CyberLink have introduced their new cloud service, a set of cloud-based consumer creative tools including the company's first subscription-based creative suite, called Director Suite Live. Integrating 4 award-winning CyberLink video and photo editing products – PowerDirector, PhotoDirector, AudioDirector and ColorDirector –, Director Suite Live offers users two subscription plans. The quarterly fee is $49.99, while the annual plan is $99.99. These subscription fees include 10GB of CyberLink Cloud storage as well as use of all four applications. Throughout the subscription period, users are guaranteed to always get the most up-to-date Director Suite releases. Director Suite Live, with CyberLink Cloud service, is available through the CyberLink online store in the US, Canada and UK.

Fuji has issued a firmware update for the Fujifilm XQ1 digital compact camera. Version 1.10 adds a “Suppressed Flash mode (where the flash does not fire even when the subject is poorly lit)" option to the flash menu. In particular this is useful if you use the XQ1 with the waterproof housing WP-XQ1 when diving as it makes it possible to select “Suppressed Flash” mode even when the flash is raised. You can read more about the firmware upgrade at the website below.

Website: Fujifilm XQ1 Firmware Update 1.10

Nikon France has published ten full-resolution sample images captured with the new Nikon 1 V3 compact system camera. Shot with a variety of 1 Nikkor and AF-S Nikkor lenses at sensitivity settings ranging from ISO 160/23° to ISO 12,800/42°, these Nikon 1 V3 samples can be downloaded from Nikon France's Flickr pool.

Website: Nikon France | Flickr

The Nikon 1 V3 is a WiFi-enabled compact system camera with an 18.4-megapixel CX-format sensor and no low-pass filter. Key features include a sensitivity range of ISO 160-6,400 (expandable to ISO 12,800), a 171-point AF system with 105 on-sensor phase-detect auto-focus points, a continuous shooting speed of 20fps with AF (and 60fps without), a 40-shot raw buffer, a tiltable touchscreen and 1080/60p Full HD movie recording. As opposed to the Nikon 1 V1 and V2, the new V3 lacks a body-integral electronic viewfinder, although an add-on EVF is available as an optional extra. The Nikon 1 V3 will be available for €849.00 for the body only and €949.00 /  £799.99 in a kit with the 1 Nikkor 10-30mm PD-Zoom lens. An all-encompassing kit including the V3 camera, 10-30mm PD-Zoom lens, DF-N1000 external EVF and GR-N1010 grip will be available for £1,049.99 / €1249.00 / $1,199.95 (for US customers, this appears to.be the only option).

The 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 PD-Zoom is a new powerzoom lens for the Nikon 1 system. Equivalent to a 27-81mm lens on a 35mm camera, the 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 PD-Zoom is equipped with a retractable lens mechanism and an electronic lens cover rather than a lens cap. The electric power-drive zoom and power zoom ring enable swift, smooth zooming, which is especially handy when filming. The lens will be available in a kit with the new Nikon 1 V3 compact system camera, or separately for £249.99 / €299.00 / $299.95.

The 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 is a new, 189–810mm equivalent super-telephoto zoom lens for the Nikon 1 system. In a first for a 1 Nikkor series lens, the Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 boasts a focus limit switch that lets you reduce focusing time when shooting within a specific distance range. Other features include Vibration Reduction (VR) and a retractable-lens mechanism that ensures easy portability between locations. Nikon’s Voice Coil Motor delivers fast, quiet auto focus, and the focus ring with M/A focus mode lets users make quick and precise manual focus adjustments during auto focus operation. The 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 lens will be available for £879.99 / €1,029.00 / $999.95.

Canon EOS 70D: The Guide to Understanding and Using Your Camera by James Johnson is a new title from Rocky Nook. Covering everything from basic camera features to advanced photographic options, the book’s exploration of the EOS 70D goes beyond that of the user’s manual. The text is illustrated with easy-to-follow screenshots and example images. The 332-page eBook is available for $16.95 through the website below.

Anthropics has released PortraitPro 12. Billed as the world's first retouching software with face relighting technology for truly natural enhancement, PortraitPro 12 has an enhanced capability to slim faces and ‘take the weight off that the camera puts on,’ and incorporates Anthropics Technology's. latest skin enhancer that retains natural skin texture when removing blemishes, the company says. Claimed to be 4 times faster than its predecessor, PortraitPro 12 is now available for ₤29.95/$49.95.

This month Phase One’s David Grover will host three new interactive webinars featuring professional photographers. On Friday 14th March, fashion photographer Jaime DeMarco will respond to attendees' questions and get down into the details of post processing to get the perfect images. On the 19th, LA-based food photographer, Matt Armendariz will talk about his images, while on Thursday, 27th March,UK based landscape photographer Steve Gosling will reveal some of his workflow secrets and respond to questions. Click through / scroll down for more information and registration links.

The Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) has announced the winners of the Under 5's Photography Competition. The winning photo, "It's My Party" (above) by Julie Moult from Leicestershire, was chosen from over 290 images entered. "[The photograph] was taken in my studio on a cream paper background with a single 24" softbox camera right," Julie says. The runner-up was Julie Fraser from Caithness.

"Colour Stylisation - Using Photoshop Adjustments to create individual image styles with Mark Wood" is a new webinar hosted by X-Rite. This online seminar will explore how Photoshop adjustments can be used to create individual image processing styles. The session will also help you create prints in a variety of media. The webinar will take place from 6pm GMT on 20 March 2014. To register, visit the website beloow.

Pictorl has released the first major update to its photo sharing app available for iOS, Android and Windows. Offering a unique browsing experience which makes swiping through photos feel like you’re leafing through pages of a book or an old photo album, Pictorl has an extensive list of features including the ability to create and organise albums, pinch to zoom, simple and intuitive privacy settings, push notifications, subscriptions, comments, and more. The application’s latest update adds bulk uploading of photos, offline editing of photos and albums, and direct messaging between users. A non-destructive photo editor has also been added which allows users to modify their photos at anytime – even after they’ve been uploaded. The program is available as a free download from the company's website.

Living photo creation software Flixel Cinemagraph Pro has achieved featured status on the Mac App Store where it reached No. 1 in the photography category in over 50 countries. The program allows users to intuitively and easily create cinemagraph images, a hybrid media form that combines the timeless quality of a photograph and elements of moving video, Flixel says. The new software includes support for 4K Ultra HD resolution video capture, masking tools, seamless looping options and a wide range of filters. Creators can upload and share their living photos in high resolution to Flixel’s community as well as to a variety of social networks. Flixel’s Cinemagraph Pro for Mac is available to purchase for $14.99.

CyberLink has released a free, new photo editing app - PhotoDirector for Android. The Android version of PhotoDirector includes several features including smart Object Removal, complete editing and adjustment tools, HDR effects, and beautification tools. Easy-to-use sliders give users full control over White Balance, Tone, Saturation and more. For more novice users, PhotoDirector for Android also includes over 70 preset effects to instantly adjust the mood of an image. PhotoDirector is available in the Google Play store.

International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) has launched a Monochrome Photo Project. The project has a wide brief – just about anything monochrome and relating to plants and gardens can be entered – including abstracts. There’s a £500 cash prize for the winner, plus the opportunity for their image to be featured in the IGPOTY book. The deadline for this contest is 31 March 2014.

A district court in Tokyo, Japan, has ruled in Nikon's favour in a patent infringement lawsuit filed in 2011 against Sigma. Nikon claimed that a number of Sigma lenses infringed on some of its patents related to lens-based vibration reduction technology (VR). The court has ordered Sigma to pay 1.5 billion yen (14.5 million dollars) in compensation.

Source: Lexology