onOne Software has announced Perfect Photo Suite 8, a full-featured, standalone photo editor that integrates seamlessly with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Photoshop Elements, and Apple Aperture. Key new features include the Perfect Enhance module for essential photo adjustments, the Perfect Eraser with content-aware fill technology, the Perfect Batch processing utility for applying workflows to multiple images at once, and a re-engineered Perfect Effects module with twice as many filters, customisable presets, and integrated FocalPoint technology. The new Perfect Photo Suite 8 will be available 26th November in three editions: Premium, Standard, and an edition for Adobe Lightroom & Apple Aperture. Owners of previous versions of Perfect Photo Suite Premium Edition can upgrade for $99.95. New users may pre-order the Premium Edition for $179.95.

Sony is releasing the Application Program Interface (API) for remote operation of select Sony cameras with Wi-Fi-equipped smartphones and tablets.Using the app developed with this API, users will be able to shoot still images and movies, see real-time views of camera displays on the screens of compatible mobile devices , as well as operate the camera self-timer and zoom functions via Wi-Fi. Compatible Sony cameras and camcorders include the Sony NEX-6, NEX-5R, NEX-5T (pictured), Cyber-shot DSC-QX10 and QX100, The Action Cam HDR-AS30 and HDR-AS15, and the HDR-MV1 video recorder.

DxO has launched Version 4.1 of DxO FilmPack, its analogue film and creative rendering software. This update allows DxO FilmPack 4 to interact perfectly with Adobe Photoshop CC. Available in two editions, Essential and Expert, DxO FilmPack v4.1 can be installed as a plugin for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom 4 and 5, Elements 10 and 11, Apple Aperture 3, and DxO Optics Pro v8.2, and as a standalone application for Mac and Windows — all with the same licence. Photographers who purchased a DxO FilmPack 3 licence on or after 1 March 2013 are entitled to a free upgrade to version 4.

The Plugin Site has released Version 2 of its BWStyler software for Windows. Designed to perform black-and-white conversions, create traditional b&w effects and visually style b&w photos. BWStyler features 25 effect types and 680 presets as well as plenty of masking options for applying the effect to only selected areas of a photo. Version 2 offers seven new effects, e.g. tonal look, dynamic contrast, aging and colourkey, and features more than 60 new effect options and 470 new presets. Rendering is up to four times faster thanks to full support for multiple cores and hyperthreading. BWStyler 2 for Windows is available as a Photoshop-compatible plugin as well as a standalone application and external editor for Lightroom for $49.95.

JixiPix has released Version 3.0 of Simply HDR for iPhone and iPod Touch. This update sports an all-new rendering engine that is up to 200% faster than the previous one, a new user interface that includes a re sizable preview system and auto-adjustment while editing, and a new HDArt style. Simply HDR and Simply HDR HD can be purchased on iTunes for $0.99 and $1.99, respectively.

Wacom has updated its Bamboo Paper app to Version 2.0  Originally an app focused on note taking, it now offers a broad range of writing and drawing tools, such as a watercolour brush and pencil, that enable users to create particularly individual digital notebooks. Bamboo Paper now features an improvedpalm-rejection, eliminating almost all accidental marks while sketching or drawing. Combined with the Intuos Creative Stylus, the new digital stylus from Wacom, Bamboo Paper 2.0 provides an even more natural and intuitive drawing experience. The app in its basic version can be downloaded for free. Additional styles and tools are offered as in-app purchases at £0.69; new creative pack with a variation of paper styles and brushes or pens can be bought at £2.49.

Corel PaintShop Pro X6 is now shipping to existing customers, with the global launch scheduled for September 4th. This new version offers much faster 64-bit performance, an improved user interface with dedicated Manage, Adjust, and Edit workspaces, video tutorials, new Auto Selection and Smart Selection Brush tools, and a free Membership program.

Corel PaintShop Pro X6 will retail for 69.99 Euros / $79.99 (£44.99 / 49.99 Euros / $59.99 for an upgrade) for the standard version and 89.99 Euros / $99.99 (£59.99 / 69.99 Euros / $79.99 for an upgrade) for the Ultimate version. The Photo & Video Suite X6 bundle, which combines PaintShop Pro X6 and VideoStudio Pro X6, is priced at 119.99 Euros / $129.

Akvis has released Version 4.5 of SmartMask, an image selection and masking application for Windows and Mac OS X. Available as a standalone program and as a plug-in to a photo editor, the software is especially useful when you need to create photo collages with numerous objects from different images that don’t have clearly defined edges and fade into a background. This latest update fixes bugs, adds separate installation files for 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows, and offers compatibility with Adobe Photoshop CC (plug-in edition only). Akvis SmartMask can be downloaded for $90 from the website below.

PictoColor has released iCorrect OneClick Color 2.1 for Apple iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Developed by FreshAir Software, iCorrect OneClick Color for iPad automatically corrects the colour and exposure of photos. The automatic correction can be fine tuned using sliders to independently adjust brightness, shadows, highlights, contrast, saturation, tint and colour temperature. Version 2.1 brings updated Facebook support, more save and share resolution options and new sharing options: upload to Twitter, copy to clipboard, send to other apps including Instagram, Muzy and more. iCorrect OneClick Color for iOS is available on iTunes for $2.99.

Brian Griffith has released Iridient Developer 2.2, an update to his critically acclaimed image processing software for Mac OS X. This release includes support for lens vignetting corrections including automatic correction from LCP lens profile files, DNG format images with embedded lens metadata and some camera manufacturer's raw metadata. Manual lens vignetting adjustments are now available as well. This release improves the "Auto Levels" noise reduction option introduced in version 2.1, and adds support for raw image files generated by the Canon EOS 70D, the Sony DSC-RX100 II and DSC-RX1R, the Fujifilm X-M1, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7, DMC-FZ72 and DMC-FZ70, and the Pentax Q7. This is a paid upgrade for users who originally purchased a licence before 1 February 2012.

Elpical Software has released Organic Imaging 2.0, which delivers support for raw image files and comes with an improved user interface. Organic Imaging is a hotfolder-based application that will route a wide variety of image types from a predefined input folder to the processed Folder. "Extensive, automatic individual image analysis insures that every image receives precisely the exposure, sharpness, skintones, natural greens, blues, and anything else it needs," the company says. "Utilising the same technology installed in the world's most famous publishing houses, Organic Imaging is suited for photographers and prosumers who process quantities of images, need high quality results, and require rapid throughput." Photographers can download the software and process the first 250 images at no cost. Subsequent images are processed for 10 cents each (for up to 5000 corrected images per month).

Metro Imaging has launched its Metroprint Print App, which allows users to print high-quality versions of their Instagram pictures. The App currently offers images as 5”x5” prints on either gloss or matt photographic paper for 42p per print and with delivery across the globe. There are plans to roll out more features in the future. “There are some wonderful Instagram images being created out there and we thought it would be great to offer a printing service from a true professional lab," says Ben Richardson, Managing Director of Metro Imaging. "So we created our app, and now you can get your Instagrams printed by the same team that helps produce images for top photographers around the world.” The Metroprint Print App is now available as a free download from iTunes and Google Play.

Shutterfly has released Shutterfly Photo Story, a new, free iPad app that allows users to create photo books in minutes. Photo Story pulls photos from the user's Facebook, Instagram, Shutterfly and iPad photo streams and uses multimedia features to bring stories to life, including first-of-its-kind digital audio recordings that can be shared via a QR code included on the printed photo book. “For more than a decade, Shutterfly has helped millions of customers tell their stories in photo books,” said Karl Wiley, General Manager of Shutterfly. “Shutterfly Photo Story represents the next generation of photo books, giving consumers a dynamic way to share their stories anytime, anywhere.” The Shutterfly Photo Story app is available on iTunes.

Tether Tools and Phase One have announced a special Pro Tether Kit with Capture One Pro 7 for professional tethered capture. The kit includes a Capture One Pro 7 licence, Tether Table & Aero Accessories, TetherPro Cable & Case and Tether Tools' JerkStopper Cable Management System. For a limited time, the Tether Tools + Phase One Capture Pro7 Kit is available at 15% off regular price -- $583.55 to $593.75 -- a saving of more than $100 off the complete kit. This promotion will run from August 10 - 23, 2013 at the website below.

CyberLink has just launched its latest version of PhotoDirector Mobile – an easy-to-use, powerful photo editing application for touch-enabled Windows 8 tablets. The new version incorporates a number of additional options allowing users to compile photo collages, express with text bubbles and add finishing touches with photo frames. Users can quickly and easily personalise their works using touch-optimised controls and share them via Facebook and Flickr. Existing users will receive the update free of charge.

Photodex has released a new version of ProShow Web with an array of new features and enhancements that allow users to create video slideshows online with more precision and control than the previous version. Newly released features allow users to set timing control for effects, add captions to photos, offers 20-minute long videos for Plus and Premium subscribers and more. New features are available online now and are free for all ProShow Web customers. New users can sign up for a free account by visiting the website below.

Adobe today announced a new version of its Creative Cloud (CC) service that enables creative teams to purchase membership of a single desktop application, such as Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, InDesign CC or any of the entire collection of CC desktop applications. With this new move, Adobe now offers two team plans for Creative Cloud: the complete option that delivers 14 Adobe desktop applications and sophisticated, cross-device collaboration and publishing capabilities; or the new single app plan that includes access to one desktop application along with 20GB of storage. The latter is available for a suggested retail price of £22.23 per user per month. Existing customers with CS3 or later are eligible for single app membership at a suggested retail price of £14.29 per user per month. Customers can pre-order beginning today, with product availability expected 15th August.

Adobe has posted version 8.2 of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) for Adobe Photoshop CC and CS6 and version 5.2 of Lightroom as Release Candidates. These updates add support for the Casio Exilim EX-ZR800, Fujifilm X-M1 (pictured), Finepix HS22EXR, Finepix HS35EXR, Finepix S205EXR, Finepix F805EXR and Sony DSC-RX1R cameras, and preliminary support for the Canon EOS 70D dSLR and Phase One IQ260 digital back. Both programs additionally benefit from a range of new Sony and GoPro lens profiles that enable software-based lens aberration and distortion correction. The new Release Candidates also incorporate a number of feature enhancements and bug fixes.

Source: Adobe Lightroom Journal

VSCO is seeking beta testers for the Android version of its VSCO Cam app. "We are looking for dedicated, passionate people who can test the app, find bugs and provide constructive feedback," the company says. The existing iPhone version has earned critical acclaim for supporting Focus and Exposure Rings plus White Balance Lock for increased creative control. VSCO Cam for Android will initially support the Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTC One smartphones, with support for other Android 4.0+ devices coming "in the near future." You can register to be a beta tester at the website below.

Website: VSCO

Wacom has just announced Bamboo Loop, its second app for the Android platform. Bamboo Loop marries creative photo-sharing with messaging, meaning that photographs taken on a smartphone can be illustrated and personalised with drawings, scribbles, cartoons and words and forwarded to a friend, family member or colleague. Available for free download from Google Play, Bamboo Loop also offers a gallery of photo filters and shapes that can be extended by purchasing additional style packs at the price of £ 0.69. Available style packs include seasonal themes (e.g summer), art paper, candy, pattern, fun, and vintage. The app offers support for the Bamboo Stylus, a pen which can write comfortably on tablet displays.