Googles CLOUD Print: How to set it up?

Google Cloud Print is a new technology that connects your printers to the web. Using Google Cloud Print, you can make your home and work printers available to you and anyone you choose, from the applications you use every day. Google Cloud Print works on your phone, tablet, Chromebook, PC, and any other web-connected device you want to print from.
Google Cloud Print works with all printers, but for the best printing experience we recommend that you use a Cloud Ready printer. You can connect a printer to your Google Cloud Print account in seconds, and immediately start printing to it.
Google Cloud Print integrates with the mobile versions of Gmail and Google Docs, allowing users to print emails and documents from their mobile devices.Google Cloud Print is listed as a printer option in the Print Preview page of Google’s web browser, Google Chrome, in Chrome 16 and higher. “Legacy” printers (those without cloud printing capabilities) are supported through a “Cloud Print Connector” integrated with Google Chrome (9 and higher). Google introduced Cloud Print in April 2010, as a future solution for printing from Google Chrome OS.Then they made the design document and a preliminary version of the source code available. Applications can print through a web-based, common print dialog (web UI) or an API. The service then forward the job to the printer registered prior to the service. A new kind of printer will be able to directly connect to Google Cloud Print; current printers will have to connect through a proxy server.
Google Cloud Print reached beta stage on 25 January 2011.As current printers cannot accept input from a cloud service, Google Chrome 9 contained a “Cloud Print Connector” – the user will only be able to use Cloud Print while the connector is running.
Printing through Google Cloud Print from any instance of Google Chrome was enabled in Google Chrome 16.Once you have everything in place, open up Google Chrome and click the wrench icon in the upper right corner, choose “Options” (“Preferences” on a Mac), and then click the “Under the Hood” tab. Alternatively, just click this link. Now scroll down to the Google Cloud Print section towards the bottom and click “Sign in to Google Cloud Print.”As of December 14, 2011, Google Cloud Print allows users to share printers in a manner reminiscent of Google Docs.

HOW TO SET IT UP?
If you want to get started with Google Cloud Print, here’s what you’ll need:

• The Google Chrome web browser.
• A regular or internet-enabled printer. (Virtually any printer is fine, but the setup process varies depending on the type of printer you have.)
• An active, internet-connected computer that the printer is connected to if it is not an internet-enabled printer.
• A Google account.

Once you’ve got all of that ready to go, you can start setting it up.

There are two ways to set up your printers with Google Cloud Print. A handful of newer printers have internet connectivity built in and so you can connect them to Google directly. This process varies by printer, so visit this pageto learn if your printer is compatible and, if so, how to set it up. If you have a traditional printer that’s connected to your computer, however, the setup process is always the same. Just follow these steps:

1. First, make sure everything is in place. You’ll need Google Chrome installed on your computer. Also, ensure that your printer is connected to your computer, it’s currently on, and you can print from it normally. (Note: You’ll only be able to send print jobs to this printer when it is connected to your computer, so it’s best to set this up on a desktop machine where the printer will always remain connected and powered on.
2. Once you have everything in place, open up Google Chrome and click the wrench icon in the upper right corner, choose “Options” (“Preferences” on a Mac), and then click the “Under the Hood” tab. Alternatively, just click this link. Now scroll down to the Google Cloud Print section towards the bottom and click “Sign in to Google Cloud Print.”
3. In the resulting window, sign in with your Google Account. This will enable the Cloud Print Connector on your computer.
4. When a new message appears with a button labeled “Finish printer registration,” click it.
5. You’ll receive a confirmation if everything worked properly, and it’ll offer a link called “Manage your printers.” Click on it to verify all the printers on your computer are now listed.

To test out your new setup, try printing something from within Google Chrome (such as this web page). When the printing options appear, choose “Print with Google Cloud Print” from the Destination menu. Click the “Print” button and you’ll be asked to choose one of your cloud printers. Pick the one you want and, assuming everything is working correctly, your printer should print out a document.

Do More with Google Cloud Print

If you followed the instructions in the previous section, you already know how to print from a web page, but there’s still more than you can do. Currently there are plenty of ways you can print from your smartphone, and even from your Mac desktop (if you prefer to avoid using Chrome for the task).

Print From Your Smartphone

Google Cloud Print has an tons of support in Android, of course, with a dedicated Android app and cloud printing support in the Google Docs Android app. You can also use third-party apps such as PrinterShare™ Mobile Print and Easy Print to get even more printing support out of Android. iOS users can check out PrintCentral Pro for iPhone and iPod touch or iPad to print with Google Cloud Print as well. Any mobile device can utilize cloud printing services by simply using Google’s mobile web apps. Just visit m.google.com on your mobile device to get started.

Print from Your Mac

Strangely, there is no Windows app for Google Cloud Print but there is one for Mac OS X. It is aptly named Cloud Printer, and you can download it for free on the Mac App Store. It’s not a perfect application, as it can only handle documents that Google Docs can view. Also, it doesn’t function like an actual printer and instead requires you to choose a file you want to print from the dedicated app. You can, however, follow these instructions to use Automator to set up a virtual printer if you really want to use the standard print dialogue. Even with these disadvantages, it’s still a simple (and free) way to print from your Mac without the aid of Google Chrome.

For a few other niche options, and to stay up-to-date on the latest Google Cloud Print extensions, apps, and add-ons, keep an eye on this page.