Mac OS 10.6.5 and the AirPrint controversy (Update: hack it to work)

Yesterday Apple released Mac OS 10.6.5 via Software update. The update includes the usual raft of improvements and bug fixes, but it’s what isn’t in 10.6.5 — namely AirPrint — that’s raising some eyebrows.

AirPrint automatically finds printers on local networks and allows you to print wirelessly over Wi-Fi without installing software. AirPrint requires a compatible printer or sharing a printer with a Mac running 10.6.5. You’ll see the dialog in Safari, Mail, and a handful of other native apps.

From the Apple press release:

AirPrint is Apple’s powerful new printing architecture that matches the simplicity of iOS—no set up, no configuration, no printer drivers and no software to download… iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users can simply tap to print their documents or photos wirelessly to an HP ePrint printer or to a printer shared on a Mac or PC.

Apple announced the feature at its iPod media event in September saying that it would roll out to iOS devices in November. New information indicates that shared printer support may have been dropped – taking away a major AirPrint feature that was previously promised.

Developers report that all AirPrint references were recently removed from seed notes, the iOS 4.2 features page, and from Apple’s iOS developer documentation. MacRumors notes that AirPrint is not working from devices running the iOS 4.2 GM seed to printers shared via Macs running 10.6.5.

But don’t panic. Steve Jobs tells a MacRumors forum member that “AirPrint has not been pulled. Don’t believe everything you read”

Let’s hope that Apple quickly releases updates to both Mac OS 10.6.5 and iOS 4.2 with full AirPrint (and AirPlay) support.

Update: Ars Technica reports that Developer Steven Troughton-Smith found a way to reenable shared printer support.

The full list of improvements in 10.6.5, according to Apple, follows…

• Improves reliability with Microsoft Exchange servers.
• Addresses performance of some image-processing operations in iPhoto and Aperture.
• Addresses stability and performance of graphics applications and games.
• Resolves a delay between print jobs.
• Addresses a printing issue for some HP printers connected to an AirPort Extreme.
• Resolves an issue when dragging contacts from Address Book to iCal.
• Addresses an issue in which dragging an item from a stack causes the Dock to not automatically hide.
• Resolves an issue in which Wikipedia information may not display correctly in Dictionary.
• Improves performance of MainStage on certain Macs.
• Resolves spacing issues with OpenType fonts.
• Improves reliability with some Bluetooth braille displays.
• Resolves a VoiceOver issue when browsing some websites with Safari 5.
• Improves Bluetooth pairing with Magic Trackpad.
• Resolves performance issues with third-party displays that use InstaPort technology.
• Add SSL support for transferring files with iDisk.
• Resolves an issue when opening 4-up Photo Booth pictures in Preview.
• Addresses keyboard responsiveness issues in the Dock when Spaces is turned on.
• Resolves an issue syncing Address Book with Google.
• Fixes an issue when replying to a Mail message sent by a person whose name contains certain characters such as é or ü.
• Improves performance for users bound to an Active Directory domain.
• Improves reliability of Ethernet connections.
• Systems with a Mac Pro RAID Card (Early 2009) installed can now be put to sleep.
• Improves reliability of fibre channel connections, resolving a potential Xsan volume availability issue.
• Adds RAW image compatibility for additional digital cameras.