I've been reading on instructables for a while now, and I've always wanted to do some of the things that people have wrote about, but have found myself looking at things which are difficult to do because they are genuinely difficult to do, or the things required are difficult to get hold of or are too expensive. I hope to avoid these problems, the stuff you need to buy can be got at Tesco (or your country's equivalent), for a mere few pounds, you may even already have it.
OK. So I brought my k750i about 6 months ago, it was my first real phone and it cost me a pound less than 100 quid. It is a Sony Ericsson phone and I recommend it to anyone, it's a tidy little thing with some handy features.
My lovely phone has bluetooth. This is a pretty common thing in phones now and it only ever seems to be used to do simple and boring things like transferring files. I have never seen anyone use their mobile phone to control their computer, which is clearly a function that Sony Ericsson have added to some of their phones, but nobody seems to know about. Personally, I would like to see more done with bluetooth, it seems like such a waste to have its functionality on a phone, and still have so few uses.
OK. So I brought my k750i about 6 months ago, it was my first real phone and it cost me a pound less than 100 quid. It is a Sony Ericsson phone and I recommend it to anyone, it's a tidy little thing with some handy features.
My lovely phone has bluetooth. This is a pretty common thing in phones now and it only ever seems to be used to do simple and boring things like transferring files. I have never seen anyone use their mobile phone to control their computer, which is clearly a function that Sony Ericsson have added to some of their phones, but nobody seems to know about. Personally, I would like to see more done with bluetooth, it seems like such a waste to have its functionality on a phone, and still have so few uses.
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Signing UpStep 1: Ingredients
Simply for this instructable you will need
- A Bluetooth adaptor for your PC (see below)
- A Sony Ericsson phone (see below)
- Some Software (It's free, I'll link you, see below)
A bluetooth adapter (dongle) for your PC
These are REALY cheap now. I believe Tesco do one for 7 pound, although I don't know how good it is. They are also super cheap on ebuyer.com and reasonably cheap from overclockers.co.uk. I only live up the road from OCUK, so this is where I got mine, it is an MSI MEGA NET STAR KEY, It cost something like 13 pounds at the time. Before purchasing, you should be aware of the class of a bluetooth device, and what this means:
Class 3 devices have a range of around 100 meters.
Class 2 devices have a range of around 10 meters.
Class 1 devices have a range of around 1 meter (these are mostly things like headsets, but I have seen some PC adaptors that are only class 1, you might want to avoid those)
If your phone is only a class 2 device (as mine is) it will only work to a distance of 10 meters, even if you have a class 3 device paired with it.
A class 1 device will only ever work at a distance of up to 1 meter, even if it is used with a class 2, or even a class 3 device.
Basically you CAN have two devices of different classes, but they will only work within the smallest range of the two. You should also try to get a device that is compatible with Bluetooth 2.0, I doubt that this is imperative, but it's backwards compatible and shouldn't cost you any/much more than an older version. Future proofing is never a bad idea.
A Sony Ericsson phone
I know my k750 works, but from what I can gather so should all of these (They are listed as supported phones in the software's release notes)
- K320
- K510
- K530
- K550
- K600
- K610
- K618
- K700
- K750
- K790
- K800
- K810
- K850
- S700
- V800
- W300
- W550
- W580
- W600
- W610
- W660
- W700
- W710
- W800
- W810
- W830
- W850
- W880
- W900
- W910
- Z520
- Z525
- Z530
- Z550
- Z558
- Z610
- Z710
- Z750
- Z800
- A Bluetooth adaptor for your PC (see below)
- A Sony Ericsson phone (see below)
- Some Software (It's free, I'll link you, see below)
A bluetooth adapter (dongle) for your PC
These are REALY cheap now. I believe Tesco do one for 7 pound, although I don't know how good it is. They are also super cheap on ebuyer.com and reasonably cheap from overclockers.co.uk. I only live up the road from OCUK, so this is where I got mine, it is an MSI MEGA NET STAR KEY, It cost something like 13 pounds at the time. Before purchasing, you should be aware of the class of a bluetooth device, and what this means:
Class 3 devices have a range of around 100 meters.
Class 2 devices have a range of around 10 meters.
Class 1 devices have a range of around 1 meter (these are mostly things like headsets, but I have seen some PC adaptors that are only class 1, you might want to avoid those)
If your phone is only a class 2 device (as mine is) it will only work to a distance of 10 meters, even if you have a class 3 device paired with it.
A class 1 device will only ever work at a distance of up to 1 meter, even if it is used with a class 2, or even a class 3 device.
Basically you CAN have two devices of different classes, but they will only work within the smallest range of the two. You should also try to get a device that is compatible with Bluetooth 2.0, I doubt that this is imperative, but it's backwards compatible and shouldn't cost you any/much more than an older version. Future proofing is never a bad idea.
A Sony Ericsson phone
I know my k750 works, but from what I can gather so should all of these (They are listed as supported phones in the software's release notes)
- K320
- K510
- K530
- K550
- K600
- K610
- K618
- K700
- K750
- K790
- K800
- K810
- K850
- S700
- V800
- W300
- W550
- W580
- W600
- W610
- W660
- W700
- W710
- W800
- W810
- W830
- W850
- W880
- W900
- W910
- Z520
- Z525
- Z530
- Z550
- Z558
- Z610
- Z710
- Z750
- Z800
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Nokia 5800 Bluetooth Remote Control (SmartTouch)
http://box.net/services/web_documents/105/520480054/71502e/SmartTouch_v0_45/shared/sa57m8znyj
With a fresh cleaner look. If you're interested, dig in.
So simple yet so amazing!
I'm holding on to my dear W610i for two years, but never knew it was soo simple to use as BT remote!
I knew the PC remote function was there, but i always thought that is required some extra (and commercial ) software addon. That software was never found on CD provided alongwith.
Thanks a ton! you made my day!!!
I have also used a system called bluetooth remote control from bluesharware. (http://www.blueshareware.com/bluetooth_remote_control.asp)
it uses a java based phone client that is installed on the phone.
handy program, but the shareware version only gives you a limited number of commands sent before it disconnects.
my favourite feature is the mouse controller that gives you a preview of the screen on your phone, however this makes it plenty slow.
sam
but when i go to download the software i have to put in the code and i put it in correctly but it keeps saying that it is wrong?!? and i am getting a bit pi**ed off at it because it is a very asome idea. but u go on about how to instal the bluetooth dongle... otherwise great instructible very explanitary.
=D _JAZA_
And thanks for the constructive criticism, I really appreciate it, someone else has said something similar; so in my future Instructables I'll be sure not to state the obvious too much. =]
Again, thanks for your comment.