Bluetooth... what for?

[NotFound]

Ok, I wasn't sure where to put this thread so, mods, please move if necessary.

I was looking over the specs of the macbook that I will be purchasing on Thursday and I saw that bluetooth will be included- but what for?

I know with my blackberry I can connect my bluetooth headset- but why would I use bluetooth with my notebook?

Can (why would) I connect a headset to my macbook?

Can (why would) I connect my blackberry to my macbook?

 

[psycoswimmer]

Ok, I wasn't sure where to put this thread so, mods, please move if necessary.

I was looking over the specs of the macbook that I will be purchasing on Thursday and I saw that bluetooth will be included- but what for?

I know with my blackberry I can connect my bluetooth headset- but why would I use bluetooth with my notebook?

Can (why would) I connect a headset to my macbook?

Can (why would) I connect my blackberry to my macbook?

There are a number of reasons bluetooth is good to have. You may not need or use any/all of them, but it's nice to have.

- Bluetooth Mice and Keyboards (think: Wireless Might Mouse) connect using bluetooth.

- You can use Apple's iSync to sync address books, calenders, etc. onto your Blackberry from the Mac.

I know there are more reasons but I'm drawing a blank and can't name any more. Someone else is sure to post some more stuff.

 

[Applespider]

Synching your phone is what I primarily use it for. I don't think the Bluetooth headsets are actually supported but I could be wrong.

It's also handy for sending SMS when the phone is on the other side of the room, getting pictures/files back and forth from phone to computer without having to hunt for cables.

I've used it as an emergency modem for the Mac too when I've been out and about. It's not v quick but if you need to get online, it will work.

 

[Chundles]

1. Syncing contacts and calendars to your supported phone.
2. Using wireless keyboards/mouses.
3. Transferring data from/to phone.
4. Using bluetooth phone as a modem for getting online.
5. Using your computer to send text messages to people from Address Book.
6. Using your supported phone as a full system remote control via Salling Clicker.
7. Using a wireless headset for Skype etc.


There are a lot of reasons.

 

[SBik2]

Ok, I wasn't sure where to put this thread so, mods, please move if necessary.

I was looking over the specs of the macbook that I will be purchasing on Thursday and I saw that bluetooth will be included- but what for?

I know with my blackberry I can connect my bluetooth headset- but why would I use bluetooth with my notebook?

Can (why would) I connect a headset to my macbook?

Can (why would) I connect my blackberry to my macbook?

i dont know about the headset but with all of my phones(sony ericsson,nokia,motorola) i was able to transfer files to and from my phone and macbook.. I can also synch my contacts with my phones with isync and address book.
I love the bluetooth functionality

 

[SBik2]

1. Syncing contacts and calendars to your supported phone.
2. Using wireless keyboards/mouses.
3. Transferring data from/to phone.
4. Using bluetooth phone as a modem for getting online.
5. Using your computer to send text messages to people from Address Book.
6. Using your supported phone as a full system remote control via Salling Clicker.
7. Using a wireless headset for Skype etc.


There are a lot of reasons.

i guess Chundles beat me by a second

 

[NotFound]

Thank you for the quick replies.

Would a bluetooth headset work with iChat AV?

 

[psycoswimmer]

Can you sync your phone with a bluetooth enabled Mac both ways? Like if I have pictures and contacts in my Razr, will it be able to be sent to the Mac?

 

[failsafe1]

Bluetooth to me is essential to me! I synch my phone with it. I have used several GSM phones and like to keep my phone and computer the same. I also use a bluetooth mouse and keyboard. My favorite feature is using my GSM phone as a bluetooth modem when I am overseas and here in the states where no other services are available. I have used this feature to keep web pages up to date and it works like a charm. It i slow but when there is not other service available it is the fastest game in town.

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

I love using bluetooth to send pictures I've taken on my w810 to my mac. It's so simple and convenient, no cables and pretty decently quick, I just start the transfer then forget about it.

 

[NotFound]

I love using bluetooth to send pictures I've taken on my w810 to my mac. It's so simple and convenient, no cables and pretty decently quick, I just start the transfer then forget about it.

Here lies my problem- my blackberry 8100c (pre-pearl) does not have a camera- and the bluetooth is crippled to only allow headsets, but I haven't tested it with a computer of any kind.


Stupid RIM/Cingular. I guess I am limited to iSync.

 

[Chundles]

Here lies my problem- my blackberry 8100c (pre-pearl) does not have a camera- and the bluetooth is crippled to only allow headsets, but I haven't tested it with a computer of any kind.


Stupid RIM/Cingular. I guess I am limited to iSync.

What do you mean "crippled" - the bluetooth module in the phone should support data transfer, if it doesn't work then there's something wrong with the phone.

 

[Applespider]

What do you mean "crippled" - the bluetooth module in the phone should support data transfer, if it doesn't work then there's something wrong with the phone.

Nah... several US carriers cripple their phone's firmware so that bluetooth data transfers don't work - on the grounds, presumably, that then you'll use their more expensive data services?

I recall trying to convince a US pal's Motorola to allow me to transfer something and giving up in utter disgust.

 

[Chundles]

Nah... several US carriers cripple their phone's firmware so that bluetooth data transfers don't work - on the grounds, presumably, that then you'll use their more expensive data services?

I recall trying to convince a US pal's Motorola to allow me to transfer something and giving up in utter disgust.

That's crazy! Why haven't they been marched out of town?

The specs and capabilities of the phones are published on the manufacturer's websites so if I were to buy a phone if it didn't offer the specs the manufacturer states then that phone would be going back and either a refund/proper phone would be demanded.

The US mobile market really is strange eh?

Another thing, they have to pay for calls received? That's crazy as well, there's no way in hell I'm paying for calls I don't make. March them out of Dodge I say.

Same thing over this whole "long-distance" pricing. It's a freaking mobile phone, that's the point. I pay the same amount no matter how far across the country I'm calling. That's why we have mobile phone numbers, they start with 04 so we know if we're calling a mobile or not. When I was living in Canada I bought a mobile phone in Vancouver but had to change the number when I moved to Lake Louise I had to change my number because if I didn't I would be charged a "long distance" rate even if I called someone in the same room. Now that is stupid. Just have a national mobile phone "area code" thingy and charge people the same rate to everywhere.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Just so everyone knows I believe the Blackberry software is now free for OSX

 

[skwij]

Bluetooth also works awesome for Syncing a Palm device via MissingSync.

Agreed, the crippling of phone SW here in Canada SUX LARGE. Even with a cable, and appropriate SW, I can't make my phone talk to my Mac. I can't even make it talk to my PC.

That just bites.

 

[dornoforpyros]

I dunno, I could live without blue tooth, I have a blue tooth logitech mouse and I'm not really happy with it. The tracking speed is horrible on it. I'm still trying to find a good BT mouse, but for some reason no one seems to be able to take a simple wireless RF mouse and stick a BT module into it.

I'd be thrilled if microsoft made this mouse with BT but they don't. Apparently BT means "add extra buttons and complicate the whole matter"

 

[GraceMolloy]

if you pair a headset to your mac iChat will get a little BlueTooth icon.

Works great.

 

[dwreck]

Nah... several US carriers cripple their phone's firmware so that bluetooth data transfers don't work - on the grounds, presumably, that then you'll use their more expensive data services?

I recall trying to convince a US pal's Motorola to allow me to transfer something and giving up in utter disgust.

Carriers cripple Bluetooth so that you aren't able to transfer ringtones, photos or mp3s from your computer to your phone...thus forcing you to buy these things from them.

There's ways around that though.

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

Phone carriers are terrible. They cripple all sorts of features on phones.

I recently ordered a z710 and just found out they locked it so mp3s cannot be used as ringtones. Oh well, there goes 10 bucks to fix that. (unbranding by reflash)

You can usually unlock the crippled features using firmware flashes I think, but I'm not sure if it exists for the blackberry. You could always check to see what people think on http://www.howardforums.com

 

[balamw]

Darwiinremote

Use your Wii remote with your BT equipped Mac.

http://homepage.mac.com/ianrickard/wiimote/

B

 

[rainydays]

Built in Bluetooth is one of the things I love with mac hardware. It works with a wide arrange of wireless equipment and you don't need any stupid dongles.

I personally use bluetooth for syncing calenders with the phone, wireless printing, keyboard and mouse, headset for skype, remote control with sallingclicker (very handy for recording sessions). So I just love that it's built in.
Sure WiFi is quicker than bluetooth but it also requires a lot more power so it's not that suitable for tiny mobile devices.