Blurb has launched Blurb BookShow, a widget that enables authors to share their books in an experiential format wherever they are online – on Facebook, their blog, a website and so on. Blurb BookShow offers an experience similar to that of turning the pages of a book as users can flip through the book’s pages online making the book more discoverable and driving interest to the print book. On the iPad, users can use the device’s touchpad to flick through the book pages as well as pinch and zoom to enlarge images. During beta testing, Blurb authors using Blurb BookShow allegedly experienced 6x more visits to their bookstore pages and had an 88% increase in book sales.

Website: Introducing the Blurb BookShow Widget

ACD Systems have just released ACDSee Photo Manager 12, the latest version of their easy-to-use photo managing and editing software. Photographers can now easily store and share images online without leaving the application with the new Online mode, which connects users to a free 2 GB account on ACDSeeOnline.com. Plus, a new FTP uploader allows users to upload images to an FTP site directly from ACDSee. Additionally, a new one-click tagging function has been added to identify the best photos from a series, or isolate images for editing or review without moving the files into different folders. Finally, the user interface has been refined to help users easily navigate between organising, viewing, editing and sharing photos. Compatible with Windows 7, ACDSee Photo Manager 12 is available for a free 30-day trial and for purchase for $69.99 at the website below.

Website: ACDSee

Pentax has released firmware updates for a number of their older DSLR cameras. The new firmware versions address a single issue - they improve operational stability when the cameras are used with certain SDHC memory cards. The updates can be downloaded from the following websites:

Website: Pentax K10D Firmware 1.31
Website: Pentax K20D Firmware 1.04
Website: Pentax K200D Firrmware 1.01
Website: Pentax K-m Firmware 1.11

Engelmann’s Photomizer is now also available as an Adobe Photoshop plug-in. Billed as a one-click-plug-in for fully automatic image optimisation, Photomizer is claimed to be “perfectly suitable for batch processing of Photoshop”. Featuring clever algorithms that recognise the parts of the image that actually need intervention for a better overall impression, the Photomizer Plug-in for Photoshop is available now priced at €129.99. A free trial version can be downloaded from the website below. System requirements include Windows XP/Vista/7 and minimum 1GB of RAM.

Website: Photomizer Plug-in for Photoshop

As promised a week ago, Olympus today released firmware updates for all of its Micro Four Thirds (MFT) cameras to boost their AF speed. Apart from speeding up the auto-focus of the E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras, the update also allows photographers using the Olympus E-P2 and E-PL1 with the VF-2 electronic viewfinder fitted to view the menu and recorded images on the LCD. Finally, for the E-P1 and E-P2, the update also makes continuous auto-focus tracking in movie mode as fast and accurate as on the new E-PL1. In order to update your camera’s firmware, you will need to download the Olympus Camera Updater from the website below.

Website: Olympus - Firmware and Language Update Instructions

The winner of Bing’s Earth Day photo contest has been announced. A photo of a bee gathering the nectar of a passion fruit blossom, taken by Alan Bosse, a student studying web design at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, was chosen by Bing users to be featured on Bing’s homepage in honour of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day today. (Apparently, you have to set the United States as your country/region to actually see it, otherwise a different photo appears on the homepage.) You can read more about the contest at the website below.

Website: Bing Blog

Leica has issued a firmware update for the Leica S2 digital SLR camera. Version 1.0.0.16 extends the camera’s functionality by providing a new white balance preset, extra viewfinder information, a customisation option for the depth-of-field preview button, selectable OLED screen standby time and extended user-defined button programming. On top of that, the shutter speed and aperture dials can now be locked to prevent inadvertent shifts. The new firmware update also brings improvements to existing functions - click through for a list of these.

Website: Leica Owners’ Area

Photo sharing service Jalbum has just announced a new collaboration with world-renowned photographer Jack Hollingsworth. In a series of events, the Jalbum community of photography enthusiasts will gather around a common theme, lead and tutored by Jack Hollingsworth. Each event will include a blog post introducing the subject, a competition element and a user group on Jalbum.net where anyone can participate. The first theme is close-up photography.

Website: Close-up with Jack Hollingsworth

Adobe today released final versions of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.7, Adobe Camera Raw 5.7 and Adobe DNG Converter 5.7. The updates add raw file support for nine new cameras and digital backs, including the Canon EOS 550D, Kodak Z981, Leaf Aptus-II 8,  Leaf Aptus-II 10R, Mamiya DM40, Olympus E-PL1, Panasonic G2, Panasonic G10 and Sony A450. Lightroom 2.7 is available as a free download for Lightroom 2 customers, and Photoshop Camera Raw 5.7 is available as a free download for Photoshop CS4, Photoshop Elements 8 and Premiere Elements 8 customers. The DNG Converter 5.7 is also available as a free download for all.

Website: Adobe Updates

WD today introduced its WD Photos photo viewer, an iPhone / iPod Touch app for use with WD’s My Book World Edition and WD ShareSpace network drives. Users can view up to 250,000 pictures on their iPhone or iPod touch by simply copying their pictures into the “Shared Pictures” folder on their My Book World Edition network drive. A unique application that runs directly on these WD network drives automatically creates optimised versions of users’ photos ahead of time, enabling fast viewing on an iPhone or iPod touch without having to wait for the photos to load. Available now at the Apple iTunes App Store, the WD Photos photo viewer app is free for anyone to download. Registration with MioNet, WD’s secure remote access service (included with My Book World Edition), is also free and required to use this app.

Canon UK has announced a cashback offer on the Canon Powershot G11 and S90 digital compact cameras. Customers purchasing either camera before 22 June can claim £30 / €35 back by 26 July 2010. This promotion starts today. The offer is available to legal residents of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland only.

Website: Terms & Conditions / Claim Form

Canon UK has announced a new cashback offer on the Canon Powershot SX1 IS, SX20 IS, SX 120 IS and SX 210 IS models. Those purchasing one of these cameras before 22 June are entitled to a cashback of £20-£50 / €25-€55 depending on model. The promotion, which is available to residents of the UK and Ireland only, starts today. Claims must be received by 26 July 2010.

Website: Terms & Conditions / Claim Form

Panasonic is going to release firmware updates for the first three of its Micro Four Thirds (MFT) cameras, including the G1, GH1 and GF1 models. All three cameras will be given a new menu option for image stabilisation when the new Lumix G Vario 14-42mm lens is attached, and all three models will benefit from improved auto-focus performance with other manufacturers’ MFT lenses. Additionally, the G1 and the GH1 will see improved flash exposure accuracy, whilst the GH1 will also benefit from improved auto-focus performance in movie mode with the Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. lens. Plus, firmware version 1.3 for the GH1 enables auto-focusing in Full HD mode with regular Four Thirds lenses that are compatible with contrast-detect AF. The new firmware updates will be available worldwide at GMT 8:00 on 10 May 2010 at the website below.

Website: Lumix Customer Support

Leica has just launched the Leica V-LUX 20, a 12.1-megapixel digital compact camera with a 12x zoom and on-board geotagging. Featuring a Leica DC Vario-Elmar 4.1-49.2mm f/3.3-4.9 ASPH. zoom lens with a 35mm equivalent focal range of 25-300mm, the V-LUX 20 allows the user to take both high-resolution still photos and HD videos. The geotagging function - a first on a Leica - lets photographers to record the exact geographical co-ordinates of their location automatically, and makes archiving and organising photos quick and easy. Styled in a matt black finish, the V-Lux 20 provides a complete range of manual shutter speed and aperture settings. The suggested retail price of the LEICA V-LUX 20 is £495. The optional brown leather case has an SRP of £70.

Website: Leica V-LUX 20 Specifications

Panasonic has announced the suggested retail prices of the Panasonic LUMIX G2 and LUMIX G10 Micro Four Thirds cameras. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, the world’s first mirrorless interchangeable-lens system camera featuring a touch-sensitive screen, will be available priced at $799.95. The Lumix DMC-G10, billed as the lightest interchangeable-lens camera with an EVF, can be had for £499/ $599.95. Both cameras come outfitted with the new Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens.

Review: Read our in-depth review of the Panasonic G10

Kubota Image Tools are reminding interested photographers that the next Digital Photography Bootcamp workshop is less than a month away. Held from 16-21 May, the 2010 Digital Photography Bootcamp is a 5-day workshop for professional photographers designed to supply all of the technical know-how to run a successful digital portrait/wedding studio. Topics covered include raw shooting, editing and archiving, workflow using Photoshop and Lightroom with Kubota RPG Speedkeys, printing, slideshow creation and business skills. The cost is $2,895 including accommodation and meals.

Website: Kubota Image Tools

German publisher teNeues Verlag has launched a microsite for internationally renowned professional photographer Michael Poliza. The microsite offers exclusive, never-before-seen photographs from Poliza, author of such titles as Eyes Over Africa and Antarctic. The new teNeues site allows fans to interact with him and enter a contest to win one of his books.

Website: Michael Poliza

MagCloud is a new self-publishing web service and on-demand printing tool from HP that enables photographers to create, and sell, their own self-published magazines. With no minimum orders or start-up costs, copies are base-priced at 20 cents per page. Users simply upload a PDF of their magazine, set their price at or above the base-price, and then MagCloud supports the ordering, printing, and shipping process. When the issue is published, people can buy it on the MagCloud website. Every magazine is printed at the time of purchase using HP’s Indigo technology. This approach eliminates wastes and overruns. Interested PhotographyBLOG readers have been offered a 25% discount off the base-price for the first issue published, reducing the cost to 15 cents per page.