Swisscom 3G vs Bluetooth vs Apple OSX

In a previous post I blogged how to get the combination of Nokia N73 bluetooth Vodafone and 3g going.

I find myself in Switzerland for a couple of weeks, so I needed to repeat using Swisscom. Through roaming I could just connect, but then there would be a very high data cost.

So I got a Swisscom sim and put that in my N73. The first thing that happened was that I got about 15 SMS messages telling me how to set up my phone for Swisscom. Well that was not required. So I hunted around to see what the dial-up settings are. I couldn't find any at all.

After some trial and error including 3 hard freezes, I got a setting that works:

Number: web
Account Name: gprs
Password: gprs

Then click 'Advanced'

Vendor: Nokia
Model: GPRS (GSM / 3G)
APN: gprs.swisscom.ch
CID: 1




Click OK, then Apply and then Connect and you should be good to go.

Apple Macbook Pro and HP LP3065 30" monitor

Lucky me is currently using my Macbook Pro with an HP LP3065 30" screen.

With a native resolution of 2560 x 1600 its give massive screen real estate.

To run the screen requires a Dual-Link DVI-D cable. Forunately my Macbook Pro has a DVI port that support Dual-Link, so plug in and off you go.

Don't forget to adjust for the correct height - the bridge of your nose should be level with the top of the screen where it meets the bezel. Instructions are here.

You can run the LP3065 at a lower resolution, but the scaling work has to be doe by the GPU since the LP3065 has no built-in scaler. I guess this means that you cannot connect the LP3065 to a Macbook since Macbook do not have dual-link DVI-D.

So far, I have not found a way to calibrate the LP3065 on OSX using the non-purchased software.

Using a Macbook / Macbook Pro with an external monitor and the lid down - part 2 - using a bluetooth keyboard

Previously I had discovered how to use my Macbook Pro in lid down mode which was great, especially now that the 1.5.1 EFI firmware upgrade fixes the graphics issues.

On a short term assignment out of my regular office I wanted to use the more travel friendly Apple bluetooth keyboard.

Well its pretty easy really. Pair up the keyboard and Macbook. Put the Macbook to sleep and put the lid down. Let the bluetooth keyboard turn itself off.

Press the button on the right hand side of the keyboard, and you should get wakeup.

If this doesn't work, you need to check that bluetooth can wake the computer. The setting is in Prefs>Bluetooth>Advanced.


For a complete explanation, here's the text from Apple:

If you use an external display or projector with any MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro (17-inch), MacBook or PowerBook G4 with built-in Bluetooth and have a Bluetooth mouse or keyboard, you can close the display and still use the computer. Here's how.

1. Make sure the computer is plugged in to an outlet using the AC power adapter.


2. Verify that Bluetooth is turned on by using the Bluetooth pane of System Preferences or the Bluetooth menu icon.


3. Pair your Bluetooth keyboard or mouse with the computer. For step-by-step instructions, click here for keyboard pairing or click here for mouse pairing.


4. In System Preferences, be sure that the Allow Bluetooth devices to wake this computer option is selected.


5. Connect the Apple video (VGA or DVI) adapter that came with your computer to the appropriate port on the external display or projector and turn the display or projector on.


6. With the computer turned on and your wireless keyboard or mouse paired, connect the other end of the adapter to the video output port on your notebook.


7. Once your computer's Desktop appears on the external display, close the notebook's lid.


8. Once it's closed, wake the computer up by either clicking your Bluetooth mouse button or by pressing a key on your Bluetooth keyboard.

You should now be able to use your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or PowerBook G4 as you normally would, using your Bluetooth keyboard or mouse.

When you are finished using your MacBook Pro, MacBook, or PowerBook G4 in closed-lid mode, the internal display will not come on when you open the lid until you have disconnected the external display. If you want the internal display to enable again, remove the external display connector, put the computer to sleep, and then open the lid. This will toggle the computer to come out of closed-lid mode and once again provide power and a video signal to the internal display.

Using a Macbook / Macbook Pro with an external monitor and the lid down

Lucky me has a 24" monitor (OK its a Dell so not as lucky as I could be ;) , but I don't like having 2 monitors of different sizes.

For me its better to have the lid down and only use the external monitor.

Anyway I found this KB at Apple that says how to do it:

If you use an external display or projector with any MacBook Pro or PowerBook G4 and a USB mouse or keyboard, you can close the display and still use the computer. Here's how.

(If you want to do the same thing with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, see this article.)

1. Make sure the computer is plugged in to an outlet using the AC power adapter.

2. Connect a USB keyboard and mouse to your computer.

3. Connect the Apple video (VGA or DVI) adapter that came with your computer to the appropriate port on the external display or projector and turn the display or projector on.

4. With the computer turned on and your keyboard or mouse connected, connect the other end of the adapter to the video output port on your MacBook Pro or PowerBook G4.

5. Once your computer's Desktop appears on the external display, close the computer's lid.

6. Once the lid is closed, wake the computer up by either clicking your mouse button or by pressing a key on your keyboard.

You should now be able to use your MacBook Pro or PowerBook G4 as you normally would, using your USB keyboard or mouse.

To disconnect your MacBook Pro or PowerBook G4 from the display after use:

When you're finished using your MacBook Pro, MacBook, or PowerBook in closed-lid mode, the internal display will not function when you open the lid until you have properly disconnected the external display. To properly disconnect the external display, put the computer to sleep and disconnect the display cable from the computer. Open the lid and the computer reactivates the internal display.

Some DVI displays, including Apple's aluminum-framed DVI displays, can be unplugged without putting the computer to sleep. If you aren't sure whether your display supports this feature, put your computer to sleep before unplugging the display.

UPDATE: On some Macbook Pros the recent Graphics Update has a bug which prevents this working. Also if you disconnect the monitor you may find that the internal screen does not stay on. Apple say it is a known issue.

UPDATE #2: The 1.5.1 EFI firmware update fixes this issue. Now works fine!

Apple Mac OSX Leopard 10.5 Vodafone 3G Bluetooth Nokia N73

Apple Mac OSX Leopard 10.5 has some new wizard items for connecting to the internet using your bluetooth phone.

My N73 is already a great companion to my Nokia N800.

From the bluetooth menu (if bluetooth is not in the menu, go to System Preferences, click bluetooth and select 'show bluetooth status in the menu bar') select 'setup bluetooth device' and then select 'mobile phone'.

Originally with 10.4 on my Powerbook I had to manually select a modem script. This is not required with 10.5. The wizard selected Nokia phone for me.

When you get to the bit that asks about name and password and apn, enter:

apn: internet
username: web
password: web

Nokia N800 and iGo Traveller Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard

I got my Nokia N800 the other day, and also purchased the iGo Stowaway bluetooth keyboard on Ebay. Their web site doesn't mention N800 compatibility, but enough resources suggested that both the iGo and the N800 are HID compliant that it was worth a go.

After unpacking and putting the batteries in, the next step was to pair the 2.

First you go into the control panel on the N800, and with 2007 firmware (2008 is different), select 'Hardware Keyboard'. Make sure 'Generic 105-key PC' and 'English USA' are selected. If you try to select a different keyboard layout (I tried initially tried English (United Kingdom)) when you pair you will get a 'pairing failed, device resources exceeded' message.

Then go to the Bluetooth panel of your N800 and search for new devices.

Make the keyboard is discoverable by pressing 'CTRL and BOTH Fn' Keys until the green LED flashes.

It finds the Stowaway keyboard, offers to pair and gives you a code. Click OK on the N800, and then on the keyboard, hold down Left FN + number keys to type in the code. Press Left FN + Enter.

The N800 is now paired.

The very nice thing about having a bluetooth keyboard is that when you want to enter text on the N800 it doesn't use 1/3 of the screen as a soft keyboard.

Update: You can also use the iGo with a bluetooth enabled Apple Mac. Instructions from my Macbook Pro here