MBLOK is a truly small wireless storage solution for all your devices including your camera phone, tablet, laptop, and more. The tiny MBLOK has its own operating system, and can communicate with Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth, as well as any computer via USB. By pairing it with your Bluetooth enabled devices, you can use MBLOK just like local memory - but without the need to transfer the files between the different devices. With a battery life of 300 hours and no need for Internet access, MBLOK offers up to 256GB of storage with 128-bit encryption, and transfer speeds of 24Mbit/s. The commercialisation of the product is financed through a Kickstarter campaign running till 16 June 2014.

FastRawViewer is a new application enabling users to quickly view and evaluate their raw photos. Currently in Beta, the program features several image quality assessment tools such as raw histograms, over- and underexposure warnings, focus indicators, shadow boost to see noise and details, and more. Supporting nearly all raw image file formats, FastRawViewer is available from the website below.

Website: FastRawViewer

Focus 2 Pro from Macphun is a professional-quality selective-focus tool that now runs as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, and Apple's Aperture. The program lets you begin with one of five preset focus structures – for Portrait, Nature, Architecture, Macro and "Tilt-Shift" – and then fine-tune the blur, in-focus and fall-off areas to the exact requirements and angles of your picture. Focus 2 Pro offers further adjustments to brightness, colour, sharpness and contrast local to either the in focus or blur areas to ensure that the results are realistic and of an exceptional high quality. The plug-in launches from the Filter menu within Adobe Photoshop and once the finished Focus work is done, you're right back with your image with a Focus 2 Pro item appearing in the History pane. Focus 2 Pro is available for less than £30 including VAT in the UK.

Leica has posted a firmware update for the Leica T compact system camera. According to the German company, Version 1.1 "fulfils 100% the scope of functions and performance of the camera as described in the manual." You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Leica

Last month, Lytro announced the Illum, an upcoming camera that uses light field technology to capture "multi-dimensional" images with a single click. Since then, the company has released a short documentary about five leading photographers who got to pilot the new camera. The behind-the-scenes video follows the artists coast to coast - from portrait artist Anna Webber's film noire scene in the streets of New York City to the surreal concepts of Kyle Thompson set against the drizzly woods of Eugene, Oregon.

Olympus has issued a firmware update for its PEN E-P5 compact system camera. Version 1.5 fixes a bug related to the display of aperture, sensitivity and shutter speed that plagued firmware version 1.4. You can update your camera's firmware using the free Digital Camera Updater utility.

Pixifly is an iOS app that allows users to search public Instagram photos based on time and place. Rather than searching based on keywords or hashtags, Pixifly searches by new filters: when and where the photos are posted, either by specifying the name of a place or by zeroing in on a specific location via the map view. Additionally, Pixifly just announced a new photo share feature allowing the user to make photo collages with up to four photos and share them with friends via Facebook, Twitter, text message or e-mail. Pixify 2.0.0 is available as a free download from iTunes.

ReadyAction is a hands-free body mount and harness system for smartphones, cameras and tablets. Currently in production, ReadyActio mounts and harness systems give users the ability to strap their phones and cameras to their bodies/bikes allowing them to shoot videos and/or multitask while on the move. Pricing starts at $19.99.

Website: ReadyAction

The 2014 international Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) awards are open for entry. There are three portfolio categories - Tribes, Spirit of Adventure and Earth, Air, Fire and Water –, a New Talent award and an HD video category. The overall winner of TPOTY – the Travel Photographer of the Year 2014 - will receive £2,500 and a Plastic Sandwich personalised leather print book or iPad case. In addition, they will receive a private showcase of their travel photography at next year’s Travel Photographer of the Year exhibition. Entry to the awards costs from £7.50, and entry to Young Travel Photographer of the Year is free.

Jessops has announced that its Exclusive Olympus OM-D E-M10 kit comprising a silver camera body and 14-42mm II R lens is available now. Priced at £599.99, the kit can be purchased online and in-store, For those who want a little help on the way, Jessops offers tailored one-to-one training sessions from as little as £39.

Review: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Review

The Leica M Edition 100 is a special kit comprising a purely mechanical rangefinder camera for film photography – the Leica M-A, which is based on the currently available Leica MP – and a digital Leica M Monochrom, alongside three Leica Summilux-M lenses with focal lengths of 28, 35 and 50mm. Of these, the Leica Summilux-M 1,4/28 mm ASPH. is a completely new lens, designed specifically for the Leica M Edition 100 bundle. These cameras and lenses will be available exclusively as sets from Leica Stores and Boutiques and strictly limited to 101 sets.

Leica has announced a new version of the Leica M Monochrom digital rangefinder camera. "The design of the new silver chrome version is as discreet as the popular design of the black chrome version, with a uniform colouration and a minimum of details," the company says. "Naturally the black chrome version will still be available in parallel and besides the colour of outer parts, there is no technical difference between the two colour versions." The new model is planned to be available in limited quantities by the end of May, with an order no. of 10787 and RRP of £6,200.

The Leica Macro-Elmar-M 90 mm f/4 is a new, collapsible macro lens for the Leica M-System. Featuring four elements in four groups, the lens has a close-focus point of 0.8m and comes with a detachable, metal lens hood. In combination with the new Leica Macro-Adapter-M,, the Leica Macro-Elmar-M 90 mm f/4 allows photographers to capture macro shots at a reproduction ratio of up to 1:2. The Leica Macro-Elmar-M 90 mm f/4 (£2250) and the Leica Macro-Adapter-M (£500) are planned to be available from June.

Dublin-based student Conor Clinch has been named a winner of Samsung’s ‘Launching People’ project, a search for undiscovered British and Irish talent with a passion for food, film, music and photography. The 18 year-old was revealed as Rankin’s chosen protégé in the ‘Photography’ category this weekend in a new television series, The Ones To Watch, airing on Sky 1 at 7pm every Sunday until 8th June. Conor’s project was a photography exhibition based around the idea of ‘lad’ culture in Dublin, which aimed to portray the subjects’ pride in their fashion and how they presented themselves outwardly though their clothes. After learning he had won the ‘Photography’ category, Conor spent two weeks working with Rankin one-on-one on a unique project. Conor’s Launching People submission can be found at the website below.

The Group of the Party of European Socialists (PES Group) in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) has launched a photo competition. Jobs for Europe – Europe for Jobs invites amateur photographers to capture in a photo the diversity of job realities and job aspirations in Europe. The competition runs until 30 June 2014 and is open to European residents aged 18 and older. The first prize is photographic equipment worth €2000 plus a three-day trip to Brussels  The winners will be announced in October 2014.

TeoreX has released an update to PhotoScissors, a smart software tool capable of removing unwanted backgrounds from photos. Targeting users who don’t want to learn the secrets of retouching, PhotoScissors is really easy to use: the user marks foreground and background zones in the image and immediately sees the results, which can then be fine-tuned with a few mouse gestures. Version 1.1 smoothly feathers the edges of the cutout for a professional look. Conveniently, the feathering radius can be now changed depending on the user´s needs. Additionally, the latest version adds support for HiDPI and Retina displays, a convenient option to pan the image while holding the SPACE button and few more GUI improvements. The price for a single license of PhotoScissors is $19.99.

Calumet UK have launched a new website. Located at www.calphoto.co.uk, the new site offers the same features as previously with the facility to purchase a wide range of photographic products, award-winning customer service, next-day delivery service and much more. To celebrate the launch, Calumet is offering 30% off Calumet branded products and free standard delivery using the code CALPHOTO. This offer is valid through 1st June.