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Google Launches Cloud Printer Service For Windows

Posted by Unknown on from the not-invented-here dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Google today announced it is bringing its Cloud Print project to Windows. The company has launched both a driver and a service, both of which are available for download now from Google Tools. For those who don't know, Google Cloud Print connects Cloud Print-aware applications (across the Web, desktop, and mobile) to any printer. It integrates with the mobile versions of Gmail and Google Docs, and is also listed as a printer option in the Print Preview page of Chrome." One of the things that annoys me about Android: having to print through the Cloud (tm) when I have an Internet Printing Protocol CUPS server on the same network as my phone connected to a printer ten feet from me. It wouldn't be so bad if the Google Cloud Print libraries weren't proprietary and did something like IPP proxying instead of using a similarly proprietary API.

10 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. Ads in the middle of your print jobs by blarkon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Will the advertisements be in the middle of your print jobs or printed to the side?

    1. Re:Ads in the middle of your print jobs by Demonantis · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They will just cancel it a few years down the road when they realize they can't monetize it. After destroying the competition. Leaving everyone who liked it angry and wondering what the hell they are going to do. Sorry I'm still mad about Reader.

  2. Remember when ... by BitZtream · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Google supported existing open APIs instead of pulling a Microsoft and inventing their own for everything and dropping support for open APIs?

    Whats next to be replaced by some Google specific protocol for Google users? SMTP?

    --
    Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
    1. Re:Remember when ... by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Whats next to be replaced by some Google specific protocol for Google users? SMTP?

      Don't be dramatic. Google is not going to replace SMTP.

      They're just going to require your email recipients first be added to one of your Google+ circles.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    2. Re:Remember when ... by Jarik+C-Bol · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm forfeiting being able to use mod points here just to say there needs to be a "+1 Horrifying, but probably true." option.

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      I've decided to Diversify my Holdings. I've divided my cash between my left and right pockets, instead of all in one.
  3. Re:Congrats, Unknown Lamer... by BitZtream · · Score: 5, Informative

    Every Mac user on the planet who prints ... does it through CUPs.

    I.E. there are more CUPS users than Linux users.

    Want to try again?

    --
    Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
  4. Re:Congrats, Unknown Lamer... by niftydude · · Score: 4, Informative

    Only because Apple made it work properly and added a GUI instead of text files that bomb with a misplaced comma or tab.

    Wow - you really haven't used linux in the last decade or so, have you?

    Find a computer with an install of any of the major linux distributions, fire up a web browser, and point it to http://localhost:631/

    You'll find local and network printer search and configuration, default paper and printer settings, print queues, pretty much everything you need, all in a nice pretty gui.

    --
    You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part.
  5. Re:IPP/CUPS printing by niftydude · · Score: 5, Informative
    There is an app in the play store that does this Let's Print Droid (lpd :-) ). From the description:

    If you have a business grade laser or print server (CUPS,LPR,SAMBA, etc) , the app will talk directly to them without any off-site conversion. No print data leaves your local network unless you choose the GCP (Google Cloud Print) option. (This app is not NSA approved ;-)

    --
    You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part.
  6. Re:Google is becoming synonymous with idiotic by swillden · · Score: 4, Informative

    For those who don't know, Google Cloud Print connects Cloud Print-aware applications (across the Web, desktop, and mobile) to any printer

    So if I want to print my document to a printer in Bulgaria, no problem! That's just flat out daft. Cloud storage, processing and applications provide ubiquitous accessibility. Cloud printing provides ubiquitous inaccessibility.

    Actually, I find cloud print to be very convenient. I print to my home printer while I'm at work and printers at work (my office and remote offices) from home, I have printed to my mom's printer and my father-in-law's printer from another state (easier than sending them a document and helping them print it). It's also zero setup when I get a new computer... as soon as I'm logged into Chrome I can print and it just works. No fiddling with drivers because that was already done once.

    Surely there's still somebody with common sense working for Google?!?

    Bah. Common sense is usually neither common nor very sensible. But what do I know? I work for Google :P

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  7. Re:Congrats, Unknown Lamer... by TheRaven64 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How on earth would a normal person figure out that printing is on port 631?

    One of two ways:

    • RTFM.
    • Click on the helpful link to http://localhost:631/ that is named 'Printer Setup' and put on your desktop or in a menu by your desktop environment of choice.

    Seriously, your complaint makes as much sense as asking 'How on earth would a normal person figure out that you browse the web by running iexplore.exe?'

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