Printing from a computer
is the traditional defacto way of printing but with the onset of smartphones,
there is an increasing need for a new kind of printing application. The
increasing use of the smart phone has extended the traditional phone’s sphere into
business and pleasure so much that we now need to be able to print directly
from our phones to printers, without having to download first onto a computer.
Several new applications are now on the market that allow us to do just that.
Print n Share
A newly upgraded product
out on the market for the Ipad and iPhone is allowing the printing of all sorts
of documents and pictures that used to require you to physically transfer files
to a computer first. This new product is called Print n Share and its available
for a very reasonable price ($9,99).
Features of the Print n
Share Application
The Print n Share
application will allow you to print from you Ipad or iPhone to a wide range of
different printers directly via Wi-Fi or through a network. It will also
allow for wireless downloading of files to either a Mac or a PC, from which you
can then print to any printer. No longer will you have to connect your
phone to a printer, or email your pictures, or calendar to your desktop in
order to print these items out.
It also makes it
possible to print these items out to any printer, which have USB or Bluetooth
functionality. This is an interesting product that can save a lot of time and
it is currently in its fifth version showing it has some stability and history.
It is necessary to
install a free product called WePrint on
any computer that will be communicating with Print n Share. Since this is a
free app, the only problem is making sure the product is installed on any
computers you wish to print on.
Users Feedback:
The user feedback seems
to be very positive. As the product is specifically made for the Ipad and
iPhone there isn’t that confusion which sometimes arises with android products.
Users have generally accepted the price since it’s a small cost compare to the
functions the app can do.
Generally, the only
issue seems to be the need to install the WePrint software on all computers,
which will need to operate with the printers using the Print n Share
application. There is still some confusion about this, and it would be
beneficial if the application suppliers could indicate more succinctly, what is
required for Wi-Fi printing.
Pros:
- No confusion as it only works with Apple products
- Version 5 means a more mature product
- Once WePrint installed, 3G/4G works as well
- Download of files directly, wirelessly to computers
Cons:
- Requirement of installing WePrint on all computers connected to printers used for printing including Wi-Fi printers
- Does not work with older printers or older versions of Apple products
PrintShare Mobile
Do you need to print business cards, photos,
, flyers or simple documents? Here's what you can do with PrintShare Mobile
($12,8 with the premium key)
Features
The PrintShare Mobile
app works with the Apple IPhone, Ipad and IPods and with certain Android phones
and tablets. It offers a free version, which allows you to test to see if
it will work with your brand of phone or tablet.
This application will
allow you to print to any printer anywhere in the world, not just your own
printer. It will perform what it calls nearby printing, which is printing
using Wi-Fi, or your Local Area network. It also has Remote Printing via
the internet. You do not need to plug your phone into a printer; you can
simply select a device and print to it. This app provides a large list of
printer types on which it can operate. However, it will select the type most
suitable if it does not have your particular choice in its repertoire.
When using the Remote
printing option, you must connect to a computer, and sign into the PrinterShare
application, select the printer of your choice and print. It is necessary for
the computer you are printing from to have the application installed too.
If it does not, then you cannot use that printer, via that computer.
Users Feedback
Users seem to be equally
divided between those who are relatively happy with the product and those who
are very unhappy with the product. For instance, because of the limited
viability of the free version of the product, it put off many people. However,
those who purchased the full version found it worked well with iPhone and some
androids, and tablets. With others like the Kindle Fire, the product did
not function at all, or did not function correctly.
Pros
- Is Relatively Inexpensive
- Allows printing via Wi-Fi to local printers
Cons
- Free Product does not work with anything except Google Cloud
- Many up-to-date printers are not listed on available printer list
- Program must be loaded onto computers for Remote printing
Author Bio:
Steven
writes for various technology blogs where he shares his expertise on iphone and
android applications. He also often reviews internet services like online printing, photo sharing and cloud storage. You can find him @stevenpapas
and on Google +.