Hasta La Gadget!

In a bid to inject some spark into stodgy home printers, HP has introduced a new all-in-one touchscreen printer that can directly connect to the web and print coupons, maps, movie tickets, news and weather information without the need for a PC.

HP has also taken the idea of apps, popularized by smartphones such as iPhone and T-Mobile G1, and extended it to its product. That means the company’s latest printer will come preloaded with HP applications that can be accessed via the touchscreen panel. HP will also allow users to create and download apps from their site later this year.

“By giving people access to the content they want at the touch of a finger, the ability to customize their printing experience and create their own apps, we are driving a significant shift in how people will be printing in the future,” says Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, imaging and printing group, HP.

That means picture yourself just turning on this printer going to Fandango and printing movie tickets or accessing Coupons.com for the latest grocery deals, or printing directions right off the device.

The new printer comes with a rather clunky name–the HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web, and a hefty price tag.  It will be available starting fall for $400.

The printer will have a 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen and can print, fax, copy and scan. It can also print directly from Wi-Fi-enabled PCs, Bluetooth-enabled devices,  iPhone and the iPod touch.

The device’s user interface seems fairly easy to use and it will have the ability to browse the web, though it is not likely to be a complete browser. Among the early HP app partners will be USA Today, Google including mpas and calendar, Fandango, Coupons.com and Web Sudoku. The printer will also connect directly to a user’s Snapfish account to view, print and upload photos.

Bringing maps, news and coupons functionality to a printer makes it more likely that the average user will get more value from their printer. But unless HP can bring that $400 price tag down significantly, this could end up as a niche product.

Photo: HP Photosmart Premium/HP

Dell has launched an “InkSave” program, where consumers can return used ink cartridges for an automatic replacement.

The model seems similar to that used by Netflix, where customers return movies using a prepaid envelope, and receive the next preferred movie on their list.

InkSave is similar: Dell’s printers ship with a pre-filled ink cartridge installed, and a spare. When the original ink cartridge is exhausted, the Dell customer simply returns the original cartridge in the prepaid envelope, and Dell sends the customer a new one. The customer is automatically billed for the new cartridge, a Dell representative said in a blog post.

Users can sign up for free on the Dell Web site. After doing so, Dell will send a welcome kit with an ink cartridge and the envelopes. 

If your low-rate router fails on you, you might as well select a replacement with more utility than the one you’re burying, right? Axel sure thinks so:

“My bargain-basement CompUSA-branded wireless router is finally starting to fail on me, prompting me to buy a new one. I want to get my huge color laser printer (a Konica Magicolor 2400w) off my desk and tucked away next to the router, so I want it to have wireless USB print hub functionality. Gigiabit Ethernet and Draft-N are also necessary here, as I am eventually going to be adding media clients around the house to stream to every TV. Thanks a lot!”

So, there you have it — which wireless router will provide solid, relaiable USB printing while handling the heavy loads of high-def streaming? Think carefully, you wouldn’t want to ruin this guy’s life. Oh, and if you have a question of your own you’d like to see here, send it over to ask at engadget dawt com.

Filed under: Ask Engadget, Misc. Gadgets, Wireless, Networking

Ask Engadget: Best wireless router with USB printing capabilities? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This monster AIO
sure has talent, but forget
scanning and faxing.

—Nicole Price Fasig

For the full-length, free-verse Xerox Phaser 6180MFP/N review check out PCMag.com.

Although Amex Digital’s SP-7 can’t claim to be the first digital photo frame with an inbuilt printer, it’s certainly among the first to ever pull it off for under two bills. The basic specs include a 7-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, a multicard reader, USB connectivity, integrated speakers, adjustable brightness, a mini remote and support for both audio and video files. Curiously enough, Amex doesn’t even bother explaining what size prints this thing shoots out, where to find replacement paper and how to initiate printing. But, as we alluded to earlier, it’s just $199, so don’t be shocked to end up figuring all this out on our own.

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Displays, Misc. Gadgets

Amex Digital’s SP-7 digiframe doubles as a printer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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