The new AutoStitch 3.1 brings significant improvements in panoramic photography to users of the iPhone 4 and the new iPod touch 4G. While AutoStitch has already been widely used on these new devices, Version 3.1 introduces some important new features, including multi-tasking to complete a stitsch while a user runs other apps, improved Facebook uploads and the option of entering a caption directly from the app. Many other small interface improvements and bug fixes are included. AutoStitch 3.1 is $2.99 and available through the App Store.

Application Gap has announced that its product, Easy Release 1.8 for iOS, is the first application approved by Getty Images, Inc for creating digital model and property releases. Getty announced its approval on 9th November via its creative contributor website. Note that Getty has only approved Easy Release for iOS version 1.8.100814 (the current version available in Apple’s App Store). Robert Giroux, founder of ApplicationGap, says “Since its release in March 2010, Easy Release has gained wide and enthusiastic acceptance from professional photographers.  While many stock agencies have for months been accepting model and property releases created with Easy Release, approval by Getty Images means far more professionals will be able to take advantage of our application to save time and money.”

Today marks the UK launch of the Sony Bloggie Touch Full HD pocket camcorder. The new Bloggie Touch has a 3-inch capacitive touch screen that automatically adjusts for vertical or horizontal shooting and viewing, enabling its users to shoot video right-handed, left-handed, right-side-up or even upside-down. Equipped with an f/2.8 wide-angle lens, 8GB of memory and a sensitive Exmor CMOS sensor, the Bloggie Touch has SteadyShot image stabilisation for smoother footage and a built-in USB arm for easy charging and uploading to a computer.

MediaPad Pro is a new app for the Apple iPad which, accordig to its developers, will “revolutionise” the presentation of professional portfolios. The app comes equipped with features such as a fully customisable interface, offering instant access to showcase a selection of work and even edit presentations on the spot. MediaPad Pro is available now on iTunes for $14.99.

The five winning young photographers of a global photography competition run by the World Photography Organisation and UNICEF have just returned from Ethiopia following a week of unique workshops. The five youngsters - aged 16-19 and from Brazil, Morocco, New Zealand, Romania and the United States - took part in the Eye See workshop themed around children’s rights alongside local Ethiopian children and was led by acclaimed photography and humanitarian Reza. The five young photographers were among thousands of young people from around the world who submitted photographs to a competition launched last year by David Beckham and Ewan McGregor asking for images that highlighted one of the five fundamental rights of a child.

The Lomographic Society has released three new members of the Diana camera family. The three new clones of the Diana Mini include a pink, a white and a black version. These 35mm “toy” cameras can shoot two different frame sizes including 24x24mm square and 18x24mm half-frame, and the photographer can switch from one to the other even mid-roll. The Diana Mini White is available at a price of £55 / €60 / $70, whereas the Diana Mini En Rose (pink) and Petite Noir (black) retail for £99 / €100 / €110.

Samsung has announced the release of the music video for indie band OK Go’s latest song, “Last Leaf”, filmed using the Samsung NX100 compact system camera. The “Last Leaf” video was made using thousands of photographs taken with the Samsung NX100, woven together to create a stop motion animation clip. The images were combined with hand-drawn animations created by the band, along with award-winning animator Geoff McFettridge. “Samsung’s been great because we had a creative idea and they had the tools to help us make it,” said Damian Kulash, lead singer of OK Go.

Website: Last Leaf

The Broadway show ‘Time Stands Still’, which follows a photojournalist and a foreign correspondent trying to find happiness in a world that seems to have gone crazy, is running a talk back series. The next event in the series will take place on 16th November at the Cort Theatre, 138 West 48th St, New York. Moderated by Newsweek senior international photo editor James Wellford, the talk back will feature Pulitzer Prize-winning Getty Images staff photographer John Moore, Getty news photographer Mario Tama, and Reportage by Getty Images photographer Shaul Schwarz. Past talk backs can be listened to online at the website below.

Website: Time Stands Still Talk Backs

James Clews has been named the Express Insurance photographer of the year. “My photograph was taken at Hawkstone Park in Shropshire for the British series and captures the renowned motocross rider Mike Brown,” James said. “The idea of the shot was to give the rider a better sense of speed and bring out the colours. I used a panning shot which is a great technique in photographing this sport.” James’ winning prize is £250 worth of KTM motorcycle gear plus an exclusive one-to-one photography lesson with professional photographer Ray Archer.

FX Photo Studio 3.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch is now available on the App Store. This update adds 31 new photo effects and filters, and further simplifies the editing and sharing of pictures, letting users mix and tune photo effects hundreds different ways. One can apply multiple effects to an image and use the multi-step undo option if not satisfied with the results. The app is priced at $2.99.

FotoWeek DC has announced a mobile phone photography competition called “Picture the Potomac”. The contest, which runs from now until midnight 12th November, aims to highlight awareness of Washington’s ever-changing waterway and to challenge the creativity of both professional and amateur photographers of all ages. Images must be captured on a mobile phone camera and submitted to the contest registration site at the cost of $3.99 per upload. The grand prize will consist of $500 in cash, plus a FolioLink Pro Account, and a professional portfolio website valued at $1500.

National Geographic is calling photographers from around the world to participate in their 2010 Photo Contest. The winner will have their picture published in worldwide editions of National Geographic magazine. They will also win a trip to Washington D.C. to participate in the annual National Geographic Seminar in January, as well as a cash prize of $10,000. Entries are accepted across three categories: People, Places, and Nature. Each entry has a fee of $15, but there is no limit on the number of entries per entrant. The competition ends on 30th November, and the winner will be announced in December.

Website: National Geographic Competition

Sixtyone North has announced its second photo tour for 2011. The tour, titled “Wild Lands & Wild Life: Cordova” will kick off on 18 June 2011 and end on the 24th. Participants will be staying in an adventure lodge tucked in a secluded coastline on the edge of the Prince William Sound. As the name of the tour suggests, the region around Cordova, Alaska will be the main focus of the tour, to include a wide variety of marine and land mammals, rainforest, mountains, glaciers and vast fields of wild flowers.  The cost per participant is $3575; which covers 6 nights of accommodation in the lodge, meals and transportation while on tour, and tuition. Transportation to Cordova is not included. The first $1000 is payable upon registration.

DivePhotoGuide.com and Wetpixel.com have announced the sixth Our World Underwater and DEEP Indonesia competitions. The series is held in association with two leading scuba diving expos on opposite sides of the world, simultaneously - Our World Underwater, one of the largest diving expos in the US, and DEEP Indonesia, the first and only scuba diving and watersports expo in Indonesia. Prizes include nearly 40 trips to some of the best dive resorts and live aboards in the world, underwater photo and video equipment, and scuba diving gear. In addition, this year the Best of Show winner will receive $1,000 cash to go along with his or her dive trip. The submission deadline is 17 January 2011. Entry fees apply.

OptimumCS is an optimum camera settings calculator that runs on iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Designed for any kind of photography where maximum sharpness over a large depth of field is required, OptimumCS determines the camera settings that will result in the sharpest photographs “the laws of physics will allow”, developer George Douvos says. This approach is quite different from practices based on the international depth of field standard, which have the goal of finding the largest aperture that will provide acceptable sharpness on relatively small prints. OptimumCS is available now on the App Store priced at $2.49.

Users of older Eye-Fi cards can now upgrade their cards to obtain hotspot access for the same price as Eye-Fi Pro/Explore X2 users. Originally developed for the X2 family of cards, Eye-Fi’s hotspot plan allows customers to use their cards with a personal subscription to a Wi-Fi hotspot provider, such as Boingo, BT Openzone, T-Mobile, Orange and Swisscom. Early adopters of Eye-Fi cards who purchased the Eye-Fi X1 card have previously been unable to upload photos onto photo sharing websites, such as Facebook and Flickr. These cards can also be upgraded to include this feature, removing the need to purchase a new X2 model. Service upgrades will be available through Eye-Fi users’ Eye-Fi Center accounts.

Redrock Micro has announced its new M3 cinema lens adapter for video cameras. The Redrock Micro M3 allows videographers to achiever shallow depth of field and film look without the drawbacks of HDSLRs. “Redrock’s mission has always been to empower anyone to shoot high production value, film style imagery,” said James Hurd, Chief Revolutionary for Redrock Micro. “The M3 delivers a unique blend of amazing footage with the control and power of modern digital video cameras. Anyone who shoots with an HDSLR camera but is frustrated by its shortcomings will appreciate what the M3 delivers.” The Redrock M3 cinema lens adapter will available in several different configurations and bundles. Special Introductory pricing starts at $1,320. The M3 will start shipping on 1st December 2010.

Athentech Imaging has announced that its Perfectly Clear software for one-touch colour correction is now available as an iPad app. Previously available as a Photoshop plug-in for Mac and Windows, as well as an iPhone app, the new iPad app features eight independent corrections, all operating automatically with one touch. Perfectly Clear for iPad is now available as an online download via the App Store for US$5.99.

LaCie has released a USB 3.0 driver for Mac OS, which, when used in conjunction with the company’s USB 3.0 expansion cards, allows Mac users to experience USB 3.0 speeds. Those who already have a compatible Mac, one of LaCie’s USB 3.0 products and a LaCie expansion card can download the driver from the website below.