How Mac Users Can Get Ringtones and Wallpapers on an LG Dare

So you do not want to leave Verizon Wireless but you envy iPhone users? Well LG has produced the Dare for Verizon Wireless. This touchscreen phones has some great features including the coveted touchscreen interface. This is indeed the finest iPhone competitor to date and it is exclusively on the largest wireless carrier in the country.

However if you use a Macintosh computer you will have trouble interfacing your Mac with the LG Dare. iSync is not supported by the Dare but one way in which you can use your Mac with this phone is by using Bluetooth to move ringtones and wallpaper pictures to the phone from your Mac. Here are some simple steps for obtaining some great media, downloading and then syncing it to the LG Dare. But take note: you must have a Mac equipped with Bluetooth for this to work.

Where Do I Get Content for My Dare?

There are dozens of online sources for finding, creating, and downloading great ringtones and wallpapers. One such service is Zedge. You can sign up for a free account and then browse their huge inventory of phone content.

Also since you are on the Mac, you can create ringtones using Garageband. If you have a DRM-free mp3, just open it in Garageband and edit the track in any way you choose. When you are finished simply export it to iTunes. Make sure it is saved in the mp3 format. There are instructions on many websites on how to use Garageband for this purpose.

Mac, meet Dare. Dare, Mac

In order to get the content on your phone we will need to pair your Mac and your Dare using Bluetooth. Let's start with your Dare. Open the Bluetooth menu to begin. It is found under "Settings and Tools". Tap on Options and then select "Discovery Mode". Make sure this function is turned on. That's all we have to do with the Dare for now. Now go over to your Mac. We are going to pair the two devices and we will do so through your Mac's Bluetooth menu. This is usually located in the upper right-hand corner of the menu bar near the clock. If you do not see it here, you can access it through System Preferences in the Applications folder.

Chances are you will already see your phone listed under this menu. If not, click on "Set Up Bluetooth Device". Follow the steps that your Mac takes you through. It's probably a good idea to turn off the "use my phone to access the internet" option at this time. This will save you from accidentally incurring unnecessary charges.

Transfer and Send

Now that the two devices have been successfully paired, the rest is simple. Download or create all of the ringtones or wallpapers that you want using one of the methods mentioned above. To send the file(s) to your phone, control+click (or right click) the file that you wish to transfer. From the contextual menu that pops up select "More" and then select "Send ____.mp3 (or _____.jpg for wallpaper pictures) and then select your phone. The item that you selected will then show up on your phone. Sounds will show up in your phone's Sounds (or My Sounds) folder and pictures will show up in the Pictures (or My Pictures) folder.

From here you will handle ringtones and wallpapers differently. For wallpapers, simply navigate to the picture you want in your Pictures folder, select options and set it as wallpaper. Ringtones are a little more in depth thanks to Verizon's unfortunate restrictions. Navigate to the sound in your Sounds folder and send the sound to yourself via Dare's text messaging capability (NOTE: a charge may apply). When you receive the message with the sound, open the message. In the Option menu select "Save as Ringtone". You should now see this new ringtone in your Ringtones (or My Ringtones) folder.

As Mac users we are often left out in the cold when it comes to phone/computer interfacing. This is the best way I have found to transfer content to your Dare from your Mac without the use of a microSD card reader. I hope that this has been helpful to you. Good luck!