[xubuntu-users] Bluetooth

[Bill]

On 08/31/2013 12:57 PM, Norman Silverstone wrote:
> On 31/08/13 17:28, Bill wrote:
>> On 08/31/2013 06:57 AM, Norman Silverstone wrote:
>>> I have just noticed an icon in the top panel which is to do with
>>> Bluetooth about which I know nothing. The first item in the menu which
>>> appears when the icon is left clicked invites me to turn Bluetooth off.
>>> I didn't know it was switched on. Could some kind person please give me
>>> the benefit of their knowledge.
>>>
>>> Norman
>>>
>>
>> Norman, your question is not quite clear to me. Are you seeking to know
>> about bluetooth and/or about the xubuntu bluetooth interface?
>>
>> If the former, then I suggest a web search for "bluetooth" (which will
>> lead, e.g., to wikipedia, where you can get an idea of what it is).
>>
>> If the later, then a response (from me anyway) requires more information.
>>
>> And as kind as I might be, my knowledge may not be helpful, since I'm no
>> expert on either bluetooth or xubuntu. I simply have bluetooth enabled
>> and working on my xubuntu system. So I might be of some help. But
>> without dispute there are too many on this list who are not only kind,
>> but know more than me. So it's at least a start at learning what
>> knowledge you need.
>>
> Thanks for the response. I suppose what I would like to know is a) is
> Bluetooth enabled by default and b) if it is will it cause problems if
> it is disabled?
>
> Norman

I do not use bluetooth that much (essentially only when I want to 
transfer pictures from a phone to the computer, which is not that 
often), but as I recall, if the daemon is running, the system 
notification icon is present. My icon is present only when I want to use 
the bluetooth, so I would need to check (using "ps" or "top" from the 
command line to see if the service is running as a deamon). The icon is 
present when I want to use bluetooth (using a bluetooth interface such 
as bluetooth manager or blueman), i.e., make the computer visible to 
other bluetooth devices, and pairing them.

So far as I know, disabling bluetooth will not adversely affect the system.

I also know that the bluetooth applet can be set to auto start in 
Settings > Settings Manager > Session and Startup > Application 
Autostart. I have mine set not to start automatically.

I'd venture a guess that if the bluetooth icon is present in the 
notifications applet, the daemon is running. It is not hurting anything, 
if it is, I simply do not want process running that I do not need.

I fear that I am displaying my ignorance, but hope this helps and that I 
am not misleading you in any way.

Are you wanting to use bluetooth? (I was under the impression from your 
initial message that you simply observed the icon which you had not 
observed before.)

-- 
Regards,
Bill