Technology

How to Add Philips Hue Lights to Apple HomeKit – Step-by-Step Guide

Connecting your Philips Hue lights to Apple HomeKit will enable you to control your lights with your iOS device and use Siri so you can be in charge of the smart lighting system hands-free.

Apple HomeKit lets you control your home lighting with a simple iPhone app, and it works with several lighting brands including Philips Hue.

You can create scenes and trigger lights to turn on, dim, or brighten, and they also allow you to control their colors.

You can also set custom timers for the lights, and create rules to automate your settings.

This guide will walk you through the process of adding Philips Hue lights to your Apple Home step-by-step.

What you need to have before starting

Make sure to have all the things listed here before starting to connect the lights to HomeKit, so everything can work seamlessly.

Philips Hue lights

Since all Philips Lights are compatible with Apple HomeKit, you can choose anything. From table lamps like Hue Bloom to big floor lamps like the Signe, every lamp works great with the HomeKit.

Hue Bridge

In order for Philips Hue lights to work with Apple HomeKit, you need to have a Philips Hue bridge that connects to your Wi-Fi network. The bridge will connect to your iOS device, which you will use to control your lights.

iOS device

You’ll need an iPhone, iPad, or other iOS device running the latest iOS version.

HomeKit App

If you don’t have it installed, install the HomeKit App from the App Store on your device.

Adding Philips Hue Lights to Apple HomeKit

Once you have everything covered, you’re ready to start.

  • Open the Philips Hue app.
  • Tap on Settings, then under Smart Integrations, you will see Voice assistants. Choose Siri & Apple Home.
  • Tap on Set up.
  • Select the Home you wish to connect to or tap on Create new home if you don’t have a Home set up.
  • Now press the center button on your Hue Bridge in order to connect.
  • The bottom of the Hue Bridge has a HomeKit code that can be scanned with your iPhone.
  • Upon opening the Home app, your lights will appear in a default room, where you can control them as you wish.

Now you can use voice commands to change the light color, or turn them off or on, just by asking Siri.

By |2023-01-24T14:00:57+01:00January 24th, 2023|How-Tos, Technology|
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The Ultimate List of Best Brands for Thermal Printers

Thermal printers are one of the most popular types of printers for personal and business use, and as the thermal printer market is getting bigger and bigger, and brands stepping up their game with new models and features, choosing which thermal printer to get is a difficult choice.

Therefore, we have put together a list of the best brands for thermal printers so you can get a clearer picture of what the current thermal printer market is all about.

Top-Rated Brands for Thermal Printers

Rollo

Rollo is a relatively new brand compared to the others on this list, but their thermal printers offer great value for money. Super easy to use, excellent print quality and good printing speeds are just some of the reasons why the Rollo Thermal Printer is one of the most popular on the market.

Rollo has two thermal printers in their lineup, a wireless one and a USB one, with the price difference between the two being somewhere around $100. The brand has proven itself as one of the leaders in the market, and customer satisfaction is its main priority.

Munbyn

Also a very young brand, Munbyn focuses on the simplicity of its products, offering a sleek design with the same high-quality thermal printers that you would expect from a much older and prestigious brand.

Their thermal printers are indented for home offices and smaller businesses that don’t chunk out a lot of labels and are equipped with a variety of features including Automatic Label Identification.

Brother

Brother is a brand that needs no special introduction, as they have been of the top-rated brands when it comes to all types of printers for a very long time. As a brand that has been around for more than a century, Brother has left a significant mark on the printing industry and continues to do so.

Their line-up of thermal printers is vast and it ranges from printers for home offices to printers for bigger businesses. While their printers may be on the pricier side, they sure make up for it with their excellent quality.

Zebra

Zebra is a big brand that was founded in 1969 and it produces some of the best thermal printers on the market. Zebra built their first thermal printer back in 1982, so it’s safe to say that they have a lot of experience.

Their output quality is top-of-the-line, and their printers are well-built and have a very user-friendly design. Zebra’s printers range from small ID printers and printers for home office use to bigger industrial printers.

Dymo

Dymo is another brand that has been around for quite a while, having been established in 1958, and is becoming one of the better brands in the world of thermal printers. The DYMO LabelWriter 4XL Thermal Label Printer is considered one of the best on the market, and surely one of the most popular options for small businesses. 

Epson

Epson is a name that has been synonymous with quality since its inception in 1942. Epson printers are known for being reliable, affordable, and having good output quality. Their TM-T20II model is extremely reliable and offers fast printing speed.

By |2023-01-16T11:35:44+01:00January 16th, 2023|Technology|
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Thermal vs. Inkjet Printers – What are the Differences?

As we all know, printers have become extremely useful tools for most of us, not only in office environments but also at home.

From printers that are designed for printing out labels to those that are meant for printing out documents, there are many different types of printers available on the market.

If you’re in the market for a printer for your home office or your small business, it’s important to understand the various different types of printers that exist so you can get the right one for your business needs.

In this article, we are going to explain how inkjet and thermal printers differ from each other and what benefits each offer.

We’ll also give you some information on what factors you should be considering when choosing between the two.

What is Thermal Transfer Printing?

First, let’s take a look at what thermal transfer printing is.

This type of printing works by heating up a special ink ribbon that has been placed inside a cartridge on top of the print head. As the print head heats up, the ink melts onto the paper and forms a permanent image.

The ribbons are made from a variety of materials, mainly wax and ribbon, but you can also see wax/ribbon hybrids.

These types of printers have been around since the 1970s, but have improved drastically in recent decades. Thermal printers also come in a variety of different models, from very basic models to high-end models with more features.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Thermal Printer

Advantages:

1. Printing is Fast

The first advantage of thermal printers is speed, and are usually much faster than inkjet printers because they only need to heat the ribbon and not actually shoot out ink.

2. Prints are Durable

The second advantage of thermal printers is that they print with very long-lasting quality. Unlike inkjet printers, the inks used in thermal printers do not dry out and fade a lot over time, making them extremely durable.

3. Less Maintenance

Thermal printers do not need as much maintenance as inkjet printers because there are no nozzles to clean. And, since they are significantly smaller than inkjet printers, they have fewer parts, so less wear and tear occurs.

4. Versatile

Another advantage of thermal printers is their versatility. While most printers have a specific range of documents that they can print, thermal printers can print out a wide range of shipping labels, barcodes, stickers, documents, and more.

5. Easy to Use

This is one of the major reasons why people prefer thermal printers. They are very easy to operate and you don’t need to know any coding language. Just connect the printer and start printing.

Disadvantages:

1. Cost

Thermal printers are generally more expensive than inkjet printers because they use special parts to produce prints.

2. Fewer Colors

Thermal printers are not as good in terms of color quality as inkjet printers and this is a key reason why thermal printers are not used to print photos.

What is Inkjet Printing?

Now let’s take a look at inkjet printing.

Inkjet printing is one of the most popular methods of printing nowadays. In this printing method, color is transferred from the printhead nozzles to paper or other materials by spraying droplets of ink onto the surface.

The printhead features many nozzles that spray the ink fast and in a controlled manner so you can get high-quality documents and images.

Inkjet printers use cyan, magenta, black, and yellow, and it combines them to create various different colors.

Advantages and Disadvantages of an Inkjet Printer

Advantages:

1. Quality Prints

Inkjet printers produce quality prints and are a great choice for home users who want to print mainly documents, but also photos.

2. They are Mostly Cheap

Unlike thermal printers, there are many inkjet printers that are affordable and that is one of the main reasons as to why they are so popular.

3. Easy to Use

You don’t have to be an expert to use an inkjet printer and anyone can master it within minutes. The setup is easy and that makes them great for first-time users.

Disadvantages:

1. Printed Image Durability

Printed documents and photos made by inkjet printers can get very easily damaged over time. Outside factors can be a real issue for the durability of printed documents, and just a single drop of water may cause the ink to spread over the document.

2. Printer Durability

Well, while there are many inkjet printers that are affordable, and that is great, but, that also has a huge influence on their durability. The usage of cheaper parts means that inkjet printers are prone to wear and tear, and some can even stop working over time.

3. Cheaper Inkjet Printers are Generally Slow

One of the biggest disadvantages of inkjet printers is that they are generally slower than other types of printers, and they usually print out 15 pages per minute.

To get the idea of the print speed, laser jet printers can print out 30 to 40 pages per minute.

When to Use Thermal and When to Use Inkjet Printers

Inkjet and thermal printers are great tools to have in your office or home. There are times when you should choose one over another.

Inkjet printers should be used when printing out documents, contracts, etc. And since thermal printers are bad at printing out photos, inkjet printers have a huge advantage over them in that department.

On the other hand, thermal printers are used for printing shipping labels, barcodes, and invoices, generally for prints that need to be durable. They are mostly used in the transportation industry, pharmaceutical industry, manufacturing industry, and many others.

By |2022-11-07T02:29:05+01:00November 7th, 2022|Technology|
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How Long do Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Bulbs Last?

Philips Hue is a wireless LED light bulb system that gives you the option of using voice commands or simple mobile app controls to change the color, intensity, and brightness of the bulbs.

They present a very cool way to bring ambiance to your living space, but also provide a way to light up your outdoor space. Safe to say, Philips Hue is deservingly the most popular smart lighting system in the world.

But, how long do Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance bulbs last? And how can you keep them running for as long as possible?

The Lifespan of a Philips Hue Bulb

To find out how long Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance bulbs will last, we first need to know how many lumens (lumens are a measure of brightness) each bulb produces.

According to Philips, a white bulb produces 800 lumens and a Color Ambiance bulb produces up to 1100 lumens. The bulbs are designed to work for years without any maintenance.

Philips states that the bulbs can last for 12 to 13 years before replacement, which is very impressive. But, if you use your bulbs less than average, they will last even longer.

Three Generations Lifespan Comparison

Philips Hue has been around for some time, and they have released three generations of smart bulbs. It’s important to know which one you are getting because the lifespan is very different.

1st Gen Bulb

The first generation bulbs were released in 2012, and featured a silver body, compared to the white that is seen on bulbs in newer generations. But, more importantly, it had a lumen output of 600 and a lifespan of 15,000 hours.

2nd Gen Bulb

The second-gen bulbs were released in 2015, and feature a white body, 800 lumens output, and a lifespan of 25,000 hours. They present a big improvement in lumen output, and almost double their lifespan, therefore it’s worth it if you are going to be purchasing the bulbs for a long period of time.

3rd Gen Bulbs

Just a year later, in 2016, Philips upgraded the bulbs so they can be even better and more precise in color reproduction. The dimming is also noticeably better. However, the lumen output and the lifespan stayed the same as the second generation.

How Outside Factors Influence the Longevity of the Philips Hue Bulbs

While not everyone will think of the outside influence on the bulbs when buying them, there are a few factors that affect how long a Philips Hue bulb will last. As much as you may like the fact that you can turn lights on and off using an app on your phone, you’re going to find that the lifespan of the bulbs is going to shorten, especially if you’re not using them as intended.

Environment

The longevity of the Philips Hue bulbs, and any other bulb for that matter, is highly dependent on the environment that they are placed.

For example, if you live in a very humid and warm or a very cold and dry environment, the lifespan of the bulbs is going to decrease over longer periods of time.

Electrical Surge

Another outside factor that can shorten the lifespan of your bulbs is electrical surges and they can not only drastically reduce their longevity, but may also cause terminal damage to the bulbs as well.

Enclosed Area

If you place your Philips Hue bulbs in an enclosed area, and it’s known that the bulbs are generating a certain amount of heat, it’s possible that the temperature within the area could be too hot for the bulbs, thus shortening their lifespan.

Types Of Philips Hue Bulbs

Not all Philips Hue bulbs are built the same, so it’s important to know what kind of bulb you are purchasing so that you don’t end up with an inferior bulb. Philips Hue produces bulbs for indoor and outdoor use, and the main difference between them is that the outside bulbs are IP65 resistant, while indoor bulbs are mostly IP20 resistant.

That means that outdoor bulbs can handle rain, snow, humidity, dust, and other environmental elements, while indoor bulbs cannot.

Philips Hue vs Incandescent Bulbs

Compared to regular incandescent bulbs, Philips Hue bulbs are much more advanced in terms of technology and build quality, therefore they have a much longer lifespan. Since they use light-emitting diodes (LEDs), they do not produce the same amount of heat that incandescent bulbs do, which is one of the main reasons as to why they last longer.

Also, they are also more durable and long-lasting than traditional incandescent bulbs. This is especially true for those who live in areas where there are fluctuations in temperature since the temperature will not affect the bulbs as much as it would the traditional incandescent bulbs.

By |2022-10-26T20:10:28+01:00October 26th, 2022|Technology|
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Philips Hue Hub vs Philips Hue Bridge

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the differences between the Philips Hue Hub and the Philips Hue Bridge. Are you looking to control your lights from a smartphone, tablet, or computer?

Then you might want to consider the Philips Hue smart light system. It’s the best-selling lighting system in the world, and for good reason! The Hue is a simple way to add color and ambiance to any room. This is where the Philips Hue Hub and the Philips Hue Bridge come into play.

What is the Difference Between A Hue Hub and a Hue Bridge?

The Hue Hub and the Hue Bridge are similar devices, but there are some key differences between them. The first difference that you can see is the look of these devices, as the Hub is a round device, while the Bridge is a squared device.

But, there are more differences between the two, so, let’s take a closer look at these differences and how they affect your lighting experience.

Philips Hue Hub

The Philips Hue Hub is a WiFi-enabled hub that connects your Hue lights to your home network. You can use it to control all your Hue lights with your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

It’s the first generation of the Philips Hue system and is a pretty basic and small device that has an on/off button on the front, as well as a reset button. It also features small light indicators that let you know if your Hub is connected to the Internet or not.

This small device lets you change the light colors, dim the lights, etc. You’ll need to download the Philips Hue app in order to connect the Hub with your lights, but this is a very simple process.

However, the 1st gen Hub will no longer receive support and can’t connect your new light to the Hub.

Philips Hue Bridge

Philips Hue Bridge is a newer and upgraded version of the original Hub, and it ensures the smooth integration of your new lights, like the Bloom into the Hue system. Not only that it looks different on the outside, but more importantly, it’s much different on the inside.

That means that the connectivity is much faster and the setup process is even simpler than ever before. The Hue Bridge features a built-in Ethernet port and voice command, which is great for those who wish to control the lights hands-free.

The biggest advantage of this new bridge over the older gen one is the ability to connect 50 Hue lights to it without any issues.

If you own a Philips Hue Bridge and for some reason need to reset it, feel free to see our how-to guide here.

By |2022-10-26T20:18:25+01:00October 17th, 2022|Office Equipment Reviews, Technology|
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HP Printers that Use 564 Ink

HP’s 564 ink is one of the most versatile ink cartridges found in many printers, with most of them being from HP’s Photosmart line of printers. These printers are easy to use, and that is why they are a very popular choice for home offices and small businesses.

What HP Printers Use 564 Ink?

The 564 ink cartridge is compatible with many of the HP Photosmart printers. If you have an HP Photosmart printer, then it is likely that this cartridge will be compatible with your printer. However, there are some OfficeJet and DeskJet models that use 564 ink.

Here is a complete list of the HP printers that use 564 ink:

PhotoSmart Series:

HP Photosmart 5511

HP Photosmart 5512

HP Photosmart 5514

HP Photosmart 5515

HP Photosmart 5520

HP Photosmart 5522

HP Photosmart 5525

HP Photosmart Premium C309a

HP Photosmart Plus B209a

HP Photosmart D5445 Printer

HP Photosmart D5460 Printer

HP Photosmart D7560

HP Photosmart 5510 e-All-in-One Printer

HP Photosmart 5511 e-All-in-One Printer

HP Photosmart 5514 e-All-in-One Printer

HP Photosmart 5520 e-All-in-One Printer

HP Photosmart C6350 All-in-One Printer

HP Photosmart C6340 All-in-One Printer

HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer

HP Photosmart 6510 e-All-in-One Printer

HP Photosmart 6520 e-All-in-One Printer

HP Photosmart 7520

HP Photosmart Premium C310a

HP Photosmart C510a

HP Photosmart Plus B209a

HP Photosmart Plus B210a

HP Photosmart Premium C309n

HP Photosmart Premium C309a

HP Photosmart Premium C309g

HP Photosmart Premium C410a

HP Photosmart B8550

OfficeJet Series:

HP Officejet 4620

HP Officejet 4620e

HP OfficeJet 4622

DeskJet Series:

HP DeskJet 3070a

HP DeskJet 3520

HP DeskJet 3521

HP DeskJet 3522

HP DeskJet 3524

HP DeskJet 3526

Top Rated HP Printers that Use 564 Ink

You will find that these printers offer a wide variety of features and since most of them are all-in-one printers, you also have scanning, copying, and faxing options.

Let’s jump in and see the finest HP printers that use 564 ink.

HP Photosmart 6520

Putting the HP Photosmart 6520 on this list was a no-brainer. This wireless printer gives you the option to print, scan, copy, and fax and it comes in this nice and sleek design. With the Photosmart 6520, you get the duplex printing feature, a huge time saver, but it lacks the automatic document feeder.

On the flip side, this MDF printer is extremely easy to set up, and you will be able to use it just moments from putting it out of the box. With the HP Photosmart 6520, you also get a small touchscreen that allows you to configure various settings.

Printing quality is very good, especially if you are printing text documents. Even printed photos looked very precise, with fine-looking details and colors. Printing speed is also reasonably good compared to other printers in its category.

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HP Officejet 4620

The HP Officejet 4620 is designed as an affordable home printer, but it still has options for scanning, copying, faxing, and it gives you the option for wireless printing. What is interesting with the Office jet 4620 is that it features a 35-sheet automatic document feeder, unlike the more expensive Photosmart 6520 that we’ve mentioned.

However, it misses out on the automatic duplexing, and it doesn’t have an Ethernet connection. You do get Wi-Fi connectivity, and it’s easy to print from any device that you connect to the printer.

The Officejet 4620 is designed primarily for printing documents, with the text coming out looking very sharp. Photo printing, on the other hand, is not as good, but it will be good enough for most people.

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HP Photosmart C410a

HP Photosmart C410a is one great-looking MDF printer, with a combination of matte and glossy finish. It’s averagely sized and has a 125-sheet capacity, which is more than enough for most home offices. This is the first printer on this list that features both duplex printing and the automatic document feeder feature.

For an inkjet printer, the HP Photosmart C410a offers pretty good results. It prints text and graphics with good accuracy and clarity, however, it can improve in some areas. The Photosmart C410a features AirPrint and HP’s own ePrint.

It doesn’t have an Ethernet port, but it does support Wi-Fi connectivity. On the front of the printer you can find a small display, and, unlike many printers nowadays, physical buttons by which you can control the setting.

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HP Photosmart 5520 e-All-in-One Printer

Last but not least, we have the HP Photosmart 5520 e-All-in-One printer. This is a printer that is designed for home use and has a couple of features that will make your printing tasks much easier, like cloud printing, and duplex printing.

This is one pretty compact printer that is easy to set up and use, especially with the addition of a 2.65″ touch screen. This all-in-one printer misses out on the faxing option, but that shouldn’t be a problem for many people. You can still print, scan, and copy with the Photosmart 5520.

The overall printing quality is more than acceptable for most home offices. It has Wi-Fi connectivity, but like most HP printers that use 564 ink, it doesn’t have an Ethernet port. If you’re looking for a simple, easy-to-use printer that can handle most printing needs at home, the HP Photosmart 5520 is an excellent choice.

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By |2022-10-26T23:50:22+01:00July 13th, 2022|Office Equipment Reviews, Technology|
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What are Thermal Printers Used For?

The printing industry has evolved rapidly over the last several decades, seeing many amazing improvements. That has certainly happened in the world of thermal printers, a type of printer that uses heat to transfer ink on a page.

These printers have become much more efficient and advanced in recent years. They print at a much higher speed than they used to do. This has allowed them to print more pages per minute, and they have also become cheaper, making them more accessible to a wider audience.

We’ve explained how thermal printers work, but now it’s time to explain what exactly are thermal printers used for.

What are Thermal Printers Used For?

Types of Thermal Printers

Thermal printers come in two different types: ones that print in monochrome, and the ones that print in color. Thermal printers which print in black and white are much more common and are used in various different industries.

There are also two different printing technologies used in thermal printers: one uses a direct transfer printing technology and the other uses a thermal transfer.

Main Uses for Thermal Printers

Thermal printers are mostly used to print barcodes, receipts, invoices, shipping labels, tickets, business cards, stickers, and more. When you visit a company that makes products or a store that sells goods, you usually find a printer near the receptionist or at the counter. A lot of companies use thermal printers for this purpose.

Thermal printers are compact and able to print different sizes of barcodes, labels, and receipts, and therefore they are a very convenient solution. The fields that mostly use thermal printers are food packaging, apparel manufacturing, pharmaceutical industry, electronics, transportation industry, and so on.

Thermal printers that print in color are used to print logos, images, graphics, and other content. This requires a special paper, vinyl, or film that allows it to be transferred from the thermal printer to the item. The material does not fade or change color, unlike what happens when inkjet printers are used.

By |2022-10-28T04:15:19+01:00July 11th, 2022|Pastime, Technology|
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ZEBRA GX430t Thermal Printer Review – Compact & High-Quality Printer

One of the most recognizable names in the thermal printing world, ZEBRA, has given us a fantastic thermal printer in the GX430t. Coming in a compact package, the GX430x can switch between the direct thermal printing technology and the thermal transfer printing.

While this printer is not the most affordable option on the market, it has a number of features to back up the high price. People use this printer in a ton of industries, and with its 300dpi output quality, you can print out some sharp-looking barcodes and labels.

If all of that sounds good, let’s jump in and review the ZEBRA GX430t.

Price

$549.00

Dimensions

10″ x 7.6″ x 7.5″

Printing Technology

Direct thermal printing and thermal transfer printing

Our Rating

 

 

ZEBRA GX430t Printer

Overview

The ZEBRA GX430t is a thermal printer with outstanding features that make it a great choice for businesses of all sizes. The compact design and lightweight construction are one of this printer’s strongest selling points, and you will be able to easily move it around until you find a a suitable place for it in the office.

However, its price tag is high and might be too much for most people. But, for those who don’t have a problem with its price tag and need a quality thermal printer, the ZEBRA GX430t should be on the top of their lists.

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Performance and Output Quality

With the higher price tag comes the high quality of printing. While most people can settle with 200 dpi, people in some industries need a higher output quality, and the ZEBRA GX430t is there to deliver.

With the 300 x 300 dpi resolution, the text that comes out of the printer is clean and crisp. There are, of course, better quality thermal printers out there, but for this price, the ZEBRA GX430t delivered pretty well.

We mentioned that this printer can use two thermal printing technologies, just don’t forget that in order to print with thermal transfer technology, you will need a ribbon. This technology increases the printing costs but offers a better quality print.

If you are interested in the difference between the two thermal printing technologies or how a thermal printer works, you can check that out here.

We also have to mention the fast printing speeds that the GX430t has. 4in/sec in pretty fast, and with it you will print out a ton of labels in no time.

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Connectivity Options and Setup

The ZEBRA GX430t covers an array of connectivity options, which include the standard USB connectivity, Serial, Parallel, and Ethernet, something we were very pleased to see. To get the most out of the printer, we suggest you connect the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port found on the back of the printer and you will be good to go.

Now let’s move on to the setup. While it takes some time to get it initially set up, the process is not complicated. For Mac and PC users, download and install the newest drivers, connect the printer via USB cable to your device, add the ZEBRA GX430t to the list of printers, and you are ready to print.

Media Size

With the compact size of the printer comes the limitations regarding the largest supported media size. The GX430t supports a maximum width of 4.25″ with the maximum diameter in 5″.

So, those who want to put an 8″ roll in it won’t be able to, but, for most industries, this maximum size is more than enough.

Conclusion

With its high-quality printing and fast printing speeds, this printer is ideal for businesses who need to print labels at low printing costs. While it has its fair share of flaws, like the lack of an LCD, the ZEBRA GX430t provides a lot of value, but it sure will make your office life a lot easier.

By |2023-01-31T19:00:50+01:00May 8th, 2022|Office Equipment Reviews, Technology|
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How Does a Thermal Printer Work? – The Complete Explainer

As you might imagine, thermal printing is a hot topic for tech enthusiasts. But it’s actually used for a lot more than just printing on T-shirts and coffee mugs.

How does a thermal printer work? It’s a significant question when it comes to using any sort of printer. But in the case of a thermal printer, it may seem a bit different. As you’re probably aware, a thermal printer uses a thermally sensitive ribbon or paper, which reacts to heat, to transfer ink to a page.

In this blog post, we’ll take a detailed look at the technology behind thermal printing and some of the many ways it can be used.

How does a thermal printer work

What is a Thermal Printer?

Invented way back in 1965 by Texas Instruments, thermal printers have come a long way. As we have noted, a thermal printer uses a thermal sensitive ribbon or paper, which reacts to heat, to transfer ink to a page. This is the biggest difference when comparing these types of printers to traditional inkjet printing.

This also means that many of the parts of the printer are different, so they require a unique design. Therefore, many people say that a thermal printer looks nothing like a traditional printer.

Now let’s get into more details and learn about the different parts of thermal printers and how they work.

How Does a Thermal Printer Work?

Since it’s a thermal printer, it uses a thermal-sensitive ribbon or paper. When a thermal printer is in operation, it heats the ribbon or paper, which in turn, transfers ink to the page.

The ribbon or paper is a part of the printer that’s responsible for transferring ink to the page. Both are thin, flexible materials that are used to transfer ink to the page.

Heat-sensitive papers are generally used for older printers, while the ribbons are associated with newer and more advanced thermal printers.

Different Types of Thermal Printing

These make up for two different types of thermal printing: direct and transfer printing, which we are about to get into more detail now.

Direct Thermal Printing

The process of direct thermal printing is pretty straightforward and easy to understand.

So the printing process in the thermal printer begins like on any other printer; the first step is to put paper into the paper assembly. When you do that, the thermal printer pulls the paper through the heated printhead to produce the image you wish to print.

Thermal Transfer Printing

Thermal transfer printing is a bit of a different story. As we mentioned, in the process of thermal transfer printing there is no paper, instead, there is a ribbon that is heated.

Next, the ribbon is pulled across the printhead, which transfers the ink to the page. The ribbon is a particularly thin, flexible material that is used to transfer ink to the page. It is coated with a material called wax. The wax is heated by the printhead and transfers the ink to the page.

The thermal transfer printing produces excellent quality prints and the prints that come out are highly durable and resistant.

What are they used for?

Thermal printer printing a receipt

In this day and age, thermal printers are used for a variety of purposes and in many industries, including healthcare, transportation, labeling, and many others.

So, people use them to print photos and images, others use them for labels, barcodes, receipts, stickers, and more.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Now let’s weigh the advantages and disadvantages of thermal printing. These printers produce high-quality prints and are truly silent. This is an enormous advantage over inkjet printers, which can be loud when printing.

However, they are very sensitive and a slight touch can lead them to produce an imperfect print. Along with that, they are not particularly great at printing colored prints, and that is why they are mostly used for printing barcodes and receipts.

By |2022-11-07T02:28:32+01:00May 2nd, 2022|Technology|
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How To Make Copies On A Printer – A 7-Step Guide

Many office spaces and home offices are equipped with highly popular all-in-one printers that have three features: printing, faxing, and copying. Those all-in-one printers are quite in-handy pieces of electronic equipment, and you never know when you’ll need one of those features that they have.

Copying is an extremely convenient process and is very simple to do. We will now explain how to make copies on your printer.

Let’s jump to it.

Step 1

The very first step is to connect the printer to a power source properly and then power up your printer by pushing the power button. You can then either pair it up with a device that you wish to control the copying process from or you don’t wish to connect it to a device, many printers have buttons on them that let you control the copying. So, you should check if your printer has that option.

Step 2

Whichever way you want to copy, the next step is the same. Open the lid on your printer and place the document you wish to copy on it, face-down. Place it precisely in the middle so you don’t get a copy with distorted text. After doing that, close the lid.

Step 3

The next step is to choose wheater you want a black and white copy or you want to copy in color. If your printer has a button for black and white and color copying, you can press one of those, or if you are copying from your smartphone, you can choose from the app, or, if you have a more expensive printer with a touchscreen, you can choose there.

Step 4

Moving on, you can choose to shrink or expand the size of the copy if your printer has that option, which is mostly the case with newer printers. You can do it through an app.

Step 5

If you need more than one copy, now is the time to select the number of copies you wish.

Step 6

Once all of these steps are finished, you are ready to copy. If you are, for example, using an HP app, you will get a notice that the printer is ready. Press the button that indicates the start of copying, which may be different in order of which brand of printers you are using.

Step 7

Once the pages are out of your printer, remove them and turn off the printer if you don’t wish to copy some different documents.

Conclusion

That is the end of this how-to guide, and we hope it helped.

If you don’t have a printer, feel free to check out our list of the best all-in-one printers under $200.

Happy copying!

By |2022-10-27T01:36:26+01:00December 31st, 2021|How-Tos, Technology|
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