End of servicing plan for third-party printer drivers on Windows | Hacker News Reader

End of servicing plan for third-party printer drivers on Windows

learn.microsoft.com

54 pointswithinrafael21 comments

There is an important point in the article faq

> Q: Will supporting Mopria certification be a mandatory requirement for HLK (Hardware Lab Kit)? > A: Yes.

This means that going forward we can expect Microsoft to only support Mopria printers in Windows. This is a step backwards for platform openness in Windows. Without supporting tests on HLK, drivers will likely be rejected for signing and will not be installable on an unmodified version of windows.

The title isnt the best, it should say that windows no longer needs dedicated printer drivers

> With the release of Windows 10 21H2, Windows offers inbox support for Mopria compliant printer devices over network and USB interfaces via the Microsoft IPP Class Driver. This removes the need for print device manufacturers to provide their own installers, drivers, utilities, and so on. Device experience customization is now available via the Print Support Apps that are distributed and automatically installed via the Windows Store

At least we dont have to deal with stupid drivers anymore.

Manufacturer installed "drivers" are much more than just drivers. They are designed to lock in users and collect data while constantly upselling.

that sounds no worse than regular Windows 10

https://xkcd.com/528/

Nope, just stupid "Print Support Apps" with inevitable subscription models.

Yes but no -- you can just configure Windows to /not/ load the UWP apps/etc. The core printing should just work.

Everything will still be exposed over IPP or IPP over USB and requires compliance with Mopria for universal scan/print. It should just be as easy as plug-and-play (finally, hopefully).

> It should just be as easy as plug-and-play

Never underestimate printer manufacturers. They'll fuck it up somehow.

if you have me a reg key or something that enables automatic driver install but disables app install i’d be thankful, i was searching for that but never could find it

That is if the printer manufacturers are willing to support this interface.

With how predatory they act otherwise, I don't see them giving up running their own code in the NT kernel.

This is their interface, is it not?

“The alliance was formed in September 2013 by Canon, HP, Samsung, and Xerox.”

It looks like everyone else has signed on since: https://mopria.org/certified-products

Most of them have been dragging their feet on switching to V4 drivers, a technology that was introduced with Vista and was back ported to XP.

In large part because v4 drivers required re-architecting their drivers. While many manufacturers made unique drivers for many printers or printer families, they all likely built on a shared framework and were not entirely novel. V4 drivers also tended to be buggier and had more problems for administrators until Windows 7.

Vista was introduced in 2006, 17 years ago. I think that is enough time to iron out the problems.

I see them moving their predatory software to the printer itself. My HP printer already runs a flavour of Android.

Kernel print drivers have not existed since Windows XP.

I never heard about Mopria framework or certification. Would this mean that now we can assume that all printers should work in Linux by just supporting this single interface?

I notice Apple isn't a member. I wonder how much impact this has on Linux printing as Apple seems to own cups.

Apple is pushing AirPrint for printing in MacOS and iOS. I've noticed in certain cases you have to download the HP app from the App Store to get full functionality for HP devices.

Xerox B230 which I got has it. You can connect your printer to the LAN and print from PC and in my case Android Phone as well using Mopria Print app as a driver.

I guess we're going to see a surge of shitty Updater programs, services, tray icons, etc. again.

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