Monday, January 24, 2011

Cloud printing on the go

(Cross-posted on the Docs Blog and Gmail Blog.)

Back in April 2010 we announced Google Cloud Print, a service that in Beta allows printing from any app on any device, OS or browser without the need to install any software. Just last month we opened Google Cloud Print to users in the Chrome notebook pilot program. Today we are very pleased to announce the beta launch of Google Cloud Print for mobile documents and Gmail for mobile, which we will be rolling out to users throughout the next few days.

Imagine printing an important document from your smartphone on the way to work and finding the printout waiting for you when you walk in the door. Just open a document in Google Docs or an email in Gmail in your mobile browser and choose “Print” from the dropdown menu in the top right corner. You can also print certain kinds of email attachments (such as .pdf or .doc) by clicking the “Print” link that appears next to them.


This feature will be rolling out today and tomorrow for English speaking users in the US and will work on most phones that support HTML5, such as devices running Android 2.1+ and iOS 3+. To get started, you’ll need to connect your printer to Google Cloud Print. This step requires a Windows PC for now, but Linux and Mac support are coming soon. You can learn more at the Google Cloud Print help center.


Happy printing!

Posted by Tyler Odean, Google Cloud Print Team
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69 comments:

  1. phoenix180January 24, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    This is going to be fantastic!

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  2. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    Awesome! Can't wait till the integration with native Android Gmail app!

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  3. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Hetal PatelJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:22 AM

    Why we need Apple Products for Demostration can not we trust on Android of Chrome OS

    ????????????????

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  5. jonandrachelJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    This is AWESOME!!!

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  6. cedricJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    I am not in US, and my gmail mobile was even in french, but I already have the print option and it WORKED...
    ... well almost : I got the printed mail in my print queue on Chrome on my PC, it just did not print on my printer. But hey, this is just my first try)

    (printed from android 2.2.1 on Galaxy S, received on Chrome beta)

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  7. Scott BreitbachJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    Two minor issues:

    1) Please integrate into gmail app

    2) When I hold my phone (Droid X) in landscape view, I can't see the bottom of the list (i.e. it cuts off "Mark as unread" and half of "Print")

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  8. Michael PastushkovJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Printing through the cloud is great, for everything else including direct printing over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, use PrinterShare.

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  9. TenkelyJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    So awesome.

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  10. Jerry MeyerJanuary 24, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    Looks awesome! Can't wait to use it in November, when I'm eligible to upgrade phone from 1.6 .....

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  11. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    will it work with android 2.1 ??

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  12. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    I know this is a first step, but frequently I need to print something on a printer that is not mine. Some way to be able to share a printer with other Google accounts is needed

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  13. fishingmaniacJanuary 24, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    "a service that in Beta allows printing from any app on any device, OS or browser"

    "Just open a document in Google Docs or an email in Gmail"

    So, not really from any app on any device...

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  15. fishingmaniacJanuary 24, 2011 at 11:32 AM

    Yes, it works with my iPhone now when using gmail in safari. Are there other ways to use it on a phone?

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  16. fishingmaniacJanuary 24, 2011 at 11:44 AM

    I guess the iPhone work around is to take a picture/snapshot or forward emails from other email accounts to your gmail account and then print it from gmail in safari. HP cloud print gives you a unique email addy to send print jobs to. Makes it nice to use the "send to" feature in browsers or the "forward to" feature in email apps. Also even though my printer is connected wirelessly, I guess that Google cloud print won't print unless I leave the computer I registered with turned on...

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  17. wezloJanuary 24, 2011 at 12:30 PM

    I can't share my printers - in the printer manager window all I can do is "delete" them... anyone else having that problem?

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  18. FewCluesJanuary 24, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    Switching back to Firefox, looking for a new mail portal. I am sick and tired of having to wait a year or two to have the linux version made available.

    The hot new apps are released to Windows and Android. This removes any incentive to migrate to Linux. And it happens constantly. Google is supposed to be Linux based but the apps are always done in windows because of market potential -- wait they don't sell these - they just control the Linux market with them.

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  19. DustinJanuary 24, 2011 at 1:03 PM

    Ready for the linux version.

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  20. rloconeJanuary 24, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    Works perfect on HTC EVO, Chrome 9.0.597.67 beta, Dell Color Laser 2130cn. Even in duplex mode!

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  21. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    We are working on allowing users to share their printers with other Google accounts. Please stay tuned.

    Google Cloud Print developer.

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  22. VijayJanuary 24, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    Nobody has seen the Office Space reference?

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  23. KellicJanuary 24, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    *sighs* I want a Chrome Stealthbook damn it!! I would test the heck out of that thing.

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  24. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    Are there any plans to allow Blackberry 6 devices to use the HTML5 interfaces?

    Now that they use a webkit browser it seems like it would have been switched sometime after it was released in Sept(or so).

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  25. Joe KaneJanuary 24, 2011 at 4:00 PM

    Amazing Guys - loads of possibilities - Working great on Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.2.1

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  26. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    Worked great for me. Very Happy, will be so useful for work, especially if I'm in a trial.

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  27. Kevin I CHAPPLEJanuary 24, 2011 at 4:44 PM

    Works okay in the UK (hey, that rhymes!).
    Well done Google, you're gradually taking the world :-)

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  28. drrjvJanuary 24, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    Works with iPhone 4. Set up printer using Chrome on a Mac running Parallels.

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  29. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2011 at 8:23 PM

    This is going to skyrocket the paper price. Google, had you adquired any paper factory lately?

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  30. Roshan JoshiJanuary 24, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    when will Mac be supported?

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  31. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 8:29 PM

    Please soon develop a firefox add on, or something, or just a standalone printer program that does it. I mean, chrome is okay, but I prefer firefox, no offense.

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  32. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 9:13 PM

    Wow Amazing just printed a PDF from my Evo, My wife was near the computer, and suddenly the Printer starts printing.. I was in my bed laughing she didn't know what the hell happened, I told her two words Google Cloud..

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  33. Just One PersonJanuary 24, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    works fine from the Nexus One (which is still waiting for Gingerbread)

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  34. Sanket PatelJanuary 24, 2011 at 9:45 PM

    This Going To Be Fantastic http://goo.gl/WbuoG

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  35. Patrick SteehlerJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:54 PM

    Office Space, I know, huh? Way too geeky here for me. Have to have humor.

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  36. TeriJanuary 25, 2011 at 12:49 AM

    Yayzers! I was just thinking about this the other day. Can't wait for the Linux version.

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  37. UnknownJanuary 25, 2011 at 1:28 AM

    Just switched to Linux Ubuntu 10.10 and will probably stick to it since it is much more responsive, stable and pretty easy to manage. And since more and more of my work and data are web-based and don't need Windows massive overhead.
    So... looking forward to "cloud-printing" eagerly

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  38. Alan RobertsonJanuary 25, 2011 at 3:02 AM

    sounds like a great idea but sadly even the test print from Chrome doesn't work - just gets stuck on 'queued'

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  39. adam01January 25, 2011 at 5:46 AM

    i'm in China ,does it mean i can't use this function？

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  40. Geekonaute.frJanuary 25, 2011 at 6:09 AM

    Bonjour

    Un article disponible sur le geekonaute.fr à l'adresse suivante
    http://www.geekonaute.fr/mobile/google-annonce-le-cloud-printing/
    bonne lecture

    ReplyDelete
  41. VikramthoutaJanuary 25, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    Hello Google..

    I appreciate your idea of google cloud print.

    I strongly feel lot of paper will be wasted, atleast milions of people will try the new app and that means million papers are wasted.

    Why google is turning out to be a non eco friendly company.

    Please develop some green cloud print like same paper can be erased and printed again.

    I hope Google can do this, as it very innovative.

    Green environment aspirant,
    Vikram from India.

    ReplyDelete
  42. MerlinJanuary 25, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  43. Dani GálvezJanuary 25, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    Guy, do you know that this is already invented? At the moment HP Printers are webconnected and just sending an e-mail to the e-mail adreess of your printer, you can print attachments. Without Apps in your smartphone, from each stuff that could send an e-mail, and without any PC connected to the printer. So... I don't see the point

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  44. WisamJanuary 25, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    Works very well on EVO 4G running CM 7.0. (Gignerbread 2.3)
    I would expect Google to post screen shots from Android phone not iPhone.

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  45. Bob MudfordJanuary 25, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    It's a very clever idea but I'm not sure of its utility.

    So I'm at work or on the road and I decide to print a couple of pagers on my home printer. I do so and they are printed out when I get home.

    Of course my PC and printer both have to be left switched an and connected to the net at home - which I wouldn't normally do unless I'd left something running.

    But anyway, I get home and there are my couple of pages waiting for me. But how much time have I saved?

    As everything is already switched on there is no boot time benefit so I've only saved the time to sit down at the PC, find the doc, press print and print it. Total time saved? A minute? Two minutes?

    As I said it's a cool demonstration of the cloud and technology - but I'm not sure how much it does for me.

    Bob

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  46. CaroffJanuary 25, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  47. noforteeJanuary 25, 2011 at 6:29 PM

    Can't wait to try it on my android phone.
    WELL DONE!!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Mr. BorodaJanuary 26, 2011 at 2:00 AM

    Not working in Ukraine :(

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  49. txguy9112January 26, 2011 at 4:40 AM

    i cant get it to work on my pc or my iphone dont know whats up i set it up like it said but it never printed a test page i got stuck there please help

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  50. txguy9112January 26, 2011 at 4:51 AM

    ok i got it to work on my pc but dont know how to get it to work on apple iphone if ne could help me thanks.

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  51. txguy9112January 26, 2011 at 4:53 AM

    ok i got it to work on my pc but dont know how to get it to work on apple iphone if ne could help me thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  52. UnknownJanuary 26, 2011 at 7:01 AM

    No explicit mention of Blackberry support.... this has me worried.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Ahmed EltawilJanuary 26, 2011 at 7:14 AM

    Hey Google,

    You have a mobile operating system called Android. Stop using iOS for screenshots and mobile demonstrations. It's embarrassing.

    Best Regards,
    An Android User

    ReplyDelete
  54. UnknownJanuary 26, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    Hot launch applications on Windows and Android. This eliminates any incentive to move to Linux. And it happens constantly. Google is supposed to be based on Linux but applications are always on the windows because of the potential market - are not expected to sell these - they just control the Linux market with them.
    full color brochure printing

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  55. EpicuriousJanuary 26, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Shocked at the few number of people noticed the Office Space reference..

    Someone make sure they get a copy of the memo.. cause we're using the new cover sheets now..

    ReplyDelete
  56. Todor the terribleJanuary 26, 2011 at 12:47 PM

    Can anybody tell me, could i use my tattoo with android 1.6 for printing with cloudprint ???

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  57. UnknownJanuary 26, 2011 at 9:23 PM

    It screwed up my printer, Kodak esp 7250, with win 7 on my lap top, my printer would not work at all, had to restore my computer to yesterday for it to wk. The worst part it was impossible to try and get help from Google, very disappointing. Hopefully better out of beta.

    ReplyDelete
  58. UnknownJanuary 26, 2011 at 11:13 PM

    When is this rolling out to Australian Android phones? I am using HTC Desire running 2.2.

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  59. ChristofJanuary 27, 2011 at 12:37 AM

    it works perfectly with my normail gmail account but it DOESN"T WORK with my google apps premier account. Any help?

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  60. Arkay EmJanuary 27, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  61. Arkay EmJanuary 27, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    1. Will this work outside the US?

    2. Will this work from a mobile phone using Symbian OS?

    3. If already there are printers on the phone (like HP) does this printer show up as "cloud Printer" or something

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  62. UnknownJanuary 27, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    Cristof, Google Apps accounts are supported if the following conditions are true:

    1. You converted it to the new infratructure(http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Apps/thread?tid=22ae38e9c02c202d&hl=en)

    2. The Google Talk service is enabled for that domain and for the account.

    - Google Cloud Print Developer.

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  63. UnknownJanuary 27, 2011 at 11:37 AM

    My printer is connected and printed out the Google Cloud test page, but my Nexus One does not have "print" on the drop-down menu on GMail. How do I make this work?

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  64. UnknownJanuary 27, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    Electa, just to clarify, the dropdown shows up in Gmail in the browser on your phone, not in the native Android Gmail app. Also, the feature is being rolled out to US users and it may take a few days before all users see it.

    ReplyDelete
  65. UnknownJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:23 AM

    I don't seem to see the drop down button in GoogleDocs.

    I opened an excel sheet and all I see in the top right corner is "All Docs" and the number of rows displayed in a page...

    I do see the drop down in my email.

    Did I need to activate something else?

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  66. UnknownJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    Also, just to add that I'm using Android 2.2.1

    ReplyDelete
  67. UnknownJanuary 28, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    When I open up Gmail in any of three browsers (stock, Dolphin Browswer and Opera) on my Droid, I do not see anything like the iOS screenshots. In otherwords, I don't even have a dropdown option. I only see links at the bottom of the page to reply, forward, etc. No printing option is to be seen. Am I doing something wrong?

    I am running 2.2.1.

    ReplyDelete
  68. UnknownJanuary 29, 2011 at 4:40 AM

    Koxpcu


    Timur taş hoca




    Evcil Hayvan Forum



    Yemek Tarifleri

    ReplyDelete
  69. DenierFebruary 4, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    Alright, so lemme get this straight: as of early Feb. 2011 Google Cloud Print only works (1) from mobile web-based Gmail (i.e. no Gmail app or desktop Chrome browser) and only if (2) Chrome has been started on the proxy computer? Is that so?

    ReplyDelete

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