GeekSugar

Have You Ever Been Caught With Your Ringer On?

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:00:28 PDT

As I settled in for the Back to the Mac event yesterday, I made sure to turn off my cell phone ringer, as you do when you head into a movie, presentation, or theater experience. However, a number of other people either forgot, or disregarded this courtesy, as I noticed a lot of ringers, buzzers, and mobile notifications going off while Steve Jobs and co. were on stage. But I wasn't the only one - Steve actually asked us all to take a moment to turn our phones to vibrate and our laptop volumes down while he waited to continue. There were a few red-faced journalists in the audience after that! I know no one is perfect, but I still can't believe that for some, it's not yet an automatic tick to reach for your phone to turn off your ringer when you enter a theater. It's like muscle memory for me at this point!

Everyone slips up a time or two, so tell me - have you ever been caught with your ringer on during a movie, presentation, or theater event? Vote on the poll and tell us your (embarrassing?) stories below, or in our Cell Phone Rant group!

Would You Download Animal Mating Call Ringtones?

PetSugar — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:00:18 PST

Just in time for Valentine's Day, now I've heard of everything. If you're still searching for the best ringtone for your phone (and weren't swayed by the barks or meows), here's a real ~~torture~~ treat.

Download one of 20 animal mating call ringtones from cackling coyotes to chirping crickets. Some of the sounds are a bit noxious (to say the least) but they'd definitely ensure easy identification of your cell phone in the office. It wouldn't be that big of a deal . . . unless you happen upon an alligator or lion on your nightly walk, yeah, then you're on your own.

Do You Use Different Ringtones For Different People?

GeekSugar — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:46:48 PST

Just five minutes ago, I was happily typing away when someone's iPhone started ringing and I nearly had a heart attack. Why? Because the ringtone was the same I used on my iPhone when an ex-boyfriend called me. Even though the relationship wasn't super-serious and has long since ended, the simple ringtone was enough to give me a flash of anxiety.

The same thing happened last weekend when a friend's iPhone rang with the same ringtone - I actually made her change it! (See also: how to cut your ex out of your digital life).

While I may have overreacted a bit (I've since allowed my friend to change her ringtone back), I decided to adopt a one-ringtone-only policy, regardless of friends, family, or love interest status. What about you? And if you have a different solution, please leave it in the comments!

Geek Tip: Make Free Cell Ringtones With Audiko

GeekSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:33:00 PDT

My relationship with custom ringtones is rocky. Like 67 percent of geeksugar readers, I use them occasionally (mostly for humor purposes) but hearing catchy tunes coming from inside my coworker's purse can grind my gears. You can keep things contemporary and hip on the cheap with audiko, a free web service that will allow you to make ringtones out of any songs in your music library or download from its large collection of songs.

All you have to do is search the site for your desired song, then download the file to your desktop (so you can transfer to your phone) or save as an iPhone ringtone by adding to your iTunes. If the ringtone you want isn't available, you can create a custom one by uploading your song, cut the clip you want and download it to your phone. Just do yourself a favor and make sure you activate Locale when you get invited to hang out with the president.

President Obama Pokes Fun at a Ringtone

GeekSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:00:45 PDT

This is hilarious. In a recent presidential press conference, someone's cell phone started ringing, and it wasn't your standard "bring bring" but a duck quacking sound. Not even the president of the United States of America is impervious to annoying cell phone ringtones! I don't know what's funnier: the ringtone itself or his reaction?! Let's just hope that the person who was humiliated is getting used to the silent and vibrate cell phone settings.

Creepy or Catchy: Barking (and Meowing) Ringtones?

PetSugar — Sun, 24 May 2009 03:00:29 PDT

Guess Jessica Simpson's Ringtone!

GeekSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:01:02 PST

Can you guess which song Jessica Simpson told Life & Style she uses as her ringtone?

Source

Take the Quiz

Stephen Colbert Scores an iPhone 3G With a SATC Ringtone?

GeekSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:20:54 PDT

Oh Stephen, you never cease to amaze me with your geeky toys and Dance Dance Revolution Dance-Off competitions. I'm not surprised you've already scooped up a new black iPhone 3G, but you never told me you were such a Sex and the City fan?! I'm actually impressed you've pimped out your phone with such a signature ringtone. . . . the ladies will love it and the men will wish they had an ounce of your coolness. Keep up the good work.

Definition: Ringtone Nostalgia

GeekSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:45:56 PDT

The condition whereby you fly into a frenzy to find your ringing cell phone, only to find that it has not, in fact, been ringing at all; what you have heard is a phone with your former ringtone. Highly disconcerting.

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Do You Use Custom Ringtones?

GeekSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:45:22 PDT

With news that the EU is cracking down on sketchy cell phone companies that hawk cell phone wallpapers and ringtones, I realized I hadn't bought or used a custom (or any nonstandard) ringtone in years. I guess I feel like I've outgrown them, but on the other hand, I'm getting a little sick of the few preprogrammed options I have in my phone (and don't even get me started on how our whole office has the same standard BlackBerry ringtone. We've begun making up lyrics).

But now I'm out of the ringtone game. Do I buy one? Spend time making one? Do I pick a song I know, or just a cool sound?

What about you - do you use a custom ringtone, or do you just go with whatever comes programmed on your phone?

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