San Francisco (CA) – Hewlett Packard claims to have introduced the world’s first web-connected home printer. According to HP, the Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web offers users easy touchscreen access to popular digital content.
“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 of 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.”
Joshi explained that the TouchSmart printer was specifically designed for the “digital generation” and “connected households.” The unit features a new web-based printing platform with pre-loaded HP apps that are viewable on a large panel. In addition, the TouchSmart allows users to create and download new applications, browse websites and print customized content.
HP has also partnered with a number of companies to promote the TouchSmart, including USA Today, Google, Fandango, Coupons.com, DreamWorks Animation, Nickelodeon, Web Sudoku and Weathernews Inc. Users will be granted free access to customized daily news, maps, coupons, coloring pages, movie tickets, recipes and personal calendars.
The web-connected printer is expected to retail for a pricey $400 this fall.
