Nik Software has just released version 1.2 of Snapseed, its image editing app for iOS. The new version adds universal compatibility with all current iOS devices, including the Apple iPod touch, iPhone 4 and of course the iPad & iPad 2. Those who have already purchased the previous, iPad-only version can simply log on to their iTunes account with their iPhone/iPod connected and sync their apps to have Snapseed on all of their iOS devices.

Website: Snapseed on iTunes

Nik Software has halved the price of Viveza 2. Formerly retailing for €199.95, the plug-in is now available for €99.95. Viveza 1 users may upgrade for €49.95. The software, which allows you to easily and selectively adjust the colour and tonality of your digital images, can be installed as a 32-bit- or 64-bit-plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS3 through CS5, Photoshop Elements 6 through 9, Lightroom 2.3 (or later) or Apple Aperture 2.1 (or later).

Blurb has released an update to its iOS app, Blurb Mobile. Designed to enable easy and fast story creation using rich media content, the app now boasts new features including, Story Stream, where friends can instantly share and comment on each other’s stories using their iPhones. Blurb also announced a new enhanced and optimised iPad version of Blurb Mobile that brings the features of the app to the iPad. Blurb Mobile is free to download from the iTunes App Store and each customer receives a story channel on Blurb.com/mobile to share their stories online.

Warsaw-based Macoscope has just introduced Slidelight, its new Instagram-supported photography app developed exclusively for the Apple iPad. “Slidelight is not just an ordinary Instagram photo frame,” the company says. “In Slidelight, users will find a huge amount of gorgeous pics, packed in thematic albums - bikes, commuting, puppies, cats, European capitals, shapes and sizes, music, macro photography, sports, fashion, design… You touch an album, swipe photos in it, pinch to get back to the main screen, tap twice to see details and like photos and then start all over again.” Slidelight is available on iTunes for $2.99.

CrashPlan PRO is a new cloud backup service for small and medium-sized businesses including photography studios. “As a professional photographer, forgetting to backup puts your images at risk and could be fiscally disastrous,” the company says. CrashPlan PRO works unobtrusively, delivering automatic continuous backup, both online and to attached drives. The program features cross-platform support forWindows, Mac, Linux and Solaris (both client and server) and multiple destination support. There are two pricing plans available - unlimited storage per computer ($7.49 per month), or an unlimited number of computers for a chosen amount of storage (from 50GB to 4TB). CrashPlan PRO is available immediately to customers in the United States and Canada. Worldwide availability expected is in Q4.

In conjunction with Grand Marnier’s Sunset Hour Facebook campaign, the company has released an iPhone app called Sunset Taker. The app lets users to take an ordinary photo and turn it into a “magic hour” shot by manipulating colour saturation and hue and/or adding one of a number of filter effects. Sunset Taker for iPhone is available as a free download from iTunes.

The Inside Windows Live blog reports that a new Microsoft Camera Codec Pack allows Windows 7 and Vista users to view digital camera raw files as thumbnails natively in Windows Explorer, and edit copies of them with Windows Live Photo Gallery 2011. The author, Brad Weed, notes that “dealing with raw images on Windows hasn’t always been easy” but says that the update will likely make raw shooters’ lives “a little easier”. Unfortunately, the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack supports only an - apparently - arbitrary selection of some 108 raw-capable cameras, excluding a whole range of recent (and not-so recent) models. This may of course change in the future, albeit there is no information on when or if the list of supported models will.be expanded. By clicking through / scrolling down, you can view a short video detailing the benefits of the update.

Akvis has updated its ArtWork software, which transforms photos into paintings using various techniques. Version 6.0 introduces the Pastel style. Photos can now be converted into an image with soft, velvety strokes similar to those created by pastel crayons. Also new to Version 6.0 is the addition of batch processing mode for the standalone version. (This was previously only available for the plugin version via a Photoshop action.) Users who own previous versions of ArtWork can upgrade to Version 6.0 for free.

PSKiss has released Skin & Scenery Colour DNG profiles for Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) and Photoshop Lightroom. “Every raw developing software uses some kind of colour and tone rendering”, explains Max Penson, Co-owner of PSKiss and chief of product development. “Standard profiles from Adobe contain perceptual data whereas PSKiss Skin & Scenery profiles contain creative data. This means that the image is already applied with creative adjustments before you ever needed to do anything.” Skin & Scenery Colour DNG Profiles are offered at an introductory price of $19.90 per camera (regular price is $29.90).

Ayogo has rolled out Photo Gallery+, a new photo management tool for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch. Photo Gallery+ offers important features which the preinstalled iOS “Photos” app lacks. The user can create, rename and delete folders directly on the device, without the need to synchronise it with a Mac. Photo Gallery+ is available now on iTunes.

LaserSoft Imaging is going to release a major upgrade to its SilverFast scanning software next month. Version 8 will be “completely renewed” with a new graphical user interface and a patent-pending new feature called WorkflowPilot. Compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP as well as MacOS X 10.5 and later - including MacOS X 10.7 Lion -, SilverFast 8 will be provided as a free upgrade to everyone who has purchased SilverFast 6.6 after 1st June. This offer is also valid for SilverFast versions bundled with a scanner device or purchased from a dealer.

CodeCrop’s Snap camera app for iOS devices has been updated with a new interface. The application allows users to snap a photo, jot down as many notes as they want, move them over the image and save the photo with the notes overlaid on it. Version 1.40 brings a new interface to add notes directly on the image with live changes. Snap Camera! 1.40 is available now on iTunes for $0.99.

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion is now available as a download from the Mac App Store. Nikon has already announced that it is testing a number of its own applications for compatibility with the new operating system. Programs being tested include Capture NX 2, ViewNX 2, Camera Control Pro 2, WT-4 Setup Utility/Thumbnail Selector, and PC-PJ Transfer. Nikon will announce its plans regarding full compatibility once testing is complete. The Japanese company has expressly stated that it would not provide compatibility with older versions of these programs. Older applications, such as the Nikon Scan series, will not be updated either.

Adobe today announced the immediate availability of Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Editor in the Mac App Store. This is a special edition that comes without the Elements Organiser component included in the retail edition. “The powerful capabilities in Photoshop Elements 9 Editor complement iPhoto perfectly, for users who want to take their photos to the next level with advanced compositing and stunning effects,” said Winston Hendrickson, vice president of Digital Imaging Products, Adobe. “Photoshop helped pioneer creativity on the Mac, so it’s appropriate that this special edition of Photoshop Elements is Adobe’s entry into the Mac App Store.” The price is $79.

Keingart has released PhotoMixer HD for iPad 2, an app that allows users to apply random filters to their photographs. With dozens of different effects on offer, PhotoMixer HD comes with “extra photo improving algorithms” and a fun, animated graphical user interface. PhotoMixer HD is available now on iTunes for $4.99.

MacPhun has released a major update to FX Photo Studio for iOS. Version 4.0 adds new effects, a new look and integration with Instagram, and introduces “Masking Studio” - a tool which allows users to apply any of 194 effects selectively to any part of the image. FX Photo Studio 4.0 is available now on iTunes for $1.99.

Kenigart has released Camera PRO+ for iPhone 4. Claiming that its app uses “special photo improving math algorithms”, the Kaliningrad-based company has packed ten photo effects into the program, which also comes with a simple and easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) that’s fully optimised for the Apple iPhone 4. Camera PRO+ for iPhone 4 is available on iTunes for $2.99.

Dutch software developers VeprIT has released an iOS-optimised version of their Photo Sense application. Originally developed for Mac OS, Photo Sense is billed as “a powerful tool for quick and easy photo enhancement”. The iOS version enables users to improve pictures taken with the built-in camera, or they can enhance one that is already present in the photo library. The app even allows them to compare the modified image to the original before saving. PhotoSense is available now on iTunes for $1.99.

In collaboration with National Geographic Traveler, Fotopedia has launched Above France, a new iPad/iPhone app that will help you discover beautiful places in France from a bird’s-eye view. Billed as “a love letter written with a camera and a helicopter”, the Above France app showcases “the most spectacular abbeys, beaches, bridges, castles, cliffs, fortifications, geometric landscapes, harbors, islands, lakes, lighthouses, mountains, rivers, quaint villages, waterfalls, windmills” etc., many of which are found in remote and hard-to-access locations. In celebration of France’s Bastille Day, today and tomorrow you can get the app - which normally sells for $2.99 on iTunes - for $0.99.

PicasaTweet by LappdevV is an iOS app that lets you keep control over the photos you want to share with your friends and the world via Twitter. Photos you take or select from your phone are automatically uploaded to Picasa. The app allows you to keep control because photos are only added to your own Picasa albums, and you can decide later which ones you would like to share with the world via Twitter or other channels. PicasaTweet is free, and there is a Pro version available for $1.99.

Website: LappdevV