Bluetooth Preview [Archive] - MacRumors Forums

G4scott

Apr 1, 2002, 06:33 PM

Isn't there an issue with bluetooth and 802.11b? Something where there wasn't enough channels in the 2.4ghz frequency, and bluetooth made airport slow to a crawl? Is this true or not? Or was that some older form of bluetooth? Just checking...

Anyways, the Apple bluetooth page still shows the download as unavailable. What's up with that?

I can see some great advantages with bluetooth, though. It says that you can do Mac 2 Mac connections. Maybe this is what Apple was waiting for to repalce the floppy! (CD's are fine, but there is a nice burn-failure rate). I know intel's had bluetooth out for a while, but i think that Apple was just waiting for it to catch on, just to make sure that they weren't going to use some crappy technology that doesn't catch on. That, or they just got it to work with the Mac. Anyways, i'm sure that they could make small, battery powered memory chips with built in bluetooth (you've seen how small the adapter is.) That would be cool. Just place the memory thing by your Mac, flip a switch that turns on the bluetooth, and use a password or something to get your data from the device. That would be cool. ANyways, gotta go.

Screamingbeaver

Apr 1, 2002, 06:41 PM

I don't know too much about Bluetooth, but I am excited about it. Did you see Jobs demo it in his Keynote? He had a Bluetooth enabled cell phone and connected to the internet from it, launched the Bluetooth software on his iBook and Bam! He was surfing the web truely wirelessly. Anywhere you can get a signal with you cell phone.

I though that was cool.

'Beaver

Pelorus

Apr 1, 2002, 06:44 PM

Originally posted by G4scott
Isn't there an issue with bluetooth and 802.11b? Something where there wasn't enough channels in the 2.4ghz frequency, and bluetooth made airport slow to a crawl? Is this true or not? Or was that some older form of bluetooth? Just checking...

Anyways, the Apple bluetooth page still shows the download as unavailable. What's up with that?

I snagged it from versiontracker.

Bluetooth and Airport can conflict but it's not likely to give you any great performance hit - AirPort is pretty slow anyway.

If performance is your thing then stick to wired connections.

clonenode

Apr 1, 2002, 08:57 PM

Have you seen the size of the USB Bluetooth adapter? It's tiny. Barely bigger than a USB connector. You have to expect Apple to build this right onto the motherboards of the next generation Macs. That will be very cool.

j763

Apr 1, 2002, 09:37 PM

i hope either the phone providers or apple will make a list of compatible phones...

arn

Apr 1, 2002, 09:42 PM

Originally posted by clonenode
Have you seen the size of the USB Bluetooth adapter? It's tiny. Barely bigger than a USB connector. You have to expect Apple to build this right onto the motherboards of the next generation Macs. That will be very cool.

I'm sure Apple will start building it in... in the future...

I would like them to make a pass-through bluetooth usb device though... plug it in to the usb port, and then plug your usb devices into the other end.

arn

Screamingbeaver

Apr 1, 2002, 09:43 PM

HEY j763, I agree with you. I've been waiting to upgrade. My cell contract just expired and now I'd like to get a phone with the best features including bluetooth.

There has gotta be a site somewhere that compares cell phones...

Screamingbeaver

Apr 1, 2002, 09:45 PM

Wow!, Nokia has five bluetooth enabled models...

http://www.nokia.com/bluetooth/

Hemingray

Apr 1, 2002, 10:49 PM

Originally posted by clonenode
Have you seen the size of the USB Bluetooth adapter? It's tiny. Barely bigger than a USB connector. You have to expect Apple to build this right onto the motherboards of the next generation Macs. That will be very cool.

I can see this going the way IRDA went...

Now, a bluetooth PCI card for my Newton... THAT would be cool. :cool:

gotohamish

Apr 2, 2002, 02:02 AM

Okay, forget about it if you have a Palm but... I have a UK Ericcson T39m with Bluetooth, and have had it for 6 months, and am very happy. However, soon I can use it with my Powerbook. So what?

I can already connect using IR, and I don't need a $50 adapter. It's not like I'm going to connect standing up, so I don't care if the phone's in my pocket or on the train table.

The other problems is... why? So can I transfer my numbers/calendar? WOW!?! Is that it?

please explain it to me...

h

Pelorus

Apr 2, 2002, 02:07 AM

Originally posted by gotohamish
I can already connect using IR, and I don't need a $50 adapter. It's not like I'm going to connect standing up, so I don't care if the phone's in my pocket or on the train table.

1. Some people might not have a powerbook, they may have iBooks

2. You'll see more bluetooth enabled devices in the future.

3. IrDA sucks. I got real tired real fast using it on both Powerbook, Newton and iMac. Bluetooth is a godsend.

Gelfin

Apr 2, 2002, 02:46 AM

By this summer, I'll be able to get a Bluetooth stub for my PowerBook, a Sony CLIE NR70V with a Bluetooth Memory Stick, and a Bluetooth-enabled phone on Sprint's 3G network. That'll be a sweet place to be when I'm out and about, and as long as I can yank all the Bluetooth stuff out whenever I'm on my AirPort network at home, it's all good.

One thing that does still concern me, aside from the 2.4GHz interference, is that in all the talk of how easy it is to pair with nearby devices, I haven't heard any indication of what's going to prevent the guy across the aisle from me on the bus from using my cell phone minutes to surf on his laptop.

gotohamish

Apr 2, 2002, 02:52 AM

I hear what you're saying about iBooks and no IR, but will Bluetooth be faster? using a cell to go online is cool, but VERY expensive, even on a local call.

Can you only use Bluetooth Memory Sticks on Clie's or can I put one in my cybershot camera and use iPhoto without cables?

h

Wry Cooter

Apr 2, 2002, 03:04 AM

Originally posted by j763
i hope either the phone providers or apple will make a list of compatible phones...

...because this site

http://www.bluetooth.com/

is one of the most worthless frigging sites I've ever seen.

And this site

http://www.bluetooth.org/

Is not going to let you in without a registration and a password. I guess the special interest of this SIG is for them to know and for you to find out.

Too Bad really. That just leaves Ericsson for info, and I don't think I want an Ericsson phone. I want an Handspring Treo.

Apple needs to make their own list of Bluetooth capable devices, because it seems no one else is going to.

Pelorus

Apr 2, 2002, 03:45 AM

Originally posted by gotohamish
I hear what you're saying about iBooks and no IR, but will Bluetooth be faster? using a cell to go online is cool, but VERY expensive, even on a local call.

Depends on the tariff you connect at and what services you are using. I've a funny feeling that Steve's demo used GPRS on a Bluetooth phone (available on quite a few models) as it was WAY faster than my Nokia and USB Palladio on OSx setup.

gotohamish

Apr 2, 2002, 04:09 AM

I hate to sound negative, but I can't help but think the site's Steve loaded were already in IE's cache, and thus we weren't really seeing a true representation.

OSX's Network pane says my Ericsson has a 28.8 modem, but I can only get it to connect on 14.4. However, on opening the Network pane I now have two bluetooth options, I'll have to try the little chip thing and see if it's faster.

Does anyone know any more about the Bluetooth Memory Sticks and their uses?

kemck

Apr 2, 2002, 06:52 AM

I have searched Sony and any other place I could think of...is the BlueTooth Memory Stick real or wishful thinking?

mithras

Apr 2, 2002, 07:30 AM

...but it's just a wee bit expensive:

PalmInfoCenter (http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=3250) says it's just becoming available, for $212. (!)

Besides, you have to remove any memory sticks current plugged in, which kind of nullifies the point of quick, easy Hotsyncing.

mcrain

Apr 2, 2002, 10:01 AM

I only have two concerns about the bluetooth adapter.

1. They have to eventually build it into the newer computers. There is a very high liklihood that that little thing is going to get caught on something and break either the adapter or the usb port.

2. It looks like a hemmoroid.

Pelorus

Apr 2, 2002, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by mcrain

2. It looks like a hemmoroid.

See a doctor. Seriously.

delta.hex

Apr 2, 2002, 12:21 PM

Does someone know about the networking potential of bluetooth and os x?

I saw the demonstration of steve where he connects wirelessely to the internet via a cell phone. Is it possible, lets say, to connect to the net from my iBook using my G4 DSL connection and bluetooth? I would be surprised because it could cannibalize airport sales, but i think it is technically possible.

Gelfin

Apr 2, 2002, 12:40 PM

Originally posted by mithras
...but it's just a wee bit expensive:

PalmInfoCenter (http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=3250) says it's just becoming available, for $212. (!)

Yow. I remember seeing earlier statements (from Sony) that it was going to sell in the $99-129 range. Of course, the thing was delayed more than a year after they announced it. I guess it was a little tougher than they thought to make the thing. From what I was reading, the announcement that they were finally going to be available was totally overshadowed by the announcement of the U.S. release of the NR series CLIEs, which happened at the same time.

Besides, you have to remove any memory sticks current plugged in, which kind of nullifies the point of quick, easy Hotsyncing.

No problem. PD4 isn't going to sync your memory stick anyway. I already have a separate stick reader.

WRT cameras, I'm quite sure current memory stick cameras won't support the Bluetooth stick, because an actual memory stick is their only source of storage. You won't be taking pictures and transferring them instantaneously to other devices. Furthermore, the camera would have to have some kind of firmware support for Bluetooth to start with before it would know what to do with the stick if you inserted it.

The only exception I can think of is, since the high-end MicroMV camcorder already has Bluetooth, and they do their recording to cassette instead of memory stick, I think it's at least possible that its low-end sibling (or perhaps a later revision) could make use of the Bluetooth stick. But I wouldn't count on it.

Gelfin

Apr 2, 2002, 12:44 PM

Originally posted by delta.hex
Does someone know about the networking potential of bluetooth and os x?

I saw the demonstration of steve where he connects wirelessely to the internet via a cell phone. Is it possible, lets say, to connect to the net from my iBook using my G4 DSL connection and bluetooth? I would be surprised because it could cannibalize airport sales, but i think it is technically possible.

If you weren't going to roam more than 30 feet (under best conditions) from your G4, why wouldn't you just surf from the G4? Bluetooth is too limited in range to hurt sales of AirPort.

delta.hex

Apr 2, 2002, 01:35 PM

Originally posted by Gelfin

If you weren't going to roam more than 30 feet (under best conditions) from your G4, why wouldn't you just surf from the G4? Bluetooth is too limited in range to hurt sales of AirPort.

If my someone else is using it and I want to check my email, for example.

Rower_CPU

Apr 2, 2002, 01:42 PM

Originally posted by Screamingbeaver
I don't know too much about Bluetooth, but I am excited about it. Did you see Jobs demo it in his Keynote? He had a Bluetooth enabled cell phone and connected to the internet from it, launched the Bluetooth software on his iBook and Bam! He was surfing the web truely wirelessly. Anywhere you can get a signal with you cell phone.

Where did you see the keynote? I've been anxiously wating for Apple to post it, but no dice...

500!!!:D

eyelikeart

Apr 2, 2002, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by Rower_CPU

Where did you see the keynote? I've been anxiously wating for Apple to post it, but no dice...

500!!!:D

congrats on 500!!!

I dig your avatar....funny thing....my first Flash attempt I created an awfully similar graphic just like what u have there...he he he :p

Rower_CPU

Apr 2, 2002, 02:08 PM

Thanks, eye!

Yeah, I've done some similar stuff in Flash too. I did this one in PS, using the shape tool for the nucleus and electron paths, and then animated the electrons by hand in ImageReady...

It's a smaller version of the one on my website, since I was too lazy to make something new...maybe in another few hundred posts I'll get around to it...

Gelfin

Apr 2, 2002, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by delta.hex

If my someone else is using it and I want to check my email, for example.

The point remains, however, that this is not providing you with the same level of functionality you get from AirPort networking. If situations like you describe are all you expect from it, then it probably wouldn't be worth the expense of AirPort anyway.

So I still don't see Bluetooth support eating into AirPort sales significantly. I do see Bluetooth giving basic wireless connectivity to people who otherwise wouldn't have it at all, and I see a lot of people having and using both because each is suited to its own range of tasks, even though there is some overlap.

Besides, the same argument could be made about Palm devices cutting into sales of laptops. Sure, they probably do a bit, because if there were no Palm devices, some people who absolutely NEEDED a mobile computer would be forced to buy a laptop. But there is still plenty of room in the market for both kinds of computer.

Pelorus

Apr 2, 2002, 02:39 PM

Originally posted by delta.hex
Is it possible, lets say, to connect to the net from my iBook using my G4 DSL connection and bluetooth? I would be surprised because it could cannibalize airport sales, but i think it is technically possible.

It's technically possible but you would have to hack an IP route by yourself. By default it won't work quite like this. Think of it as another network interface. If you give it an IP, sure you can route.

By default they include a file sharing app but it's not going to be a good subsititute for airport cards.

Mr. Anderson

Apr 2, 2002, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by Pelorus

By default they include a file sharing app but it's not going to be a good subsititute for airport cards.

Not only that, the data rate is much less than the AirPort and 802.11. Blue tooth is more like wireless USB.

Pelorus

Apr 2, 2002, 03:12 PM

Originally written by a mate

Since Dlinks Bluetooth USB adapter wont be here in Sweden until around 2 months from now (HATE THAT!), I still did d/l Apples bluetooth technical preview, and inserted an TDK Bluetooth USB Adapter.

Voila - it works!

The adapter can be found at:

http://www.tdksys.com/bluetooth/USB_adaptor/USB_adaptor.html

Immediately tested with an Ericsson R520m mobilephone, and after having to key in the PIN-.code both at Mac, and at the phone, they did connect. No problems

Wry Cooter

Apr 2, 2002, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by Rower_CPU

Where did you see the keynote? I've been anxiously wating for Apple to post it, but no dice...

500!!!:D

http://www.tokyodv.com/

may still have their footage, upper left menu. It wasn't official Apple Keynote Stream, just the home movie of a participant at MWTokyo.

So THATS the reason all these threads are peppered with inane chatter about avatars... people trying to boost their posting score so they can USE one. tsk tsk...

Rower_CPU

Apr 2, 2002, 04:19 PM

Originally posted by Wry Cooter

http://www.tokyodv.com/

may still have their footage, upper left menu. It wasn't official Apple Keynote Stream, just the home movie of a participant at MWTokyo.

So THATS the reason all these threads are peppered with inane chatter about avatars... people trying to boost their posting score so they can USE one. tsk tsk...

Thanks for the link!

I know we're a pretty childish bunch...but hey, I feel like I earned it...:)

j763

Apr 2, 2002, 09:42 PM

Originally posted by Screamingbeaver
Wow!, Nokia has five bluetooth enabled models...

http://www.nokia.com/bluetooth/

SonyEricsson has got some excellent bluetooth phones (in my opinion, way better than Nokia's). and you can enable any modern ericsson (t-series) with a little adapter thing, it's called an "HBH 10" or something I think... That's what I'm using with my phone (I've got a wireless bluetooth headset) and I'm just hoping that that will work all OK with the Dlink thingy and the apple s/w... If you've STILL got some spare cash after buying all your apple stuf ;) , I'd suggest that the T39 is probably the best way to go (BUILT IN bluetooth, tripleband network support, gprs, enhanced messaging service *drool*).

http://www.sonyericsson.com/T39/

sure, it's not a cheap phone, but it's the best out there :)

Wry Cooter

Apr 2, 2002, 11:00 PM

Originally posted by j763

SonyEricsson has got some excellent bluetooth phones (in my opinion, way better than Nokia's). and you can enable any modern ericsson (t-series) with a little adapter thing, it's called an "HBH 10" or something I think... That's what I'm using with my phone (I've got a wireless bluetooth headset) and I'm just hoping that that will work all OK with the Dlink thingy and the apple s/w... If you've STILL got some spare cash after buying all your apple stuf ;) , I'd suggest that the T39 is probably the best way to go (BUILT IN bluetooth, tripleband network support, gprs, enhanced messaging service *drool*).

http://www.sonyericsson.com/T39/

sure, it's not a cheap phone, but it's the best out there :)

Call me when one of the PalmOS phones has Bluetooth.

Gelfin

Apr 3, 2002, 12:40 PM

Originally posted by Wry Cooter

Call me when one of the PalmOS phones has Bluetooth.

I don't even get this. The whole point of Bluetooth is that I don't need to buy one of those godawful "convergence" phones (every one of which amounts to not-the-greatest phone plus not-the-greatest PDA, and too bulky to boot). Let me pick the phone and PDA I like, and as long as they can communicate via Bluetooth everything's peachy.

Wry Cooter

Apr 3, 2002, 03:29 PM

Originally posted by Gelfin

I don't even get this. The whole point of Bluetooth is that I don't need to buy one of those godawful "convergence" phones (every one of which amounts to not-the-greatest phone plus not-the-greatest PDA, and too bulky to boot). Let me pick the phone and PDA I like, and as long as they can communicate via Bluetooth everything's peachy.

You load your pockets the way you want to, I'll load mine the way I want to.

I want a PalmOS phone. The functionalities belong together... not in separate pockets. I want bluetooth, but I would want it in a Palm OS phone.

I'll save my other pocket for an iPod.

Sure its nice if you think bluetooth is going to let your phone and your PDA communicate seamlessly, but I doubt it would work the slightest bit as seamlessly as a PDA Phone.