Things Engineers Like: Ringtones

Technology certainly allows users to customize their devices to suit your personality (or the lack of). I remember using Windows 95 and thinking it was too dull and all grey. Then, Microsoft came with tons of the green and blue in Windows XP. It never seemed like software developers liked using my favorite color black even in Windows Mobile. It was like I was an emo teenager and the entire software world was against me (but without emotions). It took spam-filled third party software to get the sleek black look I desired. For my wallpapers, I have beautiful pictures of landscape, various UConn places, Star Wars themes, and of course varying takes of the Apple's apple logo (No, I'm not a Mac Fanboy).

While these are all great ways to express yourself, nothing compares to ringtones on your phone because anyone around you will judge you on it. There probably isn't a better way of making a first impression than having your ringtone go off, especially in situations where it's deadly silent. Who can forget the endless crazy frog ringtones years ago?

Those were the years people wish they could forget in terms of ringtones; they made for the most dreadful commercials. With the integration of larger storage, people got away from the MIDI ringtones and started to use mp3 and other formats. 

With that, I seen some creative ringtones for call and notifications. Being an engineer, I fancy the really "nerdy" ones. For example, one person had the Metal Gear Solid Alert sound for text messages and whenever he received a text, those familiar with the game would immediately flinch. Themes from films like Tron, Star Wars, E.T., and Jurassic Park are popular; video game themes are quite popular too. I don't think I can play Street Fighter without thinking my doppelgänger received a text anymore due to his Hadouken ringtone. 

Those who know me, know that my notification ringtone has been the Super Mario Coin sound for years now. Just this past weekend, I've decided to add to additional sounds to differentiate my alerts (e.g. texts, gtalk, email). Keeping to my devotion to the Super Mario theme, I added Yoshi's licking sound (Great suggestion from my doppelgänger. Yoshi's my favorite character!) and to go along with my coin sound effect, I added the jumping sound effect. Does life get better than that?!

While my notification ringtones are nerdy, my incoming call ringtone isn't. It's "Little More Time" by Zox not just because it's works so perfect but it reminds me of Rhode Island. I can't listen to the song anymore without being paranoid that my phone is going off!