Miami, Fla. — Echoing themes first aired during her CES keynote, Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina unveiled a slate of new digital entertainment and imaging products intended to further her strategy of moving the company from “products to experiences.”
At a press conference held here Aug. 27, Fiorina officially launched HP’s set of video products in addition to customizable iPod ‘tattoos’, the company’s first branded ink products, new digital cameras, photo printers and scanners, in addition to a strategic relationship with MTV that includes global sponsorship of the Video Music Awards in America, Europe and Asia.
The later is intended to push HP’s products to its target demographic, 12 to 34 year-olds, whom Fiorina described as desiring an “emotional experience” with their entertainment products.
The imaging products will include three new Photosmart Instant Share digital cameras, three new photo printers, two compact 4 by 6-inch photo printers, three all-in-ones, a new scanner and new photo paper and media.
Just over a year after terminating its Phogenix joint venture with Kodak aimed a capturing the retail printing dollar, Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, threw down the gauntlet: “There is no reason for any consumer to go to a retail store to get their pictures; we think everyone is going to print at home.”
To do so, HP touted a 29 cents per-print solution combining new Vivera Inks – its first branded ink – and Premium Plus photo paper. When used in tandem with the new printers and new paper and ink combo offer a 40 percent print speed increase over previous HP models.
The new Photosmart 375 and 325 compact 4 by 6-inch photo printers can be used with an optional HP Internal Battery ($79) providing up to 70 photos per charge. An optional HP bt300 Bluetooth Wireless Printer Adapter ($49) allows users to print photos from a Bluetooth enabled camera phones.
The 375 feature a color LCD for an estimated $199, the 325 loses the LCD for $149.
HP will add the 4.1-megapixel R607 to its existing R-series line in September for a suggested $299. The model incorporates the same proprietary “Real Life” technologies found in the existing R707 such as in-camera red-eye removal, Adaptive Lighting technology, in-camera panoramic preview and Image Advice. The R607 is compatible with the current HP Photosmart R-series camera dock.
A new M-series of cameras will include the 4.1-megapixel M407, available in September, with a 3x optical zoom lens and 1.8-inch LCD for $199 and the 3.2-megapixel M307, available now, with similar specs for $169. The cameras are compatible with the optional M-series camera dock, available this month for $49.
HP’s new printers will ship in September and will include the flagship eight ink Photosmart 8450 for $299 with a 2.5-inch color LCD, network capability and panorama printing.
The company also added two new six ink printers, the 8150, for $199 and 7450 for $99.
HP teamed with Disney to provide HP customers with paper products for creating customized greeting cards, invitations, note-cards or individualized t-shirts with iron-on transfer media.
Via a partnership with AmericanGreetings.com, HP will offer a Holiday Photo Cards CD with more than 100 professionally-designed holiday templates.
