Apple posts updated printer drivers, post OS X 10.6, and 10.6.1 releases

[ben schmidt]

Based on the OS X 10.6 Support downloads section at Apple, here is the time on the printer driver updates:

• HP Printer Drivers for Mac OS X v10.6, released Sept 10, 2009
• Mac OS X v10.6.1 Update, released Sept 10, 2009, presumably has the HP update released earlier the same day
• Canon Printer Drivers for Mac OS X v10.6, released Sept 11, 2009
• Brother Printer Drivers for Mac OS X v10.6, released Sept 11, 2009

The blogosphere seems to be of the opinion that when Apple shipped OS X on Aug 28th, they caught many developers by surprise -- they had expected the release would have been towards the end of September, giving them more time to finish off their own preparations.

...b

PS. The links above are for reference. The updates should be available using the normal Apple Software Update... menu item under the Apple logo on your Mac.

[ben schmidt]

A related article in MacWorld, September 11, 2009:

• HP adds Snow Leopard printer drivers after customer complaints, http://www.macworld.com/article/142768/2009/09/hp_snow_leopard.html
• HP instructions on using its all-in-one printer/scanners with Snow Leopard, http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01846935&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN
• HP driver update from Apple's site, http://support.apple.com/downloads/HP_Printer_Drivers_for_Mac_OS_X_v10_6

Excerpts:
HP's Spillers recommended that users update to Mac OS X 10.6.1 before applying the separate driver update. Make sure that the printer is turned on and connected via [a] USB cable before launching Apple Software Update, said Spillers in an e-mail reply to questions.

Spillers also said that there has been confusion about how owners of HP all-in-one devices -- which both print and scan, and in some cases also fax, documents -- get their hardware to work with Snow Leopard. The other interesting thing I've found is trying to educate customers on the new scan interface for HP inkjet All-in-Ones that we've integrated with Snow Leopard, he said.

Apple built support into Snow Leopard for some printer makers' all-in-one devices, adding the functionality to the Image Capture application. HP has posted instructions on how to use its all-in-one printer/scanner hardware with Snow Leopard on its customer support site.