When iOS 4.2 is released in November, it will have a new printing feature called AirPrint. This feature will allow you to print from your iPad to a printer on a wireless network. But there other ways you can use AirPrint as well. Here are some tips on how you can prepare and get ready for AirPrint.
Welcome To AirPrint
iOS 4.2 will offer up over 100 new and improved features. One of those is AirPrint and it’s a handy feature which many people have been asking for since the iPad came out. Essentially, there are a few ways you can use it and both offer their own set of advantages/disadvantages.
With AirPrint, you can tap anywhere within a documents, photos or web pages and it will bring up a dialog box giving you the following choices:
- The name of the document
- The printer you want to print to
- The number of copies
- Double-sided (on/off)
- Date sent
- Status
- Option to cancel printing
There are two ways you can use AirPrint. You can print to a printer that is hooked up to your wireless network or you can print directly to a wireless printer. Each method works just as well as the other. The advantage of a wireless printer is that you don’t have as many cables and it is generally less hassle.
Printing To A Wireless Network
If you have a home network with broadband (cable, DSL, FIOS) then you most likely have wireless. If you do have wireless then you have a wireless router somewhere in your house and it’s probably located next to the equipment your service provider supplied or it’s the same equipment. You will know it because you are able to access the Internet wirelessly. Some of the wireless routers have USB connections on them. Some don’t. The ones that do are also called “Print servers”. The ones that don’t usually have Ethernet connectors (most likely 4 of them).
If your wireless router is also a print server with a USB port, then you can plug your printer directly into it. If it is not a print server, then you have another option to print to your printer wirelessly. On your Mac or PC, where your printer is installed, you can “Share” it so that others can access it. Once it’s shared, it will be accessible to anyone using wireless (including the AirPrint). Sharing printers is different for each Operating system so consult your nearby tech guru to share your printer.
Additionally, you can also print using AirPrint to a non-wireless printer that is plugged into an Apple Airport Express via Ethernet.
In each of these cases you will be able to use the iPad iOS 4.2 AirPrint feature. Here are a few wireless routers with print server features you can check out if you do not currently have one. These are all top-rated and great buys:
Printing To A Wireless Printer
New on the scene are the latest batch of wireless printers. These are printers which have built-in wireless capabilities. There are also some that allow you to print to them from anywhere you can access the Internet. The advantage with these are less cables and ease of access. Generally they are no more expensive than wired printers so it all comes down to the features you are looking for in a printer.
HP recently introduced the HP Photosmart D110A e-Printer. This one is truly unique and the first of its kind. This printer allows you to print to it from the Web without using a PC (or Mac). Let’s say you are traveling and you want to print something at home for a family member, no problem with the D110A. Just print as you normally would but instead, it sends the print to your home printer.
If you want the best experience with AirPrint, you might want to check out a wireless printer or the D110A. Both are great ways to get prepared for AirPrint and both offer a lot of extra value for their price. Here are some wireless printers that all work with the current beta version of iOS 4.2 and the D110A as well.
So there are some great ways to get ready for AirPrint with iOS 4.2 coming in November. We will be doing more of these articles to help you get prepared for all the great features of new iOS update. Our goal is to help you be ready when it arrives.
You forget to mention that some printers have Ethernet capability, and therefore do not require a wireless router with a USB connection. My HP Laser Jet P2055dn is connected to my Airport Extreme base station via a Cat 5 cable, thus I only print wirelessly to it. Btw, it is a fine printer, and has duplex printing capability.
Sunny Guy
Ahhhhh yes!!! Thank you. I’ll add that in as well…I was so focused on wifi that I forgot about our friend Ethernet!
What about people who just have an iPad at home with just the internal 3G connection? Can they print to a wireless printer without having to have a dedicated internet connection to the printer? If not, then it’s pretty useless.
This is what so many people are asking about but nobody is writing about or seems to have an answer to.
Tim. Hi and thanks for the comment. All of the iPads have wifi. Not all of them have 3G. All of these printers allow you to print to them using wifi which all iPads have. Coincidentally, as another reader reminded me about, you can also connect a non-wireless printer to a router such as the airport extreme and then use your iPad to print to the printer that way as well.
Shane, thanks for the reply. I’ve asked this on several forums and most have seem to think that the HP e line requires the document to be emailed to it, which they said is what 4.2 would be doing behind the scenes.
I assumed at first if the printer had wifi then any iOS device would be able to print to it, but then it sure seemed like I was wrong.
I convinced a friend who hates computers to get an iPad and I promised her eventually she could print, so I’m much more relieved now!! Thanks!
No problem. It can be confusing. Basically all ipads have wifi so regardless of 3G then it’s possible to print as long as there is a wireless network involved somehow.
The hp e models added a new feature where you could print to the printer even if you were at a remote location. That could use wifi or 3G.
The key is to have a home wireless network and a printer that supports airprint which most will hopefully!!!
This article has almost no content. So, which printers does the AirPrint support? Which printing protocols?
My Apologies. I was just updating it and all my links got lost. They are back! There are only a few Printers out so far but according to HP many more are “coming soon”. I will do an entire article on them. The most cost effective one right now is the D110a ePrinter which fully supports iOS 4.2 (i’ve tested it)
fyi, why we all hate apple:
Here is a list of wireless printers that support AirPrint:
Model
HP Envy eAll-in-One series (D410a)
HP Photosmart Plus e-AiO (B210a)
HP Photosmart Premium e-AiO (C310a)
HP Photosmart Premium Fax e-AiO (C410a)
HP Photosmart e-AiO (D110)
HP Photosmart Wireless e-AiO (B110)—Europe and Asia-Pacific
HP Photosmart eStation (C510)
HP LaserJet Pro M1536dnf Multifunction Printer
HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fn Color Multifunction Printer
HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fnw Color Multifunction Printer
HP LaserJet Pro CP1525n Color Printer
HP LaserJet Pro CP1525nw Color Printer
Lol. Yeah…did you see it’s all HP…and ironically they are going to compete soon with a tablet!
You can not print to a printer connected to a router or a wireless print hub. I have both and at no time does it work.
Lots of Oh it can do this and that but in reality it can’t.
Hi Mike,
I have a printer connected to an Airport extreme and it works. Now keep in mind that the printer is on the “airprint” compatible list but it did work.
Shane,
I have HP Photosmart C6180, which has both Wireless and Ethernet capability. All PC and Macs in my home is accessing it using WiFi as it is connected only through WiFi. Sadly, I can’t AirPrint to it through my iPad. Please note, my printer is not running in shared mode, but basically using the Printer Server on the Printer itself.
Any suggestions?
Hey there Rad.
There is a program you might want to try called “Hactivator” which “should” allow you to use the setup you have currently, although I believe that even with Hacktivator you may need it to be “shared” off your computer. I looked on HP’s site and indeed did not see your Printer listed (figures, huh?).
In this case you would need to share it with a computer and then use 1 of 3 of the following methods:
1. Printopia App
2. FingerPrint App
3. Hactivator App on the Computer
Here are links to all 3 solutions:
http://www.tcgeeks.com/how-enable-airprint-for-any-printer/
http://www.tcgeeks.com/ipad-shared-printer-support/
This is the ONE thing about Airprint that I do not like. It should support ALL wireless printers regardless of brand/model!
Hi Shane,
Thanks for your prompt comments and suggestions. But, I think I will wait for the official notice. I know I had to install appropriate drivers or PPD files on my machines, even though the OS (Win7 and Mac OSX) can detect a wireless printer in my home. I guess AirPrint is suppose to resolve the need of the driver and PPD files.
It seems like we keep inventing same technology over again. Wasn’t there something called “PrintShare” that allowed me to plug my camera and have it print pictures directly? I idea of PostScript as similar too! It all printers can understand these language, everything beyond that is originator generator a stream of data that receiver know how to process – Haven’t we done this many time over. What has changed is what medium those stream rides on.
Rad. You are correct. We have been here before! And yeah Printshare was similar. I think that AirPrint works directly with the printer over http and eliminates the need for a driver on the local device due to being able to just package up the commands and send them over the air.
I await the day when we are not so dependent on limited device drivers and the like. It’s really a step backwards
I’m going to buy an ipad for taking notes in class. I’m planning to buy a wireless printer too for printing notes directly from ipad & for that purpose an Air Print enabled printer would be required. I was wondering if HP Deskjet 3050 wireless would do the job.
I know its not in the air print enabled printers list on the apple site but still if it works then pls let me know. thanks
Hi There Faisal –
I looked and that model is still not listed as being supported by AirPrint. Now, there are a few things you could do. You could use Printer Sharing and have your Mac or PC Share it out on your network and then use Airprint with an app called FingerPrint or Printopia. But if you want true Airprint printing then the HP “E” series are currently the only ones that do it.
If I want to set up a printer in my car will I be able to set up the printer and print using only my 3G. If that is possible I could also use some ideas on a compact printer that might work. No one has been able to answer that for me and I would like to no for sure before I buy the printer.
Tim,
Hi. Thanks for the comment. There is a solution you can use yes. An app that is perfect for printing via 3G, WiFi or bluetooth (recommended) is PrintCentral. It will let you print using just about every method possible. I would highly recommend Bluetooth for mobile printing. Here is the link:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/printcentral-for-ipad/id366020849?mt=8
For the printer, I would use one of the HP mobile printers that seem to be the least cost and best quality….here is one that would work. You will need to get the bluetooth adapter for it but, all in all, it will allow you to print from your iPad in your car
Printer:
http://www.amazon.com/HP-OfficeJet-H470-Mobile-Printer/dp/B0010Z3KZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296103476&sr=8-1
Bluetooth Adapter:
http://www.amazon.com/HP-bt500-Network-adapter-Bluetooth/dp/B001F0R1CY/ref=pd_sim_e_6
I hope that helps?
Shane,
We have a number of HP P2055dn printers, is it possible to send documents from an iPAD to print or is it just those wireless printers you listed above?
Thanks
Mark
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the comment. Yes, it is definitely possible but you will have to do this via “Print Sharing” and an app. The way this works is that you share the printer on one of your computers and then you use an app that makes AirPrint think that your printer is compatible. There are a few of these apps and one in particular is called Printopia (it’s in the app store)!
Does that help?
Shane,
Thanks for the quick response. Are there any apps that do what Printopia do?
Mark
Hi Mark – Sorry…I was going to leave a link for an app but you reminded me!
Here is one called Print Sharing:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/print-sharing/id408978604?mt=8
It’s $2.99 and you can see the list of features.
You can enable AirPrint feature to any printer for free with AirPrint Activator v2.0
http://netputing.com/airprintactivator/airprint-activator-v2-0/
Thanks by the way for the response to my question earlier. I bought the printer that you recommended to me and the Bluetooth USB for it and just got everything today. Everything seems great but for some reason I cannot get my iPad to find the the printer. I went to settings and then to general. I turned on the Bluetooth and it just sits there and thinks but won’t find the printer. I then tried to find the printer with my cell phone and that worked fine so I am guessing it has to do with my iPad not the printer. Any suggestions on what this could be?
Thanks
Hi Tim. Let me try this with mine again and see if I can duplicate the same thing you are seeing
Hey Shane, I was just checking to see if you had found out anything on the problem that I was having. I was also thinking maybe I could go to the apple store, but last time I went they did not seem like they had much info on the whole printing thing yet. I also found that my iPad was able to find my phone through the Bluetooth so I’m wondering if it is just not able to find that particular Bluetooth USB that I bought for the printer.
Hi Tim!
Whew…glad you sent me that comment….I nearly lost track of time. Few questions….you got the Printopia app right? and did you put the printer in “shared mode” with your computer or did you just do the wireless USB option??? I did find some things to try, yes.
I meant PrintCentral, not Printopia….
I do have the printcentral app. I went with the wireless usb option (the bluetooth one) and I cant figure out why my Ipad will no even recognize it. When I switch the bluetooth setting on and just keeps serching for devices and never finds the printer.
Tim….apparently this ability was supposed to be native in iOS 4.2 – but now they are saying iOS 4.3 (a few weeks away)…anyway….with the HP and Bluetooth adapter, if you go to this link:
http://mobile.eurosmartz.com/downloads/downloads_index.html
Download the WePrint software on your computer and then you can use it to get the iPad talking to the bluetooth and thus printing….and apparently, once that happens you don’t need the computer anymore….thus…being able to be mobile
Thanks, Im going to give all that a shot tonight or tomorrow and see if i can not get that to work.
Let me know Tim what happens…..sorry this is such a huge deal just to print!
i have a question about ipad airprint. let say if , i dont have any of the airprint model which means the hp printer… and i used a modem that connected to the home phone cord to have internet. does it mean that i need change it to wireless and buy the apple airport extreme to print out my documents?”
sorry for my horrible english! im not a english mother tongue. english is my second language…
Hi there and thanks for the comment – I don’t mind at all about the english, it seems perfect to me
You are correct. If you do not have an HP printer that officially supports AirPrint then you will need to have a printer that you can either share with your Mac or PC, or get an App (such as Printopia) that will let you print to it. But you will need a wireless network for all this to happen.
Since you have a modem, then it should be pretty easy to get a linksys or other model of Wireless access point and then you will plug the modem into the “internet” port on the wireless router and that should give you what you need.
Just remember also to follow the directions with your wireless router to keep people from using it and taking your internet bandwidth
thanks anyway..
got somethings that keeps bugging my mind…
which one is better ipad 1st generation or the second?
I feel the second generation is better…and that’s based on me using the new one since it came out the first of march. I like it because it’s lighter, thinner, and definitely faster.
Shane,
You have great information in this review BTW, thanks.
I’m trying to print from my iPad2 to my Samsung ML-1915 printer (non AirPrint printer).
I have it connected to my AirPort Express through USB. The AirPort is Client mode to my home wireless network. My Windows Laptops can print to it without problems but my iPad cannot find it.
I assume, from what I’ve read here, it’s because this is not an AirPrint printer.
So, I would need to either need to share this rpinter through my PC and install one of those apps you mentioned, or get an app installed on the iPad which could see my printer?
I have tried Samsung Mobile Print but it doesn’t seem to work, because it doesn’t have my printer in the list of supported printers.
Do you know of another app that might work on the iPad2 for this printer?
I’d rather not have to move my PC closer to my printer (the whole point of getting the AirPort Express
)
Mako