Filed under: Tips and tricks, Bluetooth, Mac 101
Mac 101: Bluetooth basics
Leopard's Bluetooth feature is one of those things that's easy to forget about until you need it, then you're glad you have it. Let's take a look at some ways to get the most out of this under-utilized tool.In order to use your Mac with another Bluetooth gadget like a mobile phone or headset, you'll need to pair it with that specific device. Locate the Bluetooth settings under System Preferences and turn the Bluetooth power on. Then also check the box marked "Discoverable." This will allow other devices in range to see your Mac.
Make sure the device you want to pair with the Mac is powered on and also discoverable (check the owner's manual for specifics on how to manage the Bluetooth settings on your mobile phone or headset). Next, click the Bluetooth icon found near your clock on the toolbar at the top of your screen and select "Set Up Bluetooth Device." Follow the Mac's onscreen steps that explain how to add the eight-digit passcode that will allow your two devices to talk to each other.
Once you've established a connection between your Mac and another gadget, your computer stores the info until you delete it -- there's no need to add a new passcode each time. When you're done using a Bluetooth device with your Mac, be sure to uncheck the "Discoverable" option to prevent anyone else from pairing a device with your computer. When you're ready to re-pair a device, just click on the Bluetooth icon, and select the gadget from the dropdown list.
One last thing: If you're not using Bluetooth on your laptop, make sure it's turned off to preserve battery life.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian said 4:08PM on 9-02-2008
When they open up the bluetooth stack on the iPhone then this will become very useful.
I do listen to iTunes via bluetooth headset which works very well.
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Grant said 5:41PM on 9-02-2008
Is there evidence that they are going to do that? How about for the iPod Touch? I would love it if I could sync my iPod without using any wires...
WS said 4:20PM on 9-02-2008
"If you're not using Bluetooth on your laptop, make sure it's turned off to preserve battery life."
I've always heard this to be the case. Does anyone actually have any data to support this claim? How much power does BT actually draw?
Just curious...
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rafaelc378 said 5:24PM on 9-02-2008
I'm not sure, but considering it's a transmitter and receiver, it does draw power.
As a little test, I had my MacBook with a wireless mouse, 3G USB Modem & 3 External HD's attached and removed the A/C plug. Battery life was initially calculated to be 3hr 10min. I turned on the Bluetooth in System Prefs and after a few moments the Battery life dropped to 2hr 46min remaining.
John said 4:34PM on 9-02-2008
One correction:
You should always leave Discoverable unchecked on the computer unless you are seeking the computer from another device. Then uncheck Discoverable on the computer once it's paired.
When seeking and pairing peripherals like mice, keyboards and headsets FROM the computer, Discoverable should remain unchecked.
Save yourself some battery drain and a potential security risk by making sure Discoverable is unchecked unless you're actively seeking the computer.
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adisor19 said 5:27PM on 9-02-2008
Bah, Bt is a b0rked as ever even in 10.5.4 and they don't look like they'll fix it soon :
1) Scrolling through the list of already paired devices is jerky with pauses of a few seconds. This is 100% reproducible.
2) This is probably a CSR chip firmware glitch, but I'll mention it none the less : on a second gen MBP 2.1Ghz, when listening to A2DP audio, cracks and pops will eventually make their way in ruining the whole experience.
Adi
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BuiltByBen said 5:47PM on 9-02-2008
Bring back Bluetooth and address book pairing to allow me to send and recieve texts via my mac with my phone in my bag like I could in tiger. While apple are doing that they can add iPhone support to it as well
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Nic said 6:11PM on 9-02-2008
I have a Blackberry Pearl phone. I send pictures I take with my phone to my computer and the Bluetooth pairing is not the only needed action here. You must also click on the "Sharing" icon in the System Preferences and turn on Bluetooth Sharing. Otherwise you will not be able to send files to your Mac even after you have paired the two devices. When researching this issue initially I read a comment that this additional Bluetooth Sharing is only a stipulation in Leopard - it did not exist in Tiger.
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lanejasper69 said 9:40PM on 9-02-2008
Yes, they ned to have A2DP support in iPhone for Chrissakes!!!! Blackberry and Palm have had it for awhile now (Palm's is via software, but works flawlessly for me on my Centro, I stream music from it through my Sony Xplod-MX2XXX and it actually sounds AWESOME, there are settings for quality like 320, 160, and 64k and I'm amazed at the quality, almost CD-like. iPhone really should have this, touch too...c'mon Apple...or is it a sofware fix? I dunno personally, but if so, bring on a 3rd part app to allow it!!!!
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William said 10:39PM on 9-02-2008
Is it just me, or is it ironic that while you can sync, transfer files, and tether via Bluetooth with Windows Mobile and BlackBerry phones, you cannot do it with the iPhone?
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iMatt said 1:30AM on 9-03-2008
not ironic. just shitty.
...and I agree: bring back the Address book/BT functionality. That's one (albeit small) downside to Leopard.
Jon said 2:56AM on 9-03-2008
Bluetooth interferes with wifi on my intel iMac, making it unusable. In fact, if there are any bluetooth devices nearby then I get trouble.
Im less than impressed.
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Calvin said 4:22AM on 9-03-2008
I have had endless problems with Bluetooth on my MacBook. I bought one of the first MacBooks and the behavior has been the same with Tiger and Leopard.
Very often the Bluetooth hardware will cease to exist! Restarts, PRAM resets, I've tried everything and nothing works until the Bluetooth device decides it's had enough hide-and-seek and come back to life. Logic board has been replaced and still nothing.
I'd like to know whether anyone with one of the newest MacBooks has had any similar problems.
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jlau said 11:46PM on 9-03-2008
The iMac bluetooth is put on discoverable for awhile and turned it off after reading this. Want to know how to see if people use the bluetooth on the iMac. When looking at the advance part of the bluetooth preference, the part that say to let another use the Internet with bluetooth, there is a serial port call bluetooth PDA sync. Is it a built in serial port on the iMac? Should it be remove? Thanks.
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david bivins said 11:32AM on 9-21-2008
I am new to apple imac G5 and in the specs it says
it has Airport extreme ready based on 802.11g specification IEEE 11b wi fi certified)4:and all this is greek to me I know it has something to do with wireless. And i have no desire to go wireless. can you tell me do i need bluetooth at all. and what is a Bluetooth module what is its purpose?
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