14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is bringing out the iTunes updates like no tomorrow, in what seems to be yet another attempt to plug the ringtone holes. But, despite Apple's efforts, holes are still there and the updates are even starting to affect the overall stability of the feature altogether.
Only ten days after the previous update, Apple's most recent release for its jukebox software and media store gateway, 7.4.2, is meant to address existing bugs, improve stability and performance and solve an issue with creating ringtones using iTunes Plus song purchases. Besides all that, this update will also do a pretty good job of going in and eradicating ringtones that were previously present and created though various workarounds. Unfortunately not all is working as expected and there have been user reports of legitimate ringtones created by purchasing a song and paying for the ringtone service, which are now gone. Furthermore, other users report that the ringtone feature in iTunes is gone, even songs that previously had little bell icons being without it now.
While reports of legitimate ringtones erased and missing ringtone functionality are still relatively few, the fact that they exist at all is worrisome. To make things even worse, Apple attempt to put a stop to the ringtone workarounds was not a complete success as many previous methods will still work with only minor adjustments such as additional renaming of files. It is obvious that this will not be the last such update to come out of Apple and that the company is set on plugging all these holes, but the problems that arise are a major concern. Having ringtones that you paid for just disappear does not make for a very reassuring experience with the service and is quite likely to discourage the user from ever using the service again.