ringtone

Each week, we track the most popular ringtones.

Maybe it's due to the success of the Nintendo Wii, or it could be some magic mushrooms, but Koji Kondo's "Super Mario Brothers Theme" has jumped to the third spot on Billboard's Hot Ringtone chart. The ringtone has been in the top 40 for more than two years, and gamers of all ages can't help but smile when that classic theme plays.

The mustachioed one is behind Rascal Flatt's "What Hurts the Most," and Unk's "2 Step" on the charts. … Read more

Some of us don't get out much here at Crave, so we're always appreciative of ways to enjoy life at its fullest as long as it's within a 50-foot radius of the plasma. Take ringtones, for example. We always felt that it was kind of unfair that we couldn't get them on our land line--until we learned of the "Magic Ringtone MP3 Ringer."

This wedge-shaped gizmo can play your favorite tunes when your home phone rings. What we appreciate about it most is its simplicity: All you have to do, according to Red Ferret, … Read more

Practically everything is customizable in this digital age, and your phone's ringtone is no different. It's a personal statement of individuality with a practical backbone--you flaunt your musical tastes and differentiate your ring from the dozens of other phones sounding off around you. We like MiniTones for Palm OS, a recent addition to the CNET Download.com library, because it's small, free, and straightforward.

The 51K app runs on Palm OS 5 and higher--we installed it on the 64MB memory card of a Treo 650. The app opens a list of MP3s stored on your Treo or … Read more

Each week, we track the most popular ringtones.

If you want keep up with the hip kids, you're going to have to know Unk; his song "2 Step" is the second hottest ringtone, according to the latest Billboard ringtone chart.

In the grand tradition of songs like "Macarena" and "The Twist," there's a specific dance to do with "2 Step."

"Take 2 Steps To The Left/ Now Take 2 Steps To The Right/ Now Bring It Back/ Bring It Back/ Hey I Made Ya'll Walk It Out." … Read more

Each week, we track the most popular ringtones.

Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" leaped from number 21 last week to the second spot on Billboard's ringtone chart. This is the largest single-week jump since I began following these charts. I know Beyonce did a remix of "Irreplaceable" with Ghostface Killah--maybe that's boosting the ringtone's popularity.

Unk's "2 Step" cracked the top five as well; it grabbed the no. 4 spot in its debut week. I was never a big fan of the crunk or Dirty South music, but Unk has grown … Read more

Each week, we track the hottest ringtones.

In this week's roundup of Billboard's top ringtones, a new artist has cracked the top 10. His name is T-Pain and his song "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" has nabbed the 10th spot this week. After its debut at number 16 last week, the catchy R&B tune seems to be gathering momentum.

Originally from Tallahassee, Florida, T-Pain seems to have no problem singing about the digital age; two of his previous hits are titled "Send Me an E-Mail," and "What's Yo Myspace.&… Read more

I was having lunch in a quiet outdoor restaurant last weekend when the words "Gentleman, start your engines" pierced the peaceful air like an explosion. It turned out to be a fellow diner's ringtone, and it was not a pretty sound to hear over and over again.

I don't think I'm alone when I say that ringtones with spoken words are just plain wrong. I'd much rather hear that ubiquitous Nokia ringtone for the hundredth time than endure something like "Hey! Your phone is ringing" or "Pick up the phone. I … Read more

I still haven't heard a Rascal Flatts song, but they seem to have a big enough following to claim the No. 1 spot this week in Billboard's ringtone chart. The group's song, "What Hurts the Most" has knocked Chris Brown's "Poppin'" from the top.

Brown shouldn't take it too hard, as his song had held the top spot since we began tracking ringtones six weeks ago.

I knew nothing about our new chart leader, so I looked up Rascal Flatts' official bio. Apparently the group has sold over 13 million albums … Read more

Each week, we track the most popular ringtones.

I should have known better. Last week, I said Akon's "Don't Matter" would jump from 22 into Billboard's top 10 ringtone list. Perhaps I was thinking about Babe Ruth too much, or of Tom Berenger in Major League, but I thought I could call my shot.

Sadly, Akon's "Don't Matter" locked up just the number 16 spot. That's still a good showing for the song, and it's currently No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100 list (which measures sales and airplay). … Read more