate absolutely free. It's the full, unrestricted version of the program. The only catch: you don't get updates or tech support.

iMate sports an attractive, easy-to-navigate interface, with oversize buttons directing you to each of its four main areas: Music & Videos, Photos, Books, and Ringtones. If … Read more

Ever wish you could turn a certain Grammy-nominated Cee Lo Green song--you know the one I mean--into a ringtone for your iPhone?

There are apps for that--lots of them, in fact, all capable of converting virtually any track in your song library (not just the hilariously NSFW ones) into a ringtone or calendar/alarm tone.

If you want a few extra features not found in the freebie ringtone makers, check out Ringtone Remix Pro. It's a simple, elegant tool that makes the process painless.

All you do is choose any DRM-free song stored on your iPhone, then slide a pair of selectors along an audio waveform to choose the section you want. The app lets you zoom in on the waveform so you can get ultraprecise with your selection, making sure the ringtone starts exactly where you want it.

There's also a magic-wand icon that chooses a song chunk for you, deftly avoiding quiet spots in the audio--but not necessarily choosing an optimal start point for the ringtone. My advice: choose it manually.… Read more

When Steve Jobs announced the MacBook Air a couple of years ago, I thought it was an incredibly sleek device that incorporated some great ideas about the coming age of cloud computing. Though the specs for the device weren't up to today's standards (they change so fast!), my main takeaway was that the MacBook Air was a great computer, but was just a few years before its time.

Just today, CNET's Erica Ogg wrote that someone familiar with Apple's plans says we're going to see a slimmed-down, cheaper MacBook Air at next Wednesday's Apple event. Erica goes on to talk about possible specs and pricing, wondering where a new MacBook Air will fit in Apple's laptop lineup.

My question to readers is, what would you be willing to pay for a slimmer (and probably more powerful) MacBook Air? Certainly you'll still likely be able to get a Windows laptop that's cheaper, but considering current prices for Apple computers, what is a fair price for a sleeker, more cloud-based Mac laptop?

Let's make it a contest. Here's my guess for the actual price of the Macbook Air that might be announced on Wednesday: $999. Give me your best guess in the comments and on Wednesday we can come back to see who's closest. Winner gets bragging rights!

This week's apps include a ringtone creator that uses MP3s from your library and an exciting puzzle game for wannabe train conductors.… Read more