A free means of controlling Bluetooth phones
Jul 24, '03 09:45:00AM
Contributed by: profet
In my quest to control Microsoft's PowerPoint from my T68i, I found Salling Clicker. It seemed like a great app which unfortunatly isn't freeware. I'm a poor college student, so I am always on the lookout for free software.
I looked on freshmeat and found this wonderful little app called Bluetooth Control Daemon. Currently this app lets one execute commands from the Bluetooth phone. After creating some quick AppleScripts, I can now use my T68i to control my PowerPoint presentations.
Getting it up and running requires a quick dip (like a toe) into the source and a little excursion into /dev. Here's how:
- Pair your phone with your Mac using the built-in software.
- Download and unpack the tar ball.
- Go into /dev (cd /dev) and find where OS X has stored the link to your phone. Mine was /dev/tty.Bluetooth-Modem.
- In the unpacked directory, open main.cpp with your favorite text editor. Search for #define BTDEV "/dev/tty.rfcomm0" and replace it with #define BTDEV "/dev/tty.step_3_answer". In my case, that would look like #define BTDEV "/dev/tty.Bluetooth-Modem.
- Copy btcontroldrc to ~/.btcontroldrc
- Edit ~/.btcontroldrc to your liking.
- Type make and pray for the best ... did I mention you need the Developer Tools?
- Now just run the new executable.
My T68i showed my computer Under Connections/Accessories, but YMMV...
[robg adds: I haven't tested this one...]
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