July 11 - 12:50pm EDT   Nik Software on Thursday unveiled a new version to its Color Efex Pro 3.0 for Capture NX 2, while also introducing Silver Efex Pro, a new plug-in for doing black-and-white images in Photoshop and Aperture. The new Capture NX filters offer DSLR users nine new filters: Bleach Bypass, Cross Balance, Film Effects, Film Grain, Glamour Glow, High Key, Low Key, Polaroid Transfer, and Tonal Enhancer. Color Efex Pro 3 is available in Select and Complete editions for $100 and $180, respectively. [full story]

March 19 - 12:00am EDT   Plustek today unveiled several new OpticFilm scanners, the 7300, 7500i SE, and 7500i AI, three consumer models that feature a scan resolution of 7200 by 7200 dots-per-inch. In addition to offering four-scan multisampling and a multi-exposure engine, the 7500i models feature SilverFast's Infrared Smart Removal of Defects technology, which removes defects on the surface of the film in the scanned image. The two 7500i models will sell for $400 and $600 respectively, while the 7300 is priced at $300. [full story]

February 28 - 5:40pm EST   The Coen brothers -- the creators of 'No Country for Old Men' which won five Oscars at this year's Academy Awards -- have discussed how Apple hardware and software were influential during the editing process of the film's creation. "They [Apple] made it really easy for us — we cut now much the same way we cut on film [using Final Cut Pro]. It's hugely faster," said Ethan Coen. 'No Country for Old Men' won 'Best Picture' this year and is the first movie edited with an entirely digital workflow on a Mac to win the Oscar, according to Macworld. [full story]

February 26 - 2:05pm EST   Two research firms -- Park Associates and Entertainment Technology Center at USC -- have released a document urging Hollywood to use Apple's own tactics of offering low-cost TV shows and feature films for mobile media devices in an effort to reap profits on their own, cutting the Cupertino-based company out of the equation. "Hollywood shouldn't let Apple make all the money, especially since they are the ones making the movies," said John Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates. "Judicious use of free mobile content can help drive ticket and DVD sales." The white paper specifically details steps to achieve profitable distribution of mobile content on mobile ... [full story]

January 9 - 5:35pm EST   Major Hollywood content providers gave Apple and its iTunes Store a thumbs up during a panel discussion and Q&A session on Monday at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. The Cupertino-based company began offering hit TV shows and more than 2,000 music videos in October of 2005 after experiencing enormous success in the digital music industry. Deals with four Disney-owned studios -- Disney, Pixar, Miramax, and Touchstone Pictures -- were followed by a deal with Paramount Pictures and later Lionsgate films. [full story]

December 5 - 9:00pm EST   Digital photography, some film veterans will argue, has no feeling, due to the lack of imperfections in digital imagery. Others prefer the artistic qualities that film grain provides, and the varied tonal ranges that exist or have existed through different film types. Unfortunately, film is slowly losing ground to the digital lifestyle, and many film types are being discontinued, never to be seen again. Alien Skin's Exposure 2 gives new digital photographers a chance to play with well-loved vintage film effects – some that are even discontinued completely – and provides film photographers with the chance to keep using their tricks of the trade on in to the digital age. [full story]