| If your Bluetooth-enabled camera phone is | | | | more - qualified as true photo quality. There |
| full of snapshots you'd rather see in print, | | | | were some minor flaws on close inspection, |
| a Bluetooth-enabled printer can set them | | | | including a slight loss of detail in bright |
| free. | | | | areas of some photos but certainly not common |
| | | | enough to be offputting. |
| Let's say you're out and about, and you find | | | | |
| yourself in the midst of a scene that you | | | | Cost per print using the HP110 Value Pack |
| just have to capture on (digital) film. Do | | | | (hpq8700a) which includes an HP110 cartridge |
| you stop and dig around in your pocket for | | | | and 120 sheets of 10x15 photo paper is just |
| your camera? Do you even have your camera | | | | over 20 pence which is less than most photo |
| with you? Maybe not. But you do have your | | | | printers. |
| camera phone. So you snap the picture with | | | | |
| your mobile, and there it is. In your phone. | | | | Epson PictureMate 500 Epson is one of the |
| What's the next step? You can beam it to a | | | | main manufactures of photo inkjet printers |
| friend's phone. You can download it to a | | | | and its dedicated, small format PictureMate |
| computer. And now that phone companies and | | | | 500 is interesting because it prints in six |
| printer manufacturers are embracing the world | | | | colours rather than the three colours |
| of Bluetooth, you can make a quick, easy, | | | | provided in the above HP printer. |
| good-looking print. | | | | |
| | | | Whilst the three colour print processes used |
| Although camera companies are quick to | | | | by HP produce high quality photo prints, the |
| espouse the high pixel counts of their latest | | | | extra colours offered by Epson produced |
| offerings, the truth is that you don't really | | | | noticeable improvements, particularly in |
| need a 10-megapixel SLR for quick snapshots, | | | | lighter shades. Here the photo cyan and photo |
| even if you plan to print your pictures. In | | | | magenta inks produce brighter and more |
| fact, you can make a high-quality 4 by 6 | | | | vibrant colours. |
| print with only two megapixels. Two! And now | | | | |
| that phone companies are installing | | | | Cost per print using the T557 picture pack is |
| higher-quality cameras in their products, | | | | also about 20pence per print and all major |
| two-megapixel camera phones aren't that | | | | memory cards are supported along with |
| difficult to find. | | | | PictBridge and of course the optional |
| | | | Bluetooth capability. |
| Printer manufacturers are also aware of the | | | | |
| upswing in camera-phone photography. In | | | | Canon Selphy CP740 is the final printer to |
| response, many have integrated Bluetooth | | | | be considered in this group and if looks |
| technology into their machines. This means | | | | alone were your criteria it would win hands |
| that if your phone supports the Bluetooth | | | | down. |
| Printing Profile (BPP), you can wirelessly | | | | |
| send a photo straight from your phone to your | | | | The CP740 weighs a mere 940g and its |
| printer, and end up with a hard copy to hand | | | | 179x127x63mm dimensions are smaller than a |
| to a friend. (Just keep in mind that BPP | | | | tiny loaf of bread. Its Apple-like creamy |
| support is an important detail-just because | | | | colour is clearly designed to complement your |
| your phone offers Bluetooth doesn't mean it | | | | Mac and iPod and the range of buttons that |
| supports everything Bluetooth can do.) | | | | control mode, layout and the welcome auto Red |
| | | | Eye correction icon are easy to use. |
| Many photo printer manufacturers offer | | | | |
| optional Bluetooth adapters that plug right | | | | Quality of the finished image is impressive, |
| into the USB port on the printer. We examine | | | | although not quite up to the standard of the |
| dedicated photo printers from three of the | | | | Epson. Each print takes four passes to |
| main manufacturers offering this facility and | | | | complete and it's intreaging to watch the |
| determine a best buy for your budget. | | | | sharpness and clarity emerge with the final |
| | | | pass adding a high gloss protective layer. |
| HP Photosmart A717 is the latest compact | | | | |
| photo printer available from HP, it has all | | | | The major downside of this machine is the |
| the usual features common with the photosmart | | | | awkward front photo tray whose fitting can |
| range, has memory card slots for all the | | | | take a while to master, all other features |
| major formats, is PictBridge and iPod | | | | are similar to the other printers reviewed |
| compatible and has an optional Bluetooth | | | | and considering the Canon currently sells for |
| wireless capability. | | | | about £30 less than the opposition, it |
| | | | looks a bit of a bargain. |
| The 2.51in LCD screen is acceptable and the | | | | |
| 4GB internal memory will allow you to store a | | | | So which printer is best for my mobile |
| massive 4000 photos which can be printed out | | | | prints? If out and out photo quality is your |
| in a variety of sizes up to 13x18cm. One | | | | primary concern then the Epson is clearly |
| improved feature over previous models is that | | | | your best option, if however all you want to |
| waterproof output is now a standard with the | | | | do is produce respectable photo prints |
| improved ink and paper used with this | | | | quickly and with minimum fuss then the |
| printer. | | | | bargain priced cute looking Canon is the |
| | | | printer for you. The HP does everything well |
| Output quality, including indoor and outdoor | | | | but ultimately fails to be best at anything. |
| shots, close-ups of faces, landscapes and | | | | |