Several years ago, there was a brilliant app that took advantage of Apple’s AirPrint app to let you print documents to PDF. However, Apple later removed the Print to PDF app from the iOS App Store, claiming that it doesn’t comply with Apple’s app regulations.
Now, the apps available are more limited and don’t do the job as simply as Print to PDF could, but they’ll still get the job done. We might see some more useful apps emerging once iOS 8 arrives, as Apple has introduced a new extensions feature that may enable app developers to bring back some of the functionality that the Print to PDF app once offered. For now though, these three apps will do the trick.
PDF Printer (£3.99) lets you convert content such as photos, notes, web pages and more into PDF files, which will be stored in the app’s document manager and can also be uploaded to cloud storage services such as Dropbox or Google Drive. The PDFs can be printed via AirPrint, shared via AirDrop, or shared by many other means including email.
To PDF might help you do the trick for free, as it has several conversion functions available in its free version. However, if you want to get the full feature set to make converting simpler and more powerful, you’ll want to cough up the £4.99 for the in-app purchase that unlocks them.
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Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t print from your iPhone or iPad. If you have a printer with Wi-Fi it is likely to be a cinch to print off photos, emails, documents or Safari pages form your iPhone or iPad.
A cinch, that is, if your printer supports AirPrint, which is Apple’s printing standard. But don’t worry if you don’t , as there are further options for printing from iPhone or iPad.
- Thinking of buying a new printer? Check out the best deals right now .
How to print from iPad or iPhone using AirPrint
To use AirPrint, you’ll need either an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. You’ll also need an AirPrint-enabled printer, a list of which can be found here . All of the major printer makers have AirPrint printers, and if you have a recent wireless printer it is likely to be AirPrint enabled.
Printing from your iPhone or iPad is very simple. Just make sure your printer is on and connected to Wi-Fi.
Now choose whatever you want to print in Mail, Safari, Notes, Photos or any of the other apps that have the sharing icon. This can be a square with an arrow pointing out of it, or just a curved arrow. Sometimes you have to tap three dots to see extra options which include the sharing icon.
When you see the sharing screen, Print should be in the bottom row (which is scrollable).
Tap Print and you’ll now see Printer Options along with a preview of what will be printed. The first time you print you’ll need to hit select printer. Your iPhone or iPad will then scan for a local AirPrint printer.
Select the one you want to use (likely to be the only printer shown in the list, but do watch out for your neighbours’ printers if they’re close by!), choose the number of copies and hit Print. It’s that simple.
How to print from iPad or iPhone if you don’t have an AirPrint printer
There are some third-party apps that’ll help you if you don’t have an AirPrint printer. PrintCentral is one that comes recommended.
They all work in a similar way. There’ll be a browser that allows you to see the files on your iPhone or iPad. You install some client software on your PC in order to physically connect up the printer to the iPhone/iPad so that they can see each other, and from there you can press print. It’s not idea, but it’s a solution nonetheless.
Finally, a simpler way of connecting printer to iPhone or iPad is offered via dedicated apps from printer makers such as HP ePrint, Xerox Print Portal, and Epson iPrint. These work much more like AirPrint, the app talks to the printer and off you go. So have a look in your app store to see if your printer manufacturer has an app that works with your printer.
Author: Matt Egan, Global Content Director, Foundry
Matt Egan is Global Content Director of Foundry, publisher of Tech Advisor, and a passionate technology fan who writes on subjects as diverse as smartphones, internet security, social media and Windows.
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