First outdoors unboxing video for the Canon PIXMA MP495. Purchased just this Sunday afternoon from Walmart for $49. I got this printer since it had wireless features that I needed and a HP printer was getting too costly in my mind to keep around. The old HP printer could not take print orders from a 64-bit computer so I decided to go out and get a new one. I’ve used the Canon’s scan and copy functions after the video ended and they came out in a good and clear quality.
Canon PIXMA MP495 All-in-One Printer Outdoors Unboxing!
May 21st, 2012Posted in Videos | No Comments »
laser wipes paper clean for reuse
May 21st, 2012london, May 20 (IANS) Engineers have developed a way of using lasers to remove ink from paper so it can be reused in printers and photocopiers.
The new technique could drastically reduce the number of trees cut down to produce paper and even provide a cheaper alternative to recycling, said Julian Allwood, who led the research team at the University of Cambridge.
The researchers used short pulses of laser light to delete words and images that have been printed on paper. The laser vaporises the toner ink without damaging paper and opens up the prospect of future computer printers and photocopiers having an “unprint” function to allow paper to be reused.
“The process works on a wide range of toners. It does not damage the paper so the feasibility for reusing paper in the office is there,” said Allwood, the journal Proceedings of The Royal Society A reports.
Allwood estimates it would cost 19,000 pounds to build a prototype unprinter but that the costs would come down as technology improves and it is commercialised, according to the Telegraph.
He said he has been approached by several commercial firms expressing interest in producing the first “unprint” devices.
They found that while lasers that used ultraviolet light and infrared light were all effective at removing the ink, the most efficient was using a visible green laser. This removed the ink without causing any physical damage to the paper or discolouration.
Filters can be used to capture the vaporised ink, which is given off as a gas. They calculate that reducing the cost to 16,000 pounds would make the device valuable in most offices by reducing the need to buy paper.
They also believe that it could be kinder to the environment by reducing the need to use as many chemicals to recycle paper and cutting carbon emissions savings of up to 79 percent.
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Soon, an 'unprinter' to remove ink from papers
May 21st, 2012London, May 21 — Scientists claim to have developed a new technique that can remove ink from printed papers so they can be reused in printers and photocopiers. The technique, developed by a team at the University of Cambridge, uses short pulses of laser light to delete words and images printed on paper.The laser vaporises the toner ink without damaging the paper and opens up the prospect of future computer printers and photocopiers having an “unprint” function to allow paper to be reused, the researchers claimed.Published by HT Syndication with permission from Hindustan Times.
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Jensen Computer – Aiming to be a Leader in Remote PC Technical Support
May 19th, 2012Jensen Computer is the next big thing in the technical support industry, aiming at providing fast and cutting edge tech support service to all its clients facing technical troubles with their PCs.Saint Paul, MN (PRWEB) May 18, 2012 Jensen Computer is the next big thing in the technical support industry, aiming at providing fast and cutting edge tech support service to all its clients facing …
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Commercial Printers Succeed with Strategic Alliance Solutions
May 19th, 2012Southern Lithoplate, Inc.
P.O. Box 9400
Wake Forest, NC, 27588
USA
Press release date: May 7, 2012
WAKE FOREST, N.C. – Printing companies continue to look for ways to decrease costs, increase profits and differentiate themselves from the competition. Expanding its Strategic Alliance Partners, Southern Lithoplate is now delivering commercial print shop owners complete solutions that meet or exceed today’s print standards for superior quality with low total cost of ownership.
Commercial-quality Cobra 830 negative thermal plates afford faithful color fidelity, crisp image reproduction and fine detail on a wide range of media, including fibrous stock. As a complement to the Cobra 830, the new-generation Integra 830 P(TM) meets the market’s demand for an alternative positive-working, no-prebake commercial plate.
Screen PlateRite computer-to-plate (CtP) recorders give customers the freedom to build their business through advanced imaging technologies designed to fit the needs of the individual business. Screen’s equipment reliability is second to none.
Combining Southern Lithoplate’s commercial digital printing plates and allied prepress products with Esko’s state-of-the-art automated workflow software brings additional benefits to commercial printers. Esko, an international leader in workflow solutions powered by Danaher Corp., engineers workflow systems based on the latest PDF, JDF and Certified PDF standards. Esko products automate the daily tasks in prepress environments. They are easy to use, configure and integrate into existing production processes.
Visit Southern Lithoplate’s Alliance Partners at drupa
These members of the Southern Lithoplate Strategic Alliance are demonstrating products and services at drupa 2012 through May 16: Screen (Hall 09, Stand A40), Esko (Hall 08b, Stand A23), ECRM (Hall 07a, Stand C09), Nela (Hall 08a, Stand B61) and Glunz-Jensen (Hall 05, Stand C38).
Call Your Personal Account Manager
Contact Southern Lithoplate at (800) 638-7990 or (919) 556-9400 about a complete prepress/pressroom package, including quality thermal plates, CtP device, workflow application, financing and service.
About Southern Lithoplate, Inc.
Southern Lithoplate, Inc. (www.slp.com), privately held, American owned and operated, and headquartered in North Carolina, specializes in the manufacture, distribution, and service of high-quality lithoplates and associated products for targeted print markets. Southern Lithoplate enjoys a long-standing reputation for Quality, Value, and Performance throughout the world. Southern Lithoplate provides customers with a full array of high-quality, value-priced products with a service infrastructure that exceeds the needs of the company’s customer markets. State-of-the-art manufacturing facilities are located in Jackson, Tenn.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and near the world-renowned Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.
CONTACT:
Steve Mattingly
Southern Lithoplate, Inc.
(800) 638-7990 ext. 2240
Fax: (919) 556-1977
SMattingly@slp.com
www.slp.com
Southern Lithoplate, Inc. | P.O. Box 9400, Wake Forest, NC 27588 | 800-638-7990 | www.slp.com
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Kodak Introduces ESP 3.2 All-in-One Printer and New Pic Flick HD App for iPad
May 17th, 2012ROCHESTER, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Continuing to offer consumers a no-compromise choice in home printers,
Kodak today introduced its new KODAK
ESP 3.2 All-in-One Printer combining advanced features, quality, and
affordability. And offering more ways to connect and print from mobile
devices, Kodak revealed its new KODAK Pic Flick HD App1,
which lets consumers create personalized photo cards, collages, and
prints on an iPad and send them to their KODAK Printer.
The ESP 3.2 All-in-One Printer is the latest addition to Kodak’s
award-winning inkjet printer portfolio. With a refreshed and modern
design, it is targeted to photo-centric consumers and families who want
great value, quality, and simplicity. It offers Kodak’s signature easy
Wi-Fi set-up and a 2.4-inch color touchscreen for effortless navigation
and a better ‘walk up and print’ experience. With Kodak’s leading image
science and proprietary pigment-based inks, consumers get sharp text
documents and brilliant photos that dry instantly, are smudge, water,
and fade resistant, and last a lifetime2, along with the
lowest total ink replacement cost3 and lowest average cost
per page in the industry4.
Consumers can print on the go from their smartphone, tablet or computer
using Google Cloud PrintTM and KODAK Email Print Service5.
Kodak is now offering consumers the ability to customize their printer’s
email address. Consumers can also save time with additional advanced
features like smart sensor technology that predicts supplies and time
needed to complete a job and automatically adjusts printer settings
based on paper size and type.
“Our newest printer and mobile app speaks to Kodak’s commitment to
deliver a print experience that meets the needs of today’s consumers,
whether they are at home or away from home,” said Brian Cruz, Director
of Marketing and Vice President, Consumer Inkjet Systems, Kodak. “The
ESP 3.2 All-in-One Printer offers the value and ease that consumers
want, with no trade-off on quality and performance. And customers can be
assured that Kodak is here for them with the supplies and support they
need for high quality, affordable home printing.”
Coming in June, the free KODAK Pic Flick HD App for iPad lets consumers
create personalized photo cards, collages, and prints, with the ability
to add captions and speech bubbles. KODAK Technology identifies the
colors in the photo and automatically generates matching mats for prints
and collages, perfect for framing.
The Pic Flick HD App joins the KODAK Pic Flick App for photo printing
from smartphones and tablets6, the KODAK Document Print App
for ANDROID devices7, and the KODAK Photo Collage Print App
on FACEBOOK, the first of its kind on the site.
Available in June, the ESP 3.2 All-in-One Printer will retail for $99.99
MSRP. For more information on Kodak’s printer portfolio and inks, visit http://www.intelligentprinting.kodak.com.
And for creative photo project ideas, visit and join Kodak’s Tips and
Project Exchange at http://www.exchange.kodak.com.
About Kodak
As the world’s foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers,
businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and
printing to enrich their lives.
(Kodak and ESP are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.)
____________________
1 Compatible with iPad (iOS 5.1 or later). Supports KODAK ESP
5250 All-in-One Printers and later. Printer and device must be connected
to the same local area network.
2 Under all common consumer display and storage environments.
Based on independent third party testing. Smudge resistance using KODAK
Inkjet Photo papers.
3 As compared to leading consumer inkjet printers’ total ink
load replacement costs using manufacturers’ recommended standard ink
cartridges available in single quantity pricing (no multi-packs, high
capacity, combo packs, value packs or special promotions); excludes
printers that use only one cartridge.
4 Of any inkjet printer brand. Ink costs only. As compared to
the average ink costs of leading consumer inkjet printers, based on
continuous printing using manufacturers’ standard ink cartridges, in
single quantity pricing, as of April 2012. For more information and a
list of all printers tested, go to http://www.kodak.com/go/inkdata.
5 Google Cloud Print Account required. Printer and device
must be connected to the Internet. Subject to service availability.
Visit www.kodak.com/go/kodakemailprint
for details.
6 Compatible with iPhone (iOS 3.0 or later), iPad, iPod touch
(4th generation or later) and most Wi-Fi enabled BLACKBERRY Devices with
OS 4.5 or later and ANDROID OS 2.0 or later. Printer and device must be
connected to the same local area network.
7 Compatible with all KODAK All-in-One Printers and most
ANDROID OS Devices using v2.2 or later. KODAK Printer must be registered
with and connected to Google Cloud Print Service.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50279642&lang=en
MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50279642&lang=en
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Maxatec launches two new thermal barcode printers
May 17th, 2012Maxatec has launched two new thermal barcode printers for desktop label printing, the TDP-225 and TDP-225W, which are manufactured by TSC Auto ID Technology Co. Ltd. These low cost, compact printers are said to offer an ideal solution for a wide range of applications including barcode printing for retailers and wristband printing for patient ID and entertainment ticketing.
The two-inch direct thermal label printers are specially designed for compact areas, but at the same time, are packed with features. They are the first low cost compact two-inch desktop printers to offer an optional LCD display to its customers. The LCD is used to present important information about print job status which brings a new level of ease of use to its customers. They also provide the capability to continue to print even if the computer network fails. It simply calls up a stored wristband/barcode printing program from within the printer allowing patient or product information to be entered via a PC keyboard, and it then continues to print the relevant label.
Andrea Percival, managing director of Maxatec said: “These are really neat barcode printers and we are very pleased to add them to our extensive range of printing solutions. There are very few low cost two-inch desktop printers around and I believe that these will be well received in the market place. However, it’s not all about cost, it is also important that they are reliable and durable if we are to meet our customers’ demands effectively and these two new products fit that criteria.”
The TDP-225 and TDP-225W user-friendly clamshell design offers features including inexpensive internal Ethernet adapters for easy integration into network systems, and optional keyboards for printing labels/wristbands in standalone or down-time situations. They are designed to fit into areas other barcode printers cannot, and integrate easily into a wide range of applications. The TDP-225 features large 5” OD centre biased media capacity and fast 5 inches per second print speed. They both have a 200 MHz processor, standard memory of 4MB FLASH, 8 MB SDRAM and a slot for a MicroSD memory expansion that increases FLASH storage up to 4 GB and support standard industry emulations including Eltron(R) and Zebra(R).
In addition the TDP-225W printer supports full 6.5″ OD rolls of wristbands right out of the box. It has an easy-load spring loaded centre biased wristband holder, that supports a one inch core that is common to full 6.5″ OD rolls sold by major wristband manufacturers.
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Mobile printing gets easier with or without AirPrint
May 15th, 2012
We can now use our mobile devices for many of the tasks that once required a computer. Unfortunately, for the longest time, printing documents didn’t feel like one of them.
Printing from the iPhoneThe situation improved when AirPrint became available, along with a gaggle of compatible printers from the likes of Epson, HP, Canon, and others. Yes, there have been improvements, but we still have a ways to go before printing becomes as ubiquitous and as easy on our devices as it is on our Macs.
While we wait for that day, we can still output prints right now from the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. By spending a little time reviewing the iOS software available, and the Wi-Fi printers that can use it, we can configure a tidy workflow that will have us dishing out email attachments and photos faster than a short-order chef.
Not all of these configurations are AirPrint related. And for the moment, we’re not bringing our Mac into the workflow either.
In the past we’ve covered popular workarounds that involve using the Mac as an intermediary device to manage the print jobs. One of our favorites is Printopia, which lets your Mac share all or any configured printers, no matter how they’re connected to your Mac, with iOS devices on your local wireless network.
These solutions are terrific—if you don’t mind having your computer as part of the printing workflow. But if you do mind, there are still options that allow direct communication between your mobile device and the printer. Here are some of the major ones available.
AirPrint
Let’s take a look at the state of AirPrint, then move on to other options. iPhones and iPads with current operating systems (iOS 5.1 at this writing) can print directly to AirPrint printers that reside on the same Wi-Fi network. I’ve tested this capability with my iPad 2 and iPhone 4S using Pages, Keynote, Mail, Photos, and Safari.
AirPrint email from iPadThe concept is straightforward. If you’re viewing a picture you took in the Photos app on your iPhone, tap the Share button and you’ll notice the Print option at the bottom of the list. Tap it, and you move to a second dialog that has two options: Printer (selection) and Number of Copies. Tap Printer to select an AirPrint device on the same Wi-Fi network. Now all you have to do is tap the Print button to output one copy of your photo.
It’s simple, but your options are limited to selecting how many copies you want to print. That’s it. Image size defaults to something around 4-by-6 inches regardless of the printer you’re sending it to. If you want another size, you’ll have to use a different app. If all you have is letter-sized paper in your AirPrint printer, then you get a snapshot sized photo placed somewhere on an 8.5-by-11-inch sheet.
Pages and Keynote printing for iOS are a bit more intelligent. You can print full letter-sized output of the projects you create. Plus with each, you’re provided with a Page Range setting to control what gets printed and what doesn’t.
AirPrint from Pages for iPad
To send a job, click on the wrench icon in the upper right corner, tap on Share and Print, tap on Print to set up the job, then tap Print once again to send it off.
Printing email from the Mail app isn’t too painful, as long as you want to print the entire document—no page range controls here. But the output looks pretty good. If there’s an attachment, you can also print that. Again, without much control over its appearance.
This lack of control really comes into play when trying to print webpages from Safari. You can quickly end up with a 10-page document with bits and bobs of the webpage on different sheets of paper.
Print Agent Pro 1.8.5
To improve these AirPrint scenarios, consider a third-party app that provides more control when setting up the job. Dar-Soft’s Print Agent Pro is a good example.
There are two versions of the iOS software: iPad for $6 and iPhone for $4. Both aim to do the same thing—make AirPrinting more functional. Once installed, you can easily open email attachments using the Open In command, available in Safari and Mail. Once you open the document in Print Agent Pro, you have control over the paper orientation, page range, number of copies, and some nice extras such page numbering.
The PrintAgent Pro dialog
Print Agent Pro also allows you to copy items to the Clipboard from anywhere on your device, and then print that information. It also has hooks in your Contacts app, enabling the printing of a single or multiple contacts on one page. If you want to print a screenshot from your iPad (from a webpage or from another app), first make the capture (hold down the Home and Power buttons simultaneously). Your device will send the image to the Camera Roll. Open the screenshot from the Camera Roll in Print Agent Pro, then use its controls to get a perfectly formatted letter-sized output.
Printer manufacturers’ applications
iOS apps such as Epson iPrint and HP ePrint Home & Biz often provide more functionality to their own printers than using the generic AirPrint commands.
HP ePrint Home & Biz on the iPhoneHP ePrint Home & Biz 4.1 The HP app, for example, connects to a variety of HP printers on the same Wi-Fi network, regardless of whether they are AirPrint enabled or not. It allows you to print saved documents that you store in the app itself. On my iPad, I keep a model release stored for quick output after a shoot.
Printing photos from your Camera Roll or Photo Stream is also straightforward. Choose the image on your iOS device, select the paper size (3.5-by-5, 4-by-6, 5-by-7-inch, letter, and A4 are available), then choose the paper type, and tap the Print button. The output is generally quite good, especially from iPhone 4S photos.
The HP app includes its own Web browser that provides better print output than Safari on iOS. The problem is that the browser is very slow, and it has a hard time building previews of complicated websites. I found it too slow, even on an iPad 2, for me to rely on. Too bad. It’s a good idea.
You can check your ink levels with Epson iPrint on your iPhone.
Overall, the free HP ePrint Home & Biz iOS app is a gem. It connects to a large number of HP printers, and adds many of the controls that you’ll want when printing documents and photos.
Epson iPrint 2.2 This terrific iOS app allows you to send jobs to a variety of Epson Wi-Fi printers, including the R2000 wide format photo printer. First you point the app to the Epson device on your Wi-Fi network. There are plenty of settings available to help you configure the job to your liking. For printing photos, start with paper size—you have 12 options ranging from 3.5-by-5 all the way up to 10-by-12 inches. You can choose between Standard and Best print quality, Borderless or Border, number of copies, and Advance Settings. In that second dialog you can set Color or Monochrome, Print Date, Brightness, Contrast, and Saturation.
Another bonus is the ability to check ink levels on the printer using the iOS app. If you want to know how much ink is left, just open Espon iPrint and take a look. Very handy!
Lexmark’s LexPrint interface on the iPhoneThe output is beautiful. If you have an Epson Wi-Fi printer and an iPhone 4S, you may find yourself printing photos far less often from your Mac. And if you have a multifunctional Epson printer, documents are a snap too.
Lexmark LexPrint 3.1 Lexmark’s entry into the iOS app derby is a handsome one, with a good set of options including Print Quality (Draft, Normal, Photo), Print Size (eight sizes ranging from 3-by-5 inches to Legal), Scale to Fit, and Number of Copies.
My problem with the app is that it could not see my Wi-Fi-enabled S600 Lexmark multifunction device. The app encouraged me to download LexPrint Listener for my Mac to spool the jobs from the iOS device to the printer. Having to do so dampened my enthusiasm, leaving my Lexmark printer out of iOS the horse race.
Printing apps that require additional software
When you search for printing applications in the Mac App Store, you’ll see quite a few results that may look enticing at first. Be sure to read the technical information and reviews before purchasing. Many of these applications require that you install additional software on your Mac in order to send documents to a Wi-Fi printer. In these cases, the Mac acts as a print spooler.
AirPrint printer warningIf you don’t mind this sort of thing, then you might be quite the happy camper. Just know what you’re purchasing before making the leap.
Bottom line
AirPrint printers provide easy output, and the technology is sure to improve. In the meantime, you can enhance its functionality with apps that provide more options, such as Print Agent Pro.
Another route, and one that tested well with Epson and HP Wi-Fi multifunction printers, is to review the manufacturer’s iOS apps before making a purchase. If the printer you’re considering is supported, and you like the looks of the iOS app, then you can happily print photos and documents without AirPrint.
[Senior Contributor Derrick Story teaches digital photography on Lynda.com and runs a virtual camera club at The Digital Story.]
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E-waste recycling service begins
May 15th, 2012Canberrans can now more easily dispose of their unwanted televisions and computers.
From today, ACT households and businesses can dump their electronic waste for free at the Mugga Lane and Mitchell transfer stations.
They can also drop off computer accessories including printers, keyboards, and hard drives.
The ACT is the first jurisdiction to introduce the free service, as part of a scheme being rolled out nationally.
It means valuable resources such as gold and other precious metals can be recovered from the waste products, and hazardous materials such as lead and mercury can be dealt with.
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says she hopes the new service will lead
The ACT Government hopes the new service will also mean a reduction in illegal dumping of electronic waste.
“We’ve had a recycling scheme here in the ACT but you had to pay for it. It was about $40 for a TV,” Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said.
“This scheme is going to be an industry funded scheme, where the costs of recycling are going to be factored into the price that you pay up front, and then they are able to be recycled at the other end.”
Ms Gallagher says the service is permanent, and she is urging people not to rush out this weekend to dispose of their electronic waste.
“We are a bit concerned that in the first couple of months we’ll be dealing with high demand out there, particularly on the weekends,” she said.
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US Ready to Bet $60 Million on 3D Printing
May 13th, 2012Today’s 3D printers can already create robots and artificial body parts layer by layer based on computer designs. But the U.S. government has much bigger plans for the futuristic technology — it wants to reshape American manufacturing by offering up to $60 million for a new 3D printing institute.
Unlike traditional factories, 3D printing technology offers the flexibility of tweaking digital designs on the fly and then rapidly “printing” the physical object on demand. The new Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute would harness 3D printing as the first of up to 16 centers dedicated to U.S. manufacturing innovation — part of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation announced by President Obama on March 9.
“This pilot Institute will serve as a technical center of excellence, providing the innovation infrastructure to support manufacturing enterprises of all sizes and ensure that the U.S. manufacturing sector is a key pillar in an enduring and thriving economy,” according to the Air Force Research Laboratory‘s solicitation issued yesterday (May 8).
The Department of Defense has taken the official lead on the 3D printing effort, but civilian agencies such as the Department of Energy have also promised funding. Any university or research institute that eventually hosts the new institute is expected to match the taxpayer contribution for a possible total budget of $120 million.
The military envisions 3D printing as a way to save money on making new defense technologies or weapons — whether such hardware is made of metal, plastic or electronics. Smaller, lighter versions of 3D printers could even allow soldiers to print out replacement parts at forward bases near battlefields. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy hopes to cut back on the energy cost of manufacturing by 50 percent within 10 years.
Whatever it achieves, the new institute can’t expect to receive taxpayer dollars forever. The Air Force solicitation says the institute must have a business plan to become financially sustainable within five years.
This story was provided by InnovationNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience. Follow InnovationNewsDaily on Twitter @News_Innovation, or on Facebook.
- 10 Incredible 3-D Printed Products
- 3-D Printers Open New Worlds, and New Legal Issues
- 10 Ways You’re Using Nanotech Right Now (And Don’t Even Know It)
Copyright 2012 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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