PhotoMania has recently launched a mobile version of its photo effects and sharing app. Available for Android and iOS, PhotoMania Mobile allows users to apply several single-click enhancements to any photos on their mobile devices with a range of painting, sketch, vintage and texture effects. Both the Android and iPhone editions are available for free.

Vanguard has added two new lines to their camera bag line-up. Sedona bags are perfect for both the seasoned professional or the adventurous amateur. The collection contains slings (two sizes) and backpacks (three sizes) that can be easily converted from a daypack to a full-gear backpack and even an everyday bag. A Multiple Hanging System includes two higher front straps to hold large accessories such as sleeping bags. Clad in lightweight ripttop nylon, all models are available in black, Kahki / Green and Blue. The Reno collection contains full-featured shoulder bags (two sizes), a sling (one size) and backpacks (three sizes). All bags are made with rip stop nylon and are available in Blue, Khaki / Green and Orange. For details on all Sedona and Reno bags, visit the website below.

RIBA’s new Architecture Gallery will present the first major retrospective of Edwin Smith, one of Britain’s foremost 20th century photographers. Ordinary Beauty: The Photography of Edwin Smith will display 100 extraordinary black and white photographs from a collection of over 60,000 negatives given by Olive Cook, Smith’s widow and collaborator, to the RIBA Library. From urban scenes documenting British social history to evocative landscape images and atmospheric interiors, the images displayed reveal the genius and breadth of his work. Alongside his images of Britain the exhibition will show photographs taken on his travels to Europe as well as his published books and photographic equipment. Specially filmed contributions ranging from Alan Bennett to broadcaster Gillian Darley offer personal perspectives of Smith’s work. Taking place from10 September – 6 December 2014, the exhibition will be accompanied by a series of talks, films and events.

Zoner has just rolled out a number of enhancements to Zonerama.com, its free cloud photo service. Sporting a new, more responsive design, Zonerama now dynamically adjusts to optimise the photo viewing experience no matter what device you access it on. New social features, such as the ability to follow photographers and rate their albums, have also been added, giving Zonerama a greater degree of interactivity. Finally, Zonerama now supports Google’s Chromecast, so users can wirelessly “cast” their photos from a mobile device or laptop to their TVs.

Samsung's new UD590 Ultra HD monitor is now available to pre-order in the United Kingdom. Going on sale exclusively with Overclockers from 1 June 2014, the Samsung UD590has a 28" TN panel, GTG response time of 1ms, static contrast ratio of 1000:1 and maximum brightness of 370cd/m2. It offers a DisplayPort and two HDMI 1.4 connectors but no DVI interface. Samsung's Picture-by-Picture feature enables you to connect two different PCs to the display and see the desktops of both simultaneously on one screen that's divided into two. The monitor also includes UHD up-scaling technology that converts low-resolution content to Ultra HD. 

Adobe has posted Version 1.6.0.393 of Adobe Creative Cloud. This release incorporates the following improvements and fixes:

• You can now install older versions of Adobe products straight from Creative Cloud Desktop. These are installed side-by-side with existing versions.
• Improved performance when syncing a large number of files.
• Fixed scenarios where font sync would show perpetual spinner.
• Improved overall font sync stability.
• Improved error handling for file sync, including the addition of notifications when retrying can resolve an error.
• Batched notifications of file sync operations, limiting the number of notifications when a large number of files are synced in a short period of time.
• Redesigned Sign In experience.
• Increased types of enterprise identities accepted for licensing products.

PhotoShelter has just released a new free educational guide, Protect Yourself: What Photographers Should Know About Insurance. The PDF guide covers basic insurance terminology, lists the most important reasons to get insurance and examples of when to file a claim, and much more. You can download the guide from the website below.

The exhibition hall of Fundación MAPFRE will be hosting a Henri Cartier-Bresson retrospective from 28 June to 7 September 2014. Featuring over five hundred photographs, drawings, paintings, films and documents; the exhibition has been organised by the Centre Pompidou de Paris with the participation of the Cartier-Bresson Foundation. This is the first major retrospective exhibition to be held in Europe since the artist's death. The exhibition hall is located at Paseo de Recoletos, 23, 28004, Madrid.

Pickture is a photographic contest app for Android and iOS. Initially released to a key group of high-volume Instagram users, the intuitive app activates the capabilities of Instagram to provide users with a platform to share their images, be immersed in photography and have the chance to win a range of prizes. Pickture adopts a multi-platform approach by putting winners in the spotlight both within the app and on its own Instagram account. This provides users a chance to not only be rewarded for their images through prizes, but also with a chance to build their network of followers as they are exposed to a wide audience. Through celebrating the winners, Pickture also enables users to connect with and discover others who hold the same creative interests. You can download the app from the website below.

BiteMyApple has just launched the Snappgrip, an add-on controller that turns the smartphone into a point-and-shoot camera. It allows you to steadily hold the iPhone with one-hand to ensure clearer images, and truly take advantage of the smartphone’s camera capabilities. The buttons are what you’d expect to find on a real camera. When you’re finished taking photos, simply remove the accessory from the handset, and store away for future use. Available for $69.99, the Snappgrip includes a tripod, micro USB cord for charging, wrist strap, controller, and a protective case.

Photographer Anthony Epes (of Cities at Dawn fame) has a new exhibition launching next month - a collection of portraits of the players of The Homeless World Cup. He photographed the project at two of their annual tournaments - in Mexico City in 2012 and Poznan in 2013. The project will be exhibited at Downstairs at Mother from 6th-13th June and then transfer to Spitalfields Market as part of the East End Film Festival from 16th-22nd June.

The LG G3 is an Android 4.4.2-powered smartphone with a 13-megapixel camera, f/2 lens, Optical Image Stabiliser, laser-assisted AF and a 5.5-inch, 538ppi touchscreen. The laser-assisted auto focus system enables the G3 to capture the best moment — even in low light — by measuring the distance between the subject and the camera using a laser beam. LG also simplified the process of actually capturing those special moments. Rather than having to focus on the subject in preview mode and then pressing the shutter button, with the G3, tapping the subject to focus will simultaneously also trigger the shutter. The LG G3 will begin rolling out worldwide on over 170 carriers, with UK availability from 1st July 2014.

Want to see exactly what the new Pentax 645Z medium-format DSLR camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the exciting new Pentax 645Z medium-format DSLR camera.

Canon U.S.A. has announced a new marketing campaign, “Bring It,” designed to help consumers tell better stories with higher-quality images. and video.  The campaign features Canon’s line of EOS digital SLR cameras and lenses, and encourages everyone to share their best photographs and movies on the Canon “Bring It” microsite. Through a series of TV, in-cinema and digital spots, “Bring It” pays homage to Canon’s past as a leader in digital imaging technology, including scenes from the recent film Need for Speed as well as personal home videos conveying the impact Canon has had from Hollywood to the general public. Consumers are also encouraged to be part of this social movement, using the hashtag #BringIt every time they upload their creative HD videos and still images on social media sharing sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Consumer submitted content shared online with #BringIt may be featured and celebrated on the campaign microsite, bringit.usa.canon.com, beginning in July.

The Lomo'Instant is a funky little instant film camera featuring a built-in wide-angle lens and fisheye and portrait lens attachments. Available in four distinct styles, the Lomo'Instant works with the widely available Fujifilm Instax Mini film and offers three modes of operation; flash on auto, flash on manual and flash off manual, as well as multiple exposures, B setting for infinite long exposures, four colour flash gels in red, blue, purple and yellow and easy 2 step-focusing. The Lomo'Instant project is funded through Kickstarter.

The AOC u2868Pqu is a new 28" monitor offering Ultra HD resolution. Featuring a 16:9 TN panel with Real 8-bit +FRC arrangement and a refresh rate of 60Hz, the AOC u2868Pqu boasts a pixel response time of 1ms and comes with DisplayPort, DVI, D-Sub, HDMI (MHL) and USB 2.0/3.0 connectors. The picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture functions allow watching images simultaneously from different signal sources, such as Blu-ray players or PCs. AOC offers a 3 year warranty with on-site exchange service for the u2868Pqu, which is available as of now at an MSRP of £499.