Industry notes for the week of June 27

GaryPageau

Retail News

Microsoft is closing all company-owned retail stores

After 11 years, Microsoft is throwing in the towel on its physical retail stores and is refocusing its retail sales efforts around its online/digital store, according to David Porter, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Store.

Think Tank Photo appoints Transcontinenta BV as new distributor in Germany and Austria

Think Tank Photo announced it appointed Netherlands-based Transcontinenta BV and its subsidiary Cullman Germany GmbH as the exclusive distributors in Germany and Austria of Think Tank Photo camera and video bags, according to a press release. Transcontinenta is already the distributor of Think Tank Photo and MindShift Gear products in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

Pro Photography

COVID-19 Survey: Photographers turn challenges into opportunities

Members of the Rangefinder + WPPI community were asked how they are rising to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Photographers were asked series of five questions, on topics ranging from how they are pivoting their wedding and portrait businesses to find success during the pandemic, to what they are doing to stay inspired and continue growing as photographers and as people. The roundup is here.

Mediapost: Judge reinstates photographer’s copyright claim against Mashable

U.S. District Court Judge Kimba Wood reinstated a photographer’s claims Mashable infringed her copyright by embedding a photo from her public Instagram account, according to MediaPost. Judge Wood said Mashable has not to date presented enough evidence to show it had a valid license from Instagram for the photo. The decision leaves open the possibility that Mashable can still prevail after more facts emerge.

Events

GotPhoto webinar: Contactless School Photography Interview with Tim Macdonald

Thursday, July 2nd – 11 a.m.  ET
Contactless photography is the new buzzword in volume photography due to the COVID-19 situation, but what does this mean when it comes to school photography?

Join GotPhoto CEO Benedikt Greifenhofer as he interviews renowned school photographer Tim Macdonald of Image Art Studio to answer this question and get his view on:

  • The contactless school photography workflow
  • His set up
  • Reflections on COVID-19
Tim will also take this time to preview the upcoming GotPhoto Virtual Summer Camp.

PRINTING United moves to online format for 2020

COVID-19 has claimed another event victim. PRINTING United, originally scheduled to take place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 21-23, 2020, will now move to an online experience this fall due to constraints surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, according to organizer PRINTING United Alliance.

Albuquerque Balloon Festival postponed until 2021

The Albuquerque Balloon Festival, often referred to as among the “most-photographed events” in the world, has postponed its 49th edition until 2021. The event, sponsored by Canon, has been rescheduled to Oct.2-10, 2021.

APTech updates Advanced Leadership Program course start date

The Association for Print Technologies (APTech), in partnership with George Mason University School of Business, has updated the start date for its Advanced Leadership Program to July 15 to accommodate additional registrations due to increased interest and demand.

App news and website updates

FamilyAlbum app now available in German and in French

mixi, Inc., announced the German and French language versions of the FamilyAlbum family photo app will be available in June 2020. FamilyAlbum is now available in 6 languages: German, English, French, Japanese, Korean, and traditional Chinese.

LucidPix launches subscription-based 3D photos app

LucidPix, a 3D photo editing app from tech startup Lucid, has officially launched after a beta release at CES 2020. The app enables casual and professional photographers alike to create and to share immersive 3D imagery – even if the smartphone has a single lens. It is available for Android and iOS.

Google redesigns Google Photos, adds map view

Google has redesigned its Google Photos app with a new three-tab structure featuring larger thumbnails, auto-playing videos and reduced white-space between videos. To compensate for ever-growing photo libraries, Google Photos puts search front and center in a tab. The library tab features high-impact areas like Albums, Favorites, Trash, Archive and more.

Roundup: Free alternatives to Lightroom for beginners and professionals

Don’t want to pay $9 per month for an Adobe Lightroom subscription? Then this list of alternatives to Lightroom will definitely come in handy.

Corel launches Painter 2021 for macOS and Windows

Corel launched Painter 2021, the latest version of its professional digital painting software on macOS and Windows. Painter 2021 adds AI-based style transfer workflow offering greater customization, control, and Natural-Media realism, as well as a new Thick Paint-compatible brush category and a variety of Clone Tinting options.

Firmware updates

Ricoh Imaging updates Pentax K-3

Ricoh Imaging released a firmware update for the Pentax K-3, which optimizes support for the new DA* 85mm F1.4 lens, which ships next month.

Fujifilm adds webcam functionality to FUJIFILM X-A7, FUJIFILM X-T200 cameras

FUJIFILM Corp. announced free firmware updates for the FUJIFILM X-A7 and the FUJIFILM X-T200, allowing the cameras to be used as webcams on Windows computers via USB connection. The company also said it is developing a version of FUJIFILM X Webcam for macOS computers, due in mid-July 2020.

SIGMA releases firmware ver. 2.00 update for SIGMA fp

Sigma Corp. of America announced SIGMA fp firmware ver. 2.00, the first major update that widely expands the functionality of the camera. The new functions and capabilities include: Cinemagraph creation and playback, CinemaDNG footage playback, Still capture, during live view and movie shooting in Cine mode Still image capture from movie files.

Interesting items from around the web

Canva soars to $8.6 billion valuation

Australian graphic design platform Canva has hit a paper valuation of $US6 billion, making it Australia’s most valuable private company, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Canva’s latest valuation comes after it announced it raised $US60 million from private investors. Last week, we reported Canva inked a deal with FedEx Office to provide graphics for online printing jobs.

Open Positions

GotPhoto – Business Development Representative – BDR (m/f/d)

GotPhoto is seeking a Sales Development Representative.

People on the Move

Scott Schinlever returns to EFI as Inkjet Chief Operating Officer

Scott Schinlever has re-joined Electronics For Imaging, Inc. in a new role as chief operating officer for EFI’s global inkjet business, via press release.