The source code to Printers+ has been released as open source by RISCOS Ltd. This was originally announced back in September 2002 and, true to their word (and better late than never), the source and some technical documents are now available. Printers+ provides a number of enhanced features over the standard RISC OS Printers application, including support for remote network printers, advanced printer configuration applications. No pre-built version has been made freely available to the public yet (only Select subscribers are provided the latest version) but there's nothing to stop you downloading the source code and building it yourself.

Update: As the sourceforge release covers the Printers+ front-end but not the PDumper back-ends the generated application will not contain the necessary PDumper modules. In order to build a fully working version it is necessary to copy the contents of the Modules and PDumpers directories from an existing copy of Printers+. A skeleton Printers+ application has now been released containing the required extras.

Meanwhile Castle's printer manager has popped up (that's a pun, that is) on RISCOS Ltd's legacy Acorn FTP site. Pop Up Printers builds upon older versions of !Printers offering USB connectivity and simplified configuration, but doesn't have the networking capability of Printers+.

So, thanks to the unique way that RISC OS is funded, we've now got two different printer managers each with unique features. But the fact that Castle and RISCOS Ltd have collaborated to release the pop up version is a good sign politically, and the release of the Printers+ source code provides developers with the necessaries to add the missing features, given the time and inclination.

Link: RISCOS Ltd press release