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