Printing Industry News Digest No.115, September 29, 2012

Welcome to Printing Industry News Digest (PIND) issue 115, providing a summary of major news items from the printing, publishing, packaging, digital, and communications technology sectors. PIND incorporates brief summaries and links to the week’s key news stories so that you can look up that all important detail, digging deeper behind the headline.

The problems in the newspaper sector were brought into sharp focus this week in the UK with the announcement of contract print company Newsfax being placed into administration. Customers and potential customers swiftly sought alternative print solutions. The news came just days after Johnston Press announced the closure of its Sunderland operation.

Meanwhile, InPublishing examines how some newspapers are seeking profitable solutions for re-purposing content into e-books. Is this a possible way forward? The Express & Star is re-working its web site access to work more effectively across all major platforms: an important move for sure. In the US some 20% of newspapers now have paywalls, we are advised by Mashable.

Eastman Kodak Co is rarely out of the headlines these days, and usually for the wrong reasons. The latest news brings its consumer inkjet printer business into focus: it will extract itself from the hardware side of this market by next year, leading to an additional 200 job loses. Hardware, of course, is highly competitive and margins are thin. The company will continue the sale of ink for its printers, and will also continue to provide its industrial printing equipment.

The former film giant is also seeking to extend its Chapter 11 status. It is currently due to present its plans by October 15. It is seeking to extend this to February 28, 2013. This is not an uncommon occurrence in complex Chapter 11 situations.

Hybrid printing will be one key topic at the forthcoming Print Efficiently event, taking place in Perrivale. A discussion chaired by Gareth Ward, editor of the Print Business magazine, will examine the issues and the technology, while the event will also show how the Kodak and Ryobi hybrid solution can provide for integrated litho and digital productivity.

In tablet talk, Google and Asus are reportedly building an even more cost conscious version of the Nexus 7. The new model, expected to be released before year-end (for the Christmas market?) is expected to retail at $99 (or £61 at current exchange rates).

Also of great interest, the battle of the tablet business models. With five major companies in the war for your tablet buck, what strategies are being employed by these business giants to make some money? First one of a series: Apple.

An interesting feature from the Lifehacker tech blog examines a number of the stock apps from the iPhone, and suggests better alternatives available from non-Apple suppliers.

For all of those still reliant on the PC: forty ways to fix your PC before you call an expert. CNet comes to the rescue with this list of handy hints!

Keep your finger on the pulse: grab an RSS feed of PIND (copy this link into your feed reader); click here for the GenesisNews #Print Daily to get the latest daily stories; or click here for regular Tech & Comms updates in blog or RSS form. You can also connect to a free subscription of the Print Daily for an update on print, publishing, packaging and associated technology delivered straight to your in-box every day!

For details on Genesis Marketing – publishers of PIND – click here.

PIND115    

Missed Issue 114, including digital packaging? Then simply click here!

Issue 113: Alderson Brothers admin
Issue 112: New Amazon Kindle product
Issue 111: More printed electronics



Get your Tech & Comms updates direct from the blog, use the RSS feed, or keep updated via Twitter.

Printing Industry News Digest No.114, September 22, 2012

Welcome to Printing Industry News Digest (PIND) issue 114, providing a summary of major news items from the printing, publishing, packaging, digital, and communications technology sectors. PIND incorporates brief summaries and links to the week’s key news stories so that you can look up that all important detail, digging deeper behind the headline.

Whilst we firmly believe that printed packaging is likely to remain one of the stronger fortresses for traditional print production, it was illuminating to see this last week’s article from Packaging News detailing how Waitrose are to utilise digital production methods for flexible packaging for a number of ready-meal items. Speed to market and reduced costs are cited as potential reasons for this to replace cartonboard: wonder how the green footprint measures up?

Cover art for books is given an interesting focus by the Guardian in an article that suggests that it is going out of fashion. The argument is based on the indisputable fact that the role of the cover is changing: less likely to be blown up into billboard sized posters, and more likely to appear as a miniature icon on a web page.

“Early October,” is as precise as Amazon is prepared to be regarding the release of Kindle products in Japan.

A little mystified regarding what Lifehacker describes as the top 10 secret features of iOS 6. Of the items listed, none appears to be what we would have considered a secret. None of them were able to hold great fascination for us either. Mashable meanwhile gives us both the ten best and eight worse things about iOS 6.

Added to the list should be the non-compatibility of the upgrade to the original iPad. Just over two-years-old and seemingly now out-of-date and unsupported. We have found one nice additional use for our’s however at PIND HQ: iDisplay turns your iPad into a monitor extension for your Mac or PC. The Mac version certainly works just fine and can be a great help.

Just in case you were in any doubt, London agrees that Apple’s new maps are terrible! Apple, meanwhile, dabbles in long-lasting batteries.

In the meantime, whether you are an Apple or Android user, mobile keyboards are becoming ever more usable and more affordable. Do take a look at Jorno – a unique folding Bluetooth keyboard that works with iPhone and iPad, as well as Android devices, such as the Google Nexus. Go mobile and get productive with a pocket sized Jorno keyboard, and get in early as a project backer. Pledge just $79 bucks to help get the project off the ground and you already have bought yourself a $119 keyboard, plus self-esteem oozing from every pore!

What would you use a Raspberry Pi for? Following our occasional visits to the odd-ball cheapo computer package? Here are some suggestions! Also turbo boost the machine for 50% performance improvements.

Perhaps of more significance even that the Raspberry Pi, a new $35 seven-inch slate from Aakash is promising basic internet browsing to India’s masses. Whilst many budget based computing solutions have been touted for the huge Indian market, this one does appear to have strong government support. Be interesting to see how it progresses.

Keep your finger on the pulse: grab an RSS feed of PIND (copy this link into your feed reader); click here for the GenesisNews #Print Daily to get the latest daily stories; or click here for regular Tech & Comms updates in blog or RSS form. You can also connect to a free subscription of the Print Daily for an update on print, publishing, packaging and associated technology delivered straight to your in-box every day! For details on Genesis Marketing – publishers of PIND – click here.

PIND114    

Missed Issue 113, including Alderson Brothers admin? Then simply click here!

Issue 112: New Amazon Kindle product
Issue 111: More printed electronics
Issue 110: Kodak film exit?



Get your Tech & Comms updates direct from the blog, use the RSS feed, or keep updated via Twitter.

Printing Industry News Digest No.113, September 15, 2012

Welcome to Printing Industry News Digest (PIND) issue 113, providing a summary of major news items from the printing, publishing, packaging, digital, and communications technology sectors. PIND incorporates brief summaries and links to the week’s key news stories so that you can look up that all important detail, digging deeper behind the headline.

Following recent news items regarding its web printing business, Friday offered up even worse news for the Alderson Brothers Print Group with all trading divisions being placed into administration, including its digital, sheetfed and post-press operations. A grim day for the brothers, and another major signpost erected for print businesses of all shapes and sizes.

On a more positive note for print, news of the BPIF Excellence Award winners was also announced at the end of the week. Benson Box were acclaimed winners of the Lean Manufacturing award, illustrating that print can still be at the heart of a profitable business.

Further to recent stories in PIND, it has been suggested that Kodak may even scrap its patent auction due to the low bids that have been received to date.

Just in case you spent this last week in another galaxy, Apple launched the iPhone 5. Do you need one? Some are suggesting that this might be the last of the big iPhone “show” launches. Perhaps just as importantly, a new iPhone means a new version of iOS – iOS6 as it happens – and a new version of iTunes.

Of equal importance – and there is an important link – the UK’s first 4G network is expected to be up and running before Christmas. Everything Everywhere (or EE as you may hear it refered to) is a T-Mobile / Orange company that is stealing a march on other industry players, and (hopefully) the combination of this new network and the above iPhone 5 will give the company is right royal lead over other industry players in the festive run-up.

More digital newspapers: the Observer is now available as part of the latest iPad edition of the Guardian app. A glimpse at US newspaper advertising revenues will illustrate the essential need for newspapers to migrate to online editions. It suggest also, however, that this alone will not be a saviour.

The Alphagraphics franchise business has taken a long hard look at itself and the way it does its business. Amazingly the re-modeled business is now leading the way again, whilst moving away from its traditional quick-print and copying business.

A frightening thought: according to Microsoft, malware has been appearing on computers even prior to sale! Factory installed viruses have led to Microsoft lawsuits being issued.

Raspberry Pi as a supercomputer? Yes, you read that right! Raspberry Pi and Lego to be precise . . . !

Nudge, nudge; wink, wink: topless iPad Mini pics chief? Go on, take a look. You know you want to! Prefer more real world? Amazon Fire HD review will do for you then Sir.

Keep your finger on the pulse: grab an RSS feed of PIND (copy this link into your feed reader); click here for the GenesisNews #Print Daily to get the latest daily stories; or click here for regular Tech & Comms updates in blog or RSS form. You can also connect to a free subscription of the Print Daily for an update on print, publishing, packaging and associated technology delivered straight to your in-box every day! For details on Genesis Marketing – publishers of PIND – click here.

PIND113 
  
Missed Issue 112, including the new Kindle’s? Then simply click here!

Issue 111: more printed electronics
Issue 110: Kodak film exit?
Issue 109: Heidelberg IPEX



Get your Tech & Comms updates direct from the blog, use the RSS feed, or keep updated via Twitter.

Printing Industry News Digest No.112, September 8, 2012

Welcome to Printing Industry News Digest (PIND) issue 112, providing a summary of major news items from the printing, publishing, packaging, digital, and communications technology sectors. PIND incorporates brief summaries and links to the week’s key news stories so that you can look up that all important detail, digging deeper behind the headline.

Beginning with a news from the world of print: well actually packaging for a nice change, and with labels especially in focus, LabelExpo Americas will exhibit digital at the crossroads, according to Labels & Labeling Editor Andy Thomas. Trends to look out for are also highlighted by L&L, with the show due to take place this Tuesday and Wednesday.

Chicago is of course also due to host Graph Expo next month, and exhibitors are now beginning to fly their flag and tout their wares ahead of the event. Keep an eye on the show’s digital daily in the run up to the event.

On a less positive print note, it appears that the early excitement at the re-birth of Manroland Sheetfed is one the wane with some 110 jobs to be clipped at the German manufacturer, according to the experts at The Print Business.

In a more positive slant, the printed version of The Print Business offers a feature sized view on the potential for hybrid print solutions: digital combined with offset. An excellent read ahead of the rash of UK Autumn open house events, where you can talk more detail about such exciting possibilities.

As we do appear to have broken out in a rash of print focused topics, those with litho presses seeking that every improved quality of print should be focused on items such as this from the guys at ccDotmeter, which encompasses the quality control specialists at Centurfax. Measurement is the key – as with most things – and this device will measure the finest of dot details: it’s an essential if ISO12647-2 is your next aim.

Tablet talk comes back with a vengance this week: the inexorable rise of tablets continues this week with the release of a host of new Amazon branded solutions, including an even lower priced seven-inch offering, slicing beneath the recently launched Nexus 7 from Google, and even upping the tech specs at the same time!

Kindle e-readers were further enhanced with a “white paper” version as well as an even sharper price-point for the entry-level product.

The Amazon focus is all about content. Hardware specs are very much under-played again in this latest launch. The attitude is very much “buy whichever one suits your need” – just so long as we can tie you in to Amazon content.

Interesting to see what appeared to be a late change of heart re the mandatory ad software: buy your way out for $15 on the Fire HD.

Now all these new specs are going to get us all confused yet again. Check out what is new from Amazon with their product page. The Guardian then very helpfully provides a comparison for you: Kindle Fire v. Nexus 7 v. iPad.

The rise and rise of Android doesn’t stop there either: a company called Ainol is releasing another budget seven-inch running Jelly Bean, and the good folk at Toys-R-Us are entering the fray just in time for the festive period with a child-focused tab for just $150. Where will it all end?!

Windows 8 is coming and HP are not in any moo to let you forget. The company had debuted no less than four all-in-one PC products running the new OS. For those still planning an escape route from the world of Microsoft, Mashable asks “What will it take to get you to not to buy a Mac?”

Keep your finger on the pulse: grab an RSS feed of PIND (copy this link into your feed reader); click here for the GenesisNews #Print Daily to get the latest daily stories; or click here for regular Tech & Comms updates in blog or RSS form. You can also connect to a free subscription of the Print Daily for an update on print, publishing, packaging and associated technology delivered straight to your in-box every day!

For details on Genesis Marketing – publishers of PIND – click here.

PIND112    

Missed Issue 111, including more printed electronics? Then simply click here!

Issue 110: Kodak film exit?
Issue 109: Heidelberg IPEX
Issue 108: Kodak Patents



Get your Tech & Comms updates direct from the blog, use the RSS feed, or keep updated via Twitter.