The ability to print files from iOS may well be enough to make Printopia a worthy purchase, but the app also has more to offer. Alternatively your printer could be connected to your base station or router. Remember that you need to have your printer connected to a Mac which is both online and accessible to your iOS device - ideal if you have an always-on Mac Mini or an Airport Express network where your printer is connected directly to the Airport Express. You can opt to customise the size of paper used when printing from iOS, but there is really very little configuration needed. There is no need to configure printer sharing - the app just works. Select the Print option from an app on your iPhone or iPad and any printers that are connected to your Mac will be automatically detected and displayed. Whether you are working with a USB printer connected directly to your Mac, or a wireless printer connected to a network, Printopia enables you to share your printer so it can be used by iOS. But appearances can be deceptive, and in a matter of seconds you can start printing all manner of documents from your iOS devices. The app installs quickly as a system preferences pane, and the simplicity of the interface may initially lead you to believe that there is not a great deal to look forward to.
PRINTOPIA WINDOWS FOR MAC
Unlike AirPrint, which has been found to be very fussy about which printers it will work with, Printopia for Mac can be used with virtually any printer regardless of make or model. Using Printopia for Mac, it is possible to share the printer that you have connected to your Mac so it can be used by your iPad or iPhone. The ability to print documents from iOS is something that huge numbers of iPhone and iPad owners have been waiting for - it was a feature implemented by Apple when AirPrint was added, but this proved to be less than ideal for many users.