No Spec Work - Rewarding Creativity Properly

Okay, so we all know that you can change the ringtone on your mobile phone by purchasing a ringtone online. In fact, there are an endless number of web sites that will sell you a ringtone or wallpaper (prices vary from $.99 to $2.99 and in most cases will put the charge on your cell phone bill). One thing I have found however is that although I can choose from hundreds of ringtone web sites, most of them are selling the same array of ringtones. So, in my quest to make my mobile phone, and hence, my ringtone unique, I have found myself limited to the same assortment of 100 or so [decent] ringtones.

Alas - clever software companies have now developed software that will allow you to make your own ringtones - from your own collection of CDs or MP3s. One such software product is Ringtone Media Studio, developed by Avanquest Software. Ringtone Media Studio actually includes three different studios; the Audio Studio for the creation of ringtones and the Image and Video studios to create mobile wallpapers and videos. Taking the unique-factor one step further, the Audio studio also includes a mixer so you can custom-arrange your ringtone and create something completely unique. With the advent of software such as Ringtone Media Studio, custom mixing of ringtones has become so popular that the term “Ringtone DJ” has been coined. So, has the creation of custom ringtones become an art form? I say most definitely-especially for those creative types; as ringtone creation can be seen as an off-shoot of the art of record spinning. Even for those not-so-creative types, creating ringtones is easy and somewhat addicting (I spent over 3 hours creating ringtones from the 5000+ piece Online Media Library which is included with Ringtone Media Studio). So now that music fans can create their own ringtones from their CDs and MP3 collections, what does this mean to the Music Industry - which today views ringtones as salvation from their slump in sales?

Ringtones to the music industry mean gravy - certainly another revenue stream from which they can joyfully tap. But if users can buy ringtone creation software such as Ringtone Media Studio for $19.99, why spend $1.99 or more (according to the Atlantic Record’s website, ringtones are $1.99 and up) on just one? Users of course need to buy the song - heck, they might even buy the whole CD - before a ringtone can be made, so couldn’t it be possible that ringtone creation software could actually increase music sales? I would think that consumers would actually be more compelled to purchase a CD if they had more than one use for it. In fact, rather than just buying a CD and leaving it in their CD player for weeks, consumers can now transfer it to their PC, transfer it to their iPOD and now even make ringtones. Cool! Perhaps the music industry should embrace the ringtone creation software - rather than fight it - as being predicted by some. Time will certainly tell. In the meantime, consumers are certainly the winner today, with such a wide variety of ways to personalize their phones and ringtones.

Ringtone Media Studio is a product from software developer Avanquest Software. A trial version of the software can be found at http://www.ringtonemediastudio.com.

The most popular and probably the best type of poker game for a novice to try his hand at is texas hold em poker. In a matter of minutes, anyone can learn the rules, which usually begins with the two players to the left of the dealer placing blind bets. Two face down cards are then dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues, this time beginning with the person to the left of the first two people who placed the blinds in the beginning. Players can choose to check, raise, or fold when the turn to bet comes to them.

Afterwards, the dealer places three cards face up on the table. Called a flop, players can use these cards with the two that they already have to form their hands. Following this is another round of betting, after which the dealer places another card, known as the turn card, face up on the table. This card can be used to create a five card hand, if it improves the hand they already hold. The players place their bets, and the dealer places a final card on the table. Known as the river card, players can now use this as well as the other four on the table and the two that they have to create their final poker hands.

After one last round of betting, the players still in the game reveal their cards this is called the showdown. With a few rounds of practice, anyone can master the rules. However, mastering the game of poker itself is another story. Not merely an exercise in luck, texas hold em, despite its simplicity involves both brains and practice, thereby, continually challenging those who play it.

Texas hold em poker has become increasingly popular as a growing number of online sites attract people to play from the comfort of their homes. More and more people are starting to play the game competitively, brushing up on their skills and strategies, often in the hopes of earning some extra money. Many also participate in online texas hold em tournaments where the cash prizes can be very high.

Numerous sites and other resources have also sprung up to help people perfect their game, offering winning tips and proven strategies, as well as directing them towards the top sites at which to play. Organizations that bring together players are also gaining prominence. Television shows, such as “Celebrity Poker” on the Bravo network, where celebrities compete with each other playing texas hold em has proven to be a ratings success. This too has helped to raise the profile of a game once relegated to the casinos or to weekly male bonding activities. A broader, more diverse range of people are getting involved, from Ivy League college students to stay at home moms, many from the comfort of their homes as they log into the thousands of online sites. Sales of poker paraphernalia have seen a rise as well, as people are either taking the game much more seriously than they once used to or they are discovering it for the first time. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether this resurgence of texas hold em is merely a passing fad or one that will prove to have strong staying power.

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