The first 3D printers could be considered rapid prototype machines which started to be widely available in the late 1980s. They started to work on a real level much earlier than that. Take the short time it’s been between the massive computers popping up in the last 100 years, inside our lifetimes, and the ultra tiny world of nanoprocessors today and you can see that we’re developing now at an absolutely explosive, exponential rate.

One article last week by Christopher Mims on Why 3D Printing Will Go the Way of Virtual Reality you’ll find that his view shows a less optimistic vision for the 3D printing world. While the technology today allows for plastics to be molded to our specifications in little to no time at all, it’s a long push to materials that otherwise need massive heat, time, effort, and other fine features to get the ball rolling. The big mind-over-matter thought comes from Tim Maly then of Quite Babylon who notes the time it’s taken to get from the press to the home press. It all seems reasonable to me.

So what do you think, home citizens? Do you think we’ll be printing up everything from toys to food to our own computers and back again soon? Or is it all in our imagination?

[Image via Wil Wheaton]

According to the notorious file-sharing site, users will soon be distributing CAD (computer aided design) files just as they exchange music and video today. Those files, when loaded into a 3D printer such as MakerBot’s recently launched Replicator, can be used to extrude custom objects.

At the moment, 3D printing is relatively expensive – the Replicator is making headlines as it comes in at under $2,000, for instance – and the cheaper models are limited in what they can create and the materials they work with. As hardware evolves, however, a situation similar to the home printer market is envisaged: low cost devices that can create just about everything we currently buy – albeit perhaps in component form, ready for assembly – from raw ingredients.

TPB has already set up a “physibles” category for downloads, albeit currently sparsely populated, in preparation for what the site reckons will be The Next Big Thing in digital exchanges. Currently most CAD files don’t come with DRM, but that’s expected to change as brands realize they can offer limited edition printable objects

[via Extreme Tech]

What you do is plug the box into the wired network in your home or office. Once connected the device will let your iPhone print to any shared or network printer on the network. The device will work with just about any device on iOS, including iPads and iPhones. The device will be on display at Digital Experience during CES and will start to ship in January.

The device supports over 4,000 different printers, including office stalwarts like Epson, Brother, HP, and a bunch more. The xPrintServer will cost you $149.99. It uses the native iOS print menu needing no app to work, and it needs no printer drivers either.

[via Engadget]

Update: HP has issued us with a statement; you can find it after the cut.

That, in the demo, built enough heat to cause paper to brown and begin to smoke, before a thermal switch came to the rescue. Whether that would always be the case is unclear. [HP says the thermal breaker would automatically kick in, and could not be overcome by malicious firmware.] However, it’s arguably less destructive implementations that could be more worrying, for instance reprograming the printers to send copies of any print jobs they receive to a third-party via their network connection.

In that way, corporate spying could be facilitated, with a business’ own printer hardware sharing their confidential documents. The hacked firmware can be installed by printing a document with the tweak embedded – such as by sending a file attached to an email for someone to print – but some printers can also be used via the internet and so might be open to remote modification.

Once tampered with, no outward indication of the changed status is given, leaving owners unaware of the security implications. The reprograming itself takes just 30 seconds, and PC anti-virus and malware software isn’t set up to scan printer hardware.

HP was made aware of the flaw prior to the researchers going public, though disagrees with some of the conclusions – and the extent of the issue – that the Columbia team have identified. For instance, it claims that digital firmware signing and limits around what can trigger updates mean the chances of a printer being compromised are considerably lower. Still, the nature of embedded systems like those at the heart of a printer and other internet-connected devices mean they’re expected to be increasingly the weak spot of network security.

Update: HP has given us the following statement, which is claims addresses wide-spread “inaccuracies in coverage related to printer security.” Understandably the firm is particularly keen to put any overheating issues into context, though there’s also the promise of a firmware upgrade that will address the loophole the Columbia University researchers have identified.

We’re following up with HP for a list of the impacted printers, as well as a timescale for the firmware update.

HP Statement:

Today there has been sensational and inaccurate reporting regarding a potential security vulnerability with some HP LaserJet printers. No customer has reported unauthorized access. Speculation regarding potential for devices to catch fire due to a firmware change is false.

HP LaserJet printers have a hardware element called a “thermal breaker” that is designed to prevent the fuser from overheating or causing a fire. It cannot be overcome by a firmware change or this proposed vulnerability.

While HP has identified a potential security vulnerability with some HP LaserJet printers, no customer has reported unauthorized access. The specific vulnerability exists for some HP LaserJet devices if placed on a public internet without a firewall. In a private network, some printers may be vulnerable if a malicious effort is made to modify the firmware of the device by a trusted party on the network. In some Linux or Mac environments, it may be possible for a specially formatted corrupt print job to trigger a firmware upgrade.

HP is building a firmware upgrade to mitigate this issue and will be communicating this proactively to customers and partners who may be impacted. In the meantime, HP reiterates its recommendation to follow best practices for securing devices by placing printers behind a firewall and, where possible, disabling remote firmware upload on exposed printers.

HP will continue to educate customers about security risks and the features available to address them, and take proactive steps to maintain the security of devices in the field. HP Imaging and Printing Security Solutions work directly at the device and on the network to protect information at rest and in motion, and to prevent unauthorized access.

Additional information is available at www.hp.com/go/secureprinting.

The idea is that the printer will produce a little newspaper for you to peruse. Naturally, you could just use a tablet or a smartphone to read this content like the rest of us. The device will launch in 2012 as a beta product. Pricing is unknown. It appears that the printer itself is thermal.

The paper appears to be the continuous roll sort. Thermal printing means if you leave printouts in the hot sun or keep it too long you might lose that content. The printer can print text and pixel art as well. What do you think of this thing? Check out the video below.

HP has been wedded to the idea of webOS in printers since the early days of its Palm acquisition, though we’re yet to see the platform actually show up in a paper cruncher. The OS would presumable replacing Android in models similar to the HP eStation C510, shown above, which used Google’s open-source platform – along with a reskin from HP’s own software engineers – on a removable control tablet with social networking integration and other multimedia tools.

The guess is that HP has already been working on its webOS printer line-up, and is keen not to scrap those new models in the pipeline while still washing its hands of webOS responsibility. Also up for grabs are Palm’s patents, themselves potentially a money-spinner in this age of high-profile litigation.

Previous potential buyers cited in earlier leaks include Oracle and Samsung, though most companies publicly named have been quick to distance themselves from rumors.

The 12-color ink system offers a larger color gamut and the printer also has a new Chroma Optimizer for increased black levels. The inks are Lucia pigment inks for increased permanence. That permanence allows prints to be sold or exhibited without worrying they will fade over time. The printer supports 1200ppi input resolution and prints with resolution up to 4800 x 2400 dpi.

The print head is a Canon FINE unit with 12,288 nozzles. The printer also has an OIG system for color reproduction. The printer needs 2 minutes and 55 seconds to print a gallery quality image. The paper tray can handle up to 14-inch wide photo paper and heavy fine art paper. Pricing and availability on the printer is unknown. You can see more about the printer in the video below.

There have also been rumors swirling around that Amazon was looking to buy WebOS from HP. That would seem to indicate that the aim for HP moving forward would be licensing for the OS. I would expect with webOS failing at every turn that the licensees would be few and far between. The HP source also said that webOS would appear next year.

This isn’t the first item we have heard webOS was coming to printers, but it’s just as boring this time around. Do you think WebOS has any chance of succeeding in the printer world? There was no hint of webOS in other products.

[via Pocket-lint]

I would certainly give the man bonus points for originality. The printer is made from wood and a lot of ingenuity along with various bits from old optical drives. The mechanical parts you see were scavenged from the old CD drives and then mounted onto the wood frame of the printer. An Arduino controller is the brains for the printer.

The printer has network connectivity to get the feeds from the web and print them out. I’m not sure exactly what the print ink being used is. I don’t see anything in the build notes about the ink cartridge. The finished product is very odd in an impressive sort of way. Check out the video to see the build process.

[via Make]

Canon has announced that several of its Pixma printer models now support Apple AirPrint for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod models. AirPrint support is now offered on the Pixma MG8220, MG6220, and MG5320 printers. That means you can print anything from photos to email, web pages and documents with no need to mess with drivers or apps.

AirPrint natively allows you to print that sort of document. You will need to update the firmware on the printers to support the new feature though. With the firmware installed, you will be ready to print your documents. The iOS devices need to be running iOS 4.2 or later to print.

The concept is a 3D printer that is designed for kids that would be able to sit on a desk in the home and let the kid design and print anything they want. The guys behind Origo are Joris Peels and Artur Tchoukanov, both are former i.materialise workers. The video below shows the kid designing their 3D object on a tablet device and sending it to the printer.

Origo says that the printer is expected to cost about the price of three Xbox 360 game consoles if they can reach their goal. The printer will also be about the size of three Xbox 360s. The idea is that the printer would be able to recycle the material it uses to make it more green and less costly. This sounds interesting to me.

[via Make]

With consumers and small businesses becoming more connected and mobile, Kodak has produced the Hero printers to meet the demands of this new lifestyle. The Hero printers work with Google Cloud Print as well as Kodak Email Print, allowing users to send documents or photos to the printers from any internet-connected device, including laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

“Google Cloud Print feature lets users print from an app, on any device, to any printer without the need for drivers or a PC connection,” said Google Product Management Director Mike Jazayeri. “The service works with existing printers as well as with a new generation of Google Cloud Print Ready printers, so we’re very excited that Kodak’s new HERO All-in-One Printers support the service.”

There are five models in the series with the top of line being the Kodak Hero 9.1, followed by 7.1, Office Hero 6.1, 5.1, and 3.1. The differences between the models include number of paper trays, paper capacities, size of the color display, and whether the display is touchscreen or requires a separate control panel. Prices start from $99.99 and go up to $249.99.

[via Kodak]

It has integrated Epson Wireless connectivity to allow the user to print directly from their network. The wireless connectivity supports networks up to 802.11n speed. The NX430 also supports cloud printing and it can print email sent from a smartphone as well as photos, documents, and websites. The printer has a 2.5-inch LCD and smart touch panel for selecting and printing photos.

It has separate color ink cartridges and the inks are instant drying to prevent smears and smudges. The ink is also water resistant on all paper types. The printer has tech to correct photos automatically. It can scan with 2400dpi resolution for photos and documents. The print speeds are ISO 6.2ppm in black and 3.2 ppm in color. The printer will ship this month for $99.99.

A design firm from Norway called Skrekkøgle has developed a weird printer that has been modded and can print a photo of your pet using those cremated pet remains. The exact process the company used to turn the ashes into the photo is unknown. I wonder if they didn’t just mix the ashes with some black ink and be done with it.

The designers don’t say how much the printing costs, but you can drop them an email if you want to remember Fido with a print like this. I wonder how long it takes to print a photo of your dog like this. What do you think is this a normal thing for owners that lose a pet or just plain weird?

[via Popphoto]

The special chocolate 3D printer was created with funding from the Research Council UK Cross-Research Council Program – Digital Economy. That a huge name, but what it boils down to is this printer was funded because it would allow someone to upload a digital file and create custom chocolates in whatever shape or design they want. The print medium can be changed as well to support printing in non-edible materials.

The team of researchers was led by Dr. Liang Hao and the experiments used chocolate as the medium because the stuff is cheap. I would bet making chocolate shapes also ensures that the staff on the project comes to work as well. The medium is also green since any leftover can be melted and reused or gobbled up. The process can be adapted to other print materials for making things like custom jewelry and more.

[via Inhabitat]

“This market is in it’s infancy and there is plenty of room for both of us to grow” Kerris insists. “It would be ignorant for us to say that we are going to take it [the market] away from Apple.” Nonetheless, HP is looking to make the most of what advantages the TouchPad and webOS have over the iPad, even if they’re relatively short-lived. “We’re the tablet that when you take it out of the box it doesn’t ask you to connect to something to get started” Kerris highlights, though as of iOS 5 later this year the iPad will no longer demand to be set up via a connection to iTunes.

Challenged with recent reviews of the TouchPad and webOS 3.0, the new version of the software platform HP acquired from Palm a year ago today, and which pointed out a number of shortcomings, Kerris expects OTA updates to answer most of the complaints. “As long as you have a plan, you’ll be fine” he says, though it’s unclear whether he’s referring to a data plan – despite no 3G version of the TouchPad being available yet – or HP’s own roadmap of updates.

“It’s not just about the tablet. It’s about the OS, the ecosystem and connecting devices like phones, printers, tablets and computers together” Richard Kerris, VP of worldwide developer relations, HP

In the end, though, it’s HP’s ambitions for webOS across multiple devices that the exec believes will carve out its niche. Cross-platform support for Synergy profiles – the account webOS uses to pull in email, messaging, calendar, multimedia and other data from multiple services like Gmail, Exchange and Facebook – will be implemented across not just phones and tablets but, as of 2012, HP’s desktop computer range.

The Solar Sinter was completed in the middle of May and then Kayser and his creation headed out into the Sahara desert in the area of Siwa, Egypt to put his creation to the test for two weeks. The concept worked and creates a cool process that can be harnessed for the design and creation of 3D items that people need. The device uses solar energy to turn the sand into a form of glass.

The Solar Sinter uses open source ReplicatorG software, which is a 3D printing program. The finished project is on display at the Royal College of Art graduate exhibit right now. Check out the video below to see the solar Sinter in action.

[via Creative Applications]

And that’s not all, these prints react to backlights! Welcome back to psychedelia! What Kobundo have done is to print images to look rather unassumingly monotone in normal light, while with a backlight shining at them, they appear perfectly bright and colored correctly as they’d normally appear with no special light at all using traditional printing techniques. But how is this single pass accomplished?

In a rather simple way, as it turns out.

By taking out CMYK cartridges not needed for certain prints and replacing them with the special luminous alternate RGB inks, the first step is accomplished. Once this is set up correctly, the folks at Kobundo start up their specially formulated software created specifically for this technique, running the printer all at once for one single dual-image print.

As Keizo Ohashi of Kobundo notes:

“The effect changes according to the material we choose. So in the beginning we have to go by trial and error. Here the yellow Lamborghini turns red. But the colors might be stronger or weaker, and conversely it is difficult to turn a red Lamborghini yellow. This is something people won’t understand until they try it. People who have some experience can understand it, but in the beginning they don’t.”

“We want people to see the accuracy of these colors and once the see it they understand, because “A picture is worth a thousand words”. Rather than people just saying “It glows”, we want people to be more surprised and say “It’s beautiful!”.”

This technique can be seen in the video below, as presented by Diginfo:

Sound like a technique you’d like to try out? Finally, a gift for your weird uncle who lives in a backlight world, only emerging from his den of darkness for more pizza and video games. A delight!

[via Akihabara News]

The 3D printer used in the project was the RepRap 3D printer the maker also used Open SCAD to generate working house keys. To make the keys the user inputs the key code for the lock into a parametric OpenSCAD model. Then the printer will print the key and the key should actually work. I would worry that the 3D printed key might not be strong enough to survive repeated locking and unlocking.

The designer verified that the system worked by printing out keys for a box of locks bought off eBay that had Kwikset KW1 and Schlage SC1 locks inside. Those are apparently the most common locks in use today. The builder offers the files needed to create the keys as well. The only thing that bothers me about this is that it might be something that people could use to gain access to someone’s home without permission.

[via Eclecti]

The GL10 Instant Mobile Printer is on sale now at the Bloomingdale’s 59th St. flagship store in NYC, but will start rollig out to other select Bloomingdale locations by the end of June. It’s already available for pre-orders on Polaroid.com and will be available on HSN.com starting May 27th. It will also hit Costco stores starting June 20th.

This nifty little mobile printer uses Polaroid’s second-generation Zink (zero ink) technology, which is capable of instant 3×4-inch smudge-proof prints. Powered by a rechargeable lithium ion batter, the GL10 can last up to 35 prints and can print via USB or wirelessly over Bluetooth. The printer itself is priced at $169.99 but the print media is priced at $19.99 per pack of 30 sheets.

[via CNET]

The printer has seven different servo controlled motors that move the seven markers up and down to make them contact the wall and write the message. The servos actuate as the user pulls it across the wall and writes the message out in large dots and slashes. The printer is controlled by an Android phone that is attached to an IOIO board.

The control app is an Android offering. When a message comes into the Android phone attached to it, they device is ready to print your message. This is geek tagging at its finest. You can check the manual, automatic printer out below in the video to see just how it works.

[Liatsegal.blogspot via Make]

The Kodak ESP Office 2170 will be able to directly print from your Blackberry device, as well as your iPhone, iPad, iPad 2, and iPod Touch. The printer is also cost efficient since the largest amount of money spent during a printer’s life is on the ink. The Office 2170 can churn out 670 black text pages on a single black ink 30XL cartridge and 550 color pages on a single color 30XL cartridge.

The printer can print stills directly from video files such as mov, .avi and .mp4 file types. But perhaps its most unique feature may be the 3D photo feature, one of the first among consumer inkjet printers. You’ll also be able to edit images to adjust color tone, red eye, blemishes, and skin tones from the 1.5-inch display. The Kodak ESP Office 2170 goes on sale in the U.S. in June for $149.99 MSRP.

[via Kodak]

[via Yanko Design]

Meanwhile there will be other form factors offered, particularly in HP’s tablet range; the company has already said that the 9.7-inch HP TouchPad is only the first of a new family of slates. The PC market, however, will be HP’s major play. It’s unclear at this stage whether HP ever intends webOS-specific computers, but – like the Mac App Store on OS X – it certainly expects to integrate some degree of webOS support into its entire PC line-up. That includes not just webOS apps, but the web-based services previously available only on Palm smartphones.

Such a strategy would – with HP selling millions of PCs every year – see webOS’ footprint increase dramatically, and the platform’s appeal to developers likely get a welcome boost too. HP promises more information on webOS PCs “in the coming months.”

A lovely designer by the name of Kim Neill, aka Kim Creative Star, took the time to create a plethora of colorful cookies along the Pantone lines and you can take a peek at them (or if you’re a client of hers, take a bite of them,) right now. Not only that, she’s sent out a recipe to the world so that her open-source goodness can be had by everyone in the color-loving world. How kind! Take a peek at her full recipe on Kim Creative Star and come back and tell us what you’re favorite Pantone color is here – or which one you think would be the most tasty!

[Via Kim Creative Star]

The R3000 can also print wirelessly and can print over Ethernet. It uses Ultrachrome K3 ink is with vivid Magenta ink technology and has a MicroPiezo AMC print head. It can print on matte and glossy photo paper as well as a large variety of artistic papers.

The printer has a top loading paper tray, can print on roll paper up to 44-inches long, and can print CDs and DVD labels. This printer will only be appealing to the high-end photographer thanks to its price tag of right at $850. The R3000 will be available in March.

The Bravo 4100 line is able to print a single CD label in high-quality color in only six seconds. It used individual CMYK ink tanks to lower ink costs and prints at 4800 dpi quality. Part of the blazing print speed that the new 4100 series offers comes from 300% faster robotics than previous models.

The printer also has blue lighting inside and a job status monitor. The device is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and 7 as well as Mac OS X 10.6 and up. There are versions of the product that can burn content to the disc and print a label. The 4100 AutoPrinter holds 100 discs and sells for $1995. The 4010 Disc Publisher has a CD/DVD burner and printer with a price of $2995, and the 4102 has a pair of those burners and prints for $3295.

Video demo after the cut

The GL10 printer and GL30 camera each use ZINK instant camera paper and can either print the shots from another digicam or, in the case of the GL30, take the shots itself and then produce hard copies. The GL30 also has various filters for adding retro and other affects. The GL10 will go on sale in May 2011, priced at $149.99, while the GL30 will arrive later in 2011, price tba.

As for the GL20 Camera Glasses, they’re a set of oversized sunglasses with an integrated digital camera in the bridge and a pair of LCD displays behind the lenses. That means you can snap a shot and then display them rather than your eyes, which is probably great for fashion but not so useful for navigating rooms. They’ll go on sale later in the year, pricing tba.

Press Release:

Polaroid and Lady Gaga Announce Grey Label

A Collaboration Between Two of the Most Influential Icons of Our Time, Polaroid Grey Label Comes to Life With Three New Products That Showcase the Magic of the Polaroid Instant Experience

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Polaroid and its Creative Director, Lady Gaga today unveiled Polaroid Grey Label, an original line of products co-designed with Lady Gaga. This collaboration between two cultural icons reflects Polaroid’s long standing tradition of innovation tracing back to founder Dr. Edwin Land and Lady Gaga’s mission to deliver products that enable creativity for all, celebrate artistry and make sharing instantaneous across the physical and digital. The inaugural Polaroid Grey Label line is truly expressive of Lady Gaga’s artistic vision and includes the GL10 Instant Mobile Printer, GL30 Instant Digital Camera and the GL20 Camera Glasses, a unique new look at how to turn images into a fashion statement.
“I consider myself to be a visionary, not just a songwriter and a singer. I am an artist,” said Lady Gaga, Polaroid’s Creative Director. “I brought my vision and love of fashion, technology and obsession with the future into all of my work with Polaroid.”
Polaroid Grey Label Products
Polaroid and Lady Gaga today unveiled the first trio of Polaroid Grey Label products at Polaroid’s CES booth:
1. GL10 Instant Mobile Printer:
Advanced Technology: The newest instant printing experience begins with the embedded dye-crystal ZINK® Zero Ink® Technology from ZINK Imaging. Patented ZINK Paper™ is an advanced composite material with cyan, yellow, and magenta dye crystals embedded inside. Before printing, the embedded dye crystals are clear, so ZINK Paper®, looks like regular white photo paper. The GL10 Instant Mobile Printer uses heat to activate and colorize these crystals.
Superb Print Quality: The GL10 Instant Mobile Printer uses ZINK’s second-generation thermal technology, delivering image quality that rivals a photo-lab. Prints emerge fully developed and protected by a smudge-proof, water-resistant coating.
Aesthetically Pleasing and Environmentally Responsible: Designed for both form and function for use both in the present and future. ZINK technology requires no messy ribbons, toner or inkjet cartridges.

The GL10 Instant Mobile Printer will be available in May 2011 (US $149.99 MSRP). ZINK 3×4″ Paper will be available in May 2011 at a price to be announced.
2. GL30 Instant Digital Camera:
Brings the Polaroid Instant Experience to Life: Introducing a new generation to the joy of instant photography, the GL30 uses next generation ZINK Zero Ink Technology from ZINK Imaging.
Fuses the Digital and Physical Worlds: Featuring the benefits of a digital camera, instant photo printer and digital display, the GL30 is a creative tool that delivers the best of the digital and physical worlds.
Pays Tribute to Polaroid’s Legacy: Reminiscent of Polaroid cameras of the past, the GL30 is clearly a significant departure from a typical camera. Designed for longevity, the GL30 is not only for the future, it’s an object of desire. Users can select from a number of filters and borders to create truly original images that instantly fit in the palm of your hand.

The GL30 Instant Digital Camera will be available later this year, at a price to be announced.
3. GL20 Camera Glasses:
Merges Fashion With Photography: Never before has the world seen fashion, photography and technology come together in one, singular product.
Tells Your Story to the World: Users can instantly capture or upload photos with the built-in camera and then display the images on the glasses’ LCD screens for others to see.
Expresses True Artistry and Originality: Only Lady Gaga could create a hybrid that’s part fashion statement, part revolutionary technology and part tool for self-expression.

The GL20 Camera Glasses will be available later this year, at a price to be announced.
The Polaroid Grey Label Evolution
After being named Polaroid’s Creative Director in January 2010, Lady Gaga and Polaroid collaborated to define a direction for the line that blended the brand’s core values with Lady Gaga’s creativity. Stemming from “greige goods,” a fashion-industry term for fabric in its purest form, the Polaroid Grey Label line encompasses Polaroid’s heritage of delivering simplicity with the style, wit and sensibility of Lady Gaga.
Committed to bringing originality back to product design across all genres, Lady Gaga articulated that all Polaroid Grey Label products communicate three essential elements of self-expression:
Creativity: All Polaroid Grey Label products are designed with the idea that creativity and sharing go hand in hand, in both the digital and the physical world.
Instant Artistry: All features found in Polaroid Grey Label products celebrate, express and bring an element of artistry and originality to the act of image making.
Fashion: Intended to be just as much everyday fashion accessories as innovative imaging tools, all Polaroid Grey Label products feature unexpected design elements such as leather touch points, brushed metal and exposed mechanical details.

“The Polaroid Grey Label line embodies the Polaroid brand, with an injection of the future-looking fashion and design mantra of Lady Gaga that simply can’t be replicated,” said Scott W. Hardy, Polaroid’s President. “It represents Polaroid innovation for the new generation, one in which there are no limitations to sharing creativity through photography, both physical and digital.”
About Polaroid
Across several generations, people regard Polaroid as one of the most trusted, well-respected and recognizable brands when it comes to instant photography. The Polaroid brand has been around for more than 70 years starting with polarized sunglasses which then evolved into instant film, camera and camera accessories, marking the beginning of the well recognized Polaroid Classic Border Logo. In recent years, the Polaroid brand has expanded into flat panel televisions, portable DVD players, digital photo frames, digital HD camcorders, waterproof digital cameras and more. People can expect to see new Polaroid products that will deliver the fun, instant gratification and value for which the brand has long stood.
For more information, visit www.Polaroid.com.
Polaroid, Polaroid & Pixel, Polaroid Grey Label, and Polaroid Classic Border Logo are trademarks of PLR IP Holdings, LLC.
About ZINK Imaging
ZINK Imaging Inc., a privately held company, was founded to enable millions of customers to enjoy the magic of ZINK® Zero Ink® products. ZINK Imaging invented, manufactures, and is an OEM supplier of the ZINK Printing Technology and the award winning ZINK Paper® to partners that will bring ZINK‐enabled products to market under their respective brands. ZINK Imaging’s headquarters and research and development labs are in Massachusetts, with a state of the art manufacturing facility in Whitsett, North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.ZINK.com.

The app will work on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Using the app the user can print things like Office documents, PDF files, JPEG photos, email, and all sorts of attachments from email. The app connects the Apple device to the Epson wireless printer using a WiFi network in the home of office.

The app has been around for a while now, so the app in itself isn’t new. What is new is the price. Right now, the app costs $6.99. Epson reports that once the App Store processes a price change the app will be offered free to all users. The change is expected to be made in the US and Canada by the end of December.

The PictureMate Show is similar to the company’s previous PictureMate Charm photo printer, but this one brings several updates and improvements to the previous Charm. You get a larger LCD display this time around. At 7-inches, the Show’s digital photo frame should be big enough to show off your photos to family and friends. However, if you’re looking for a range of sizes to print from, the Show won’t be your printer of choice. Prints can only be 4 x 6. An interesting design choice, was to include a remote control for usage controls, and not providing a touchscreen interface on the 7-inch LCD display.

You can load images into the photo frame via an SD card slot, or from the integrated USB port. There’s also an optional Bluetooth adapter, which should let you send images from a Bluetooth-enabled picture taking device, right to the PictureMate Show. If you’re thinking this would be the perfect gift for someone you know, or yourself, you can head on through here, and pick one up for $299.99.

[via Coolest Gadgets]

The Cricut Printer is able to cut pre-determined designs into thing sheets of sweets. You can load a sheet of fondant in there, or even frosting sheets. You can even put cookie dough, tortillas, modeling chocolate, and soft candies. When you do, you just tell the printer what you want printed on the particular goodie, and the Cricut Cake printer will take care of the rest.

For those of you out there who have always wanted to decorate a birthday, or other celebratory piece of dessert but you lack the artistic skill necessary, here’s an easy way to make it happen. But, as you can probably already guess, this won’t be a cheap way to get what you want. You’ll have to shell out $399 to make the Cricut Cake printer yours.

[via Oh Gizmo!]

That list includes five models – the HP Photosmart C410, C310, B210 and C510, and the HP ENVY 100 D410 – though the expectation is that more printer manufacturers will jump on board as the system gains traction. Initially, however, AirPrint was said to also support printing to any brand of printer shared on a PC or Mac and accessible across the wireless network.

“Support for AirPrint on Windows and Mac has been cancelled. We will be in contact with you if another opportunity arises in the future” is what Apple Tech Support apparently told one developer, with others claiming that the feature was dropped due to “its instability and incompatibilities.” No official word from Apple on the subject at present.

Kenichi Okada is the leading scientist on the project, and he is working with several more scientists out of the Keio University. The team plans on showing off the ink-jet printer in Florence, Italy this week. The goal of the printer is to let people not only print an image that looks great, but can also stimulate the nose. So, if you see someone holding a lemon in an image, you can actually smell that lemon.

Okada and his team worked closely with Canon, who specialize in pictures and print. The result, was a standard ink-jet printer that the companies transformed into an “olfactory display.” The printer can now switch between four aromas. As of now, though, the three main ones are lavender, mint, and lemon. Okada says that the ink-jet printer works the best, because the ink-jets are able to “emit tiny pulses of material to achieve precise control.”

Unfortunately, the printer isn’t capable of syncing smells to an object quite yet, but Okada says that is the next step. So, here in the near future hopefully, we’ll not only be able to look at an image and remember a fond event, but we’ll also be able to smell certain aspects of it.

[via New Scientist]

The Lexmark Genesis All-in-One printer features a glossy piano black finish, making sure that it looks “futuristic” in any setting. On the inside, Lexmark included a 10MP imaging sensor, which makes it easy for the printer to transfer a page from “document to digital” in just a few seconds. No more waiting for that flatbed scanner to get the job done, as the Genesis will do the job for you faster than ever.

On the front of the device, you’ll find a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen, featuring a color display. You’ll control the printer from the touchscreen, and you’ll even get to access Lexmark’s SmartSolutions applications. Some of the apps included are Evernote, Box.net, and Stamps.com. You’ll even find Twitter and Facebook applications, which you’ll be able to upload images to the social networking sites right from the machine. The Genesis also features two-sided printing, and integrated wireless-N connectivity. Lexmark confirmed that the new printer will launch in 2011, and have an estimated price tag of $399.

[via ChipChick]

The printer is very compact and uses a drum and fuser that promise to last the lifetime of the printer for less maintenance. The LED printer series will include the 1250c, the world’s smallest letter color laser class printer with 10ppm color printing and up to 8% less power consumption than competing laser printers.

The line also includes the 1350cn/w that has integrated WiFi with the LED tech for network printing and consumes 11% less power than similar laser offerings. The final model is the 1355cn/w that is the world’s smallest 4-in-1 multifunction laser class printer with 12-ppm color, network interface, and WiFi. The 1250c sells for $229, the 1350cnw sells for $329 and both are available now. The 1355cn/w will ship in November for $399 without WiFi and $449 with WiFi.

The printer is able to scan, copy, print, and fax. The unit also has web connectivity and has a 3.45-inch touchscreen for connecting to the web and it can install web aps. The printer is one of the new Android-powered offerings from HP. It will sell for $249 and launch on October 4.

HP also showed off the e-Station printer that has a detachable 7-inch tablet on the front that can be used as a remote station for printing things from the web. It will sell for $399 and should be available now. The Officejet pro 8500a is the last of the printers and is an AIO with web printing capability and more that can be used with add-ons making for a price range of $299 to $499.

From the name of the service you really get no idea what Kodak has unveiled. You go to the store with your photos on media of some sort. You pick a frame style that you want hanging on the wall or sitting on the table and scan the bar code for the frame at the Pynk kiosk.

Then you select the images that you want in the photo frame via whatever method you chose to upload them and the kiosk takes those photos, sizes them, crops them, and then prints a single sheet with the photos on it perfectly arranged and sized for the frame you choose. Before you had to spend time cutting, printing, and sometimes taping photos together in one of these collage fames to compete the same thing. Kodak isn’t talking price on these things and if it costs too much it will fail. However, for the right price, this could be a very cool service.

HP’s fall range of ePrint models will support AirPrint, including models in the Photosmart, Officejet, Officejet Pro and LaserJet Pro lines.  If users haven’t got an ePrint printer, they’ll also be able to wirelessly send documents to a printer hooked up to a PC or Mac and shared with AirPrint.

AirPrint will work on iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (second generation and later).  More on iOS 4.2 here.

Press Release:

Apple’s AirPrint Wireless Printing for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch Coming to Users in November

Available First on HP ePrint Printers

CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Apple® today announced that it is releasing a beta version of its AirPrint wireless printing for iPad™, iPhone® and iPod touch® to members of Apple’s iOS developer program today, and that AirPrint will be included in the free iOS 4.2 software update in November. AirPrint automatically finds printers on local networks and can print text, photos and graphics to them wirelessly over Wi-Fi without the need to install drivers or download software. HP’s existing and upcoming ePrint enabled printers will be the first to support printing direct from iOS devices.

“AirPrint is Apple’s powerful new printing architecture that matches the simplicity of iOS—no set up, no configuration, no printer drivers and no software to download,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users can simply tap to print their documents or photos wirelessly to an HP ePrint printer or to a printer shared on a Mac or PC.”

“We’re pleased to work with Apple to bring Apple’s AirPrint to our fall lineup of ePrint printers in time for the holiday shopping season,” said Vyomesh Joshi, HP executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group. “Making it easy for our customers to print anytime, anywhere, is a key priority for HP. iPad, iPhone and iPod touch customers are going to love how easy it is to print using our new range of ePrint printers, creating high-quality printed pages in an instant.”

AirPrint is designed to support a wide range of printers from entry level inkjet printers to office laser printers. Additionally, iOS 4.2 devices can print to printers shared through a Mac® or a PC. iOS 4.2 compatible HP printers this fall include the HP Photosmart, Officejet, Officejet Pro and LaserJet Pro series ePrint enabled printers.

*AirPrint will work with iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (second generation and later).

The PrintJinni app for the Apple gear is printing software that’s lets users print all sorts of files to an Epson printer that has WiFi. The app allows the printing of documents like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, and JPEG images all from an email account that is bound to any Epson AIO printer with WiFi.

HP has a similar feature for its web-connected printers where the user can print things from the iPad using an email address. The Epson system lets you email the items you want printed to the printers email addy and the stuff is then printed out. The app supports Gmail, Exchange, MobileMe, AOL, and other IMAP email applications. A free upgrade to iPad native printing will be offered when the native app launches this fall. The app costs $9.99 normally but is available for $6.99 for a limited time.

That means printing ebook content direct from the Zeen on the Zeus, without an intermediary computer involved.  Unfortunately, it sounds like HP aren’t keen on turning the Zeen into a general-purpose slate: it apparently lacks either the Gmail app or Android Market access, is locked to the custom UI, and only offers a curated web-printing experience including preloaded apps for Facebook, Yahoo and Snapfish.

Unfortunately, leaked first-impressions of the hardware aren’t especially positive either: the Zeen has capacitive touch buttons, an SD card slot, supports video and (on some prototypes) has a webcam, but touchscreen accuracy is said to be particularly shoddy.  There’s also little chance of a Froyo update, given HP has now shifted its attention to webOS.

The Zeen/Zeus bundle will apparently come in at $399.99 and is expected to begin shipping on September 20th (though that could well slip); the Zeen slate will supposedly be available separately, though no prices have been revealed.