PGI-525 and CLI-526

[The Hat]

stratman

The standard chip only had instructions on full, half full, low, and then empty but an electric impulse could reset (Resetter) it back to full again, not so the new chips.
I believe they are solely software based and communicate that information to the printer.
This software I refer to is the print driver that you have to install on to your hard drive for the computer to communicate with that particular printer, without it that printer wont work.
This print driver can now get far more information from those new printers.
Its only the newer printers and chips that have chanced and in connection with the print driver can now transfer that information to Canon via their website.
This is nothing new with Canon printers, I have noticed that when I have in the past installed a new Canon printer on my computer that all the other Canon print drivers are in some way updated.

 

[stratman]

I hate software installs that require phoning home, like Microsoft. I understand it is a piracy issue, but CANON???

One workaround might be to install without your internet connection active and then block all out-going calls via your firewall. Then nothing goes back to mommy Canon. Another would be software that would intercept and/or imitate the Canon software. This then gets into the realm of patents and rights of Canon.

Concerning installation of updated drivers, if there is more than one software available for installation on the CD or the executable file, if you don't select "Custom Install", or if that isn't offered. then all software on your harddrive that is covered by the new installation software will be "updated". I put quotes around "update" because some inelegant software install routines do not check and alert you to over-writing newer software currently on your harddrive.

Regardless, your info is troubling if this is the direction Canon is taking.

 

[websnail]

I'm thinking references to articles and/or other data indicating this new data. As yet I've seen nothing beyond the opaque cartridge and a new chip... Nothing on tell tales or similar..

 

[The Hat]

stratman
This problems would only occur if you wanted service or with warranties issues, and some software packages that are only available to guanine Canon ink users like:-
CREATIVE PARK PREMIUM + Full HD Movie Print
The printers that use this new technology are
MG5140 MG5150 MG5240 MG5250 MG6140 MG6150 MG8140 MG8150 iP4840 iP4850 iP4820, so older printers are not affected by this change.
I bet that all the printer manufacturers bookmark this forum and check it out each day to see whats new and how to beat us;
it is the most informative site on the internet fot refillers..

 

[valentt]

If you dont use Canon cartridges the print driver on your computer can detect this and will bar you
from certain areas on the Canon website

I call BS on this, what is the point of this, and this can't be done! Only IF all of your internet trafic would go through your printer and then out on the internet this could be possible. I use Linux and on Linux Canon drivers are nothing more than xml file that is a profile for CUPS on Linux.

That means that beside installing printer driver Canon also would need to install some trojan software on your Windows or MAC?!? They would get so much bad press if they do that... That is why I call BS on that claim.

If you have some proof please give it. "Put up or shut up" it proper saying here, right?

 

[websnail]

Done a little digging and it seems there is something going on with access to this new website. I'm guessing it involves an ActiveX plugin that you have to validate to install and it then communicates with the driver. Not a trojan and unlikely to be done without full explanation in the T&C (long, boring too no doubt)

As to the role of the chips, nothing else I can find beyond "it's new and different".

That info is partly suposition based on the product info' on the Canon Uk website for the iP4850

 

[valentt]

If it's ActiveX control they you should be safe with Firefox or Chrome browser, or even better running Linux instead of Windows. Right?

 

[The Hat]

valentt If you have some proof please give it. "Put up or shut up" it proper saying here, right?

If I freely give advice I dont expect to get that sort of language thrown at me.
Now when you get down of your high horse, you can check it out for yourself.
There is no need for insults to make your point; of course BS just might mean Brilliant Suggestion..

 

[websnail]

If it's ActiveX control they you should be safe with Firefox or Chrome browser, or even better running Linux instead of Windows. Right?

Bearing in mind I've not actually installed my Canon iP4850 yet so it is still guesswork at this point, but the minimum requirement specification is for IE7 or higher for "some features".

The bit about access to the special images, etc... website is rather tucked away in amongst the blurb so I imagine this is one of those "suck it and see" tests that Canon are trying out to see if it will make any difference.

My thoughts on the limitations of features, etc... are that if Canon go the route of stopping "normal" features working like duplex printing or anything that isn't directly related to ink monitoring, then they'd attract a hornets nest of criticism and their history is of quiet, reasonable (and I've qualified this in the past) limitation of liability**, rather than outright head on attack. I don't see that changing anytime soon, although the increased hurdles for refilling are an interesting twist but hardly surprising.


**I see ink monitoring disabling as being "Reasonable" purely from the point of view that if they didn't, some idiot n00b could claim that their printhead was burned out after they put a 3rd party cartridge in, the ink monitoring indicated there was ink but the 3rd party cartridge sprung a leak, lost its contents and dry fed the nozzles so they fried... QED it's Canons fault for not picking it up. Erm.. no... Canon can only take responsibility for their cartridges in their printers.

Of course the flip side is that "we" (sensible, thrifty, down-right intelligent, etc..) folks know how to refill properly, wouldn't touch a 3rd party cartridge and accept that if we screwed up, then we screwed up, so ink monitoring makes our job/use easier and we'd like it if they just allowed us to accept responsibility for hiccups and still have ink monitoring with caveats/warnings please.



BUT... that's a whole other chestnut... So to return to the topic in hand..

1. Let's drop the abusive name calling please... It's not helpful and it stops interesting theorising that may hold an interesting grain of truth.

2. Let's also wait to see what happens when someone actually installs the printer on a test machine (that might be my wife with her new Windows 7 box or my XP laptop). It may prove or disprove the ideas put forward and provide a sounder basis for speculation.


Here endeth my role as United Nations peacekeeper and general all round know it all... If I haven't offended you then please let me know and I'll try harder next time to make sure offense is evenly distributed in a fair and impartial manner...

Thank-you and good-night...

 

[troybac]

I refilled all the cartridges of my Pixma MG 8150 (PGI-525 and CLI-526 cartridges). The German method works fine, no problem at all. I refill before the inklevel indicates "nearly empty", so I can avoid to bypass the ink-monitoring and warranty problems. Since a chipresetter is announced for april/may, I will continue to fill before they are empty.
Since the spongeless area contains only +/- 5 ml, weighing is rather difficult.
I drilled a hole of 1 mm only. Introducing the needle right in the middle and straight away, I had no problem to reach the spongeless area.
Then I put the cartridge in a vertical position (needle up and a syringe with 5 ml ink on it).
In the bottom of the cartridge there is a little window for the printer's inkmonitor. Putting a light source (I used an little LED torch) on the top makes the ink level visible in the window when the cartridge is nearly full. So you can fill until the inklevel reaches the top of the window which is +/- 2mm from the separation of the spongeless compartment. Do not overfill! Ink will drop from the ink outlet or air inlet. Then the cartridges have to rest a few minutes to be sure they aren't overfilled and to let the sponge absorb some ink; then you can fill again a few ml till inklevel reaches the top of the window again.
I used Image specialists ink from Octoinkjet. Since the cartridges weren't empty, new ink is mixed with OEM ink.
So when the chip resetter will be available, the problem of ink monitoring is solved and refilling original PGI-525 and CLI-526 cartridges with the German method continues to be a piece of cake