HP introduces first ever web connected printer

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Yeah printers are boring, we know. But not the HP PhotoSmart Premium with TouchSmart Web. Oh no. This printer is so far from boring, it’s positively intoxicating.

Ok, it’s not that exciting but as far as printers go, it’s pretty cool. You see, dear readers, the HP PhotoSmart Premium is the first printer that will connect directly to the web.

It has a 4.33-inch screen in order to access its internet apps. Yes, that’s right, I said apps. On a printer.

HP has struck up partnerships with USA Today, Google, Fandango, Coupons.com, DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Web Sudoku and Weathernews so as users can select the relevant app and access, and directly print if required, news, maps, coupons, tickets, recipes, personal calendars and more – all at the touch of a button. Users can also connect directly to Snapfish to print their own digital photos.

The printer prints, faxes, copies and scans. It can print directly from Wi-Fi-enabled PCs, Bluetooth devices and the iPhone.

Out in the Autumn across the pond for $399, the model is expected in the UK next year.

(via HP)

BT to use ATMs as Wi-Fi hotspots

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Cash machine company Cashbox, the company behind many of the fee-charging ATMs found in pubs and shops has signed a deal with BT to turn some of their cash-points into Wi-Fi hotspots on the Openzone network.

The deal is good news for BT Broadband customers as well as iPhone users on O2 who receive free connection to the Openzone network. For other customers who want to connect to Openzone, the cost is a wallet-worrying £5.88 for 90 minutes or £9.79 for a full day.

Cashbox has 2,500 cash-points in the UK. The plan is to introduce the Wi-Fi capabilities amongst them gradually, starting with just 10. Ciaran Morton, CEO of Cashbox says: “It’s really just the start of our rollout. We will look at extending coverage over the coming months.”

(via PC Pro)

Freerunner to bring free Wi-Fi – public hotspots for all

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If you’ve sat frustrated with your laptop in a public place unable to get online without signing up for yet another Wi-Fi service, then today is the today that the worm turns – large wedge of cynicism aside.

A company called Freerunner is pledging to host 2,500 free public Wi-Fi hotspots by the end of Q2 next year. Yes, free, as in, no need to pay. The company will provide the internet zones at no cost to community areas such as libraries, schools and colleges while charging commercial premises a third of what they already may pay. The idea for the latter group is that all you’ll be paying is the price of cup of coffee or whatever it is they sell. CEO of Freerunner, Owen Geddes said:

“Back in 2002, free, open access points were popping up all over the place and there was a real buzz about the potential of public WiFi. Since then, networks have been locked down and access for a day can cost more than your home broadband costs in a month. Our vision is to give consumers free public WiFi access whether they are in the the centre of London, the community centre at the end of their road or the local café in Hartlepool.”

Of course, 2,500 hotspots isn’t enough to start a revolution but it’s a certainly a good start, and a start that will be in the North East of the UK with NorthStar Equity Investors (NSEI) as key investors in the project. Is that a horde of cheering Geordies I hear? That’d make a change this season.

RUMOUR: Next gen iPhone to feature 802.11n Wi-Fi and video editing

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From no video whatsoever to video editing? That’s the possibility rumoured today for the next generation of the iPhone, due in June. Screenshots from the beta have inadvertently revealed elements of the UI that suggest that video editing will be possible. It’s already looking like there’ll be recording and uploading on the 3.0 phone.

Also, digging into the new wireless drivers for the device from Broadcom suggests that the new iPhone may support low-power 802.11n Wi-Fi, which is considerably faster than standard b/g support if you have a compatible router.

Whatever happens, it’s unlikely that the new iPhone will do anything other than gain rave reviews from critics, but there’ll still be an increasingly growing market of people dissatisfied with Apple’s growing dominance in the sector, in a way which never happened with the embryonic MP3 player market.

(via MacRumours)

D-Link opens up home Big Brother options with its DCS-910 and DCS-2121 wireless network cameras

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D-Link has invented a niche it’s calling the “home security market” – and has released a couple of webcams to help you discover who it is that’s eating all the biscuits.

The DCS-2121 Megapixel Wireless Network Camera is the hottest of the pair, coming fully loaded up with wi-fi connectivity…

LG's new flagship multimedia handset – the "Arena" KM900

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I’ll admit it’s been a while since I was excited about an LG handset, despite my love for the company’s TFT monitors. This phone might change all that, however – it’s the LG Arena KM900, newly announced in advance of its unveiling at MWC 2009.

The biggest feature of the phone is its use of 3D. It’s got a completely new UI which is based on cubes, providing a number of different home screens. A touchscreen allows you to navigate between them, but from the picture to the right, it looks clearly iPhone-influenced.

The Arena will also have HSDPA, Wi-Fi, and aGPS, but beyond that we don’t know anything more. We’ll be finding out full specs, and hopefully a release date, next week at MWC so stay tuned for that. If you want to be the first to hear, then you might like to follow @techdigestnews on Twitter. Just an idea.

(via Official LG Blog)

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