Using Google Cloud Print with your device

Before there was e-mail, there was fax. And fax had all the benefits of letters, while taking virtually zero time to get anywhere. It's fax we're going to be using as an analogy for today's service under the spotlight: Google Cloud Print. Only recently unveiled, it allows you to print from any device, anywhere you have internet connection to a single printer in your home - with a really simple set-up. Kind of like fax. Do you see?

Step 1 - hook up your printer

If you've got a 'Cloud-Ready' wireless printer, this step is pretty much the only one you have to follow. Set it up so it's hooked on to your network, and then skip to step 2. If your printer is a classic 'wired' one, or wireless but not 'Cloud-Ready', it's still going to work fine - but it must be left connected to a computer (PC, Mac, Linux, and laptops are fine, wired or wireless is fine) that's turned on. Hook it up and set it up so you can print from the connected device, and then...

Step 2 - get a Google Account and Google Chrome

Google accounts are free. They offer a great way to organise a bunch of things (including contacts and e-mails), so if you're using an Android device without one, get on it. Google Chrome is a great browser - it's fast and secure - and well worth adding to your options for surfing the web.

Step 3 - sign up for Cloud Print

Cloud Print is free. And this bit is magical - if you have a Cloud-Ready wireless printer, take a look in the settings of the printer (make sure it's on the latest firmware) and hit 'Register with Cloud Print'. Follow the instructions (which involve authenticating through a computer with Google Chrome installed) and you'll be ready to head straight to step 4.

If your printer is wired, or wireless but not Cloud-Ready, you can still get it working. Open up Google Chrome on the connected computer, and head to the settings page (it's the little wrench in the top-right of the window). Once there, head to 'Advanced Settings' and then click 'register printer with Google Cloud Print'. Chrome will search for your printer, add it to your registered printers, and you're ready to head straight to step 4.

Step 4 - print from wherever you are

Now your printer is hooked up to the cloud, how do you print to it? You'll need to be using a device that uses Google Chrome. When you print something, you'll see an option to select a printer - and one of the selection is Google Cloud Print. Hit that, hit print, and you're done!

Three top tips

1.    Remember that if your printer is not 'Cloud-Ready', you'll need to leave the connected computer turned on to use it. If you want a low-power computer, hook up a netbook and leave it plugged in. It'll use barely more power than your printer, and provide you with a way to access the printer at low cost.

2.    If you've read this far and are using iOS, don't despair. You'll need to get PrintCentral Pro - a low-cost app that will allow you to set up your device to print through Google Cloud Print.

3.    Love Cloud Print, hate Chrome? Each Operating System (OS) has its own suite of printing apps to enable more system-wide printing: Google for 'Cloud Print apps' to see a list of them, and how to install them on your device.

Happy printing!