Zink Imaging, the inkless mobile printing company, is the unofficial DEMO favorite so far. Everyone I’ve talked to on the floor says Zink stole the morning show. The Massachusetts-based startup, is creating an ecosystem for new types of devices — mobile printers — with an idea that everyone can understand — print your photos on the go. That makes it an obvious crowd pleaser here.
We stopped by the Zink booth to check out the products after the demo. A mobile printer for $99 that connects to devices via USB or bluetooth, and a camera with an embedded printer for $199. The printing/heating process turns on the colors on the special Zink paper — they keep calling the process ‘like magic,’ but the technology is based on embedded dye crystals in the paper itself.
The devices won’t be available until the end of the year, and will be sold through “brand partners.” I don’t want to wait that long. The devices remind me of my old Polaroid izone cameras that print little sticky photos — except much, much better. The comparison is interesting too, because the company has a lot of DNA from Polaroid.
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8:55 AM PT
[…] Date: Jan 31st, 2007 · Comments RSS · Tags:misc […]
8 comments so far
3:04 PM PT
A “polaroid” for $200 + paper? Why? :)
5:48 PM PT
exactly… welcome back to the eighties :)
but it all depends on the UE. Maybe its cool… dunno b/c havent seen it
6:35 AM PT
This is neat…but comes down to cost..to sell it cheaper than InkJet and ink Cartridges…I love the product but along way to mass user adoption.
8:36 AM PT
The magic is in the combination of the paper, crystals and heat applied. It’s a neat idea… with real applicability in the small form factor for smart devices with cams. I can see this embedded in a macbook, where you can use the isight to snap and print pics.
Question is… which will be cheaper? Ink or the special paper?
9:10 AM PT
I have to agree with the WOW factor on this. After mopping up my gear envy drool puddle, I started thinking about the cost factor as well and think that the real value here is going to be when this technology will be when the technology is embedded into digital cameras and portable computers - not to mention any other mobile device that might emerge. Imagine if your GPS unit could print out a map? Or you forget to print out your ticket confirmation for a concert and can print it from your PDA. Price will certainly be an issue for starters, but isn’t that always the case with new technologies?
11:21 AM PT
A little bit of gadget envy, but not enough to actually buy one. That’s coming from someone with a borderline gadget addiction.
I agree with much of the sentiment above although I have to disagree with the vision of printing ticket confirmation or maps from any sort of portable device. RFID, NFC, Barcode (ticketing, retail etc.) and GPS (maps, local directories etc.) will be embedded within portable devices long before Zink-type technology will become affordable or mainstream.
6:47 AM PT
cool..for a week until you say ‘huh’? however, maybe a better solution for the folks spitting out parking tickets and hertz receipts
3:15 PM PT
I don’t get it.. whats new with Zink? It is like Pollaroid.. it was invented before I was born
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