iOS Printing Explained
One of the most talked about new features introduced with the latest iOS update is the ability for the respective devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) to print. This feature, called AirPrint, seems to work well in my testing, but there are some requirements to be aware of.
By specification, AirPrint requires the use of AirPrint-compatible printers. At the time of this writing, only a handful of HP brand printers are listed as AirPrint-compatible. Several other HP printers will receive updates by the end of the year to make them AirPrint-compatible. However, the other major printer manufacturers have not officially announced AirPrint support, although the expectation is that they will. The reality is that until more printers are AirPrint-compatible, not a lot of users will be able to print from their iOS devices – at least not without help. Fortunately, there is a way to circumvent the AirPrint-compatible requirement.
Through the use of a host computer (either a Macintosh or Windows PC), many more printers can be made to work with iOS devices. I won’t go into the details of how to set this all up, but at least know that there is software available that easily makes your Mac or PC an AirPrint host. I list an example of such software for each platform at the end of this article.
So if you need to print from an iOS device and you don’t have an AirPrint-Compatible printer, don’t give up until you’ve tried sharing your printer from a host computer. If you need help with this setup, please contact me and I can schedule a visit to your home or office.