Printing Off SD Card 2.5x Faster Than Bluetooth on HP Photosmart A626 -- Lyra Touts New Metrics for Compact Photo Printers

Newton, MA (PRWEB) February 19, 2008

Lyra Research, the digital imaging authority, in partnership with CompuMetric Labs, has recently released a new report called Snapshot Photo Printer Performance: New Testing Metrics -- A Hard Copy Observer Perspective. The report reveals the results of new testing metrics used to examine the performance of three different snapshot photo printers: the Canon PIXMA mini320, the Epson PictureMate PM260 and the HP Photosmart A626.

Ann Priede, managing editor of The Hard Copy Observer, states, "In order to gauge the true performance of a compact photo printer, evaluators must measure the performance across all channels -- printing from just a PC, which is the most common method of measuring performance, does not provide an accurate picture." Direct channel printing involves a different image-processing path than PC printing and is based on each printer's own internal processor. Printing time can vary significantly based on the method used to send pictures to the printer.

For instance, when measuring the performance of HP's Photosmart A626, Lyra and CompuMetric Labs discovered that printing from the SD card is 2.5 times faster than printing from a camera using Bluetooth. (We could not modify the paper type setting, which directly influences the print mode. As a result, the HP printer defaults to the highest-quality mode.) In fact, printing via Bluetooth is considerably slower than using any other method of photo printing, including using PictBridge or a PC driver (see figure: http://tinyurl.com/2gu3qe).

About this Report
The report tested photo display and print times from the following:

• photo display and print times from memory cards inserted into the printer,
• print times from a camera over a PictBridge port,
• print times from mobile devices (e.g. cell phone) via a wireless Bluetooth channel and
• print times from a PC.

This 50-plus-page report seeks to redefine the testing metrics used to evaluate snapshot photo printers. It examines the underlying image manipulation technologies and identifies the differences relative to conventional performance measures. The report proposes a new set of performance metrics covering display and printing from multiple, direct-connect input channels.

For more information about the report, available for purchase now ($2,500), click here http://tinyurl.com/2dnbbv or contact Sandy Tobin at 617-454-2612.

Table of Contents
1. Photo Printing Technology and Performance Measures

• 1. Direct Photo-Printing Model versus PC-to-Print Paradigm
• 2. Performance Testing Methodology for Comparing Direct Display and Print versus PC Printing

2. Performance Test Results: Canon PIXMA mini320

• 1. Product Description and Features
• 2. Test Results

3. Performance Test Results: HP Photosmart A626
-1. Product Description and Features
-2. Test Results
4. Performance Test Results: Epson PictureMate PM260
-1. Product Description and Features
-2. Test Results
5. Performance Test Results: Product Comparisons
-1. Display Performance
-2. Single-Copy Memory Card Print Performance
3. Multiple-Copy Memory Card Print Performance
4. Digital Still Camera Printing via PictBridge Performance
5. Mobile Phone Printing via Bluetooth Performance
6. Printing from PC via Driver Performance

Lyra Research: The Digital Imaging Authority
Lyra Research collaborates with imaging industry decision makers worldwide, enabling clients to strengthen their market position and achieve profitable growth. Lyra's expert analysts and editors help clients devise and implement creative solutions to business challenges, arming them with competitive intelligence, strategic and tactical advice, news and analysis, and market forecasts.

Since 1991, Lyra's custom research and consulting, advisory services, award-winning journals, and innovative events have set the standard for analysis of imaging hardware, consumables and digital photography markets.

Visit http://www.lyra.com to learn more about how Lyra can be your strategic business partner.

CompuMetric Labs
CompuMetric Labs, Inc. provides printer technology testing, consulting, and development services. For more information please visit http://www.compumetric.com.

CONTACT:
André Rebelo
Marketing Manager
Lyra Research, Inc.
1-617-454-2658
arebelo (at) lyra (dot) com

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