Google Brings Cloud Print To Windows, Makes Printer Sharing Easier
Google today launched a number of updates to Cloud Print that finally bring it to Windows and make it easier to share printers with others. — Even Google knows that there are still some occasions when you just need to print something …
Context & Ripple Effects
Google has been building Cloud Print as a networked alternative to device-bound printing since its 2010 proposal for a new printing model. It later connected the service to Gmail on mobile phones, extending printing beyond the desktop.
Windows support and simpler sharing bring that earlier cloud-printing approach to the operating system and collaborative use cases most tied to conventional printers.
First-order effects
- Windows users gain Cloud Print support, while Google users can share access to printers with less setup.
- Printer owners can make a shared device available through Cloud Print rather than relying solely on local machine-by-machine configuration.
Second-order effects
- Google becomes a more central intermediary for printing across phones and Windows PCs, increasing the value of using its account and cloud services together.
- Conventional local printer-sharing workflows face pressure to match the convenience of account-based access for users working across devices.
Third-order effects
- If Google keeps tying documents, mobile access and printing together, printing shifts from a PC-and-network function toward a cloud-mediated service layer.
- That shift would place more control over cross-device access with platform operators rather than with the operating system or local printer network alone.
The trend: Cloud Print is part of a broader move to make everyday PC functions accessible through a shared cloud account across devices.