Picmeta Systems has released version 3.5 of Printstation, a photo printing applicagtion designed to deliver fast results. In the new version there are three dedicated layout modes available, “Simple Page”, “Fixed Photo Size” and “Flexible Grid Layout”. In all modes, it is now possible to zoom and pan individual images within their assigned area. The operation of the program has been improved by a clearer structure of the settings and by an accelerated page generation. Printstation 3.5 can be downloaded from the Picmeta website. It runs on Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7. The update to Printstation 3.5 is free for all registered users. The full version of Printstation costs US$ 39.

Website: Printstation

Nikon is bringing its Learn & Explore photography application to iPhone customers in Europe. The ‘Learn & Explore’ application offers quick, easy on-the-go access to a world of photography information and editorial content, including images, video lectures, audio commentary and a glossary of photography terms. If you are on holiday and want advice on getting the most from your travel pictures, you can instantly access an article from a Nikon expert, watch a tutorial video, listen to audio tips, or flick through examples of stunning travel photography. The Nikon ‘Learn & Explore’ iPhone application is now available in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom. It is also available in Canada and the United States.

ZAGG has just released PhotoPad, its first app designed for the Apple iPad. PhotoPad features drawing and adjustment tools such as cropping, colour swapping, threshold levels, contrast, and saturation. PhotoPad by ZAGG can be found in the iPad App Store. An iPhone/iPod touch version is under development and will be available soon.

Website: PhotoPad for iPad

Adobe has announced release candidates for Photoshop Lightroom, Camera Raw and DNG Converter. The updates add raw file support for the Canon EOS 550D, Sony Alpha A450, the Olympus E-PL1, the Panasonic Lumix G2 and G10, the Kodak Z981, and several medium-format digital cameras and backs, including the Leaf Aptus-II 8, the Leaf Aptus-II 10R and the Mamiya DM40. The Lightroom 2.7 Release Candidate is available as a free download for Lightroom 2 users, and the Camera Raw 5.7 Release Candidate is available as a free download for Photoshop CS4 customers. The DNG Converter 5.7 Release Candidate is also available as a free download for all.

The Guardian, in association with Canon, has announced that its Guardian Eyewitness photography app for iPad is now available on the App Store. The app offers some of the world’s most distinctive and provocative photographs, providing a daily, visual re?ection of global events in an interface optimised for iPad. The app showcases the most recent 100 Eyewitness images, enabling users to save their favourites, and share images with their contacts via email or Facebook. Each image is also accompanied by a “pro tip”, to give professional insights into the composition or technical specification of a particular image. The Guardian Eyewitness photography app for iPad is currently available in the US for free from the App Store.

Website: Guardian Eyewitness for iPad

Sony has just announced an update to its Image Data Converter SR software, featuring algorithms that significantly reduce image noise at high ISO settings when converting raw data to JPEG files. The new algorithms implemented in Version 3.2 affect photos taken at ISO 800 and higher, allegdly “delivering impressively natural results with minimised colour noise right up to ISO 12800”. Registered Sony Alpha customers can download Image Data Converter SR Version 3.2 free of charge from the Sony Europe support website from the first week of April.

Website: Sony

Nik Software has just announced its Spring 2010 Webinar schedule. These six hour-long educational webinars, which début on 8 April and continue through mid-June, cover a range of photography topics including portrait, scenic and landscape, flora, fauna and architecture, while offering basic information, insights and tips on using Nik Software’s entire line of plug-ins. Read on / click through for the complete list of webinars including dates and times.

Avanquest Software has announced Print Artist Platinum 23, an application that makes producing personalised calendars and other items quick and easy. Photos are easily imported from digital cameras, mobile phones and scanners to be included in posters, flyers, brochures, greeting cards and even iron-on apparel designs for customising t-shirts, bags and a variety of other items.  Photo slideshows with music and animated transitions can also be created and burnt onto a CD. Additionally, Print Artist Platinum 23 features over 375,000 graphics including watercolours, vector images and photographs. Available from PC World, Currys, Amazon.co.uk, Play.com and Avanquest.co.uk, Print Artist Platinum 23 from Avanquest Software is priced at £39.99.

AKVIS has updated AKVIS ArtSuite, a collection of versatile effects for decorating photos, to version 6.0. Like many other AKVIS products, ArtSuite is available in both a Standalone version and as a plug-in to Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, Corel Painter, Corel Photo-Paint, and Paint Shop Pro, ACD FotoCanvas, and Corel PhotoImpact. The Standalone version now supports Frame Packs of Hand Painted Photo Frames. Two new themed frame packs are also available. These frame packs contain frames which have been designed by artists specially for ArtSuite. Also new to version 6.0: support for 64 bit in the plugin version, bug fixes, and a new installation program. A free frame pack containing 30 hand painted frames is also available as a separate download. AKVIS ArtSuite Plug-in sells for $49; AKVIS ArtSuite Standalone for $ 69.Version 6.0 is a free upgrade for registered users of earlier versions. A free 10-day trial is available to new customers.

Website: AKVIS ArtSuite

The Canon EOS Movie Plugin-E1 for Apple’s Final Cut Pro that was announced recently is now available. The new plug-in allows for simple and easy transfer of video content from Canon’s video-enabled EOS DSLR cameras directly into Final Cut Pro. The EOS Movie Plugin-E1 takes advantage of Final Cut Pro’s powerful Log and Transfer feature, which allows users to select and mark the video directly while it is still on the camera, add custom metadata and ingest the clips in the background so the editing can begin immediately. The plug-in is compatible with Final Cut Pro 6 or higher and currently supports the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D and EOS 1D Mark IV cameras. To download the plug-in, visit the website below, and select “Mac OS X” as your operating system.

Website: Drivers and Downloads

Apple has released an update for Aperture 3.. Version 3.0.2 improves overall stability and fixes issues in a number of areas. Click through / read on for the detailed release notes.

Website: Apple Aperture 3.0.2

Phase One has just released an update for its Capture One software. Version 5.1.1 incorporates the following enhancements:

  * Tethered and raw file support for Leaf Aptus-II 8 (40 MP) camera backs
  * Improved default film curves for Leaf backs.
  * Support of develop-curves from Leaf MOS files.
  * White balance can now be set when shooting tethered with Leaf backs.
  * Orientation can now be set when shooting tethered with Leaf backs.
  * Base characteristics gains presets.
  * A number of bug fixes.

DxO Labs have announced the addition of 70 new lens & camera combinations to its library of DxO Optics Modules for its DxO Optics Pro automatic image enhancement software. This new release brings the total number of available DxO Optics Modules to over 1900. DxO Optics Pro 6.1.2 for Windows is available from both DxO Labs’ e-store and selected resellers priced at $169 / €149 / £99 (Standard Edition) and $299 / €299 / £199 (Elite Edition). DxO Optics Pro 6 for Mac is scheduled for release in May 2010 and will be available as a free upgrade to customers who have purchased version 5 or higher after June 1, 2009.

Website: 70 New DxO Optics Correction Modules

Adobe has officially unveiled the worldwide launch date of Creative Suite 5. The company will release Adobe CS5 on 12 April, and encourages everyone to attend the global launch event online via a dedicated website. The launch time is 5pm CET / 11am EDT / 8am PDT.

Website: Adobe Creative Suite 5 Launch

Zenfolio has released its new iPhone application, myZenfolio. This free application, available immediately for download on the iTunes Store, allows photographers to easily manage and share photos hosted on Zenfolio. Developed and supported by the Zenfolio team, myZenfolio for iPhone provides users with a mobile front-end to professionally manage their photographs while on the go. To download the new myZenfolio iPhone application, visit the iTunes App Store.

LensFlare ia a new iPhone app that, as its name implies, mimics the effect of lens flare. Using this application, you can position the simulated flare by simply tilting your device, or tap the lock icon to use touch positioning. You can control the brightness of the flare, choose from various lens coatings or use anamorphic lens effects. LensFlare for iPhone is available via the App Store.

Adobe today released an update to its Photoshop Lightroom 3 beta software, available immediately through Adobe Labs. New features in this release include tethered shooting support for select Nikon and Canon cameras, the ability to import and manage video files from DSLR cameras for a streamlined workflow and additional behind-the-scenes architecture enhancements for faster importing and loading of images. Adobe encourages photographers to test this new selection of features and provide the product team with feedback.

Website: Adobe Lightroom 3

Bibble Labs has just issued an update to Bibble 5 Pro. Version 5.0.3 adds raw support to the Canon EOS 550D and the Olympus E-PL1 digital system cameras, plus lens aberration correction for the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, the Zoom-Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S and the Zoom-Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S lenses. This is a free update for registered users.

Website: Bibble Download Centre

Geologtag is an iPhone application that facilitates the geotagging of your digital photos. While shooting photos with your digital camera, Geologtag continuously tracks your location just like a traditional GPS data logger. It’s also possible to track a location every 3, 5, 10 or 60 minutes to prolong your battery life. Offering an all-in-one geotagging solution for Mac and Flickr users, Geologtag is available through the App Store. (If you are a Windows user, direct geotagging is not available but you can use the GPX file exported by Geologtag in combination with a Windows geotagging application like Geosetter or RoboGeo).

Website: Geologtag

Kubota Image Tools have announced the release of new Kubota Texture Tools and Kubota Sloppy Borders on Dashboard, a floating palette within Photoshop that acts like a mini search engine for actions. Now available are 100 textures that range in style from smooth and organic, to high tech and electric. Also available are the Kubota Sloppy Borders being re-released now for use with the Dashboard interface for improved ease-of-use. These borders help photographers apply the classic look of old film to their images with creative borders ranging from elegantly thin, to eye-catching medium to bold, thick borders. Kubota Texture Tools “Earth Textures – Smooth Organic Pak” (pictured) and “Industrial Textures – High Tech Electric Pak” and Kubota Sloppy Borders are now available for $149 each.