Tag Archives: bluetooth printer

iPhone Photographers Print Without The Need Of A Computer

After a photograph is captured with the iPhone, there are many ways to share the image with others via social share or cloud storage. While, it’s a very digital world now for photos, there is still a need to be able to print the photos too. Most people will sync their iPhone photo library to a computers which can then print, but that can be a limited line of thinking when the iPhone allows so much mobility.

I have covered a couple printers in the past that I have and use regularly. Along with physical mobile printing options, there are also online printing services available to use with the need of a computer. Everyone knows to think through both price and portability of the printing solution. First on my list though is the resulting image print. What the prints will be used for will impact the final choice.

Jumping right to the point, here is a snapshot of a few of the printing outputs available for the iPhone –

iPhone prints

A: The wireless CP900 from Canon. The prints are the size of a postcard, with the option to print full bleed or with a boarder. The paper is either Canon Branded back or with a mailing postcard marking (text area, address area and stamp box). Printing involves the paper automatically passing through the printer 4 times to layer the colors and protective surface on.

B and B: Two examples of printing through the LG PD233. It is the most portable printer being barely larger than the iPhone, using bluetooth, and the ZINK active paper. Kids love being able to have a little print right away from something that fits in a pocket (takes about a minute). QR barcode can automatically be added if the image is also uploaded to a social share service.

C: Just for reference, a real Polaroid print from a OneTouch Land Camera.

D: Printic service printed. The service charges less than a dollar per print uploaded from the iPhone, the service prints and mails in a nice envelope. Text can be added to the photo via the app too. The quality is very nice, but it isn’t instant gratification.

E: StickyGram is an online printing service. This is an example of their Instagram magnets (9 different per sheet). It can be accessed via the iPhone browser. The magnets are only one of the many printings that are offered using a person’s Instagram photos.

F: Another ‘for example’, this is an print from the current Polaroid camera, like the Canon uses Zink paper.

G: Not shown, Prinstagram has an iPhone app (called Print Studio) to select the print size and format (small/large cards and small/large photo books) and photos. They offer as many print sizes and formats as there is examples above. Again, not for instant gratification but provides a nice quality product.

LG Introduces An iPhone Bluetooth Version Of The Polaroid ZINK Pocket Printer

I outlined the fun I’m having with the Canon wireless printer earlier (Canon SELPHY CP900 Wireless Printer and an iPhone is my modern Polaroid). While the printer is small and has an optional battery pack, it isn’t ‘pocket’ size. Polaroid introduced ink free printing with their ZINK paper. I played with it on my Polaroid Z2300 Camera/Printer… a boxy camera that has the option to print any photos you choose directly on paper cards inside of the camera. Polaroid also has a line of printers using the same technology, the CZA (often called the Pogo at local stores like BestBuy). Bad news for iOS device users is that the printer only supports Android devices.

01 Polaroid ZINK Printer

In a magazine out of the UK, I noticed that LG said they were producing a line of ZINK based Pocket Printers. When I looked around, I found on Amazon two models available, the PD221 and PD233. Both of these printers claim they are for Android only, like the Polaroid manufactured version.

02 LG Pocket Printer for the iPhone

Visiting LG’s site, I found that LG is showing the PD233 now works with iOS devices via their free universal app! It would appear we can now send photos from our iPhones (and iPads) to the LG PD233 for printing via Bluetooth.

03 LG Pocket Printer iPhone

The iOS app does allow for some editing, stamps, sharing on Social sites, and adding QR codes. Uh, QR codes? Yup, use the app to upload a photo to Facebook, then print that photo with your LG Pocket Printer to include a QR code for people to jump from the Printed version to the online version.

A few facts from the LG Product page:

  • Bluetooth – Yes
  • Micro USB – Yes
  • USB Host – Yes
  • NFC Tag – Yes
  • Resolution – 640 ｘ 1224 pixels
  • Print speed – 40sec/ Per paper
  • Battery type – Li-Polymer(7.4V , 500mA)
  • Charge time – 1 and 30 hour
  • Print number – 20sheet (After fully charge, connect BT) 15sheet (After fully charge, connect USB)
  • Printer size (W x H x D) – 72.4 x 120.9 x 24.0 mm

Androids have the ability to send to the printer via a tap using NFC, I wonder if iOS7 might get an upgrade to include the PD233 in their options to ‘send to’.