Google shutting down Cloud Print late next year

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Don’t know about you, but I use Google Cloud Print every day. In fact it’s the only way I print these days. Google’s killing it at the end of next yea
[See the full post at: Google shutting down Cloud Print late next year]

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Lori, Nibbled To Death By Ducks, jburk07

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Google has a bad habit of killing off viable services, features, etc. without much hesitation.  It might make sense if the item being killed off was no longer being utilized, but many of the past casualties were very active and hardly wasting away.

I have stopped using them for anything other than email, contacts, and calendar, and of course, search.

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Nibbled To Death By Ducks

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I’ve never really understood the benefit of cloud print.  Why would I want my print files to fly halfway around the world over the internet?

It struck me as a lock-in feature of Android/Chrome.  Google deliberately taking a feature which should be part of the operating system and putting it in the cloud so that they can control it.  It further seemed like a hugely dangerous privacy problem.  Sure, Google says they don’t snoop on anything, but how the heck would one verify that?

What am I missing here?  Woody, are you using it for some other reason than your desktop and printer don’t play nice with each other?  Android/Chrome devices perhaps?  Seems like a reason to buy a different printer to me.

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Nibbled To Death By Ducks, Bluetrix

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alfscousin wrote:

I’ve never really understood the benefit of cloud print.  Why would I want my print files to fly halfway around the world over the internet?

I’ve found it useful in situations where I need to be able to print to a remote printer, but that printer can’t be setup on a VPN (usually for cost-related reasons).

For example: my mom uses a Chromebook and has a WiFi & GooglePrint-connected printer. I can send forms and other insecure printouts to her printer, and she can connect to it locally via WiFi. We can accomplish this with no additional equipment other than the DSL router provided by her ISP.

I’ll have to come up with a different option a year from now.

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Several printer manufacturers, HP being one, have web-print available.

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PKCano wrote:

Several printer manufacturers, HP being one, have web-print available.

That’s true PKCano. But to remove a feature that is kinda build into the whole “cloud” thing Chromebook works around, seems counter productive.

I admit I do not use that print feature, nor am a fan of Chromebook or Google. But people that do use it seem to be short changed by this move. Apples-Oranges?

.02

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PKCano wrote:

Several printer manufacturers, HP being one, have web-print available.

Unfortunately, it’s a Brother printer, and they went all-in on the Google Print approach (even to the extent of co-branding it).

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I’m not sure I understand this whole “Google Cloud Print” thing. I use Chrome and if I want to print something, I use the drop down and select print. It gives me the choice of my HP printer (that is hooked up wirelessly through my router) to each of my computers. Each of which has the printer software installed for wireless printing. My other choice is .PDF save in the drop down.

Does this mean that my printer will no longer be available in Chrome printing???

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

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Since no one answered, I assume that the cloud print will not affect me since I am on a local network.

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

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I’m not familiar with Chromebooks, so I can’t tell you where to look there for the answer.
But one way to check is disconnect your modem from the Internet, leaving your network running, and try to print.

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Myst, CADesertRat

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PKCano wrote:

I’m not familiar with Chromebooks, so I can’t tell you where to look there for the answer.

No Chromebook just PC’s with Chrome browser. From googling it looks like it shouldn’t affect me since I have never signed up for cloud print.

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

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Myst

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I believe Cloud Print is primarily intended to be functional with Chromebooks (as opposed to just the browser Chrome) and it’s operating system. So, without a chromebook, I don’t think the demise of Cloud Print will affect you.

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Myst, CADesertRat

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Yeah, that’s the gist of what I read also.

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

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Sorry for the confusion, folks.  I should have been more explicit that I was talking about Chrome OS when I referred to Android/Chrome, not the Chrome desktop browser on Windows/Mac, where traditional printer drivers work just fine.

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CADesertRat

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Unless I’m missing something here, this is a huge thing for those like myself who rely on Cloud Print to print wirelessly from a Chromebook!!!  For a non-techie like myself, what other practical options do I have?  This is precisely the printing method that Google has promoted for Chromebook users.

 

 

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KWGuy wrote:

Unless I’m missing something here, this is a huge thing for those like myself who rely on Cloud Print to print wirelessly from a Chromebook!!!  For a non-techie like myself, what other practical options do I have?  This is precisely the printing method that Google has promoted for Chromebook users.

 

 

If you’re on the same network as your printer, you can print directly to it – no cloud option needed.

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KWGuy

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I know how to set up a windows type computer to print via wifi  by installing necessary printer software on the computer.  But, how do I do this on a CHROMEBOOK that runs on the Chrome browser and doesn’t permit installation of printer software?

Again, I acknowledge my non-techie credentials.  Thanks!

 

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jburk07

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I wish I could help you.  While I’m writing this on Chromebook hardware, I’m not running Chrome OS.  I’m running Gallium OS, a flavor of Linux.  I’d recommend it if you find your Chromebook no longer functional as Google changes their systems.

I believe Chromebooks can now run Android apps.  You might try running an Android app from your printer manufacturer.

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KWGuy

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[jabeattyauditor]

KWGuy wrote:

I know how to set up a windows type computer to print via wifi  by installing necessary printer software on the computer.  But, how do I do this on a CHROMEBOOK that runs on the Chrome browser and doesn’t permit installation of printer software?

Again, I acknowledge my non-techie credentials.  Thanks!

 

Click on the time in the lower right.

Select settings, select Advance. Under Printing select Printers. You should see your printer (if it’s on the same network) under Available printers to save. Click Save next to your printer.

Nice Google tutorial on adding printers

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by jabeattyauditor. Reason: Added link

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jburk07, KWGuy

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jabeatty:  Clicking the “thank you” button is simply not adequate in this case.  You have pointed me to an option(s) that I did not know existed.  Been using a CB for 4+ years and did not know, among other things, that I could connect a printer via USB or via local wifi without Cloud Print.   I’ve always been nervous about sending documents to cloud and I now I find that I never had too!  Well, I am old, but still trainable! <grin>

Thanks again for your time and info!

 

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KWGuy wrote:

Thanks again for your time and info!

You’re most welcome – I’m glad I could be of assistance. 

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anonymous wrote:

Google has a bad habit of killing off viable services, features, etc. without much hesitation.

“It doesn’t have to make sense, it’s just our policy!”

Unbelievable. And the salaries these guys pull in who make these decisions…<facepalm>

Win7 Pro SP1 64-bit, Dell Latitude E6330 ("The Tank"), Intel CORE i5 "Ivy Bridge", 12GB RAM, Group "0Patch", Multiple Air-Gapped backup drives in different locations. Linux Mint Newbie
--
"The more kinks you put in the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the pipes." -Scotty

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And THIS is reason number 1 why I have no faith in anything “cloud”. You rely on the vendor to keep the service available.

If I buy a computer and a printer, I want to be able to print to it, perpetually, and without needing to check whether the internet is up or whether the service is still in existence.

Similarly, if I buy a game, I want to be able to run it without needing to be connected to the cloud and/or check in to Steam every few minutes because the vendor doesn’t trust me to be running a legal copy.

Every time I see these offers, like for a free digital copy of a film that I just bought the Blu-ray or DVD for, I toss the little slip of paper with the free activation code in a bin, because sooner or later, that service will not be profitable to whoever provides it, and then the service is gone. Ultraviolet, anyone?

 

No matter where you go, there you are.

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