Wireless Printing Options: AirPrint, Google Cloud Print & More
Wireless Printer Standards: A Comprehensive Overview
A notable aspect of industry regulations is the sheer number available, and this is particularly evident when considering wireless printers.
When selecting a printer, it’s common to discover support for numerous distinct printing protocols.
The Need for Printing Standards
The development of these standards stems from the inherent complexities involved in printing, even when utilizing wireless technology.
Each standard seeks to streamline the printing process, yet they differ significantly in their implementation and functionality.
Understanding the Variety
The existence of multiple standards reflects the historical evolution of printing technology and the attempts to overcome various challenges.
These challenges include ensuring compatibility between devices, maintaining print quality, and enhancing security.
Ultimately, these standards aim to provide users with a more seamless and efficient printing experience.
Different approaches have been taken to achieve these goals, resulting in a diverse landscape of printing standards.
Wi-Fi Printing
Related: 4 Easy Ways to Remotely Print Over the Network or Internet
Wi-Fi printing represents a wireless alternative to traditional wired USB printing. Like its USB counterpart, it necessitates the installation of printer drivers for functionality.
Printers equipped with Wi-Fi capability can join your wireless network, becoming accessible to various computers and devices. This network connectivity allows for printing directly over the network, simplifying printer sharing among multiple users. However, the setup isn't always straightforward.
Installing the correct printer drivers remains a prerequisite before a computer can successfully print. This requirement can present challenges.
Consider the scenario of printing from a smartphone, such as an iPhone or Android device, or a tablet like an iPad. How can printer drivers be installed on these mobile platforms?
Bluetooth Printing
Bluetooth technology extends beyond just headsets, offering functionality in various applications.
While not as prevalent as Wi-Fi printing, some printers do offer Bluetooth connectivity. Utilizing this feature requires a device – be it a smartphone, tablet, or laptop – equipped with built-in Bluetooth capabilities.
Establishing a Connection
The process involves pairing your device directly with the printer. This pairing occurs via a localized, short-range Bluetooth connection.
Successful printing necessitates close proximity between the devices to ensure a stable connection.
Functionality and Limitations
Once paired, documents can be transmitted to the printer via Bluetooth, mirroring the functionality of pairing headphones or transferring files between nearby devices.
However, Bluetooth printing often proves less convenient than other methods.
Comparison with Wi-Fi Printing
Many printers lack integrated Bluetooth radios, and even those that include them require users to activate the Bluetooth radio on their device.
This activation is followed by a pairing procedure and the need to maintain close physical proximity to the printer before initiating a print job.
In contrast, a Wi-Fi enabled printer allows access from any device on the same network, regardless of distance or Bluetooth availability.
Therefore, Wi-Fi offers a more versatile and accessible printing solution.
Apple AirPrintAirPrint represents Apple’s streamlined approach to printing, bypassing the complexities often associated with printer drivers and Bluetooth connections. Printers offering AirPrint functionality are typically labeled as AirPrint compatible. A majority of printer manufacturers produce models that support AirPrint alongside other established wireless printing protocols.
Utilizing AirPrint doesn't necessitate the purchase of a printer exclusively designed for Apple devices. To begin, connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network, much like any standard wireless printer. Subsequently, using an iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, or Mac, choose the Print function within any application.
A list of AirPrint printers available on your network will then be displayed. Selecting the desired printer from this list initiates the printing process. The system automatically detects compatible printers on the network.
This simplicity is a key benefit of AirPrint, as it eliminates the need for driver installation or pairing procedures. However, a significant limitation is its exclusive compatibility with Apple devices. Printing from Windows PCs or Android devices directly through AirPrint is not possible without resorting to unsupported workarounds.
Fortunately, printers that support AirPrint generally also incorporate other wireless printing standards. This allows for printing from devices outside the Apple ecosystem.
Google Cloud Print
Google Cloud Print represented Google’s solution to the complexities surrounding wireless printing. A printer enabled for Google Cloud Print functions similarly to other Wi-Fi printers, connecting to a wireless network.
Association with a Google account is then established, facilitating communication over the Internet.
How it Works
Printing to your registered printer becomes possible from any device simply by signing in with the corresponding Google account.
Google Cloud Print provided compatibility with both Android and Chrome, alongside dedicated applications for Apple’s iOS and integration with conventional Windows printing procedures.
When a print job is initiated, the document is transmitted via the Internet to Google’s servers, which then forward it to your designated printer.
Benefits and Features
This architecture enables advanced functionalities, such as remote printing without the need for complex network configurations like port forwarding.
Furthermore, it simplifies printer sharing with others through their respective Google accounts.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
In contrast to Apple’s AirPrint, Google Cloud Print offered broader operating system support.
Existing printers could be made compatible with Google Cloud Print using a dedicated connector, extending printing capabilities to mobile devices.
This connector allowed users to utilize their current printers with the Google Cloud Print service.
The service provided a convenient method for mobile printing.
iPrint, ePrint, and Proprietary Printer Solutions
Alongside advancements from Apple and Google, printer manufacturers have also developed their own methods for wireless printing. Notable examples include Epson iPrint and HP ePrint, among others.
The core concept behind these solutions is simplicity. Users download the corresponding application – such as an Epson iPrint app or an HP ePrint app – directly from their mobile device’s application store.
This app then facilitates wireless printing to a compatible printer on the network. These systems can prove beneficial, particularly when utilizing a Wi-Fi enabled printer lacking support for broader standards like Apple AirPrint or Google Cloud Print.
However, these manufacturer-specific options often lack the seamless integration found in system-level solutions. Consequently, they may not accommodate all document types for printing.
When presented with the choice between Apple’s native AirPrint and the Epson iPrint app for iPhone printing, AirPrint is generally the preferred method.
Microsoft is a significant omission from the aforementioned list. Users of Windows Phone devices are required to rely on manufacturer-specific applications, as Microsoft has not created a comparable standard for streamlined wireless printer connectivity.
The landscape of wireless printing is somewhat fragmented and can be unnecessarily complex. Fortunately, these standards are not mutually exclusive.
Modern printers frequently support standard Wi-Fi printing, Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, and the manufacturer’s own proprietary solution. This allows users to select the most suitable printing connection based on their device and current needs.