Posted by Stacie Savage, Inkjet Systems Communications

It’s product launch day again in HP’s Imaging and Printing Group. This one’s pretty special for us because we’re not only launching products, but we’re also launching some of the first elements that fulfill our Print 2.0 vision. What is Print 2.0? In a nutshell, it’s a printing revolution for Web 2.0.

Printing from the web can be unpredictable – cut off edges, extra pages with not much on them, ads, etc. Some web pages such as blogs don’t seem to be printable at all. Savvy users have figured out some cumbersome work-arounds like opening up a blank Word or PowerPoint document and cutting and pasting from the Web so that you can print exactly what you want.

While Web 2.0 enables users to connect with others and use content in more robust ways, printing these applications has been lagging a bit. That’s all changing. Print 2.0 is HP’s initiative to enhance web printing by making it easier and adding new functionality like digital content creation and publishing platforms – for example Snapfish and Logoworks. HP is working with partners like Microsoft and Yahoo! to provide easily accessible, high-value content that users can customize, and we’re making it easier to print this type of content in a variety of formats.

One tool that you can download for free and use today is HP Smart Web Printing. Smart Web Printing optimizes web pages for printing so you don’t get right-side clipping. It also allows you to create “printing pages” where you can capture content from several web pages to create exactly what you want to print.

Right now HP is briefing several hundred retailers and other large customers, partners and press at an event in New York City. By the time the event is over on Wednesday evening, these attendees will have seen many examples of how Print 2.0 is coming to life. In the next day or so, my boss, Jeff Walter, who is attending the event will post more details on the event. (I didn’t go, somebody has to stay in the office and get the work done.)

So let’s talk about products now. We’re launching 10 new printers and a photo book kit. Click here for product details, but here’s a few highlights:

• HP Photosmart C8180 All-in-one (AiO) -- This is our flagship home versatile and photo printer, scanner, copier. It is the first AiO with a 3.5 inch touchscreen display and includes a CD/DVD burner with HP LightScribe technology with lets you etch labels onto discs.
• HP Photosmart C4350 AiO – Print, scan and copy with 1.5 inch display and wireless at $139 (our lowest priced wireless AiO)
• HP Deskjet 6988dt Printing -- Wireless networking plus extra-large 250 sheet paper tray with automatic two-sided printing
• HP Photosmart A826 Home Photo Center – Prints photos up to 5x7 inches and features a large 7-inch color touch screen display for easy editing and personalization of photos.
• HP Photo Books – Create customized, professional-quality memory books at home.

One other launch I want to share is HP’s new Digital Photography Blog. Our bloggers and community of photo enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge, creativity, and passion for photography. Get tips and advice about digital cameras, photo printing, creative photo projects, plus see what's new in digital photo technology and products. Join the discussion at http://expressioncenter.wetpaint.com/page/HP+Digital+Photography+Blog.

More soon on the HP Print 2.0 event.

Opinions expressed here and in any corresponding comments are the personal opinions of the original authors, not of HP and may not have been reviewed in advance by HP.