Focus 2 Pro from Macphun is a professional-quality selective-focus tool that now runs as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, and Apple's Aperture. The program lets you begin with one of five preset focus structures – for Portrait, Nature, Architecture, Macro and "Tilt-Shift" – and then fine-tune the blur, in-focus and fall-off areas to the exact requirements and angles of your picture. Focus 2 Pro offers further adjustments to brightness, colour, sharpness and contrast local to either the in focus or blur areas to ensure that the results are realistic and of an exceptional high quality. The plug-in launches from the Filter menu within Adobe Photoshop and once the finished Focus work is done, you're right back with your image with a Focus 2 Pro item appearing in the History pane. Focus 2 Pro is available for less than £30 including VAT in the UK.

Pixifly is an iOS app that allows users to search public Instagram photos based on time and place. Rather than searching based on keywords or hashtags, Pixifly searches by new filters: when and where the photos are posted, either by specifying the name of a place or by zeroing in on a specific location via the map view. Additionally, Pixifly just announced a new photo share feature allowing the user to make photo collages with up to four photos and share them with friends via Facebook, Twitter, text message or e-mail. Pixify 2.0.0 is available as a free download from iTunes.

TeoreX has released an update to PhotoScissors, a smart software tool capable of removing unwanted backgrounds from photos. Targeting users who don’t want to learn the secrets of retouching, PhotoScissors is really easy to use: the user marks foreground and background zones in the image and immediately sees the results, which can then be fine-tuned with a few mouse gestures. Version 1.1 smoothly feathers the edges of the cutout for a professional look. Conveniently, the feathering radius can be now changed depending on the user´s needs. Additionally, the latest version adds support for HiDPI and Retina displays, a convenient option to pan the image while holding the SPACE button and few more GUI improvements. The price for a single license of PhotoScissors is $19.99.

Corel's new AfterShot Pro 2 software is billed as the industry’s fastest raw converter and photo management application. Available for Linux, MacOS and Windows, Corel AfterShot Pro 2 features 64-bit processing, 26 new camera profiles, workspace enhancements, a complete range of HDR imaging tools (currently Windows only), easier batch processing, manual redeye removal, local contrast enhancements, Athentec noise removal algorithms and better performance with TIFF files. AfterShot Pro 2 is available now in English, German, French, Dutch, Italian and Japanese. Suggested retail pricing is $79.99 / €69.99/ £57.99.

DxO Labs have released DxO Optics Pro 9.5 for Mac and Windows. This version offers a new image transfer feature that lets users process their raw  photos from Adobe Lightroom. The upgrade also adds support for 4 new cameras including the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II, the Nikon 1 V3, the Panasonic Lumix GH-4, and the Sony A6000; and adds 165 new camera-lens combinations to the ever-growing library of DxO Optics Modules.

Apple has released a Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update for iPhoto '11 and Aperture 3. Version 5.05 adds support for raw image files generated by the Nikon D4S, the Canon EOS 1200D and PowerShot G1 X Mark II (pictured), and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10. You can download the update from the website below.

Website: Apple Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 5.05

AKVIS has announced a new additional frame pack for its ArtSuite software. The brand new Beauty Pack includes 50 hand painted frames which can be used to decorate your blog or photo album. With the release of the new product, 15 themed packs are now available for use in ArtSuite: Travel Pack, Fantasy Pack, Wedding Pack, Baby Pack, Spring Pack, Summer Pack, Autumn Pack, Winter Pack, Halloween Pack, Christmas Pack, Saint Valentine Pack, Chinese Horoscope, Sports Pack,Pirates World, and the new Beauty Pack. Do note that the frame packs can only be used in the AKVIS ArtSuite Standalone program, which sells for $69. The new Beauty Frame Pack is $15.

onOne Software has released Perfect Photo Suite 8.5. Available as a free update to all owners of Perfect Photo Suite 8, this version includes speed and productivity enhancements to the Perfect Photo Suite’s Browse module, improved performance with the Perfect Eraser tool, and enhanced masking support in Perfect Effects and Perfect Layers. In addition, raw file support is now included with the Standard Edition.

Totally Rad! has announced today the launch of Replichrome II: Slide, a new collection of presets for Adobe Lightroom and ACR that brings the classic look of film to digital photography. Replichrome II includes presets for the most popular Fuji, Kodak and Agfa slide films, many of which were discontinued in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The collection has 19 films and 203 presets available – all unique compared to Replichrome I. The film presets have Noritsu and Calibrated variants, each with several additional variations with varying degrees of contrast. Replichrome I and II are available now for $99 each.

Unified Color Technologies have announced HDR Expose 3.1, a significant update to its standalone HDR image processing application. The newest features include faster merge and alignment tools, improved de-ghosting algorithms, a new panorama batch processing assist mode and a redesigned Merge dialogue box. HDR Expose 3.1 is available immediately and can be applied to all existing HDR Expose 3 licenses free of charge. New licenses for HDR Expose 3.1 can be purchased for $119.

Intensify is a new Macintosh application that gives you precise control over details in your images. Key features include integration with Smugmug, Mavericks support, Macphun Print Lab compatibility and support for raw images. "Use dozens of professionally inspired presets – one click enhances your photos – or drop into the Adjust panel for complete control and flexibility," the company says. "Our 4 detail enhancement tools – Pro Contrast, Structure, Details and Micro Sharpness – all combine to give you incredible results. Want more? Apply enhancements based on highlight, midtone and shadow tonal ranges. Or, use layers to creatively apply detail to specific parts of your image." Intensify Pro is available for $59.99.

AKVIS has updated its OilPaint software to Version 3.0. Available as a standalone application and as a Photoshop plug-in, AKVIS OilPaint is claimed to offer "an incredible algorithm" for turning photos into oil paintings. The software offers a number of ready to use presets, and allows users to share their favourites with other fans of the oil painting technique. The batch processing feature enables the program to automatically process a series of images in order to create a number of illustrations at the same style or to process all frames in a video. The updated version adds Extra Strokes, a Flat Brush option for the Oil Brush for changing the shape of the edges of the brush strokes and a brand new 3D Brush that lets you bring volume and relief to your painting. Version 3.0 is a free update for all OilPaint customers.

Iridient Digital has released Iridient Developer 2.4, a major update to its critically acclaimed raw converter and image editor for Mac OS X. This update includes a number of new features to provide better integration with other photo management tools, in particular Lightroom and Aperture. New features include 'Find and Open raw' for doing a local search for the raw source of a standard image, the ability to overwrite standard images in place and support for automatically opening the raw source image when sent a standard image for external editing. Version 2.4 also adds support for the Leica T, Samsung NX mini, Canon Powershot G1 X II, Sony A77 II, Nikon 1 V3, Nikon 1 J4 and Panasonic DMC-GH4 cameras, and fixes bugs. Do note that this release is a paid upgrade for users who originally purchased a license prior to 1 November 2012.

onOne Software has announced a limited-time offer on its Perfect Effects 8 software. Valued at $99.95, Perfect Effects 8 is available as a standalone application, and also integrates with Lightroom, Aperture, Photoshop, and Photoshop Elements. Now, for a limited time only, you can download the full version free of charge. Do note that the program requires a system with 8GB of RAM and a 64-bit version of Mac OS X 10.7 / Windows 7 or higher.

Website: onOne

jAlbum has launched Version 12 of its desktop software. Founded in 2002 by David Ekholm, jAlbum is one of the world's most powerful web gallery creating applications. Version 12 is up to 5x faster in dealing with images loaded over network drives, has a redesigned user interface with an all-new "Effects" settings tab, and features an integrated Web browser. For more information visit the website below.

Lomography has updated its LomoScanner iPhone app. First launched alongside the Lomography Film Scanner, the LomoScanner software allows users to convert negative scans into positives, stitch together scans into seamless panoramas and animate 35mm analogue movies shot using the Lomography LomoKino camera.Version 2 has a cleaner interface and offers manual controls, revamped panorama stitching, fuss-free moive animation and instant sharing. Currently the app is available for iOS 7 only, with the company planning to update the Android version in the near future.

Alien Skin Software today announced the forthcoming launch of Exposure 6, the latest version of its flagship photography effects software. Alien Skin’s creative focus and lens simulation program, Bokeh, has now been rolled into Exposure, thus eliminating the need to jump between programs. As such, Exposure now provides simple tools for photographers to draw attention to their subject by manipulating focus, vignette and depth of field. Along with the inclusion of Bokeh, Exposure’s user interface has been refined and enhanced. A new basic control panel contains sliders for global adjustments to areas such as exposure, contrast, clarity and vibrance for faster editing. The image processing engine has also been rewritten and now offers full-sized instant previews. Additionally, Exposure 6 includes many new lighting effects such as realistic sun flare, and authentic vintage borders developed by world-renowned photographer Parker J Pfister. Exposure 6 will be available in June for $149 

DxO Labs have released DxO Optics Pro 9.1.5 for Mac and Windows. This upgrade enables DxO Optics Pro 9 to offer support for the Nokia Lumia 1020, the first smartphone capable of shooting raw (pictured). Version 9.1.5 also offers support for four additional cameras: the Canon EOS 1200D, the Olympus E-M10 and Stylus 1, and the Nikon Coolpix P340; and benefits from the addition of 472 new camera/lens combinations to the library of DxO Optics Modules. Photographers who acquired a DxO Optics Pro 8 license on or after 1 September 2014 are entitled to a free upgrade to version 9.

Serif has just launched PhotoPlus X7. This latest version comes without the need for monthly subscriptions and has a range of new features, such as Lab Colour Mode – a comprehensive colour engine that offers users a more intuitive editing mode allowing users to quickly and easily fix contrast or alter tones. A new Lens Correction feature also helps users to remove distortions, vignetting and fix chromatic aberrations. Photographers can also quickly straighten images and correct vertical and horizontal perspective problems with an on-screen alignment grid. For adjustments, corrections and effects, the PhotoFix Studio features a new smart brush to protect certain areas. PhotoPlus X7 is compatible with Windows 8/7/Vista/XP and retails at £79.99.

Magix has released Xara Web Designer 10 Premium, a Web design tool designed for people wanting to launch a high-quality website without the need to know HTML coding - including photographers. "For the first time we have created a simple no-programming system where you can create alternative page arrangements for the same content", says Charles Moir, Xara's founder and Managing Director. "Web Designer 10 Premium does all the clever work to automatically show, and instantly switch (respond) to the changing browser size.” Xara Web Designer 10 Premium retails for £89.99.