Print IT Reseller - issue 52

01732 759725 18 INKJET Epson has expanded its range of WorkForce Pro inkjet devices with six new colour and mono models designed for small workgroups. This includes three new A3 colour devices, the WF-C8690 (MFP), WF- C8610 (MFP) and WF-C8190 (printer); and three new A4 mono devices, the WF-M5799DWF (MFP), WF-M5299DW (printer) and WF-M5298DW (printer). All six devices offer the established benefits of Epson’s business inkjet technology i.e. low energy consumption, low environmental impact, low maintenance and economical consumables, all of which contribute to a significantly lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) than comparable laser devices. Epson Europe product manager Umardeep Sappal said: “These laser- beating inkjet printers save money, energy and time, and are packed full of business productivity and document management features. Designed specifically to reduce environmental impact, cut intervention and streamline workflow, cost-saving lies at the heart of what they do. The low intervention and environmental benefits make these devices ideal for specialist verticals too, such as education, healthcare, public HP finds its voice HP has extended voice-activated printing to consumers in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and India, following its launch in the US. A skill for two of the three major smart speaker platforms – Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant (support for Microsoft Cortana is still only available in the US) – will enable users of HP web-enabled printers to connect their devices to the virtual assistant eco-system and initiate printing through spoken commands. Different content is available for printing on each platform, but the sorts of things users can ask HP Printer skills and actions to print include a shopping list, a sheet of graph paper, a Sudoku puzzle, a blank colouring page of a favourite character or a child’s weekly sports diary. For HP, connectivity with smart speakers is just the first step in voice-enabling its devices. In the future, it is likely that voice commands will be integrated directly into its printers, eliminating the need to communicate via an additional device. HP says integration will also voice-enable more tasks, such as connecting a printer to the home network, changing print settings or checking ink levels – all of which could be accomplished with voice commands. HP Accessibility Assistant HP is also using voice technology on its office devices, primarily through the new HP Accessibility Assistant, which provides voice commands and screen reader support for workers with disabilities and age-related limitations. Announced at April’s HP Executive Forum in Las Vegas and due to be included in the latest firmware version of Future Smart 4, the Assistant improves the usability of HP Enterprise-class A3 and A4 devices and supports more conversational interactions. hp.com/go/alexa hp.com/go/hpgooglehome Epson targets small workgroups with new WorkForce Pro business inkjets Economical printing for small workgroups admin and retail, to meet both their print and CSR needs.” The WF-C8000 series has been developed for business customers that have a need for both A4 and A3 output but not in the volumes catered for by Epson’s very high yield Enterprise or RIPS devices. In addition to A4 output in colour and mono at speeds of up to 34 pages per minute (ISO 24ppm), with a First Page Out Time (FPOT) of 5.5 seconds, the WF-C8000 is suitable for the printing of larger A3 documents, such as leaflets, brochure drafts, Excel spreadsheets, construction site plans, worksheets for classrooms, booklets and much more. It has a maximum paper capacity of 1,835 pages and cartridge yields of up to 11,500 pages (mono) and 8,000 pages (colour). For businesses that only require A4 black and white output, the WF-M5000 series is a valuable addition to Epson’s range. Featuring the highest print yield in its segment – 40,000 pages – it is an economical solution for small workgroups with high print volumes. With a cool, non- contact printing process, it also supports a wide range of media. The WF-M5000 series uses at least 90% less energy than comparable laser models, yet still manages to deliver a first page out time of 4.8 seconds. To help businesses make the most of the devices they come with useful tools and software, including Epson Print Admin, Document Capture Pro and Epson Device Admin. Support for the Epson Open Platform lets users add third party solutions such as PaperCut print management software. www.epson.co.uk These laser- beating inkjet printers save money, energy and time