MAGIX has released the newest version of its slideshow software, MAGIX Xtreme PhotoStory on CD & DVD. This program lets you organise, share and show your pictures on your HDTV. Some of the features and additions include Picture-to-Music matching, over 30 new 3D animations and slide transitions and more than 50 templates. Version 8 is available now for $29.99 plus shipping.

Website: Xtreme PhotoStory

HP has announced that a customised version of its HP Indigo WS6000 Commercial Digital Press will be available to professional photo labs in July. This customised photo specialty solution comes configured for HP SmartStream print server solutions for high-volume commercial print production. The HP Indigo WS6000 Commercial Digital Press connects with HP Indigo commercial unified workflow and provides the same HP Indigo print quality across the different applications and platforms. The digital printing replicates the media structure and coating, removes wet processes and offers superior gloss uniformity while the thin layer requires less colorant.

VholdR has released the ContourHD, a new HD camcorder that can be attached to a biker’s, skier’s or snowboarder’s helmet to shoot action-packed videos. The ContourHD can shoot high-definition movies at a resolution of 1280x720 pixels and a frame rate of 30 frames per second, or standard-definition videos at 60fps, and record them as MOV files using the H.264 codec. The device is equipped with a fixed-focal-length lens, has a water-resistant body and is compatible with microSD cards. The ContourHD can be preordered form a number of online retailers, including Adorama, Amazon and others. Prices start at $279.99.

Website: ContourHD

Nikon has announced that it had revised its profit forecast for the year ended 31 March 2009, to ¥28,000. This represents a change of +4,000 yen, or +16.7%, over the previous forecast. On the other hand, it is still a 63% decline versus last year, blamed on the global economic slowdown triggered by the global financial crisis, as well as the appreciation of the yen and a decline of the stock market.

Source: Nikon’s Revision of the Forecasts of Financial Results

SnapMyLife has announced the launch of two free camera-oriented applications for BlackBerry smartphones. Both the SnapMyLife and Snap2Twitter applications are now available on BlackBerry App World. The SnapMyLife application is seamlessly integrated with a BlackBerry smartphone’s camera, and users can post new pictures with a single click. The Snap2Twitter application is designed specifically for consumers who want to use their BlackBerry smartphone to post pictures to their Twitter accounts. It links directly to the camera interface, and immediately updates the user’s Twitter feed with the tweet and a link to the photo.

The Nikon UK team will be visiting Jessops’ New Oxford Street store on 1st - 2nd May 2009 to demonstrate the capabilities and benefits of the Nikon D5000 DSLR, which goes on sale on Friday. A programme of free Nikon-led seminars will also be running throughout the two-day event. These include a tutorial on getting the best out of the D5000’s HD movie mode and a demonstration of Nikon’s Creative Lighting System. In addition, for every purchase of the D5000 made at the store, customers will receive a free canvas print (32” x 24”) and a free Sandisk 8GB Ultra II SDHC card, Centon outfit bag and Jessops TP323 tripod.

Website: Nikon D5000 Hands-On

Ricoh have launched a website devoted to the promotion of the Ricoh CX1 digital compact camera. The CX1 website includes full information on the CX1 camera and explanations of key features such as the Dynamic Range, Double Shot mode, Multi Target Auto Focus and Multi Pattern Auto White Focus. Press feedback is included with links to the very latest online reviews of the camera plus details of awards and opinions from some of the leading photographic media. Full technical specifications, an enquiry form for further information and information on the accessories available for the CX1 are also provided. You may even win a new Ricoh CX1.

Website: Ricoh CX1
Review: Read our in-depth review of the Ricoh CX1

AKVIS has released AKVIS MultiBrush v.4.0, a photo retouching and portrait enhancement program, for Windows and Macintosh. AKVIS MultiBrush v.4.0 is available as a standalone application as well as a plugin to a number of popular photo editors. AKVIS MultiBrush sells for $49.00 USD, but registered users of AKVIS Stamp can activate MultiBrush for free.

Other World Computing (OWC) announced today the new OWC USB 2.0 Display Adapter, an easy way to add an additional display to Macs and PCs via any standard USB 2.0 port. Functioning like a bus powered “external video card,” the OWC USB 2.0 Display Adapter adds an additional monitor to desktop and laptop computers that offer only one built-in display/video-out port.  In addition, the adapter also eliminates the cost and hassle of installing a video card into a computer. The OWC USB 2.0 Display Adapter connects to HDMI, DVI, and VGA equipped displays in full 32-bit colour at resolutions of up to 1600x1200 pixels. Up to 6 adapters can be configured to either clone a user’s primary screen or extend the desktop, allowing visibility of more applications at the same time on up to 6 individual displays.

DxO Labs have posted detailed RAW-based image quality data on the Olympus E-30 and the Pentax K-m DSLRs. DxOMark is a free online resource that delivers key objective sensor performance metrics measured directly on the RAW image for a variety of cameras.

Website: DxOMark
Review: Read our in-depth review of the Olympus E-30
Review: Read our in-depth review of the Pentax K-m

The LaCie Data/Share is a new way to access the data from SD and microSD cards. It converts SD card and microSD information into the more accessible USB format, instantly creating a USB-ready storage key. The two sides of the Data / Share allow you to keep personal data on one side, while using the other side for shared data. Both sides have the advantage of High-Speed USB transfer rates of up to 480MB/s. The LaCie Data/Share is available now for £9.90 / $9.90.

Lenovo and Microsoft have announced that the Shutter Sisters, otherwise known as Jen Lemen and Stephanie Roberts, are the winners of the Name Your Dream Assignment competition. Over 1,300 people voted for the Shutter Sisters to fulfill their dream - “Picture Hope.”  The Shutter Sisters will soon be traveling around five continents to capture hope in surprising places. As winners, Jen and Stephanie receive a Lenovo W700ds, Microsoft Vista, Microsoft Expression Media 2, and $50,000 to live out their dream. The two runners up, The World in a Bubble and The Travelling Poet Project, each receive a Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds and Microsoft Expression Media. The 20 finalists all receive a copy of Microsoft Expression Media 2.

Website: Name Your Dream Assignment

Nikon has released a new version of its RAW codec, which lets you view NEF files within Windows. Version 1.7.0 now supports NEF (RAW) images taken with the D5000 DSLR camera (pictured).

Website: Nikon RAW Codec 1.7.0

Nikon have released a new version, 2.5.0, of Camera Control Pro. This software allows photographers to control a camera remotely from a computer using either a wired or a wireless connection. Changes in this version include added support for the new Nikon D5000 DSLR camera.

Website: Nikon Camera Control Pro 2.5.0 (Windows)
Website: Nikon Camera Control Pro 2.5.0 (Mac)

Canon USA have issued a service notice for the PowerShot G10 camera. Lines may appear in images captured by some units of the Canon G10. This phenomenon does not occur in all images, is not caused by the camera settings, and the length of lines that appear in images differs depending on the subject. Images that exhibit this phenomenon cannot be fixed. Products whose fourth and fifth digits from the left indicate the following numbers may be affected:

***50*****, ***51*****, ***52*****,
***53*****, ***80*****, ***81*****,
***82*****, ***83*****

Free repairs will be provided by Canon USA for affected products.

Website: Service Notice: PowerShot G10: Lines Appear in Captured Images

The standalone version of Noise Ninja has been upgraded to 2.2.0. Noise Ninja Standalone now has a Sidekick Mode. While Noise Ninja is in sidekick mode any files sent to Noise Ninja from external applications, drag and drop or the file open dialog will be automatically processed and saved without user interaction. This is particularly useful when using Noise Ninjas as an external editor for hosts like Lightroom. Noise Ninja 2.2.0 also improves external editor support and batch processing and fixes a bug with profiles folder preference on Mac OS X.

Website: Noise Ninja

Sigma Photo Pro Software 3.5.1 for Windows and Sigma Photo Pro 3.3 for Macintosh are now available. Sigma Photo Pro is an exclusive software package for displaying and manipulating your Sigma digital camera images on your computer. This latest version of Sigma Photo Pro software for Windows has improved the display speed of thumbnails in the Main Window and performance when in the Review Window from “SIGMA Photo Pro 3.5” enclosed with the DP2 camera. Regarding the Macintosh version, it has improved the stability of the software’s operation from “SIGMA Photo Pro 3.3” bundled with the DP2.

Website: Sigma Photo Pro 3.5.1 (Windows)
Website: Sigma Photo Pro 3.3 (Mac)

Panasonic has released new firmware updates for three cameras - the DMC-FT1 / DMC-TS1, DMC-TZ6 / DMC-ZS1 and DMC-TZ7 / DMC-ZS3. Version 1.1 adds AVCHD playback support for the FT1 / TS1 and TZ7 / ZS3, reduces the auto-focus noise in Quick AF mode for the TZ7 / ZS3 and TZ6 / ZS1, and improves the playback quality of still images for the FT1 / TS1 and TZ6 / ZS1.

Website: Panasonic DMC-FT1/DMC-TS1 Firmware Update 1.1
Website: Panasonic DMC-TZ6/DMC-ZS1 Firmware Update 1.1
Website: Panasonic DMC-TZ7/DMC-ZS3 Firmware Update 1.1