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:

  1. Pair your phone with your Mac using the built-in software.
  2. Download and unpack the tar ball.
  3. Go into /dev (cd /dev) and find where OS X has stored the link to your phone. Mine was /dev/tty.Bluetooth-Modem.
  4. 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.
  5. Copy btcontroldrc to ~/.btcontroldrc
  6. Edit ~/.btcontroldrc to your liking.
  7. Type make and pray for the best ... did I mention you need the Developer Tools?
  8. 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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