Microsoft Adding Native Support for 3D Printers in Windows 8.1
By , - Source: NextPowerUp
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11 comments
Windows 8.1 will feature native support for 3D printers, much in same fashion as conventional printers.
Microsoft has announced that they will be including device-specific application programming interfaces (presumably supplemented with drivers) that will provide Windows 8.1 with native support for 3D printers, scanners and POS devices.
Though 3D printers still remain a relatively niche product, it’s great news to see Microsoft is paying close attention to the new technology and we hope that 3D printers will soon feature the same plug and play functionality as conventional 2D printers.
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Anywho, enough griping.
I really hope they do things right for 3D printers. Old 2D printers seem to have never standardized where we could simply get a default printer driver that 'just works' for general printing, and only needing the official driver if doing something specific to the particular brand or pinter. I fear that 3D printers are taking so many different approaches to the tech that we are going to have similar headaches.
It actually prints just fine, too. I think it's awesome that they're adding class drivers for 3D printers, point of sale devices, etc.
When you hit the big button titled "Desktop" on the main screen.