The Reports of Bluetooth's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Ed Hardy · 10-17-2003, 09:41 AM

Despite recent reports of Bluetooth's untimely death, this short-range wireless networking standard is alive and well. In fact, it's actually thriving.

Read the full editorial at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Bl...Alive_and_Well

whatsnext? · 10-17-2003, 10:20 AM

there is a spelling error on the title. It says IF fact instead of IN fact.

I don't use BT very much BUT when i use it for file transfer it is much faster than IR and passing memory cards.

Also, you forgot to mention BT enabled printers from hp

Doo · 10-17-2003, 10:23 AM

Bluetooth is so much better to simple things then WI-FI. To hook to your cell, to sync. If it needs a wire then it could be done across BT.

WI-FI is over kill for cell connections. And who would want a WI-FI ear peace for their cell?

Small power, tiny components. Cheap.

There's a write up some where about a sports car all decked in BT. His cell, stero and controls were all link thru BT. When he approched his car, it would sense his cell's BT and open the door, adjust the seat, preset his radio stations. When he got a cell call the radio woudl turn down and put the call over the speaker system for hands free. His wife had a cell with BT and it would change the prestes for her. It was way cool.

Do that with WI-FI. I don't think so.

littld · 10-17-2003, 11:31 AM

I don't agree at all!

I've used a wireless lan at home using Wifi for over a year now with no problems at all.

When I start up the la[top, it connects to the desktop securely and without intervention. When I shut down, I get no errors.

Not so with Bluetooth. The drivers are so bad and are all made by the same company - Widcomm.

On a desktop, they are not properly compatible with the multi-user functionality in XP so if I am connected and switch user the connection is dropped.

Until there is a single working PC driver, Bluetooth hasn't got a hope of catching on.

Maybe Microsoft will fix it!

Since July I have reinstalled my desktop Bluetooth drivers over 30 times. Give me standard working Wifi anyday....

Regards, dave

robrecht · 10-17-2003, 11:34 AM

Biggest obstacle to bluetooth for most of the US has been the lack of any integrated CDMA bluetooth phones.

Verizon???

Sprint? Even if Sprint does finally come out with the SE T608, SE isn't going to support CDMA in the US anymore.

In some metropolitan areas, GSM coverage is good, but elsewhere ...

Scott R · 10-17-2003, 11:50 AM

Well, this is just freaky. After reading a negative commentary about Bluetooth on another site, I went a wrote my own article about the subject. Wouldn't you know I used practically the same title that you did? I even used the word "thrive" in the first paragraph (you have "thriving" in the summary on the front page). You seem to have published yours an hour before mine, so I guess you win the prize and I'll get to be accused of ripping you off.

Oh well. Great minds think alike. Ed, I'm poking a needle in my finger right now...tell me if you can feel it.

I agree with your assessment (as should be obvious). It's quite funny that people are pronouncing this technology dead just as it's about to really take off in the US. GSM providers have only started to sell Bluetooth phones within the last year and HP has embraced it by including it in most of their PDAs. The Zodiac will have it and Garmin even indicated wanting to have it with their iQue but experiencing some difficulties combining it with GPS or some such thing. palmOne can't seem to make up their mind, but the recent TT3 has it. The only thing holding it back here is adoption by the CDMA providers Sprint and Verizon.

Scott

Ed Hardy · 10-17-2003, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scott R
Wouldn't you know I used practically the same title that you did?

That Mark Twain quote is just too good to pass up.

Sunz · 10-17-2003, 03:59 PM

I think bluetooth will catch on when manufacturers finally start focusing on other devices. Phones and internet are fine. But the standard has so much potential in other arenas. I have been hoping to see things like more wireless bluetooth keyboards mice, monitors, printers, etc. not just the one MS BT keyboard that cost waaaayy too much. Give us the personal wireless system. Not the wireless network.

Also .. BT harddrive??? Toshiba had a hit with its hopbit .. but i do not know what happend. I am assuming they ran into functionality problems. From what i recall there were people lined up for that unit . i was definately in the queqe. Can you imagine a portable hd that u just keep in your bag (schoolers) go home to school / work .. in the car .. and always have the same data always accessible. I was waiting for the day i could carry all my pocket pc movies at once and not have to transfer them to cards all day all the time ..

anyway . just my rant ..

perhaps BT will pick up .. though i admit i've been less enthusiastic lately.

-sun

imported_fil · 10-17-2003, 04:49 PM

This is an interesting topic and it is funny that between 2 of the best Pocket PC forums, we still see such a difference of opinion.

Brighthand's 2200 and 1900 forums have been very pro-Bluetooth, with many folks pointing to its momentum within Europe in the past few years, simplicity to connect in various short-range deployments, and overall vendor support.

PocketPCThoughts editorial staff and moderators in general have been very negative towards BT technology.
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/foru...844a501f13543c
http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20031013S0040

Before I became a member here, I too was very skeptical of Bluetooth, in favor of wired (headphones, headsets, etc.), 802.11a,802.11b, and 802.11g technology. As I listen and see the opportunity that BT provides, I now see value.

But there are many hurdles for this technology that still need to be conquered. The Wifi vendors have been better about agreeing, standardizing, and making their technology interoperable. This is still BT's biggest problem.

Wow, Ed this is a huge can of worms. I'm curious to see how long this thread goes for. The PocketPCThoughts thread spans over 180 replies and was only opened yesterday, 10/16.

imported_fil · 10-17-2003, 04:49 PM

This is an interesting topic and it is funny that between 2 of the best Pocket PC forums, we still see such a difference of opinion.

Brighthand's 2200 and 1900 forums have been very pro-Bluetooth, with many folks pointing to its momentum within Europe in the past few years, simplicity to connect in various short-range deployments, and overall vendor support.

PocketPCThoughts editorial staff and moderators in general have been very negative towards BT technology.
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/foru...844a501f13543c
http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20031013S0040

Before I became a member here, I too was very skeptical of Bluetooth, in favor of wired (headphones, headsets, etc.), 802.11a,802.11b, and 802.11g technology. As I listen and see the opportunity that BT provides, I now see value.

But there are many hurdles for this technology that still need to be conquered. The Wifi vendors have been better about agreeing, standardizing, and making their technology interoperable. This is still BT's biggest problem.

Wow, Ed this is a huge can of worms. I'm curious to see how long this thread goes for. The PocketPCThoughts thread spans over 180 replies and was only opened yesterday, 10/16.