Obsessive ringtone changers should give the new app GeoRing a look. Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad — though I’m not sure how non-iPhone-users would use this — GeoRing provides the ability to change your ringtone to any song in your iTunes library with just a few taps.
Unlike other ringtone-making apps, GeoRing doesn’t require iTunes syncing, which means your phone can ring with the No. 1 pop song or some ironic ’80s tune, instantly.
Something that might stall users is the one-time required setup. While the app’s developers provide complete instructions in the app’s description, the in-app instructions are severely lacking. For the app to work properly, users should head to http://j.mp/ringsilent, and download and sync the MR4 file to their iDevice. After syncing the phone, a new silent custom ringtone will be available in the settings panel. Turn this on, and the GeoRing will be the only sound you hear (otherwise your song will play over your existing ringtone, not pleasant).
After taking these steps, I was able to easily change my ringer. In app, you can set the ringer to start at a certain point. The app also offers a geotracking feature that logs incoming calls and pinpoints their location. I didn’t really see a use for this feature — calls are still logged in the regular phone app — and immediately disabled location services for the app. Because you have to have GeoRing running at all times for the ringer to work, the GPS feature is a huge battery-drainer when turned on.
GeoRing isn’t ideal for me because I prefer to use custom ringers for contacts, and the app doesn’t support this, but I could see its appeal for users who like a new sound all the time.
Just don’t forget to keep GeoRing running in the background. If it’s not, your ringer is on silent, and this could add up to a lot of missed calls.
