Ecofont promises to cut ink consumption by 20%

SPRANQ, a company from Holland, announced that it invented a new environmentally friendly font named Ecofont.

Ecofont is a newly designed font featuring small circular holes in letters. Having holes inside printed letters may help cut ink usage by as much as 20%. The use of the new font can reduce significantly ink printing expenses and, thus, the Dutch company believes, it will help spread environmental awareness.

Previously, SPRANQ has already experimented with fonts by offering zebra-like and partial letter font models. As the company's founder Gerjon Zomer says, it's necessary to preserve the size and outline of letters to keep them readable. By making analogy with Swiss-made cheese, the company came up with a holed-letter design. The new Ecofont is effective in 9 or 10 sizes on paper.

SPRANQ provides Ecofont free for home users and for businesses at its website www.ecofont.eu.

Key words: technology, fonts, printing expenses, economy

Dell uses Zink technology in its new mobile printer

Dell began shipping a mobile printer based on Zink’s inkless printer engine. Like another printing device based on the Zink technology, Poloraid’s Pogo printer, the Dell Wasabi PZ310 produces 2-inch x 3-inch prints with a peel-off adhesive back. It uses Zink’s heat-activated, dye-based, inkless printing system and can produce a print in 55 seconds. It can make prints wirelessly, via Bluetooth or from a camera via USB.

As the manufacturer informs, Wasabi PZ310 has a 12-paper capacity and a 15-print-per-charge battery. Now the device is sold directly from Dell.com at $99.


Here are some technical details about the new printer:

Weight:
Weight (wihout battery): 195g (7 oz)
Weight (including battery): 225g (8 oz)

Output Size:
Paper: 2" x 3" (50 x 76.2mm)
Print: 2" x 3" (50 x 76.2mm)

Print Speed:
55 seconds per print, from send to share2

Zero ink required.

Source: www.dell.com

Key words: Zink, Dell, technology, inks, mobile printer

Inks from your coffee dregs

High costs for inks made some inventive minds look around for other sources to feed a printer. Here is an interesting result: after drinking your morning coffee, you could use the dregs on the bottom of your coffee cup for printing a couple of pages. Here is the way this “break-thru” technology might look like if it were on the market.


Source: Inhabitat

Key words: inks from coffee, interesting, strange printing, inks

Importers Meeting (MIM): Dec. 8-12, 2008, Zhuhai, China

• R3 Groups Re-Industry magazines RechargEast (CEE), RechargEast (Ru/CIS), Recharge India and RechargAfrica & M.E. are organizing unique 4 day meeting between major manufacturers, suppliers and forwarders from Zhuhai /China and over 300 importers from so called “emerging markets” of CEE (Central and Eastern Europe, Russia/CIS, India and SE Asia, Africa and Middle East.

• If you are importer of toner, OPC, ink, parts and cartridges do not miss this golden opportunity to meet with real manufacturers from China and real importers from CEE, Russia/CIS, India and Africa/M.E.

• Nothing can replace the personal contact and these 4 days event will change forever your future business and survival chances.

• Registration is based on “First come-first served!” and spots are limited to max 400 importer companies (maximum 2 people from company).

All details are presented here.

Key words:
Importer, toner, OPC, ink, parts, cartridges, Russia, Europe, East, China, meeting, Zhuhai.

HP is "impeccable"

Today I came across a research report for ink quality. The report was ordered by HP and its goal was to "prove" HP inks are better than any other inks. The research showed HP inks are the best of all. As they say, "he who pays calls the tune". Here are some graphs with the results. In the second one I admired the 0,0%...Even statistically this result is not possible. The researchers go against the stats :)





Here is the full report available for download.

Primitive ink refill

HP Resolves Ink Cartridge Patent Infringement Dispute

HP today announced that it has resolved a patent infringement lawsuit against German-based InkTec GmbH Zentrale and PCE Group regarding inks used in the refilling of certain HP inkjet cartridges.

The settlement also included resolution with Korea-based InkTec Ltd., the manufacturer and distributor of the infringing products.

As part of the settlement, both InkTec entities and the PCE Group acknowledged the validity of the HP patents in suit and admitted to infringement. In addition, they agreed to pay HP an undisclosed sum, to stop selling infringing inks in Germany and other countries where such patents are held, and to withdraw infringing products from the market in those countries.

In October 2006, HP filed suit against InkTec GmbH Zentrale and the PCE Group in the District Court of Düsseldorf, Germany, after HP discovered that certain ink refill kits sold under the InkTec brand and distributed by InkTec and PCE Group contained infringing ink. HP asserted two patents relating to ink formulations and specifically accused InkTec refill kits used for refilling certain HP inkjet printer cartridges.

"HP will continue to invest in technology that benefits customers and to vigorously protect this investment," said Michael Hoffmann, senior vice president, Supplies, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. "We're pleased to have resolved this matter quickly without extensive litigation and will continue to monitor InkTec and others for possible patent infringement as part of our ongoing worldwide testing and enforcement efforts."

Source: www.hp.com

Stylus D92 from Epson

Epson announced it launched a new color inkjet printer for home users. The new Stylus D92 is a low-end product meant for home users willing to print photos (up to A4) at home. The new device works on 4 cartridges filled with Epson DURABrite Ultra inks.



The printer uses Epson Micro Piezo technology and is supplied with Epson PhotoEnhance function to automatically correct image defects. The printer makes 25 prints per minute in b/w mode and up to 13 pages in color mode. The max resolution is 5760 x 1440 dpi.

The printer is in sale in the CIS from July, 2007.

Source: www.epson.ru

Pelikan releases new HP2600 toner

Pelikan Hardcopy has launched the aftermarket HP 2600 toner with success! The main problem on HP 2600 was background. This toner is very sensitive and difficult to manufacture and also to recycle. Pelikan's toner is as good as the OEM toner.

Pelikan also offers "Brillianza" ink. There is a complete new technology behind this Brillianza ink, which it fit's very well into the market needs of our customers. This ink is for use in in HP 17 / 23 / 41 / 57 / 57+ / 78 / 78+ / 343 / 344 cartridges.

www.pelikan-industry.com

Some how-to instructions from InkTec

HP56


BC-1, BC-2, BC-X Canon cartridges


BC-20 Canon cartridge:


BC-05 Canon cartridge:

Two new all-in-ones from Canon: Canon PIXMA MP470 and MP210

Canon announced the launch of two new all-in-one printers: the Canon PIXMA MP470 and MP210 Photo All-In-One (AIO) printers. The devices boast approximately 46-second 4" x 6" borderless photo printing speeds, and offer functionality in a stylish, compact package. Both the PIXMA MP470 and PIXMA MP210 Photo AIOs will be the first products to utilize the new "AutoImage Fix" and "Quick Start" features from Canon. AutoImage Fix includes a function that automatically analyzes and categorizes the scenes in photographs to ensure that each individual scene is optimized in accordance with the scene types such as Portrait, Scenery, Snapshot etc.- These latest AIO's make sure that the entire photo printing process from editing to printing is easier.



CANON MP470 PHOTO ALL-IN-ONE PRINTER

Consumers interested in printing beautiful photos will enjoy the 1.8" flip-up LCD panel, as well as the two-cartridge, four-color printing system. With a minimum two-picoliter droplet size and up to 4800 x 1200 dpi color resolution2 and text print speeds of up to 22 ppm in black and up to 17 ppm in color, this printer will continue to strengthen Canon's reputation for building high quality and fast multifunction printers. The LCD panel is especially helpful for users printing directly from compatible memory cards because it allows them to view and choose the pictures to print right on the screen. The MP470 Photo All-In-One will also feature direct photo printing capabilities, a high-speed USB 2.0 connection, memory card slots, PictBridge connection and an optional Bluetooth wireless connection. The estimated selling price for the PIXMA MP470 Photo All-In-One is $99.99, and the BU-20 Bluetooth adapter has an estimated selling price of $49.99.



CANON MP210 PHOTO ALL-IN-ONE PRINTER

Aimed at the college student and home photo printing customer, the PIXMA MP210 Photo All-In-One features a maximum of 4800 x 1200 dpi color resolution2, and a minimum two-picoliter droplet size to deliver outstanding photo quality. Text printing speeds are up to 22 pages per minute (ppm) for black and up to 17 ppm for color1, providing users with high speed to go along with high quality. Additional features include the Advanced Z-Lid expansion top to help scan bulkier items and high-speed USB 2.0 and PictBridge connections. The Advanced Z-Lid expansion top allows the user to place large notebooks or materials for scanning on the platen glass and holds them down for a more clear copy or scan. The estimated selling price for the Canon MP210 Photo All-In-One is $79.99.

ChromaLife 100 System

The PIXMA MP470 and MP210 Photo All-In-One printers use the Canon's ChromaLife100 system, along with FINE print head technology for long-lasting photo prints. When using select genuine Canon photo papers, prints can resist fading for up to 100 years when stored in an archival quality photo album. The 100-year-lifespan rivals that of many traditional film-based photos, long considered by consumers to be the benchmark for image permanence. Prints produced on Canon Photo Paper Pro with ChromaLife100 have up to a ten-year gas fastness when exposed to open air. ChromaLife100 prints when created using Canon Photo Paper Pro or Photo Paper Plus Glossy, have up to a 30-year light fastness when displayed under glass.6

Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering (FINE)

Launched globally by Canon in 1999, the Canon FINE advanced print head technology is one of the keys to the impressive speed and high photo quality in PIXMA photo all-in-one printers. FINE technology uses a ground-breaking high-performance multi-nozzle print engine that ejects consistent and microscopic ink droplets. The results are high-re

There is no information provided when the printers will be available in the CEE and Russia markets.

Source: www.canon.com

Canon launches a new photo printer.

Canon SELPHY CP740 is a new photo printer of very small dimensions. As the manufacturer says, it can be places on a palm. The device is supplied with a LCD screen and in-built eye reduction function.

This printer, like many others from the family of newly born and toddling-age photo printers, allows to print photos without a PC. It also offers basic functions for editting photos.

The printer is a sublimation printing device supposed to print 10x15 mm photos. It takes around 1 minutes to print 1 photo.



It works with almost all known memory cards.

SELPHY CP740 Compact Photo Printer will cost 100 USD in the US beginning with this summer. In Europe it will be sold from 2008.

Source: www.canon.com

Xerox to offer refill kits for Xerox Work Center 3119

Xerox Russia offers brand-new refill kits for its multifunctional Xerox WorkCentre 3119.



The kits are supposed for the devices with 4.01 drivers. In case the device is older the company offers to download the necessary driver and update the device.

Source: www.xerox.com

"Consumer Reports" about photo printers

The US based magazine ConsumerReports made up an interesting list of things to consider before buying a photo printer in its July issue.

These guidelines do point out what shoudl be considered before buying!

ConsumerReport, July'07, p.37:

"Weigh ink costs.
High ink costs can make a bargain-priced printer a bad deal in the long run. With many tested models, a4 x 6 cost 30 or 35cents; on others, it was 45 or 50 cents -up to twice what you might pay at a photo lab. For 8xlOs, costs ranged from 75 cents to $1.45, a huge difference.

Don't choose a printer solely because of low cartridge costs, though. Kodak is touting the low cost of cartridges for its new EasyShare 5300, a $200 all-in-one, but our tests showed that photo costs were comparable to those of other printers- 35cents for 4x6 photos and $1 for 8xlOs - and print quality was middling.

Look for convenience features.
If you’ll be printing snapshots as well as 8xlOs and text pages, a second tray for 4x6 paper is handy. And make sure you don't have to swap out black to use photo ink. A few models still require that.

Take claims with a grain of salt.
Advertised speeds are often higher than you'll get in normal use. Our tests yield realistic speeds you can compare across brands. A printer's resolution, in dots per inch (dpi) can be confusing as well. All things being equal, the more ink dots a printer puts on the paper, the more detailed the image. But dot size, shape, and placement affect quality. So don't focus only on resolution. The same holds true for ink colors. Some inkjets use up to eight photo inks. Theoretically, a wider range of colors can improve a printer's flesh tones and color gradations, but that hasn't always been the case in our tests."

Very insteresting observations and advice...

Source: www.consumerreports.org