HP today unveiled a new category of web-enabled printing solutions designed for the cloud.
The printers allow people to print from any email device to any new ePrint-enabled printer from anywhere in the world through the new HP ePrint platform. Users can also
store documents or files in the cloud and print direct when needed. The new printers can also be transformed into publishing platforms from which users can customize print apps and schedule timed delivery of content - such as news from msnbc.com and Yahoo! and creative after-school activities from Disney - directly to their home or business printers. In addition, the new HP ePrintCenter offers fun and interesting content that is formatted for efficient printing.
To showcase these new solutions, HP announced a full suite of web-empowered e-All-in-One printers for home and business that start at $99. These will be the first printers able to "talk" to the "Google Cloud" without requiring a local proxy PC or web appliance, which means people will be able to access Google Docs, Photos and Calendar directly from their printers. A selection of new print apps from partners such as Yahoo!, msnbc.com, Facebook, Live Nation, Crayola, Reuters, DocStoc and Picasa Web Albums also will be available.
HP web-connected products and services are supported by a digital print advertising platform that can be leveraged by print app partners. Users can get premium content at no additional cost and brands can add value to their audience by populating select print content with customized messages, promotions and information like coupons or local services.
HP ePrint
The HP ePrint platform harnesses the cloud and allow people to send the files they want to print from their mobile devices, such as a Palm Pre or Blackberry smartphone.
Every HP ePrint printer will have a unique simple email address that allows the sender to deliver a print the same way they would send an email message. Users also can send documents to print through an HP ePrint mobile app on their smartphone device to a home, office or public print location such as a hotel or FedEx Office store. Users will be able to send Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs and JPEG image files, among others.
HP ePrintCenter
The HP ePrintCenter is an online hub for all HP users to explore new services. For example, people can register their products and receive updates according to their preferences, configure their devices, track ePrint jobs, and browse and suggest new print apps.
Following a pilot study in two major cities, HP has announced a new service called Scheduled Delivery, which allows users to choose content to be pushed to a printer at a designated time each day or week. For example, they might choose a customized news feed from msnbc.com to arrive at 7 a.m. for picking up on their way out of the door, or they might choose fun kids activities from Disney to be ready when the children get home from school.
Users simply register for the news or content feeds of their choice through the HP ePrintCenter and schedule the day, time and frequency of delivery so items will be printed and waiting when they want them.
The Scheduled Delivery service also opens up a new era of digital print advertising for HP and content partners. HP and Yahoo! plan to launch the service as a pilot program to help marketers consider ways to provide added value to their audiences by populating select print content from partners with customized messages, promotions and information like coupons or local services.
The new line of web-connected HP Photosmart printers include:
- The HP Photosmart Premium e-All-in-One - This top-of-the-line printer provides wireless access to the web and can be customized by selecting from the full line of advanced print apps such as Fandango and Coupons.com. It features a 4.3-inch HP TouchSmart screen with touch technology and can save paper by up to 50 percent using automatic two-sided printing. Expected to be available worldwide in September for $199.
- The HP Photosmart Plus e-All-in-One - Produce lab-quality photos, everyday documents and creative projects using this printer?s 3.5-inch HP TouchSmart screen. Quickly print web content such as coupons, recipes, quick forms, greeting cards, HP Games, crafts and news without a PC. Expected to be available worldwide in August for $149.
- HP Photosmart e-All-in-One - Print web content using the 2.4-inch HP TouchSmart screen. Create photo projects affordably using individual inks and photo printing features such as the auto-engaging photo tray and direct access to Snapfish, the No. 1 online photo service. Expected to be available in North America later this month for $99.
- HP Photosmart Premium Fax e-All-in-One - Easily fax, scan and copy using the automatic document feeder; plus, print photos and web content easily through the touchscreen interface. Incorporates a host of connectivity options including wired and wireless networking. Expected to be available worldwide in September for $299.
New free HP Photo Creations software ships with all the new printers and allows people to create photo books, calendars and other fun projects.
New for these printers is HP Everyday Photo Paper, a glossy photo paper designed for value-conscious customers. Constructed from Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper fiber, this recyclable photo paper makes it easy to print colorful, everyday snapshots and photo projects on any inkjet printer. HP recommends ColorLok papers for best printing results.
HP iPrint Photo for Android
Now available for Android smartphones, HP iPrint Photo is a free photo printing application for direct wireless printing to HP inkjet printers connected to a local Wi-Fi network. The Android version joins HP iPrint Photo for Symbian, Windows Mobile, iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The Snapfish by HP mobile app for Android is expected to launch this summer.
All of HP?s new products, solutions and features will be on display June 7-10 at Internet Week New York headquarters at the Metropolitan Pavilion.