Dell Release Driverless WiFi Printers

By Peter Lavelle
28 May 2010 10:50 GMT

Yesterday Printerinks.com News reported Dell's strategy to enter the managed print services market using printers embedded with document management software. The company is targeting specific industries in this way: for example, offering to schools software that automatically grades and sorts test papers.

In addition though, Dell are offering a free program that enables Wifi users to connect to their printer without a driver. Called Dell Proximity Printing, the program is available to download from June 8th. Users will be enabled to print without knowing the printer's name or other details; they simply need be within Wifi Range.

More information is available from Dell's website.

Sources

Tony Hoffman, 'Dell Announces Mono Laser Printer, Biz Printing Solutions,' PCMag.com, 27 May 2010.

Dell Targets MPS Market With Document Management Software

By Peter Lavelle
Thursday 27 May 12:50 GMT

The managed print services market resembles an untapped oil field at the moment. Several prospectors have scented the potential profit, and are attacking the same territory with their respective equipment. Yesterday Xerox vendor Bytes Digital Solutions demonstrated (for me at least) that MPS can be truly worthwhile for companies in a new press release. They showed (using several university clients as examples) that good quality MPS means identifying the specific source of print mismanagement in a business, and removing it. They showed (in other words) that Xerox make MPS valuable because they provide a genuinely bespoke service.

Today meanwhile Dell (a relative newcomer to ink cartridge making) has announced its managed print services strategy. Unlike Xerox, Dell is not constructing a service division but integrating MPS into its printers. According to the Product Manager at Dell's Printing and Imaging Division Orlando Lacoyo, henceforth Dell multi-function printers will feature embedded document management software. This software (on a basic level) will enable users to automate printing tasks or reroute documents into the correct folder automatically. It will (theoretically) make each company's printing workflow much more efficient.

Next to the army of third party vendors Xerox have accredited to sell its managed print services, Dell's strategy may seem small potatoes. To Dell's credit though, it is not offering generic document management software but several programs made for specific industries. For example, Dell is pitching a Healthcare Print Station program to the medical sector. This program automatically sorts scanned documents into relevant patient folders – greatly reducing bureaucracy. Elsewhere Dell is offering its Classroom Print Station software to schools and colleges. This software automatically grades tests and places the results in the proper document.

For Dell these announcements are interesting because the company can make headway into a hitherto untapped portion of the managed print services market. They can offer products of genuine value to customers without competing directly with the MPS behemoths: Xerox and Hewlett Packard. It will be interesting to see if Dell's strategy succeeds: on the one hand, selling document management software enables companies to see exactly what benefit they will receive; on the other hand, the scope of these benefits is perhaps lower than the 'complete printing overhaul' services offered by Xerox and Hewlett Packard.

Sources

Agam Shah, 'Dell Adds Document Management Features To Printers,' PCWorld.com, May 27th 2010.

Universities Reap Savings With Xerox MPS

By Peter Lavelle
26 May 2010 11:12 GMT

In recent months ink cartridge maker Xerox has been pushing its managed print services heavily. The company has accredited several companies around the world to become third party MPS vendors, and trained countless salespersons to cross-sell MPS alongside existing Xerox products. In spite of this however, many consumers (myself included) remain uncertain exactly what MPS constitutes. Xerox promise to improve a company's printing efficiency and reduce costs – but how?

Fortunately then, third party MPS vendor Bytes Document Solutions (BTS) has posted a press release explaining the benefits of MPS. The release illustrates the value of MPS using several customers – and surprisingly perhaps, these customers are not businesses but universities. They include:

• Canada's University of British Columbia. UBC anticipates $8m annual savings because Xerox MPS has provided them a consistent print workflow across the campus. Students and staff now follow an efficient printing schema, reducing costs.
  

• South Africa's University of Johannesburg. UJ has benefited from a unique bit of Xerox MPS software that enables images and text to be integrated before printing. This in turn reduces needless printouts.
  

• North America's Hobart & William Smith Colleges. HWS used Xerox managed print services to reduce their printer count from 550 to 81 and saved $135,000. (Presumably Xerox did this without compelling some poor students and staff from walking half a mile to the nearest printer or somesuch.)
  

The article lists other examples. Pertinently though, six months ago several bloggers thought MPS impossible to define: each service was so bespoke it defied general explanation. (You can probably Google 'What is MPS?' for several debates on the subject.) Speaking personally I didn't necessarily disbelieve this: it is often tough to define a burgeoning service. But the failure of MPS salespersons to provide a concise explanation of their business made me wonder if MPS wasn't nonsense. Too often persons who can't explain themselves are compensating for an insubstantial centre to their ideas, after all.

Today's release by BDS is a pleasant surprise then. It demonstrates that MPS really can provide a bespoke service that benefits customers according to their circumstances. (I must however end on a cynical note. Doubtless BDS cherry-picked these clients as examples of outstanding Xerox MPS performance. I would love to hear from customers that contracted Xerox MPS and received no benefit. Moreover I would love to know the ratio of MPS successes to failures too. Perhaps you could leave a comment below!)

Sources

Grant Long, Universities Slash Up To 30% On Printing Costs With Xerox,' ITWeb.co.za, 26 May 2010.

OKI Release New LED Printers

By Peter Lavelle
25 May 2010 17:36 GMT

Flashing lightbulbs. To date they've been good for transmitting morse code and causing epileptic fits. Recently though the fine people at OKI decided that giving lonely lighthouse keepers something to do wasn't a worthy purpose for the lightbulb. They've therefore integrated LEDs into their new printers, and given them the noble task of generating printouts. Oh what benevolent ink cartridge manufacturers!

The new OKI C330dn and C530dn printers produce colour printouts, while the B411 and B431 series printers produce monochrome printouts. Each model though depends on a wonderful series of flashing lightbulbs to generate characters. In addition the C330dn and C530dn boast EnergyStar status, making them both energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Really though, no one cares about eco printing (this is almost official: yesterday an executive at Kyocera, a company renowned for its environmental policies, called these policies “green crap.”) What's important is knowing that your printout is generated by the electronic equivalent of several people blinking really fast.

Oh yes.

Sources

Nathan Eddy, 'OKI Printing Debuts LED Printers,' Eweek.com, 25 May 2010.

Do Consumers Care About Eco Business Policies?

By Peter Lavelle
24th May 2010 13:21 GMT

I consider myself a newcomer to the world of business. I finished my master's degree only one year ago, and have experience in only two office environments. However in spite of the different atmospheres of these companies, one kind of behaviour unites them: they find out what the competition is doing, and improve on them. This mentality informs everything from website design to the USPs. More recently though (because of the direction my work has taken me), this 'keeping up with the neighbours' has centred on one area: environment policy. Almost overnight, it seems every company must display its environmental credentials – simply because other companies have started doing so. The details of the policy seem barely relevant – it could involve carbon offsetting or recycling. More important is that the company appears to be doing – well, basically anything.

I bring this up because today Mike Jennings of PCPro.com posted an article querying how crucial eco policies really are to consumers. If two companies offer the same product at the same price, are people truly more likely to buy from one because they boast environmental credentials? Or (as I wonder) are green credentials something companies emphasise only because their competitors do so, and really consumers don't care if businesses use environmentally friendly materials etc.? The problem is that too often companies can only use rival companies to guide their policies. They become isolated from the concerns of the buying public on whom their revenue depends.

Of course it is possible to conduct surveys to identify what concerns influence public buying decisions. Last year EverythingCorporate.com ran a survey assessing the attitudes of their clients to eco friendly products. The number of people surveyed isn't stated, but one third of people had already bought environmentally friendly items according to the results. Moreover 50% of people intended to buy these products in the future. This suggests that a company's green credentials have a large impact on a consumer's buying decisions.

On the other hand these surveys cannot accurately recreate the buying process. To isolate eco friendly policies in a questionnaire is to exaggerate their importance, because they are the buying factor being centred on. In theory 100% of people would support more environmentally responsible business. But would they support this if, for example, prices increased in consequence? Only by incorporating an environmental policy into its corporate identity and measuring the reaction can a business discover this. The game becomes one not of blindly following the competition but implementing a change and seeing what happens.

I guess that's how it works.

Sources

Mike Jennings, 'Do You Care About Environmentally Friendly Policies?' PCPro.com, 24 May 2010.

Ricoh Release Wireless Printing App For BlackBerry

By Peter Lavelle
Friday 21 May 2010 12:20 GMT

Perhaps two years ago ink cartridge manufacturers raced to release wireless printing apps for the iPhone. Given that the iPhone was (and is) the smartphone to beat, this decision made obvious sense. However since then, these manufacturers seem to have realised that other smartphones exist, and are hurriedly release comparable apps for these markets. Earlier this week for example, Merchant Solutions released a wireless receipt printer for the Motorola Android – something available on the iPhone since February.

The latest example of catch up is Ricoh's release of a wireless printing application for BlackBerry users. Named the Ricoh Hotspot Printing application, the software enables BlackBerry users to connect to wireless-enabled Ricoh printers within the print radius. Users simply email their documents from their BlackBerry to the Hotspot printer and let the printing magic happen.

Given that this function is already enjoyed by iPhone users, Ricoh's announcement is unlikely to convert consumers to the BlackBerry. It may however make existing BlackBerry owners feel less neglected.

Sources

Linda Montefusco, 'Ricoh Introduces Mobile Printing App For BlackBerry Smartphones,' EarthTimes.org, 20 May 2010.

Printing In Better Shape Than Ever Says HP Boss

By Peter Lavelle
Friday 21 May 11:34 GMT

You've probably been living in a cave if you haven't heard the rumours that printing is a doomed enterprise. The first article referring to the paperless office was published in Business Week in 1984; since then Microsoft founder Bill Gates has claimed several times that this is direction in which we're headed. More recently the news of the widespread fall in printed newspaper readerships was widely reported; while last year a market research firm claimed (rather irresponsibly) that 90% of Britain's print suppliers faced bankruptcy.

Yet according to Hewlett Packard's Executive VP for Imaging and Printing Vyomesh Joshi, these reports are wildly at odds with the truth about printing. Speaking to Reuters.com he commented that, far from abandoning our printers at home and the office, we're printing more than ever. He said: “There are 50 trillion pages printed every year. A lot of people think we're going to the paperless office... the reality in 2010 is 10 times more paper is used than in 1984.” This suggests advocates of reading online have overstated the impact of the digital revolution. Office networking, far from beinging down printing rates, has actually increased our printing output. As Joshi states: “On average, 6% of [IT managers'] revenue is spent on imaging and printing.

Hence there's no need to worry if you're concerned that the paperless office bandwagon has already left you behind. In truth this bandwagon probably doesn't exist. It is more likely the invention of digital devotees, sadly equipped with voices loud enough to shout their agenda – accurate or not – above everything else.

Sources

Anonymous, 'HP: Think Before You Dis Print(Ing),' Reuters.com, 19 May 2010.

miSoft Release Design And Print App For iPad

By Peter Lavelle
21 May 2010 10:15 GMT

Presently the internet is rife with speculation as to when Steve Jobs will release wireless printing compatibility for the iPad. The fires were stoked last week when Jobs himself replied to a customer email asking after wireless printing with the cryptic response: “It will come.” However, the Apple CEO's slothfulness has not stopped other developers from stepping up to the plate. Today miSoft – self-proclaimed “hot iPad and iPhone App developer” - has announced an App enabling wireless printing AND artwork design.

Named Print Shop, the miSoft application is intended for much more than connecting users wirelessly to home printers. Instead the App provides a comprehensive artwork design and printing service – more resembling a mobile print supplier than a smartphone utility. Hence users can design everything from business cards to postcards and letterheads, then forward these to their local print shop. There options including paper stock become available before the design is printed.

The miSoft App sounds wonderful in theory. However, it is difficult to guage how professional miSoft designs will appear next to carefully rendered Photoshop efforts. Is the iPad capable of delivering professional looking business card designs? Moreover the miSoft press release is written in a highly excitable tone of voice. The company's claim to be “front and center at the iPad and iPhone media revolution” suggests they're perhaps compensating for the inadequacies of a poor product by inducing hysteria.

Of course without having tested the miSoft Print Shop this is pure speculation. The application might be everything it promises. It's available to download now from the Apple Store for $0.99 – might an intrepid iPhone owner download it and test its capabilities? Please post your user experiences below!

Sources

D Alexander, 'miSoft Announces App Store Approval of Print Shop, the ePrint App destined to Revolutionize Personal Printing,' SkyNewsWire.com, 20 May 2010.

Samsung Targets Indian Market With World's Smallest Laser Printer

By Peter Lavelle

20 May 2010 15:41 GMT

Last year Samsung accounted for 20% of printer sales in the Indian market. This year they want to raise that figure to 30% and challenge HP's market dominance, and they've released the world's smallest laser printer to do that. The Samsung ML-1666 (so named) is one of eight new printers released specifically for the Indian market. Unlike most laser printers the ML-1666 can be carried comfortably by one person, and it prints 16 pages per minute. Moreover, the printer retails with a full toner cartridge capable of printing up to 1500 pages.

The Director of Samsung Mobile and IT Ranjit Yadav said yesterday: “This year, we will aggressively grow printer business with 56 to 58% jumps in volume.” To this end Samsung are releasing their new printers in Chennai (South India) which accounts for 30% of sales. Yadav did not indicate however whether the world's smallest laser printer would see release elsewhere in the world.

Sources

Anonymous, 'Samsung Bets On Printer Products,' TheHindu.com, 19 May 2010.
Anonymous, 'World's Smallest Printer By Samsung,' TechTree.com, 19 May 2010.
Anonymous, 'Samsung India To Aggressively Grow Laser Printer Biz,' EconomicTimes.com, 19 May 2010.
Anonymous, 'Samsung Targets Top Slot In Printers Market,' FinancialExpress.com, 19 May 2010.

HP To Integrate Palm's WebOS Into Wireless Printers

By Peter Lavelle
19 May 2010 11:11 GMT

Ink cartridge manufacturer Hewlett Packard announced their intention to buy smartphone developer Palm for $1.2bn at the end of last month. Commentators at the time intepreted the announcement as an attempt by HP to strengthen their hand in the mobile communications market. For example, HP have promised that their forthcoming tablet – the HP Slate – will run the full internet.

However in a recent conference call regarding HP's Q2 earnings, CEO Mark Hurd revealed he had different intentions for Palm's technology. In addition to integrating Palm's WebOS operating system into HP-branded tablets and smartphones, Hurd intends to integrate the technology into HP's wireless printers. He said: "You've now got a whole series of Web-connected printers that, as they connect to the Web, need an OS. We prefer that OS to be our [intellectual property], where we can control the customer experience.”

This is potentially game-changing for printers, turning them from a computer peripheral into a stand-alone product. Consumers might forgo their PC entirely, instead surfing the net using integrated printer touchscreens. Receiving theatre tickets by email (for example) and printing them could be done from a single device.

Hewlett Packard already offer integrated touchscreen printers: the Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web was released last June. That printer though only enabled users to print from websites HP had partnered with specifically. By comparison, the Palm acquisition means HP can now produce fully web-enabled printers.

Sources

Erica Ogg, 'HP: WebOS Headed To Web-Connected Printers,' News.Cnet.com, 18 May 2010.
Eric Savitz, 'HP: CEO Hurd Sees Web-Based OS Slates, Web-Linked Printers,' Blogs.Barrons.com, 18 May 2010.
James Niccolai, 'HP Wants Palm OS For Web-Connected Printers, Hurd Says,' ComputerWorld.com, 18 May 2010.

Receipt Printer Released For Motorola Android

By Peter Lavelle
18 May 2010 10:57 GMT

The integration of smartphone and printing technology has to date been mostly restricted to the iPod. For example, wireless printing apps for Apple's smartphone have been available for some time, and back in February VeriFone released a receipt printer that connected to the iPod. This handy app enabled small merchants (or trend-conscious waiters) to make transactions and print receipts safely through their smartphone.

Fortunately then for non-Apple devotees, a similar app has recently been released for Motorola Android owners. Developed by Advanced Merchant Solutions and called the Pocket Verifier Professional, the application features an integrated debit card swiper and printer. Users simply connect the app to their Android using bluetooth and payments are made safely. For added convenience, Advanced Merchant are even shipping the Pocket Verifier with a leather carry case.

Tech geeks may like to know the Pocket Verifier generates receipts using inkless technology. Instead, characters are printed using thermal strips. This enables the printer to remain small: after all, no ink cartridges are needed.

For small merchants-cum-Android users who don't want iPod owners to have all the receipt printing fun, Advanced Merchant are stocking the app through their website now.

Sources

Calvin Azuri, 'MerchantAnywhere Launches Bluetooth Card For Payment Processing On Android Phones,' Mobile-Barcode.TMCNet.com, 18 May 2010.
Shane McGlaun, 'Android Devices Get New Bluetooth Credit Card System With Receipt Printer,' i4u.com, 18 May 2010.

HP Region Encode Their Printers!

By Peter Lavelle
17 May 2010 10:59 GMT

The practice has irritated movie watchers for years: hardware manufacturers encode their DVD players to only play movies bought in the same country as the machine. Hence (for example) British consumers cannot play DVDs bought in Europe – unless they have the technical savvy to reset the DVD player's encoding.

However, a new TheInquirer.net post has brought to light an encoding practice even this seasoned ink cartridge blogger did not know about. Hewlett Packard (it has emerged) encode their printers to only use cartridges bought in the same country as the printer! Hence people who innocently emigrate (as TheInquirer.net illustrates using Michelle Sullivan, who moved from Australia to Malta) find their existing printers useless.

A little digging on Google reveals that HP have kept this nefarious practice since 2004. HP's European executive responsible for encoding Kim Holme told The New York Times in 2005 that (in writer Victoria Shannon's words): “the reason was to help the company set prices and help consumers know how much it would cost to print with HP.” This is of course nonsense. Regional encoding is always about preventing consumers from exploiting exchange rates to buy software cheaply, so forcing them to pay the prices manufacturers dictate.

Of course there is nothing illegal in this practice. HP are perfectly free to encode their printers and ink cartridges. However, Victoria Shanon rightly pointed out in 2005 that this practice wholly contradicts the 'digital freedom' zeitgeist. ExtremeTech's Mark Hachman says in The New York Times article: “Technology should facilitate, not impede. Regional encoding is just another wall.”

Moreover, HP have hardly been upfront about controlling where (and how much) people pay for ink cartridges. Unlike DVDs, printer regional encoding is nowhere stated on HP packaging. This suggests Hewlett Packard know perfectly well that encoding would warrant a negative public reaction if widely publicised. Though not removing all trace of the practice from the internet, they are hardly being honest either.

TheInquirer.net's Lawrence Latif points out that consumers can (theoretically) recode their printers by contracting HP customer services. Recoding can be easily completed over the telephone. Tech forums though are full of complaints from consumers who, having emigrated, received no support from Hewlett Packard. One HP customer who moved from Qatar to the UK (read here) received the correct code only after buying a £15 service voucher.

The lesson therefore appears that HP are reluctant to distribute the region codes – effectively forcing consumers to buy new printers. They apparently accede only after consumers pay a hidden service charge or (as with TheInquirer.net) instigate a journalistic investigation.

Sources

Lawrence Latif, 'HP Unlocks Printer Regionalisation,' TheInquirer.net, 17 May 2010.
Victoria Shannon, 'What Zone Is Your Printer Ink Cartridge?' NYTimes.com, 03 October 2005.

Ink Cartridges: Is Quality Or Value More Important?

By Peter Lavelle
Friday 14th May 11:44 GMT

IrishTimes.com has posted an interesting article today chronicling Hewlett Packard's struggle to justify the premium price of their ink cartridges to consumers, and the company's tumultuous relationship with remanufactured (after market) cartridge producers. Writer Adam Maguire notes from the outset that HP representatives positively burst with impressive-sounded trivia about their cartridges – for example stating that their cartridge nozzles are one third the length of a human hair. HP's European Marketing Product Manager Geraldine Morel meanwhile is adamant that “ink is not just coloured water.”

Maguire though notes that in spite of Hewlett Packard's best marketing efforts, the company faces increasingly intense competition from remanufactured cartridge producers. These companies (for the blissfully uninformed) sell cartridges made from the empty cases of officially manufactured products. They simply refill the plastic cases with new ink and retail them. Hewlett Packard are quick to reference independent studies demonstrating that these remanufactured cartridges are lower quality: a recent QualityLogic study for example showed that 18% of refilled cartridges tested simply didn't operate. Nonetheless, remanufactured cartridge producers retail their products for significantly less than HP; and according to another QualityLogic study, HP printouts cost on average a massive 17p each (compared against Kodak printouts, costing on average 4p each.)

If Hewlett Packard are genuinely losing out to remanufactured cartridge suppliers then, the lesson appears that (as long as a minimum standard of quality is maintained) consumers more frequently choose the cheaper option. This appears true not only of ink cartridges but (as them most recent example I can recall) sound quality. Five years ago consumers had a choice between premium quality DVD-Audio discs (damn near replicating the experience of being in the recording studio) and mp3s (often at 128kbs quality, thereby removing the highest and lowest sound frequencies and making the recording muddy) to replace the ailing CD. Today 128kbs mp3s are the standard and DVD-Audio discs are no longer produced.

Hence: consumers would probably appreciate the finer quality of black text (for example) HP offer. They (consumers) appear unwilling though to pay the 10x higher price HP charge for this finer quality – even taking an 18% chance (according to QualityLogic) that the refilled cartridges alternately available won't function. HP could probably make their cartridge nozzles one tenth the length of a human hair and it wouldn't influence consumers: the obvious way to remain competitive is to slash the cost of their cartridges.

Sources

Adam Maguire, 'Buying Ink Cartridges Is No Longer A Black And White Issue,' IrishTimes.com, 14 May 2010.

'Efficiency' The Keyword For New HP Printers

By Peter Lavelle
13 May 2010 11:04 GMT

Ink cartridge manufacturer Hewlett Packard used a Sydney trade show yesterday to show off a truckload of new products and applications – each of which bear the theme 'efficiency' at their centre. These include: several new printers featuring HP's Smart Install software, a program built into the printers that enables users to print instantly from any computer without driver installation; an Auto On / Off feature meaning printers use three times less energy than the existing Sleep mode; and HP QuickPage, a cloud-based application enabling users to do everything from request maintenance for their HP printers to order new ink cartridges.

Each of these products and applications is aimed at SMB (small to medium business) customers: enabling them to improve their office workflow; reduce their carbon footprint; and ultimately save money. The newly unveiled HP LaserJet Pro 1102 for example Hewlett Packard calls: “the most energy efficient laser printer on the planet.” Using Auto Off this printer uses 26 times less energy than printers in normal Sleep mode. The printer even boasts wireless connectivity.

Perhaps the most interesting thing though about HP's announcements yesterday (aside from the obvious advantages of the new products to businesses) is the increasing synergy it demonstrates between the hardware and MPS (managed print services) sides of HP's business. Hewlett Packard appear no longer content using MPS to refine existing workflow practices among business customers. Instead they are developing products that themselves (quite substantially) refine workflow practices, and thereby clearly compliment MPS. For example: HP's plug and print devices make redundant driver CD-ROMs and enable any office worker to print within moments. The QuickPage cloud service meanwhile gives users complete control over their print inventory from a single interface. This is incredibly convenient.

Hewlett Packard have therefore shown great astuteness by integrating the (previously disparate) hardware and MPS sides of their business. They have altered their product lineup to match the market's mood. Having done so though, I would now expect HP to begin pushing these new machines very hard on companies that request MPS; and equally I anticipate MPS marketing material will be forwarded to companies that request these new products.

Sources

Mendelson Tiu, 'Efficient SMB HP Printers Launched,' SmartOffice.com.au, 13 May 2010.
Paul Hayes, 'HP Offers Paper Reduction Through Improved Efficiency,' Current.com.au, 13 May 2010.
Xavier Verhoeven, 'Smarter Printing From HP,' MacWorld.com.au, 13 May 2010.

Aussie Government Funds Printer Apprenticeships

By Peter Lavelle
12 May 2010 10:44 GMT

Two weeks ago in a post reporting a Banksie-inspired pavement stencil of (now Prime Minister!) David Cameron, I lamented the lack of print-oriented policies in each political party's manifesto. Politicians (I raged) cared nothing for the dilemma of the ink cartridge consumer – torn between officially produced cartridges and remanufactured variations. This remains true: the hours-old Con-Dem Coalition has done nothing (outrage!) to address the problem of overpriced cartridges.

Yet in Australia the politicians (though blind to what I hereby dub Ink Cartridgegate) are not blind to the difficulties of the wider printing industry. Recently the IBSA (Industry & Business Skills Australia) body reported that the average Aussie printer is 46 years old, while the industry suffers from a shortage of essential skills. To encourage young Australian blood into such noble professions as screen printer or printing mechanic then, and ensure the industry's future, the Aussie government is investing $661m in training apprenticeships over the next four years. This sum (to be fair) is being partitioned across all Australia's skilled professions: yet printers can still claim around $5k for retaining an apprentice for nine months.

The benefits of the $661m government injection (divided into several schemes including the Apprentice Kickstart program and Critical Skills Investment program) are multiple. Printers receive an immediate payment for training an apprentice, and create the pool of skilled professionals needed for the industry's future health. The skills shortage is apparently nearing crisis point: according to Heather Ridout of the Australia Industry Group, there now exists a “rapidly expanding skills gap of some 240,000 workers per year.” The new investment will go some way (though not the whole way) to correcting that.

Incidentally I've perhaps given the impression that British printers have been left languishing recently. This remains true where government initiatives are concerned – why the Con-Dem Coalition has not already forced into statute the Cheap Ink Cartridge Act I cannot understand. Yet not three weeks ago the BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation) secured funding from the ERDF* (European Regional Development Fund) to promote a new eco certification scheme for SMB* (small to medium business) printers. Called EcoPrint London, the program promises a cost-effective alternative to expensive ISO 14001 green accreditation. It won't bring thousands of teenagers pouring into the offices of British printers; however it might bring down the industry's carbon footprint.

*Too many acronyms.
*You probably know that one. Thought I'd stick it in for the sake it.

Sources

Daniel Fitzgerald, 'Printers To Get Training Boost From Budget 2010,' ProPrint.com.au, 12 May 2010.

Eco Printer Uses Ground Coffee For Ink

By Peter Lavelle

11 May 2010 10:14 GMT

There exists a seemingly endless list of inventions meant to replace the normal ink cartridges found in printers with eco friendly alternatives. For example: the printer that runs using pencil stubs or the printer that erases (thanks to special ink) and reuses the same sheet of paper up to 1000 times. You might ask how mainstream producers such as Canon would react if one of these inventions actually saw widespread release. Would they dismiss out of hand the pencil stub printer? Or release a competing line of pencils (boasting different grades to change the printout quality)? That I suppose would depend on the public reaction.

Anyway the newest conceptual printer doing the rounds replaces everyday ink cartridges with coffee grounds. Named the RITI Printer and designed by Jeon Hwan Ju, he intends that you literally take the filtered dregs of your morning coffee and feed them into your printer. Moreover Hwan Ju is convinced for some reason that printing is too much a spectator sport: he hence requires the user to move the coffee cartridge back and forth repeatedly until the printout is completed. On the plus side this reduces your electricity bill. On the negative side this both makes large quantities of printing impossible and augurs the creation of a new type of repetitive stress injury.

[Via Core77.com]

Sources

Jeon Hwan Ju, 'RITI Printer,' Core77.com, 02 February 2010.
Len Amadora, 'Earth Day Gadgets Part II,' MB.com.ph, 11 May 2010.

iPad Printing: “It Will Come” Says Jobs

By Peter Lavelle

10 May 2010 10:40 GMT

Last month's iPod OS 4.0 Conference disappointed many Apple devotees because (among other things) Steve Jobs neglected to announce an iPad printing function. Yet three weeks on, adorers of printing and products prefixed by the letter 'i' need not despair: according to a new MacRumours.com post, Jobs has promised iPad printing in reply to a customer service enquiry. He makes irrelevant the conjectures of countless technology journalists in only three words: “It will come.”

Of course MacRumours.com itself emphasises that these email replies are difficult to substantiate. For example, why is Steve Jobs answering customer service emails? Moreover, if the reply genuinely comes from Jobs, why so cryptic? He might at least have included an expected release date.

Whether the reply is genuine in any case, the MacRumours.com post proves one thing: the rumour mill will not cease working until printing comes to the iPad.

Sources

Arnold Kim, 'Steve Jobs Says Printing “Will Come” For iPad,' MacRumours.com 10 May 2010

MIT Use Print Reduction Software Developed By Own Student

By Peter Lavelle
Friday 07 May 10:29 GMT

Printer manufacturers such as Xerox and Hewlett Packard now offer comprehensive managed print services to their customers along with hardware, intended to reduce printing expenditure. These services include everything from initial consultancy to office network restructuring: anything to improve printing efficiency.

Yet in Cambridge, Mass., the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has declined these services in favour of a solution proffered by one of its students. The university has integrated Virebo software across the campus to regulate its printing output: the creation of medical engineering doctoral candidate Joseph Barillari.

Barillari told Cleantech.com recently that he devised the print management software and founded a startup company during a year's break from his studies. He created Virebo to monitor the output of a printer network, and eventually device solutions to improve efficiency. The software includes an easily accessible web-based interface and quickly interpretable data displays.

However, though Barillari is still refining the second part of his Virebo software (i.e. that which provides solutions) MIT has already become his paying client. The software went live across the university last October.

Once completed Barillari intends that Virebo become available to paying customers to download, with a simplified version freely available. He explained: “We are focusing on markets where people print a lot and can't avoid printing,” listing such sectors as print media where paper and ink are rapidly consumed.

Thanks to MIT patronage the startup is now profitable, and Barillari estimates that in the final version customers will be able to cut 15-30% on printing. Of course Virebo remains only a piece of software: customers themselves must implement the changes to see benefits. As Barillari added: “We can provide data. It is up to who is using it to decide what to do with it.”

Sources

Lisa Sibley, 'Virebo Helping MIT To Reduce Its Carbon Footprint,' Cleantech.com, 06 May 2010.

Xerox Takeover Of ACS: Bearing Fruit

By Peter Lavelle
Thursday 06 May 12:28 GMT

Browsing printing forums in recent months, I read from several users that Xerox was a spent force, no longer capable of the innovation that once made the corporation a household name. The evidence pointed to this conclusion: excepting niche product sectors the printer hardware market has stagnated, and last decade Xerox cut their workforce by 50% to 50,000.

Even last September's £6.4bn takeover of business process outsourcing firm ACS could not change the opinion of these (safely anonymous) forum goers. They argued that Xerox and ACS were companies too different for genuine synergy to emerge. After the takeover was announced Xerox share prices fell 20%: proof positive that the strategy was a futile attempt by Xerox to reverse its decline.

I would love to read what these same forum goers have to say about the string of deals ACS have announced recently. For example, on Monday ACS snatched from Hewlett Packard a contract held for two decades: management of California's Medicaid Management Information System. The contract has $1.6bn estimated value and lasts ten years. ACS even recommended Xerox managed print services to California Medicaid: a deal potentially worth another $200m.

Moreover Xerox have been working hard to generate synergy between themselves and ACS since the takeover. Two hundred general account managers have been trained in cross-selling ACS produces and services to date in the US. They will be joined by another one hundred account managers in Europe next month. This strategy too is already showing results: ACS President Lynn Blodgett recently announced a new deal with Proctor and Gamble to administer workforce benefits, citing that the Xerox affiliation helped close the deal.

Finally, Xerox Chief Financial Officer Larry Zimmerman recently said that ACS has another $500m worth of deals in negotiation. Xerox expect their ACS takeover to generate $100m in profit before the year's financial close, and $375m before the third year's close. In other words the affiliation seems to be working.

Xerox CEO Ursula Burns recently told FT.com that the corporation under her new leadership (she was promoted from President last July) has not yet taken final shape. The company's new service-oriented direction may require investment in software development. Printer hardware customers meanwhile remain reluctant to upgrade their equipment. Yet based on the successes of the last week at least, Burns can relax. She is achieving what they naysayers thought impossible: the rejuvenation of Xerox.

Sources

Bud Fox, 'Xerox Forms Symbiotic Association With ACS,' Benzinga.com, 05 May 2010.
Dana Mattioli, 'Xerox Outlines Plans To Drive Services Deal,' WSJ.com, 05 May 2010.
Richard Walters, 'Xerox Chief Sets Out The Big Picture,' FT.com, 05 May 2010.

Robot Inkjet Printer Shoots Paintballs

By Peter Lavelle

Wednesday 05 May 10:14 GMT

Regular inkjet printers work by spraying thousands of droplets of ink onto a piece of paper. They work delicately to produce words on a document or even complex images. But imagine what might happen if those thousands of droplets were compressed. You'd have the printer equivalent of a paintball gun, right?

Exactly this thinking has led to the recent invention of the Facadeprinter by a trio of German designers (Martin Fussenegger, Michael Sebastian Haas and engineer Julian Adenauer.) Using a cylinder of compressed air and a tripod for pellets, the Facadeprinter shoots five paintballs per second at 100mph. Operated using an in-built touchscreen and sporting a USB port for programming instructions, the printer is intended to create works of large-scale graffiti.

The design team describe their invention as a communication tool, and explain: “Even the application of the artwork is part of the message: straight and direct. The artwork is prepared as vector or pixelfile, we shoot it dot by dot onto the facade. The viewer is watching the emerging artwork like the drawing of a magic pin.”

Indeed, Fussenegger and co. envision more for the Facadeprinter than mere spectator sport. Their invention has to date created artworks on materials including: concrete, plaster, brick, steel and glass up to 40ft from the target surface. Yet the team believes the printer may be useful in rapidly communicating warning messages in hazardous areas.

You can see several examples of the Facadeprinter in action (including shots of the gathered crowds) at the designers' website. You can even – for an unstated fee – book custom facadeprints. The team promise to meet challenges “with optimistic realism.”

Sources

Anonymous, 'FacadePrinter: Paintball Gun Mixed With Printer,' NewsLite.Tv, 04 May 2010.
John Chan, 'Facadeprinter: A Robot That Shoots Paintball Art,' News.Cnet.com, 04 May 2010.

BPIF Launches Eco Scheme For Small Printers

By Peter Lavelle
Tuesday 04 April 10:38 GMT

The British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) has been eager to improve the environmental reputation of printing for some time. The industry body already offers printers courses in offsetting their carbon footprint, and helps printers achieve ISO 14001 accreditation (the international standard for 'green' business practices.)

To this end, in the last week the BPIF has announced a major new environmental accreditation scheme for printers called EcoPrint London. Run in collaboration with Carbon Smart and fully-funded by the European Development Regional Fund (EDRU), the scheme helps printers to demonstrate their green credentials to consumers.

Printers invite Carbon Smart consultants onto their premises to inspect their printing practices, including areas such as: resource usage and carbon offsetting. Printers then attend training workshops to help them implement any necessary changes and, once these are completed, gain the Carbon Smart certificate. This proves to consumers that printers have a substantial eco action plan.

Carbon Smart has in fact run the award scheme since 2006, and more than 200 printers are already accredited. The BPIF announcement is important though, because EcoPrint London will markedly increase the certificate's profile. Perhaps most significantly for printers: new EDRU funding makes the scheme much more affordable. Printers previously hampered by limited resources will be enabled to demonstrate their eco conscientiousness to consumers for the first time.

The Commercial Director of the BPIF Richard Gray said he hopes 150 printers will become accredited during EcoPrint London's two year running time. He commented: "Printers in London particularly need this project. It is the smaller companies that find it difficult to find the time and the money to implement environmental certification schemes."

Sources

Anonymous, 'EcoPrint London,' BritishPrint.com.
Helen Morris, 'BPIF Targets SME Printers With Environmental Certification Scheme,' PrintWeek.com 30 April 2010.