Print Cloud is being developed alongside the Google Chrome OS, Google’s up-and-coming operating system that will work entirely through web-based applications.
A main goal is to address the inherent problems that will arise with web-based apps communicating with so-called “legacy” printers, current printers that are not compatible with the OS. Chrome lacks the print stack that these printers use to communicate print jobs, and Print Cloud is planned to be able to send data to a PC’s native OS print stack.
Google’s real vision though, is to allow users to print from any device on any printer without the need for drivers or even connections. Google hopes that cloud aware printers will be developed that allow direct communication with Print Cloud. In recently released documentation, Google explained:
“The ideal experience is for your printer to have native support for connecting to cloud print services. Under this model, the printer has no need for a PC connection of any kind or for a print driver. The printer is simply registered with one or more cloud print services and awaits print jobs.
“Cloud-aware printers don’t exist yet, but one of our main goals in publishing this information at an early stage is to begin engaging industry leaders and the community in developing cloud-aware printers and the necessary open protocols for these printers to communicate with cloud print services. We believe cloud printing has tremendous benefits for end users and for the industry and is essential, given the rapid shift toward cloud-based applications and data storage.”
Writing on his Chromium blog yesterday, Google Product Manager Mike Jazayeri said:
“Google Cloud Print is still under development, but today we are making code and documentation public as part of the open-source Chromium and Chromium OS projects. While we are still in the early days of this project, we want to be as transparent as possible about all aspects of our design and engage the community in identifying the right set of open standards to make cloud-based printing ubiquitous. You can view our design docs and outlines here and we hope you stay tuned for updates in the coming months.”