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HP has introduced two all-in-one printers with remote printing, each aimed at students going back to school or college. Both the Photosmart 7520 and Photosmart 6520 use HP's ePrint technology for remotely printing from any web-connected device, Apple's AirPrint through any iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch; as well as printing locally through USB and Wi-Fi.
A new line of iPhone-controlled RC Cars has been launched by iHelicopters.net. Models include a range of popular Audi and BMW cars such as the Audi Q7, Audi R8, BMW X6, and BMW 5 Series. Each car includes a RF transmitter that connects to an iOS device via the headphone jack and allows users to control the car from up to 20 meters away. The new BMW and Audi models are set at $60 each including free worldwide shipping.
Networking accessory maker Netgear is now offering a free app called Genie that allows USB printers on the users' home network to used as an AirPrint printer, making it possible for them to print wirelessly from iOS and Android devices. The mobile app works with a variety of Netgear routers, and a companion home program provides users with other home-networking utilities such as diagnosing and fixing network issues and more.
Canon introduced a new PIXMA-series high end printer on Tuesday in the MX892 Wireless Office All-In-One (AIO). The printer will connect to cloud and local network services to print or fax documents, including AirPrint, Google's Cloud Print, Picasa Web Albums, and PIXMA Cloud Link services. The printer also offers a number of templates for placing images on stationery and calendars, among others.
Brother has expanded the number of its printers supporting Apple's AirPrint standard. Now included are a handful of all-in-one color inkjets: the MFC-J280w, MFC-J430w, MFC-J625dw, MFC-J825dw, and MFC-J5910dw. AirPrint allows an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to send content directly to a printer over Wi-Fi, rather than rely on a custom app, a card transfer, or sync with a computer.
Lantronix has announced the xPrintServer Network Edition, a new add-on peripheral. The device allows iPhones, iPads, and iPods to send files to printers lacking native AirPrint support. Once connected to a network the xPrintServer should discover local printers automatically, and accept input from iOS devices without any extra configuration.
HP will begin implementing a worldwide firmware update to select LaserJet and multi-function printer (MFP) models to enable wireless network printing from mobile devices as well as connect to HP's cloud service and print remotely. The update will add to the number of models accessible by the iOS feature AirPrint, which allows devices running iOS 4.2 or later the ability to print from selected apps and native programs to AirPrint-enabled HP printers.
Canon on Tuesday sent word it had brought AirPrint support (link ready soon) to some of its Pixma printers. Its newest all-in-one photo printers with Wi-Fi, the MG5320, MG6220, and MG8220, can all now take print requests from an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch running iOS 4.2 or newer. The "majority" of Canon's inkjets in the future will also get the wireless printing support, Canon said.
HP is distributing a new firmware update which substantially augments the number of AirPrint-compatible printers. Eight more LaserJet models have been added; these include the P1102w and P1606dn, as well as six Pro models: the CP1025nw, M1212nf, M1213nf, M1214nfh, M1216nfh and M1217nfw. Prior to today only five LaserJets supported AirPrint, all of which were Pro devices.
Avatron has released Print Sharing, a $3 app that prints wirelessly to a wide range of printers, including shared and network printers. It works with both Apple's own AirPrint or its own print engine, and includes options not found on most other AirPrint apps such as dual-sided printing, page order, choice of paper trays and more -- depending on the printer model. "Print Preview" is available to all printers.
Epson has introduced an update to its iOS app, PrintJinni, that now allows users to take advantage a new interface dedicated to the iPad. The interface is said to be optimized for the iPad's larger screen, while overall usability is claimed to be more intuitive. Aside from the iPad optimizations, the update also offers faster navigation to multiple e-mail accounts, downloaded files, and printer settings.
Apple has pressured the developer of AirPrint Hacktivator into removing earlier versions of the software, a blog post reveals. The utility lets people send iOS documents to printers shared through Mac OS X. Versions up to 1.7 are no longer accessible, the developer says, after receiving a request from lawyers acting on behalf of Apple.
Following the addition of AirPrint functionality in iOS 4.2.1, EFI has released a free utility that allows Fiery-driven printers or multifunction peripherals to make use of the technology. After being installed by a corporate IT department, PrintMe Connect for AirPrint shows all available Fiery-driven hardware as options on a person's iOS device. This eliminates the need for individuals to download additional software, or for organizations to buy specifically AirPrint-compatible printers.
AirPrint should gain much broader device support in the near future, according to Apple's Steve Jobs. The CEO recently responded via e-mail to a complaint about the number of printers AirPrint is currently compatible with, limited to just 11 HP models. "Lots more coming soon," Jobs' e-mail opens.
As hinted at earlier, Apple has posted v1.3 updates for apps in the iPad version of the iWork suite. All expected upgrades are present, including support for two key iOS 4.2.1 features: multitasking, and AirPrint, which allows printing via Wi-Fi. Only a handful of HP printers are currently supported, however.
To help back today's iOS 4.2 update, Apple is also planning to launch simultaneous v1.3 updates of the Pages, Keynote and Numbers iPad apps, a news story claims. All three iWork titles should be getting support for iOS 4.2's multitasking capabilities, as well as AirPrint integration. Some AirPrint options include page- or slide-range selection, duplex printing and setting the number of copies.
Ecamm has launched Printopia, a new Mac printing app. The software tricks iOS 4.2 devices into recognizing any Mac printer as an AirPrint-compatible device. Users can additionally direct files to "virtual" printers, for instance output as a JPG or PDF file on a Mac. Another option includes printing to a Dropbox folder for online sync purposes.
AirPrint will still be included in iOS 4.2, in spite of some claims to the contrary, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is reportedly saying. "AirPrint has not been pulled," Jobs is noted to have written in an e-mail exchange. "Don't believe everything you read." The message was sent in response to a complaint by an iPad owner, who suggested that Apple might be developing a reputation for vaporware, referring specifically to the missing white iPhone 4.
Apple may be delaying AirPrint for Mac and Windows computers, according to an AppleInsider report. The company is said to be facing problems relating to compatibility and overall stability, pushing the project back indefinitely. Computer integration was initially expected to be available alongside AirPlay for iOS.
Support for TCP/IP is not coming to iOS 4.2's AirPrint feature, at least not in time for launch, an e-mail from Apple CEO Steve Jobs indicates. AirPrint should allow direct printing from iOS devices by way of a Wi-Fi connection. To date, however, the feature is only expected to support a handful of HP printers when it premieres.
The just-posted iOS 4.2 beta 2 (build 8C5101c) reveals a previously unknown feature being considered for final release: allowing users to mark uploaded YouTube videos for public or private viewing. Alongside other additions already announced (such as Airplay and AirPrint), observers are beginning to wonder if the stage is being quietly set for iOS to leap to additional products.
HP has taken the wraps off three new printers that have the company's ePrint technology that lets them print images or documents sent by e-mail as well as AirPrint with iOS 4.2. The most anticipated and interesting model is the Photosmart eStation that ships with a detachable seven-inch touchscreen tablet, seen earlier. The all-in-one device can print, fax, scan and copy documents.
Apple today released a beta version of iOS 4.2 to developers that adds support for AirPrint, its new name for the wireless printing feature unveiled with iOS 4.2 at the start of the month. The feature finds any printers connected to the local Wi-Fi network and, when supported, prints without needing any special setup. The approach also allows for printing from a printer shared from a Mac or Windows computer.
