HP announces new mobile and 3D printing capabilities

For those running HP printers and scanners alongside their Macs, the company on Thursday announced a series of new products at its Imaging and Printing Conference 2011. The new developers are aimed at helping both HP’s home and business consumers adopt mobile and 3D printing.

With the popularity of tablets and smartphones, HP is broadening its support for printing directly from mobile devices. Supported HP printers can now run HP ePrint Wireless Direct, meaning users can print from mobile devices via a peer-to-peer connection, all without the need of network or Internet access.

Those with iPhones running iOS 4.2 or greater can take advantage of the new HP Printer Control app, which allows complete wireless control of a printer. Users can scan photos and documents directly from a supported HP scanner to Facebook or Google Docs via their mobile phone, as well as being able to scan directly into an email message. The app can also monitor the printer’s status, so no one will ever run out of ink at a crucial moment. The release date for the app is yet to be confirmed by HP.

Users hoping for a more basic app can download the free HP ePrint Home and Biz app for iOS, Android, or Symbian phones and tablets. The app, due out later this month, allows even simpler printing of documents and images from their mobile devices.

For those who want to capture 3D objects, as well as scan without losing quality, the HP TopShot LaserJet Pro M275 may fit the bill. The scanner can capture six different images of a document or 3D object and compile them into one seamless image. It’s also compatible with Apple’s AirPrint functionality and other wireless printing systems. The printer will be released in November, although no price or exact date has been confirmed.

For more information on these and other mobile and 3D printing products announced at the Imaging and Printing Conference visit HP’s Innovation for Impact page.