Consolidated Graphics purchases 10 HP Indigo 10000s

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HP Co., Palo Alto, Calif., announced Consolidated Graphics Inc. (CGX) purchased 10 HP Indigo 10000 Digital Presses. CGX will begin installing the presses at locations throughout its 70-company network when the HP Indigo 10000 becomes commercially available in early 2013.

In addition to the 10-press purchase, Nies/Artcraft, a CGX company specializing in targeted direct marketing services, will be a beta user for the HP Indigo 10000, receiving an early production unit later this year. Nies/Artcraft, one of the leading digital printing providers in the CGX network, runs more than a dozen HP Indigo presses in a high-volume direct mail, photo products, packaging and general commercial print production operation that serves many Fortune 500 companies.

CGX primarily will use the presses for direct marketing and other commercial printing work. The HP Indigo 10000 has a size format that makes it suitable for folding carton production, an application several CGX companies also will adopt when they install their new presses in 2013.

 

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Best Buy committee discloses CEO indiscretions, elects new chair

BestBuy

The Board of Directors of Best Buy Co. Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., elected director Hatim Tyabji to succeed Richard Schulze as chairman of the company, effective at the conclusion of the June 21 annual meeting. Tyabji, currently chairman of the Audit Committee, has served as a director since 1998.

When  Schulze steps down as chairman, he will become founder and chairman emeritus, an honorary position. Schulze will serve out the remainder of his term as director through June 2013.

“Hatim’s history of leadership combines technology, retail, financial and mobile experience at the most senior levels,” says Matthew Paull, lead independent director . “He has founded companies, chaired and served on boards and successfully led enterprises through long-term growth and change. The board is grateful for his many years of service and is pleased to expand his role to chairman.”

The board also publicly released the results of an independent investigation into personal conduct allegations involving former CEO Brian Dunn, who resigned in April. When these allegations, which were unrelated to the company’s operations or financial controls, were brought to the board’s attention, the Audit Committee immediately initiated an investigation. Prior to the completion of the investigation, Dunn resigned.

Key findings of the investigation, conducted by outside law firm WilmerHale, include:

· Dunn  violated company policy by engaging in an extremely close personal relationship with a female employee that negatively impacted the work environment.

· The CEO’s relationship with the female employee demonstrated extremely poor judgment and a lack of professionalism, but the inquiry revealed no misuse of company resources. The inquiry also revealed no misuse of aircraft.

· In addition, as part of the investigation, it was determined the chairman of the Board of Directors acted inappropriately when he failed to bring the matter to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors in December 2011, when the allegations were first raised with him.

“In December, when the conduct of our then-CEO was brought to my attention, I confronted him with the allegations (which he denied), told him his conduct was totally unacceptable and contrary to Best Buy’s policies and everything I, and the company, stand for. I understand and accept the findings of the Audit Committee,” says Schulze.

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Dscoop announces 7,000 members worldwide, regional conferences

Dscoop (Digital Solutions Cooperative), an independent global community of graphic arts business owners and technical professionals who use HP equipment and related solutions, like HP Indigo, IHPS and Scitex, announced it has reached 7,000 members worldwide in its seventh year of existence.

Dscoop Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), launched in 2011, has signed 500 members in the past seven months, and Dscoop Asia-Pacific, launched in 2009, has signed up more than 1,000 members.

In 2013, Dscoop will host an annual conference in North America, in Beijing and in the EMEA region with an accompanying global Partner program.

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Memjet litigation resolved, agreement reached

Memjet, San Diego, Calif., announced a key agreement that clears the way for the continued commercialization of Memjet’s color printing technology.

Under the agreement, Memjet will assume direct ownership and control of the intellectual property portfolio related to the Memjet technology, which includes some 4,000 issued and pending global patents. Additionally, Memjet will assume direct control of all research, development and commercialization activities for Memjet technology, including services previously provided to Memjet by Silverbrook Research Pty. Ltd. from its North Ryde, facilities in Sydney, Australia. Kia Silverbrook, a co-founder of Memjet and president of Silverbrook Research, will continue to support Memjet as a special advisor to the Memjet Board of Directors and as an ongoing consultant.

“We’re pleased that this agreement has been reached,” said Len Lauer, president and CEO of Memjet. “With all litigation now resolved between the parties, Memjet is positioned to move forward and focus on bringing its disruptive technology to commercial, industrial and office printing markets worldwide.”

 

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Original Frame Up offering spring discount

Original Frame Up
Original Frame Up

Original Frame Up frames come in 10 colors.

The Original Frame Up, Advance, N.C., has a new spring promotion for its line of mailable photo frames for 4-by-6 photos. U.S.-made textured, archival cover stock from Mohawk Fine Papers, these frames are produced in 10 attractive colors. For a limited time, the framed counter displays, complete with 50 packages, will be sold for $25.

Frames are packaged two of the same color in a clear bag, then are packaged 50 packages per 7-inch-square counter-top display.

For more information, contact Steve Gauthreaux at 336-909-2066.

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Adobe to update Photoshop CS5 security

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Last week many criticized Adobe’s security bulletin that noted critical problems with the CS5 version of Photoshop — and which stated the vulnerabilities were addressed in the new CS6 software only. This week Adobe revised it notice, and will instead patch the previous program as well.

The vulnerabilities “could allow an attacker who successfully exploits these vulnerabilities to take control of the affected system,” Adobe says. “A malicious .TIF file must be opened in Photoshop CS5 and earlier for Windows and Macintosh by the user for an attacker to be able to exploit these vulnerabilities. Adobe is not aware of any attacks exploiting these vulnerabilities against Adobe Photoshop.”

Updates will be noted here.

 

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Canon to automate camera production

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To reduce production costs, Canon says it plans to fully automate its camera production.

Robotic production lines may be operational in three years, and may offset further outsourcing of factory work to countries with lower labor costs such as China.

More on the story is here.

 

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GoPro to sponsor air race champ Kirby Chambliss

Air racer Kirby Chambless is sponsoeed by GoPro

Air racer Kirby Chambless is sponsored by GoPro

Kirby Chambliss, a five-time United States National Aerobatic Champion and two-time Red Bull Air Race World Champion, is pleased to announce today a partnership with GoPro, Half Moon Bay, Calif.

Chambliss and GoPro will debut their alliance at AirVenture 2012.

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PNI Digital Media reports level second-quarter revenues

PNI Digitl Media

PNI Digital Media, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, reported level second-quarter revenue of $5 million. Transactional revenue was $3.6 million, an increase of 6 percent compared to the same quarter. Transactional revenue comprised 73 percent of total revenue for the quarter. The company reported a non-IFRS adjusted EBITDA loss of $39,000, an improvement compared to a loss of $123,000 last year.

The number of processed transactions increased 4 percent to 3.8 million transactions over the PNI Digital Media Platform.

“Our second quarter saw record transactions for our seasonally-weakest quarter,” says Kyle Hall, CEO, PNI Digital Media. “We saw a solid performance in our core photo business while we continued our push into our new business lines.”

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InfoTrends analyzes ILCs, projects growth

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Marker researcher InfoTrends expects interchangeable lens cameras to account for more than 50 percent of total U.S. digital camera market revenue by 2016.

The firm’s latest study will explore “what drives photo activity among owners of DILCs, and which services and products they use and anticipate using in the future.”

More information on the 2012 U.S. Interchangeable Lens Camera Market is here.

http://www.infotrends.com/public/Content/Multiclients/DILC2012.html

 

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