HOWTO: Use GNOME's bluetooth tools

[Randy Sparks]

I've been playing around trying to use the GNOME bluetooth tools to transfer files to and from my mobile phone (a Nokia 6680). Somebody's already posted a message here about using KDE bits and pieces to do this, but I wanted to explore the more elegant GNOME tools. So here's how it's done.

INSTALLING GNOME-BLUETOOTH
- assuming your system is configured to use the online software repositories, open Synaptic Package Manager and search for gnome-bluetooth.
- choose to install gnome-bluetooth. There's no need to search for and install the bluez utilities because, under Ubuntu 5.10, they're installed by default

SENDING FILES TO ANOTHER DEVICE
You'll need to create a desktop shortcut for this to work:
- right-click on the desktop and click Create Launcher
- in the Name field, type something like "Send file via bluetooth".
- in the command field, type gnome-obex-send
- give it a cool icon if you wish (I like the road icon near the top of the list)
- Click OK to create the shortcut.
- from now on, just drag and drop a file onto the shortcut to send it via bluetooth. You'll then be able to choose your device in the dialog that comes up (assuming that your phone is set to be "visible" so it can be detected by other bluetooth devices)

RECEIVING FILES VIA BLUETOOTH
- click the Applications - System Tools menu and click Bluetooth File Sharing
- nothing will seem to happen but a new icon will appear top right of the screen in the system tray
- on the device you're sending the file from, choose to send the file and search for your computer. It should be called something like ubuntu-0.
- send the file
- a dialog will appear on your PC asking if you want to receive the file. Click Yes
- the file will be saved to your Home folder
- you can add this program to your startup by clicking System - Preferences - Sessions, and clicking the Startup tab. The program's called gnome-obex-server

And that's all there is to it. There's another component installed along with gnome-bluetooth called Bluetooth Manager. I don't know what this does. It can see my phone after searching for some time but when I click on Properties it just doesn't do anything. Similarly, if I try and pair my phone to Ubuntu, I'm asked for a PIN code, yet I haven't been supplied with any by the Gnome-Bluetooth tools. If anybody knows of any documentation for Gnome-Bluetooth (the official website has none), post it below.

[Randy Sparks]

I've just realised that this HOWTO will only work with phones that don't have to be paired before they can transfer files. My 6680 doesn't need pairing to swap files but I think some, like the Sony model a friend of mine had, aren't as easy going.

Doing some more research found the following thread which, half way down, seems to solve the pairing issue via a tweaked config file. I haven't tried this myself:

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthre...nome-bluetooth

To quote from the thread:

i know its quite an old thread, but in case anyone is 
still wondering, I managed to fix this issue by changing 
hcid.conf to use /usr/bin/bluepin instead of bluez-pin and 
then restarting bluez-utils with /etc/init.d/bluez-utils restart.

[TheCondor]

Hello, has anyone figured a way to transfer the contacts from the cell phone to the pc??

Ive tried and tried with several how-tos and applications but nothing worked.

[pek]

yeah! i'm looking for a way to sync my ngage to evolution too.

[Garyu]

thank you thank you thank you.

I previously found the HOWTO on the KDE equivalent, but it didn't work for me at all. But the gnome tools work flawlessly. Great job! =)

[FrankTM]

very nice... thank you very much

got it working with the greatest of ease with my 6230i

[almostlinux]

works great .. thanks a lot

[engla]

Sending from the computer works.. I'm thrilled so far.

However, I can't recieve a thing from the phone.. I've paired them up, but when sending it just says "It's not possible to send" after a short delay.

....

Am I dreaming? Five minutes later recieving files just works. Nifty!

[index_0@ya.com]

hi ,
i have searched and tired , is thr any way to send files to the phone to different folder other than inbox , My ngage phone is very limited with memory ,

pls guide ,

[Garyu]

Originally Posted by index_0@ya.com hi , i have searched and tired , is thr any way to send files to the phone to different folder other than inbox , My ngage phone is very limited with memory ,

I'm not sure, but I don't think this can be controlled from Ubuntu. You should probably read your phone manual and see if there are settings in your phone that allows this.