What is it:
AirPrint Activator v2.0 is the next generation software that will be compatible with OSX Lion. It is a complete re-write of the original v1 version and no longer depend on Apple’s support of AirPrint inside the OS.
What that mean is that even if Apple remove support for AirPrint in future OSX update it will keep running.
Local and remote printers:
Run AirPrint Activator on your Mac to share local and network attached printers to an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch running iOS 4.2 or newer. AirPrint Activator listen to all local network printer advertisements and make them available via AirPrint. If it is shared and visible by your Mac it will be advertised.
Free and Safe:
There are other solutions out there but they either cost $$$ or will require your password to modify your Mac’s system files. AirPrint Activator requires neither (unless you want to donate a little something).
Easy to use:
AirPrint Activator is also the easiest thing use! Simply download it, unzip it, run it and turn AirPrint on. That’s it! No need to install the application and manually select printers like other solutions. Simply run and forget!
Download:
Download the latest beta version compatible with intel based OSX Lion (10.7) and OSX Snow Leopard (10.6):
AirPrint Activator v2.2b4 (OS X 10.6-10.7 intel 64bit)
Previous version:
AirPrint Activator v2.2b3 (OS X 10.6-10.7 intel 64bit)
AirPrint Activator v2.2b2 (OS X 10.6-10.7 intel 64bit)
AirPrint Activator v2.2b1 (OSX 10.6-10.7 intel 64bit)
AirPrint Activator v2.1b7 (OS X 10.5-10.7 intel 32/64bit)
AirPrint Activator v2.0b13 (universal)
Notes:
If you have been using the previous version of AirPrint Activator (v1.x.x) make sure to disable AirPrint with the previous version, remove and add back all your shared printers and then run the new AirPrint Activator version 2.
Known Issues:
1. Duplex Printing is supported as an experimental option under the Advanced settings. It may result in page appearing to be printed but nothing actually printing. If this happen simply turn the option off.
2. Stealth mode OSX firewall will prevent the application from properly working.
3. If you get an error message about the Installer not being able to install AirPrint Activator here is what to do:
- Right click on the installer
- Select “Show Package Contents”
- Go in Contents / Resources
- Double click on “AirPrintActivatorPrefs.prefpane
- Select to install for one user
For some reason the installer can’t perform the needed actions on some user system. The work around is to manually install the System Preference pane using the method described above.
Installation:
Follow this short video howto for v2.2b1:
Follow this short video howto for v2.1b7:
Firewall Configuration (only needed for v2.1b7 or below. v2.2b1+ will handle firewall without user intervention)
Follow this video tutorial on how to make AirPrintActivator work when the OSX Firewall is turned ON:
Support:
You can report issues with AirPrint Activator in this forum.
FAQ:
Q: Do I need to install something on my iDevice?
A: No, only make sure your iDevice is running iOS 4.2 and above
Q: I turned my Mac off and I can’t print anymore via AirPrint. Why?
A: Your iDevice require that your Mac be running for AirPrint Shared printers to be available.
Q: I have enabled AirPrint via AirPrint Activator v2 but my printer is not showing on my iDevice?
A: Make sure you are “sharing” your printer:
Change log:
v2.2b4 (May 15 2012):
- Bug fix release. Fis issue with Stealth mode report and annoying “New version” warning.
v2.2b3 (May 12 2012):
- Introduction of an advanced option to enable Duplex printing when your printer support it. It may or may not work.
- Improved installer that will now show “Update” if you already have a previous copy of AirPrint Activator installed.
v2.2b2 (April 28 2012):
- Fix a bug that would prevent the removal of a printer from the list when it was no longer shared
- Improved installer. You can now uninstall the application through the installer application.
- Complete change on how that application automatically start at login. Now uses common Login Items approach.
- Better handling of cleanup activities if one remove the application from the System Preferences while it is active.
- Many more under the hood improvements.
v2.2b1 (April 24 2012):
- Completely re-written AirPrintActivator Daemon. There is no more need for the helper application ‘aparedir’. Good riddance!
- AirPrint Activator GUI has been replaced by a System Preference application.
- An installer application is now provided for easy one step process.
v2.1b7 (March 31 2012):
-Added a function to remove “Duplex advertisement from printers to hopefully resolve “Duplex” printing issue..
v2.1b6 (March 17 2012):
-Made it possible to use the Advanced button while AirPrintActivator is ON.
-Changed the application default to only share local printers instead of all visible printers on the network.
-Minor interface fixes
v2.1b4 (December 6 2011):
-Added the ability to restart the application every 10 minutes under the advanced settings.
-Other bug fixes
v2.1b2 (September 11 2011):
-Removed message about Firewall as this new version can run properly with the Firewall turned ON as long as the “aparedir” helper is added to the list of allowed applications in the advanced section of the OSX Firewall.
v2.1b1 (September 5 2011):
- new design to be firewall friendly (simply add the aparedir located in the helper folder to the allowed applications in the Firewall)
- fix an issue with firewall detection on non Lion systems
v2.0b16 (August 13 2011):
- newly compiled under XCode 4.1.1
- added a new warning window that let you know if the OSX Firewall is on and what consequence this might have on APA2
v2.0b14 (May 4 2011):
- fix small issue with printer combined name length that exceed 63 chars
- added a warning when the presence of an old V1 installation is detected
v2.0b13 (April 26 2011):
- fix issue reported with name lenght that exceed 63 chars. I decided to redute the max lenght to 60 chars to be safe.
- New toggle Switch UI that should remove confusion about what was on and what was off
- Fixed a bug with the proxy support for wireless printers.
- Fixed a bug with the preference file creation under Lion
- Added an option to disable the auto-cleanup feature of the daemon (don’t use this please)
- Special Universal (PPC/intel) version using a 10.5 base SDK for older systems
v2.0b12 (April 22 2011):
- New and improved GUI
- New method for hostname detection that should fix issues reported by some when using hostnames with spaces and non alpha numerical characters.
v2.0b11 (April 21 2011):
- Added a new advanced feature to disable the sharing of non local printers
- New method of detecting local hostname that might resolve some issues experienced by a few users
- Cleanup the code to make use of more OBJ-C Class.
v2.0b10 (April 11 2011):
- Fixed a bug with long printer names. Printer names that would exceed 63 chars would not be shared. I now truncate it to 63 chars to fit within the Bonjour name length limit. Thanks to James Cheng for reporting this problem.
v2.0b9 (April 10 2011):
- Added support for non local printers.
- Probably added some bugs in the process ;-(
v2.0b8 (March 23 2011):
- Fixed a bug that would turn off AirPrint during logoff… not very good. AirPrint will now properly start after a logoff/login operation.
v2.0b7 (March 19 2011):
-Added the ability to customize the text prefix in front of the printer name
-Changed the application folder existence check routing in case a folder get deleted.
v2.0b6:
-Fixed an issue for new Mac account that miss some required directories
-Added a verification routine that will prevent two users from running AirPrint Activator on the same system
-Added some error message regarding failure to activate AirPrint
Legal Mumbo Jumbo:
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED FOR THIS PRODUCT. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL BERNARD MALTAIS, OR HIS HEIRS, OR ASSIGNS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.