New ringtone: Do you hear something at all?

[Céline's Blues]

I wonder what does it sound like. I don't hear a thing or is it just a DAM hoax!? LOL!

 

Let me know if you heard something, anything at all.

 

http://graphics.nytimes.com/packages/audio...10_RINGTONE.mp3

 

This is one ringtone you've gotta hear

 

 

June 14, 2006

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Enterprising teenagers have hijacked a high-pitched electronic blip which adults cannot hear and turned it into a stealth ringtone.

 

It is suitable for use in situations where grown ups aren't meant know there's an incoming call or text message.

 

The ringtone - which can be downloaded from the internet - is proving especially popular amongst school students in the US and UK who use it in classrooms.

 

With it, students can receive text message alerts on their mobile phones without the teacher knowing.

 

As people age, many develop what's known as presbycusis or aging ear - a loss of the ability to hear higher-frequency sounds.

 

The ringtone is a spin-off of technology that was originally meant to repel teenagers - not help them.

 

Last year, a Welsh security company developed the 17-kilohertz buzz to help shopkeepers disperse youngsters loitering in front of their stores.

 

Mr Howard Stapleton, the inventor of the "Mosquito", claims the high-frequency pulsing sound can be heard by most people younger than 20 and almost no one older than 30.

 

Realising the commercial possibilities in the unintended use of the blip, Mr Stapleton's company has quickly produced it's own official version of the ringtone which they are calling the "the authentic Mosquito ring tone".

 

If you're under 20 (or over 20 with very good hearing), you can listen to the blip here.

 

(Hint: in your Windows Media Player, set the option bar to visualisations > bars and waves > bars and at least if you can't hear the sound, you'll be able to see it.)

Edited June 13, 2006 at 11:33 PM by siur

[Bellamy]

It's not the highest pitch I had heard of.

[VanMerlin]

Oh bloody Hell, that's shockingly horrible! So I can hear it, and I'm over twenty. Gawd, that's awful!!! It goes right into the centre of your skull...get it out, get it out!!! I wish I hadn't done that. Thanks a lot Siur!

 

Blahbity blahbity...shaking it out of my head...although it's good to know that my hearing is still good, even after all the abuse I've given the ears...so I do thank you for that, Siur.

 

Geez, I can see why they'd use it to stop kids from loitering around shops. It works!!

[Céline's Blues]

PUHLEAAAAAAAAAAASE don't a'all tell me my hearing is so dreadfully bad.

 

Oh and MErlin, BTW, here you can test your hearing: http://www.liquidgeneration.com/content/a55hat.aspx?cid=922

 

I mean it does not tell any good about me I tell ya!

Edited June 14, 2006 at 12:08 AM by siur

[VanMerlin]

Thanks, Siur. That's hilarious!!!

 

How high is your volume?

Edited June 14, 2006 at 12:11 AM by VanMerlin

[Céline's Blues]

I mean the bar on the control panel is set to 50%... Oh well, but it's weird since I thought of me as having really good hearing actually!

[VanMerlin]

I'm sure your hearing is fine. There could be any number of reasons you can't hear it on the computer...with all the volume setting and so forth. If you don't notice problems in your everyday life, your good. And trust me, you don't really want to hear it!!

[Céline's Blues]

Is it like that sound Mariah makes on her Emotion song? hahah Oh and according to http://www.siemens-hearing.co.uk/00_en/50_...h/flashtest.jsp

 

my hearing is just fine! Phew!

Edited June 14, 2006 at 12:20 AM by siur

[VanMerlin]

Haven't heard the song, but it's probably worse than even Mariah!! Then again, she can go right through one's skull as well...

[AllCeline]

OOOH MY FREAKIN' GOSH!

 

Okay, I know we're not supposed to type in all caps, but this thing is wicked awsome!! I could hear it, but when I tried it on my mom, she didn't! OMG! This thing is wicked awsome!!!

 

BTW, By awsome, I mean cool. I would never use this for evil... or would I?

[Bellamy]

Older people can't hear high freq is just a common knowledge.

[Prima_Donna1]

OMG I heard the sound and it's annoying. Thanks for the info! Edited June 14, 2006 at 03:50 AM by Prima_Donna1

[Céline's Blues]

Weird, I can hear ANY sound that's like 16 KHz but not the one with 17 KHz....

Have a look at this test:

 

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/hearing.html

Edited June 14, 2006 at 10:32 AM by siur

[Bellamy]

Weird, I can hear ANY sound that's like 16 KHz but not the one with 17 KHz....

Have a look at this test:

 

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/hearing.html

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

you're 83 years old. your hearing is quite good at your age.

[Céline's Blues]

Thank you for the compliment, Bellamy! We, women of Mozambique have a very long history of good hearing abilities.

[mazceline]

am i missing a joke or something i heard NOTHING

[Bellamy]

We, women of Mozambique have a very long history of good hearing abilities.           

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Clari]

You beat me at posting this. I couldn't hear it yesterday, but now I can.

[Koolan]

lmao, I read about this yesterday, not sure if I should listen to it though this ringtone is gonna be really popular

[Bellamy]

this ringtone is gonna be really popular

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

it won't. cause it's just an annoying 17khz noise. I doubt anyone would use it as ringtone.

[Céline's Blues]

OMG I heard it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My ears are bleeding, tho.

[Koolan]

this ringtone is gonna be really popular

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

it won't. cause it's just an annoying 17khz noise. I doubt anyone would use it as ringtone.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't mean popular as in many people using it on their cell

[MistaDorn]

Yay, i'm still young yay, I hear it woohoo

[SuperLove4Celine]

I heard the tone as well, but I agree, I doubt if many people are going to bother using it. God only knows how it would sound if more than one person got a call that had that ringtone. It would be VERY annoying!

 

...Joe...

[live to love]

OMG my ears kill they popped when i heard the tone

[DjCeline]

Horrible!! my ears are in pain right now!!!

[Célinefull]

SHUT IT UP! People have been playing it in class from their phones for aaages at my school and it is the most annoying noise. Whoever thought that was a good idea is a moron.

[Macaronie]

I wonder what does it sound like. I don't hear a thing or is it just a DAM hoax!? LOL!

 

Let me know if you heard something, anything at all.

 

http://graphics.nytimes.com/packages/audio...10_RINGTONE.mp3

 

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

DUDE... my ears