Technabob » zink http://technabob.com/blog Cool Gadgets, Gizmos, Games and Weird Science Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:30:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Polaroid Pogo: Instant Cameras Are Back! http://technabob.com/blog/2009/05/27/polaroid-pogo-instant-cameras-are-back/ http://technabob.com/blog/2009/05/27/polaroid-pogo-instant-cameras-are-back/#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 11:45:04 +0000 Lambert Varias http://technabob.com/blog/?p=13737 If you know what to do when Andre3000 tells you to shake it like a Polaroid picture, then you’re probably well acquainted with the anachronistic instant cameras from as early as the late 40′s. For the younger folks out there, instant cameras have built-in printers and use self-developing films, allowing users to print their pictures seconds after each shot. Polaroid doesn’t make film cameras anymore, but they’ve embraced other modern technologies as well to come up with the Polaroid PoGo, a digital instant camera.

polaroid pogo 1

The old instant cameras could print pics on the spot, but you had no way of viewing or editing the pictures prior to printing, an option that’s all too common nowadays in digital cameras. The PoGo combines the best of both worlds, which means you can shoot, preview, re-shoot if needed, edit and then print all from the same device.The PoGo can print up to 15 pictures on a fully charged battery, but you can also transfer your shots to a computer via USB so you can view or print on your PC later.

polaroid pogo 2

As you can see, the 5.0 megapixel PoGo is equipped with a 3.0″ LCD screen, where you can preview your photo and edit them if you wish. You can crop, remove red-eye, add borders and even print dates on your photos before you print them. It takes 40 seconds for a picture to be printed on the PoGo – not much different than waiting for a classic Polaroid to develop.

polaroid pogo 3

The PoGo prints pictures on a 2″x3″ heat-activated photo paper called Zink (short for Zero Ink). Zink paper is “smudge-proof, water-resistant, fade-resistant and tear-proof” and environment-friendly as well. The PoGo is available at Amazon for $199.95 (USD). Extra sheets of Zink paper are also $12.99 for a pack of 30.

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2009/05/27/polaroid-pogo-instant-cameras-are-back/feed/ 1 Zink: Color Printing Without Ink http://technabob.com/blog/2007/01/30/zink-color-printing-without-ink/ http://technabob.com/blog/2007/01/30/zink-color-printing-without-ink/#comments Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:38:56 +0000 Technabob http://technabob.com/blog/2007/01/30/zink-color-printing-without-ink/ While most conventional printers use ink, toner or wax to print, these new portable printers from Zink will print full color images without applying any substance to the surface of the paper.

zink portable printer

Instead of ink or toner, Zink’s compact printers will use a special paper, embedded with color dye crystals that are activated when heat is applied. Thanks to the simplicity of their design, Zink hopes to embed their printers directly into digital cameras, cell phones and media players in the future.

UPDATE: I’ve posted a video below (via Gizmodo) which shows a Zink printer in action…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The portable printer features Bluetooth connectivity and produces 2×3 waterproof prints in about a minute each. Word on the street is that the printer will cost about $99, with the special paper running about 20 cents per print.

[via Ministry of Tech]

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