Apple Releases Bluetooth Software

mattvd writes "Keeping with thier promises from a few weeks ago, Apple has released thier Bluetooth software for MacOS X today. More info about the release is in the KnowledgeBase. Apple is also selling a D-Link USB Bluetooth Adapter."

Comments

Apple should Jump on Bluettoth!

[zulux]

When installed the new IMac looks like an octopuss. They would do well to ship bletooth keyboards and mice - if they can keep the battery requirements low.

So what *is* Apple thinking?

[droleary]

This topic came up on Slashdot's #MacOSX IRC channel the other day and we couldn't quite figure out what Apple was up to. Why Bluetooth and why now? The idea of cell phone or PDA sync'ing (or wireless keyboards and mice) isn't exactly new and it's not something that people are rushing out to adopt. Since Apple has already said they won't be doing PDAs any time soon, what "digital hub" technology do you think they have in the works that Bluetooth is the killer app for?

The one thing I thought would be potentially cool would be to get a wireless headset normally used for cell phones and have it be my main interface to Speakable Items, which I find myself using more and more under OS X. Anyone else care to speculate?

Re:So what *is* Apple thinking?

[SIGFPE]

Do you work in an office? If you do, how do your neighbours feel about Speakable Items? I've tried it once - too embarassing!

Re:So what *is* Apple thinking?

[droleary]

Do you work in an office? If you do, how do your neighbours feel about Speakable Items? I've tried it once - too embarassing!

Then you really shouldn't be saying things like, "Computer, download porn." Wait until you get home to do that kind of stuff. :-)

Seriously, I don't know what you're talking about. If you get strange looks for calling a computer a computer, use a different name. People in the next cube shouldn't be any more disturbed by you talking to the computer than they are with you talking on the phone. Having a Bluetooth headset would further blur the line between human interaction and computer interaction, especially if you could switch back and forth between the two.

"Steve, what time is it?"
"Nancy, can we set up a meeting with the Foo account creative lead for 3:30?"
"Steve, give me a weather report."
"Bill, what say we meet over dinner instead of golf?"

Re:So what *is* Apple thinking?

[shawnce]

Bluetooth would be a VERY slow hard drive interface.

Printers do make sense, as does keyboards, mice, and other low data rate devices... basically BlueTooth will replace IR based links and some USB links.

Re:So what *is* Apple thinking?

[Perdo]

Simple. Apple's hardware is all about style and cables are ugly. Bluetooth is the larval stage of a technology that will replace USB, Firewire, VGA, SCSI, PCI.

Imagine a bucket.

Toss a processor in the bucket.

Throw in some Storage, Video modual, Whatever moduals you can afford and think you need.

Turn on the inductance coil in the bottom of the bucket and your ad-hoc computer boots. All the busses are lightning fast wireless.

Need a cluster's power? Throw more processors in the bucket.

All that computer junk you accumulate would still be usefull just leave it in the bucket. The bucket could be a computer case, water fountain, monitor, grandfather clock, robotic chassis or for the freaks willing to give up their freedom, inide their own bodies.

Give it Ten years...

Hurrah for new standards!

[TwitchCHNO]

It's nice to see a company adopt new standards.

I am seeing alot of "But I don't have anything that uses bluetooth" posts.

The same comments were posted when apple introduced USB & ESPECIALLY Firewire.

The answer is: you will.

I don't know if apple will eventually integrate bluetooth into its products - it might. Apple has a history of adopting new standards & making them sucessful (USB/Fire Wire/ 802.11b). I don't know if they will adopt USB 2.0 before they release IEE 1394b - hopefully support for those standards will be along soon.

Re:Hurrah for new standards!

[sg3000]

> I don't know if apple will eventually integrate
> bluetooth into its products - it might.

As of late, Apple's been doing a good job about not just introducing technologies for its own sake, but when they have something definite in mind.

With the "old Apple", they'd introduce a bunch of technologies, let them sit in your Apple Extras folder where they would get old and stale, and then kind of go away (or have minimal usage). Think OpenDoc (Cyberdog was way too slow to be useful), IrDA, the Geoport (except for that sorry modem-like thing), and other stuff.

With the "new Apple", I can think of hardly anything that is introduced that doesn't pay back some short-term dividends. Apple bought SoundJam, and then came out with the cool iTunes. They starting sticking FireWire on their computer, and then quickly came out with the iPod. We get 802.11 capabilities, and they immediately come out with the AirPort base station and Mac OS X support. Well, maybe Sherlock's kind of dying, but I think on the whole Apple's doing a good job with this. That shows some improved discipline for introducing new products, and it's a good sign of strong leadership in product management.

The fact that Apple recently added support for BlueTooth probably means that we can expect something cool, perhaps next year.

Re:Q for an owner

[Xenex]

"If I have a iMac connected to the internet full time, and I also have a iBook, could I use bluetooth to access the internet wirelessly from my iBook?"

No.

As mentioned on their Bluetooth page, Apple have said that Bluetooth is for wireless peripheral connection, and list it next to USB/FireWire. For wireless networking applications, such as what you're asking, Apple is AirPort/802.11b all the way.

So, basically, go buy two AirPort cards and wait for software Base Station support in OS X, or buy an AirPort Base Station. Once you've had a wireless notebook you'll never go back.

Re:Q for an owner

[yooniks]

Use gNAT on Mac OS X. It's the equivalent of the old Software Base Station:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/networking_s ecurity/gnat.html