HP introduces a web-connected printer

“Twenty-five years ago HP invented consumer printing and today we are taking advantage of the digital content explosion to reinvent the category with an entirely new printing platform – powered by touch and empowered by the web,” said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. “By giving people access to the content they want at the touch of a finger, the ability to customize their printing experience and create their own apps, and enabling easy ‘one touch’ wireless setup, we are driving a significant shift in how people will be printing in the future.”

The TouchSmart Web printing platform gives quick access to popular online content, HP says. "With the sweep of a finger, users will be able to browse and view popular web destinations and. customize and print content on demand in an easy-to-read format."

Partners at launch include USA Today, Google, Fandango, Coupons.com, DreamWorks Animation, Nickelodeon, Web Sudoku and Weathernews Inc. Custom web applications for those partner’s content will be preloaded on the printer, to provide customized daily news, maps, coupons, coloring pages, movie tickets, recipes, personal calendars and more. Other apps can be downloaded to suit the user interests and needs, HP says.

HP’s first Web connected home printer is the Photosmart Premium, with a 4.33-inch capacitive touchscreen, which HP says it the largest LCD touchscreen of any all-in-one inkjet printer on the market. The $399 printer also faxes, copies and scans.

The printer is not optimized to be the only unit in the home, however: It’s single paper tray means you might print a $1 coupon on $1 photo paper, unless each user in the home manually changes paper supplies as appropriate.