iPhone Connection Blues

I'll be using 2 iPhone apps that rely on a WiFi connection to my Macbook Pro running Mac OS 10.5, Remote and SplashID. When I first installed them neither would consistently connect. Remote complained that it "Could not find Library" and SplashID gave the error message, "No Desktop Found." I don't know what causes this behavior but would guess that the Access Point I'm using is somehow incompatible.

If you've exhausted the level 1 solutions (both your computer and iPhone are attached to the same WiFi network and the firewall allows incoming connections) then try this. It worked for me but your mileage may vary. I have a hard wired connection to the internet so can sacrifice the WiFi connection to an Ad Hoc network. If you depend on the WiFi connection for internet connectivity then this solution is probably not for you.

Follow the instructions in this doc under "Creating an Ad Hoc Network." When this is done you should find that Remote connects to your library AND that SplashID will synchronize with your desktop but you've still got another hurdle to overcome. When you run Safari, or any other app that connects to the internet, on the iPhone it'll use the slower cellular connection because the WiFi network that you just created has no access to the internet.

To resolve this problem open System Preferences->Sharing and click on 'Internet Sharing' to make Internet connectivity available to devices that connect to the new network.