Google's cloud printing goes physical
Not just a pretty test page
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Android and iPhone users of Google's online services can now print too, probably, and if they've got the right supporting equipment.
Google launched its cloud printing solution early in December last year, as an essential component of its Chrome OS. That release was only capable of printing out a single test page, limiting its utility, but now a print option has been added to the mobile versions of Gmail and Google Docs so users can queue print jobs into the cloud.
That's the idea at least, but when we tried it all we got was "Invalid Content" errors, so there's obviously still some work to be done. But the print option is clearly there, and we were invited to select a printer to which we'd like to fail to send the document.
Not that we really wanted to print it anyway
Google'a Cloud Printing requires the printer, or the Chrome-browser-running Windows PC print server, to regularly poll the chocolate factory to see if anyone has added a print job, assuming the factory hasn't rejected the document as invalid.
We were forced to print out a few copies of the test page, just to keep our spirits up, but if you can convince your print server to run the latest beta of Google Chrome browser and aren't worried about the privacy implications of sending your documents via Google then do give it a go and let us know if you do better than we did. ®
COMMENTS
Maybe...
Or maybe it's marketed at people other than those who have access to networks on seven continents?
I think the point of it is pretty clear, it's to support mobile devices, i.e. Andoid and Chrome OS with the occasional Windows note/netbook running Google Docs. You know, so they can print without being connected to a LAN or if they are out of their SOHO.
Maybe Google had their collective head up their arses when they didn't market this at you, but then there are a few billion people on the planet that aren't you.
Can't wait for the first
page of ink cartridge ads to pop out of my printer.
RE: "Ah, printing"
I'm an avid computer user - have been for years, I use a Kindle because I got sick of the waste (and the pile of paperbacks that I had no space for). I get my news via the Internet.
I still find printing an important part of my work. I find effectively and EFFICIENTLY marking up control schematics, logic diagrams, etc. with a keyboard and mouse to be next to impossible. NOTE: I'm not saying I can't do it, I'm saying I can't do it efficiently - and time is money.
Perhaps in another 5 years, I'll be able to use 3 or 4 monitors with a clean touch interface that would allow for efficient and quick manipulation of documents. However, the current technology (at least at a standard user's cost budget) just isn't there.
Or to put it another way, don't assume everyone's usage matches yours - printing is still a necessity for some people.
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