Snappix has been updated to Version 1.1. This iPhone app allows you to take four shots with the camera in quick succession, combine them into a single frame, and e-mail them to friends or send them to Facebook, Twitter or img.ly directly without leaving the app. The update brings about faster image capture, location tagging of images for display on a map, a different display and selection of thumbnails, and more. Snappix is available through the iTunes App Store for $0.99.

Iridient Digital has released a major update to Iridient Raw Developer. Version 1.9.1 includes support for several new camera models including the Fujifilm Finepix X100 (read review), F550EXR and HS20EXR (HS22EXR). It also brings about faster scrolling through thumbnails of Pentax PEF files, and adds several new keyboard shortcuts for zooming and navigating around the image preview.

Galerie Huit Open Salon 2011 is an open international photography competition designed to promote new work by talented artists, enabling them to exhibit during the ‘Les Rencontres d’Arles’ festival. The closing date for submissions is 1 May 2011; the festival will take place from 4th July until 18th September. The theme of the competition and exhibition is Transience. Note that entry fees apply, as outlined in the announcement below.

British music producer Bibio has partnered up with Lomography for a project that celebrates the release of his new album, ‘Mind Bokeh’. The idea of bokeh is infused throughout the kaleidoscopic new album – particularly in the sound and artwork. In Bibio’s own words; “I’m a lover of photography so I discovered the word bokeh through a photographer friend. The word sounded unusual in itself which attracted me, but I liked the idea of applying its context to something other than photography.” His Lomography collaboration starts with a series of his shots using Lomography’s Diana F+ camera and equipment, and a guide to achieving the bokeh effect on film. For more information on the project, follow the link below.

According to Sony’s Japanese website, the Sony SLT-A33 digital camera has been discontinued. Given that the A33 was announced in August 2010, it’s had a rather short lifespan of only seven months. The eagle-eyed Arturo Fukuda of FotoActualidad, who spotted the notice, speculates that a replacement might be imminent.

Source: Sony Japan via FotoActualidad

Special thanks to Mr Arturo Fukuda for calling our attention to this piece of news.

Tamron USA has just launched MyPhotoExhibits, an innovative way for photographers looking to showcase their favourite images in a unique, free online venue. Photographers simply set up a user avatar and bio, upload their favourite high-resolution images, and create a personalised exhibit space with a three-dimensional effect. After organising the exhibit and captioning the photographs, users can put the finishing touches on their exhibit space, choosing from a variety of gallery spaces (wall and floor textures and colours), photo frames, furniture, and lighting options.

Macphun has updated FX Photo Studio to version 3.2, offering six new filters, faster image processing and the ability to capture edit images taken directly from the Apple iPad 2. The new filters form the basis of a new category called Sketches. FX Photo Studio 3.2 is only $0.99 for iPhone and $1.99 for iPad and available worldwide exclusively through the iTunes App Store.

During the NAB Trade Show in Las Vegas from 9-14th April, Carl Zeiss will present two new mounts for its interchangeable-mount Compact Prime CP.2 lenses. These include the Micro Four Thirds mount, which is available now, and the Sony E mount, which is expected to hit retail in June. The Carl Zeiss Compact Prime CP.2 lenses are the first cine lenses with interchangeable mount developed specially for filming with HDSLRs and compact system cameras.

With help from Swiftspin, aerial photographer Kevin Allen has produced interactive 360° spins of St Paul’s Cathedral and Canary Wharf Tower. Shot using a Canon 1Ds Mk III camera with a 35mm f1.4L lens and a twin squirrel helicopter flying at about 1000ft, the St Paul’s spin is made up of 72 individual photos. The animation part was done by Swiftspin. Since completing the St Paul’s project, Kevin has also produced a similar spin of Canary Wharf Tower (One Canada Square), which you can view by visiting the website below.

O2 Stories is a collaborative photography-based storytelling project and photo competition. O2 has commissioned Alexis Kennedy of Failbetter Games to write two stories, inspired by photos taken by the public. One story is a journey in sunlight, a happy tale of a far off land, while the other is a dark and hard-boiled thriller, set in shadows. Each tale begins with a single picture and from there, it’s up to the audience how the stories twist and turn over the next eleven chapters. To become part of the story, all you have to do is read what has been written so far, take a photo that you think could tell the next part, and then tweet it via twitpic, yfrog, plixi, or twitgoo with the hashtag for the story (either #o2sunlight or #o2shadows). Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening, the author will choose a photo that inspires him to write the next chapter for each story. If your picture is chosen, you will win a printed book of the complete story, featuring your photograph.

Website: O2 Stories

Intel is running a photo-video contest on Facebook as part of its Visual Life campaign. The orgainsers are looking for submissions of original photographs and movie clips in six categories including Things, Moments, Northern Lights, Remastered, Places and People. Facebook members can either upload a file from their hard drive or select a photo from their Facebook albums. Please note that this competition is open to UK residents aged 18 or above only. As always, we suggest that you read the rules before entering your work.

Website: Intel Visual Life Photo-Video Contest on Facebook

PhotoHide.com provides a free service to anyone who would like to blur the face of the subject in personal photos. “In a time where privacy becomes increasingly important PhotoHide obscures your face or the faces of people who do not want to appear in photos,” the creators say. Although this is pretty easy to accomplish in any decent photo editor, the service can still be of interest to those who do not use such programs. You can upload a photo of 3MB or less, draw a selection around the part of the face you would like to blur, click ‘Hide’, and download the modified photo to your computer. The PhotoHide team are saying they do not store any of the originals, which are automatically deleted at the end of your session.

Website: PhotoHide

The Rolleimarin UW2 is a universal underwater camera housing for compact cameras. According to the distributor the Rolleimarin UW2 is compatible with hundreds of digital compact cameras ranging from approximately 8.2x4.6x1.3cm to 10x6.4x3cm in size. Dustproof, shockproof up to a height of one metre and waterproof down to a depth of 40m, this underwater case weighs 380 grams and is available in yellow, black and red for €199.

The Rollei Sportsline 60 Camouflage is a shock- and waterproof digital camera with a 64mm equivalent f/2.8 lens and a tiny 5-megapixel CMOS sensor. Able to survive a drop from a height of up to one metre, the Rollei Sportsline 60 Camouflage is also waterproof down to a depth of 3m. Apart from capturing five-megapixel stills, the camera can also record 720p high-definition movies at a frame rate of 30fps. Powered by two AAA batteries and compatible with microSD memory cards, the Rollei Sportsline 60 Camouflage is hitting the shops today at an RRP of €79.95.

The new Rollei ActionCam 100 is a small and lightweight HD video camera featuring a fast ultra-wideangle lens. Easy to attach to a biker’s helmet or a bicycle’s handlebars, the Rollei ActionCam 100 has a 2.5mm f/2 lens with an angle-of-view of 120 degrees. With a waterproof housing that is depth rated to 30 metres, the camera can even be used underwater. High-definition videos with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels and a frame rate of 30fps (as well as 5-megapixel stills) are recorded on a microSD card (not included). The Rollei ActionCam 100 will be available at retail from 1st June for a recommended price of €99.95.

iPhoto ‘11: The Missing Manual by David Pogue and Lesa Snider is a new title from O’Reilly Media. From this book, you can learn how to organise your collection, use iPhoto’s editing options including its Photoshop-like adjustments panel, publish your photos to Flickr, Facebook, and MobileMe, and create slideshows, gift books, calendars, and cards. The 384-page book is available in print format for $34.99 and in electronic format for $27.99.

Website: O’Reilly Media

Photo Iconic, in conjunction with Strabo Photo Tours, is leading two photographic holidays in Ireland this July. The first one, Ireland - Landscape, People & the Craic (21-25 July 2011, $1545), includes a “special treat” - a specially arranged Irish music session to photograph, at which the course participants will experience the ‘craic’, an enchanting mix of fun, entertainment, and conversation. The second, longer trip, Ireland - A Different View, Landscapes & Panoramas (25-31 July 2011, $2345), promises to be a more intensive photographic experience. It concentrates on the stunning Irish landscape of County Mayo and County Galway, and will include workshops on panoramic photography. The prices quoted include all tuition, transfers from Ireland West Airport Knock, plus accommodation and breakfast and dinner at Hillcrest House near Westport, County Mayo.

Sort Shots is an iPad app that enables users to quickly and and easily locate and assign tags to one or more photographs. The application imports the keywords assigned to photographs via iTunes Folders or FTP using popular photographic software including Adobe Lightroom, Bridge, Elements, Apple Aperture and iPhoto, Nik Software Capture NX and Microsoft Expression Media and Photo Gallery. The latest version, v2.4, incorporates a variety of new features, including wireless printing, metadata display in full-screen view, enhanced gesture support, and more. Sort Shots - iPad Edition 2.4 is $5.99 and available worldwide exclusively through the iTunes App Store.