Specsavers Launch Poster Poking Fun At World Cup Referee

By Peter Lavelle

Wednesday 30 June 10:04 GMT
Image: Facebook.com

Referee Mauricio Espinosa has received a ribbing from Specsavers, in a new poster mocking his oversight during last Sunday's England-Germany match.

On behalf of assistant referee Mauricio Espinosa: Ouch

High street glasses retailer Specsavers has launched a poster advertisement, poking fun at assistant referee Mauricio Espinosa's failure to grant England's equalising goal against Germany on Sunday. Featuring a pair of glasses and the headline 'Goal-Line Technology: From £25', the poster mocks Espinosa's failure to spot that Frank Lampard's 38th-minute strike clearly crossed the goal-line. The poster featured in national newspapers yesterday.

Specsavers' marketing director Richard Holmes oversaw the poster's creation, according to CampaignLive.co.uk. No official comment regarding the poster has emerged though, excepting a sentence on Specsavers' Facebook page calling the image 'cheeky and topical.'

Comment

Excellent posters compel the viewer's attention while attracting them to a product. Too often marketers achieve only one or the other: for example, creating an image that people remember while forgetting to sell the product. Specsavers though have managed the balance here, tying a nationally-felt injustice to their product in a humorous way. Hence this is really great marketing.

Of course, Espinosa could definitely benefit from a visit to Specsavers himself.

Sources

Joe Thomas, 'Specsavers Creates Print Campaign Around England's World Cup Exit,' CampaignLive.co.uk, 29 June 2010.
Rosie Baker, 'World Cup Referee Should Have Gone To Specsavers,' MarketingWeek.co.uk, 29 June 2010.

HP Buys Melodeo Music Streaming Service For $30m

By Peter Lavelle

29 June 2010 12:48 GMT
Image: Brand-M.Biz

Hewlett Packard has bought the mobile music provider Melodeo, sparking rumours that HP intends competition with Apple's music streaming service Lala.

NuTsie: Much much more than an anagram of iTunes.

Ink cartridge manufacturer Hewlett Packard has bought the music streaming service Melodeo in a deal rumoured to be worth $30m. The chief asset of Melodeo is NuTsie, a program that scans the user's iTunes library to create playlists on their mobile device. The purchase enables HP to integrate cloud-based music streaming into their portable products.

The acquisition is important for several reasons:

• Melodeo's NuTsie is an alternative to the Apple-owned music streaming service Lala. NuTsie has to date been a minor player in music streaming. Hewlett Packard's backing though means NuTsie could soon have a much larger presence, encouraging competition and ultimately better deals for consumers.

• Increasingly it looks like Hewlett Packard is seeking a showdown with Apple. HP's recently revealed Slate tablet for example is an obvious iPad competitor, and incorporating NuTsie gives the State greater clout. Once more, this competition can only benefit consumers.
  

Speaking more generally, buying Melodeo could be an astute move by Hewlett Packard. Sales of mobile devices are expected to outstrip PC sales in coming years, and buying Melodeo gives HP an excellent foothold into this market. Moreover, the purchase compliments HP's recent buy-out of mobile OS developer Palm. Palm's webOS operating system gives HP the capacity to produce, if not a smartphone or iPhone competitor, then something similar. HP's recent purchases are certainly converging toward a single mobile-device oriented purpose.

Speaking in a press release, a Hewlett Packard representative said of the purchase: “HP's acquisition of Melodeo is another example of our efforts to bring new, innovative technologies to market. We are excited about the potential of this technology to bring the power of cloud-based delivery services to millions of customers.”

Comment

Hewlett Packard is demonstrating itself a company with foresight recently. Though representatives insists printer and PC sales are buoyant, the corporation's newest initiatives suggest it is investing elsewhere to secure its future. For example:

• HP recently rebranded itself a service provider rather than hardware manufacturer. This refers to the company's buy-out of Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 2008, a document management service provider. HP has since grown this sector of its business significantly. Further, reports this week stating that the managed print services is worth $20bn give HP every reason to exploit this goldmine while the going's good.
  

Elsewhere though, HP has worked hard to guarantee its relevance in the changing digital landscape. Hence the recent announcement of internet-ready printers featuring individual email addresses. Hence the announcement of the Slate tablet. Hence whatever project HP is planning using the newly acquired Palm WebOS. HP obviously refuses to be left behind in the digital revolution: on the contrary, the company intends to lead the pack.

Hewlett Packard's ambitions may be frustrated though, and by one company in particular: Apple. HP is the world's biggest electronics manufacturer, but in the markets HP is targeting – mobile devices, tablets – Apple are the undisputed leaders and innovators. Hence in this sense Hewlett Packard is already playing catch up. To be sure, no one really knows what HP intends with its newest acquisitions, but one thing is certain: to knock Apple from the top spot the release must be something special.

Sources

Farukh Shaikh, 'HP Snaps Up Mobile Music Service Provider Melodeo,' News. Ebrandz.com, 28 June 2010.
Evelyn Rusli, 'HP Goes NuTsie For Melodeo, Pays $30M For Music Streaming Service,' TechCrunch.com, 23 June 2010.
Thea Chard, 'HP Buys Melodeo, Rumblefish Partners With YouTube, Motoricity Declines & More Seattle-Area Deal News,' Xconomy.com, 29 June 2010.

New Literary Journal Is Published In Matchstick Boxes

By Peter Lavelle

28 June 2010 12:03 GMT
Source: Mercurynews.com
Image: Sevell.com

To challenge shortening attention spans, Santa Cruz resident Kyle Peterson has launched a literary journal containing short stories housed in matchboxes.

She's not surfing the internet, but this woman clearly has problems.

Conventional wisdom has it that the internet has caused people's attention spans to shorten, while publishers have been complaining for some time about diminishing sales. Fortunately then, one Santa Cruz resident has found a way to compensate for both these problems: by releasing literary journals written in matchboxes.

Kyle Peterson has been publishing Matchbook Story since earlier this year, featuring stories only 48 words long. He received seventy entries during the March-June submission period for the second edition, which was released last week. Printing 2,500 copies of Matchbook Story costs only $250 using a local Santa Cruz printer.

Copies of Matchbook Story are available in book stores and even bars across South California. Passerbys can buy copies of the journal placed in bowls on bartops or information desks.

Editor Peterson explained his reasons for publishing Matchbook Story to the Santa Cruz Sentinel recently. He said: “The publishing industry is really brutal right now. People are reading less and less and print and publishers are feeling that.”

Meanwhile Bookshop Santa Cruz employee Seana Graham said: "People take them because they're free, and tourists take them as (souvenir) matches, but a lot of people take them with the idea that they might submit.'

Comment

Publishers of Matchbook Story Kyle Peterson has a point about diminishing attention spans. The BBC published an article eight years ago acknowledging the internet's harmful effect on our capacity to focus: according to the article, the surfeit of information available on the internet encourages users to skip rapidly between sites, adversely affecting concentration.

Importantly though, I featured Matchbook Story on this blog not because I think the journal will improve attention spans, but because it's interesting. To the contrary, I'm afraid Peterson's journal will exacerbate the attention span problem. Here's why:

• By publishing stories only fifty words long, Peterson is pandering to people whose attention spans are already diminished. His logic seems: “Get people to read something, anything!” Instead, if Peterson really wished to improve attention spans, he'd launch a campaign encouraging people to read actual books. He would not publish toward existing standards but encourage people to challenge themselves.
  

Of course Peterson himself notes that increasing membership rates is not his only motive for publishing Matchbook Story. He notes too the precarious position of the publishing industry, especially in an internet age. Hence it is his responsibility as a businessman, interested in his economic survival, not to challenge his customers but cater to their preferences. This means:

• The short length of stories in Matchbook Story is inevitable in a climate where people switch off after fifty words.
• Matchbook Story's potential lies most in helping the publishing industry survive in a digital age. Notably, 'survive' rather than 'flourish' is the important word.
  

It is of course tragic that Matchbook Story exists at all in some senses. In an ideal world the internet would not have a detrimental effect on attention spans, but fulfil its potential as font of information. Further, in an ideal world the detrimental effect of the internet on people's minds would not cripple the output of the publishing industry.

On the other hand, Peterson's intentions are obviously good. It is unfortunate that the potential of Matchbook Story amounts to: “Get people to read something, anything.” Peterson would probably agree though that this, finally, is better than nothing.

Sources

Anonymous, 'Santa Cruz Writer Publishes Literary Journal On Matchbooks,' MercuryNews.com, 27 June 2010.
Anonymous, 'Turning Into Digital Goldfish?' BBC.co.uk, 22 February 2002.

Hewlett Packard Claims $2,500 Savings With Laserjet Printer Campaign

By Peter Lavelle

25 June 2010 13:00 GMT
Image: DailyFill.com

Hewlett Packard has launched a marketing campaign claiming consumers can save $2,500 by switching to its new multifunction laserjet printers.

Bill Rancic and Invanka Trump at HP's campaign launch.

Ink cartridge manufacturer Hewlett Packard has launched a marketing campaign promising businesses they can save up to $2,500 by switching to the company's latest range of laserjet printers. The corporation claims businesses can reduce costs owing to cut-price ink cartridge and paper prices. The new campaign – named “Laserjet Pays You Pack” - is aimed especially at home office and small business users.

To kickstart the marketing campaign Hewlett Packard has partnered with entrepeneurs Invanka Trump and Bill Rancic, and hired agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. Highlights include:

• A launch event in Madison Square Park in New York, where Trump and Rancic will “pay pack” attendants with Hewlett Packard gifts.
• 3D online advertising, asking viewers “When was the last time you bought a printer that paid for itself?”
• A social media campaign asking participants what they consider a good return on investment. Responses will be integrated into HP's online banner campaigns.
• An “HP Laserjet Pays You Back” minisite, enabling visitors to calculate the savings they could make by switching to HP's laserjets, and sign up for special offers.
  

Businesses that buy into the campaign could benefit from HP's newest technology in addition to making savings. Earlier this year for example HP unveiled new plug-and-play printers that work instantly on any machine without installing drivers. Businesses hence stand to save both time and money.

HP's Vice President of Laserjet and Enterprise Solutions Ron Coughlin said of the campaign: “Upgrading to an HP Colour Laserjet MFP is like trading in your gas guzzler for a hybrid that pays for itself in gas savings and then continues to pay the owner after that. The campaign helps demonstrate how HP laserjet printers are an investment that keep giving back to your business.”

Comment

I am often wary of marketing campaigns like HP's “Laserjet Pays You Back.” It is after all the objective of marketing to present information selectively, and present that information in the best possible light. This often amounts to misleading the consumer. How then might Hewlett Packard's latest campaign mislead the consumer?

• The means by which consumers can make their $2,500 saving is stated only in the fine print. Customers must print fifty copies of a double-sided glossy brochure twelve times a month to make these savings, according to HP estimates.
• Consumers may be able to recoup the cost of their laserjet printer by buying HP ink cartridges, but they'd make even greater savings buying remanufactured cartridges. HP of course would be loathe to admit this: the company is finding reasons to sue cartridge remanufacturers, including several Eastern businesses at the present time.
  

On the other hand though, Hewlett Packard ought be commended for its “Laserjet Pays You Back” campaign for several reasons. In particular, the company is second to none where customer engagement is concerned. In this case this concerns:

• The campaign's launch event – with free gifts!
• The deeply immersive social media strategy.
  

Hence though I must criticise Hewlett Packard for its probably optimistic savings figure, the company remains a marketing powerhouse. I look forward to seeing how the campaign plays out.

Sources

Dianna Dilworth, 'HP Kicks Off Payback Effort To Promote LaserJet Line,' DMNews.com, 24 June 2010.
Nathan Eddy, 'HP Teams With Trump On Printer Payback Promotion,' ChannelInsider.com, 24 June 2010.
Shaun Nichols, 'HP Touts Cost Savings Of Laserjet Printers,' v3.co.uk, 25 June 2010.

HP Plans $300 Notebooks Aimed at Young Students

By Peter Lavelle

24 June 2010 10:26 GMT
Image: Geekzone.com

Hewlett Packard has released the Mini 100e Education Edition notebook, a notebook aimed specifically at young students.

HP's Mini 100e Education Edition Notebook

Ink cartridge manufacturer Hewlett Packard has unveiled a miniature laptop aimed specifically at young students. Named the Mini 100e Education Edition, the notebook includes several features making it convenient for schoolchildren users. These include:

• A low $300 price tag, for high affordability.
• A spill resistant keyboard, ensuring the notebook survives any accidents.
• Tough metal alloy hinges, meaning the Mini 100e can withstand sudden drops.
• A miniature (but very readable) 10.1 inch display, perfect for young students.
• An ultra-light 3.19 lb weight, meaning the Mini 100e can be easily transported.
• Microsoft Office 2010, including Microsoft Maths and the cloud-based document software EverNote.
  

Hewlett Packard's decision to release the Mini 100e Education Edition is motivated by a belief that increasingly effective learning must be digital. The company plans to release several related products in the future. Hewlett Packard's Vice President of Business Notebooks said in a statement: “The HP Mini 100e is an affordable, feature-rich device that helps ensure every student has the tools needed for success in their academic endeavours.”

HP however may have trouble securing funding from cash-strapped public schools based in the US and overseas. Education budgets are being strapped everywhere, and HP faces tough competition from Dell and Intel, who've been targeting the education sector for some time. For example:

• Dell's Education Package includes teacher resources, a hardware ecosystem and custom disc management.
• Intel's Classmate notebook converts into a tablet and comes bundled with several education programs.
  

In fact, according to technology consultant Christopher Dawson, HP's Mini 100e is easily inferior to these alternatives. The inclusion of Microsft Math in the Mini 100e no way competes with Intel's software package for example. Hence, marketing the Mini 100e at least, Hewlett Packard may have trouble establishing a foothold in the education market.

On the other hand however, the Mini 100e Education Edition is HP's first venture into education-oriented notebooks, and the company plans to release related products in the future. Perhaps in time then HP will release a notebook comparable to it's rivals products, and make a more attractive proposition to schools and colleges.

Sources

Frank Michael Russell, 'HP To Sell $300 Notebook For Heavy-Duty Classroom Use,' MercuryNews.com, 23 June 2010.
Michelle Maisto, 'HP Mini 100e Notebook Offers Microsoft, Intel To University Users,' eWeek.com, 23 June 2010.
Mike Pearson, 'HP Sends New Mini Notebook To School,' TechNewsWorld.com, 23 June 2010.
Randomus, 'HP To Market Notebooks For Young Students,' Myce.com, 24 June 2010.
Shane McGlaun, 'HP Unveils New 100e Education Edition Notebook For Schools,' i4u.com, 23 June 2010.

Three Million Apple iPads Sold In Eighty Days

By Peter Lavelle
22 June 2010 10:54 GMT
Image: OscarBetanCur.com

Apple has sold three million iPads in eighty days, far exceeding analyst expectations.

Apple's iPad

Three million Apple iPads have been sold in less than three months, according to a recent Apple announcement. Taken at face value, that means 37,500 iPads have been sold every day, or 26 per minute, since the iPad's launch eighty days ago. The iPad is hence on the way to becoming the fastest selling electronic device inside a twelve month period.

The iPad's sales figures break down as follows:

• 28 days to sell the first million iPads
• 32 days to sell the second million iPads
• 20 days to sell the third million iPads
  

Apple has not announced what percentage of these sales are US domestic. However, the iPad is set to launch in nine more countries next month, making it possible the Apple tablet will pick up greater steam before 2010's close.

Ironically though, the iPad's immense success may prove troublesome for Apple. Before the tablet's launch, one Wall Street Analyst predicted two million iPads would be sold inside twelve months. Now Apple has smashed these targets though, analysts are raising their expectations. Morgan Stanley's Katy Huberts believes for example that Apple could sell sixteen million iPads in twelve months, while PocketGamer's Jon Jordan wonders if Apple can't outstrip Sony's 14.5 million sales of the PlayStation Pocket.

For the moment though, Apple's Steve Jobs is probably simply enjoying the iPad's success. He recently said: "People are loving iPad as it becomes a part of their daily lives. We're working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more people around the world.”

Sources

Anonymous, 'Apple Sells Three Million iPads,' WebUser.co.uk, 22 June 2010.
Erica Ogg, 'Apple: 3 million iPads Sold in 80 Days,' Cnet.com, 22 June 2010.
Gerald Lynch, 'Apple Sell 3 Million iPads In 80 Days,' TechDigest.tv, 23 June 2010.
Jon Jordan, 'Apple Could Generate $2 Billion In Q3 2010 From 3 Million iPads Sold,' PocketGamer.biz, 23 June 2010.

Price Of Amazon Kindle Falls To $189

By Peter Lavelle

22 June 2010 12:03 GMT
Image: McLibrary.Duke.Edu

Amazon.com has responded to Barns & Noble's slashing the price of its Nook 3G eReader but dropping $60 from the price of the Kindle, potentially sparking an e-reader price war.

Amazon's Kindle eReader

Amazon.com has slashed $60 from the price of its Kindle eReader, bringing the device down to $189. The price cut has been widely interpreted as a response to Barns & Noble's recently cutting $50 from its Nook 3G eReader. The Nook 3G now costs $199.

The price cuts are obviously great news for consumers, who presently enjoy a variety of e-reader choices. Alternate products include:

• Barns and Noble's WiFi-only Nook, costing $149
• Sony's Digital Reader, costing $149
• Estaco Jbl-en's eReader, costing $129
• Bookeen Cybook's eReader, costing $200
• Apple's iPad, costing $499
• HP's Slate, costing $549
  

Numerous commentators have noted though that this glut is not sustainable. Every price cut after all brings down the profitability of e-readers. Hence it is almost inevitable that before long certain products will be discontinued.

Consumers therefore have two options: choose from the existing range of e-readers and risk buying a product that will soon be obsolete, or wait eighteen months and choose from a smaller range of hopefully superior items! Either way it will be interesting to see which e-readers emerge victorious.

Sources

David Carnoy, 'Amazon Drops Kindle Price To $189,' Cnet.com, 21 June 2010.

Canon Warns Digital Printers Pose Security Risk

By Peter Lavelle
18 June 2010 12:10 GMT

Canon's Director of Information Security Quentyn Taylor has warned that digital printers at the end of their lifespan pose a major security risk. The problem is that images and data enter these printers unencrypted meaning that, once their hard drives are disposed of, information is accessible to anyone. He advised that print suppliers install encrypted hard discs onto their presses to protect customers' details and images.

Speaking to InfoSecurity Magazine yesterday, Taylor said this problem affected high-end digital printers in particular. This is because high-end digital printers, unlike traditional litho presses or even older digital presses, contain servers that store information. Further, Taylor revealed that 40% of print suppliers didn't know this, making the threat widely unacknowledged.

In addition to updating their presses with encrypted hard discs, Taylor advised that print supplier shred the data on their existing discs, instead of simply selling them to third parties. He said: "This is a potentially major security issue that companies using high-end printer technology should be aware of. Just as computer hard drives need erasing at the end of their working life [in an organisation] so the printer hard drive also needs wiping.”

Sources

Anonymous, 'Canon Warns Of Digital Printer Security Issue,' InfoSecurity-Magazine.com, 17 June 2010.

HP To Incorporate Ads Into Web-Connected Printers

By Peter Lavelle
17 June 2010 10:55 GMT

Ink cartridge manufacturer Hewlett Packard has joined forces with Yahoo to deliver targeted advertising for the corporation's new line of web-connected printers. HP unveiled the new printers last week: they enable users to download web pages without connecting to a computer, and print images sent from a mobile device using printer-specific email addresses. Yesterday though, HP revealed it planned to couple downloaded content with targeted ads. In theory the advertising will work as follows:

• People who connect to the net using HP's new printers reveal their location, because all web-connected machines have IP addresses. Companies can use this information to send location-specific adverts.
• People who use HP's new printers can also be tracked according to their behaviour and download habits. This enables companies to further individualise advertising for each user.
  

HP's Senior Vice President of Imaging and Printing Stephen Nigro said that in pilot shemes “people were not bothered” by the advertising. He said “Part of it I think our belief is you're used to it. You're used to seeing things with ads.” This suggests HP's decision to incorporate targeted ads is not motivated by a desire to improve the user experience. Instead the company is including advertising because people do not significantly object and it increases revenues.

President of HP's Printing and Imaging Group Vyomesh Joshi noted however that HP would be careful not to misuse consumer data when targeting ads. He said: "That's where we need to be very clear business rules in terms of privacy.”

Sources

Anonymous, 'HP Teams Up With Yahoo, Brings Targeted Ads To Printers,' UberGizmo.com, 17 June 2010.
Jeremy Kirk, 'HP Partners With Yahoo For Targeted Advertising,' PCWorld.com, 16 June 2010.

Xerox CMO Stresses Need For Personal Marketing

By Peter Lavelle

16 June 2010 11:47 GMT
Image: Xerox.com

Chief Marketing Officer at Xerox Christa Carone has told an audience of marketers they must use the human touch to build relationships with consumers. Speaking in New York yesterday, Carone told attendees of the Digital Marketing Days Conference they cannot depend on technology to get through to people. Instead they must create experiences meaningful to each person to establish trust.

Carone emphasised that people remember perhaps four of the three thousand media messages they receive daily. Especially given the difficult commercial climate businesses face at present, she said marketers ought do whatever needed to ensure their messages have impact. She pointed to earlier successful campaigns:

• Xerox used a playful email video to generate sales leads. The video comically warned that information overload turns office workers into zombies, and advised that Xerox products can prevent this. Featuring personalised names for each recipient, the video had a 50% referral rate of 370,000 prospects.
• Australian pet chain Best Friends Pets had success tailoring their marketing according to each customer's activity and pet. It used direct mail and email marketing.
• MSC Industrial Direct used telephone research to develop messages more relevant to individual customers. The company saw response rates on follow-up orders increase 20% as a result.
  

Carone warned however against being too personal. She referred to Liongate's recent campaign for the movie Saw V, which enabled people to sign up friends to receive a threatening phone call from one of the film's characters. Personalised to include each person's name, some recipients however thought the threat was real. Carone said: “We don't like it when someone we don't know knows too much about us.”

Sources

Christopher Hosford, 'Xerox CMO Carone Stresses Need For More Relevant Marketing,' BtoBOnline.com, 15 June 2010.
Dianna Dilworth, 'Xerox CMO Tells Marketers To Get Personal With Customers At Digital Marketing Days Keynote,' DMNews.com, 15 June 2010.

HP Helps To Create More Secure Applications With Threat Analysis Service

By Peter Lavelle
15 June 2010 11:07 GMT

Ink cartridge manufacturer Hewlett Packard has unveiled a new threat analysis service that may ultimately result in cheaper and more secure software applications. Named the Comprehensive Applications Threat Analysis service, the service provides guidance and recommendations to developers during the application development cycle. It aims to help developers avoid stability pitfalls and virus vulnerabilities that make patches necessary after release.

In the short term this service may help developers reduce the length of the application development cycle. Developers use HP's expertise to address latent security issues, and ensure the application complies with legal requirements. Ultimately though, consumers may also benefit. This is because:

• Development costs are lowered as companies work from Hewlett Packard's guidelines, resulting in potentially cheaper applications.
• Programs are more stable as they are subject to HP scrutiny before release, meaning fewer patches and updates need be released.
• Programs are created more rapidly as developers benefit from HP's expertise, meaning consumers receive the applications sooner.
  

Of course developers must choose to pass these benefits onto consumers. Equally they may invest the savings from HP's service into greater profits rather than cheaper products.

Hewlett Packard's threat analysis service is part of a complete security package aimed at developers, and also includes: the Quality Centre For Security Requirements, and the Application Security Centre For Web Vulnerability Testing. Each of these aims to help developers create the most stable and secure application possible before release. They are available now to developers worldwide.

Sources

Nathan Eddy, HP Offers Application Development Security Solutions,' Eweek.com, 14 June 2010.
Nick Farrell, 'HP Gets Into The Security Business,' TheInquirer.net, 11 June 2010.
Raju Shanbhaq, 'HP Introduces Comprehensive Applications Threat Analysis,' TMCNet.com, 11 June 2010.

HP Buys 'Instant On' Linux OS From Phoenix

By Peter Lavelle
14 June 2010 17:52 GMT

Ink cartridge manufacturer Hewlett Packard has bought the Linux operating system HyperSpace from BIOS developer Phoenix Technologies. The $12m deal enables Phoenix to focus on its core strength of BIOS development; however it is unclear what Hewlett Packard intends for the technology. HyperSpace has several potentially invaluable strengths, including:

• 'Instant On' functionality - meaning that unlike Windows, HyperSpace has no start up period.
• Incredible stability – meaning that the OS continues running even when Windows has stalled or crashed.
• Almost total security – meaning the OS is protected from virus or trojan attacks.
• Low power consumption – meaning HyperSpace can easily run on a battery-operated device.
  

These strengths make HyperSpace attractive both for business users who abhor trojan attacks, and for mobile device development. The purchase may therefore compliment HP's recent acquisition of Palm's webOS, rumoured to mean that HP is development a smartphone. HP however has not commented on the purchase.

In addition to HyperSpace, HP has purchased HyperCore and PhoenixFlip from Phoenix. HyperCore manages HyperSpace from a computer's BIOS, while Phoenix Flip enables users to run Windows and HyperSpace simultaneously. Users can alternate between them at will.

Sources

David Marshall, 'HP's Acquisition Of Phoenix Virtualisation Adds To Its Linux Muscle,' InfoWorld.dl, 14 June 2010.
James Cullimore, 'HP Snaps Up 'Instant On' OS From Phoenix,' ITProPortal.com, 14 June 2010.
Tom Espiner, HP Buys HyperSpace Fast-Boot Linux,' ZDNet.co.uk, 14 June 2010.

Xerox Appoints Kevin Warren Head Of Its US Solutions Group

By Peter Lavelle

14 June 2010 11:57 GMT
Image: Xerox.com

Ink cartridge manufacturer Xerox has appointed Kevin Warren as the President of its US Solutions Group. Warren becomes responsible for direct sales at US Xerox, having served as the Chairman, President and CEO at Xerox Canada. He replaces the outgoing Doug Lord, who is retiring after a 34-year career at Xerox. This appointment matters because:

• Warren has been described as partly responsible for the turnaround at Xerox. He spearheaded the 2007 buy-out of Global Imaging Systems, a worldwide document management service provider. This helped transform Xerox from an ailing copier manufacturer in 2002 to the world's leading managed print services provider in 2010.
• The Xerox US Solutions Group sells Xerox products and services to print industry-focused companies across North America. Warren has hence become responsible for increasing the presence of Xerox hardware and services withiin: the graphic art industries, commercial printers and even printers inside government.
  

Warren has an especial sales focus, having begun his Xerox career as a sales trainee in 1984. Print-oriented business owners ought keep an eye on Xerox in coming months then, to see what propositions the corporation makes.

Sources

Anonymous, 'Xerox Names Kevin Warren President Of U.S. Solutions Group,' News.Xerox.com, 09 June 2010.

Australian Cycle Path Built From Recycled Ink Cartridges

By Peter Lavelle

10 June 2010 11:43 GMT
Photo: Inhabitat.com

The Australian National Park Service has found a way to kill two birds with one printer peripheral, unveiling a national cycle path made entirely from recycled ink cartridges. The 17km path runs through West Mcdonnell National Park and connects Alice Springs to the Simpson Gap. Uniquely though, the path is made entirely from Replas: a recycled plastics construction material which includes ink cartridges.

The new path cost $330,000 and is part of an £8m tourism stimulus package by the Australian government. Wildlife Minister Karl Hampton said at the path's unveiling: “In keeping with our government's commitment to sustainable development, the bridge is made from recycled plastic decking or Replas, saving landfill, trees and ensuring a longer life with less maintenance. Alice Springs has a great bike culture and with the upgrades complete, residents can enjoy a short ride after school or work or longer weekend explorations.”
Sources

Anonymous, 'New Eco Path Opened,' CentralianAdvocate.com.au, 28 May 2010.
Jaymi Heimbuch, 'Old Ink Cartridges Form Bike Path In Australian National Park,' Treehugger.com, 09 June 2010.
Victoria Broadus, 'Recycled Printer Cartridges Pave Bike Path,' TheCityFix.com, 09 June 2010.

London Printer Comes To The Rescue Of Brunel University Expo

By Peter Lavelle
09 June 2010 15:20 GMT

London, England, 09 June 2010: Brunel University's highly prestigious design and engineering exhibition Made In Brunel received rescue yesterday from London-based print supplier PrintExpress.co.uk. The innovative company swooped in to provide top-quality posters and banners at the last minute after Brunel's print supplier pulled out.

--

Brunel University's annual exhibition Made In Brunel gives design and engineering graduates an incredible platform to showcase their talents. The exhibition boasts support from universities around the world as well as global brands including Xerox and HSBC. Exhibiting students have the unique chance to win support for their innovations from industry-leading businesses.

This year however Made in Brunel almost didn't happen. The university's print supplier pulled out with only 3 days before the exhibition's 08 June launch, leaving the student organisers in the lurch. They needed more than 1,500 exhibition maps in addition to mounted posters for every exhibit printed in 72 hours. This kind of printing normally takes 3 weeks to produce and deliver. What could they do?

Fortunately PrintExpress.co.uk was available. The London-based print supplier already enjoyed excellent relations with Brunel having supplied free business cards and banner stands for the exhibition. After Brunel called on Friday night 04 June to see if PrintExpress.co.uk could give emergency assistance then, the company agreed to perform the impossible: produce in 3 days exhibition materials that would take lesser print suppliers 21 days.

The labour was Herculean. The finest members of PrintExpress.co.uk's production team worked without sleep from Friday night until Tuesday morning to deliver the print. Of course only the highest quality would suffice: Made In Brunel was Brunel graduates' 1 chance to showcase their talents to an international business audience. Hence the production team had to produce show-stopping print under almost impossible time constraints.

The result though was that at 6AM Tuesday morning – the day the exhibition opened – PrintExpress.co.uk was delivering several pallets of top quality print to Made in Brunel's London location. By Tuesday afternoon everything was in place: exhibition maps, mounted posters, banner stands and all. Owing to the incredible dedication and professionalism of PrintExpress.co.uk, Made In Brunel 2010 opened without a hitch and was a complete success.

Made In Brunel's Communications Manager Clive Gee said: “PrintExpress.co.uk has created print of an incredible standard and done so under extraordinary circumstances. Made In Brunel would like to thank the company for its courtesy, speed and efficiency. Matching Made In Brunel's 2010 theme of Innovation That Works, PrintExpress.co.uk has shown itself a true innovator.”

PrintExpress.co.uk CEO Murtaza Daya said: “We at PrintExpress.co.uk would like to thank everyone at Made In Brunel for the chance to support this fantastic event. We were thrilled to produce a range of exhibition materials, even with short notice, and hope our print helps secure the future of Brunel's hugely talented design and engineering graduates.”

About PrintExpress.co.uk

PrintExpress.co.uk has delivered high quality bespoke print products and professional design services for 25 years. The company aims to provide a comprehensive print service: customers can therefore enjoy everything from corporate rebranding to artwork archiving services. Of course customers can enjoy the highest quality print too: PrintExpress.co.uk offers a 100% Quality Guarantee and 48 Hour Turnaround on all orders.

Contact:
Peter Lavelle
PR Officer
[W] www.printexpress.co.uk
[E] peter@printexpress.co.uk

Unit 5, Stonefield Way
South Ruislip
Middlesex
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Dell Streak Round-Up: A Smartphone-Tablet Hybrid

By Peter Lavelle

09 June 2010 09:16GMT

Earlier this week ink cartridge producer Dell released the Dell Streak, a smartphone-tablet hybrid running on Google's Android operating system. Bridging the gap between smartphone and tablet, the Streak is a possible alternative for people unable to afford both an iPhone and iPad.

Presently the Streak is available only through O2, either for the fixed sum of £399 or £35 on monthly contract. By comparison, buying an iPhone and iPad together will cost you £870, or a £60 combined monthly tariff.

Technical Specs

• A 5 inch multi-touch WVGA display (by comparison the iPad display is 9.7 inches.)
• A 1ghz Snapdragon processor (matching the iPad's 1ghz Apple-made processor.)
• 16GB of storage, with 32GB available (identical to the default iPad hard disc, though Apple offer a 64GB option.)
• WiFi, BlueTooth and 3G compatibility (identical to the iPad.)
• HDMI output (something in fact missing from the iPad, but available on the iPhone.)
• 5 megapixel camera (matching the newly announced iPhone 4.0's 5 megapixels.)
  

Criticisms

On paper then the Streak appears roughly comparable to the iPad. However, since launching last week reviewers have noted a number of weaknesses in Dell's device that may make you think twice before buying. For example, CNET's Flora Graham comments in her review that:

• The Streak's size makes it inconveniently large for using as a phone.
• The user interface is poorly thought out compared to the iPad's, making inefficient use of the available space.
• The Streak lacks basic phone features like spelling correction and predictive texting.
• The Streak's browser doesn't support BBC iPlayer, and also lacks the latest Flash.
  

Other reviewers have meanwhile noted:

• ZDNet's Matthew Miller believes the Streak's 5 inch screen is too small for a tablet.
• PCWorld.com's Brennon Slattery notes that the Streak's 5 megapixel camera suffers alongside HTC's recent 8 megapixel release the 4G.
  

Summary

The consensus then appears that by trying to please both smartphone and tablet users the Streak satisfies no one. On a basic level the Streak's size illustrates this problem: some reviewers call it too small for a tablet, others too large for a smartphone. Ultimately Dell's hybrid only succeeds in reminding people of features present elsewhere.

However before condemning the Streak completely it is worth noting this is Dell's first entry into the smartphone-tablet market. With time Dell may release an improved Streak, perhaps featuring an updated Android OS, keeping alive the possibility of an iPod-iPhone alternative.

Sources

Flora Graham, 'Dell Streak,' Cnet.co.uk, 07 June 2010.
Matthew Miller, 'Endgadget's Dell Streak Review, Is It More Appealing Than The HTC EVO 4G?' ZDNet.com, 07 June 2010.
Nick Farrell, 'Dell Streak Is In The Shops,' TheInquirer.net, 04 June 2010.
Brennon Slattery, 'Dell Streak: The Details... And The Reviews,' PCWorld.com, 03 June 2010.

Sony Boss Predicts eBooks To Outsell Print In Five Years

By Peter Lavelle
07 June 2010 12:51 GMT

The Head of Sony's e-book division Steve Haber has told Telegraph.co.uk he expects e-book sales to outstrip print sales within 5 years. He told the newspaper last week: 'Within 5 years there will be more digital content sold than physical content. 3 years ago I said within 10 years but I realised I was wrong – it's within 5.”*

Haber's prediction defies evidence to the contrary from several reputable sources. For example:

• The Publisher's Association told PCPro recently that e-book sales make up less than 5% of the market.
• Retailer Waterstones told The Bookseller recently that e-books will account for 8% of sales only in 2013.
  

Haber meanwhile offers no compensating evidence for his prediction. It is however notable that Sony's Reader faces still competition from multi-function tablets like the iPad. Perhaps the Sony executive is trying to create free publicity for himself? In other words, book lovers probably need not worry about buying an e-reader in the near future because Amazon has stopped selling paperbacks.

*(Does Haber mean e-book sales will outstrip print sales within 5 years of his original prediction 3 years ago, in which case e-books will dominate in 2 years? Or does he mean e-books will dominate 5 years from now, in which case they'll dominate 8 years from his original prediction?)

Sources

Adam Hartley, 'Will E-Book Sales Overtake Print Sales Within Five Years?' TechRadar.com, 03 June 2010.
Darren Allan, 'Sony Sees E-Books Overtaking Traditional Publishing Within Five Years,' TechWatch.com, 03 June 2010.
Nicole Kobie, Sony: E-Books Will Outsell Print In Five Years,' PCPro.co.uk, 03 June 2010.
Shane Richmond, 'Sony: E-Books To Overtake Print Within 5 Years,' Telegraph.co.uk, 02 June 2010.

HP Announce Printers With Own Email Addresses

By Peter Lavelle
07 June 2010 11:45 GMT

Ink cartridge manufacturer Hewlett Packard announced a slew of innovations for its printers yesterday, intended to bring the PC peripherals into “the iPhone age.” Chief among these is the introduction of email addresses for each printer, enabling users to send images wirelessly for printing, whether from their smartphone, notebook or desktop computer. This brings benefits including:

• The death of the printer driver. No longer will users have to install a printer's specific software before use, but may transfer images instanteously.
• The death of the USB cable. No longer will users be forced to remain within 3m of the printer, connecting their mobile device to the machine, but may print wirelessly anywhere inside the WiFi radius.
  

To this end HP is installing 7,000 email-enabled printers in locations across the US, including retail outlets and airports. The idea is that wherever you're browsing your smartphone you have the chance to print.

HP is also introducing iPod-like applications for the new printers, meaning users may enjoy exclusive products and images. For example, children's TV network Nickelodeon has already agreed to create exclusive 'Dora The Explorer' activity packs, while Dr. Seuss Enterprises promises unique character wallpapers. Hence users may theoretically access HP printers both for hassle-free printing, and special content.

HP's Head of Printing Vyomesh I. Joshi believes the new printers make printing relevant in an age dominated by smartphones. The printers are designed for people who access the internet both through their desktop PCs and smart devices, while printing not only text documents but web pages. He told NYTimes.com recently: “We think by next year more printing will be done from the Web than from word-processing applications.”

HP's new printers will retail for between $100-$400, and offer several benefits for iPhone users still interested in printing. It may however be worth pausing before buying these new printers: they do not integrate HP's recently bought WebOS operating system. This promises to turn printers from peripheral machines into stand-alone smart devices, enabling the owner to browse the web without supporting hardware. It may be worth waiting for these printers before upgrading your existing model.

Sources

Anonymous, 'HP Planning To Launch Printers With Dedicated Email Addresses,' Ubergizmo.com, 07 June 2010.
Ashlee Vance, 'Printing In A Smartphone Age,' NYTimes.com, 06 June 2010.
Dan Nosowitz, 'HP To Announce 'Printers Built For The iPhone Age,' Without Irony,' FastCompany.com, 07 June 2010.

HP CEO Hurd In Reverse Gear About HP Smartphones

By Peter Lavelle
04 June 2010 10:54 GMT

Hewlett Packard's recent buy-out of developer Palm for $1.2bn led many to speculate that HP planned to enter the smartphone market. Palm's WebOS operating system seemed the perfect platform for HP to lanch a competitor to the iPhone, and foster an App community comparable to Apple's. HP CEO Mark Hurd's initial comments two weeks ago did not encourage these rumours but did little to quash them: he said the chief reason for buying Palm was to develop web-enabled printers, capable of printing images without connecting to a computer. The smartphone question was one did he didn't address.

In a technology conference on Tuesday however, Hurd finally revealed his thoughts about the possibility of an HP smartphone – and they were not well received. He told attendees of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch conference that getting into smartphone development “doesn't in any way make sense.” Hurd probably meant this to mean that competing head-on with established smartphones would be unwise at the present time. HP however was committed to WebOS, intending to integrate the operating system into a tablet.

Unfortunately however, Hurd's comments were taken to mean that HP was not dedicated to WebOS. The company (it was perceived) was unlikely to further invest in Palm's operating system, sending a negative message to developers responsible for third party Apps. In other words, Hurd was accidentally strangling the possibility of HP's fostering an Apple-like App community, before the notion had been seriously considered.

It comes as little surprise then that yesterday Hurd was in reverse gear, seeking to reassure third party developers on whom any future HP smartphone depends. After almost dismissing the possibility of an HP smartphone at the Bank of America conference, Hurd yesterday released a new statement: “When we look at the market, we see an array of interconnected devices, including tablets, printers and, of course, smartphones. We believe WebOS can become the backbone of many of HP's small form factor devices, and we expect to expand WebOS's footprint beyond just the smartphone market.”

Here Hurd is hardly committing himself to the development of an HP smartphone. Much as before the Bank of America conference, his priorities seem elsewhere. He does however assure developers that WebOS Is central to future HP releases, potentially reviving their confidence in the platform. In short his latest comment reveals little about HP's future plans. Instead they are damage control, in which Hurd seeks to rebuild the bridges accidentally burnt on Tuesday.

Sources

Andrew Williams, 'HP Says WebOS Smartphones Coming After All,' FoneHome.co.uk, 04 June 2010.
Ed Hansberry, 'How Bad And Why HP Wanted Palm,' InformationWeek.com, 04 June 2010.
Larry Dignan, 'HP CEO Mark Hurd Talks Datacenters, Networking and Palm,' ZDNet.com, 04 June 2010.
Matt Brian, 'HP Decides It IS Going To Venture Into Smartphone Market,' TheNextWeb, 04 June 2010.

Printer Made From Lego Uses Felt Tip Pens

By Peter Lavelle
03 June 2010 17:58 GMT

Lego enthusiast and b3ta forum member Squirrelfantasy has unveiled the internet's newest novelty printer: a machine made entirely from lego that creates text using felt tip pens! Click below for a video of the lego printer in action – spelling out the message 'Hello World!'

Squirrelfantasy meanwhile today completed an interview with CNET.com, in which he estimates the lego printer's performance. He believes the printer capable of only 75dpi (dots per inch) and 1ppm (page per minute.) By comparison, Canon's newly released PIXMA MX560 features 9600dpi and 6.8 photo quality images per minute. The manufacturer probably doesn't have to worry about competition from the lego sector then!



Sources

Justin Yu, 'Lego Printer Introduces Itself To The World,' CNET.com, 02 June 2010.

New Adobe Software Digitises Magazines – But Is It Any Good?

By Peter Lavelle
Wednesday 02 June 13:22 GMT

The news that Adobe has released an iPad App digitising the print magazine WIRED boasts 603 news articles on Google News at the moment. Hence (unless by some irony this is the first article you've clicked related to the topic) you probably already know the salient details: Adobe's WIRED App gives magazine publishers the chance to digitise their titles in an iPad-friendly way. Magazines retain their original format insofar as there are pages instead of links, while using the iPad to include elements like video.

Beyond these facts though, the 603 Google News articles are mostly useless. Few address such basic questions as: Is Adobe's WIRED Reader any good? What might the software's release mean for print magazines or the iPad? Hence (if only for the sake of breaking with 603 near-identical articles) this post addresses those questions. What's more, because monitors cripple our ability to concentrate on words (unless you do something radical like trying) I'm sub-titling my responses. Let's get down to business then:

Adobe's WIRED Reader Probably Isn't Very Good

I say 'probably' because I haven't tested the App. Yet according to two reviews floating around (I couldn't find more) Adobe's iPad version of WIRED isn't very good. For example, ShinyShiny.tv's Ashley Norris comments that the App is a whopping 527mb. That's enough to fill a 16GB iPad in 30 issues, and means WIRED takes five minutes to download. Moreover, Norris also notes that iPad WIRED is swollen with adverts.

Elsewhere, PCWorld's Harry McCracken comments that WIRED on the iPad lacks intuitiveness. Pages are tricky to navigate, and the magazine lacks the straightfoward left-to-right format of the paper version. In addition, the magazines lacks social media compatibility needed to really exploit the digital format.

Both reviewers conclude that Adobe have work to do before iPad WIRED becomes a real alternative to paper.

Adobe's WIRED Reader Really Shouldn't Exist

Back in April Steve Jobs posted at Apple.com saying that Adobe's Flash format was banned from Apple products, including the iPad. He argued that, because Flash is a proprietary software, it's incompatible with Apple's 'open' technology policy. Rather: because the internet is about the free propagation of information, Jobs argues that relying on technology owned by one company is dangerous. (Coming from Steve Jobs this can only be ironic: no one alive has worked harder to create a monolithic technology empire).

Anyway the point is that Adobe's WIRED Reader shouldn't exist given Jobs' antipathy to Adobe. The company has been banned from releasing Apps at the iStore, while the iPad uses HTML instead of Flash. So why the turnaround? Well, according to TheGadgets.net's Owaies, Adobe 'tricked' Apple by releasing the WIRED Reader through WIRED. The iPad App is available after all in the magazine's name, while Adobe only announced the Reader after it was accepted at the iStore. Hence – according to Owaies at least – Adobe were running a campaign to enter the iStore even without Steve Jobs' permission.

Alternately of course, Steve Jobs simply changed his mind about banning Adobe Apps without telling anyone.

Take Up Of Magazines On The iPad Have Been Slow

The iPad has been touted as the saviour of magazine publishing. In fact, you can barely move your elbow without poking a journalist crying that print publishing is in terminal decline, and Apple the only saviour. This is theoretically sound: for example, though people access the WIRED website for free, the iPad version is priced identically to the original version. On paper at least, the iPad represents the alternate revenue stream magazine publishers have been looking for.

In reality however, take up of magazines on the iPad has been slow. Last week for example, GQ publishers Conde Nast revealed they had sold 365 copies of the magazine on iPad – bringing in £1091 revenue. Of course, it is impossible to know if this is representative of all iPad magazine sales; but it suggests the publishing revolution promised by Apple hasn't (yet?) happened. It suggests moreover that WIRED's appearance on the iPad isn't very important – unless of course, next week readership has rocketed.

Sources

Anonymous, 'Wired Magazine Unveils iPad Application,' Google.com, 27 May 2010.
Anonymous, 'Adobe WIRED Reader Digital Viewing App Launched,' DeviceMag.com, 02 June 2010.
Ashley Norris, 'Wired iPad Magazine Review,' ShinyShiny.tv, 26 May 2010.
Ben Bold, 'GQ Sells 365 Copies Of Its Apple iPad – or $1,091 In Sales,' WallBlog.co.uk, 19 May 2010.
Frank Michell Russell, 'Adobe Touts iPad Workaround But Apple's Jobs Unimpressed,' SeattleTimes.com, 01 June 2010.
Harry McCracken, 'Wired's iPad App: Finally Here, Still A Work In Progress,' PCWorld.com, 27 May 2010.
Owaies, 'Adobe's Digital Publishing Platform Gets Its First iPad App Approved On iTunes,' TheGadgets.net, 02 June 2010.
Steve Jobs, 'Thoughts On Flash,' Apple.com, 10 April 2010.
Tom Arah, 'The Benefits Of New Improved Flash,' PCPro.co.uk, 01 June 2010.
Vineetha Menon, 'Adobe Software Can Digitise Print Mags,' ITP.net, 01 June 2010.

Toshiba Carbon Offsetting Scheme Helps Kenyan Cooks

By Peter Lavelle

1 June 2010 10:16 GMT

Carbon offsetting is a familiar buzz phrase these days. It refers to the practice of investing in environmentally-friendly schemes to offset the CO2 you produce. Conventionally, businesses looking into carbon offsetting invest in schemes like renewable energy or forestry projects. You think of carbon offsetting as something more helpful to the environment than other human beings.

Recently though, ink cartridge manufacturer Toshiba announced a carbon offseting scheme that challenges this idea. The company is enabling UK and Irish businesses to opt into a scheme that, rather than funding windfarm development and the like, gives people across Kenya access to greener and healthier cooking appliances.

The scheme is simple. Businesses across the UK and Ireland who purchase Toshiba multi-function printers can opt into something called the African Energy Efficient Stove project. Managed by CO2balance.com, this project gives Kenyan people access to domestic stoves that replace open fires. These stoves both cut the consumption of firewood by more than half – saving 3 tones of CO2 per cooker each year – and bring down the 1.6 million deaths caused by smoke inhalation across Keyna annually.

Businesses that opt into the scheme not only offset the carbon produced in their own use of the multi-function printers. They also offset the carbon used in Toshiba's manufacture and distribution of the printers. Moreover, Toshiba's scheme enables businesses to offset the CO2 produced throughout each printer's lifetime, including peripherals like paper and ink cartridges. Companies can choose to offset either five years of printing or one million copies.

Toshiba's TEC Imaging Marketing Director Steve Hewson said: "The African Energy Efficient Stove project delivers savings on two continents and means that as well as contributing to your own environmental efforts, you can make a very real difference to the lives of people in East Africa."

For more information please visit CO2balance.com.

Sources

Hannah Cross, 'Toshiba's Carbon Free Printing Makes Kenyan Cooking More Sustainable,' PRNewswire.co.uk, 1 June 2010.