Apple, HP hooking up for iOS AirPrint
Developers already have their sweaty little hands on this functionality, but Apple’s not making it easy for the rest of us to enjoy the same. Unless you’re really really motivated, you’ve gotta wait until November.
Earlier today, iPhone and iPad developers around the Web let it be known that Apple’s seeded iOS 4.2 beta, the next major update of the company’s mobile operating which will deliver iPad multitasking and printing for all.
“AirPrint is Apple’s powerful new printing architecture that matches the simplicity of iOS—no set up, no configuration, no printer drivers and no software to download,” said Philip Schiller, senior vice president, Worldwide Product Marketing. “iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users can simply tap to print their documents or photos wirelessly to an HP ePrint printer or to a printer shared on a Mac or PC.”
Of course, iOS printing only works with compatible printers and that’s where HP comes in. But, if you’ve got compatible kit then AirPrint will automagically find printers on local networks and can print text, photos and graphics to them wirelessly over Wi-Fi without the need to install drivers or download software.
There is a sliver of a silver lining as both existing and upcoming HP ePrint enabled printers will support iOS AirPrint.
However, in order to try out iOS 4.2 beta on an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, and give AirPrint a whirl, you need to be running Mac OS 10.6.5, which is also only available as developer only beta. Talk about barriers to entry, sheesh!
It’s almost as if Apple doesn’t want our help with this…
What’s your take?
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