Print from a mobile device without installing software
In 2010, Google announced Cloud Print in Beta, allowing users to print “from any app on any device, OS or browser without the need to install any software.” If your phone supports HTML5 (Android 2.1 and iOS 3 and newer), all you have to do is connect your printer to Google Cloud Print and you’ll have a print option from your smartphone or tablet, simply a Google Doc, Gmail message, PDF, .doc or several other attachments and choosing “Print” from the dropdown menu in the top right corner.
Until today, printing was limited to the connected printer, but now, Google has teamed up with FedEx Office (formerly Kinko’s), giving users another print option so that they can simply redeem a code upon arrival at FedEx Office, or provide the code for someone else to pick up – perfect for travelers or highly mobile professionals.
Now, you can print that contract while sitting in traffic or that blog article you want to read later because you are having a hard time focusing while on the treadmill. You can say to a client, “I’ll get the comps printed up for you” while on a tour and have them printing as you speak, waiting at the FedEx Office across the street, or one of the 1,800+ locations across the nation.
FedEx Office and Canon as new options
Google also announced today that have added Canon to the list of companies offering printers that are Google Cloud Print ready. Paolo Ferraris, Software Engineer at Google said, “Now you can choose from a variety of printers from Canon, Epson, Kodak and HP that make it easy to print from anywhere.”
Documents can now be sent from smartphones or tablets running Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich through Google Cloud Print. Once you install Chrome for Android Beta and sign in, your Android device will appear as a destination in the Cloud Print dialog. After choosing your Android device, a PDF copy of your document will open in Chrome for Android Beta.
Google says, “Next time you need to print something to take on the go, save some paper and “print” it to your Android device instead!”
