November 20, 2011 at 22:52Print files from Android devices over the Internet
It took me more active to use a phone ( HTC Desire ) and a tablet (now Asus Transformer , but I’m thinking about replacing it with a Lenovo Thinkpad - I really want a normal stylus and a full-sized USB) to work, potentially - as a replacement for a laptop (when possible).
To do this, it was necessary to realize the ability to print from android to home and working printers. Along the way, I just wanted to print from any of my computers to any of my printers - both home and work. If you don’t depict crutches like a mail robot that prints everything that is sent to it, then the obvious solution is cloud printing.
On the server side - the home router on the Windows 2008 Web Server, which runs the Vmware Workstation, which runs Windows XP, into which the Xerox 3117 connected to the router will be thrown (yes, I am aware that a pervert, but there is a logical explanation for this design: )). The “computer” with the printer does not look directly at the Internet; it is located behind NAT (in the apartment network).
On the client side - a couple of desktops (seven), three laptops (seven), a couple of tablets (seven and android) and a phone (android).
Initially, of course, Google Cloud Print comes to mind , but the thing is opaque, requiring Google Chrome, and working far from everywhere . And I would be very pleased if there was printing from any applications, but, unfortunately, desktop printing works only in Google Chrome, the add-on for Firefox is incompatible with 7.0.1, and I am silent about other applications.
Although if you need printing only from android, then Cloud Print will do. Customers include Cloud Print , Easy Print, and the PrinterShare ™ Mobile Print described below .
Everything works, but PrinterShare, although it is a client of a competitor, I liked it the most - Cloud Print and EasyPrint stupidly send a document to print, and PrinterShare shows a preview, allows you to configure which pages to print, choose paper size, margins, duplex printing and etc.
The solution from Google was only partially satisfied, therefore continued the search. I didn't have to go far, PrinterShare pops up pretty quickly. Arranged in the same way as Cloud Print, but instead of Chrome, its client is used. A clear advantage over Google - after installing the client, a virtual printer appears, which is visible from any application.
You can share the printer on Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 32, and 64 bits) and MacOS. To print - with Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 32 and 64 bits), MacOS, Android devices, iphone and ipad.
I didn’t write about installing Google Cloud Print, everything is written in detail on the site, it’s difficult to go somewhere to the side. I’ll say a few words.
During installation, it is proposed by default to install Bonjour / Nearby service. It is necessary for printing from devices that are in the same segment as the print server. I did not set, but it may be useful to someone.
After installation, the program displays only local printers, to work via the Internet, you need to register and log in (the "User" menu)
Through the client, you can share the local printer (select and click "Give access") or add the shared printer to the list ("Find" button a printer").
By default, the shared printer is visible in the general list and anyone can send the task to it (though this does not mean that it will be printed :)).
Therefore, the printer must be hidden from the search results - select the printer in the local list, click "Properties" and check the "Do not show" box, then no one will connect it except you.
Or set the action “Reject automatically” for unknown clients (menu “Printer” - “Automatic actions”). There are three possible actions - "Do nothing", "Print automatically" and "Reject automatically." Initially, for you it should be "Print automatically", for unknowns - "Do nothing." That is, by default, they can hang a job for the printer to you (if they find it), but it will not be printed until you allow it yourself.
The PrinterShare ™ Mobile Print client is on the market. Two versions - free and paid. About the differences later. I'm still free.
After installation, you can print in two ways. Either in any application (such as a browser), click the share button and select PrinterShare in the list, or open the file through the client interface.
From Opera:
From Dropbox:
Client Interface:
Preview, selection of pages for printing. The pages are either marked with checkmarks, or directly when printing, you can specify what to print - all selected or set ranges (1-8, 23-54, 3):
Print settings:
After sending the task, it will be written that printing is completed (although this is still not so, until the actual completion of a few more minutes).
After a couple of minutes, a message appears on the print server in the tray indicating that the task has arrived.
If it says “Print automatically”, it will be automatically sent to the printer. If not, you will have to go to the job list and send it to print yourself.
A client is installed (the same one that shares printers). The Printershare virtual printer appears in the list of printers. In the desired program, select it for printing:
Then the Printershare settings window appears, where in the "Printer" drop-down list, select the printer from those available to you.
That's all, the task is gone, then everything looks the same as with android, except that the list on the print server will not contain “from android”, but the name of the document.
Of course, such features are not completely free: www.printershare.com/about-subscription.sdf
Initially, 20 pages are available for free. Enough for the test.
Then you can either buy 100 pages for 5 bucks, or, if you print a lot, a subscription for $ 9.95 per month with an unlimited number of pages.
If you print only from a mobile phone / tablet, you can buy a premium version of a mobile client at a time (399 rubles in the android market, $ 4.99 - version for iPhones). Then from the phone you can print without restrictions.
Also, no one forbids registering again and again getting 20 free pages.
When printing from the Printershare mobile client to printers shared via Google Cloud Print, the page counter (in PrinterShare) is not consumed.
The home printer has remained shared both through Google and through Printershare, I will print to it from the android through the PrinterShare + Cloud Print client.
To a working printer and to a home one from other computers - I will buy pages as needed. I don’t think that I will print as much as I need to buy a subscription, in my opinion, it is needed only for teamwork.
To do this, it was necessary to realize the ability to print from android to home and working printers. Along the way, I just wanted to print from any of my computers to any of my printers - both home and work. If you don’t depict crutches like a mail robot that prints everything that is sent to it, then the obvious solution is cloud printing.
Iron side
On the server side - the home router on the Windows 2008 Web Server, which runs the Vmware Workstation, which runs Windows XP, into which the Xerox 3117 connected to the router will be thrown (yes, I am aware that a pervert, but there is a logical explanation for this design: )). The “computer” with the printer does not look directly at the Internet; it is located behind NAT (in the apartment network).
On the client side - a couple of desktops (seven), three laptops (seven), a couple of tablets (seven and android) and a phone (android).
Google cloud print
Initially, of course, Google Cloud Print comes to mind , but the thing is opaque, requiring Google Chrome, and working far from everywhere . And I would be very pleased if there was printing from any applications, but, unfortunately, desktop printing works only in Google Chrome, the add-on for Firefox is incompatible with 7.0.1, and I am silent about other applications.
Although if you need printing only from android, then Cloud Print will do. Customers include Cloud Print , Easy Print, and the PrinterShare ™ Mobile Print described below .
Everything works, but PrinterShare, although it is a client of a competitor, I liked it the most - Cloud Print and EasyPrint stupidly send a document to print, and PrinterShare shows a preview, allows you to configure which pages to print, choose paper size, margins, duplex printing and etc.
PrinterShare
The solution from Google was only partially satisfied, therefore continued the search. I didn't have to go far, PrinterShare pops up pretty quickly. Arranged in the same way as Cloud Print, but instead of Chrome, its client is used. A clear advantage over Google - after installing the client, a virtual printer appears, which is visible from any application.
You can share the printer on Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 32, and 64 bits) and MacOS. To print - with Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 32 and 64 bits), MacOS, Android devices, iphone and ipad.
Installation
I didn’t write about installing Google Cloud Print, everything is written in detail on the site, it’s difficult to go somewhere to the side. I’ll say a few words.
During installation, it is proposed by default to install Bonjour / Nearby service. It is necessary for printing from devices that are in the same segment as the print server. I did not set, but it may be useful to someone.
After installation, the program displays only local printers, to work via the Internet, you need to register and log in (the "User" menu)
Through the client, you can share the local printer (select and click "Give access") or add the shared printer to the list ("Find" button a printer").
Security
By default, the shared printer is visible in the general list and anyone can send the task to it (though this does not mean that it will be printed :)).
Therefore, the printer must be hidden from the search results - select the printer in the local list, click "Properties" and check the "Do not show" box, then no one will connect it except you.
Or set the action “Reject automatically” for unknown clients (menu “Printer” - “Automatic actions”). There are three possible actions - "Do nothing", "Print automatically" and "Reject automatically." Initially, for you it should be "Print automatically", for unknowns - "Do nothing." That is, by default, they can hang a job for the printer to you (if they find it), but it will not be printed until you allow it yourself.
Print from Android
The PrinterShare ™ Mobile Print client is on the market. Two versions - free and paid. About the differences later. I'm still free.
After installation, you can print in two ways. Either in any application (such as a browser), click the share button and select PrinterShare in the list, or open the file through the client interface.
From Opera:
From Dropbox:
Client Interface:
Preview, selection of pages for printing. The pages are either marked with checkmarks, or directly when printing, you can specify what to print - all selected or set ranges (1-8, 23-54, 3):
Print settings:
After sending the task, it will be written that printing is completed (although this is still not so, until the actual completion of a few more minutes).
After a couple of minutes, a message appears on the print server in the tray indicating that the task has arrived.
If it says “Print automatically”, it will be automatically sent to the printer. If not, you will have to go to the job list and send it to print yourself.
Printing from a Windows client
A client is installed (the same one that shares printers). The Printershare virtual printer appears in the list of printers. In the desired program, select it for printing:
Then the Printershare settings window appears, where in the "Printer" drop-down list, select the printer from those available to you.
That's all, the task is gone, then everything looks the same as with android, except that the list on the print server will not contain “from android”, but the name of the document.
Issue price
Of course, such features are not completely free: www.printershare.com/about-subscription.sdf
Initially, 20 pages are available for free. Enough for the test.
Then you can either buy 100 pages for 5 bucks, or, if you print a lot, a subscription for $ 9.95 per month with an unlimited number of pages.
If you print only from a mobile phone / tablet, you can buy a premium version of a mobile client at a time (399 rubles in the android market, $ 4.99 - version for iPhones). Then from the phone you can print without restrictions.
Also, no one forbids registering again and again getting 20 free pages.
When printing from the Printershare mobile client to printers shared via Google Cloud Print, the page counter (in PrinterShare) is not consumed.
Total
The home printer has remained shared both through Google and through Printershare, I will print to it from the android through the PrinterShare + Cloud Print client.
To a working printer and to a home one from other computers - I will buy pages as needed. I don’t think that I will print as much as I need to buy a subscription, in my opinion, it is needed only for teamwork.