Soviut wrote:

I work at an animation studio.  I'm one of about 2 and a half developers in a company of 100 people or so.  We don't get many calls, people usually just walk over and ask us questions or give us requests.

So when the phone rang just now I joked out loud "what the hell was that?!  Did you guys hear something?  It sounded like some kind of ringtone".

It got me wondering.  With all the new music ringtones and different tone sequences that cells have today, is the traditional "ring" going to become obsolete.  I mean, I already kind of associate a phone call with the default Nokia ring now.

Junk food for thought.

Soviut wrote:

Junk food for thought.

W3bbo wrote:



Soviut wrote: Junk food for thought.

Crass consumers will happily be taken up the tailpipe by their phone service providers when it comes to downloading the latest fad ringtones and wallpapers from Jamba/Jamster.

The rest of us, the discerning percentile of the human race, just use the default.

But FWIW, I modified my phone so it plays an assortment of torture sounds and screams when an incoming calls gets in; "New mail has arrived" in a demonic voice when I get new SMS or Email, and the "Posses" sound for notifications. Straight from the "Dungeon Keeper - Windows 95 Plus! Themepack"

Anyone else have a nostalgia for mid/late 90s games and their obligatory desktop themes? Microsoft should bring them back.

Sven Groot wrote:



The basic design rule for Japanese phones seems to be this: make the maximum volume for ringtones so low that they're completely useless.

"Manner mode", the official term for "silent mode", is the only accepted way to use a phone here.

W3bbo wrote:

The rest of us, the discerning percentile of the human race, just use the default.

Yggdrasil wrote:



W3bbo wrote: The rest of us, the discerning percentile of the human race, just use the default.

That sentence just... feels wrong. You can't be a discerning connoisseur when using the default for ANYTHING. The default is for the masses, doncha know?

Me, I've found that the Cure's "Boys Don't Cry" makes for a good ringtone, even on a non-polyphonic sound chip.

Soviut wrote:

Ironically, I think you CAN be discerning if you use the default.  In the case of cell phones, most people change their ring immediatly.  In order to be unique, I've left mine with the default Nokia ring.

W3bbo wrote:


Anyone else have a nostalgia for mid/late 90s games and their obligatory desktop themes?

W3bbo wrote:



Soviut wrote: Ironically, I think you CAN be discerning if you use the default.  In the case of cell phones, most people change their ring immediatly.  In order to be unique, I've left mine with the default Nokia ring.

This is my point.

Said crass consumers feel the need to "express themselves" through the procurement of ringtones embodying elements and figures from today's popular culture.

By keeping the default (or something utilitarian and does the job, i.e. a simple ringing and/or vibrate as your needs entail) you're having a kind of passive-aggressive protest against the capitalist establishment where products are advertised to you everywhere. You're saying "no!", you won't allow your phone to be used as a marketing tool for celebrities or other consumer products.

shrtcrt wrote:

I get annoyed by the ring tones. People have them on the loudest setting and half the time ignore them. If you don't want to answer it, press the button on the phone to turn off the ringer.  I love technology, bu people and their bluetooth headsets need a lesson in manners. Do you need to wear it all the time, NO! Take it off at restaurants, movie theaters, etc. When I see grandpa with one, that just cracks me up. I can not stand Nextels. For the love of all that is good and just, I don't want to hear both sides of the conversation in in the grocery store! That walkie talkie feature is annoying.

Cool things are invented, but them some people need to respect others around them. Vibrate is the best feature on a phone!

shrtcrt wrote:

I get annoyed by the ring tones. People have them on the loudest setting and half the time ignore them. If you don't want to answer it, press the button on the phone to turn off the ringer.  I love technology, bu people and their bluetooth headsets need a lesson in manners. Do you need to wear it all the time, NO! Take it off at restaurants, movie theaters, etc. When I see grandpa with one, that just cracks me up. I can not stand Nextels. For the love of all that is good and just, I don't want to hear both sides of the conversation in in the grocery store! That walkie talkie feature is annoying.

Cool things are invented, but them some people need to respect others around them. Vibrate is the best feature on a phone!

PerfectPhase wrote:

Can't remember where I heard this, but someone described a phone as the equivalent of someone walking into the room and shouting 'Talk to me now' repeatedly at the top of their voice!

Sven Groot wrote:



PerfectPhase wrote: Can't remember where I heard this, but someone described a phone as the equivalent of someone walking into the room and shouting 'Talk to me now' repeatedly at the top of their voice!

I distinctly remember hearing this somewhere too.

Could it have been Stephen Fry on QI who said that?

shrtcrt wrote: People can be annoying with their persoanl products. Learn a bit of respect for others around you. The best is seeing someone yelling in public on their phone and then giving you a dirty look when you look at them.

shrtcrt wrote: Just like I lay on the horn when I get cut off

kettch wrote:

When I do use ringtones, most of the people in my phonebook have a personalized ringtone that I've made with Audacity. It's mostly a 19-20 second lyric-less chop out of the bridge of some song that fits the person's personality, or some attribute of theirs.

W3bbo wrote:


911: Isaac Hayes - Shaft

W3bbo wrote:

Dominos Pizza: Adam Freeland - We Want Your Soul
911: Isaac Hayes - Shaft