Tag

Printers

All articles tagged with #printers

technology1 year ago

"Warning: macOS Sonoma 14.4 Update Causing Compatibility Issues with USB Hubs, Printers, Java, and More"

Apple's macOS 14.4 update has caused compatibility issues with external accessories like USB hubs and printers, as well as software such as Java. Some problems appear to be specific to Apple Silicon Macs, with reports of malfunctioning USB hubs and broken printer drivers. The update may have introduced changes related to USB security prompts, leading to issues with legitimate accessories and software. Apple is reportedly working on fixes for these issues, and users are advised to wait for updates before installing macOS 14.4.

technology2 years ago

HP CEO Reveals Reason for Bricking Third-Party Ink Printers

HP CEO Enrique Lores defended the company's practice of bricking printers using third-party ink, citing potential security risks from embedded viruses in third-party ink cartridges. HP-backed research claimed that ink cartridge microcontroller chips could be used as an entryway for attacks, leading to the implementation of Dynamic Security. However, cybersecurity professionals are skeptical of the threat and believe there are more pressing security concerns. HP's tactics seem aimed at driving recurring revenue through ink subscriptions, despite facing lawsuits over blocking third-party ink functionality. The company's approach raises questions about customer choice and the vendor-customer relationship.

technology2 years ago

"HP Faces Another Lawsuit for Blocking Third-Party Ink"

HP is facing another lawsuit over its printer practices, specifically regarding its use of hardware DRM to block third-party ink cartridges. The lawsuit alleges that HP released a firmware update causing printers to stop working after a price hike on its own ink cartridges. This comes after the company has settled similar cases in the past, yet continues the practice. The article criticizes HP's subscription service, Instant Ink, and questions why the company insists on forcing its printers to only work with its proprietary-chipped cartridges.

technology2 years ago

HP's Ad Campaign: Turning Printer Hate into Print Solutions

HP has launched a marketing campaign in Europe with the tagline "Made to be less hated," aiming to present itself as empathetic towards people's frustration with printers. However, the campaign fails to address HP's controversial practices, such as bricking third-party ink cartridges and implementing region locks. HP's focus on maintaining the status quo and trapping customers into using only HP-branded ink and toner is highlighted, despite customer complaints and lawsuits. The company's CFO proudly spoke about the value of constraining customer choice and increasing print margins.

technology2 years ago

Windows Update Bug Causes Printer Identity Crisis, Renaming All Devices as HP LaserJet

Microsoft is investigating an issue in Windows 10 and Windows 11 where printers are being randomly renamed to HP LaserJet models, regardless of their actual manufacturer. The problem affects devices running the 22H2 update and is accompanied by the automatic installation of the HP Smart app. IT admins who have blocked the Microsoft Store are not experiencing this issue. Microsoft states that the problem is not caused by an HP update and is actively working on a solution. This is not the first time Windows has encountered printer-related issues, with previous incidents causing blue screens and rendering printers inoperable.

technology2 years ago

Windows Update Bug Renames Printers to HP LaserJet and Installs HP Smart App, Confirms Microsoft

Microsoft has confirmed a software issue that is automatically installing the HP Smart App and renaming printers without user consent. The problem affects Windows 11 and various versions of Windows 10, including Windows Server. Even printers from other manufacturers are being renamed as "HP LaserJet M101-M106." Microsoft is currently investigating the issue and working on a solution. Devices without access to the Microsoft Store should not be affected.

technology2 years ago

Windows 11 Update Renames Printers to HP LaserJet Without Permission, Confirms Microsoft

Microsoft has confirmed that the HP Smart app is being installed on some Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs without permission, and printers are being renamed as HP printers regardless of their actual manufacturer. While printing functionality is not affected, Microsoft is investigating the issue and will provide a fix when available. The bug only affects PCs with access to the Microsoft Store, and professional users may be less impacted as many organizations disable access to the store.

technology2 years ago

Windows Update Glitch Renames Printers to HP M101-M106

A recent Windows 10 and 11 update is causing printers to be renamed to "HP LaserJet M101-M106" regardless of their actual brand. This bug appeared after HP pushed its latest metadata to Windows Update, causing other printers to be mislabeled as HP LaserJet printers. As a result, the HP Smart App has been installed on users' PCs without their consent. Microsoft has removed the faulty metadata from Windows Update, allowing clean installs to restore the original printer names and prevent the HP Smart App from re-downloading.

technology2 years ago

HP Faces Lawsuit Over Disabled Printers, Judge Rules

A federal judge has ruled that HP must face a class action lawsuit filed by plaintiffs who claim that the company's all-in-one printers become inoperable when any of the ink cartridges run dry, including non-printing functions such as scanning and faxing. The lawsuit alleges that HP fails to disclose this limitation in its advertising and marketing materials. This is not the first time HP has faced criticism over its printer practices, as it has previously been accused of rejecting third-party ink. Canon and Epson have also faced similar lawsuits regarding printer functionality when ink levels are low.

technology2 years ago

"Must-Have Tech Gear for a Successful Back-to-School Experience"

Gizmodo has released its Back to School 2023 Guide, highlighting essential tech gear for students. The guide includes recommendations for laptops, such as the Apple MacBook Air and Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, budget phones like the iPhone SE and Samsung Galaxy A14, an E Ink screen for reading textbooks and taking notes with the Amazon Kindle Scribe, a reliable printer like the Brother HL-L2370DW, and a webcam upgrade with the Logitech C920S. Additionally, for budget PC gaming, the Valve Steam Deck is recommended as a portable and affordable option.

technology2 years ago

"Canon Inkjet Printers: Wi-Fi Security Risks and Data Exposure Warning"

Canon has issued a warning that certain inkjet printers retain Wi-Fi connection settings even after being initialized, posing a security risk when disposed of. This vulnerability affects a wide range of printer models, including home and business inkjet series as well as large format printers. The stored information includes network SSID, password, IP address, MAC address, and network profile, potentially granting unauthorized access to private networks. Canon advises users to follow specific steps to reset and clear the data stored on the device before letting it out of their possession.

technology2 years ago

"HP Faces Backlash Over Printer DRM and Ecolabels"

The International Imaging Technology Council (IITC) has called for the General Electronics Council (GEC) to revoke at least 101 HP printer models from the EPEAT registry, which HP has "made a mockery of." The IITC claims that HP's Dynamic Security and HP+ features prevent customers from using third-party ink cartridges, which goes against EPEAT requirements. The IITC previously filed a complaint to the GEC about HP in 2019 for firmware blocking non-HP ink, but there didn't seem to be any noticeable results.

technology2 years ago

HP Printers Suffer from Firmware Update Issues and Security Flaws

HP released a faulty firmware update that has been bricking some OfficeJet printers, causing a blue screen error with the code “83C0000B”. Customers in various countries have been reporting the issue, and HP is recommending affected customers to contact their customer support team for assistance. The issue affects HP OfficeJet Pro 9020e and HP OfficeJet 8010e series printers. This is not the first issue HP has caused for its printer customers, as the company has previously released updates that blocked printers from accepting third-party ink sources.

technology2 years ago

HP Firmware Update Bricks Printers with No Fix in Sight

HP's firmware update released earlier this month has been bricking some customers' OfficeJet printers, with affected users finding a blue screen with error code 83C0000B appearing on their printers' touchscreens. The printers affected by the firmware update include OfficeJet 9020e series models. HP recommends that anyone experiencing the error contact its customer support team via https://support.hp.com.