While it's not as critical on a printer as it is in a camera, HP is touting a new compact photo printer with what it calls the largest built-in 4.8-inch touchscreen--the A626. The Palo Alto printing giant also launched the lower-end A526 in the same announcement.
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Both printers will be available in Asia by early August.
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Leveraging on its touchscreen, the A626 allows users to add graffiti to a photo before it is printed as well as apply preloaded graphics, frames and album pages onto the picture. The touchscreen also promises to make in-printer photo editing an easier task. Edited pictures can be either saved into memory cards or printed out directly.
While we appreciate the convenience, we trust that the A626's vaunted abilities will be more of a hit at parties and with non-computer users.
For the sake of portability, there is a carrying handle and the option to insert an internal battery for both the A626 and A526.
More images of new HP printers:

Lexmark has announced five new additions to its inkjet printer lineup, three of which include wireless networking. The new printers range from basic, single-function offerings to All-in-One printers suitable for multi-user environments.
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27 June--The prices have been updated in SGD.
According to a PR spokesperson for Lexmark, the Z1420, the X3550, the X4550 and the Z1320 will be available in South Asia in the May/June period. However, the X2550 will only be on sale in July/August. |
Z1320
The Z1320 is a S$69 basic printer that offers 22ppm black and 16ppm color. It uses a two-tank ink system (black and CMY), with an optional three-color photo tank for six-color photo prints.
X2550
The X2550 is a color 3-in-1 AIO printer (print, scan, copy). The US$60 unit offers 22ppm black and 16ppm color printing (in draft mode). It will be available in Asia between July and August. Asia pricing not available.
Z1420
The S$129 Z1420 is a single-function printer that offers both USB and built-in wireless networking. It prints black at 24ppm and color at 18ppm.
X3550
The X3550 is an inexpensive AIO printer at S$179. It comes with built-in memory card slots, a PictBridge port, and print rates of 24ppm black and 17ppm color. Wireless connectivity is optional on this model and the wireless adapter unit is simple to install.
X4550
The S$249 X4550 is the high end of this new round of printers. It offers wireless connectivity, multifunction printing (photo, print, scan, copy), built-in memory card slots, and a PictBridge port, and it prints black at 26ppm and color at 18ppm.
X9350
The S$439 X9350 is a real workhorse. It serves up simple wireless printing, built-in duplexing, a document feeder for fax and good print quality.
The new multifunctions come with an improved software suite that allows you to easily edit and print photos.
Leave it to Haier--a brand better known for its refrigerators--to design a TV with a feature we've always wanted: A printer port.
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The closest TV with a printing feature is the Samsung LA40F71B LCD, though it prints direct from a memory card and not a screen grab.
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If this yet-to-be-released HDTV does what SlashGear says, the 47-inch L47A18 model will be able to grab screenshots of your favorite Battlestar Galactica scenes and print them out. It also has two USB ports and a memory card reader, so you can display photos and play your own movies and music on the set.
The downside, of course, is the price: US$2,742. Even though it has full 1080p resolution, Haier isn't exactly known for its high-quality TVs. Maybe it can come up with a fridge combo that can automatically print out a photo when you're down to the last Bud Light.
We're not huge on scanning devices (especially where our bodies are concerned), but mostly because they aren't always as practical or workable as they might first seem. Still, we're intrigued by PrintDreams' "Xyron Design Runner" for its unique approach, if nothing else.
Unlike other handheld scanners that require separate storage (cards, sticks, etc.) that's then transferred to a printer, this gadget scans the images and spits them back onto whatever object you want, not just paper. It's kind of like a digital version of those old handheld label makers, but it prints directly on the surface instead of using sticky tape.
The price isn't pocket change (US$200), but it may be worth it because, as blog site Shiny Shiny says, the Xyron is "adaptable to many awkward media that could never go through a conventional printer". That doesn't mean, though, that it should be used for homemade tattoos.
HP has unveiled five new printers for the US market: Three Deskjets and one Photosmart.
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According to a PR spokesperson for HP, there are still no plans to launch these printers in Asia.
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- The HP Photosmart C4280 is a three-function unit (print, scan, copy) that prints black at 30ppm and color at 23ppm. It offers a 1.5-inch color LCD, memory card slots, borderless 4 x 6 photo prints, and optional six-color printing. The US$100 printer will be available in the US in May.
- The Deskjet D2460 is a US$50 single-function inkjet printer that's available now in the US. It offers 20ppm black and 14ppm color printing and optional six-color photo printing.
- The Deskjet D4260 is also a single function printer, and it replaces HP's D4100 series. The US$80 printer prints black at 30ppm and color at 23ppm. It sports a front-mounted USB port for printing directly from digital cameras or flash drives. It's available in the US now.
- The Deskjet F4180 All-in-One replaces the F380 and offers print, scan, and copy functions. The US$80 printer prints black at 20ppm and color at 14ppm.