Could the iPad connect to like a canon wireless printer?

[Inception]

Could the iPad connect to like a canon wireless printer? i've never heard of it, but can it happen?

 

[robertlc]

I have a wireless printer that's not one of the official HP printers the iPad can print directly to.

I use the Print Central app to print to it and it does fine.

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

No problem - and love your intro....


Apple have their own proprietary printing protocol called 'AirPrint'. Only a few printers support it at present - HP is one of those that do and you can see if your model is on the list at the Apple web site

Apple - iPad - Print right from your iPad with AirPrint.


If it is there, then you can print directly under iOS 4.2 and 4.3 from apps that support in-app printing, such as Apple's iPad iWorks suite ('Pages', 'Numbers' and 'Keynote'). Not all apps support in-app printing, so you need to check out whether the app you're interested in does. For example, Apple's native iPad 'Calendar' app does not support in-app printing.

If your printer is not on the list then there are third-party apps that can help. Some printer manufacturers have released apps for PCs with their printers connected (i.e. Lexmark). On these models, an app on your PC or Mac 'pretends' to be an AirPrint printer and the app translates the AirPrint printing protocol into a form that the printer understands.

However, there are standalone apps for the iPad and 'Print N Share' is one of the best known. It can print directly from the iPad to a WiFi printer without any PC being involved. It does this by 'pretending' to be an AirPrint printer. It then, similar to the previous case, translates the AirPrint printing protocol to a form that your printer understands.

Most all WiFi equipped printers are supported by 'Print N Share' but even those few that are not are able to print via a PC using, again, a small (free) app that's available from the developers of 'Print N Share'. Once again, this app sits on your PC or Mac and links your iPad to the printer via your PC - meaning, too, that the printer can be WiFi, USB or even Bluetooth. The downside is that the PC has to be switched on.

One 'issue' that sometimes confounds users of 'Print N Share' is that this only works under iOS 4.2 or 4.3 - the iPad's 'multi-tasking' operating system (OS). 'Print N Share' needs to be loaded and running before you can print!! So, if you're going to be doing some printing, you need to first of all fire up 'Print N Share' and leave it running in the background. You can check whether it is running by double tapping the iPad's 'Home' button, to see the tasks that are 'loaded' in the 'Multi-task' menu bar. For various reasons, it's helpful if 'Print N Share' was loaded quite recently. If you haven't printed for a while, use the multi-task bar to 're-activate' it.

Hope this helps, but don't hesitate to post any more detailed questions that you might have.

Tim
Scotland

 

[Beerman]

Check with the printer manufacture. I have an Epson and I see that there is an app for their All in One's available. (Haven't tried it yet but a friend has)

It appears Cannon has one.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/canon-easy-photoprint/id331269951?mt=8#

 

[Cord]

There is a Canon Easy Photo Print App in the App Store that supports about 10 Canon printers for printing photos only - no doc printing......

 

[speedlever]

I've used these instructions to successfully enable iPad printing to non-Airprint printers (Canon MX860, HP 7780).

 

[Beerman]

I downloaded iPrint from Epson which correctly found and identified my Artison 810 but, just a test, trying to print an email and choosing the Print option tells me no printers were found.
The app has it's own screen to select Documents, photos, web pages etc but can I assume it can only print thru it's own app or should it not be able to use the print function (option) in any program?
The Epson site is not helpful at all. The app is free and you get what you pay for.

 

[DAS99]

I found a program via U-Tube called Fingerprint. You find it on Google. They have a trial so you can see if it works. I have a Canon MX860. You download it on your computer (not the iPad). Ipad or any mobile device find any printers you have so you can print direct. I had bought WePrint but found it will not print emails nor does it distinguish photos from documents. For USD 9.99 it is fantastic and much cheaper than buying an air printer.

 

[cailean]

There is a netgear app that will enable airprinting for any printer. But the program must running on your PC for it to work

Netgear updates its Genie app to make even the loneliest printer AirPrint compatible -- Engadget

 

[speedlever]

I just tried Genie and for printing, it requires iTunes and Acrobat reader to be installed. I don't use Acrobat, so it won't work for me.

 

[FlowerpotsUnite]

Hi Tim
will print and share app allow me to print without my laptop bn on?
Thanks
F

 

[dottie_79]

Could the iPad connect to like a canon wireless printer? i've never heard of it, but can it happen?

I don't understand this statement. Is it because of the make of the printer? I have a Hewlett Packard 8500 which is wireless. It prints beautifully.
I was told by a sales rep. From HP that a tech would have to talk me through making it wireless. I just thought I would try myself just to see what would happen. I just clicked on PRINT and that.'s all it took. I am so pleased with the mini iPad and all that it is capable of. Does the make of the wireless make a difference?

 

[The OB]

I don't understand this statement. Is it because of the make of the printer? I have a Hewlett Packard 8500 which is wireless. It prints beautifully.
I was told by a sales rep. From HP that a tech would have to talk me through making it wireless. I just thought I would try myself just to see what would happen. I just clicked on PRINT and that.'s all it took. I am so pleased with the mini iPad and all that it is capable of. Does the make of the wireless make a difference?

Hi dottie. I bet you are pleased to have used your own initiative to set up wireless printing without any techies help.
You are referring to a post of over 2 1/2 years ago about printing with non-air print printers (with following answers to that) Printers have come a long way since then with Air print facilities introduced by all the popular brands. The set-up steps may vary somewhat according to the brand but, as you have found, today it's quite easy to buy a printer to give you wireless printing.
Andrew



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