iOS 4.2 features: AirPrint in action

By Rene Ritchie
last updated

AirPrint is Apple’s wireless printing service. By the time it ships with iOS 4.2, it should be able to send pages from your iPad or iPhone to almost any printer on the same Wi-Fi network, or to certain printers directly (HP ePrint have already been announced). Needless to say, this answers one huge piece of previously missing functionality. (The one it doesn’t answer, and still isn’t answered, is easier file transfer and sync).

Currently, in order to test AirPrint, you need iOS 4.2 beta, Mac OS X 10.6.5 beta, and a network attached printer. Oliver Haslam from the I-Blog had all three so he put together a video, after the break.

For more, check out our complete iOS 4.2 for iPad walkthrough.

Rene Ritchie
Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.

17 Comments
  • What's with the music?
  • Yeah, what's up with the music? Product demonstrations like this shouldn't have soundtracks--it's distracting and there's no subject matter that requires music to highlight a dramatic or emotional or comedic moment. Just narration, no?
  • The music is just annoying.
  • Was that annoying music really necessary? I couldn't make it past seven seconds of the cough review. How exactly does that add to the message you're trying to convey?
  • Come on, people -- what's with the whining…?! If you find the music so utterly annoying just mute the video…! ;)
    My problem with the demonstration is that it's not really useful though…! You see an iPad that is all set up and the guy prints a page, that's all…?! What steps do you take to set it up…? Which printers are currently supported…? Should regular wireless printers work…? All those questions answered would have been way more interesting than to just watch someone print a page…
  • AirPrint will be huge. It's the selling point of iPad coversions for all of our field workers in our enterprise here.
  • Sweet.
  • I agree that the success of AirPrint will be directly tied to the number of supported printers and the ease of setup. Apple has designed iOS with the "it just works" mantra in mind. Printer setup, especially wireless or network printing, has long been a huge pain to most non-techies (and even some techies). If Apple can get AirPrint right, that will be one of the biggest innovations of the platform.
  • Does it print from the Mail App too???
  • I also have all 3 and printed as well. I posted my experience in the iPad Forum! It is a welcome feature!
  • My only issue is if I have to have my Mac connected to the same network, why don't I just print from my Mac. I'd love to print from my iPad but don't want to always have to have my Mac there to sometimes I leave it at the office and no chance I'm buying a hp inkjet just for air print
  • I agree with Geoff. I have a WiFi Epson Workforce 600 and don't want to be tied to a PC (or my future Mac purchase) just to print. I don't see any reason why a driver or firmware update to higher end printers can't be provided.
  • oocwfdszjuvmcrygkyk, space heaters, YCoRgwhI.
  • I can't even get " find my iphone" to work let alone AirPrint. I have an Epson app that let's me print pictures but I still can't figure out how to print emails.
  • that music is by Phoenix! an awesome band! ...even if it doesn't quite go with the demo.
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