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Apple Adds Printing to iPads

Apple Computer will be adding the ability to print from iPads with its iOS 4.2 update, coming in November. The software is currently being beta tested.

Dubbed AirPrint (possibly because the iPrint moniker is held by Novell), the system will allow users to print wirelessly via a Wi-Fi network without installing any drivers. The printer has to be connected to a running PC or Mac, or contains wireless hardware compatible with AirPrint. At the moment, only HP has signed on to produce AirPrint-compatible printers.

The omission of printing is striking as Apple offers its iWork productivity suite, which includes a word processor and spreadsheet editor for the tablet device, as well as bluetooth keyboard compatibility.