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Bluetooth - can it do anything cool?
- Thread starter El Fragil
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Nope. i found bluetooth to be all but useless. Wait thats a little harsh. Let me explain. If you attempt to use a Bluetooth headset with ichat for example the constant connecting and disconnecting of the bluetooth headset will eventually crash ichat or lock up the system. Theres no bluetooth printers so that leaves keyboards and mice and thats probably what bluetooth is best for.
Someday there will be another version of bluetooth and it'll be better Im sure.
Someday there will be another version of bluetooth and it'll be better Im sure.
Existing BT is fairly limited to devices and range, BT 2.0 will substantially improve that in both range & transfer speeds. Mice & keyboards are pretty much most of what can be accomplished reliably right now, along with some lightweight mobile phone file transfer.
I use a BT mouse, that's pretty much it. You can pair an iPhone with it, but can't do anything.
I use a BT mouse, that's pretty much it. You can pair an iPhone with it, but can't do anything.
To be honest, I find it very useful. I have a nokia phone and it requires the Nokia PC Suite to help you transfer your files to/from your phone/computer. It makes the job easier than to view it as a disk. Unfortunately, the Nokia PC Suite doesn't support Mac.
Instead, I use bluetooth. It's easier than the pc suite actually. There you go, one example from me.
Instead, I use bluetooth. It's easier than the pc suite actually. There you go, one example from me.
It honestly depends on what you do. I for one find it extremely useful. Both my iMac and Macbook have bluetooth, and I use it to wirelessly transfer things to and from my phone. I find this really useful because, as with most software for phones, the software I'm supposed to use to transfer things to my phone is made for xp and vista only, so this is a nice wireless way around. Also I game alot, and for anyone that games with other people, you're pretty much gonna need a head set, well what better headset than a wireless bluetooth one? I have a bluetooth set for my phone that easily hooks up to my computers and can be used with programs such as Teamspeak (Teamspeex beta for macs) and Ventrilo. I guess there aren't a whole array of things you can do with it, but the few things I do use it for, I use a lot.
using it with a BT mouse or keyboard is a good idea, so you waste no USB port. (though I have a notebook stand with 4 integrated powered USB ports, and I am using a wired keyboard when the MB is in its stand. so I could use an older keyboard and didn't hat to purchase a new BT one and still have enough ports left.)
I sometimes connect my Palm Treo smartphone to my MacBook, to get data/pictures over to the MacBook. Of course, I just could use the sync cable, but sometimes it's just not sitting next to you or you don't have a cable with you at all.
Another situation BT got useful: me and my sister were with our MacBooks at some friends house. We couldn't get the WLAN working there and no one had a memory stick. But we had to exchange some files. So we just paired our Macbooks and could send the needed files through the air.
These are rare situations, but why not use something that's built in anyway?
I sometimes connect my Palm Treo smartphone to my MacBook, to get data/pictures over to the MacBook. Of course, I just could use the sync cable, but sometimes it's just not sitting next to you or you don't have a cable with you at all.
Another situation BT got useful: me and my sister were with our MacBooks at some friends house. We couldn't get the WLAN working there and no one had a memory stick. But we had to exchange some files. So we just paired our Macbooks and could send the needed files through the air.
These are rare situations, but why not use something that's built in anyway?
This. I installed the Samsung PC Suite on my VMare, but... Eh. It's just easier to throw files across with bluetooth, rather than fiddling around with the phone software.
there is a program, called proximity i believe, that whenever you walk near your computer your computer picks up the bluetooth on your phone and will wake your computer, and when you walk away it will put your computer to sleep, or turn your screen off.
I use it with my Wireless Mighty Mouse. When I had a Motorola RAZR I could do file transfers over it (same with my HP PDA). It would be nice if my iPhone could... 
Funny thing, the phone which software I couldn't use on mac that I have just happens to be a Nokia
How are you doing this? What software that is, I would like to be able to do this as well.
You can use the bluetooth to connect to a wii remote and control your mouse. It's even better if you get a Nyko sensor bar, because then you just stick it to the top of your screen and you can point and click.
Just done through OSX (mac is awesome!)
Pair with your phone, then choose fax as PDF in the print screen. Works with most newer bluetooth enabled phones.
Sure! First you have to set your bluetooth headset to viewable or whatever it may be called, just look it up in your owners manual. Then go to system preferences>Bluetooth on your computer. In settings check the "Show Bluetooth status in the menu bar" box ( this is just helpful to get to it easier when adding/changing devices. Also check Discoverable. Then click the device tab, and click "Set up new device..." and you should be taken through several steps that will eventually have your blue tooth set working through your computer!
Feel to send me a message or anything if you have any problems with it
Feel to send me a message or anything if you have any problems with it
I have only ever used it for when i sync my Moto KRZR with Address Book. It works quite nicely though. Beyond that, everything is wired for me
I just got my MacBook with bluetooth. My old iBook didn't have it. I can get the MacBook to recognize my phone. What can I do with it? Anything worthwhile?
I use mine to operate our washing machine, tell it to start/stop and change program. I can also make it change the temp on the air-conditioner, though I have to be in the other room for it to work!
I just discovered our Toshiba fridge freezer has bluetooth too. Anyone know what it might be for? It seems to do everything automatically.. I can't for the life of me think what it's there for!!!
I wonder is there a IR application, so I can use the MBP for it..
Our lights have IR remotes.. Technology in Japan is Cool!
I use the Hewlett-Packard bluetooth dongle on my Photosmart D7360 printer. Prints flawlessly from any of my macs