New Z6100 Firmware released

[jhein]

Just received a notification from the HP Developers Network:

HP would like to announce a new firmware release for HP Designjet Z6100 printers. The main change that may interest you in order to improve your solution is:

 

- Added some new halftone print modes in glossy media types

 

Please read the Release Notes information that you can see when you download the firmware release (see below for instructions on how to download it) for a list of new features and fixed issues.  

HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE NEW FIRMWARE RELEASE GG-7.0.0.3

 

You can download it from:

- HP Designjet Online website (http://www.hp.com/go/designjet - Select the printer, then click "Support & Drivers" and finally click "System Maintenance (Firmware)" )

- The printer Embedded Web Server (http://<printer_ip> - Setup tab, then click Firmware Update on left menu, and finally click the link to Designjet Online on Step 1).

 
 
 I own a Z3100 rather than a Z6100.  The notice does not say when the Z3100 update will be released.

hope this helps
Jim

[hubicka]

From the release notes it looks like it really address the problem of changing cartridges while printing!  Can't wait for z3100 version so I can start playing around with that.

The other mentions of Firmware 7 claimed that there is nothing new in presets, while your mail seems to indicate that B&W gloss printing has new modes. Any idea what was improved?

Honza

[neil snape]

They have noted a summer 08 release of V7 for the Z printers.
Are they being pessimistic this time or will it be released before?
It could be that they will test it more than previous releases which would be a good thing.

[hubicka]

Being software developer myself, I can tell for sure that no software is getting done earlier than night before the deadline   .  So lets hope that HP told to the developers different deadline than what is on the web.  The printers don't seem whole a lot different so I honestly don't see a need for such a long extra testing cycle...

It is good that with z6100 model the end of active development of z3100 firmware is probably quite prolonged.  One can easily think of many improvements here. Given that the machine contains ordinary computer apparently running UNIX based OS, it is amazing how old school the firmware design seems to be.

Honza

[neil snape]

Yes they actually proposed the firmware for the Z 3100 ready with the one released for the 6100. So we can assume it is quite ready, and only needs some fine tuning or testing.