ArcSoft has released its Whip Social Photo Album app for mobile devices running Android 2.3 and newer. The free app allows users to quickly create and share photo albums, using customised templates. Whip allows users to choose up to 24 photos for each album. Once the photos are selected, the album is automatically generated with just one tap.  After that, users can select one of nine available templates that include background music from “indie” bands, and offer the opportunity to caption and edit each photo. Downloadable from the Google Play Store, Whip allows users to share their albums via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail.

DxO Labs have released DxO Film Pack 3.2.3, which now integrates automatically with Adobe Photoshop Elements 11. The software now also officially supports Windows 8. This update is free for all owners of DxO FilmPack 3.

Reallusion has released FaceFilter3, the latest version of its acclaimed photo retouching and beautification toolkit. The template-based system allows users to quickly and easily apply “extremely detailed and natural-looking” makeup styles for each specific facial feature, then customise and save them for future use. The ability to selectively morph and adjust individual facial features allows for precise facial enhancement and subtle changes in expression. FaceFilter3 PRO version is available at the Reallusion Store for £69.99. The add-on bundle package with FaceFilter3 PRO, Makeup PRO, and bonus content is available for £99.99.

Iridient Digital has released Iridient Developer 2.0 for Mac OS X. This update brings a name change, dropping the “RAW” from RAW Developer, along with support for non-raw images, including most standard image formats (JPEG, TIFF, PNG, etc) as well as OpenEXR and Radiance HDR image formats. Other major new features include a redesigned image preview window with an all-new image thumbnail browser optimised for Retina screens; an all-new lens correction module with support for lens profiles, chromatic aberration and distortion correction; support for 39 new camera models, star ratings metadata and EXIF 2.3 information. This release is a paid upgrade for users who originally purchased a licence prior to 16 September 2011. Upgrades are available to previously licenced users for the discounted price of $45 by requesting a 40% discount code from [email protected], while new licences can be purchased for $75.

Madbits have just released its new iPhone photo app, Momentsia. The app’s simple-to-use features are “designed to let creativity flow naturally, allowing iPhoneographers to artfully express their experience through beautiful collage compilations,” the company says. Users simply select one of Momentsia’s colorful “Mondrian”-style collage layouts and snap photos into position by either tapping directly on the screen to capture the current moment or browsing their iPhone Camera Roll library to pair moments from yesterday with those of today. The free app is available now from the iTunes App Store.

DxO Labs have announced the the immediate availability of DxO Optics Pro v8.1.2 for Mac and Windows. This update allows DxO Optics Pro 8 to support the Canon EOS 6D and the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX1 full-format cameras (Elite Edition only), as well as the Nikon 1 V2. Furthermore, more than a hundred new camera/lens combinations have been added to the library, supporting additional Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Sony, Tamron and Tokina lenses for Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras. This upgrade is free for all owners of DxO Optics Pro 8, as well as for photographers who purchased a DxO Optics Pro 7 licence on or after 1 September 2012.

X-Rite has updated its i1Profiler colour management software to include scanner profiling. Additionally, version 1.4 adds compatibility with MacOS X 10.8x (with the latest updates installed) and Windows 8 32 or 64 bit (with the latest service pack installed), and several other improvements. i1Profiler 1.4 is available for immediate download from the xrite.com and xritephoto.com websites. Current i1Profiler users will receive this software update for free. Those who have the auto-update option activated will automatically receive the update next time they launch the software.

Phase One has released Capture One Pro 7.0.2 Available now, this update adds preliminary support for raw files generated by the Fujifilm X-Pro1, Fujifilm XE-1, Fujifilm XF1, Canon EOS 6D, Canon EOS M, Sony SLT-A57, Sony NEX-5R, Olympus XZ-2 iHS, Canon 1D X and 5D mark III (sRAW and mRAW); and incorporates a number of bug fixes and minor improvements.

BrainDistrict has released version 1.5 of its photo editor, PaintSupreme. The program features the seamless integration of filters and effects created in BrainDistrict’s IFX-Supreme product.  With v1.5, users can load new filters and effects created in IFX-Supreme directly into PaintSupreme and immediately drag-and-drop them onto their photos. Additionally, the editor has become significantly faster. Much of the increased speed comes from improvements in the way transformations such as rotation and scaling are done. Users will see faster performance when operating on an entire layer or on a selected area. PaintSupreme v1.5 is available from the Mac App Store at the special introductory price of $9.99 (regular price $19.99). Current registered users of PaintSupreme can download the new version for free at BrainDistrict.com.

Reallusion has released CrazyTalk7, a new application that allows users to create animated talking characters from any digital photograph. Featuring voice-driven animation tools, CrazyTalk7 offers advanced auto animation and key editing functions that enable users to generate more natural, elaborate and life-like animations. “In the past 10 years, we have devoted efforts to providing the most user-friendly and time-saving animation software available, with an affordable price for users ranging from beginners to pro level.  CrazyTalk7 has been carefully refined by automating animation principles that aim to boost production for media professionals and working artists, while at the same time reducing the learning curve for beginners, students and educators.  With the new auto motion technology, we create unlimited possibilities in CrazyTalk7”, said Charles Chen, CEO of Reallusion. “This is an important step in generating facial animations in a minimum amount of time.” CrazyTalk7 is available for Windows PC and Mac, in Standard version at £29.99 and PRO version at. £109.99.

IDimager Systems has released its latest evolution in digital photo management software:  Photo Supreme. Offering a user-centric solution that provides an advanced and powerful feature set, Photo Supreme has a modern-looking, streamlined application interface that enables photographers to get the most out of the application without enduring a steep learning curve, the company says. Furthermore, Photo Supreme has been designed to take advantage of modern computer hardware such as multiple processor cores and large amounts of memory to speed-up typical photo management tasks and workflows. “Sometimes you need to start over completely to really make a change,” says Hert van Zwietering, Product Manager at IDimager Systems. “With Photo Supreme, we did just that, and our customers will greatly benefit from the modern concepts that we were able to wrap around our extensive experience with digital photo software.” Photo Supreme is available for $79.99.

Over the next 8 days we’ll be revealing our favourite products from last year in our annual awards, looking back at the essential photography kit that helped to define 2012.

Kicking things off is the Software of the Year 2012 award, which goes to Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.

“Lightroom is a class leader in both sharpening and noise reduction, and the new Process 2012 tools are extremely well done. For things like HDR, compositing, and similar editing needs, you’ll still find Photoshop or any number of plug-ins useful, and if you’re into video editing beyond the basics you’ll want to add a standalone program to your kit, but Lightroom 4 can handle most all of your organizational and editing needs.”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Adobe and Lightroom 4!

Seim Effect has released Color Fantasies 2, a colour toolkit for Lightroom. Rebuilt from the ground up, Seim Effects 2 offers new and remastered tools for superior control, better workflow and better mixing of effects. “It’s like Colour Alchemy for Lightroom - Built on years of development and refinement, Colour Fantasies 2 is designed to help photographers create incredible colour” said Gavin Seim, photographer, educator and owner of Seim Effects. “Colour Fantasies 2 is all about taking the subtleties of color hues and tones and giving photographers of all genres the tools they need to quickly customize their vision and make their images sing.” Color Fantasies 2 is available now for use with Lightroom on both Mac and Windows systems. The regular download price is $49, but if those purchasing a licence by 10 January 2013 are entitled to a $10 discount.

CyberLink today released an update for PowerDirector 11 adding support for the latest GoPro HD HERO3 Black Edition camera.  With today’s update, CyberLink has expanded the comprehensive 4K video editing capabilities in PowerDirector 11 to support the GoPro HD HERO3 Black Edition, which delivers 4K and 2.7K video resolutions at 12 and 30fps respectively. The new PowerDirector 11 update is now available to existing users for free via the CyberLink Update Center.

Following the success of the British Journal of Photography’s award-winning iPad edition, the team behind the app is now launching 125 Magazine for iPad. 125 magazine is one of the world’s leading fashion photography magazines – a visual compendium of new ideas in photography, fashion, art and culture. The iPad edition is a new version of the magazine, which showcases previously unseen content, moving image and animation. The first issue is free, and out now on the iTunes App Store. Individual paid-for issues and a subscription option will be available from January.

Nero has released a free Android app called NeroKwik. The program connects all the photos users have spread across their mobile devices, PCs, and social networks. Rather than upload, sync or move photos to a centralised cloud platform, NeroKwik simply connects mobile devices and services through the cloud. “NeroKwik addresses the three biggest hurdles people have when it comes to sharing photos with mobile devices,” said Nero Chief Product Officer, Martin Stein. “Sometimes it is hard to find specific images just when you need them. By having access to all your photos, even if they are on your PC, Facebook or another mobile device will mean you can find the ones you want, and fast. Additionally, the joy of sharing photos is seeing the feedback from your friends and family. NeroKwik makes this a better experience.” If you own a device running Android 4.0 or higher, you can download the app from the Google Play Store.

CyberLink recently unveiled a new video contest entitled “Create Video Challenge” that will encourage PowerDirector users to hone and improve their video editing skills. Consisting of a series of engaging and interactive video editing contests that will run for a period of nine months until 5 September 2013. CyberLink will provide a sample video with an accompanying demo that describes how it was made while encouraging participants to use the same techniques when creating their own videos.This month’s challenge involves the creation of a “tilt-shift” video. For detailed information about CyberLink’s “Create Video Challenge,” visit the event page at the website below.

Sony’s ?PlayMemories Studio application has been updated to include the ability to output images on Sony’s 4K TVs. This enables users to enjoy high resolution photos taken with their digital camera on Sony’s 4K-enabled Bravia KD-84X9005. Available from today, version 2.00 of PlayMemories Studio also offers improved editing functions, a choice of 10 new background music tracks and 29 extra sound effects. In addition, photo and video files which have been stored on PlayMemories Online can now be accessed via PlayMemories Studio. PlayMemories Studio is priced at €15, with a 30-day trial available free of charge.

BeFunky has launched a new campaign called “My Photos Are Mine,” promising a free premium BeFunky account to all Instagram users who do not agree with the latter’s new terms-of-service update. “BeFunky believes that photo-editing and sharing should be fun, which is why their users have full control over their photos,” the company said in a statement. “People are not required to register when using the service, and where they share the photos is completely up to them and easy to do… Now BeFunky is offering free access to even more features by giving away the premium account to anyone who has cancelled their Instagram account.”

Boinx Software has released iStopMotion for iPad 2.0, with new audio options that make use of the iPad’s capabilities. “In the 10 years since we launched iStopMotion for the Mac, we have crossed boundaries and pushed ourselves and the available technology to the limit,” said Oliver Breidenbach, CEO, Boinx Software. “The launch of iStopMotion for iPad 2.0 is the next step in our success story, adding the second most important moviemaking feature to the app - sound.” To celebrate the 10-year annniversary of the iStopMotion product family, for a limited time only, iStopMotion for iPad 2 is available from the iTunes App Store for $4.99 USD (regularly $9.99) or as a free upgrade for existing users. Its companion app, iStopMotion Remote Camera, is also available now from iTunes for free.