Adva-Soft has released TouchRetouch Free, an iPhone app that lets you to remove unwanted content from photos easily.The free variant is basically a trial version which works just like the full TouchRetouch application, but adds a watermark to the saved images. Featuring in-app video tutorials, unlimited undo/redo actions, smart image background recovery techniques and more, TouchRetouch Free is available now on the AppStore. Purchasing the full version. TouchRetouch 1.0.1,  will not break the bank either, as it costs a mere $0.99.

Website: TouchRetouch Free on the AppStore
Website: TouchRetouch 1.0.1

Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 3 is a new handbook by Adobe Certified Instructor Steve Laskevitch. Providing a clear and effective workflow for editing photographs in the latest version of Photoshop and its companions Bridge, Camera Raw, and Lightroom; this 291-page handbook is designed to get you working quickly in these applications. Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 3 is available now for $39.95 in the US.

The Consumer Electronics Association has announced that registration is open for the 2011 International CES, the world’s largest consumer technology trade show. CES attracts more than 120,000 of the top executives, retail buyers, content providers, entertainment executives, venture capitalists, engineers, government officials and media from more than 130 countries. Registration for the 2011 International CES is free to industry professionals through 30 September. A registration fee of $100 will go into effect starting 1 October, and the fee will be $200 effective 31 December. Attendees, exhibitors and media can register today at the website below.

Website: CES

Seagate today unveiled the newest addition to its GoFlex family of hard drives — the GoFlex Home network storage system. When the GoFlex Home device is connected to a wireless router, an entire household can centrally store, easily access and continuously back up files wirelessly from both Windows and Mac OS X operating systems on the home network. Families photos, movies and music to most network connected DLNA devices, such as game consoles or a GoFlex TV HD media player, from any room in the house. The GoFlex Home network storage system can be purchased on Seagate.com and select retailers for a suggested retail price of $159.99 for 1TB and $229.99 for 2TB.

Pixamba has just released ProStockMaster, its award-wining microstock tool for stock photographers, as freeware. Available for both Mac OS X and Windows, ProStockMaster is billed as the first application dedicated to simplifying the process of submitting stock images to multiple microstock and traditional stock photography agencies at the same time. David Mail, CEO of Pixamba said: “We are proud to release ProStockMaster as free software, allowing the global community of contributing microstock photographers to easily upload stock images, selling stock photos and illustrations through top microstock agencies. For four years our microstock software has helped tens thousands of stock photographers to save time and money selling photos online. We keep working on this proven free microstock tool, bringing even more highly demanded keywording, management and stock imagery distribution functionality soon.”

Website: ProStockMaster

Shutterfly has selected Sorenson Media as its exclusive video services partner. The Sorenson 360 online video platform will power video services such as upload, transcoding, standard and high-definition playback, and download in Shutterfly customer accounts and on Shutterfly’s Share sites. Shutterfly Share sites are hosted on a free sharing platform that combines the benefits of photo and video sharing, blogging, self-publishing and social networking sites with a sophisticated security layer and easy-to-use interface. Shutterfly Video enables customers to upload up to 10 video clips in any format from digital cameras, camcorders or from the user’s browser. Videos can be posted directly to any personalized Shutterfly Share site, emailed or shared on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Blogger and so on. Apart from this free sharing platform, Shutterfly also offers a premium service which allows for unlimited video storage, larger file sizes, HD-quality playback and other options for $29.99 per year.

Lensbaby is teaming up with Kevin Kubota of Kubota Image Tools to create a Kubota Creative Tools Pak specifically for Lensbaby images. Lensbaby is also announcing The Kubota Contest, a new photo contest for photographers making the best use of Lensbaby Optics. All Lensbaby photographers are being asked to submit two unedited photos taken with any Lensbaby lens - Composer, Muse and Control Freak - and any of Lensbaby’s six optics - Double Glass, Single Glass, Plastic, Fisheye, Soft Focus and Pinhole/Zone Plate -, by 5pm EST, 6 August 2010 for a chance to win Lensbaby and Kubota Bucks as well as their own copy of the new Kubota Creative Tools, The Lensbaby Pak. The winning images will be announced on 3 September 2010.

Website: The Kubota Contest

Canon U.S.A: has re-launched its website. The new site provides simple and easy access to a wealth of information through a new and intuitive layout that groups popular areas of interest with related products, improved search functionality that returns more accurate, content-related results. In addition to an improved site visitor and customer experience, the re-designed website showcases Canon’s long and prestigious history as a leader in innovation and digital imaging technologies. Through an interactive flash piece, site visitors can witness how the Company grew from its first U.S. office in 1955 to the digital imaging giant it is today.

Samsung has issued firmware updates for the Samsung EX1 and the Samsung TL500 (which are identical cameras but require different firmware updates nonetheless). Versions 006291 (for the EX1) and 006254 (TL500) deal with an intermittent error occurring when the camera is turned on by holding down the playback button, and improve overall system stability.

Website: Samsung EX1 / TL500

Ricoh has posted a firmware update for the Ricoh GXR system. Version 1.18 resolves an issue with the CA-1 wired remote release, and provides bug fixes for each of the currently available lens modules. Specifically, it cures a problem with the focus limiter of the A12 module,. fixes a bug with the autoexposure lock function of the S10 unit in shutter speed priority mode, and deals with audible noise heard in movies captured by P10 module when the VF-2 electronic viewfinder is attached. You can download the firmware update from the website below.

Website: Ricoh GXR Firmware

Imagine Publishing and Samsung are joining forces to launch the fourth annual Digital Photography of the Year awards. Digital Photographer magazine anticipates record a number of submissions for the competition in 2010, with the overall winner receiving a Samsung NX10, three lenses and a flashgun kit. Six category winners will each receive a Samsung EX1 camera. The six categories include The Big Picture; Strike a Pose; Wild at Heart; Location, Location; Capture the Action and Get Creative. For all the details on how to enter, look out for Digital Photographer issue 98 on sale now throughout the UK, or head online to the website below.

Website: Digital Photographer

Sharp has introduced the VR-100BR1 triple-layer write-once Blu-ray Disc, the world’s first medium that conforms to the BDXL format specification, the new multi-layer recordable Blu-ray Disc format. This specification extends the storage capacity of Blu-ray Discs to 100GB, twice the 50GB storage capacity of existing dual-layer discs. The new Sharp VR-100BR1 expands the range of applications for Blu-ray Discs to include recording and saving long-duration HD videos and HDTV programmes. Availability is slated for 30 July, pricing to be announced. Note that there is no guarantee that this disc will function when used in equipment or PCs not supporting the BDXL format.

New test results for the Sony A330 and Nikon D300s digital SLR cameras have been posted to the DxOMark website. The Nikon D300s has been tested with 21 different lenses, and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 with 16. For the results, visit the website below and select Sony A330 or Nikon D300s as brand/model in the corresponding camera filters.

Website: DxOMark - All Tested Lenses

Sony has released an official sample video shot on a Sony Handycam NEX-VG10 large-sensor interchangeable-lens camcorder, announced yesterday. The five-and-a-half-minute sample movie, entitled ‘Beautiful Bali’, was captured using a variety of lenses. You can watch video, which is hosted on Vimeo, after the break.

Canon UK today announced that for the second consecutive year it is to sponsor The Times newspaper’s search for The Times Young Photographer of the Year. Now in its 9th year, the competition seeks to find the UK’s best young photographer. The eventual winner will secure a 6 month placement with The Times newspaper where they will be trained in the skills of a photojournalist.  In addition to the placement the winner will also receive an award-winning EOS 5D Mark II camera body (pictured), EF 24-70 f/2.8 lens, EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens and a Canon 580EX II Speedlite flash. The competition will be launched in The Times on 16th July and will run until 31st August 2010. In order to be able to enter, you need to be between 18 and 26 years of age and a legal resident of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland.

The LaCie XtremKey is a rugged USB key that offers “industrial-strength” protection for your data. Available in capacities of up to 64GB, the LaCie XtremKey is shielded inside a 2mm metal pipe casing. Sealed with wear-resistant screw threads and a rubber O-ring, it is watertight up to 100 metres. The LaCie XtremKey is also resistant to 5-metre drops, fierce heat (200 °C) and bitter cold (-50 °C). Equipped with the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface, the LaCie XtremKey will be available in August through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Corner, and LaCie Reseller+ starting at £42.99 for the 8GB variant..

Pentax has launched a “Classic Silver” variant of the Pentax Optio I-10 digital compact camera in Japan. The Pentax Optio I-10 is a very distinctive compact camera that looks just like a retro SLR from yesteryear. In addition to its unique styling, the Optio I-10 also offers a 5x zoom lens with a 35mm eqivalent focal range of 28-140mm, 12 megapixels, 2.7-inch LCD screen, triple anti-shake protection, 720p HD movie recording, and wireless remote shooting. The Classic Silver variant will start shipping next month in Japan, but there is no word on international availability.

Website: Press Release (Japanese)

The Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC OS HSM standard zoom for DSLR cameras with an APS-C sized sensor is now available in the US. This lens has two FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, plus two glass mold and one hybrid aspherical lens that are claimed to provide excellent correction for all type of aberrations. The Optical Stabiliser (OS) allows you to take longer hand-held exposures than would otherwise be possible, while the inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 particularly suitable for use with the supplied petal-type lens hood and circular polarising filters. The lens is currently available in Canon mounts at all authorised Sigma dealers for the MSRP of $980, and it will be available in Nikon, Sigma, Sony and Pentax mounts in the coming weeks.

The Leaf Capture Remote 2.0 remote viewing application adds native iPad support, a new pause/play functionality, flip-through image browsing, support for the Mamiya RZ33 and all DM series models as well as the iPhone 4’s retina display, and improves image playback at 1:1 viewing. While shooting tethered to a Mac, the new Leaf Capture Remote 2.0 app enables one or more iPad or iPhone devices to act as remote image viewers. Clients can view images from a photo shoot from the comfort of a photographer’s Wi-Fi enabled client room. Assistants can instantly check focus and details even when at a distance from a photographer’s main computer. And stylists can see what the camera sees—all without crowding around the photographer or main computer area. The Leaf Capture Remote 2.0 client app for the iPad/iPhone can be downloaded for free from the Apple iPhone App Store. The Leaf Capture Remote server and all related instructions can be accessed via the website below.

Website: Mamiya Customer Service