Connect your Mac to Everything
by John Brandon
Does a square peg fit in a round hole? Well, yes: when it comes to
technology. Some of the pegs and holes are obvious – your Mac connects to a
cell phone using Bluetooth, and to a PC over a wireless connection. Most
connections work both ways: you can watch TV on your Mac or connect a Mac to
your television. There are some really odd pairings though: you can connect
your Mac to a portable video player, a ski jacket, a toy rocket launcher (Hey
you! Duck!), and even a bedside lamp. Yet, the typical question is not: which
gadgets can I connect to a Mac? It’s usually: how in the world did you get that
to connect? And this: I’m connected, but nothing really works, please help me…Now!
Well, read on to find out how to connect, and how to get everything working.
Connect to a Phone
Most people think of a phone as a
standalone device, one you use to call Uncle Ed or maybe get directions to the
local golf course using Google Maps. There’s a lot more you can do, such as
load music files onto a phone and use it as a modem. The real head-scratcher is
how, especially since every phone works a little different from the
next. Here’s the steps for connecting to four popular models.
Note: To use Bluetooth, you’ll
need built-in Bluetooth – available on the MacBook or MacBook Pro -- or any Mac
that uses a USB Bluetooth key, such as the D-Link DBT-120 (www.dlink.com).
Access Bluetooth options by going to System Preferences and clicking Bluetooth,
or using the Bluetooth menu in the Finder.
Blackberry 8800 – Copy Contacts
The Blackberry 8800 is an e-mail guru’s best pal. For Mac users, you can copy
your Address Book (and all your e-mail contacts) in just a few simple steps. On
the phone, navigate to the Manage Connections icon and click it. Place a check
on Bluetooth. Now, on your Mac, click the Bluetooth menu (upper right) and
select Setup Bluetooth Device. Follow the instructions to type the matching
code on your phone and pair. Once synced, download PocketMac for Blackberry
(www.pocketmac.net/products/pmblackberry) and install. Now, sync your Address
Book contacts over to the Blackberry 8800.
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Step One: Search for your mobile phone using the Bluetooth Assistant
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Step Two: Use PocketMac for
Blackberry to sync your Mac Address Book
Motorola KRZR – Transfer Rich
Media
One of the best Bluetooth phones on the market, the Motorola KRZR works
seamlessly with the Mac for transferring rich media (photo, videos, and music).
There’s no need for a third-party plug-in. To connect, press the center Menu
button on the phone and go to the Settings icon (far right). Select Bluetooth.
Select Add New Device. Confirm the message about being in discovery mode, and
wait for your Mac to appear. Click Pair, type any code (e.g., 1111), and then
type the same code on your Mac when prompted. Now, select the Bluetooth menu in
the Finder and select Browse Device. The folders on your phone will appear,
double click the one you want and click Send to send files to the phone.
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Once you have connected to the
KRZR, you can browse folders and swap files.
Nokia N80 – Use Wi-Fi
The Nokia N80 works with Wi-Fi, which has a much wider coverage area and much
faster speed than Bluetooth. First make sure your wireless network is running
and your Mac is connected to the Wi-Fi signal. On the phone, select the WLAN
Scanning option on the main screen, and select the option for Web Browsing. The
N80 will prompt you to select your Wi-Fi network. Select Yes. On your Mac, copy
the files to a .Mac account using the Homepage feature. Now, on the N80, go to
your .Mac homepage and click the link to download files.
Palm Treo 750 – Use the Treo 750
as a modem
You can connect to the Palm Treo 750 using Bluetooth, and then access the
Internet using the phone. On the phone, click Start, then Settings, then click
the Connections tab. Click Bluetooth. Place a check on Turn on Bluetooth and on
“Make this device discoverable…” On the Mac, select the Bluetooth menu, and
Setup a Bluetooth device. Follow the steps for pairing, then select the option
to “Access the Internet…” Click Continue. Enter your Username, Password, and
Phone Number (provided by your carrier). Click Continue, and start surfing!
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Tap the passcode into the Treo 750 to pair it with your Mac.
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Once connected, you can use the
Treo as a modem to access the Internet.
Connect to Video/TV
You might think of a Mac as a
powerhouse computer meant for word-processing and Web surfing. The idea of
loading up your drive with photos and videos, watching television on a computer
screen, and streaming your home videos to an HDTV in the living room are all
fairly recent ideas. (Heck, we know someone who still uses a film camera.)
Here’s how to make it all happen easily.
Digital Camera
Connect, import, view. Those are the basic steps to make your digital camera
work with a Mac. The Pansonic Lumix DMC-LS70 we tested has an internal 27MB
disk that you can use to store photos and short video clips. When you connect
it to a Mac using the included USB cable, iPhoto immediately loads and prompts
you to import the images. Once you do, you can create albums for the imported
photos, edit the images, and e-mail them to friends. If you use a SecureDigital
card in the camera, it will appear on the desktop when you connect using USB;
you can double-click it and transfer images to your hard disk that way, too.
Panasonic.png
Step One: When you connect your
digital camera, iPhoto opens automatically.
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Step Two: After the import, you
can make a photo album of the imported images.
Camcorder
Connecting a camcorder works the
same way as a digital camera. Many recent models use a USB cable. However, some
models are a bit unique, and there’s usually an extra step or two. For example,
with the new JVC MG-555, first snap the camcorder into its base. Attach the
included USB cable into the base and the other end into your Mac. Press the
Play button (it’s located inside the fold out LCD screen). A menu appears.
Select Playback on PC. On the Mac, the MG-555 disk appears as an icon. Use
DropDV (www.dropdv.com) to convert the MOD files to DV files, and import them
into iMovie to edit your Speilberg creation. Or, with FireWire, connect the
cable, start iMovie, and click Import.
Dvdrop.png
DVDrop lets you convert imported
video clips, without the camcroder connected.
HDTV
Most recent-model HD televisions
provide an HDMI-input port, but not a DVI-input port. What’s the difference?
DVI is meant more for connecting your Mac to an external monitor. For
connecting to HDMI on a high-def set, you’ll need a DVI-to-HDMI cable. The
Philips PXT1196 is a good choice – it’s available at stores like Wal-Mart.
Also, MacBook and MacBook Pro owners will need the Mini-DVI to DVI adapter,
available at www.apple.com. Plug the HDMI end of the cable into the HDTV set
(we used a Westinghouse Digital TX-42F430S – the HDMI port is about a half-inch
wide) and the DVI end into your Mac. Your Mac will automatically send the
signal to the television as a second monitor.
Photo: Mini-DVI to DVI cable
TV Signal
You can skip an HDTV all together and just watch TV on your Mac monitor. As you
can imagine, this requires an adapter, since the Mac does not provide a coaxial
cable input. The Elgato EyeTV Hybrid is a small USB adapter that includes
software for viewing the TV signal. Let’s say you have a Dish ViP622 set-top
box. You just run RCA cables into the Elgato EyeTV, which comes with an adapter
for RCA input. For a high-def signal, the EyeTV lets you receive over-the-air
HD using an external antenna, included with the device.
Photo: Elgato EyeTV Hybrid
Streaming Media
One last video connection: you can stream music, movies, and photos to your
television using a wireless connection. You’ll need the Apple AirPort Extreme
router, and the Apple TV. The process works like this: anything you have stored
in iTunes can be transmitted over the Wi-Fi network to your television. Both
your Mac and the Apple TV connect to the router. TK – WHAT DO YOU DO IN ITUNES
TO STREAM THE MEDIA TO THE APPLE TV.
Photo: Apple TV
Connect to other USB and
Bluetooth gadgets
You can connect all sorts of
other devices to your Mac, using a USB cable or Bluetooth. It’s cool because
your Mac suddenly becomes a hub for all these amazing gadgets, making you
wonder: who needs the Internet?
ThinkGeek Ion iTTUSB Turntable
Yes, you can connect to a
phonograph and record vinyl LPs. The ThinkGeek USB Turntable (made by Ion, but
sold at ThinkGeek.com) uses a standard USB cable. Once connected, go to System
Preferences, then Sound. Click Input, and select the USB Audio CODEC as the
input device. Play your favorite LP, and record the audio using the included
Audacity sound recording software.
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Select the USB Turntable as the input device in System Preferences, Sound
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Record using Audacity software
and save as an MP3 file
Motorola ROKR S9 Headset
For making Internet phone calls,
the Motorola ROKR S9 is one good option. To connect to it, press and hold the
power button until the headset flashes blue. Now, go to the Bluetooth menu in
the Finder and select Setup Bluetooth device. Follow the instructions. When
you’re done, go to System Preferences, Sound and select the S9 as both the
output and input device. You can use the headset for Skype calls or multiplayer
games where you can chat with other players. Or, you can play music – although
the Mac does not support stereo output over Bluetooth.
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Skype supports the Motorola ROKR S9 for making phone calls – hands-free!
ThinkGeek USB Rocket Launcher
If you buy the popular USB Rocket Launcher on ThinkGeek.com, you will a) have a
blast shooting soft pellets at a target and b) get the added benefit of using a
webcam to focus your shot. After plugging in the USB cable, you’ll need the Mac
version of the software, which lets you control the launcher and fire the
rockets. Make sure you get version 1.4g. It’s here: http://dgwilson.wordpress.com
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Go nuts with the USB Rocket Launcher. On a Mac, it even supports a webcam.
Apple iPod with Video
The latest iPod with Video is a boon if you’re into movies and TV shows.
Connecting is easy: just plug the USB cable into the iPod and your Mac. Where
people get a little confused, though, is when it comes to video formats,
especially if you don’t buy all of your media on iTunes. The good news: you can
use the File, Import command to import video files, and then right-click on the
video and select “Convert Selection for iPod,” which puts it in the right video
format.
Photo: iPod with Video
Kensington 7-Port PocketHub
Connecting to the Kensington
7-Port Hub is easy, but the benefits are tremendous. The cable that comes with
the hub has a small USB connection on one end (it’s about ¼-inch wide) that
goes into the hub. The other end goes into your Mac. Now, for any device you
connect into the hub, it will work with your Mac – there’s no need for a power
cable, even though one is supplied.
Photo: Kensington 7-Port Hub
Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard 6000
V2
A keyboard is easy to connect to the Mac using Bluetooth. The benefits are that
you gain some extra mobility in a cramped office, and no dangling cords across
your desk. The Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard comes with its own Bluetooth
receiver. Plug that into your Mac. Put the AA-batteries in the keyboard. Press
the button on the receiver, and then the small red button underneath the
keyboard, and it will connect. The Mac will prompt you to press keys to the
right and left of the keyboard to identify it, and then you can start typing
that TPS report.
Photo: Microsoft Bluetooth
Keyboard
Connect to a Wi-Fi network
A wireless network provides many
benefits, such as network storage, webcam security, and streaming your media
files to a television. The catch is that many people get all excited about
these possibilities, but making the connections work is like building a
toothpick fort with your thumbs. Here’s what to do.
Use the iStumbler sniffer to find
hotspots and connect easily
IStumbler is a handy tool for finding wireless hotspots in public spaces and
connecting to the one with the strongest signal. Download iStulmber at www.istumbler.net;
install and run the program. Note which wireless network has the strongest
signal, and use the AirPort menu in the Finder to connect.
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Enable WPA2 Security and not WEP
If you purchase a new Apple AirPort Extreme router, you may be temped to
configure it without security, or to use WEP security using a simple password,
such as “connect” instead of stronger security. If you do, hackers can break
into your computer easier and steal files. Better to use stronger WPA2-Personal
encryption instead, which is unbreakable. Use the AirPort utility that comes
with the router. Select the Base Station menu and select Manual Setup. Click
the Wireless tab and WPA/WPA2-Personal from the Wireless Security pop-up menu.
Type a password that uses both letters and numbers. Now, when you connect, your
Mac will prompt you to type this password before granting access to the
network.
Connect to the Trendnet TV-IP400W
webcam for security
Your Mac can connect to a wireless webcam. This allows you to see who is at
your front door, even if you are in a basement office. Or, you can monitor your
home remotely by tapping into a wireless Webcam over the Internet. To get
started, first connect the webcam to your home router using an Ethernet cable.
To configure and connect to the webcam, start Safari and type 192.168.0.20 in
the address bar, and press Enter, and click the Java link to view and control
video. To configure the wireless network name, click System Administration,
then Wireless and select your network name from the pop-up. Use the Tools link
to configure remote access.
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Connect to a Network-attached hard
disk drive
Top connect to a network hard disk drive, such as the Buffalo LinkStation Live,
first plug it into your router using the Ethernet cable included. Turn on the
drive, and open Safari. Type the IP address for the network drive, which is
usually listed in the manual, or run the installer program. For many drives,
you’ll use Safari to access the configuration page. For the LinkStation Live,
type 192.168.0.184 and press Enter. Login (“admin” for username, and “password”
for the password). Click Shared, place a check next to the shared folders, and
click Add. Now, to access the drive, on a Mac connected to the router (wired or
wireless), click Network, then My Network, then the name of the drive (the
default is Hs-Dhgl829). Select a shared folder, click OK, and it will appear on
your desktop.
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Create a shared folder for all your documents, photos, videos, and music
Get Connected to these Oddball
Devices
Maybe the strangest connection
you will ever make (apart from that one date you had back in high school) will
be when a Mac communicates seamlessly with a PC. Some thought it was not
possible! Yet, there’s a few other gadgets that were not exactly intended to be
so Mac friendly. Here’s how to get them working.
Archos 504
The Archos 504 is a portable video player that is obviously intended to work
with a PC: there’s a PC-only installer, and it works with Windows Media Player
11. IN fact, when you connect the device, you will be prompted to just use it
in USB mode or as a Windows Media device. Select USB, and the Archos hard disk
will appear on your desktop (wonder of wonders!). Just drag all of your media
files into the right folder. You’ll need a patch for iPod videos, available at
www.archos.com.
Kodak EasyShare EX811 Wi-Fi
Picture Frame
Kodak makes big claims about how the EX811 Picture Frame works so well for
adding photos over a wireless connection…from a PC. Like the Archos 504, once
you connect the frame to your Mac with a USB cable, you can also just
drag-and-drop photos onto the internal drive on the frame. (See, the Mac makes
life easy.) There’s also another method: if you use the included EasyShare
software, you can upload images to the online Gallery service (select photos,
go to Gallery, Upload Photos), and then download to the frame directly over
Wi-Fi from the Internet.
The lamp in your den, using
Indigo
Indigo is one of those amazing
Mac programs that puts the “automatic” into home automation. Using the Insteon
power modules, which connect to your Mac over USB and then with each other over
a wireless connection, you can quickly configure Indigo to turn off lights.
First, install the Indigo software (www.perceptiveautomation.com/indigo). You
can buy the Insteon PowerLinc V2 modules at FunForGeeks.com. Plug the Insteon
device into a wall socket, and connect your lamp. Plug the USB cable into the
PowerLinc V2 and your Mac. Indigo will find the PowerLinc automatically and
allow you to turn the lamp on and off. Of course, you can use multiple devices
(some wireless RF) as well, and even control lights from a remote Internet
connection with Indigo.
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Motorola Audex Bluetooth Jacket
The Motorola Audex jacket is a
wonderfully geeky, yet stylish at the same time. Most of the “geek factor” is
contained within this warm winter ski jacket with flaps and zipped that hide a
Bluetooth controller on the sleeve, a pouch for an iPod that connects to the
headset – which consists of a left and right speaker embedded into the collar
and a hidden microphone. To connect with your Mac to play music (mono only) or
talk with Skype in the same room, just go to the Bluetooth menu in the Finder
and select Setup a New Device and follow the instructions. The jacket shows up
as a headset. To connect your iPod, you’ll use the included adapter, which then
transmits stereo Bluetooth to the headset.
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Logitech Harmony 1000 Univeral
Remote Control
We like the Logitech Harmony 1000
Universal Remote because it is a techie’s dream. Connecting is a breeze: first,
load the software on your Mac and wait until you are prompted to connect the
remote. Plug the UBS cable into the remote control cradle, place the remote in
the cradle, and the other end of the USB cable into your Mac. The installer
walks your through all the required steps, such as configuring the remote for
your DISH Network service, controlling a home AV Receiver, and adjusting the
sound on an HDTV.
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Quick Sidebar: Dangers of
connecting
Sure, the Mac can connect to a
lot of stuff. But, you might wonder: are there some things you should not
connect to? Well, the short answer is: yes. For starters, some unprotected
hotspots might be an easy trap for hackers to steal data off your laptop. If
you connect, just make sure you turn file-sharing off and keep really important
files on an external drive that you use sparingly. It’s also wise to think
about connecting to another computer over a wireless connection and grabbing
files that might have a virus or spyware client – although, granted, the Mac is
not as susceptible to these dangers. One last connection warning: double-check
with an HDTV manufacturer about connecting a Mac. We’ve heard of some Macs
causing damage to an HDTV due to a refresh rate/signal sync problem. It’s rare,
and unproven, but worth checking into.