Use Your Bluetooth Phone To Access The Internet

This is really cool! I could finally access the internet over a bluetooth personal area network (PAN) on my Ubuntu Hardy, here are the steps:

1. Install the following packages: bluez-utils, bluetooth, bluez-gnome, bluez-hcidump
2. you will need to enable the BlueTooth applet in GNOME. Do this by going to "System->Preferences->BlueTooth Preferences". Set the mode of operation on the "Devices" tab to "Other devices can connect". On the "General" tab, set the program to always show the BlueTooth systray applet (personal preference).
3. Pair your phone and computer
4. Open a terminal. On the command line, enter the following commands and taking note of the information where asked to.
   
   
   Code:

   sudo bash
   
   hcitool scan   #(Make a note of the hardware address of your phone as listed).
   gedit /etc/default/bluetooth #You can use any other text editor of course

   Find the line which has something like:
   
   
   Code:

   PAND_ENABLED=0

   and change it to:
   
   
   Code:

   PAND_ENABLED=1

   Next, find the line which looks like:
   
   
   Code:

   PAND_OPTIONS=""

   and change that to:
   
   
   Code:

   PAND_OPTIONS="--listen --role=PANU --devup /etc/bluetooth/pan/dev-up --devdown /etc/bluetooth/pan/dev-down"

   Save the file.
   
   
5. Now, create a directory called "/etc/bluetooth/pan". Use an editor to create a file called "/etc/bluetooth/pan/dev-up" and put the following lines into that file:
   Code:

   #!/bin/bash
   ifup bnep0

   Save that file.
   
6. Now, use a text editor to create another file called "/etc/bluetooth/pan/dev-down" and put the following lines into it:
   
   
   Code:

   #!/bin/bash
   ifdown bnep0

   Save that file as well.
7. Add a line to /etc/network/interfaces. Open that file with a text editor (as root) and add the following line to it near the end:
   
   
   Code:

   iface bnep0 inet dhcp

8. Start up the Internet Sharing on your phone and connect from your PC. The Internet Sharing on your phone is going to be different depending on the phone, but on the Linux client, use the following command:
   
   
   Code:

   pand --connect  #The address you have got in the "hcitool scan" command
   ifup bnep0
   

9. That's it. You should see the bnep0 interface come up and get a DHCP address from your phone. After you have the address, you can freely browse the Internet.
   
   To disconnect, simply run:
   
   
   Code:

   pand -K

   Remember, any time you want to connect or disconnect, you must run the "pand" commands as root. BTW, I'm now using my new HTC Touch 3G to post this :)))). Article Source (with some changes): http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=598890
   

BlueProximity: Leave it - it's locked, come back - it's back too..

This is a MARVELOUS piece of software!! I couldn't believe myself at first :S, here is its description from the official website:

This software helps you add a little more security to your desktop. It does so by detecting one of your bluetooth devices, most likely your mobile phone, and keeping track of its distance. If you move away from your computer and the distance is above a certain level (no measurement in meters is possible) for a given time, it automatically locks your desktop (or starts any other shell command you want).

Once away your computer awaits its master back - if you are nearer than a given level for a set time your computer unlocks magically without any interaction (or starts any other shell command you want).

You can find it in the Ubuntu repositories; just Applications -> Add/Remove Programs, Enjooy!!

Note: You should have a screensaver set, don't set it to "Blank Screen" as this might cause the software not to work properly. If you're using Compiz, then you'd better use a simple screensaver, such as "Deco" as it might crash your desktop.

Bluetooth and Wireless Ad-hoc Networks Problems Solved

Now and finally I can say that my Ubuntu setup is PERFECT:

1. Easily connect to any wirelss network; infrastructure and ad-hoc, thanks to ndiswrapper :)
2. Send and receive bluetooth files as well as browse any bluetooth device using Nautilus (latest bluez-utils package from Debian)
   
3. All laptop shortcut keys work without any problems out of the box.
   
4. Great performance and memory usage.