Learn all about the intriguing Ricoh GXR digital camera. Ricoh have kindly allowed us to share an official GXR product slideshow with you, with lots of in-depth details on the approach, design and vision for their new flagship camera system. Carry on reading to find out more about the Ricoh GXR…

Red Bull Reporter is currently looking for a photographer to report from the Red Bull Manny Mania Final 2009 Skateboarding event this November. Taking place in Ireland, the event will have a jam session format to reflect the way skateboarding happens naturally and also to encourage the best tricks. If you think you’ve got what it takes to take part in this assignment, head to the website below.

Website: Red Bull Manny Mania Final 2009

Nikon Inc. today announced the launch of a new integrated marketing campaign that includes the first ever “Nikon Festival” to celebrate, inspire and harness the current popularity of content creation shared through social media. Nikon is challenging budding filmmakers to upload 140 second short-form video with the theme “A Day through Your Lens” to the festival’s website. As videos are uploaded, they can be automatically shared with entrants’ social networks, including Twitter and Facebook, allowing instantaneous campaigning for views and votes. Festival entrants will have the opportunity to win one of two awards: an audience award and a judges’ award. The winning video selected by the Festival judges will be awarded $100,000 and Nikon equipment.  Additionally, the video getting the highest average rating and most audience views will be awarded the $25,000 Audience Award and Nikon equipment.

Website: Nikon Festival

Adobe has introduced the Photoshop.com Mobile for Android software, extending Adobe digital imaging technology to users of the Google Mobile operating system. The release comes less than a month after the launch of Photoshop.com Mobile for iPhone, which quickly established itself as one of the “Top Free” applications on the Apple mobile platform. The Android application equips consumers with quick and easy image-editing tools, color adjustments and instant photo-sharing capabilities. After making edits on their Android device, users can upload photos from their phone to their Photoshop.com account to view and retrieve their images at a later time from any Internet-connected computer.The Adobe Photoshop.com Mobile for Android application is available as a free download from the Android Market. The application is currently available in the U.S. and Canada only.

Update: Adobe Photoshop.com Mobile is now available in all countries with Android Market.

Website: Photoshop.com Mobile for Android

LeicaShots.com is a recently launched website that features a new Leica photographer every day. Every photographer showcases only one example of their work. “Each photographer tells a little bit about the photo he/she submits, as well as telling us why they use a Leica,” says LeicaShots founder Martin ‘Marty’ Buchman. “Our featured photographers have given many interesting reasons as to why they’re Leica shooters.”

Website: LeicaShots

The Cranberry DiamonDisc is an archival DVD using high-tech, diamond-hard material. Unlike conventional recordable DVDs and CDs, the Cranberry DiamonDisc has no adhesive layers, dye layer or reflective layer to deteriorate - thereby avoiding “data rot”. Allegedly, the DiamonDisc is environmentally stable and remains unaffected by UV and changes in temperature and humidity. Playable on most regular DVD drives that exist today, the Cranberry DiamonDisc is now available to consumers for less than $30 each.

Website: Cranberry DiamonDisc

Lowepro has launched the Photo Runner 100, billed as “a carrying solution that combines the agility of a beltpack with the utility of a shoulder bag”. The Photo Runner 100 features a fast-access, side-opening lid that opens wide, allowing the user to work right out of the roomy main compartment with ease. Adjustable, protective and padded dividers offer multiple ways to load gear into the Photo Runner 100—vertically with a DSLR with attached standard zoom lens and an additional lens or accessory—or, horizontally with a DSLR with attached lens up to 80-200mm f/2.8.

Website: Lowepro Photo Runner 100

Lowepro has announced the launch of the Magnum DV AW series, designed for the videographer who needs to work right out of the bag. The wide, dual-winged lid of the Magnum DV AW opens from the center, providing fast access to gear plus extra security with double zippers, a quick-release buckle and a hook/loop closure. Two roomy side pockets and a fast-access front pocket provide plenty of space for accessories, props and personal items. A wrapped and padded centre grab handle, trolley sleeve and handcart straps offer multiple ways to transport a heavy load. The Magnum DV AW series includes the Magnum DV 4000 AW and the Magnum DV 6500 AW, both in Black. Both meet most airline carry-on size requirements.

Website: Lowepro MAgnum DV AW Series

Corel has announced a range of Christmas promotions in the UK. There is a £90 cashback offer on CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4, a £20 discount on Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Ultimate and a similar price reduction on Corel’s VideoStudio Pro X2. Furthermore, Corel’s promotions extend to other products in its software range such as Corel Painter 11, Corel Painter Essentials 4 and Corel WordPerfect Office X4. Corel’s Christmas offers are available at Corel’s Store and through leading retailers across the UK including Amazon and Misco.

Website: Corel Store (UK)

Artphotographyforsale.com is a newly launched online gallery that features a selection of limited run, masterfully produced photography suitable for framing and display in the home, office or public space. The website offers the discerning collector prints offered on Hahnemühle 330 gram fine art paper; both paper and ink meet industry standard archival quality. 24” wide prints are €250, 36” wide ones are €300, whereas 36” tall prints are €350 each. Prices include handling, shipping and insurance.

Website: Art Photography for Sale

A giant pigeon “landed” on the grass beside London’s City Hall this morning. The life-like sculpture, which was specially commissioned to mark the UK launch of Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-ZX1 compact camera with an 8x optical zoom, graphically brought to life one of London’s most iconic and hotly debated creatures, Panasonic says. A team of five artists spent two months constructing the 1.52 metre high and 3.2 metre wide fibre glass structure which was lifted into place in Potters Fields, central London at 8am before moving further along the banks of the Thames for a national photo call in front of The Houses of Parliament. The giant pigeon is one of a series of objects which have been magnified and brought to life by Panasonic to illustrate the 8x optical zoom lens of the new, ultra-compact Lumix DMC-ZX1. Users are invited to submit their own photographs which showcase the fun that can be had with perspective for their chance to win a trip to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games by visiting the website below.

Website: Panasonic 8xLife

The new Olympus E-600 digital SLR camera is now available for purchase. The folks over at 1001 Noisy Cameras noticed that the E-600, announced back in August, has made a debut on RitzCamera.com, where it is offered in a double-lens kit for $749.99. The kit includes the Olympus E-600 camera, a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 standard zoom and a 40-150mm f/4-5.6 telezoom. The 12.3 megapixel Olympus E-600 is heavily based upon the E-620 model, dropping the backlit buttons, 3 art filters, multi exposure mode and aspect mask control of the latter. At the moment it is unclear if/when the E-600 is going to be available outside the USA.

Via 1001 Noisy Cameras

A new computer company, litl, has unveiled its webbook computer and operating system – billed as “a completely new and simple way for everyone in the family to enjoy online photos and all the web has to offer”. The Boston-based company thinks PCs are “complex” and “hard to maintain”, and argues that their new home computer “was created with a fresh approach that makes enjoying online photos and using the web simple, enjoyable and fun”. The litl webbook features a bright 12” screen and also offers plug-and-play connectivity to large screen, high definition televisions by way of an HDMI output port. The price for the litl is $699, with an optional remote control for $19.

Jobo has announced the Jobo ScanViewer, a high resolution 8” multimedia digital picture frame featuring a built-in photo scanner. The Jobo ScanViewer quickly and easily digitises up to 4x6-inch (10x15cm) prints, and presents them directly on its 8” SVGA display. Somewhat surprisingly, the frame’s aspect ratio is 4:3, whereas that of the prints in question is 3:2. Other specifications include a contrast ratio of 400:1, memory size of 1GB, weight of 370g and dimensions of 237x178x87mm. The Jobo ScanViewer will be available at retail in December for €259.

Digital River has signed a new e-commerce agreement with Pentax Europe, concerning the launch of an online store and the provision of.a range of e-commerce services to support online consumer sales of Pentax cameras in the UK, Germany, France Switzerland and Hungary.  The Pentax Europe store is expected to launch before the end of this year.

In honour of Veterans’ Day, ScanMyPhotos.com is offering all active and retired members of the US military free photo scanning through 5 December 2009. Called “Operation Photo Scan,” ScanMyPhotos.com will scan and digitally archive onto a DVD up to 1,000 4”x6” photos for military families at no charge. The only cost will be the company’s standard $19.95 shipping and handling fee. For complete instructions, refer to the website below.

Website: ScanMyPhotos Order Form

Canon has announced a three-year renewal of the World Press Photo (WPP) Foundation. World Press Photo, an independent, non-profit organisation, was founded in 1955 and is universally acknowledged as the world’s most prestigious competition for photo journalists. The 2009 competition saw over 5,000 professional photographers from 124 countries submit images in 10 categories. The World Press Photo Exhibition 2009 will be on show at the Royal Festival Hall, South Bank Centre from 7th November – 13th December 2009.  Admission is free and the exhibition is open daily from 10am – 11pm.

Starting on Saturday 7 November in the Guardian and The Observer is a 9-part free booklet giveaway called 100 Years of Press Photography. Each booklet will be grouped by decade, starting with 1910s and 1920s in one part. The booklets promise to be a fantastic collection of images from the last century. The scope of the series ranges from hard news photographs from the front line of international conflicts to social documentary of everyday events, fashion photography and portraiture. Each instalment in the series offers a unique and surprising glance at the decade through the eyes of some of the world’s greatest photographers.

liveBooks, providers of websites that allow creative professionals to promote and manage their businesses online, have announced that they had secured $5 million in funding from strategic and private investors, allowing the company to expand into new markets. This funding has also helped liveBooks to lower the cost of entry into the liveBooks suite, introduce a subscription-based service to “eliminate the need for front-loaded monetary commitments” and launch pre-designed site offerings. The company is now offering an array of pre-designed themes and layout options with subscriptions priced at $39 a month. To reflect the expansion of its business model and offerings, liveBooks have also re-launched their website.

Website: liveBooks