ACD Systems have released a second, free ACDSee Pro 3 update that provides additional flexibility when processing digital images and publishing those images online. The upgrade brings netbook compatibility, improved raw processing performance, workflow customisation, online enhancements and other improvements. ACDSee Pro 3 is available for a free 30-day trial and for purchase at $169.99.

Website: ACDSee

Photodex has released a new iPad device output profile for its ProShow slide show software. The ProShow Device plug-in works directly with ProShow Gold and Producer to create device-ready versions of a user’s slide shows. Now any ProShow user can easily sync their slide shows to their iPad and watch them play back full screen and in HD without the need for complicated formatting or conversions. The ProShow Device plug-in is available for $19.95.

Lexar has just announced that it is shipping Lexar Professional 133x SDHC memory cards in 16GB and 32GB capacities to retail outlets. The Lexar Professional SDHC cards offer the maximum Class 10 speed rating, providing a minimum sustained write speed capability of 20MB per second. All Lexar Professional memory cards include a limited lifetime warranty, a free downloadable copy of Image Rescue 4 software, and exclusive, money-saving promotions from Adobe on popular photo and video editing products, including the latest versions of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and Adobe Premiere Elements software.

Microsoft and Phase One today announced that Phase One has acquired the Microsoft Expression Media product. Expression Media is a digital asset management application used to catalog and organize photos, video and music for effortless retrieval, presentation and sharing. Under the terms of the agreement, Phase One takes full ownership of the Expression Media product. To ensure a smooth transition for Expression Media customers, Microsoft will continue to provide support to retail customers for 90 days. Phase One will begin offering support for the Expression Media product after the 90-day transition period. Microsoft customers who are currently using Expression Media under an Enterprise Agreement will continue to receive support from Microsoft through the term of their agreements. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Artists and photographers Ben Raynor, Chris Mear, Robert Attard, Anna Taylor and Nicola Thompson are announced winners of the 2010 Free Range Art Award. The diverse selection, embracing Ben Raynor’s humorous mixed media drawing Albert alongside Anna Taylor’s subtly emotive photograph Grandad (shown above), demonstrates Free Range at its best, the organisers say. Each selected work will be produced as a print in a limited edition of 25, giving the artists the opportunity to sell their work. The exclusive limited edition prints of work by the five winners will be available to buy at Free Range 2010 and also online at CultureLabel from 3rd June.

Website: CultureLabel

The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2010 (YPA10) is now open for entries. Photographs can be submitted in the post, to arrive no later than 5pm on 23 August, or online on the contest website until the closing date of midnight on Monday, 6 September. The overall winner will get £1,000 worth of Olympus kit of their choice. Additionally, Danny Green - one of the world’s best wildlife photographers - is offering the overall YPA10 winner the chance to join him for a three-day photography break. Danny will pass on some expert photography tips as well as share his inside knowledge during the annual deer rut in Bradgate Park, in Leicestershire.

Canon has issued a firmware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera. Version 2.0.7 brings about the following changes:

  1. Fixes a phenomenon in which the aperture exhibits abnormal movement when shooting movies in manual exposure mode and Aperture Priority AE (Av mode) using some Canon lenses.
  2. Fixes a phenomenon in which the exposure level shown in the LCD panel differs from what is shown in the viewfinder when shooting still images in manual exposure mode.
  3. Fixes a phenomenon in which the Wireless File Transmitter (WFT-E4 or WFT-E4 II) may not automatically power off when used for FTP transfers.

Website: Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update

The 28th edition of the PhotographyBB Online Magazine has just been released. This issue features techniques for improving photography at auto-shows, a portraiture tutorial on skin softening, and how to create digital frames for showing off web gallery photos with style. Additionally, photographers will learn how their peers are using personal blogs as a means for acquiring photography related jobs and freelance work. In their Photography Around the World series, the editors take readers to New Zealand for a photographic exploration of the Otago Rail Trail, a popular biking trail for outdoor photo enthusiasts. PhotographyBB Online Magazine is available for free download through the PhotographyBB website.

Website: PhotographyBB Online Magazine

Fujifilm has issued a firmware update for the Fujifilm Finepix HS10 ultrazoom camera. Version 1.02 fixes the following issues:

1. In Raw data a line is visible where colors slightly change when developed by Raw File Converter.
2. Battery indicator turns on too early.
3. When “Image Disp.” in set-up menu is set to “Zoom”, sometimes image corrupts.

You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Fujifilm FinePix HS10 Firmware Upgrade

Arctic explorer and photographer Martin Hartley has recorded historic images with an LEICA MP camera during a 60-day trek to the North Pole. “I carried the Leica MP around my neck in a thin waterproof bag to stop the moisture from my breath landing and then freezing on the viewfinder. The camera was instantly accessible all day every day, no matter how cold it got. Every time I wanted the camera to work, it did” Hartley commented.

The Mini Bounce is designed to fit onto the pop-up flash built into Nikon and Canon Digital SLR cameras, giving a boost to flash output and softening the light at the same time to give better results. The Mini Bounce sells for £12.99 including postage and is available from www.speedlightprokit.co.uk and stockists.

PocketWizards have unveiled the PowerST4 receiver and the AC9 AlienBees adapter, which bring the benefits of their ControlTL system to studio photographers. The PowerST4 receiver (pictured) is designed specifically for Elinchrom RX series lights, and provides remote power control capabilities when paired with an on-camera MiniTT1 Transmitter or FlexTT5 Transceiver. The AC9 AlienBees adapter slides into the top shoe of a FlexTT5 Transceiver and then attaches to an AlienBees or White Lighting studio light via the remote jack on the light. Both products are in final firmware testing now. According to PocketWizard, production of the PowerST4 is almost complete and will be shipping in June. The AC9 AlienBees adapter is scheduled for production in June and should be available in July.

National Geographic and Energizer have teamed up for the third annual Energizer Ultimate photo contest. Through Wednesday, 30 June, aspiring photographers can visit the website below to enter one photo in each of six thematic categories: animals/wildlife, nature, travel, people/cultures, weather and action/energy. The winner will have their photo featured in the December issue of National Geographic magazine in an ad for Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries, and they’ll also be awarded the trip two to the Greek Isles.

Website: Energizer Ultimate Contest

Digital Foci is now shipping the Pearl White version of its Photo Book, a portable digital photo album with an 8-inch 800x600-pixel colour screen and a 4GB of internal memory. Announced in March, this “Wedding” version is billed as an elegant photo album that makes an attractive first impression, matching perfectly with wedding themes. Built-in memory card slots provide native support for CF, SD/SDHC/MMC, xD, MS and MS PRO memory cards. Available today, Photo Book Pearl White “Wedding” Version is priced at $189 SRP through Digital Foci and major retailers such as Amazon, B&H and Adorama.

Website: Digital Foci

Zeiss Images is a free online photo gallery for hosting pictures taken with Zeiss lenses. Members can upload pictures captured with any camera - be it a Canon, a Nikon, a Leica or a different brand -, as long as the lens used to take the shot was made by Zeiss. Besides being a gallery, Zeiss Images is also an image forum.where participants can comment on and discuss the photos uploaded by members. Most interesting is the feature that allows anyone to search for photos by the specific lens used to take them.

Website: Zeiss Images

Unified Color Technologies has announced the cycle one winners of its Unified Color True Vision HDR Photo Contest. Unified Color sought out truly creative and technically beautiful HDR images to be judged by its panel of HDR experts and renowned photographers. The winners include Jose Alvarez (Architecture), Dan Hartford (Landscape/ Nature) and Josh taylor (Freestyle). Each of them will receive a photography kit including a Nikon D90 with 18-105mm VR lens, a Lowepro Slingshot 202 AW case, a Gitzo carbon fibre tripod and a Lexar Professional Class 10 8GB memory card. Unified Color’s True Vision HDR Photo Contest will be held in two more cycles throughout the remainder of the year for a total of three cycles. The next round of awards and prizes will be presented in early-August.

Website: True Vision HDR Photo Contest

ViewSonic has introduced the world’s first 27” Full HD monitor with a 1ms response time. The viewSonic VX2739wm packages a 1080p Full HD panel and 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio into a sleek design. Although primarily targeted at gamers, the new monitor could be potentially interesting to photographers and videographers as well. The VX2739wm comes with ViewSonic’s strongest pixel performance guarantee as well as a three-year limited warranty, and is offered at a special introductory price of $349 at Amazon.com, Newegg.com and PCMall.com.

Kodak has recently announced a new colour reversal film available in the Super 8 mm format. In the past, Super 8 used to be an amateur format, but according to Kodak, it is now “a viable option” for professional filmmakers and students too. The American company argues that Kodak Ektachrome 100D “offers filmmakers image quality far beyond that of the familiar home movie format of the 1960s”. Ektachrome 100D is a daylight-balanced 100-speed colour reversal film that offers “bright saturated colours and fine grain with excellent sharpness”, the company claims.