The iToner interface lists only the custom ringtones, and won't let you delete the ringtones supplied with the phone. Files dragged to the interface initially show up with a little gray sync icon that matches the sync button at the bottom of the window. The sync button only lights up when you've made changes to the list. Clicking on any ringtone will give you the options to play it or delete it. The total space available on the iPhone, as well as how much space will be taken by changes you've made (additions and subtractions), are listed near the sync button.

The sync process is fast, and the iPhone treats it just as if iTunes were syncing. You can run iToner while iTunes is running, though I do have my iTunes configured not to sync automatically, and not to sync ringtones at all.

Comparing iToner

The advantages of iToner over iTunes are obvious: the 36 ringtones I have so far would have cost me $1.98 plus tax for each song I hadn't bought from the iTunes Music Store (28 of them), and another $.99 for each song I had already bought (eight of them), for $64.36 plus tax. That's assuming that all 36 songs are even available as ringtones, which is improbable in the extreme. iToner costs $15 once, and just works.

Less certain are the advantages of iToner over manual hacks. While Apple doesn't seem to be too riled about people writing native applications for the iPhone, they acted quickly to close the free ringtones hole, either because of pressure from the labels or because a source of revenue for Apple themselves is at risk. iToner was unaffected by the release of iTunes 7.4.1, but the manual hacks all quit working. Another workaround has since been found, and the next release could easily break iToner but not the manual process.

I have confidence that Ambrosia will be able to keep up with Apple easily, but each reader will have to decide whether the ease of using iToner is enough to counter the risk that Apple will manage to shut Ambrosia out completely in the future.

The Bottom Line

Ambrosia's iToner is perfect for people who want custom ringtones on their iPhone cheap and easy. If you're willing to do some hacking, you can save the $15 (at least for now). If you're willing to live with Apple's limited selection and comparatively high price, you can stick with iTunes. As for me, I'd rather spend my time picking the best samples, not renaming file extensions and searching the web for the latest workarounds, so I'll stick with iToner.