May 19, 2012

AirPrint-Compatible: HP Photosmart e-All-in-One Line

I’m trying to determine which AirPrint printer is best prior to selecting one for home. I first turned my attention to the basic Photosmart e all-in-one printers. These range from the cheap D110A (street price under $100) to the fax-capable Photosmart Premium offering.

Which AirPrint Printer Is Best?

The Envy 100 is a pretty face on a pretty basic printer

Apple’s AirPrint technology hasn’t gone very far yet, but it promises to allow iOS devices like the iPad and iPhone to reach more-broadly into the realm of general computing. After all, who doesn’t need to print a document or photo occasionally? But the range of AirPrint-compatible printers is exceedingly limited: You have to choose from one of less than a dozen HP models! Since I’m an avid iPad user and my printer just gave up the ghost, I decided to take a look at the offerings.

Back From the Pile: Interesting Links, December 3, 2010

My regular series resumes this week.

Is The iPad Compatible With SDXC and ExFAT Cards?

Uh, oh: The iPad sees ExFAT as damaged media!

After Apple added SDXC and ExFAT compatibility to Mac OS X in 10.6.5, I got to wondering if they had added similar compatibility to the iPad in iOS 4.2.1. Although the hardware reader is probably not SDXC-capable, it wouldn’t have been too hard to add the ExFAT driver from Mac OS X to iOS. Then, the iPad could import from SD cards formatted as ExFAT and USB-connected cameras.

Eleven Tech Trends To Watch In 2011

2011 will look pretty much like 2010 apart from the differences...

Prognostication is a perilous business, but pundits are drawn to the topic in the month of December. The fact that most predictions fall on their faces demonstrates the intoxicating mix of hope, dreams, and irrationality that mark both geniuses and fools. I am neither, so I like to make predictions after the fact! But this year I’ve been asked to look to the future, so I’ll stick with the safe road and pick current trends rather than guessing what I hope will come.

Do Not Buy Weird, Cheap, Off-Brand Android Tablets!

Off-brand tablets like this Maylong M-150 aren't even worth $99!

I’ve already said it a few times, but let’s just make it absolutely clear: Do not buy weird, cheap, off-brand Android tablets! Until a real iPad competitor comes along, it makes little sense to spend money on any Android tablet, and zero sense to buy a cheap, junky one from Walgreens, eBay, or anywhere else. Especially if you plan to give it away as a gift!

The Best Black Friday Deals For Nerds Like Me (2010 Edition)

Not all advertised items are really that special!

Holiday shopping in the USA traditionally kicks off with “Black Friday”, the day after Thanksgiving. Although not quite the bonanza it’s rumored to be, many retailers do offer compelling Black Friday deals. Here are my favorites for 2010.

The Tablet Wasteland and the iPad Oasis

Is this really the best the world can offer to unseat Apple's mighty iPad?

Last year, as the pre-release hype around the iPad was reaching its peak, dozens of companies announced their own tablet computers or “pads”. Some predicted doom for Apple’s device even before it was released. After all, how could premium-priced Apple compete with the volume PC makers and all the factories in China? Pretty well, it turns out. Almost a year later, no tablet has even come close to Apple’s mighty iPad, and it currently boasts 95% market share. Where are the iPad killers?

The End of Unlimited Data – Part 2: Who’s Being Subsidized?

Expensive unlimited data plans enrich the carriers and benefit few customers

The end of unlimited data is nigh! As I discussed in yesterday’s post, AT&T’s announcement of limited data packages at lower prices has everyone up in arms. But the switch to a-la carte data is a positive move for everyone involved, including AT&T, the customer, and the US wireless phone industry as a whole.

Instapaper for iPad and iPhone Enhances My Web World

Instapaper Icon

One of my favorite iPad and iPhone apps is Instapaper. Like the iPad itself, Instapaper seems almost foolishly simple and derivative until you experience it. Then it becomes something else entirely: A product so useful you may ask yourself “how did I ever get along without this?”