A web-connected printer you say? Yes, I was a little puzzled at first, but it makes a little more sense after you’ve watched HP’s demo video.
What HP have announced today is the HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web, essentially a browser within a printer. A way to print maps, web pages, news and more without needing to connect it to a computer. As apps are all the rage at the moment, HP are jumping on the bandwagon with what they are calling the “HP Apps Studio”, a way for users to connect to an app/company of choice and print content on demand in an easy-to-read format.
The tech giant is partnering with USA TODAY, Google, Fandango, Coupons.com, DreamWorks Animation, Nickelodeon, Web Sudoku and Weathernews Inc. Through these apps, people will have free access to customized daily news, maps, coupons, coloring pages, movie tickets, recipes, personal calendars and more.
The HP Photosmart will connect directly to photo sharing site Snapfish.com, letting users view, print AND upload photos – surely only a matter of time before Flickr and others are incorporated.
Developers and individuals alike will be able to create and share their own apps, therefore customizing their printers for the type of usage they are likely to get out of it.
It’s an intriguing development, some might say – evolutionary- and one that might just catch on. There has been many occasion when plugging your computer or connecting it via your network is just too much trouble – with a browser within the actual printer, that problem is irradiated.
Oh, and price? $399, or thereabouts.
Intrigued? Watch the ad:
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