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Polaroid's Socialmatic camera to fuse retro style, instant prints and Android this fall
Last we heard of Polaroid's Socialmatic camera, which promises to bring back instant prints with a modern flair, it was bound for store shelves in the first quarter of 2014. Here at CES, the firm's announced that the hardware is cruising for a fall release now that it's finalized the necessary legal agreements to make it a reality. For those in need of a refresher, the device runs Android to make sharing images a snap and packs a 14-megapixel cam on its front, a 2-megapixel rear-facing sensor, 4GB of storage with expansion via microSD, a 4.5-inch touchscreen and built-in WiFi. Zink's ink-free paper will do the heavy lifting when it comes to printing photos, so any vintage film can stay stowed in your closet. Polaroid's Socialmatic shooter is out in the wilds of the CES floor, so stay tuned for a hands-on.
Zink's hAppy and hAppy+ smart app printers cater to gleeful labelers
It's been a hot minute since a new Zink printer made it through the wringer, but here we are staring at the latest duo. Designed to be coddled and cuddled by craft gurus and those who place an exceptionally high value on organization, the hAppy and hAppy+ smart app printers utilize the outfit's full-color, ink-free zRolls for printing. Each one is WiFi-enabled and engineered to travel well, with the $199 base model supporting print transfers from iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices. On the stock hAppy, you simply download a corresponding app, design what you need printed, and send it over the air. The $299 hAppy+, however, ships with Android in the device, allowing you to fiddle around with its touchscreen and create print designs without any other hardware involved. Of course, we're guessing that you'll be quite limited on what masterpieces you'll be able to muster on such a small canvas, but hey -- who are we to judge your creative prowess?
Polaroid to make Socialmatic Camera a reality for fans of Instagram, recursion
Instagram owes its distinctive identity to Polaroid's OneStep cameras; it's now time to return the favor. Socialmatic has signed a deal for a production, Polaroid-branded version of its 2012 Socialmatic Camera concept you see above, which translates the mobile app's retro icon to a real-world, instant-print shooter. While technical details are scarce, the agreement will see accessory maker C&A Marketing build and sell the design sometime in the first quarter of 2014. If the finished Polaroid work is anything like the concept, it could be more than a novelty with its interchangeable lens system, 4.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, WiFi and 16GB of storage. We don't know if the camera will ship with Android, but we hope it does -- there would be an appropriately Xzibit-like aspect to running Instagram on top of an Instagram-shaped camera.
Zink slips WiFi-enabled 'Print' printer into the FCC's database
Last time we heard from Zink, it was introducing some sort of digital camera in concert with Lady Gaga. Perhaps not-so-coincidentally, that was unveiled at CES earlier this year. If we're assuming a yearly refresh cycle, it looks as if the company is planning its next major product launch for CES 2013, judging by a report of a new piece of kit that just surfaced at the FCC today. Simply entitled "Print" (or "Happy Print," as the documentation occasionally states), the (presumed) printer will support 802.11b/g/n WiFi transfers, though there's a USB option for those who prefer the tethered route. We also get the feeling it can be powered via an included battery pack, enabling IRL Instagrams to be printed out right there on location. There's no user guide to speak of, so further functionality is apt to be kept under wraps until its official reveal. If we had to guess, we'd say that day is coming soon rather than later.
LG outs Pocket Photo mobile picture printer, says it's the smallest of its kind
Hankering for an instant photo solution without the vintage Polaroid look? LG's Pocket Photo, which measures up at approximately 2.8- x 4.7- x 0.9-inches and is touted as the world's smallest mobile picture printer, might fit the bill. Images are slung from smartphones to the Optimus Vu-sized hardware via NFC, Bluetooth or USB with the help of an Android app, which can also be used to apply filters and overlay QR codes and messages. Unfortunately for iPhone-toting photographers, there's no mention of an iOS companion application. Leveraging heat-activated Zink paper, the rig can churn out 2- x 3-inch prints without relying on conventional ink. Pocket Photo is making its way to shelves in South Korea with a roughly $169 price tag dressed in orange, pink and silver accents, but there's no word on a US release. Head past the break to catch a video of the gizmo in action.
Insert Coin: Instaprint offers portable photo booths for Instagram (video)
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. While the design hasn't changed much since we spied Instaprint precisely a year ago, the creators behind the Instagram-connected photo printers are now looking for cash -- your cash. Pitched as an event or party service, you can assign specific tags or locations to the printer, hopefully assuring all those instant snaps have at least a passing connection to whoever or whatever paid for all that photo paper. The technology is all a bit Polaroid, as the printers themselves are ink-free Zink types, limited only by however many blank sheets you have inside. Instaprint has set itself the heady target $500,000, with $260,000 of that sum going towards existing hardware and future production. The $399 investment option will net you your very own InstaPrint system, while sepia-tinted image obsessives can offer up £1,449 for the pro kit, containing one WiFi hub printer, three more connectable InstaPrint devices and 80 sheets of inkless paper for your premier cat photo collection/ food gallery get-together. See how it all works right after the break.
Polaroid releases Z340 Instant Digital Camera, Gaga's Grey Label snapper still on the edge of glory
It may not be as flashy as the pop icon's as-of-yet-unreleased Grey Label shooter, but the Polaroid Z340 digital camera certainly bears a striking resemblance. Looking like the GL30 before it puts its face on, the Z340 offers up 14 megapixel stills and comes with a $300 price tag. It can apparently pump out 25 3 x 4-inch prints and 75 digital images on a single charge and uses the company's ZINK Printing Technology for slinging instant memories. It'll also let you crop, pick fancy borders and decide whether to save your favorites to an on-board SD card or print 'em on the spot. The Z340 is now available from Polaroid, Amazon and other select retailers. Full PR after the break.
Instaprint service is the Polaroid of the Instagram generation, no shaking required (video)
Sure Polaroid brought its headline product into 2011 by teaming up with Lady Gaga, but most of us are just fine with using our phones to quickly capture memorable moments. Well, Instaprint aims to recreate the photo craze of yesteryear by tying it in to Instagram -- the wildly popular (and currently iOS-only) app that lets you apply various filters to your photos for quick sharing among friends. The Instaprinter (our term, not the company's) is essentially a modified Zink photo printer with internet connectivity and tie-ins to the Instagram API, that automatically prints items tagged with any hashtag you choose. As of now, the company is planning to rent Instaprint boxes and demo the service at SXSWi, targeting it as a novel way to capture all angles of whatever event you may be hosting -- which to us seems like a fun idea. That is, until someone starts abusing the system and tags a photo of their derriere with #GrandmasBirthday. You can try it out now by tagging your shots with #Instaprint, and see it printed live in the stream embedded after the break.
Polaroid PoGo instant digicam on sale next week, toilet graffiti will never be the same
We still don't have the European or US release dates for the Polaroid Pogo instant digicam but they can't be far behind the February 26th date just announced for Japan. Looks like we might see a price cut too, given the ¥10,000 (about $110) price in Japan compared to the $199 price announced at CES. Of course, you still have to shell out for the ZINK instant photo paper 10-packs scheduled to run for $4.99, or $12.99 for the 30-pack variety. As a camera, it's not much with its 5 megapixel sensor, SDHC storage, weak-sauce LCD, and 0x optical zoom as we discovered during our hands-on. What it lacks in specs, though, is made up for by its novelty. 2-inch by 3-inch photo stickers in 60 seconds? Urban ego tagging just got a brand new playbook. Also announced is a bevy of forgettable budget shooters, including the 12 megapixel t1235, 12 megapixel i1237 with touchscreen LCD, and 9 megapixel a930. Lady GaGa must be so proud.
Polaroid announces new OneStep film and instant digital cameras, some branded LCD TVs
Knowing the drive and tenacity of Lady Gaga, we expect that any day now we'll she'll be the president of PLR IP Holdings within the week. Until that fateful day when Polaroid becomes the Haus of Gaga, it looks like the company will be keeping busy by continuing to slap its name on consumer electronics. Probably the coolest of the lot is the PIC 1000, the future-retro Polaroid OneStep film camera developed in part at the urging of The Impossible Project. Just like its namesake, this guy uses Polaroid Color 600 Instant Film. This bad boy will be available at national retailers in 2010. If digital instant shooters are more your speed, The company's newest Zink-enabled camera, the obviously named Instant Digital Camera, boasts 12 megapixels and 3 x 4-inch prints. And rounding things out, the company has a slapped its name to a handful of LCD TVs from 42 to 65 inches in size. You're psyched, right? Hit the PR after the break for all the shocking details.
Pandigital crams Zink technology within Portable Photo Printer
It has been a hot minute since we've seen anything fresh from Pandigital, but evidently the outfit has been spending the past few months with none other than Zink. The two are linking hands today to announce the Portable Photo Printer, which is said to be the first-ever 4- x 6-inch Zero Ink printer. As with other Zink gear, this one also requires no ink cartridges or ribbons, and no PC is needed in order to load and print shots. Detailed specifications are still missing, but we are told that a preview LCD, memory card slot, USB port and a touch-based UI for printing are included. The MSRP for the printer is pegged at $149.99 (with paper at $39.99), and it should start leaking out to limited markets as early as today.
Polaroid's One Step film camera relaunching in 2010, nostalgists unite to celebrate
Call us crazy, but we never had much faith in the power of The Impossible Project to bring back the legendary Polaroid instant-print film camera. Despite our doubts (and those of the world), that very group has evidently caused quite a stir in the offices of Summit Global, which has today announced that the film-based One Step Camera is on track for a mid-2010 release. The Impossible Project will be in charge of producing a limited number of Polaroid-branded color and B&W Instant Films along the way, and just in case film isn't really your bag, Summit is planning to issue a Polaroid TWO -- described as the "digital version of the traditional camera that produces instant digital photos" -- sometime next year. It's all about bringing sexy back, y'all.Read - Summit Global's releaseRead - The Impossible Project's release
TUAW review and giveaway: Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer
This review has an interesting history. Back at the end of January, Polaroid sent a note to TUAW requesting that we ask our readers to join in asking Apple to support Bluetooth printing from the iPhone. Polaroid had a very good reason for doing this, since the iPhone is a phenomenally successful smartphone. Those millions of iPhone users would make a very good market for Polaroid's new PoGo Instant Mobile Printer, a tiny pocket-sized photo printer that prints out 2" x 3" borderless prints. I asked Polaroid if we could test a PoGo for our readers who don't own iPhones, and also to see how it works with the Mac. The results of our tests follow, along with details of a giveaway where two lucky TUAW readers can win a PoGo and a 30-pack of the special paper that it uses.
Dell's Wasabi PZ310 ZINK printer now available for $99
Not like Dell itself didn't already confirm this puppy, but the first Dell-branded, ZINK-enabled product is officially official. The Wasabi PZ310 ultra-mobile printer promises to produce 2- x 3-inch prints in under a minute, and users with Bluetooth-enabled handsets can send over images for printing with just a few button mashes. The sub-7 ounce device measures in at 4.8- x 2.8- x 0.9-inches, and it'll be made available in black, pink and blue hues. The middling minutiae is all posted up after the break, and those eager to get their paws on one will certainly appreciate the immediate availability and the $99 promotional price. Better hurry -- only Round Rock knows when it'll jump back up to the standard $149.
Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera hands-on
Polaroid's PoGo Instant Digital Camera isn't for the hardcore geeks -- it's stuck with a 5 megapixel sensor, no optical zoom whatsoever and an LCD monitor that was fanciful in 1998. What it can do, however, is churn out photo stickers in around 60 seconds after a photo is taken without the need for an external printer. Have a look at the March-bound unit below, and look, your kids will love it. Promise.%Gallery-41409%
Dell (finally) confirms its portable Wasabi Zink printer
Details are frustratingly absent, but Dell just came clean on that portable Zink printer of theirs, the Wasabi, that we saw run by the FCC in September. Luckily, all these Zink printers are pretty much the same -- meaning specialized 2 x 3-inch paper for ink-free printing, and a pretty stonking tiny form factor. Like most of the rest of the products introduced at Dell's ridiculously uninformative press event today, there's no word on price or release date.
Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera debuts at CES
We heard that Polaroid would be punching out a PoGo-infused camera in 2009, and it only took 'em eight days into the new year to do just that. Today at CES, the $199 PoGo Instant Digital Camera is making its grand entrance, utilizing the tried-and-true ZINK printing technology. Sadly (and we do mean sadly), there's not even a mention of how many megapixels this thing boasts, which is a pretty telling sign that you won't be getting SD850IS-type quality out of it. Nevertheless, it'll print out ink-free 2- x 3-inch images right from itself, so maybe the quality isn't that big of a deal after all. Or maybe we're just sympathetic.
Takara Tomy Xiao printer-camera excretes prints
We never knew that cameras could be constipated, nor that excrement could be framed, but apparently Takara Tomy knows better than us.
Tomy's printer-equipped Xiao digital camera hits Japan
We already caught a brief glimpse of Tomy's Zink printer-equipped Xiao digital camera earlier this month, but with the Friday release date now upon us, we finally have a few more details about the would-be Polaroid successor. That includes word of a price for both the camera (¥34,800, or just under $370), and the paper you'll need to actually print photos which, at ¥880 (or about $9) for 20 sheets, likely won't have you plastering your walls with the 2x3-inch shots, even though they do actually have adhesive backs. Interestingly, you can also use the camera to print photos from any IrDA-equipped cellphone, but unfortunately not via WiFi or Bluetooth, which would be a tad more welcome. If that's got you intrigued, you should have a slightly easier time picking one up when it launches internationally next spring, although by then it'll likely also be competing with Polaroid's own Zink-equipped camera.
Tomy xiao digital camera has built in Zink printer, the spirit of Polaroids
Like just about everyone else, we miss the Polaroid film format; maybe it's just nostalgia, but we enjoyed having something we could hold on to (and shake) after taking a picture. Polaroids may be dead, but the basic concept lives on -- remember Zink, that company whose technology prints digital photos on the spot without ink? It's joined forces with toy-maker Tomy to make the xiao TIP-521, a digital camera with a printer built in. The xiao has a modest five megapixel resolution, so we might wait and see how Polaroid's own Zink camera turns out, but in either case we're stoked the tactile experience is back.[Via Market Watch]
