Wiley :: 50 Fast Mac OS X Techniques

50 Fast Mac OS X Techniques

Joe Kissell

Chapter 5: Networking & Communication

In this chapter:: Technique 23. Communicating Wirelessly with Bluetooth; Technique 24. Sharing Files with Mac and Windows Computers; Technique 25. Keeping Out the Riff-Raff with a Firewall

Technique 23. Communicating Wirelessly with Bluetooth

Discuss This Technique • Report Errors

Bluetooth Adapters

Go to the Apple Store and click the Wireless link on the left under Accessories

Even Cooler Uses for Bluetooth

After the book went to press, some new software was released that makes Bluetooth vastly more powerful—if you have the right kind of phone. Salling Software’s new Sony Ericsson Clicker is a $9.95 shareware program that puts a new menu of commands on your Sony Ericsson Bluetooth-enabled T39m, R520m, T68, or T68i phone. This menu allows you to use the number keys (or mini joystick) on your phone to control nearly any activity on your Mac. Built-in commands include things like changing slides in a Keynote presentation, controlling iTunes (next/previous track, volume, etc.) or DVD Player, and taking screen shots. You can also use a “proximity sensor” feature to automatically perform commands when you move near to or away from your Mac.

Because any AppleScript command can be sent using your phone, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Apple and numerous third parties (listed on the Clicker Web site) have made scripts available to perform a wide variety of tasks using your phone as a remote control—things like checking your mail, running iSync, displaying your Mac’s IP address or uptime on your phone, and many more. If you have an X-10 home automation system, you can even use your phone to control your lights and appliances.

But it gets even better. Apple’s new version of System Events enables AppleScript to control any part of the user interface (menus, buttons, icons, etc.), even in applications that don’t support AppleScript. Since AppleScript can now do virtually anything a keyboard or mouse can do, the range of activities you can perform with your phone is nearly endless.