Apple has unveiled a new wireless printing technology that will allow iPhones, iPads and iPod touches to print without recourse to drivers or other software.
AirPrint will work with any compatible printer on the local network: primarily HP’s existing and upcoming ePrint-enabled printers but also, Apple says, any printer shared using the Mac’s built-in printer sharing feature.
“AirPrint is Apple’s powerful new printing architecture that matches the simplicity of iOS — no set up, no configuration, no printer drivers and no software to download,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing. “iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users can simply tap to print their documents or photos wirelessly to an HP ePrint printer or to a printer shared on a Mac or PC.”
AirPrint has been released to developers as part of the first beta of iOS 4.2, the next update to Apple’s mobile software platform. The update will be the first version of iOS 4 available for the iPad, unifying the software on all iOS devices, when publicly released in November.
AirPrint will work with iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and the third- and fourth-generation iPod touch.
