How do you use bluetooth?

[walkerIV]

Hello all,

reading about ibook it seems that often people recommend getting one with a bluetooth module. Personally I can't thing of any use for it of the top of my head.
What do you use yours for?

[PowerMacMan]

I use it for my Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse :)

[OldManJimbo]

Connecting telephone and Mac

[jimjiminyjim]

Bluetooth is one of those things where if you invest a little, you should invest a lot. There's no use for bluetooth module if you don't have bluetooth something else. Bluetooth replaces wires - not for power - but for input. You can get bluetooth printers and bluetooth mice and keyboard. Beyond that there isn't much that is very well publicized.

[PlaceofDis]

I use it for my Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse :)

same here, and if i had a bluetooth phone i would use it for that as well

[1rottenapple]

I bought my ibook with it, but ironically, I am still using my imac's mouse. Too broke :)

[Counterfit]

I use it to connect with my T68i. I'm currently waiting on MacMice's bluetooth TheMouse. And they're only waiting for the modules to stick inside, as there's a rather large waiting list for those little buggers.

[oreo]

I use bluetooth for my mouse & when I get it my keyboard. It's excellent, not having all those wires everywhere

[dogbyte_13]

I use it to upload files to my T608 phone also i could use it as a modem but my cell provider would cut off my unlimited net access and i could probably crash the network since they really dont have a good one in place. :D

[whooleytoo]

Hello all,

reading about ibook it seems that often people recommend getting one with a bluetooth module. Personally I can't thing of any use for it of the top of my head.
What do you use yours for?

Mostly with my phone:

- To transfer pictures taken with the built-in camera from the phone.
- To transfer pictures & ringtones to the phone (a LOT cheaper than the download services)
- To install games and other software onto the phone.
- To send text (SMS) messages from the Mac, faster than using the phone's keys.
- To backup my contacts from my phone, in case the phone gets lost/damaged (Has already saved my bacon once).
- With Salling Clicker, as a remote control.

Of course, I'm also doing Bluetooth development, so I guess I kind of need it! ;)

[Studawg7]

Hello all,

reading about ibook it seems that often people recommend getting one with a bluetooth module. Personally I can't thing of any use for it of the top of my head.
What do you use yours for?

I use mine with my PDA, PC, iBook, and printer. It is true though that if you dont have bluetooth something else there really is no point unless you are just curious and want to play around with it.

[DJY]

Mostly with my phone:
- To send text (SMS) messages from the Mac, faster than using the phone's keys.


Bluetooth is on the Powerbook (new 17" with 10.3.3)
Bluetooth icon is on my phone...
but the Bluetooth icon in Address Book wasn't selected...(turned on in the Address Book)

Now it works!
Cheers

[iEric]

I use it for:

Apple Wireless Mouse
Microsoft Wireless BT Mouse
Motorola V600
Bluetooth Printer connection

I'll tell you why a Bluetooth printer connection is good if you're in range...Its cause it can print wirelessly to WINDOWS too! Not just a mac, like an AE base.

[ecche]

yes, for my keyboard, mouse and telephone. love it!

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I use it to synchronize data from iCal and Address Book onto my SE T68i with iSync.

It's great to have all my appointments at a glance on the phone, and it's much easier to manage calendars in iCal then directly on the phone (adding the odd appointment on the phone is ok, but I wouldn't manage the calendar on the phone, that's just to tidious). To have the entire Address Book on my phone is also great, as I can even lookup someones e-mail address even if i don't have access to my iBook...

[Kingsnapped]

I think it would be worth the investment to get built-in bluetoooth. You don't know what the future holds with it... much like WiFi cards of a few years back. Everybody who bought a computer and saved a couple bucks by keeping it tethered has to go out and get a USB adapte. For now, I only use bluetooth for my mouse, but I know when I get a new phone (and far in the future when I get a new digital camera) I'll be using it for a lot more data transfer. Personally, I'm not a fan of the huge stack of USB cables with silly connections on my desk.

[Danrose1977]

I use the apple wireless mouse with my iBook. It feels so good when someone says... "But how does it work?". I reply with bluetooth and I almost always get the response "but wheres you usb plugin thingy?". At some point it will become common place with everyone (as with wireless networking) but at the moment it has a real wow factor.

Also I personally think that no wires is good wires! :D

[encro]

Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop (Bluetooth Keyboard & Mouse Meal Deal)
Sony Ericsson T610 Mobile Phone
Salling Clicker

[encro]

While we are on the subject of Apple's Address Book ;)

I hope that Tiger will add the following:

SMS Templates and Long SMS's. EMS or MMS would be a great addition also.
Perhaps .mac should have an SMS Server to save on SMS costs?

[upperblue79]

I use it for:

Motorola V600

.

Does your Motorola V600 sync with your mac? I have the V400 and I purchased a usb cable to hook it up. My mac sees the phone when I look in the system profiler but that is it.

[Koodauw]

Does your Motorola V600 sync with your mac? I have the V400 and I purchased a usb cable to hook it up. My mac sees the phone when I look in the system profiler but that is it.

How is the v400 connected to a mac working for you? I would love to be able to buy the cable, and download my own ringtones, But I wasn't sure if it would work. Have you had much luck?

[jsw]

I think it would be worth the investment to get built-in bluetoooth.

Absolutely great advice. Your Mac will last for many years. BT costs $50. Good investment.

I use BT for:

keyboard
mouse
phone - synching
phone - SMS via Mac
phone - wireless modem
phone - data transfer
wireless headset (from phone, originally)

[upperblue79]

How is the v400 connected to a mac working for you? I would love to be able to buy the cable, and download my own ringtones, But I wasn't sure if it would work. Have you had much luck?

My v400 does not work, that is why I was asking if his v600 did. When I look in the system profiler it shows it as a usb device but it doesn't come up on the desktop or sync with my address book or anything, it is basically useless at this time. I'm hoping to see an update to correct that. I thought that since the v60 worked that this would too, but I was wrong :(

[hulugu]

I use Bluetooth for my wireless mouse and keyboard, and I use it with my SonyEricsson T610 and Salling Clicker. This is such a cool program, you can use the phone as a remote for iTunes, as a mouse, as a remote for Keynote or Powerpoint, etc. If you are playing music on iTunes, it mutes the song when your phone rings. I also use my phone as a modem when I'm out in the field and need a quick bit of data, so I dial into my account using the phone while it's sitting in my pocket.
Get it installed, its only 45.00 and you will find many interesting uses for it, you can get a phone w/ bluetooth later or a PDA, or even use it to connect it to other Macs or devices.
And having the dongle uses up a USB port and is yet another thing to have around.

[nicofthedarknes]

i use my blue tooth for my printer on my lap top.

[destroyboredom]

I would go for it. I use it to sync with my phone and bought sailing clicker. I plan on getting a headset soon, and my next printer will have it as well. It's almost one of those things you have to experience/have to understand/appreciate.

I've had it for a few months and just now linked it to my address book to send SMS...very cool. :cool:

[Euthyphro]

For those that use the bluetooh keyboard/mouse; can it be used with (toggle between) multiple machines (to replace previous serial connector switches)? That would be useful!

[MacFan26]

I'll be using it once I get a cell phone that has Bluetooth, otherwise I don't use it since my mouse is wireless USB, and my printer isn't Bluetooth either. Oh well, I think it will keep growing a user base though, maybe we can have a Bluetooth iPod one of these days :D (but only if it can work at the same speeds as Firewire!)

[Jalexster]

You'll want Wireless Firewire for the iPod (or FireWireless as I once heard it called).

Last time I heard, FireWireless was still in development, not sure if it still is.

[SPG]

I just bought the Sony Ericsson T610 (and got it for negative $125, woot! woot!) and am set up with T-mobile in the US. I'm pretty stoked on the phone itself, nice to set ring tones and photos to callers, but how much can I really do with bluetooth? I already got a USB bluetooth module and pulled photos and synched my address book...so now what? What are the really cutting edge uses for bluetooth? Caller ID on my laptop screen? Remote for my home stereo and TV/DVD (not just Salling Clicker to iTunes)? What else can I do? Can I take an MP3 and convert it to a ringtone?
Thanks to those in the know...I really want to get everything I can out of this phone.

[Abstract]

I don't know.

I don't even know why BT wireless mice and keyboards are better than the wireless mice and keyboards from 5 years ago. :o

[yinyang]

apple keyboard
macally mouse
siemens s55 mobile

they all work great and no wires!! :)

now wish i could get rid of all these usb cables to printer, scanner and iSub...! well i've got one cable to the hub, and need that airport express to rid myself of the 20m long ethernet cable!!

[mangophreek]

Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop (Bluetooth Keyboard & Mouse Meal Deal)

I thought that was PC only (according to the MS website). I'm buying the 17" powerbook for school and I have the USB explorer pro set for my iMac and was looking at the Explorer for Bluetooth but was disappointed.

So before I plunk down $120 Canadian for a mouse, it works with mac? I've been using the Intellimouse Explorer's since they first came out and I love them. But I'd go for an apple Bluetooth mouse over a corded one. Gotta wow everyone at University.

Edit: Forgot to say, I'm getting the Motorola V600 (unless I find a better/cheaper bluetooth phone) to use with the powerbook. Eventually I'll get a printer too, and mouse as I wrote above. I'll have to see about a keyboard after playing with the pbook for a while.

[dav]

I just bought the Sony Ericsson T610 (and got it for negative $125, woot! woot!) and am set up with T-mobile in the US. I'm pretty stoked on the phone itself, nice to set ring tones and photos to callers, but how much can I really do with bluetooth? I already got a USB bluetooth module and pulled photos and synched my address book...so now what? What are the really cutting edge uses for bluetooth? Caller ID on my laptop screen? Remote for my home stereo and TV/DVD (not just Salling Clicker to iTunes)? What else can I do? Can I take an MP3 and convert it to a ringtone?
Thanks to those in the know...I really want to get everything I can out of this phone.

Salling Clicker (http://homepage.mac.com/jonassalling/Shareware/Clicker/) lets you control iTunes and presentations from your phone. I use Bluetooth to get the pictures off my T610, sync address, calendar, tasks, put ringtones and pictures on the phone, and control applications.

[Converted2Truth]

What kinds of wireless headsets are people using for programs like SKYPE? Would the Plantronics M2500 work?

[nFinity]

Before you go buy any wired headset, be sure to take note of one of the smaller new feature additions in the Tiger feature list (http://www.apple.com/macosx/newfeatures/newfeatures.html)

"Bluetooth Headset Support
Use your Bluetooth headset as an input and output device, enabling hands-free audio conferences in iChat AV and more."

Some of the best sounding features in Tiger are those that didn't make the headlines.

[Nuc]

I was wondering if anyone used a remote presenter with a laser pointer that can be used for powerpoint presentations. I've been looking at the logitech (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2000,CONTENTID=4981) however I'm not sure if it works or not. Any suggestions??? Are there any other products that you might suggest.

Nuc

[Converted2Truth]

I was wondering if anyone used a remote presenter with a laser pointer that can be used for powerpoint presentations. I've been looking at the logitech (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2000,CONTENTID=4981) however I'm not sure if it works or not. Any suggestions??? Are there any other products that you might suggest.

Nuc
yeah, that doesn't work with the Mac. I've never seen Logitech make the mistake of failing to mention support for Mac. This is a windows only device. I'll do some researching and try to help you out.

As to the remark about tiger supporting bluetooth headsets: thanks for the heads up. I plan on upgrading. But i haven't decided on when just yet. I don't know if the newest version of skype is compatible with 10.4 and since i use it for a LAN phone, that's kinda important. :)

[Xeem]

Although I've only barely tested this on my dad's Powerbook and through online reading, iCal, Address Book, and file transfers work perfectly with my Nokia N-Gage QD through iSync. I only got the phone last week and I'll be ordering a Bluetooth module shortly.

[Eastend]

I use Apples Bluetooth keyboard and a wireless mouse, there are no wires in front of my display, that's why I got it, no wires in front of the display. Behind my display is wired hell, if there were anymore wires back there I could not see out the window. 8 port wired hub 3 external hard disk and a burner, airport with external antenna, speakers, 2 printers not to mention that there are 2 other computers next to this one all hooked in, by guess what, WIRES. Forgot the iPod is also hooked in by wires. Add to this almost everything has a power adapter, hey more wires. three 6 port extension cords (switchable) that run all around the desk. I gave up trying to hide the wires a long time ago, now they just hang to the back and a little left behind the display. Blue lines, white lines clear lines black lines cream colored lines, well as I said, wired hell. Bluetooth or anything meaning wireless is nice.

Brian

[Dreadnought]

Before you go buy any wired headset, be sure to take note of one of the smaller new feature additions in the Tiger feature list (http://www.apple.com/macosx/newfeatures/newfeatures.html)

"Bluetooth Headset Support
Use your Bluetooth headset as an input and output device, enabling hands-free audio conferences in iChat AV and more."

Some of the best sounding features in Tiger are those that didn't make the headlines.

I just gotten the M2500 from Plantronics (got it with my S700I), but I can't use it in 10.3.9. So Tiger supports it, but is there a program/plugin that supports it now?? Also, I have an old dual 1.8 with a build in bluetooth module. I read somewhere that there is bluetooth 1 and 2, I think I have 1, does this makes a difference with a headset? Is the datatransfer of 1 adequit for a headset?

[Converted2Truth]

You may need to appy the firmware update to the bluetooth module. I had to do this in order to use my M3000.

Go here (http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/bluetoothfirmwareupdater12.html)

[nbs2]

i use it to sync my phone and pb. i also keep the address book connected to it. i was wondering though - would it be possible to use my computer as the headset? i have the mic and speakers. as a weak second option, i could connect the headset to the pb - but that is only a little bit more useful than connecting it directly to the phone. anyway, anybody know of a way to connect them? i've been searching around the net for something, but all i get are suggestions on how to connect the headset for ichat purposes. i'm tempted to start a thread.... ;)

[treysmay]

do they work with multifunction printers too?
such as a printer scanner? :confused: