Zink’s inkless Camera-Printer available this year

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Zink Imaging Inc is on schedule to distribute its innovative portable ‘inkless’ integrated Digital Camera-Printer in late 2007 (Zink stand for ‘zero ink’). The company also plans to release a stand alone Mobile Printer at the same time.

You can take a photo with the integrated printer/camera and then immediately print the image. The printer uses paper embedded with crystals which release colour when heated by the printer’s heating elements.

The camera is seven megapixels with flash, 3x optical zoom, two-inch display for viewing and previewing images and SD card memory card slot. The device prints 2” x 3” borderless prints - not huge but big enough for those occasions when you want instant photos.

The Mobile Printer uses the same printing technology as the Camera-Printer. It prints from PictBridge-enabled digital cameras and cell phone cameras with a wireless or USB speculation.

Both the Digital Camera-Printer and the Mobile Printer will be able to run on an integrated rechargeable battery.

There has been speculation that the technology could eventually be integrated into cell phone cameras, but this is a bit further down the line.

The Digital Camera-printer is expected to sell for around $199, with a pack of ten sheets of paper for $1.69.