I had a question come up from one of my customers recently about configuring icons at the front panel of HP MFPs.  I figured this would be a good opportunity to do up a brief video (10 mins) showing how to hide/display icons as well as offer alternate languages for multi-lingual envirponments.  These settings were at the devices already of course (although you may need to update your firmware).  But the ability to configure fleet-wide was just introduced in recently with HP Web Jetadmin 10.2 and later.

Use HP Web Jetadmin 10.2 or later to configure MFP Home Screens Click Here to launch the video Please note that clicking the link above will redirect you towards my personal website (a non-HP website) where the video I have created is hosted.

Take care and happy new year!  B,

This is just a quick note to share that DSS 4.16 released a while ago and it's only now that I've been able to update and catch-up on the blog entries.  New features and will address customer issues resolved and identified through HP's support and escalation personnel are documented in the "Read Me"  I've shared below on my personal site (as the release notes for this product are not published like other HP products on the download site):

http://www.briankneebone.com/docs/copiedfromhp/dss/v4-16/dss-4-16-readme.rtf

In my last DSS-related article I pointed out, thanks to Dave G. for pointing out, that the downloaded file was an ISO.  This latest version is back to being a ZIP file, so no need for additional software to mount as a drive or burn to CD is required.

Currently DSS is supported only in Windows 2K, 2K3 (including R2) and XP environments, 32-bit only.  Although support for newer OS' is coming sometime in 2010.  Also, it took me a while to get posting on 4.16's update, so DSS 4.17 is just around the corner in case you'd prefer to wait for that release.  You'll see a post come from me when it's available on the HP.com portal.  Download the latest version of HP MFP Digital Sending Software from Hewlett-Packard.

Take care, B.

The HP Universal Print Driver 5 released earlier this summer.  A maintenance release of this version corrects some items listed in the "Breaking News" tab of the HP Universal Print Driver site.  Please review the following sources of information:

• Detailed release notes for the original HP Universal Print Driver 5.0 launch


• NEW: Universal Print Driver System Administrator's Guide


• Other documents for WTS, Citrix and Cluster environments published under the "Documents" tab of the UPD site.


• Compatibility with plug-and-play as well as print language support for devices under the "Specifications" tab of the UPD site.

As always, if you have questions for new or existing product, please consult the support resource your sales team provided to you.  If you have not been working with an HP Sales representative for enhanced support, call 1-800-HP-INVENT.  Regards, B.

As many IT administrators know, the launch of Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Server 2008 R2 are quickly coming around the corner.  The MS Windows 7 wide release comes on the 22nd of October, 2009.  I know most of my customers are looking forward to this release from Microsoft.  Administrators managing devices such as printers, scanners, multifunction and all-in-one products will likely want to plan for compatibility and readiness.

Commercial LaserJet, Color LaserJet and Edgeline Drivers:

Customers who have moved to simplify their deployed drivers on print servers and clients are in good shape with the HP Universal Print Driver.  While they may be fine with earlier versions, officially support from HP comes with the current 5.0 version (www.hp.com/go/universalprintdriver).  Specifications on what hardware models are supported by this print driver and method of connectivity are listed on the "Specifications" tab from the UPD's website.  For administrators sharing drivers from print servers or hosting as direct-IP or USB connections for compatible devices, this is a good option and the recommended one to go with by Hewlett-Packard in most cases.

Other Imaging and Printing Products including printers, scanners, all-in-one's, etc.:

HP has posted a Windows 7 readiness portal at www.hp.com/go/win7.  It’s been recently updated with the link for “HP Imaging and Printing Software and Driver Information for Windows® 7”.  Click this link to see if your product is (or will be) supported in the Windows 7 environment.  Consider the following:

• Right now the device list looks relatively complete and detailed.  If you do not see your device there, talk with your HP sales representative as you plan for fleet deployments or contact your support contact for confirmations if required on what is or is not supported.  There are always options for unsupported devices, including trade-up programs and seasonal trade-in promotions.


• Customers will not see download links for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 drivers just yet on the HP portal, but the Windows 7 Readiness portal advises: "HP Software & Driver downloads will be available closer to the official release of Windows® 7, which is scheduled for October 22, 2009."  Customers can expect to see those download links appear as the URL advised closer to the launch date.

Kind regards, B.

UPDATE (01-OCT-2009): Customers will start seeing links on download locations appearing for HP's commercial products like Laserjet, Color LaserJet and Edgeline devices showing "Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit)" and "Microsoft Windows 7 (64-bit)".  There's not much content there yet, but as I start to see drivers post for various products I'll advise.  No such links exist yet for the consumer and small business and commercial direct-attached oriented products like DeskJet and OfficeJet products, but when I see stuff, I'll advise. Don't forget the "Windows Update" feature for many drivers which are already available for distribution from Microsoft documented here: www.hp.com/go/win7.

Apple's "Snow Leopard", which released on Friday, updates the Mac OS X platform to version 10.6.  Here are the Apple and HP resources available to help determine compatibility for your select models plus some of the refinements related to print which Apple mentions.

Mac OS 10.6 compatible HP devices and drivers are listed on Apple's Website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3669#HP

According to Apple's "What's New" section, Snow Leopard sports the following major enhancement that is definitely note worthy here:

Automatic updates for printer drivers.
Snow Leopard makes sure you always have the most up-to-date driver so you can get the most from your printer. When you plug in a printer, Mac OS X can download the latest driver available over the Internet. And it periodically checks to make sure it has the latest driver. If not, it downloads the newest version through Software Update. Easy.

Source: http://www.apple.com/macosx/refinements/ (30 AUG 2009)

More information is available in the following knowledge base article from Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3771

For those interested in optionally downloading the 10.6 Drivers from Apple's website (outside of the Apple Software Update), visit the following URL: http://support.apple.com/downloads/HP_Printer_Drivers_for_Mac_OS_X_v10_6.  Note that generally in the past I've always recommended my customers to download drivers and software from HP for Windows and Macintosh platforms at www.hp.com/go/support).  And while the HP "Mac Connect" site still shows 10.5 information (understandable given this recent 10.6 update only just launched), there is other really great information there about HP and Apple compatibility for printers, media servers, etc.: http://www.hp.com/go/mac-connect.

I haven't tested the Apple versus HP distributed drivers myself so I'd be curious to see what the differences are (if any).  Post your comments and feedback if you have information based on your experiences you'd care to share.  Thanks, B.

--

UPDATE (5 SEP 2009): I've had to take the unprecidented approach of closing comments for this particular article.  As with any major operating system change, check to validate compatibility of your drivers.  HP has posted a support URL here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01664444&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

Several people have reported incompatibility with devices which are indeed supported.  I can only encourage you to call into HP's support line and work with a technical support representative to resolve your issues - that's what they're there for.  Listed devices will show whether there's full (including scanning) support or only partial (print only) support.  If your device is not listed or only partially supported, it may indeed be unsupported although there are indications on various non-HP sites implying success by downloading the drivers for 10.5 (Leopard).

As a reminder, this weblog is put up for large commercial audiences with a managed IT environment.  My primary audience would normally observe prudent testing before deployment of a new OS and release to their environment only once drivers (including printers and scanners) are found to be compatible.  In some cases, this may never come to be depending on the age and market the device is sold into so for consumers who happen to find the blog through a search engine, I would simply recommend similar cautious steps.  Before you purchase and deploy the major OS upgrade from Apple, check the vendor sites for compatibility.  Both Apple and HP have support URLs highlighting what is and is not compatible with their new platform.  Where possible HP indicates where it is attempting to update drivers from the support URL above.  Thanks and regards, B.