Poster 1.0 for Mac OS X

Reinvented Software introduces Poster 1.0 for Mac OS X. Poster is an application for posting photos and videos. Poster provides a first-class experience for posting photos and videos to Flickr and photos to Facebook. Its sleek design takes advantage of each site's unique features to make posting photos and videos a truly enjoyable experience.

Poster is a Mac OS X application for uploading photos and videos to multiple sites and accounts, sporting a sleek design that not only lets you see your photos properly, but work with them effortlessly too. Supporting Flickr and Facebook at launch, Poster takes a tailored approach that makes the most of each site's unique features.

For Flickr, Poster can post both photos and videos, auto-complete tags, allows you to create and choose sets, submit photos to groups, tag people and moderate your photos all within the app. Its All Items view lets you work with an entire set of photos as easily as just one.

For Facebook, Poster will not only post to your profile, but also any pages that you administer, making Poster ideal for anyone whose business, band or cause takes advantage of Facebook's massive user community.

Poster works with the photo editing and management applications you use and can even perform some tricks of its own, such as rotating and resizing photos before uploading. As a convenience, plug-ins are provided for iPhoto and Aperture to launch Poster with the exported files.

The best part of Poster is that it is a pleasure to use. Packed with thoughtful touches, its understated design and tasteful animations are both intuitive and easy on the eye and its support for multitouch gestures and full keyboard navigation help make posting your photos and videos as enjoyable an experience as taking them.

Pricing and Availability:
Poster 1.0 requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later, and is available as a 15-day trial that can be unlocked upon purchase. A full license of Poster 1.0 costs $19.95 (USD).

To download go here

LaCie Introduces Slim Blu-ray Optical Drive

LaCie have introduced a new Slim Blu-ray optical drive. It represents a convenient way to record, rewrite, and play back high definition (HD) video. This bus powered drive combines Blu-ray technology and 50GB BD-ROM into a portable form factor, allowing users to enjoy both high definition Blu-ray and a 3D picture, or even burn discs—all on the go! That sounds pretty useful to us for photographers on the run - take a look at more details below:

    •    Bring Blu-ray™ to your PC or laptop
    •    Record, rewrite, and play back BD and DVD video
    •    CyberLink Blu-ray Disc Suite included
    •    No power supply needed – burn discs on the go!

Starting at $264.99/To read more go here

Nikon UK Updates Firmware for Coolpix P7000

The following improvements have been made in version 1.1.

Total image recording times for NRW (RAW) files have been reduced.  This includes image recording times for NRW+JPEG file recording options .

Lens control has been optimised to reduce the frequency with which the “Initializing lens. Cannot focus.” message is displayed.  

An issue that, in some rare cases, prevented zoom operation has been resolved.  

An issue that caused the monitor display to exhibit a loss of detail in highlights (blown highlights) when the shutter-release button was pressed halfway with Active D-Lighting enabled has been resolved. 

To find out more about this update, go here

Canon offers lens tips with Change your lens, change your story

Canon UK has started showing a range of video tutorials based around the choosing of lenses for different subjects, such as macro, landscapes, portraits and wildlife/sports. They're hosted by Rob Grove and Jenny Hare, and they talk intelligently about the subjects raised and the equipment used. There's a interesting section on technologies and optical heritage too. The tutorials can be found here, but it takes a little while to load, so please be patient.

NEC announce flagship 30-in MultiSync PA301W display

UPDATE 1 Feb 2011 NEC has announced the SV version today, see here for further details.


NEC Display Solutions has announced today the availability of the new flagship 30-inch MultiSync PA301W, which will eventually replace the highly regarded MultiSync 3090. The new model boasts a 10-bit P-IPS panel and has an in-built 14-bit LUT (although not fully hardware calibratable, like the SpectraView models) for improved colour reproduction and a 3D LUT for exacting colour space emulation. The NEC MultiSync PA301W will be available in January 2011, priced at £1,519 (excl. VAT). For more information please see the press release below.


Press release:

NEC Display Solutions launches PA Series flagship 30-inch LCD monitor
The professional display for the most demanding applications


London, 7 December 2010 – NEC Display Solutions is proud to unveil its flagship 30-inch model from its award winning PA Series. The NEC MultiSync® PA301W with a true 10-bit P-IPS panel has an in-built 14-bit LUT for the smoothest colour reproduction and a 3D LUT for precise colour space emulation. Backlight ageing correction ensures stable brightness, as well as compensation for white point drift over the monitors lifetime. These professional features coupled with the latest wide viewing angle IPS panel technology and high resolution wide format make the display the first choice for creative professionals, demanding office applications, scientific engineering analysis and the medical field.

With its uncompromising true 10-bit P-IPS LCD technology, the NEC MultiSync® PA301W offers a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. Innovative new features and outstanding ergonomics guarantee increased productivity and user-friendly working. For example, several program windows or multiple video feeds can be displayed simultaneously on the large-area display in 16:10 format using the picture-in-picture function. The new model has a pivot capability, can rotate and tilt and can be height-adjusted by up to 150 mm.

Two DisplayPorts and two DVI-D interfaces provide the user with advanced connection options and ensure even greater flexibility. It is also possible to connect to multiple PC platforms with a single mouse and keyboard thanks to the integrated, programmable USB hub. “Through this latest addition to our acclaimed PA Series we can now meet all demands and expectations in the professional display field. NEC Display Solutions is once again setting the reference benchmark in this market segment and showing its pre-eminence in monitor technology and accurate display image reproduction,” explains Christopher Parker, Product Line Manager for Professional Displays at NEC Display Solutions.

Availability, price and warranty
The NEC MultiSync® PA301W will be available starting in January 2011 in black priced at £1,519 (excl. VAT). The package supplied includes a power cable, digital DVI-D and DisplayPort signal cables, a manual and an installation and driver CD-ROM. NEC Display Solutions Europe offers a three-year warranty including backlights.

More information can be found here at the UK site (the US doesn't appear to have introduced this model as yet).

Related posts:

UK readers can order from Colour Confidence here (please don't forget to mention our site). 

Read our review of the 27-inch NEC SpectraView Reference 271 here.

Adobe releases Lightroom 3.3

Adobe has released Lightroom 3.3 offering compatibility with the new Canon Powershot G12, and S95, Nikon D7000, Pentax K-5 and Sony A560 and A580 amongst others. It's available for download now, from here.

Update: contrary to our report earlier, LR 3.3 can indeed process PEF files from the Pentax 645D.

Adobe Releases Lightroom 3.3 and Camera Raw 6.3 Along With New Lens Profile Downloader
 
Adobe today announced the Lightroom 3.3 and Camera Raw 6.3 updates are available for immediate download on Adobe.com. Originally posted as release candidates on Adobe Labs, the final updates bring raw file support to 15 new popular camera models including Nikon D7000 and Canon Powershot S95, as well as lens profiles for over 60 new Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Sigma lenses. Available on Adobe Labs, the Lens Profile Downloader 1.0 – a free companion application to Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5 and Camera Raw 6 – allows customers to search, download, rate and comment on over 300 lens correction profiles provided by the community. Photographers can create custom profiles for their own lenses and share them with the user community.
 
A full list of the newly added raw camera support and the new and improved lens profiles can be found on the Lightroom Journal: http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal.
 
Lightroom is the essential digital photography workflow solution, helping serious amateur and professional photographers quickly import, manage, enhance and showcase all their images within one application. The Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in provides fast and easy access to raw image formats produced by many leading digital cameras.
 
Pricing and Availability
The Lightroom 3.3 update is available as a free download for Lightroom 3 customers, and the Photoshop Camera Raw 6.3 plug-in is available as a free download for Photoshop CS5 customers. For more information and to download these updates please visit http://www.adobe.com/downloads/updates/. To download the Adobe Lens Profile Downloader 1.0 and Lens Profile Creator visit http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/lensprofile_creator.html
 
*Users can connect with the Lightroom team directly on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lightroom) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lightroom).
 
Newly Supported Camera Models
Canon PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot S95
Nikon D3100
Nikon D7000
Nikon Coolpix P7000
Olympus E-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Pentax K-5
Pentax K-r
Ricoh GXR, GR LENS A12 28mm F2.5
Samsung NX100
Samsung TL350 (WB2000)
Sony A560
Sony A580

Adobe Join Forces With Google Over eBook DRM

Adobe Systems Incorporated have just announced today that Google has licensed Adobe® Content Server 4 software as its ebook content protection solution for Google eBooks. With the addition of Google, more than 200 publishers and distributors worldwide have now deployed Adobe Content Server, making it the most pervasive Digital Rights Management (DRM) solution for ebooks and other digital publications.

As a true cross-platform solution, Adobe Content Server enables consumers to purchase or lend ebooks through thousands of points-of-purchase without being tied to one store. With support of the Adobe® Reader® Mobile software development kit (SDK) on more than 85 devices and applications, consumers can download and read protected ebooks from Google eBooks in both PDF and EPUB format. Supported devices include a broad variety of platforms: smartphones, tablets and desktops, as well as dedicated reading devices like the Sony Reader or the Barnes & Noble nook. With more than 13 million downloads of Adobe Digital Editions, a free software application for acquiring, managing and reading ebooks, users can transfer their digital content to their netbooks and desktops, and by taking advantage of a growing number of mobile applications, users can also consume ebooks from Google eBooks on tablets like the iPad. For a complete list, visit Adobe Digital Editions Supported Devices.

“We are excited about Google joining the largest ecosystem of content distributors that believe in giving consumers the freedom to read ebooks across platforms and device types,” said Dave Burkett, vice president and general manager, Creative Solutions Business, Adobe. “Adobe is helping publishers navigate a rapidly changing media landscape, where new devices are opening up new business opportunities to distribute unique content.”

Mobile

Adobe Content Server is part of Adobe’s end-to-end Digital Publishing Solution for ebooks with Adobe InDesign® CS5, Adobe Digital Editions and Adobe Reader Mobile SDK. The solution allows users to download and read ebooks from Google eBooks without being locked into a proprietary file format or device. More than 200 publishers and distributors worldwide are using the solution today to securely deliver their copyrighted content to end-users through thousands of points-of-purchase across the globe, including many public libraries. This reduces the risk of unauthorised distribution and gives content owners the flexibility to develop their own monetisation models around digital content delivery. Licensees of Adobe Content Server include Barnes & Noble, Google, Random House, Sony, WW Norton, OverDrive, Ingram Digital, Kobo, British Library, and many more

With the Reader Mobile SDK, Adobe enables companies to offer smartphones and reading devices that can easily download, manage, and display ebooks based on PDF and the open EPUB file format. Adobe’s ebook initiatives come at a time when Adobe is pushing the boundaries of delivering new digital publication experiences with leading publishers such as Condé Nast and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. With these new types of interactive, branded experiences, publishers can create rich content on tablets, smartphones and other devices that attracts high-value subscribers and advertisers.

My Eyes Only Photo Pro Secure Photos App for iPad, iPhone, and iPod

Software Ops today is pleased to announce the release of a new application, My Eyes Only Photo Pro, the powerful photo encryption application for iOS devices. This app is the first app in the My Eyes Only family to support the iPad as a universal app for Apple iOS devices.

My Eyes Only Photo Pro has the functionality of the existing My Eyes Only Photo app built for iPhone but is packaged into a universal app to support iPad as well as iPhone and iPod touch devices.

My Eyes Only Photo Pro is designed to secure photos on your iPhone or iPod touch by password protecting and encrypting photos. My Eyes Only Photo Pro uses 256 bit RSA encryption, built into the iPhone and supported by Apple. The photos are protected by a password that prevents others from viewing the images that are too sensitive to be stored in the Photos application.

Users of the application can select photos from the existing photo library on their iOS device or use the camera to take photographs and store them directly into My Eyes Only Photo Pro. Users can create as many photo libraries as they like within the application. The photos library presents all the photos in a thumbnail view for easy selection. An easy to use photo browser displays the images or viewing even as My Eyes Only Photo Pro is decrypting the photos in the background.

My Eyes Only Pro can import and export photos using a WiFi network with your favorite browser. "This is the most customer requested feature and we're glad to be able to satisfy our customers with this amazing new feature," states Joe Michels, CEO of Software Ops. "The other exciting feature is the ability to transfer photos from one iOS device running My Eyes Only Photo to another via WiFi or Bluetooth."

$5.99/Download

Best Case Scenario? Pantone Have A Great Solution

For photographers and graphic designers surely there's no other option but a Pantone colored iPhone/iPad case. Maybe the only problem will be which swatch to choose.

There are nine colors in the initial iPhone offering: Yellow, Red 711, Blue 7462, Orange 021, Pink 226, Green 354, Cool Gray 5, 418, and Black. For the iPad, Case Scenario has four colors: Black, Cool Gray 5, 7462, and 711.

The four pantone iPad cases come in: pantone blue 7462 C, pantone black C, pantone 711 C and pantone cool gray 5 C.

To purchase and/or order go here, to Case Scenario

New Fast Photo iPhone App

Fast Photo 1.0 has been designed from the ground up with that one senerio in mind. It doesn't have fluff, there's no editing or tweeking of pictures to get in the way. A clean and simple design allows you to show off your favorite photos with only one tap and even allows for custom descriptions for each photo. Both portrait and landscape modes are supported.

Benefits:
* Fast Viewing of your favorite photos
* Switch between albums quickly with one tap
* Create and name four separate albums
* Add a custom description to each photo
* Switches between portrait and landscape view automatically
* Swipe animation adds "flipping a page" look and feel to the album
* Tap the curl or swipe the page to flip between photos
* Creates a separate copy of your favorite photos with the app, to save you from deleting them accidentally

$0.99/Download

Canon UK confirms price of mode dial modification on EOS 7D, EOS 5D MK II

Further to the recent service announcement regarding the aftermarket modification to the mode-selector dial on the EOS 5D Mk II and EOS 7D, a spokesperson for Canon has confirmed to the Digital Journal of Photography that the modification can be carried out by the Canon Repair Centre at Elstree at the following charge.

EOS 5D Mark II - £59.95 + VAT
EOS 7D - £63.39 + VAT

Both these prices include a £5 delivery charge which can be removed if the photographer wishes to collect their camera in person.

As this is a new modification Canon advise that photographers contact Canon Elstree to pre-book and arrange a suitable modification date, by calling 0844 369 0100 (Select Option 2).

Canon can't confirm the price third party repair centres will charge for this modification, and neither can they comment whether this change to the mode dial, currently a feature of the latest model, the EOS 60D, will be incorporated into future production.

 

Sigma Corporation of America now accepting Scholarship Contest applications

Sigma Corporation of America is currently accepting photo and application submissions for its second annual Scholarship Contest. The contest, which will award $6,000 in cash and photography gear, is open to all high school seniors who plan to pursue a photo-related career.

Copyright above image - Michelle Civil, NY

Applications for the contest are now being accepted through Feb. 28, 2011 via the Sigma scholarship website. Students interested in entering the contest must submit between three and five photos that are thematically tied. These photos must also represent outstanding image quality, a concept that is the foundation of Sigma Corporation’s commitment to the photographic industry. In addition, students must complete an essay of between 300 and 800 words that describes their creative process in shooting, selecting and editing their photos.
 
Students pursuing higher education in industries such as photography, photojournalism, graphic arts and design, visual arts and art history are eligible to apply, and each submission will be judged on the creativity of the subject selection, overall technique, and image quality.

Copyright Rocco Peditto, NJ

“The images submitted in our first scholarship contest exhibited a high level of skill and passion which was a true pleasure to see,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, general manager of Sigma Corporation of America.  “Our support of these talented young photographers has been confirmed and we very much look forward to seeing what this year’s competition will produce.”
 
Sigma’s first Scholarship Contest winner, Jamie Russell of Cheektowaga, N.Y., submitted a series of photographs depicting poverty in her hometown. A total of 122 students competed in the contest.
 
A public, online vote will be held from March 1, 2011 until April 1, 2011, and the top five vote-getters will become finalists. Sigma executives will then choose the Scholarship winner; the winner will be announced on April 18, 2011.
 

Food photographer Rene Riis to work with Michelin star Demon Chef on photo book

We were sent this interesting press release this morning from Hasselblad's distributor in Hong Kong (the parent company owns the camera maker), besides that, we'll use any excuse to feature food photographers, especially when it's Rene Riis.

Demon Chef and Danish Cameraman - Rene Riis to Collaborate for Book by using Hasselblad H4D-50

Alvin Leung to work with world class food photographer Rene Riis in December


For his first book, Hong Kong’s ‘Demon Chef’ Alvin Leung is set to collaborate with world-class Danish photographer Rene Riis. The owner and executive chef of the Michelin star restaurant Bo Innovation, Leung recently started writing what he describes as an “art/food book.” To enhance his creative vision, he has invited acclaimed artist Riis back to town to shoot the stylized pictures.

The Copenhagen-based lensman (www.reneriis.com) specializes in food photography and is known for his remarkable close-ups and detailed images. His work has been featured internationally in acclaimed art publications including Wallpaper, Elle Decoration, Living Architecture, Gastro and GQ Magazine.

The intensive photo shoot will take place the week of December 13 to 17, at the Miele Private Lounge show kitchen in Causeway Bay. Riis will be shooting Leung’s “X-treme Chinese” dishes using a high-powered digital Hasselblad H4D-50 medium-format camera. Its images are capable of a resolution power of 50 million pixels.

The two artists first met in 2009 at a food photography seminar in Hong Kong. They quickly developed a working report and friendship. When Leung decided to create his food book, Riis’ name immediately came up.

Leung explained, “I don’t want to do just another recipe book. This should be more like an art book showing my inspirations, methods and madness. We considered a few other photographers but ultimately I know Rene would best capture what I had in mind. Neither of us want just second best. We’re setting the standards very high.”

An acoustic engineer by trade with no formal culinary training, Leung and his restaurant Bo Innovation has been a Hong Kong sensation since it began as a private kitchen in 2003. His modern twist on Chinese cuisine was awarded two stars in the Michelin Guide’s first Hong Kong survey in 2009. It is number 65 in the S. Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants awards. It was also voted one of Asia’s top 20 restaurants in the newest Miele Guide.

The Hasselblad name is synonymous with the very top end of the camera and related photographic equipment market and famous for reliability and image quality. The company’s success started with its first consumer single-lens mirror reflex 6x6 camera, unveiled in New York City in 1948, the system which NASA took to the moon in 1969. Hasselblad cameras’ legacy of innovation continues to this century with the H4D line marking a new chapter in medium format DSLR cameras. The H4D features the revolutionary True Focus technology with APL (Absolute Position Lock), making focusing substantially easier and more accurate. H4D cameras are available with 40Mpix, 50Mpix or 60Mpix sensors.

The photo location at the Miele Private Lounge is a state-of-the-art luxury kitchen space near Lee Gardens in Causeway Bay, engineered to enhance the Miele lifestyle with features carefully selected to match the timeless elegance and quality of the Miele brand. The use of the venue is strictly invitation only.

Related posts


Hasselblad H4D-60 review
Hasselblad Europe offer half-price lens deal
Hasselblad announces H4x

Capture One Launches Capture Pilot iPhone/iPad App

Capture Pilot allows you to use your iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch to wirelessly view, zoom and pan high resolution DSLR and medium format RAW, JPEG and TIFF images while you shoot and get instant feedback from clients and colleagues. Changes you make to an image in Capture One will immediately be reflected in the Capture Pilot.

Capture Pilot is available for free from the App Store. Capture Pilot requires Capture One Pro 6 or DB to function.

iPhone Free/Download
iPad Free/Download

The Right Path - iPhone Photography App

This is a great new app for the iPhone. Path is the personal network. A place to be yourself and share life with close friends and family Why not give it a try? It's free and the code is below...

Free/Download

Top 10 iPad Photographic Portfolio Apps

The iPad is the ultimate way to display your photographic portfolio to your clients. The screen is perfect for it and there are some truly great apps that make the whole photo sharing aspect a joy to behold. Take a look at these...

Valise

Brand new and only released today, Valise is a digital portfolio for photographers and other creative artists. Create your custom portfolio with ease, using the inbuilt customizable elements. The maximum amount of images you can display in this version is 48, and number of allowable portfolios in this version is one. We will be adding the ability to add extra portfolios and other features via in later versions.

Valise will be available at an introductory price of $4.99 US or £2.99 UK, 3.99€ for one month.

Download

Portfolio for iPad

Portfolio offers a self-contained, brandable presentation tool for your business. Once set up, it will look like a custom app developed exclusively for your business. Lock the interface with a PIN when you're done and it's safe for any client meeting without the worry of exposing the management interface underneath.

Whether you're a photographer showing photos and videos to a bride-to-be, a wedding venue displaying various table setups, a florist giving the choices of different arrangements, a landscaper showing different layouts, or a web designer describing past designs, Portfolio will give that extra bit of polish and professionalism to your presentation.

$14.99/Download

FolioBook iPad Portfolio

Foliobook is the clean and minimal ipad portfolio app for photographers, agents, designers, models, architects, and anyone who wants a simple and beautiful way to present photos and visual artwork.

Foliobook features a customisable home page that works in portrait or landscape orientation and provides a wealth of customisation options, its your virtual 'bookbinder' capable of putting a professional touch on the presentation of your images. This allows you to create and modify your branding on the fly.

Custom home page features: your own background image, renaming gallery titles, colour and transparency setting of gallery title text, movable menu bar with adjustable transparency, customisable fonts for a text logo and for gallery titles.

$7.99/Download

Portfolio To Go for Flickr

Portfolio to Go for Flickr syncs your Flickr photosets to local, cached galleries on your iPad. Once all galleries and images are cached you can view your portfolio without an internet connection. Perfect for use with iPad Wi-fi - sync and go.

Some key features:

# Photo Wall:
View all your Flickr photo galleries at once - scroll each gallery horizontally to browse thumbs, scroll vertically to traverse through all synced galleries. Click on any thumbnail to jump into the main image view.

# Main image view displays gallery thumbnails to enable intuitive gallery navigation. Just click the main image to go full-screen.

# Flickr Authorization: access to all of your private, friends and family and public photos

# Multiple cached portfolios: add unlimited Flickr portfolios via your contacts or Flickr IDs to P2G and switch between them.

# Auto-cache photos: all photos get cached in the background while you browse (you can turn this feature off in settings)

$4.99/Download

PadFolios

PadFolios is a new iPad application that brings you the opportunity to show your portfolio images with an elegant easy-to-use interface. It allows you to add a customized background with your logo and any info you want, so you keep your brand in your customer's mind while you show the best of your work.

You don't need to show all your clients the same portfolio, for that reason with PadFolios you can have multiple PadFolios one for each need.  Do you have a new customer to impress and need to create a totally new portfolio on the way? Creating new PadFolios on the go is easy and fast! Just select your background, select your images and you are ready. Also you can add images to existing PadFolios to keep them fresh with your newest creations.

$14.99/Download

MediaPad Pro

MediaPad Pro allows artisans of any discipline to easily construct their portfolio of content into an intuitive and customizable format, ideal for photographers, artists, models, designers, actors, directors and anyone with a portfolio. It comes equip with all the tools you’ll need to take your portfolio to the next level.

Enter your professional contact information and then upload any combination of images (print), audio files, video files and digital/website files.

$14.99/Download

Pholio

With Pholio, you can use your iPad create a portfolio of your best photographs to show your friends, your family, or your clients.

Features:

- Intuitive interface
- Free support for up to 3 galleries of 10 photographs each
- In-app purchase: Unlimited galleries
- In-app purchase: Branding kit. Use a custom background and a custom logo
to brand your portfolio
- Works in both landscape and portrait orientations

Free/Download

LookBook Portfolio

LookBook Portfolio is the ideal application for designers, developers, entrepreneurs, artists, businessmen or anyone else who has a collection of items to display. Lookbook Portfolio allows you to assemble both pictures and websites resulting in a collection or project. Other apps let you add items, but there's not a ton or organization or too little information for your items. Lookbook Portfolio allows you to add meta tags, descriptions and titles. This app is a lifesaver to designers and developers because it takes advantage of the interactive tools and features of the iPad and merge them with the ability to add all related items. You can categorize, search, tag, and organize your items in any way you like.

$3.99/Download

GalleryPro

GalleryPro has a unique design, with all functionality easily accessible from one location. It offers the photo and video gallery features you want, plus many features that other apps don't.

Organize
• create folders and sub-folders at any level
• easily perform standard file editing operations: name, rename, copy, paste and delete files and folders
• instantly move your files, folders, or groups of folders anywhere you like (folder hierarchy is always preserved no matter how many levels of sub-folders are involved)
• mark files of special interest for emphasis

View
• view your photos and videos in quick-access library mode or standard thumbnail mode, and easily switch between them
• quickly set up and customize slideshows
• zoom, pan, and scale photos with a fast, intuitive

$2.99/Download

Smugmug

Turn your iPad into the ultimate portfolio tool. Load up your SmugMug galleries and dazzle the crowd with screen-filling photos, HD videos and silky slideshows. Save your favorite images to the library and use the iPad as a portable photo frame.

If you have friends or family with SmugMug accounts, drop their sites on your homepage and browse them at any time. All of your favorite SmugMug sites and galleries are available right at your fingertips.

Features:

- View your own galleries and all public SmugMug sites
- Get the full experience with gorgeous photo slideshows and HD video
- Download images back to your iPad library for viewing offline
- Create shortcuts on the homepage to any SmugMug site or gallery

Free/Download

Sony announces firmware upgrade for A850 and A900 DSLRs

Sony has announced a free firmware upgrade for the full-frame A900 and A850, improving AF responsiveness, increasing the EV shift range from ±3EV to ±5EV (for improved HDR photos) and enabling the shutter release without a lens attached for astrophotography. The upgrade will be available shortly.
Press release

SONY ANNOUNCES FIRMWARE UPGRADE FOR DSLR-A900/A850

Creative shooting enhancements for full-frame α cameras

A firmware upgrade that refines shooting responses and creative options for the α900 and α850 35mm full-frame DSLR cameras from Sony.

All new and existing customers are advised to install the upgrade, available to download from the ‘Support’ area of the Sony web site.

Autofocus is quicker and more responsive than ever, thanks to improved AF motor control and smarter distance detection of out-of-focus objects.

Creative options are extended by a broadened range of exposure value (EV) compensation settings, now increased from ±3EV to ±5EV. Selected compensation value is displayed in the navigation display on the main LCD screen of both cameras. This boosted EV compensation range gives extra headroom when composing extremely high- or low-key images.
Exposure bracketing range has also been increased from a maximum of 4.0EV (three shots at -2EV, 0EV, +2EV) to a maximum of 6.0EV (-3EV, 0EV, +3EV). This wider range gives added flexibility when capturing multiple frames at different exposure values – for example when acquiring images for the creation of powerful post-shooting HDR effects.

As a further refinement, a new menu option allows shutter release to be enabled, even when the camera body doesn’t detect an attached lens. It’s useful for specialist applications such as astrophotography when the camera is attached to a telescope.

The latest firmware upgrade by Sony for registered α900 and α850 DSLR customers is available free of charge from here.

Canon offers mode dial mod for EOS 5D Mk II and EOS 7D

Canon UK has issued a service notice for a chargeable modification to the mode dials of the Canon EOS 5D Mk II and EOS 7D DSLRs. The modification is intended to prevent inadvertent selection during operation, but there's no indication that new cameras will have this feature delivered from the factory.
For more details please see here for EOS 5D Mk II and here for the EOS 7D.

Nikon offers festive £40 cashback on D3100 DSLR

Nikon Introduces Christmas Cashback Offer
 
 
1st December 2010: To celebrate the festive season customers purchasing the new Nikon D3100, body or lens kit, are now able to claim £40/󌍢 in a new Christmas cashback promotion from Nikon.
 
The D3100 cashback offer will run from 1st December 2010 until 31st January 2011 (inclusive) for customers in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and claims must be received by 28th February 2011 (inclusive). 
 
The Nikon D3100 is the most easy-to-use D-SLR to date, offering a range of high performance features that are designed to make taking quality images fun and easy. The camera’s Guide mode gives you step-by-step instructions of how to change the camera settings, so you not only get the picture you want but it helps you to understand how it was achieved so you can develop your photography skills. The D3100 is Nikon’s first DSLR to offer full HD movie mode so you can get creative with your photography and switch between shooting stills and video at the click of a button. And, with an HDMI port you can connect your camera to the TV and relive the festivities with friends and family.
 
Simon Iddon, Product Manager for Enthusiast products, says: “The D3100 is the ideal gift for people wanting to capture festive memories this Christmas and learn how to improve their photography skills. I am delighted that we’re able to introduce this cashback offer on our award-winning model and hope that it will make it even more accessible this season.”
 
For terms and conditions and information about how to make a claim please visit: www.nikon.co.uk/cashback. Offer subject to availability.

SanDisk, Sony and Nikon give green light to CF card replacement

SanDisk, Sony and Nikon have taken the unusual step to announce their intention to adopt the new CF card spec, dubbed CFast but not mentioned in the PR from Sony this afternoon, see below. The new card will be for forthcoming, and as yet unannounced, pro DSLRs, not compacts as they'll use SDXC (the PowerShot G12 and Nikon P700 both support SDXC). Perhaps the reason behind this announcement is the CFast form-factor is not backwards compatible with current CF card readers or cameras (although it's a similar size, there's a different pin arrangement). See here for Transcend's recent announcement regarding CFast cards.

Press release:

SANDISK, SONY AND NIKON PROPOSE INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR NEXT-GENERATION HIGH-SPEED MEMORY CARD FORMAT
 
Companies to Jointly Develop New Specifications to Meet Needs of Professional Photography and Video Markets.

 

November 30, 2010 — SanDisk Corporation, Sony Corporation and Nikon Corporation today announced the joint development of a set of specifications that address the future requirements of professional photography and video markets. The three companies proposed the specifications to the CompactFlash® Association (CFA)*, the international standards organization, with the intent to standardize the format.

 Professional photography and High Definition (HD) video applications require a new generation of memory cards capable of processing significantly larger files. To address the imaging industry’s future speed and capacity demands, SanDisk, Sony and Nikon proposed a new card specification whose performance and storage capabilities surpass those of existing memory cards. Once accepted, the new format will enable exciting new possibilities in the professional imaging and video markets.

The proposed specifications achieve data transfer rates of up to 500 megabytes per second (MB/sec)** (theoretical maximum interface speed) using the highly versatile PCI Express*** interface. The increased speeds will enable imaging and video applications that could not be accomplished using the current CompactFlash specification’s Parallel ATA (PATA)**** interface. CF6.0, released in November 2010, offers maximum performance of up to 167MB/sec.

 The new specifications’ faster speeds enable continuous burst shooting of massive RAW images. The enhanced performance also allows users to quickly transfer storage-intensive high-resolution photos and videos from the card to a computer. The specifications combine high-speed data transfer with low power consumption via a power scaling system to extend battery life.

 In addition to industry-leading performance capabilities, the new memory card specifications also meet the future capacity and durability requirements of professional imaging applications. The proposed new specifications has the potential to extend theoretical maximum capacities beyond 2 terabytes (TB)*****, making it especially useful for high resolution images and HD video applications. Similar in size to a CompactFlash® card, the new specifications’ access control function and highly durable form factor produce a combination of physical ruggedness and reliability that is indispensable for professional usage models. 

 “This ultra high-speed media format will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications, and widen the memory card options available to CompactFlash users such as professional photographers,” said Mr. Shigeto Kanda, Canon, and chairman of the board, CFA. “This next generation format is expected to be widely adapted to various products, including those other than high-end DSLRs.”

 “The ultra high-speed media, which will be realized by this new card format, will expand the capability of digital SLR cameras and other professional digital imaging equipment,” said Mr. Kazuyuki Kazami, operating officer, vice president and general manager, development headquarters, imaging company, Nikon Corporation.