Requirements
For a full list of supported printer models please refer to end of this post
Android Version 2.1 or later (Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab, etc.) or iOS Version 3.2 or later (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad)
Tested on Samsung Galaxy Ace GT-I8160 and Samsung CLP-310
The views and opinions in the article are based on my personal experience and may differ from yours.
Impressions
Some of my most traumatic computing experiences have involved wireless networking, so I was somewhat sceptical of Samsung’s promise of ease of use. However, after spending at most 30 seconds in the app I was connected and ready to print!
The user interface is clear and intuitive; to locate and connect to a printer took two clicks. The printer overview concisely displays the essentials such as printer status, ink levels and I.P. address.
The settings page provides all the usual information and options we’ve come to expect, including but not limited to paper size, type, no. of copies and double-sided printing.
I found the gallery interface under print somewhat clunky, but feel this may be because it is optimised for tablets and smartphones with larger screens with higher resolutions.
It took me less than a minute from taking a picture to printing and was pleasantly surprised by the results, but not my photography skills
The scan feature may be redundant to some users who have a LCD screen built into their laser multi-function printer, as my limited understanding of scanning tells me you have to be within touching distance of the printer in the first place to position the document on the flatbed. Regardless it is a neat feature for those who wish to preview a scanning job without accessing a computer.
- Printer overview page for Samsung Print App
I like the Samsung Mobile Printing App as an example of well-designed, user-friendly software. The fact it is free for both home and commercial use is cool too, I can only assume is their business plan is it will gently convince Samsung smartphone users to purchase a Samsung printer or vice versa.
The fact there is versions of the app on both Android and iOS, with as far as I know the same functionality massively increase the audience. A colleague let me have a quick look at the version on his iPhone and from what I experienced appears to offer exactly the same ease-of-use and clarity.
So a free app that is well-designed requires no commercial license and no micro-transactions, what’s the catch I hear you cry! I personally struggle to see how the Samsung Mobile Printing app would significantly increase productivity in an office environment. If the Mobile Printing app provides much more functionality than existing printing solutions you’re probably doing it wrong.
When I was researching for this piece I read several reviews where people have brought Samsung printers with this app in mind and then struggled to get the software to work. I cannot emphasise enough, as cool as this app is DO NOT build your business printing solution around it.
Regardless, if you already have the required hardware and fancy something to impress customers or the cute I.T techie then give it a go. If you are thinking of using this in a home environment with your existing Samsung laser printer then I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Have you had any experience with Samsung mobile print app? If so we would love to hear your opinions and comments.
Supported Printer Model List: (Samsung)
- M2020/2070/283x/288x/262x/282x/267x/287x/4370/5370/4580 Series
- C410/460/1810/1860/2620/2670/140x/145x/4820 Series
- CLP-300/31x/32x/350/360/610/620/660/670/680/770/775 Series
- CLX-216x/316x/317x/318x/838x/854x/9252/9352/92x1/93x1 Series
- ML-1865W/2150/2160/2165/2250/2525/257x/2580/285x/2950/305x/3300/347x/331x/371x/405x/455x/551x/651x Series
- SCX-1490/2000/320x/340x/4623/4x21/4x24/4x26/4x28/470x/472x/4x33/5x35/5x37/6545/6555/8030/8040/8123/8128 Series
- SF-650, SF-760 Series
Keywords
Samsung laser printer
Samsung MFP; multifunction printer
Mobile Printing App
Wireless printing
Smartphone; Android, iPhone, iOS
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