One of the most frustrating aspects of iOS 4.2 and OS X 10.6.5 is how Apple’s new wireless printing standard, AirPrint, was gimped at the last minute from running on pretty much every shared network printer connected to a Mac to only officially supported on 11 AirPrint-compatible printers.
One iPad owner named Stan was so frustrated, in fact, that he wrote to Steve Jobs. “You got me all hyped about AirPrint. Now with iOS 4.2 released, I find out that I can only print on 11 select printers. Seriously?!”
Seriously, replies Steve, before reassuring Stan that the move to driverless, wireless printing is a vast undertaking, and that iOS 4.2’s AirPrint support is only the first step.
“Lots more coming soon,” Steve Jobs replied. “It’s what it takes to make a giant leap to driverless printing, which is huge.”
I hear Steve, but anyone else feel like maybe Apple bought off a bit more than it could chew with iOS 4.2? AirPrint, after all, isn’t the only new wireless technology to be scaled back in scope in the latest version of iOS: AirPlay has also been scaled back from working within certain apps, and on the iPhone 3G. When you promise the world, then under deliver, you’re bound to disappoint your customers, even if what you’ve delivered is so much better than what they had before.
[via 9to5Mac]
