Google Cloud Print is a new, cloud-based technology that is currently being offered as a service by tech giant Google. It is one of those rather obscure Google services that not a lot of people really know about. However, it is a very useful tool that can really bring your printing game to a whole new level. How useful and efficient is Google Cloud Print? Read on and find out.
What exactly is Google Cloud Print?
Google Cloud Print, in the words of the Google itself, “makes your home and work printers available to you and anyone you choose, from the applications you use every day.”
According to Google’s developers, the applications submit print jobs to the service through the web-based common print dialog or application program interface offered by the service. Google Cloud Print then sends the print job to the printer, which can then print the file, provided that the equipment had been enrolled to the service earlier.
Simply put, the file is securely sent to the printer over the web. It doesn’t matter where in the world the user may be at the moment; as long as that person’s device and the printer are both connected to the Internet, and as long as the printer is registered with the service, the file can be sent over and printed.
What sort of printers can be used with the Google Cloud Print service?
In order to achieve the best possible user experience when using the service, it is recommended that you purchase a cloud-ready printer. Such printers connect directly to the web, so you don’t have to bother yourself with performing a computer set-up.
The good news is that Google keeps a list of printers that are compatible with its Google Cloud Print service. On this page, you can see literally hundreds of printers from different manufacturers that are cloud-aware and can be used with Google Cloud Print.
The large selection should take a weight off your shoulders. Since there are a lot of options available, you’re bound to find a printer that addresses your many other requirements, be it a need fast printing speed, monochrome printing and duplex printing capabilities, scanning and copying features, or compatibility with commercially available remanufactured printer cartridges.
How do you register your printer to the Google Cloud Print service?
Cloud-ready printers are easier to connect to Google Cloud Print, but the set-up can vary from brand to brand. Simply click on the link provided above, and check out the manufacturer-specific set-up instructions for each brand.
On the other hand, classic printers need to be connected to a Windows or Mac computer first before cloud printing can be performed. Further instructions about connecting cloud-ready and classic printers are provided in detail here.
How to use Google Cloud Print
Google Cloud Print succeeds in being a free and efficient cloud printing tool. Below is a detailed list of the things that you can do with it.
Print files from your computer – In your Google Cloud Print management page, you can upload a file from your computer and select it for printing. Simply click “Print” on the management page, choose “Upload file to print,” click “select a file from my computer,” click “Open,” and then you’ll be prompted to select the printer you want to use before you are asked to click “Print.”
Print with Google Chrome – You can also print materials off the Internet browser Google Chrome. Just click on the menu icon on the top-right corner of the browser (the button with three parallel horizontal lines), and select “Print.” From the “Destination” field in the dialog box that will appear next, select “Change.” Choose the printer you want to use, and click “Print”
Save a file to Google Drive – Aside from printing, you can also turn the web document to a PDF file that can be saved to the Google Drive cloud storage service. Again, simply click on the Google Chrome browser menu, select “Print,” and under “Destination,” click “Change.” Finally, select “Save to Google Drive,” then click “Save.”
Use the Google Cloud Print app for Android – Google also allows users to manage their printing tasks through the official Google Cloud Print app from the Google Play Store. With the help of this app, you’ll be able to send documents to any cloud-ready printer that you’ve connected to the service.
Print using your iOS device – Unlike Android, iOS is not a Google product, so iPhone and iPad users will have to use a third-party app called PrintCentral Pro to print with Google Cloud Print. Some of the items that you can print with this app include emails and attached files, web pages, text messages, and many more.
Share your printer – All it takes is a click of a button via your Google account to share your printer with anyone you choose. The service is very secure and reliable for this purpose.
Google Cloud Print is an awesome tool that can really make your printing tasks easier. Whether you intend to connect a home or an office printer to the service, Google Cloud Print creates an opportunity for you to be more productive and to have an easier time collaborating with your colleagues.
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