VSO Software has released PhotoDVD version 4, which includes a new output format, new transitions as well as an innovative live preview player. PhotoDVD allows users to create a customised video of pictures, with music, text, transitions and a DVD-like menu with chapters. With version 4, the outcome is no longer limited to burning to DVD, as the new output to mpeg4 now allows videos to be transferred to Youtube or Dailymotion in High Definition format. The full version of PhotoDVD 4 costs $29.99.

Website: VSO

CyberLink has just launched MediaStory, a unique slideshow creator application for iPhones and Android Phones. The application comes with pre-designed slideshow templates with various themes that can be applied to turn photos into animated slideshows on the fly. The slideshows can be played on the smart phone or uploaded to Facebook. CyberLink MediaStory for smart phones can be purchased from the iTunes App Store and Android Market, at $2.99. Also, there is a free version - CyberLink MediaStory for Facebook - that creates animations from photos already stored on Facebook.

Adobe has posted a second prerelease of its Lens Profile Creator utility, which generates custom lens profiles for use with the Lens Correction tool in Photoshop CS5. As Adobe puts it, “a lens profile describes the types of optical aberrations that exist in a particular lens and prescribes how to correct the lens distortions in an image captured from the same lens”. These optical aberrations include geometric distortions, corner shading and chromatic aberrations. You first need to capture a set of chequerboard images with your camera (provided as part of the application package), which you can then feed into the Lens Profile Creator utility. Today’s update fixes several reported issues in the initial build, Adobe says.

Website: Lens Profile Creator

Bibble Labs has just released version 5.1 of Bibble Pro, and introduced Bibble 5.1 Lite. New additions to Bibble include tools like Perfectly Clear, a one-touch image optimisation algorithm, and Heal & Clone, which allow photographers to remove distracting elements from their images. Also new to version 5.1 is raw support for ten new digital cameras including the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and G10, Sony A450, NEX-3 and NEX-5 and Olympus E-450 and E-600, among others. As far as the all-new Bibble 5.1 Lite is concerned, it offers much of the same speed, power and control as Bibble Pro, but without several of the pro-specific features at a lower price. Bibble 5.1 Pro and Bibble 5.1 Lite are available immediately for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers for $199.95 and $99.95, respectively. Bibble Labs customers who purchased Bibble 4 since September, 2006 are eligible for a free upgrade to Bibble 5. Bibble 5.1 is a free upgrade for all current Bibble 5 customers.

Website: Bibble Labs

Photobucket announced today that its “Photobucket Mobile” application is available now in RIM’s BlackBerry App World. The app allows users to interact with their Photobucket albums no matter where they are right from their phone. Blackberry users can download Photobucket Mobile from BlackBerry App World by searching for “Photobucket”. The application is also available in the Android Market and the App Store for iPhone and iPad.

Website: Photobucket Mobile

In the wake of the recent acquisition of Microsoft’s Expression Media software for digital asset management, Phase One has updated Capture One to improve the applications’ compatibility. Version 5.1.2 allows users to easily add a selection of images from Capture One to an Expression Media catalogue, preview images in Expression Media using Capture One’s default rendering, and create a Capture One album with images found by searching in Expression Media. Additionally, Capture One 5.1.2 adds support for Leaf Aptus-II 10R and Olympus E-PL1, updates firmware for Leaf digital backs and adds QuickLook and WIC support for Leaf MOS files. This is a free service release to existing Capture One 5.x users.

MonoPhix HD 1.0 is a completely new app for the iPad that allows you to turn any picture on your iPad into a high quality, high contrast monochrome image. The outcome is fully customisable by using multiple, “Lightroom-like” sliders, the developers say. Featuring a real-time preview of your changes, high-speed filters, separate tools for dodging and burning and more, MonoPhix HD 1.0 for iPad is available on the App Store priced at $1.99.

Website: MonoPhix HD 1.0

Camera Bits has unveiled a bundle of new improvements for users of its Photo Mechanic photo browser and workflow tool. Version 4.6.4 offers faster browsing and new support for raw files captured by the Olympus E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras as well as various Phase One models, and recognition of extended range ISO values (Lo and Hi) for certain Nikon digital SLR cameras. The new version also enables new advanced workflows when combining Photo Mechanic’s unique “variables” and “code replacements” features, such as the ability to split still images from movie files during ingest to aid the import of video clips into Final Cut Pro using Canon’s EOS Movie Plugin-E1.

Website: CameraBits Downloads

PictoColor has released its iCorrect OneClick iPhone App. Using OneClick app you can take a picture, fix the colour and exposure if needed, and email or upload the photo to Facebook in a few simple steps. The software has a Preview screen that allows you to easily compare the corrected photo with the original. iCorrect OneClick iPhone may be purchased at the Apple iTunes/iPod store for $2.99.

Website: OneClick

Adobe today announced the immediate availability of Lightroom 3 for Windows and Macintosh. First released as a public beta in October 2009, the final version of Lightroom 3 introduces a completely redesigned performance architecture that better handles growing image libraries. The 64-bit capable Lightroom 3 includes new features that optimise workflows and allow images to be shared in creative ways, including support for DSLR video files and tethered shooting on select cameras. In the UK, a full boxed copy costs £198, while the upgrade for existing customers is £63 (excluding VAT). In the U.S.A., the estimated street price is US$299 for new users with an upgrade price of US$99 for qualified registered Lightroom users.

Website: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

onOne Software has released a free compatibility update to all of its Photoshop plug-ins which makes them compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS5 and CS5 Extended. These plug-ins include Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition 6.0.6, Genuine Fractals 6.0.6, PhotoTools 2.5.3 Professional Edition, PhotoTools 2.5.3 Professional and Standard Editions, PhotoFrame 4.5.1 Professional and Standard Editions, Mask Pro 4.1.8, PhotoTune 3.0.2, FocalPoint 2.0.1 and of course the complete Plug-In Suite (version 5.1). onOne Software’s compatibility updates for Photoshop CS5 are available now and are free of charge to registered owners of the current product titles listed above. These free software updates are available from within each application and as a download from the onOne Software website.

Website: onOne Software Downloads

Topaz Labs announced that the Topaz Photoshop Bundle now works natively in 64-bit and takes advantage of Photoshop CS5’s 64-bit capabilities for greater speed and stability. Topaz customers can now run Topaz software in either 32-bit Photoshop or 64-bit Photoshop, as well as a number of other host programs like Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, and Aperture. The Topaz products that support 64-bit Photoshop CS5 on Mac and Windows include: Topaz Adjust, DeNoise, Detail, Simplify, Clean, ReMask, and DeJPEG. Existing users can download this upgrade for free by re-downloading and re-installing the software.

Website: Topaz Labs Downloads

Color Confidence has launched ProfileWriter, a profiling solution developed specifically for the Epson Stylus Pro 7900S and 9900S large format printers. Color Confidence ProfileWriter communicates directly with the built-in Epson SpectroProofer and makes the process of producing ICC profiles fast, accurate and affordable, the company claims. ProfileWriter is available now from all Epson large format printer resellers.

Nik Software announced today a new academic programme designed to make its digital imaging software products accessible to more students and faculty located in the U.S. and Canada at more affordable prices. The discounted price for Academic versions of Dfine 2.0, Viveza 2, Silver Efex Pro and Sharpener Pro 3.0 is $99.99. Color Efex Pro 3.0 Complete and the Complete Collection for Lightroom and Aperture cost $149.99, while the Complete Collection Ultimate Edition for Photoshop, Lightroom, and Aperture is $299.99. These figures represent discounts of up to 50% versus the standard retail prices. Eligible customers include all students and educators at any accredited educational institution.

Digital Anarchy has just announced its new Beauty Box Photo skin retouching Photoshop plug-in. Providing an automatic way of smoothing skin and removing blemishes in photographs, Beauty Box Photo 1.0 is fully compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS5 and earlier versions of Photoshop and Elements. The software automatically identifies skin tones and creates an intelligent mask that limits the smoothing effect to skin areas while keeping facial details sharp. Beauty Box is regularly priced at USD $99, but you can get it for $79 through 21 June 2010.

Website: Digital Anarchy

Adobe has released version 6.1 of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) for Photoshop CS5 users. This final version comes a little more than two weeks after the announcement of the ACR 6.1 Release Candidate. The update adds support for the Canon EOS 550D, the Kodak Z981, the Leaf Aptus-II 8, the Leaf Aptus-II 10R, the Mamiya DM40, the Olympus E-PL1, the Olympus E-600, the Panasonic G2, the Panasonic G10 and the Sony A450. Note that the Camera Raw 6.1 plug-in is not compatible with versions of Photoshop earlier than Photoshop CS5.

X-Rite has released the new ColorChecker Passport DNG Profile Manager, free to all registered owners of a ColorChecker Passport. The X-Rite ColorChecker Passport DNG Profile Manager provides a single list of all installed DNG profiles, including non-printing image data such as file name, camera, light-source(s), and creation date. It also filters by camera or it can sort by any column header to provide the ability to correctly rename profiles (both internal and external names).  Users can easily enable/disable profiles to prevent profile overload in Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) and quickly collect and export DNG profiles for backup or distribution. The DNG Profile Manager runs under Windows XP, Vista and 7 as well as Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6.

Mozy, an online backup service, has announced general availability of MozyHome 2.0 and MozyPro 2.0 for Windows on its website. New enhancements include faster upload speeds and decreased bandwidth usage, new convenience and access features, and Mozy 2xProtect – a new feature which allows Mozy users to backup to a local external drive in addition to Mozy’s online data centres at no additional cost. Mozy 2.0 customers can achieve up to 25 per cent faster backups compared with previous versions. Mozy also redesigned the service’s interface to simplify set up and use. Although advanced configuration options still allow power users to maintain the level of functionality they require to protect their data, the new Mozy interface makes it easier for consumers and businesses to verify that files have been backed up and stored securely. MozyHome 2.0 and MozyPro 2.0 are available immediately at the website below.

Website: Mozy

Auslogics has released BoostSpeed 5 – an all-in-one solution for keeping PCs running fast and error-free. The new Auslogics BoostSpeed 5 has a fresh user interface; it includes innovative optimisation techniques and introduces new features including a System Advisor, a Disk Doctor, a File Recovery tool, a Disk Explorer plus Resource Monitoring and the latest version of Auslogics Disk Defrag. Auslogics BoostSpeed 5 will be available at SRP £30.65 per user.

Website: Auslogics

AKVIS turns 6 this year, and they are organising a raffle in celebration of the company’s birthday. Taking place on Monday, 31 May, the raffle gives participants a chance to win AKVIS gift certificates, which give the recipients the right to get an AKVIS photo editing program of their choice. You can register online at the website below.

Website: AKVIS Raffle 2010