That Mystery May Be Solved...Okay Next Someone Enlighten Me About Bluetooth
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
October 2, 2008 4:41am CST
I posted a discussion about "Okay..What the Frick Is This?" As I was getting this weird dialog box suddenly popping out of nowhere informing me that a Motorola Phone Message was incoming and that I had an incoming file coming in. I never had that before and it kind of freaked me out.
Many of you responded suggested that somehow I may have been infected with a virus, or had picked up spyware, that I should do a scan for it to see if I had been "attacked"
Now remember I have a Mac computer and we're not normally bothered by viruses and so forth since our system runs completely differently. Many of you suggested to get free spyware/virus scans....but that didn't gel with me either as I don't like to download anything...uh, just in case.
So I emailed my friend who also has a Mac...but I won't hear from her for awhile to see if she could give me a clue. But I also logged on to the private Mac.com discussion forum for Mac users and posted the same question.
Well just checking now..I got a response from the Mac.com forum...the person said I was no doubt picking up signals from a cell phone with bluetooth and suggested that I switch off my bluetooth option on my computer if I don't need it..I guess us Mac computer users have more sensitive computers and can pick up on such signals
Okay so it seems the mystery is solved...uh, have a question.
WHAT THE FRICK IS BLUETOOTH ANYWAY?????
I like to think I'm savvy in technicalities, and I've heard of bluetooth...but in simple layman's terms...what the hell is it? 
2 people like this
20 responses
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Just one more complicated bit of technology, right?
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63568)
• United States
2 Oct 08
Its a cordless headset for cell phones.
for example, my iPhone only has a bluetooth option for headset - where I'd rather not have some "Borg"-ish attachment to my ear and have an option for some other headset that has a wire running into my phone like the earbuds that I got with the iPhone to use as an iPod (which I never use on my phone since it drains the battery.)
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@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Aww---you mean you don't want a ear gizmo that would make you look like a crew member from the Enterprise..hehee
2 people like this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
2 Oct 08
Laymans terms, it is a signal that is sent from a device to another device. I think that is as simple as I can make it LOL I *think* it is some sort of infrared technology, don't quote me on that though. I have never really looked into the science behind it.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
I got a further contact from the Mac tech person...he said signals from anything with bluetooth can reach out up to 30 feet..sheesh
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
2 Oct 08
Blue tooth is wi-fi for the phone service. It is in compliance with the FCC and goes only to the your phone it is programed into. Now did you figure out how to turn off your blue tooth device on your Mac?
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Well I found out how to turn off the bluetooth off my computer...haven't yet though..can't help wonder how it might effect my computer with it off. Anyway, haven't been bothered by it ever since I shut down the computer then rebooted...thank goodness
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
It probably wouldn't affect it....could ask my friend about it....it's just that I'm hesitant to turn anything on or off on my computer...LOL..Might do the wrong thing and screw it up
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
3 Oct 08
If you turn off your blue tooth why would it effect the running of your computer. It is just turning off one program. I know I do not have an apple.
1 person likes this
@sconibear (8016)
• United States
2 Oct 08
HA HA HA!!!
you ever see them crazy people walking around talking to themselves???
and then you notice they have an alien looking piece of plastic crammed in their ear???
that's bluetooth.
it's a wireless device that allows their cell phone calls to embed directly in to their brain.
it also sends out a subliminal message that makes these people buy every crappy new piece of "trendy" technology that comes out.
they're the same people that buy a PHONE so they can text(TYPE!) to their friends instead of simply picking up their fancy new phone and CALLING their friends to TALK to them.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Oct 08
LOL--yup I have noticed the thing a ma gig gizmos in people's ear...makes them look like they beamed down from the USS Enterprise. Yes, could never figure out why people spend most of their time texting people if they can use their phones to talk instead
2 people like this
@slot100 (546)
• Hungary
2 Oct 08
Just to keep it simple; bluetooth is a wireless data conneciton, who can connect you with your computer or someone elses cellphone! so you can share files like music or pictures with eachother! Maybe someone send it accidentaly to you! I guess there had to be someone near you when you got that message! Because someone wanted to send you something..
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Oct 08
I got another response from the tech person at Mac.com forum and he said bluetooth signals can reach out as far as 30 feet...yikes. So yes, there must have be someone nearby with a bluetooth gizmo on their cell phone
1 person likes this
@slot100 (546)
• Hungary
3 Oct 08
Kind of scary right? And then there are special 'hijack phones', who COULD copy your simcard, and if yours is not prepaid, but monthly payments (forgot the english word! 
), they could actually make you pay 1000s of dollars costs, while you're not using it..Good thing that security is upgrading everytime! That's why updates are important..
), they could actually make you pay 1000s of dollars costs, while you're not using it..Good thing that security is upgrading everytime! That's why updates are important..2 people like this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Pye, you should have called me, all our macs have bluetooth, it is a short range signal like wireless but it is used mainly for cell phones and those goofy little ear things. I think we can connect them up to use on things like ichat as well.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Yup, I realize my Mac has bluetooth I just never bothered with it as I didn't understand what the heck it was for. Since my bluetooth is "on" I must have picked up signals from someone's cell phone nearby..I was told by the Mac tech at that forum that signals can reach out up to 30 feet!
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
2 Oct 08
I really have no clue what blue tooth really is. My daughter has used it before though with her friend. somehow she can download things from her friends phone if htey are standing close to one another or something like that. I am confused too.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Something like that could be dangerous if you think of it...wouldn't that mean someone could download things you don't want downloaded???
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
3 Oct 08
Well it seems that a lot of MyLot have totally explained what bluetooth is all about. But I would just like to share with you how I used my phone with bluetooth together with my laptop. I usually handle training on and handle classes. I connect my laptop and celphone through bluetooth and voila!... I can completely control my laptop using my cellphone with just the keypads. I can start or close powerpoint presentations, window media player, just practically anything. Its like having the mouse in your hand but this time its the cellphone. A lot of people are still amazed when they see it. Best to you!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
I guess you have a lot of people watching you then when you use your laptop with the cell phone....I guess you have to explain to them what you're doing?
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
2 Oct 08
i need to know to. my daughter in ohio just got one for her cell phone and keeps saying she loves it , what she wanted,etc. something to do with leaving her hands free to talk on the phone, etc?@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
It's good to know I'm not the only one who doesn't understand bluetooth...I don't feel so bad now..LOL
@evilkid14 (27)
• Trinidad And Tobago
2 Oct 08
hey there, bluetooth is a wireless transmitter that enables users with bluetooth on there cell phone computer stereo etc to send and recieve files such as videoes,music,pic etc.I hope this info helps later.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Yes, thanks ever, it does explain it a bit. Reading all the responses here is giving me a 101 course in bluetooth
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Hey pye, I'm answering this kinda late so I'm sure by now
you know that Bluetooth is the earpiece for the cell phone
and apparently your super sentitive computer was picking
up someones cell phone earpiece, I guess! Interesting
piece of equipment. That's that stupid piece that people
wear on their ear to look important. It constantly flashes
and you don't know if they are on the phone or off the
phone, but they must look important like they need to be
attached to their cell phone every minute cause God forbid
they might miss a call from God!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
I can't plain understand the concept either of people always needing to use their cell phones all the time and yes I have seen those ear piece gizmos that look like something from Star trek..LOL
@mercuryman3a (2477)
• India
3 Oct 08
If you are tech savvy then you would have known about bluetooth a long time back. Anyway, bluetooth is a technology which enables you to connect two electronic equipment without the use of wires. You canhave a CPU connected to teh keyboard, the monitor or a mouse without the use fo wires or a cellphone can connect to your computer and down load data without actually attaching it to the computer with wires. It is a very useful technoloy as it cuts down on the number of wires jutting out.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
I've heard of "bluetooth" of course, but never really knew what it meant...maybe I would have if I used it
@Metalchick (1391)
•
2 Oct 08
I'm not completely sure what bluetooth is althouth I do use it a hell of alot on my phone. It's free to use and allows images, sounds any files for that matter to be passed from one technological device to another through infra-red or something similar I think. In order to send or recieve files you normally find the devices have to be paired...this could be the input of a code or four digits in the case of most mobile phones. The number or code needs to be the same one which is entered into both devices simultaneously to complete pairing. Once paired you won't need to pair it again with the same device and files can be transferred quickly and easily in future.
Nowadays there are numerous devices which can be purchased which are bluetooth enabled for easier usage. For example you can buy printers which print straight away when an image is transfered directly from your phone. Hope this is making sense until you have had a go it won't be very clear. I only understand how it works now because a collegue at work showed me how to pair my device.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
You actually give a good description of it
I'm actually the same way in some things. Maybe I have some knowledge of how something works but to try to explain it eludes me
I'm actually the same way in some things. Maybe I have some knowledge of how something works but to try to explain it eludes me@Metalchick (1391)
•
3 Oct 08
Glad it made it sense. I know what it generally does it's just explaining it in text that proves difficult sometimes. Hope i've managed to enlighten a few on this subject.
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@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
2 Oct 08
This link may help you understand
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/bluetooth.htm
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@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Oct 08
Thanks ever whiteheather...I started to read, but will have to read it again to get this brain to understand what I'm reading
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@BarBaraPrz (47125)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Oct 08
Uh... ya got a blueberry stuck on yer toof?
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@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Actually strawberry...eating some yogurt...
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@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
2 Oct 08
I really can't offer any enlightenment, pyewacket, but I figured I'd follow your discussion just so that I might also learn the answer.All I know is that Bluetooth is a type of technology that is used in many electronics.
All I know is that Bluetooth is a type of technology that is used in many electronics.@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Good, another person willing to admit they haven't a clue what bluetooth is..wonder how they thought up that name anyway
@littleowl (7157)
•
3 Oct 08
Hi Pye..all I know about blue tooth is that you can send photos to another mobile if they have their mobile on also if you want photos to be printed out in a camera shop they have units that will print them out for you if you put your blutooth on and send the photo you want to the machine,,,that's mainly it..bb littleowl
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
2 Oct 08
Hi pye,
BlueTooth is a radio signal, a little thing that goes in your ears when your using a cell phone, that all I know about these things. I'm glad everything is sorted with your computer.
Bright Blessings
Tamara
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Yes thank goodness it didn't turn out to be a virus thing
