Can I control my Mac with my iPhone -- over Bluetooth?
Solution 1:
I don't know of a general purpose Bluetooth only control that exists on the App store (but that store is really hard to search these days for a needle in the haystack of apps), but one of the more common remote control software packages does say it will work without WiFi on the Mac.
- http://www.airkeyboardapp.com/faq#no-wifi
Once you've installed the free Mac software and tested that you are OK tethering the Mac to the phone (which can use prodigious amounts of cellular data) you can download the free and ad supported iOS app.
- https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/air-keyboard-free-wireless/id541873446?mt=8
There is IAP to remove the ads if you really like it over time. I prefer to use the computer's create network and tether over USB if needed for control in situations where I don't have a pre-existing WiFi network. The apps I prefer for that are:
- Touchpad by Martian Craft - about $7 on the app store
- Rowmote Pro by Evan Schoenberg - about $5 on the app store
Touchpad is truly standalone, just turn on screen sharing on your Mac and run the app. Rowmote Pro is more integrated with various apps such as spottily, hulu, etc... Both function fabulously as a keyboard and mouse/trackpad for OS X from iOS and I find I use both for different tasks at different times.
Solution 2:
If your iOS device is jailbroken, you can install WeBe++.
This app can be used in Bluetooth HID mode which means that no software is required on the Mac to 'receive' the mouse input. This is what requires the jailbreak and why apps that do this in this way won't be found on the App Store. WeBe++ uses BTstack, a separate Bluetooth stack that gives more possibilities to tweak developers—BTstack will temporarily disable Apple's Bluetooth to override it into HID allowing representation of mice/keyboards, meaning no software is required on the Mac. WeBe++ supports clicking as well as scrolling, but no multi-touch gestures.
The Wi-Fi apps that are available require software to be installed on the Mac regardless of whether Wi-Fi is present or an Ad-Hoc network is created. If you can manage to get software installed on the Mac to connect to Wi-Fi mice apps, then you can create an Ad-Hoc network to connect your iOS device to. Go to the AirPort menu bar item and create a network. Apps that work over Wi-Fi will work over an Ad-Hoc network, so this may be something you could set up for future necessity.