Apple has just updated Aperture, its pro photo management and RAW conversion application, to version 2.1.3. The Apple Aperture 2.1.3 update improves overall stability and provides fixes for issues related to database integrity and compatibility with specific file types, and is recommended for all those using Aperture 2.

Website: Aperture Updates

AKVIS Software Inc. has released version 3.5 of the AKVIS Retoucher software. The plug-in allows restoring damages photos by removing dust, scratches, stains, and by reconstructing the missing parts of a photo. The new version fixes bugs and improves compatibility with the newest versions of Photoshop CS3, CS4 on Macintosh and Windows. Upgrade for registered users is free.

Rumanian software firm Bits&Coffee SRL have released version 2.5 of their image editor, BatchPhoto. With version 2.5, BatchPhoto introduces a new major feature: raw photo development. By taking advantage of multi-core processors BatchPhoto can convert hundreds or even thousands of raw images to common image formats like JPEG or TIFF in a single session. Moreover, it can also change the often meaningless names assigned by digital cameras to custom keyword-based names, in the same operation. It comes in two editions: Home and Pro priced at $29.95(US), and $59.95(US), respectively. Do note that this program is Windows only.

FotoMaps Pro, the commercial version of FotoMaps, can now be yours at half price. FotoMaps is a photo gallery built with flash and XML that lets you put your photos on a map. Use of the software requires no knowledge of Flash or coding. While FotoMaps is free for non-commercial uses, those intending to use the software for a commercial site are required to purchase FotoMaps Pro. The Pro version also offers some extra features to extend the user experience of your photo gallery. PhotographyBLOG readers can now purchase a FotoMaps Pro commercial licence at a 50% discount by typing in photoblog in the “discount code” field at the URL below:

Website: http://www.fotomaps.net/download.html

Avanquest Software has released Avanquest SendPhotos, a new tool that enables photography enthusiasts to organise an entire photo collection online. This tool has three components, Avanquest SendPhotos Mobile, Avanquest SendPhotos PC and Avanquest SendPhotos Web. The software is currently in beta mode, and is available as a free download. Additionally, users get 1GB of online storage space at no extra cost.

Corel have announced a limited-time special offer on Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 (standard version). UK users can now purchase a license for £29 including VAT, instead of £47.50, a saving of £18.50. The offer is valid until 30 April for purchases made via the Corel website.

Website: Paint Shop Pro Photo X2

Corel have announced the imminent release of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 Small Business Edition. This edition allows small businesses and start-up companies to install the software on three individual systems at a significant discount over the combined MSRP of three individual licenses. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 Small Business Edition will go on sale tomorrow, at an RRP of £399 excluding VAT.

Nik Software have announced that their Silver Efex Pro software is now compatible with Lightroom 2.3. This comes after a similar announcement concerning Color Efex Pro, another program by the same manufacturer. Silver Efex Pro features Nik Software’s patented U Point technology to selectively apply enhancements without the need for any complicated masks or selections. Furthermore, Silver Efex Pro offers you a collection of 18 emulated black-and-white film types. All current owners of Silver Efex Pro for Photoshop or owners of the Complete Collection for Photoshop are eligible to receive this update for free. Others can download a free 15-day demo version to see if the plug-in meets their needs.

Review: Read our review of Silver Efex Pro

Shutterfly has introduced Shutterfly for iPhone, a new free photo sharing iPhone application that lets you upload, view and share your Shutterfly photos while on the go. Photos taken on the iPhone can be uploaded to your existing Shutterfly account and stored for free, at full resolution. Additionally, you can create a new Shutterfly account directly from your iPhone. The application, also compatible with the iPod Touch, is available free of charge at the Apple App Store.

KepMad Systems have released version 4.0.0 of their Image Buddy software. Image Buddy is a digital image layout program designed especially for use on the Mac, supporting MacOS X v10.4 and v10.5. A demo version is available free of charge, whereas a single-user licence costs $19. Click through / read on to find out about what’s new in version 4.0.0.

FotoMaps 2.0 has just been announced. FotoMaps is a photo gallery built with flash and XML that lets you put your photos on a map. Use of the software requires no knowledge of Flash or coding. “Anyone can make a FotoMap and anyone can view it,” says FotoMaps creator Benek Lisefski. Version 2.0 is a free download. Read on to find out about all the new features this update has to offer..

Two Pilots has released a new version of Exif Pilot for viewing, editing, and creating the EXIF and IPTC data. Exif Pilot is a piece of software designed for EXIF and IPTC data analysis and comparing the parameters for a number of images. In View mode, supported file formats are the following: JPEG, TIFF, PNG, DNG, NEF, CRW, JP2, PSD and RAW files (including CR2, MRW, ARW PEF, SR2, ORF, and RAF types). In Edit mode, Exif Pilot support these file formats: JPEG, TIFF, PNG, DNG, NEF, PEF, CRW, and JP2. The Exif Pilot Pro, a version that supports batch editing, is priced at $39.95. A trial version is available free of charge.

AKVIS Software, which turns 5 this May, has organised a birthday raffle and a Creative Contest. Everyone who enters the raffle at the raffle page before May 29, 2009 will receive a coupon for 15% off of an AKVIS software title of their choice. The 15 % coupon code will be valid till July 1, 2009. The coupon will work for purchasing any AKVIS program (any licence type), but not for software bundles. The prizes of the Creative Contest are an autographed copy of the book The Art of Digital Photo Painting by Marilyn Sholin (pictured) and a licence key for any AKVIS program.

Phase One has released Capture One 4.7, an update to its popular Capture One program. The update adds a new file format for Phase One raw files. The Enhanced Image Package (.eip file extension) permits packaging of a Phase One RAW image file together with the adjustment settings applied to the raw file, with no changes to the original raw file or re-arrangement of settings. Also, Capture One 4.7 now accepts TIFF and JPEG as input file formats, making it possible to use all image editing tools - except lens correction - on them. Finally, the Capture One 4.7 DB and 4.7 PRO also support tethered shooting with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and the Nikon D3X digital SLRs.

Capture One 4.7 is a free service release to existing Capture One 4.x owners.

1-click actions have announced the availability of the latest update to the Photoshop Actions DVD. It offers over 1.4 GB of actions, borders and textures. The latest version is available now at a cost of $249.95. Discounted upgrades are available for existing owners of 1-click actions products.

Photodex are releasing a new product line called ProShow StylePack. This is an all-new collection of high-quality, instant slide enhancements that expand the initial Slide Style offerings in the new versions of ProShow Gold and Producer 4.0. In addition, the Volume 1 StylePack includes a total of 25 pre-made animations, borders, title slides and image effects. The price of the ProShow StylePack Volume 1 is just $19.95, but note that it requires version 4.0 or higher of ProShow.

AKVIS Software Inc. has just announced the release of AKVIS Sketch v.8.6 for Windows and Macintosh. AKVIS Sketch, available as a stand-alone application as well as a plugin to a photo editor, is a program that converts photos to pencil drawings and watercolour paintings. Version 8.6 improves the way a photo is converted into a watercolour painting and fixes the compatibility bug that caused the Sketch plugin to crash on Macintosh computers + Photoshop CS3/CS4. A home licence of AKVIS Sketch can be purchased for $72/€55, with a ten-day trial version available for free. The upgrade to version 8.6 is also available free of charge to registered users of earlier versions.

Current users of NikonCapture NX 2.0 and 2.1.1 will be entitled to download a free update in early April. The new version, Capture NX 2.2, offers improved batch processing speed, support for the NRW format - introduced along with the Nikon Coolpix P6000 -, a vignette control function utilising lens information, and axial colour aberration correction.

Website: Free download service for Capture NX 2 (Ver. 2.2) update
Review: Read our in-depth review of the Nikon Coolpix P6000
Review: Read our Canon PowerShot G10 vs. Nikon Coolpix P6000 head-to-head review

Corel has announced its support for the new Wacom Intuos 4 professional pen tablet. Those using both Corel Painter 11 and the Wacom Intuos 4 can achieve “a heightened level of realism in digital art”, Corel claims. Corel Painter 11 has a trial version available for free, whereas the full version can be purchased individually or in a bundle with one of the Wacom Intuos 4 tablets. The bundle prices start from $547.95.

ACD Systems have released the new ACDSee Picture Frame Manager, a program that promises a better overall experience for digital picture frame owners. This is a piece of software that you can install on your PC or Mac. When you connect a digital picture frame to your computer, ACDSee Picture Frame Manager lets you load, move, resize or delete photos with drag-and-drop simplicity. The software also optimises the resolution of digital photographs for the given picture frame, enabling optimal use of available memory and cutting down on picture load times. Managing multiple frames at the same time is also possible. The price is $39.99.

Website: ACDSee Picture Frame Manager