A Brooklyn-based company, Breakfast, is looking to raise funds through Kickstarter to get its InstaPrint project into production. Basically a mobile printer running on Linux, it uses Zink's inkless technology to print Instagram photos from Wi-Fi-connected iPhones and iPods. The photos include comments and are searched for by user-specified hashtags.
Polaroid has finally begun shipping its GL10 instant printer, which was part of the company's Grey Label lineup that was borne of a Lady Gaga promotion early in the year. The portable printer creates 3- by 4-inch instant prints using second-generation ZINK (zero ink) technology for resistance to smudges. Users can queue pictures using a USB connection or Bluetooth, while the internal battery is claimed to last for 35 prints.
Similar in concept and execution to its PoGo camera, Polaroid has brought out a brand new portable printer, the GL10. It uses Zink paper and technology to print 3- by 4-inch prints. Zink uses thermal technology to bring out the colors in the special paper, which are protected by smudge-proof, water-resistant coatings.
The famed Polaroid name has been purchased by a new company, PLR IP Holdings, after the brand's previous new owners declared bankruptcy in late 2008. PLR has drawn up new licensing agreements that will give its licensees rights to the Polaroid name, and promises to bring new products from the Polaroid brand in 2010, with some reaching shelves as early as January. The new owners will expand Polaroid's traditional offerings that included photo printers and digital cameras to include PC products and game consoles, as well as cellphones and AV peripherals. Cleaning products for electronics will also be part of the revised lineup.
At CES on Thursday, Polaroid officially introduced the PoGo instant digital camera that prints its own images. The camera effectively integrates the PoGo printer out in stores since the summer and introduced at last year’s CES to produce the images. Interestingly, Polaroid did not release the megapixel count of the camera, nor is it visible anywhere on the body – a definitive break from the norm. Otherwise, users get a 3-inch LCD screen and a 4x digital zoom. Onboard storage is limited to 16MB, but is expandable via SD cards.
A recent FCC filing indicates Dell will soon launch a tiny portable printer that does not rely on ink to produce images, instead utilizing ZINK media. A USB port and PictBridge software support allows users to hook up digital cameras directly to the printer, while Bluetooth-enabled devices such as cellphones and computers can send photos to the printer, allowing for the quick creation of prints.
