Smartphone printer

Applications
#9

Yes smartphone printer is not a real term, it was mainly to use an easy-to-figure expression for this kind of printer.
I was, as you said, talking about these mini-printers, connected by bluetooth, that you can find everywhere now.
And as you said also, it looks problematic.

To be more precise, I’m looking for a pocket printer that I can travel with, with my (paper) notebook and my phone, nothing more.
That’s why I was looking to these small printers.
To be even more precise, a thermal printer would be event better.
At the moment, it seems to be the same problem than the ink’s ones, All I could find, thermal or not, are authenticating and working through Bluetooth…

I maybe use the wrong keywords (English is not my native language), but even using IPP as part of the research, I can’t get something that could be working with Seaprint…

#10

I double-checked a bit, but found nothing new.
Canon Selphy 1200/1300/1500 should work are kind of portable. And seeing as many of the pocketable ones have very tiny printable area anyway, perhaps the Brother VC-500W comes close (no battery though).

#11

Curiosity got the better of me and I searched aliexpress for “portable printer” to see examples of what @kuronoyurei was describing. Man, those are goofy looking, and the descriptions are priceless: “Mini Printer” for “Photos, Mistakes, Notes”. Don’t think I’d feel comfortable or confident installing an app to operate one of these, if indeed, I had a phone that could “app” at all.

But, someone called werwolv reverse-enginered the iffy sounding Chinese BLE print app: Thermal Printer BLE Protocol reverse engineering | WerWolv

It’s in python and uses BLEAK library, which is available on SFOS python3. And he’s got source on github.

Could be a project for someone wanting to use a Chinese pocket-sized thermal printer with a goofy pink cat face with Sailfish. Print all the “Wrong titles” and “Wrong Questions” you like on the road.

4 Likes
#12

I have a friend who is using a Canon Selphy since years and his photos are holding very well in the time.

Ok, it’s not the photographer’s nirvana but a rather good solution for ‘developping’ some nice pictures.

I’d really whish this could work on SFOS natively.
Maybe the app would work with Android App Support as it connects through wifi, IIRC.

#13

If it connects via wifi it might work with seaprint. If you know someone who owns it you could try it.

#14

The specs even look very promising, which i noted. So i don’t get why @ric9k seems so pessimistic. Maybe i’m missing something.

#15

Hi, My daughter use the Canon Shelpy 1300 and it works fine with Seaprint - a lot more smooth than all apps that Canon suggests.

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#16

1080×2520 703 KB

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#17

Had the same curiosity, kinda impressive as i found a printer on aliexpress for 39€, which is just a little more than the price for a canon selphy bag on amazon

It kinda makes me laugh because i’m completely against the use of shady chinese products but i can see why people are buying those, because they cost 3 times less a canon selphy (that surely does a better job), and people are forgiving those really shady apps…

#18

Cool, I just bought the CP1200 which seems to be identical but with a smaller display. I had missed having any photo printing. And being able to battery power it is great. Postcards on the road! I’ll report back when I’ve tested! Correction CP1500.

1 Like
#19

You are right, all these proprietay “standards” in every sector tend to make me a bit pessimistic.
But I didn’t want to sound so.
It would be wonderfull if one photo prinet would work with your app.

#20

Yes, as soon as possible but he’s 500km away. As my friend’s friend had difficulties to install it on Android, I didn’t even think of trying on Sailfish.

1 Like
#21

For printing it is not actually that bad. I was honestly surprised too!
The PWG claims 98% of new network connected printers support IPP.
They are a bit iffy on whether they also mean with sensible formats.

I’m guessing they don’t for that to line up with my experience (Epson existing), but even so that puts the total at or above 90%.

Not bad at all! Some little bit of consumer advocacy, and that last part might just go away.

1 Like
#22

These are good news!
And how can we deduce if the printer can be used directly with the phone or if it needs a wifi network in between?

#23

If you are asking whether the printer can act as an access point; it either just plain says that - but primarily that is what WiFi-Direct signifies.

#24

Yes, that is it. And if Sailprint can manage them with Wifi-direct or are there other specs to verify?

#25

Actually my Epson printer works pretty well with sailprint

#26

If the printer acts as Access Point I suppose SailPrint could work and print. Does printer provide DHCP server or you have to set manual IP? If sailfish detects any printer it will appear in the list-first screen. I have to add for sailprint that I was able to print only when I was connected to the same Access Point the Canon printer was connected too. If I was trying from different access point it didn’t work. Never checked to find why…

1 Like
#27

Ok, so I received my Selphy CP1500 and can report that it’s success with ipp available on the local network. Haven’t tried direct print yet. Yeah! The quality of prints is quiet good!

Sadly, there are network issues with the volla22/GS5/rephone. But it works fine with the GS290/volla and the experia 10iii. shows up as ipps://xxx/ipp/print

Thanks @attah!

4 Likes
#28

@ric9k , @davidrasch

SeaPrint, like that other printing system, only fishier.

As for managing; that is an unspecific term.
It can print to them same as over a network provided by some other access point, yes.
Still subject aforementioned compatibility concerns.

Not all Epsons - but some.