bluetooth
Fix
2:30PM Angus Kidman | Trying to use Bluetooth to pair a device like a headset or keyboard, but keep being asked for an unknown four-digit passcode? Long experience suggests that it’s very likely to be 0000, 1234 or (a tad more rarely) 9999.
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The Bluetooth Passcodes You’ll (Nearly) Always Need
2:30PM Angus Kidman | Trying to use Bluetooth to pair a device like a headset or keyboard, but keep being asked for an unknown four-digit passcode? Long experience suggests that it’s very likely to be 0000, 1234 or (a tad more rarely) 9999.
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Work
Blueman 1.0 Brings Better Bluetooth To Linux
1:00AM Kevin Purdy | Linux only: Blueman, the Bluetooth manager for many Linux desktops, has update to provide a friendlier, easier means of connecting your phones, earpieces, and even 3G-connected devices to your system. The basic functionality of Blueman remains the same, with file swapping, audio connections, and input devices like mice and keyboards all managed from a system tray icon. But the menus and spelled-out options have improved considerably, as detailed at Blueman’s screenshot gallery, and a good number of bug fixes are thrown in, naturally. Ubuntu users can add Blueman’s PPA repository to their sources lists and update to get the 1.0 download; other distributions shouldn’t have too much trouble with the source package. Blueman is a free download for Linux systems only. Note: Screenshot from Blueman page; I got my Verizon VX8300 hooked up with Blueman, but it’s too restricted and wonky to offer any fancy details. Blueman Project More »
Fix
Run Quake 3 On Your Nokia Phone
3:00PM Angus Kidman | Decoder details how you can go about installing classing first-person shooter Quake 3 Arena on your Nokia phone (supported models include the N82, the E80 and 8Gb versions of the N95). The installation process sounds fiddly, and the lack of sufficient input mechanisms on the phones themselves means you need to use a Bluetooth keyboard to actually play, but the post still sums it up pretty well: “Who would have thought that a game that I shelled out hundreds of dollars for a graphics card to run it on back in the day, would be ported to a mobile phone with full multiplayer, keyboard and mouse support?” Play Quake 3 Arena on Nokia N95 8GB, N82 & E90 [Decoder] More »
Communicate
10:30AM Angus Kidman | Microsoft’s Azure cloud version of Windows may only just be out the door, but it already seems to be attracting application developers. First cab off the rank is social networking application Bluehoo, which lets you connect up to other mobile phone users with Bluetooth connections. Admittedly it sounds a bit like the fake ‘toothing’ craze from a few years ago, but it’s a good example of network-dependent development. We haven’t yet given it the run-through, so if you’ve got experience to share, let’s hear it in the comments.
Bluehoo [via Windows Mobile Team Blog]
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First Azure App Links Bluetooth, Social Networking
10:30AM Angus Kidman | Microsoft’s Azure cloud version of Windows may only just be out the door, but it already seems to be attracting application developers. First cab off the rank is social networking application Bluehoo, which lets you connect up to other mobile phone users with Bluetooth connections. Admittedly it sounds a bit like the fake ‘toothing’ craze from a few years ago, but it’s a good example of network-dependent development. We haven’t yet given it the run-through, so if you’ve got experience to share, let’s hear it in the comments.
Bluehoo [via Windows Mobile Team Blog]
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BtProx Locks Your Workstation with Your Cell Phone
6:15PM Adam Pash | Windows only: Free, open source application BtProx locks your Windows computer whenever your cell phone or other Bluetooth device is out of range. Similar to previously mentioned Blue Lock, BtProx includes a more advanced feature set, allowing you to set a timeout before it locks your PC and run a program when your device is out of range. I had trouble using it with my iPhone, so if you give it a go, let’s hear how it works for you in the comments. Again, it’s still not as cool or impressive as the Mac alternatives, but it seems to be taking things in the right direction. BtProx is free, Windows only. BtProx [SourceForge] More »Use a Bluetooth Phone to Lock/Unlock Ubuntu
1:10AM Kevin Purdy | An intrepid user at the Ubuntu Forums has detailed the installation and setup of BlueProximity, a free Linux app that turns a Bluetooth phone into a proximity-based security device for your computer. Yes, that’s exactly how it sounds: Your laptop locks itself down when you step a certain distance away, and opens again once you’re in range. Certainly useful in coffee shop and book store situations, but not a bad idea in a house with curious little fingers around, either. This kind of measure is more utility than security device, and the instructions require serious attention (forgetting to undo one step could hose your system), but it’s a nice privacy feature and seriously cool tweak at the same time. Howto: Use BlueProximity and your cellphone for security [Ubuntu Forums] More »
