iPhoto '08

Apple announced an iMac refresh today and the latest version of their iLife application suite for Mac OS X, which includes a new version of iPhoto. I love iPhoto, and I'm glad that they've made easier to use without having to set up smart folders or use "rolls" like folders anymore. iPhoto now has the ability to create event folders from rolls and includes new sorting features familiar to Aperture and Lightroom users, notably quickly hiding images based on star ratings and keyword searching. Also, new .Mac sharing is more like competitive photo services, allowing you to present images in online galleries with the option to protect certain photos or allow hi-res downloads suitable for printing. Your gallery visitors can even contribute to your gallery. It's yet to be confirmed if previously unsupported Pentax cameras, like the *ist DS2 and K100D Super, are going to be able to use the new iPhoto without hacking the application. iLife '08 will be free with new Macs or $79 seperately. .Mac subscribers have 10GB of storage space for photos, movies, and websites they create ($99 per year).

Links: Apple iPhoto, Macworld Apple Announcement Info, Engadget Coverage of iLife 08

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The Pentax Photo Gallery has officially launched today, after a lengthy beta period where many Pentax photographers have tested its waters. What is it? It’s a Pentax curated gallery of photos taken with Pentax cameras that is open to anyone to view or submit, and approved members can vote on submitted photos to help Pentax decide if they are up to the gallery standards and to elevate outstanding photos into the “Premiere Gallery.”

Pentax has published books of photography in the past, most famously its Pentax Annuals, which highlighted some of the most expressive photography taken with Pentax equipment by photographers from all over the world. They even have a lovely gallery in Tokyo (the Pentax Forum). But now they’re moving into new water. Pentax has developed the flash-based gallery project as an online extension of its commitment to showcase its faithful artists, particularly after seeing the growth of the online Pentax community in the last few years. Sites like Flickr and PBase have made it easier to search out photos taken with Pentax tags, but anyone looking for photos that illustrate the potential of the gear or demonstrate the wealth of talent among Pentax enthusiasts is quickly inundated with images, good and bad, so Pentax are lending some editorial expertise by a judging committee (looking for images it feels are worth archiving for posterity) to mutually share the spotlight with talented Pentax users.

The direction…