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Bluetooth
This section is incomplete!
Huge thanks to forum member Mflinn, who contributed greatly to this section. Also, thanks to forum member Uvarov for the Windows XP screenshots.
Both Mac OS X and Windows XP have support for connecting supported hardware and devices via Bluetooth. To quote Apple's Bluetooth page:
"Bluetooth® technology is a cutting-edge open specification that enables short-range wireless connections between desktop and notebook computers, handhelds, personal digital assistants, mobile phones, camera phones, printers, digital cameras, headsets, keyboards and even a computer mouse."
Initial Set-Up
Mac OS X
OS X lets you to plug in a Bluetooth adapter, then pair a Bluetooth device with it (if you don't have built-in Bluetooth). Pairing is accomplished using a wizard, or by simply clicking "Pair new device" on the Devices tab in the Bluetooth preference pane of System Preferences. It is also an option in the Bluetooth menu on the menu bar. These options only appear when an adapter is connected (or if Bluetooth is built-in).
OS X auto-senses computer name and computer type.
Send And Receive Profiles Supported:
Receive Only Profiles Supported:
Windows XP
Once a Bluetooth adapter is installed, XP adds a Bluetooth icon to the Notification Area. Pairing isn't required for a device to work; if you don't pair a device, you have to discover it each time you use it.
Windows XP's Bluetooth Wizard allows you to create a separate name for your computer, which may confuse novice users. However, XP will use the computer's name by default. The wizard also lets you select whether the computer is a laptop or a desktop; by default, it selects what your computer inherently is. This selection only changes the icon that is displayed on remote devices, not how it acts. For example, the icon shown on a cell phone when you connect to the computer will be that of a laptop or desktop.
Windows XP's Bluetooth control panel isn't easy to locate if using the categorized Control Panel view. XP adds the options to put Bluetooth controls on the Desktop, and in the system tray, Start Menu, or My Computer.
Send And Receive Profiles Supported:
- PIM Item Transfer
- File Transfer
- Network Access
- Dial-UP Networking
- Bluetooth Serial Port
- Fax
Receive Only Profiles Supported:
- Audio Gateway*
- Headset*
*Windows XP Tablet Edition supports headsets and audio gateways as server (Send) services available to other computers. Both Home and Professional editions of Windows XP support client request (Receive) from these profiles.
Hardware Configuration
| Bluetooth Keyboards | |
|---|---|
| Mac OS X | Added to the Keyboard and Mouse preference pane of System Preferences. Microsoft's Wireless Keyboard isn't officially supported in OS X (however, it works) |
| Windows XP | Added to the Keyboards control panel. Apple's Wireless Keyboard isn't supported in XP (however, it may or may not work) |
| Bluetooth Mice | |
| Mac OS X | Added to Keyboard and Mouse preference pane of System Preferences. Microsoft's Wireless Mouse isn't officially supported in OS X (however, it works) |
| Windows XP | Added to Mouse control panel. Apple's Wireless Mouse isn't supported in XP (however it might work) |
| Bluetooth headsets (Both input and output if supported by device): | |
| Mac OS X | Added to Sound preference pane of System Preferences |
| Windows XP | Added to Sound & Audio control panel |
| Network Connections | |
| Mac OS X | A new network port becomes available when you plug in a Bluetooth cell phone or access point. You can configure it in Network Preferences |
| Windows XP | Bluetooth Network Adapter is added to My Network Places for configuration of network settings (if the proper services are enabled from the Bluetooth control panel) |
| Printing | |
| Mac OS X | Configure printing from Printer Setup Utility (scan for Bluetooth devices right from the Print dialog) |
| Windows XP | Print to Bluetooth printers by setting them up as you would other printers (through the Printers and Faxes control panel). There is a link to this in the task pane of My Bluetooth Places |
| Faxing | |
| Mac OS X | Faxes can be configured from either the Faxing tab of Print & Fax preferences, or from the Print/Fax dialog |
| Windows XP | Configure faxing from the Printers and Faxes control panel. There is a link to this in the task pane of My Bluetooth Places |
Windows XP goes a bit further by adding a place for Bluetooth devices to "mount," called "My Bluetooth Places." XP also allows users to configure services for devices you don't currently have. Finally, you can control what sort of devices can be connected to the computer — a great security feature.
OS X only allows you to configure devices that are currently connected.
Both OS X and Windows XP can be set to Discoverable, Require Encryption, and Require Authentication. Windows XP can be set to automatically check for new devices at specified intervals.
Supported Devices
Both OS X and XP support most common Bluetooth devices.
| Cell Phones (Fax Service, Dial-UP, Network Access) | |
|---|---|
| Mac OS X | Yes |
| Windows XP | Support for non-conforming (first generation) phones is limited on Windows XP, and may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, this is generally a non-issue, since modern phones won't be subjected to these limitations. |
| Printers | |
| Mac OS X | Yes |
| Windows XP | Yes |
| Cameras | |
| Mac OS X | Apple's iPhoto doesn't officially support camera connections through Bluetooth |
| Windows XP | Yes |
| Scanners | |
| Mac OS X | Apple's iPhoto doesn't officially support scanner connections through Bluetooth |
| Windows XP | Yes |
| Computers/Laptops | |
| Mac OS X | Yes |
| Windows XP | Yes |
| Keyboards and Mice | |
| Mac OS X | Yes |
| Windows XP | Yes |
| PDAs (sync, PIM transfer, dial-up, etc.) | |
| Mac OS X | Yes |
| Windows XP | Yes |
| Pocket PC | |
| Mac OS X | Apple's iSync requires software from Markspace to get Pocket PC Sync via Bluetooth (it also supports sync via 802.11 and USB) |
| Windows XP | Supports transferring files to and from Pocket PC's Dial-Up Connections and Network Access. Limited PIM Transfer via IrMC is built in. However, it works best with ActiveSync. Email sync and advanced functions provided by ActiveSync are avilable via Bluetooth; however, users may experience errors |
| Palm OS | |
| Neither OS X nor Windows XP allow out of the box support for Palm OS. However, this is easily remedied by visiting Palmone.com | |
Sending Files
Mac OS X
This can be accomplished by selecting "Send File to Bluetooth Device..." from the Services Menu. You can also "Send This Card" in Address Book.
Power user tip: Entries added in /dev/ extends Bluetooth support to legacy Unix applications.
Windows XP
This can be accomplished via the File Transfer Agent in My Bluetooth Places. Alternatively, you can right-click the file(s) and choose Send to > Bluetooth > Specific device.
Cell Phones
Mac OS X
Bluetooth devices supported by iSync get individual icons in its toolbar, allowing for easy configuration. This results in one application capable of managing many phones.
Cell Phone Features
- Send SMS Messages to your contacts directly from Address Book or iChat
- Address Book adds Phone Dialing and Fax Dialing directly from contacts
- When you receive a phone call, a dialog appears showing the phone number (and the name of the user, if they're in your Address Book), and allows you add unknown callers to Address Book, reply with SMS, send to Voice Mail, or answer the call on your phone
- Log missed calls
- SMS message transcripts can be attached to the "Note" portion of the contact
- Synchronize your Address Book with your Bluetooth phone
- Use phone as remote control for computer
- Romeo (freeware)
- Salling Clicker (shareware). Has unique features like proximity screen locking with your Bluetooth device
Bluetooth calls are looked up in Address Book to acheive a "Caller ID" effect
Windows XP
Syncing on Windows XP generally requires that you download a separate program for each phone. You can set Windows XP up to sync phones, but Pocket PC phones (which require ActiveSync) work most consistently (see your individual phone manufactures for details on support). To do this, right click on the cell phone in My Bluetooth Places and select "Start IrMC Synchronization."
Cell Phone Features
SMS sending on Windows XP requires the free SMS Sender; however, this doesn't allow receiving of SMS messages (you'll have to pick up the phone to read them). MSN Messenger allows you to send and receive SMS messages, but not through Bluetooth.
Conclusion
Mac OS X
- Support for older Bluetooth cell phones
- SMS Send and Receive from Address Book
- Telephone services — send call to voice mail, log call, SMS reply
- iSync works with many Bluetooth phones
- Remote control your computer from Bluetooth phones
- No option to limit devices that can be attached to your computer
- No option to configure services for devices that you may connect later
Windows XP
- Option to limit the devices that can be attached to computer
- Configure Bluetooth services for devices that are not connected
- Intially, you have to wait up to 5 minutes for services to install before you can configure them
- No "one stop" syncing program for all your Bluetooth devices, although the services in Bluetooth Places allow you to sync
- Sending and receiving SMS messages with bluetooth-enabled phones requires downloading additional software
- No built-in options for Caller ID, answering the phone, sending to voice mail, or replying with an SMS message from the computer
- No built-in remote control of your computer from your cell phone
Mac OS X: 8
Windows XP: 7
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