Make your Mac a Bluetooth Zombie
If like me, you are still in the throes of playing with the possibilites of your bluetooth phone, you may be interested in controlling your Mac in new ways.
There are a number of tools out there for turning your bluetooth phone into a control device. The upside to this method is that it's entirely free. The downside is this method works only for the following SE Bluetooth phones Z800, S700, K700 and K750i.
When I first got my k750i, I discovered there was a remote control feature for any paired bluetooth device. While this works in principle it wasn't working 100% with iTunes , DVD Player and Keynote, the three apps I would consider using with a remote control. Easy to fix that though.
A quick trip to the Sony Ericsson website uncovered a tool for mapping keyboard shortcuts to the phone keypad.
1.Download the Sony Ericcson Bluetooth Remote Control Tool from http://developer.sonyericsson.com/site/global/docstools/misc/p_misc.jsp
2.Open up the keyboard shortcuts window for the app of your choice
3.Fill in the required panels with the appropriate shortcuts
4.Save the keypad shortcuts file as something like iTunes.hid
The Bluetooth HID (Human Interface Device) profile is built on the USB (Universal Serial Bus) HID standard. Bluetooth mouse devices, keyboards and other devices for computer remote control can be developed using this standard.
5.Transfer it using Bluetooth File Exchange to the phone. You will be asked to accept it and if you now want to use it .
6.If you want to tweak it further you can extract the PNG file used as the remote control faceplate and tweak it to something more Mac like.
I made up a few examples hid files for iTunes, DVD player and Keynote with some appropriate faceplates. You can tweak the buttons or make new png faceplates if you like the buttons in a different configuration. These have only been tested with 10.4.1 but work without a hitch.
http://www.afterglow.ie/downloads/BluetoothSets.zip
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Excellent tip, can´t wait to play with it later:)
But as a fellow k750i owner, have you the same problem using the usb cable (mostly for charging and quciker iphoto importing) that when one unplugs the damn thing it always sends the mac into kernel failure and it has to reboot? (100% of the time) I am at a loss to what the heck thats doing this, just waiting for an update on Tiger I guess.
i downloaded a package
i downloaded a package called phone graabber and it seemed to clear this problem. I'm not at my own computer just now so i can't recall where I got it . try a search in google " k750i phone grabber" cheers
baz
My Remote
For my remote control needs I use my Palm Tungsten T5 and a nice little program I picked up called Salling Clicker. It's fun to see the exression on people's faces when they're using my laptop and all of a sudden the music starts playing, or the mouse starts moving. It also works very well with powerpoint (or keynote). It's also expandable with applescript plugins. Check it out!
http://homepage.mac.com/jonassalling/Shareware/Clicker/
- JoshuaTree
Yep, kernel panics all round
Yep, kernel panics all round when I unplug the usb cable, even if the phone has been ejected first.
www.afterglow.ie
I didn't know you could
I didn't know you could customize the built-in controller on these phones (got the K700 myself), awesome tip! I also used Salling Clicker for a while (and back when I used a T68i), but its more of a hassle. Connecting to the phone from a menu, and then having the battery dried in a matter of minutes because it keeps the link. With the built-in software I guess while I'm on the sofa, I can just turn on BT on the phone, pause the movie, and then turn BT off again, for instance.
I've got one word for it!!!
AWSOME!!!!!!
I tried it out on my K750i and just had one word for it.. WOW..
Nice remote for my DVD and Itunes..
Love it!!
More things like this afterglow =)
Actually Jonas Salling made
Actually Jonas Salling made some easy-to-install Mac plugins for the K750i remote that I use and are glad with. They work as intended and there was not hassle installing them using Bluetooth with my Powerbook.
My question when it comes to the K750i is this though: How do I use the Sony Ericsson Update Service? When I go to their support site I am told that I need to have the PC Suite installed, run Windows, be on an Intel Pentium processor and use the USB cable. Why all that? Why not just make a webapp, or java webstart app, that works with Bluetooth? USB is way too much trouble for me.
Hmmm Might be my next Purchase..
Hi ,
Keep this up mate and it might be my next purchase.
Does anyone recommend a phone for use with a Powerbook??
EMAIL:BUCKLEYPETER@GMAIL.COM
Remote not working
Can't seem to get my 750i and remote control to work with my Powerbook 10.4.2 using iTunes or DVD. Downloaded the HID's from the previous link about but to no avail! 750i connects to my computer ok but then fails when "Connecting remote control". Maybe I'm just stoopid... any ideas?
same problem
Hi Flant!
Just got my 750i - now i want to use it as remote control with my powerbook.
Trying this, i get the same failure message as you.
Did you get a solution with it?
Thanks,
andchore
Why additional software?
When i pair the 750i i get a check box saying "remote" and i checked it but cant seem to find any thing on my powerbook or on my 750i that indicates how to controll my mac?
Shouldn't it be supported by mac already?
Mfg ecaps81
Kernal Panics no more
If you have those kernel panics when you unplug your SonyEricsson phone, check out "K750iGrabber" at http://www-users.kawo2.rwth-aachen.de/~razzfazz/k750igrabber/
It helped here - no more panics :-)
this works great
Is there a way to make the phone like an iPod. I mean can i sync a playlist in iTunes to the K750i?
I downloaded and installed
I downloaded and installed the sets supplied and can get the app to run but only up until I have to identifiy my keyboard, on the powerbook.
I press the key that it asks for but get a "cannot recognise your keyboard" message!
I have a 17" pbook.
For those having trouble getting their K750 to talk to their Mac
It is easy when you know how!!
Go to System Preferences -> Bluetooth
Now select the Devices tab, if your phone is already paired and bluetooth is on for both devices then you should see it in the list, select it and then click on Configure. It will now query the phone for the services that are available and present a list of 3 options. I unchecked the first 2 and just left "Use device as a remote control for this computer" checked, now click Continue and your Mac will be setup to enable remote control from your phone.
I am trialing it on my 17" Powerbook with the intent of setting it up for my Mac Mini that is running my entertainment system. :)
BTW, afterglow, your iTunes HID is really helpful thanks!! It could benefit from key mappings for TAB and Return though, then you can really navigate around iTunes!
HELP!! PLEASE
hello i recently purchased the K750i and i gotten my remote to work for the standard mouse. ( havent found out how to do key board either) well i was wondering how to put itunes on to my phone so i can control itunes using bluetooth. if you can help me i would be very thankful. email me at thanks PS:i tried to do it step by step but i have no clue what im doing. im not sure if i need the bt controler since i can already control the mouse. im connected to windows with a bt dongle. soo any help would be appreiciated.
Not worried about remote just want music on my K750i
I want to download music from my imac (OS10.3.9), do i need to get hold of some sort of software to convert music to MP3 format? I've heard itunes will only work with ipod. Any quick and easy suggestions?
Bummer!
So this feature can't work with ANY Bluetooth enabled phone, such as say...the Palm's Treo 650? Too bad. I love my Smartphone. Thanks for the tip though.
Suzanne Maestri-Walters :: Graphic Designer