2y ago

Microsoft to Drop Support for Third-Party Printer Drivers on Windows

“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,” the company wrote.

34 comments

"via Windows Update" - key piece of info missing from the headline "for some reason".
Yeah, I don't see a need for Windows update to do any 3rd party stuff.
- Why not? We essentially have this in the Linux world and it’s great. You have a package manager that pulls from your distro’s repositories and it’s filled with all kinds of software, although most drivers come packaged with the kernel. Most stuff is completely plug and play. You end up with one click (or command) software installations for just about everything so you’re not hunting around the internet and downloading installers. Everything you need, including dependencies, gets pulled in and it stays up to date without every app bundling it’s own updater. It’s super convenient.
  
  Because Microsoft manages Windows update, it's not like a package manager in Linux.
  I don't want Microsoft telling me when I should update an Epson printer driver.
- If done right, it could be a positive curator. Rules like "any drivers you get off of Windows update met certain tests, are not padded with unrelated crapware, etc."
  But I suspect that won't fly. My main experience with WU drivers is a tendency to replace new drivers with old, broken ones. And I doubt printer makers-- the guys who made a 600MB driver to do the same tasks that a LaserJet 4 did with a 30k driver 30 years ago-- would play ball.
  
  Well, the "distributed and automatically installed" part seems more like Windows users will automatically get that bloatware installed; no way to get a minimal driver without bullshit utilities anymore, right? I assume that utility will be written by the device manufacturer...
- Thank you. The title is misleading clickbait.
- The device manufacturers have to send the driver to Microsoft to get them signed. Windows needs some sort of drivers available out of the box. Might as well keep them up to date with the signed versions.
  It's been this way for some device types for at least 20 years.
- I hate the constant creep into areas they don't need to be. It's no wonder so many of us stick with a stable OS for years, just so we avoid this stalking.
  I held onto XP until 2011, and Win 7 until last year.
I use an Asus Gladius 2 wireless mouse. On Windows upon plugging it in for the first time WU installed most of Armory Crate and called it a "driver" and of course it immediately wanted to connect to the Internet.. So yes, I'm skeptical.
- Jeez, my Razer mouse only launches the installer for their crap, it doesn't automatically do the installation.
  
  Yeah and there was a whole privilege escalation exploit because of that, get system level access whenever you plug in a Razer peripheral because you could open a powershell window from the "Choose where to install" prompt.
  I'm honestly surprised that made it past as many layers of checks as it did.
  
  So did my Asus motherboard. It didn't install armoury crate, but it pop up as a suggestion. Maybe op just clicked through absent-mindedly?
  
  Shout out to logitech, the G502 Hero wireless I'm using doesn't install or start anything on it's own. What a low fucking bar to look at.
What does "Print Support App" mean? Please don't tell me it's like that garbage HP Smart stuff.
- sandboxes UWP app
  UWP isn't sandboxing law, it's Microsoft business policy, the sands will shift at a later date.
- I'm 99% certain that's exactly what it is.
- Linux and Cups are headed in a similar direction. IPP Everywhere / AirPrint / Mopria only in cups and printer applications for old printers that emulate such a driverless printer
TIL there's an organization called Mopria that develops universal printing standards. As a computer geek who works in the tech industry, I'm surprised I've never heard of this before.

34 comments