Blog

Google’s Cloud Print May Be Discontinued

Dec 5, 2019 | Blog

Are you a fan of Google’s Cloud Print service?  It’s fantastic because it allows you to print from anywhere to anywhere, which makes it utterly invaluable.

Like so many great services Google has introduced over the years, for a variety of reasons, the company has decided to pull the plug on it after keeping the service in Beta for more than a decade.

The announcement came in the form of a terse note on the company’s support page.

The note simply reads:

“Beginning January 1, 2021, devices across all operating systems will no longer be able to print using Google Cloud Print.  We recommend that over the next year, you identify an alternative solution and execute a migration strategy.”

If you use a Chromebook, this won’t impact you at all, because Chrome OS or multi-OS environments that include Chrome OS have a feature called CUPS Printing. It is a viable replacement for Cloud Print.

Google added:

“For environments besides Chrome OS, or in multi-OS scenarios, we encourage you to use the respective platform’s native printing infrastructure and/or partner with a print solutions provider.”

Google has ended a surprising number of projects in 2019 as the company has tightened its focus, zeroing in on its core businesses.  Google Cloud Print had a good run, though.  First introduced back in 2011, the company originally touted it as a way for mobile and desktop users to print without having to worry about installing drivers. It proved to be exceptional in that regard and quickly grew to become one of the company’s indispensable beta services.

Since its initial development, time and technology have moved on. Now, not only do most Operating Systems have native capabilities that replicate Cloud Print, but there are a few third-party providers out there that offer a more robust version of Google’s offering.  While it’s sad to see the venerable product go, it’s also understandable.  In any case, you’ve got plenty of time to find a replacement. If you’re currently making use of it, start planning your migration now.

 

FBI Program Tasked with Infrastructure Security Compromised

FBI Program Tasked with Infrastructure Security Compromised

The FBI program tasked with ensuring critical infrastructure security has been compromised by hackers, who now offer access to the program's data on the dark web. The breach was initially disclosed by Brian Krebs of Krebs on Security, who claims that the data was for...

Streamline Your Business with the Latest Smart Home Technology

Streamline Your Business with the Latest Smart Home Technology

Are you a business owner looking to get the most out of your Google smart home devices? If so, you're in luck! Google has enabled its Nest products and Android OS with the initial rollout of the Matter smart home standard. This means that businesses now have the...

Data Breach at Sequoia One Exposes Sensitive Customer Information

Data Breach at Sequoia One Exposes Sensitive Customer Information

What do you do when your most personal information has been compromised? This is likely the question that customers of Sequoia One asked themselves earlier this month as they were informed that the company had been hacked. Sequoia One specializes in the management of...

Cisco Reports Critical IP Phone Vulnerability

Cisco Reports Critical IP Phone Vulnerability

As a business owner, it's important to stay informed about potential vulnerabilities that could impact your organization. Recently, Cisco reported a critical vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2022-20968, affecting its IP Phone 7800 and 8800 Series. This new vulnerability...

Google Chrome Releases Two New Features

Google Chrome Releases Two New Features

Google Chrome is one of the more commonly used web browsers. Over the years, though, Chrome has gained a reputation for utilizing a large portion of a computer's memory. This can be a problem if you're running other resource-intensive tasks and don't want to slow...

Get a Free Consultation

 

Fill out the form below to receive a free consultation and learn how we can make your technology worry-free!

 

Contact Information

  • 39301 Badger Street, Suite 500
    Palm Desert, CA 9221
  • (760) 333-8523
  • info@icn.tech