Hardware Information


Bluetooth Basics - Bluetooth Technology Tutorial


Bluetooth Basics

Bluetooth technology is nothing new, but in many respects it still seems to be more of a buzz word rather than a well understood, commonly accepted technology. You see advertisements for Bluetooth enabled cell phones, PDAs, and laptops, and a search of the Geeks.com website shows all sorts of different devices taking advantage of this wireless standard. But, what is it?

History

Before getting into the technology, the word Bluetooth is intriguing all on its own, and deserves a look. The term is far less high tech than you might imagine, and finds its roots in European history. The King of Denmark from 940 to 981 was renowned for his ability to help people communicate, his name (in English)... Harald Bluetooth. Perhaps a bit obscure, but the reference is appropriate for a wireless communications standard.

Another item worth investigating is the Bluetooth logo. Based on characters from the runic alphabet (used in ancient Denmark), it was chosen as it appears to be the combination of the English letter B and an asterisk.

Capabilities

The FAQ on the Bluetooth.org (https://www.bluetooth.org/) website offers a basic definition: "Bluetooth wireless technology is a worldwide specification for a small-form factor, low-cost radio solution that provides links between mobile computers, mobile phones, other portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet."

Just like 802.11 b/g wireless networking systems and many cordless telephones, Bluetooth devices operate on 2.4 GHz radio signals. That band seems to be getting a bit crowded, and interference between devices may be difficult to avoid. Telephones are now being offered on the 5.8 GHz band to help remedy this, and Bluetooth has taken its own steps to reduce interference and improve transmission quality. Version 1.1 of the Bluetooth standard greatly reduces interference issues, but requires completely different hardware from the original 1.0C standard, thus eliminating any chance of backwards compatibility.

The typical specifications of Bluetooth indicate a maximum transfer rate of 723 kbps and a range of 20-100 meters (65 to 328 feet - depending on the class of the device). This speed is a fraction of that offered by 802.11 b or g wireless standards, so it is obvious that Bluetooth doesn't pose a threat to replace your wireless network. Although it is very similar to 802.11 in many ways, Bluetooth was never intended to be a networking standard, but does have many practical applications.

Practical Applications

There are a variety of products that take advantage of Bluetooth's capabilities, from laptops and PDAs, to headphones and input devices, and even wireless printer adapters.

Many Laptops include an onboard Bluetooth adaptor to allow the system to connect to any Bluetooth device right out of the box. For laptop or desktop systems that do not have an adaptor built in, there are many USB Bluetooth adaptors available.

Bluetooth enabled PDAs allow for convenient wireless synchronization and data transfer.

Headphones can take advantage of Bluetooth for two purposes? audio playback and mobile phone communications. Using something a mobile headset with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone allows anyone to go hands free, as well as wire free.

Logitech, and other manufacturers, also produce input devices that eliminate wires thanks to Bluetooth. You can add a Bluetooth mouse to your system, or both a mouse and keyboard. One advantage that Bluetooth wireless keyboard/mouse combinations have over the standard RF wireless keyboard/mouse combinations is range. Where most standard RF keyboard/mouse combinations have a range up to 6 feet; a Bluetooth keyboard/mouse combination will usually have a range of up to 30 feet.

Bluetooth printer adaptors make sharing a printer extremely convenient by eliminating the need for any wires or special configurations on a typical network. Printing to any compatible HP printer from a PC, PDA or mobile phone can now be done easily from anywhere in the office.

Final Words

At this point the popularity of Bluetooth might not be as large as some proponents would have hoped, but many devices are available for those interested. The cost and competition from other standards have hindered the widespread acceptance, but Bluetooth does offer a viable solution to many devices that might not have wireless connectivity without it.

Computer Geeks tech tips and computer advice


MORE RESOURCES:

Dell Targets Cloud, HPC with New Hardware
eWeek
Dell is unveiling a host of new hardware designed to bring HPC and cloud computing capabilities to a wider range of customers. Included is the AMD-based ...
HPC Meets Cloud Computing With Dell's New ServerPC World

all 23 news articles »


USA Today

PlayStation turns 15, sells 377 million PS-branded hardware units
GameSpot
To date, PlayStation-branded hardware--including the original PlayStation, PS2, PSP, and PS3--has sold some 377 million hardware units and over 2 billion ...
We were not ready: the PlayStation turns 15Ars Technica
On PlayStation's 15th Birthday, Platform Claims 377 Million Consoles SoldGamasutra
PlayStation Turns FifteenIGN

all 20 news articles »




BetaNews

Parallels Desktop 6 Provides Best of Both Worlds
PC World
The Mac hardware is significantly more expensive than comparable Windows PC systems, and would require an additional investment in the Parallels software as ...
Parallels Desktop 6: Better graphics, boot timesCNET (blog)

all 30 news articles »


Washington Post

When Push Comes to Bush, USC, Leave the Hardware Alone
FanHouse
He's a cheat. Well, he was for the longest time. The same goes for others associated with the college that Reggie Bush helped turn from famous to infamous ...
Heisman Trust: no decision yet on Bush's hardwareProFootballTalk

all 1,327 news articles »


New York Times (blog)

SAP Looks to Benefit From the Oracle Tempest
New York Times (blog)
In Mr. Hurd, Oracle is bringing in a top-shelf executive who knows computer hardware, both from his years at HP and at NCR before that. ...

and more »


Kroger eyes Elliott's Hardware on Maple Avenue for new store
Dallas Morning News
The local hardware store, known for its customer service, has operated in Dallas since 1947. But the retailer said its 75000 flagship store at 4901 Maple ...
Coming to the site of Elliott's Hardware … Kroger?Dallas Voice
Kroger looks at Elliot's as possible supermarket siteDallas Morning News

all 8 news articles »


TBD.com

Owner of historic Loudoun hardware store killed with wife and kin in car crash
Washington Post
The owner of Nichols Hardware, a historic family-owned shop in Loudoun County, his wife and one of her relatives were killed in a ...
Three dead in crash near Front RoyalWashington Post (blog)

all 35 news articles »


Telegraph.co.uk

At Oracle, Mark Hurd Lands in Rare Situation
Wall Street Journal
Mr. Hurd will be counted on to help Oracle expand its hardware business, which it entered when it completed its $7.4 billion deal for server- and ...
Oracle VARs Hope Hurd Can Boost Hardware BusinessChannelWeb
Analysts: Oracle Hardware Could Benefit from Hurd HiringInternational Business Times
Mark Hurd's task at Oracle: Build a hardware businessLocal Tech Wire (blog)
Enterprise Irregulars (blog) -Financial Times -V3.co.uk
all 3,288 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
©2007  MidasHits