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BEAR Contracts a Print/Copy/Solution to Gold Coast City Council
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on: 06/04/2012
BEAR is pleased to be have been selected to provide our print and copy payment solution coupled with Pharos Signup PC Reservation to Gold Coast City Council Libraries (https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/library/). The solution will enable library patrons across 11 library sites to print documents via follow me printing, copy documents on a fleet of Ricoh MFDs and reserve PCs [...]
Have You Heard of the WWF Format?
by:
on: 08/08/2011
I was at the beach recently with a friend and our kids. The inevitable shop talk started up and during the conversation I was asked what I though of the new WWF file format. Not knowing too much about the format I decided some research was in order. At a basic level its a document format that does not allow [...]
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One of the most common questions we are asked in recent times is “Can users print from their iPhone or iPad using CMSIP?”. Currently the answer is not yet, but we are working on solutions now that Apple has released AirPrint and we understand their printing strategy (to date) a little better.
Here are some of the issues that we need to address when printing from iOS 3/4 devices.
Printing Via WebSubmit
Initially printing via WebSubmit was to be how we were seeking to provide this functionality. In this instance users would log onto a website, authenticate using a variety of methods and upload their documents for printing. To do this WebSubmit requires the user to upload a document selected from a file location of the computer (workstation, laptop etc) to the print server. Apple does not provide access to a file structure on their iOS powered devices and further more Apple has stated in a recent publication (the publication laid out the guidelines about what apps will be approved and what won’t) that:
2.6 Apps that read or write data outside its designated container area will be rejected
Because a WebSubmit application would look across other application containers to find documents this would rule such an app out from being approved.
Printing via AirPrint
Devices using iOS 4.2 were provided with AirPrint that allows printing via the ePrint protocol to devices supporting this protocol. Currently devices supporting this protocol represent only a limited number of HP devices and while this number will certainly grow it won’t meet everyones needs. Originally shared pritning through Apple and Windows devices was to be available but Apple pulled this from the iOS4.2 release.
So Where To With Printing For These Devices?
At BEAR we have looked long and hard at the requirements and where Apple is heading with printing on the iOS powered devices. Our vision is for the provision of solution that will be as open as possible, simple to use, cross platform and still functional. The direction we are heading towards is an emailing process where users will email their documents to a CMSIP print server. Once the document is received the user will be sent a unique url link to the document where they can view the document, log onto their CMSIP account, choose output options and view the final document cost. On final submission by the user the document will then be sent through the normal BEAR CMSIP print process with accurate charging and reporting being performed. This solution does have a number of steps involved to perform a single print but considering the platform it will be designed for we are not expecting users to be attempting to print a large number of document during a session from a mobile device.
As more details become available we will be sure to post.
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gezhang - on January 25, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Apple (IPONE/IPOD/IPAD) Printing looks like more popular and in discussion , For accounting system , not simple as there is not only printing , but also including identification , cost ,charge , report etc . especially for identity management . I have found a App in applestore named as : Print n Share , can support IPHONE/IPAD printing based on Bounjour protocol or By server printing , but for authentication , it is difficult . if by server , will record only login name currently on server .
Kier Morrison - on January 31, 2011 at 10:48 am
Thanks GeZhang.
I agree on all your points. While there are printing applications out in the market authentication/identification of the user is the key component when used with account systems.
We will keep working to find a solution through!
Kier
ncairns - on March 7, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Hi Kier,
Do the same restrictions you outline for iPhone/iPads apply to Android smartphones as well?
Kier Morrison - on June 6, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Hi Neil,
The same restrictions do not exist on Android platforms either in phone or tablet forms.