Lantronix’s xPrintServer Network Edition print server is the size of a deck of cards.
“Once plugged into the network, it makes all recognized network printers on the current subnet available to any iOS device (running iOS 4.2 or later) also on that subnet,” Galen Gruman reports for InfoWorld. “There’s zero configuration needed for the print server, nor any configuration or app installation on the iOS device.”
“Printers simply show up in the printer list from any iOS app with a Print option in its Share menu,” Gruman reports. “It’s truly plug-and-play. And it just works.”
Gruman reports, “Because you can plug the xPrintServer into any Ethernet jack, you can install it practically anywhere you have a power outlet and Ethernet… The Web administration features should also put IT at ease with the xPrintServer; in fact, you’ll buy a lot of goodwill from users if you install an xPrintServer once the product is commercially available this winter. Even better, it will cost just $149.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Lantronix’s xPrintServer – Network Edition (XPS1001NE-01) is available for pre-order today (US$149.95), shipping in this calendar quarter. More info here
Printopia, for twenty bucks, works great…. I just used it as this article arrived….
http://www.ecamm.com/mac/printopia/
AirPrint Activator is free. All you need is this software running one a Mac on the subnet and it will show all the shared printers from the Mac.
Isn’t AirPrint Activator limited to just iOS 4.2.1 devices?
Works fine on my 5.0.1 devices, used it yesterday to print out a coupon from my iPhone.
AirPrint Activator worked for me… (free is good)
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/35969/airprint-activator
I don’t get it. If you have an iPad, why would you want a paper copy of what is already on your thin, light weight large screen device? I haven’t used a printer for at least 5 years and am happy having digital copies on my MacBook, iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Get off the paper kick.
This past weekend I used Fandango to book some movie tickets. The barcoded “tickets” were to be printed out and brought to the theater. Had to use the laptop instead of iPad app. There ARE times that printing is desired.
There are still many instances where some of us need documents printed off. In my case it’s at my job for a natural gas company. Not on the consumer side as it is all digital, but on the employees side it is not. I can think of many more instances other than mine for the need of paper copies. Paper kick…Really?
Dude, don’t be so myopic. I love the idea of saving paper and going digital as much as possible, but one size does not fit all, sometimes a hard copy is needed, is easier, or just makes sense. Here’s a few reasons that I can easily think of.
Print coupons/tickets (Some companies may actually collect the coupon/ticket rather than just scanning a bar code)
Print a map or any other info that you may need when your out and about (paper folds up easily into a pocket & no electricity is required)
Print a copy of whatever info I want to give someone (who maybe doesn’t have a gadget with them at the moment to forward the info to)
So, while I go paperless whenever possible, paper still has it’s advantages over an iPad or any other gadget, it’s light, it folds up nicely, it doesn’t need electricity, it can get wet or dirty, it’s disposable, etc…
They will develop a true paperless office about the time they invent a paperless bathroom.
Already there, lad, with Toto…
So, the iOS devices aren’t computers. Really? They got screens, can have keyboards, they work with printers, great device for editing and creating digital content and media, … Isn’t that what a computer does? It just does some stuff better than those desk top PCs and lap top PCs. I remember when my old Apple IIe was a computer. Much more limited. Maybe Apple and Steve Jobs never made those first Personal Computers if we keep letting them change the definition of what a computer is. A computer is not just a dumb box running Windows OS.
All the pre iPad tablets were considered computers, The computer was redefined so Apple wouldn’t be the largest computer maker in the world in terms of units and perhaps revenues.
Why is AirPrint so limited? Did HP back-off on licensing after the announcement?
The demo made it look like *all* printers would work if there was a Mac present to act as an intermediary, and some new ones would come with it built-in.
I wouldn’t call it limited, the number of supporting printers grow rapidly…
What you are referring to about needing a Mac present was available only in the beta version of iOS 4, but was turned off when it went GM. AirPrint Activator adds that functionality back in.
The reason Air Print is limited is that Apple is de-emphasizing the Macs in the home. If you can print directly to the printer you don’t need a Mac. You can also see this trend in the Airport utility app for IOS. You can use and configure an Airport Extreme without a Mac. I use AirPrint Activator Btw since I have a server in the house.