Google Decided to Kill Off Cloud Print, Advices Users to Seek Alternatives
Google, notorious for spontaneously killing off virtually any product it feels doesn’t fit into its larger mega ecosystem is bringing down once again.
The company announced its ending support for Cloud Print. Cloud print was a service that was brought to life in 2010 by Google and its purpose was to make life a little easier for Chromebook users.
Since Chromebooks are built to rely heavily on cloud-based programs, Cloud Print allows users of Chrome OS-powered devices to print from the web or mobile devices without the need for additional software and drivers.
The process doesn’t require the Printers to be connected to the internet so long as they have been added to Google account. This allows users to use either their smartphones or Chromebooks to print documents.
Despite its many benefits, Cloud-Print as a platform has been languishing in the Beta stage since its inception but Google has decided to put it out of its misery.
Beginning December 31, 2020, Cloud Print across all platforms and operating systems will seize to be supported according to Google.
This means clients will have up to a year to access alternatives while core functions will continue to be supported during that duration.
This isn’t doom and glome for Chrome OS since the mega tech company promised to improve and better the platform’s native printing experience.
The company said these native print management features are currently or will be supported by Chrome OS by the end of 2019.
- Admin console interface to manage thousands of CUPS-based printers for users, devices, and managed guests (the legacy 20-printer cap has been removed) by organizational unit
- Admin console policy to manage user printing defaults for 2-sided (duplex) and color
- Support for advanced printing attributes (stapling, paper trays, pin printing)
- Admin console policy to include user account and filename in IPP header of print job over a secure IPPS connection, which enables third-party printing features such as secure printing and print-usage tracking
- Admin console policy to manage PIN code printing, allowing users to enter pin code when sending the print job, and release the print job for printing when they enter the pin code into the printer keypad
To ease Cloud Print’s journey to the afterlife, Google said it is developing the following features for Chrome OS and they will available prior to pulling the plug on Cloud Print.
- Support for external CUPS print servers, including authentication
- Policy to configure connections to external CUPS print servers
- APIs for third-parties to access print job metadata, submit print jobs and printer management capabilities
