HP teams with Google to give connected printers their own email address
By Darren Murph 
posted June 7th 2010 5:43AM
posted June 7th 2010 5:43AM
We get the feeling that there will be lots more details on this whole announcement during Hewlett-Packard's forthcoming press event, but for now, all we know is that HP's next generation of web connected printers will have something that no other consumer printer has had before: an email address to call their own. As the need for printing declines with the broadening availability of cloud access, HP is having to rethink its strategy in the business. According to a report over at the New York Times, the answer lies in giving each new connected printer a dedicated email addy, which would enable users to fire off an image snapped on their smartphone and have it waiting for them when they get back home. We're also told that printing from Google Documents and Spreadsheets will be easy enough, and we wouldn't be shocked to see Picasa integration as well. We're guessing that the new devices will have a robust security suite that'll filter who can and can't dictate the print function via email (but then again, HP does enjoy moving ink), and considering that they'll be priced from $99 to $400, just about everyone will be able to buy in. Conveniently missing from the story? Any mention whatsoever of webOS. Bollocks.
I remember me and a friend signing up his brother on a porn of the day email service in the late 90s as a joke when he got his first email address.... this would take that joke to a whole new level...
"Hey honey, did you send something to the printer... WHAT IS THIS?!?!"
Yes, given HPs pricing model with printers and ink - I wouldn't think they have any real impetus at all to dissuade random or accidental printing.
In fact, I bet within 30 days of this going public you will see spam which attempts adds commands to print to these types of printers.
Some of it will be viagra adds and some newcomers to the party will be trying to print much worse - just for jollies.
With HP ink more expensive than blood (http://gizmodo.com/212444/hp-ink-costs-more-than-human-blood-booze) I need a web printer that takes O-negative cartridges.
in these days of age who needs a printout of anything?