Recently, updates to Apple's iOS4 operating system have enabled direct ipad wireless printing from iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch models. Wireless printing from the insanely popular Apple tablet is here thanks to the latest round of AirPrint compatible printers that are now available from
Hewlett-Packard. While initially a weak point of the Apple iPad, these HP printers are an important step to better print capabilities that will mature over time.
AirPrint printing is 100% wireless thanks to auto-discovery of available
print devices on the local network. Much like Bonjour enabled devices, the
iPad automatically locates, connects and prints to an AirPrint capable
printer of your choosing. AirPrint technology works with Safari, Mail,
Photos, iWork, PDFs in iBooks, and in third-party apps with built-in
printing needs.
Unfortunately -- control of orientation, layout, page range, and other Page
Setup functions of AirPrint are still very limited. Hopefully more 3rd-party
printer manufacturers will. support universal AirPrint technology in their
wireless printers for iPad and other iOS4 Apple handhelds. Until then,
currently only specific models of HP AirPrint capable printers are today's
best option for hassle-free iOS prints.
Sadly, Apple doesn't yet support AirPrint features in its PC and Mac
compatible wireless AirPort base stations. However some clever Mac programs
and iOS4 apps and software hacks can allow limited iPad printing by what they call "Bridging". These
apps allow your Apple gadget to bridge through a Mac computer that's live on
the network to any shared printer its set up to print to.
