NetGear Genie’s user interface for mobile printing.
For more information on the NetGear Genie App, visit www.netgear.com/genie.
Our Take
Genie sounds cool but an analysis of the feature set tells us that since a USB-connected printer can process AirPrint jobs via Genie, there is software running on the PC that directs the incoming AirPrint job to the printer. It also means that a PC needs to be running with print drivers installed in order for Genie to do its thing. Remote printing solutions such as HP ePrint and AirPrint only require that a printer is installed on a network with Internet access–a running PC and/or print drivers on either end are not required.
Keep in mind that AirPrint only functions with printers connected to a local wireless network that you have access to. The only thing that is “remote” about it is that you can print wirelessly and most mobile device users who need to print are thankful that they can even print in the first place. It seems to us that a $99 HP Officejet 4620 e-AiO with AirPrint/ePrint compatibility is a better solution that allows you to print from any iOS application that supports share-to-e-mail, not just those that feature AirPrint capability. Plus, HP ePrint is truy a “remote” printing solution because you can send print jobs to your ePrint capable printer from anywhere and from any e-mail capable device, and you don’t need a PC running nor print drivers installed on anything. Finally, in case you don’t know: Apple, not developers determines which apps support AirPrint, so its implementation is inconsistent between apps–even Apple’s in-house apps–so the ability to print via share-to-e-mail/ePrint neatly fills in the “printing gaps in the apps.”
In summary, NetGear Genie is a free workaround for iOS users who cannot afford a $99 AirPrint/ePrint capable printer and don’t mind having a PC up and running 24/7.
