GreenPrint World is a free Windows utility that helps eliminate wasted pages while printing. Installation takes some time since it requires Visual C++ 2005, which is included if necessary. GreenPrint will also put four new programs into your Windows start-up menu, add a browser helper object for Internet Explorer, and add three printers (GreenPrint PDF, GreenPrint MailPDF, and GreenPrint). During installation, GreenPrint will ask you to select a default printer, but the printer can be easily changed later from the GreenPrint interface.
After installation, you can print from any application to GreenPrint, which will automatically remove pages from your printout based on rules like "completely blank pages," "pages with an image only," or "Pages 95 percent blank with less than five lines of text," and then pass along your document to your printer with the unnecessary pages removed. Double-clicking on any page removes it from the print job; double-clicking adds the page back.
The app keeps a running tally of ink and paper saved and greenhouse gas emissions reduced through regular use. It also lets you create PDF files or e-mail PDFs directly with the printer's GreenPrint PDF and GreenPrint MailPDF, respectively.
GreenPrint World is a bit buggy when printing from Excel, but no other major bugs reared their heads. The latest version adds recommendations for buying green products in nine categories, such as paper, ink, software, and technology recycling.
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Have you ever been on the road for work and gone through the hassle of trying to use a local printer? Don't worry, you're not alone. When traveling on business, people often need a printout for the latest version of a project to have in the big meeting. The last thing we want to go through with 10 minutes until showtime is the struggle of installing new drivers, trying to locate a usable printer, and everything else associated with getting a hard copy of our work.
Fortunately Xerox came out with a universal access printer driver which solves the problem with no fuss. The Xerox Mobile Express Driver lets you automatically detect all available printers in your vicinity--even non-Xerox printers--and quickly downloads and installs the appropriate drivers so you can start printing immediately. Even better, the driver automatically detects unique options for newly installed printers which means you can use the fancy double-sided printing or color printing options if the printer offers them.
Quickly auto-detect all printers in your area
(Credit: CNET Networks)If you have an area which you visit regularly on business, the Xerox Mobile Express driver lets you create and save "Locations" so it automatically lists printers you've detected in the past. This makes it easy to choose the most recently used printer in that location so you can get the job done even faster.
To make the deal even sweeter, this newly released driver is absolutely free, so you'll never have to worry about printing away from the office again. Frankly, anyone who spends a lot of time on the road for work will appreciate this simple download to take the headache out of printing in remote locations.
PrimoPDF converts just about any file type to a PDF, using the source program the file was created with and its print command. Two new changes make the program easier to use and more useful. The interface redesign is definitely easier to navigate, and users can now choose to e-mail the PDF instantly after its creation.
The conversion process from whatever document is on your screen to PDF is quick and efficient. Other features include secure formatting that allows the user to wrap the PDF in 40-bit or 128-bit encryption, PDF merging, and password protection. The user also can restrict editing of the new PDF, preventing comments and other changes from being made.
Primo's size is surprisingly large for such an unobtrusive app, and it's absolutely necessary to launch the read-me file at the end of installation, since the application loads no icons and leaves no other visible traces on your machine, except in the Start menu's All Programs. Other than that, it's a brilliant way to easily create the professional document you need.
How green are your printing habits?
(Credit: GreenPrint)A free flavor of GreenPrint software that enables people to waste less paper when printing became available Monday.
The new application, GreenPrint World, detects and highlights unwanted content, such as banner ads on a Web page, that tends to spill over onto extra pages. It also lets users delete images from the printed page and quickly create print-friendly PDF documents. The GreenPrint interface appears when users print from any program.
The software displays the amount of paper, money, and greenhouse gases users could be saving. GreenPrint estimates that regular usage may save up to $90 each year, the equivalent of more than 1,400 pages. GreenPrint aspires for widespread adoption of its product to spare 100 million trees from being chopped down and 300 million tons of greenhouse gases from polluting the atmosphere.
Only the paid Home Premium and Enterprise versions of GreenPrint offer faster-loading, ad-free print previews as well as tech support via e-mail and telephone. At this point the app is only available for Windows computers.
GreenPrint also sells the first "green" font, called EverGreen, for $10. It's supposed to take up one-fifth less white space than Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman. The company aims to design more fonts.
In November, GreenPrint partnered with Xerox 8560 and 8860 business laser printers. Xerox claims that its solid ink printers create 90 percent less waste than rival laser printers.
Canon, meanwhile, is aiming to outdo competitors by tacking a green label on the packages of its new printers.
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