Apple AirPrint coming to iPad, some iPod, iPhone devices in November

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What good is a computer in your hands if you can’t print your valuable documents from it?

Apple CEO Steve Jobs agrees.

According to an Apple press release, AirPrint, which will allow the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch to print documents, will be included in November’s free iOS 4.2 software update.

“AirPrint automatically finds 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,” the release stated. “AirPrint is designed to support a wide range of printers from entry level inkjet printers to office laser printers. Additionally, iOS 4.2 devices can print to printers shared through a Mac or a PC.”

However, not all generations of the iPhone and iPod Touch are compatible with AirPrint — only the iPhone 4, 3GS, and the iPod Touch, third generation and later.

Aside from AirPrint’s ability to access printers on shared networks, Hewlett Packard’s “ePrint” enabled printers will allow for direct interaction with iOS devices like the iPad and iPhone.

iPad interest

West Branch junior Aaron Antcliff said he’s had his eye on the iPad since its release, but was turned off by the device’s inability to print.

“That has been my primary reason for not getting an iPad,” he said. “I could take notes on it, but if I can’t print those notes from the iPad, it’s kind of useless because I’m not going to use the iPad to study with. I just didn’t want another entertainment device.”

Antcliff said iPads are more practical than laptops for mobile use because they are smaller, lightweight and have longer-lasting batteries.

“I definitely think that iPad will revolutionize computing as long as they get themselves up to the level where people can use them to print and do their everyday work with them,” he said.

Once AirPrint and the iOS 4.2 software update is available for the iPad, Antcliff said he will consider getting one.

“I’m going to kind of wait and see what the reaction is to it,” he said. “Like a lot of these devices, it’s best to kind of sit back, wait and watch for about a month. I want to see how it works before I clunk down $700 on a brand new iPad.”

PrintQ compatibility

Antcliff said he’s worried AirPrint won’t be compatible with CMU’s PrintQ system and hopes the feature can be used to print on campus.

Jeff McDowell, information technology help desk manager, said he is unfamiliar with Apple’s AirPrint software and is unsure of its compatibility with the PrintQ system.

“I don’t know how that would jive with PrintQ though, we run another piece of software to run that and we’d have to see how those mesh together,” he said. “It will be really hard to determine what we can do that until we get one in our hands and can test it.”

In a follow-up e-mailed response, McDowell said AirPrint’s design may be incompatible with some printers on campus.

“Overall I can say that enablement of printing from personal laptops is on the long term road map for services offered through campus labs, and allowing printing from iOS devices is certainly related to that goal,” he said.

“Nothing stands out initially that would prevent students in the residence halls and apartments from using AirPrint with their own personal printers.”