Patrick Travers asks:
As an ignorant, but willing old dinosaur, I need to print travel documents etc. Do I have to stick to my Windows Vista laptop or have I any options with Transformer, please. Thanks for your time and (hopefully) help.
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I’ve never done it personally, but have come across this topic while researching an Android compatible Bluetooth keyboard.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Because the Android OS doesn’t support printers and keyboards by default, a little bit of preparation and tweaking is necessary. First, you need a compatible printer (as you’ve correctly guessed), which supports ESC P-R (http://global.epson.com/innovation/universal_printing/index.html#america), an inter-operable printing language. Second, you need the right application (http://www.appbrain.com/app/bluetxt-text-printer/com.mymobilegear.bluetxt), however aside from the one I’ve linked to, which hasn’t been rated yet, there doesn’t appear to be much support for printing anything aside from photos and BlueTxT only prints .TXT files). Then, third, setting it all up to work together, which can be a hassle, but usually isn’t too difficult.
So to recap, the kind of printer you’re looking for should be compatible with the app (which all use the ESC P-R language). To my knowledge, the only application that supports document printing from ESC P-R printers is BlueTxT, but it has problems. It’s new and so hasn’t been rated; it only prints pure text documents. Although there’s also some apps that print photos, but as of yet, to my knowledge, none can print MSOffice documents, without a great deal of intermediary steps.
Good luck!
Thank you kindly, I’m trying to digest all of your advice. One thing is certain, you’ve planted hope where there wasn’t a glimmer!!
Something else:
Brother makes a variety of printers that appear to cater to your specific needs. They also supply their own app (there’s a QR code available), which handles both images and PDFs. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other manufacturers out there who had similar products on the market.
http://www.brother-usa.com/downloads/android-app-printing.aspx
I’m definitely going to buy one of these printers in the near future.
Thanks a million!
After additional research, I don’t think Brother’s printer app is the answer to your issue (or mine for that matter), unfortunately.
What we’re looking for is a Bluetooth-based (as opposed to WiFi) solution. A WiFi solution would require that a wireless network be used and a network requires that a router be available. Worst of all, it requires that the printer be hooked directly up to the router, thus making it cumbersome for your mobile purposes.
Bluetooth, on the other hand, allows for directly pairing a printer with your Android device. Something I forgot to mention, the Transformer uses the Android operating system, in case you didn’t know (you probably did). So the aforementioned BlueTxT app + a compatible Epson printer should be able to do at least part of what you need (print .TXT and photos).
That said, Google Offers its own cloud printing service (http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/p/cloudprint.html) which basically does what Brother’s network printing app does, but without the narrow selection of printers. It would however, require a device capable of running the Chrome browser, which as of yet the Transformer does not have access to (to my knowledge).
I have used an app – Printbot. Very simple to setup
How can i get it chasmith. honestly this topic is a graet challenge in android OS. Kindly direct me as i need toprint a travelling doc urgently.
Thanks
Thank you Chas!
how to print wireless with transformer
You can print with the Transformer, but it requires some setting up. Google recently introduced a cloud-printing service, but it takes a little setting up to do correctly, unless you have one of those new cloud-print ready printers. Cloud Print is compatible with almost all Android devices (like the Transformer). The directions are here:
http://www.google.com/cloudprint/learn/
Google Play (Market):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pauloslf.cloudprint&hl=en
There are several requirements: (1) there must be a computer connected to the network and a printer must be attached to that computer; (2) you must install the cloud print app on your Transformer (3) you must have the Chrome browser on your desktop and it should be open; (4) the browser and app must be configured to use the print service.
The configuration process is relatively simple:
1. Install the Google Play link in your browser on the Transformer.
2. Follow these directions: http://support.google.com/cloudprint/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1686197&p=mkt_classic
3. Remember to register your printer with Google’s service. If you have any problems, let me know.