Due to a vacation a huge workload in the past weeks, I didn’t get around to do the weekly news roundup that I promised. So this week’s roundup will also take into account news from the weeks after my previous roundup.

June 26, 2014

Researchers at the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany, are exploring a chemical iris for smartphone cameras. Read more at Digital Trends

June 28, 2014

During its WWDC Keynote this year, Apple announced the death of iPhoto and Aperture, both of which will be replaced by the new Photos app for iOS and OS X. Read more at Digital Trends

June 30, 2014

Here’s an interesting patent by Canon, showing a Foveon-like five layer sensor with UV and IR sensitivity. Could it revolutionize portrait photography? Read more at Imaging Resource

July 1, 2014

Mr Miyazaki did it again: the new MS-Optical Perar 24mm f/4 for Leica M is hardly larger than a body cap. Read more at Imaging Resource

July 4, 2014

Peak Design has developed a new camera strap called ‘Slide,’ and a new hand strap called ‘Clutch.’ If you ask me, they’re ingenious. Read more at Digital Trends

July 7, 2014

In my last news roundup, I mentioned Sony’s new curved sensor. Here’s the alleged first image taken with it. Read more at Digital Trends

July 8, 2014

Sony thinks you want a smartphone with a front-facing flash, so you can take better ‘selfies.’ Read more at Digital Trends

July 9/10, 2014

Two New York drone operators get arrested for allegedly flying too close to a police chopper. As it turns out, police had no reason to detain them. What does this mean for drone use? Read more at Digital Trends

July 14, 2014

The FAA says realtors may no longer take commercial drone footage of objects they intend to sell. More bad news for drone users? Read more at Digital Trends

July 15, 2014

Photoshop Express can now edit raw files, making it easier than ever to perform simple edits on the go. Read more at Imaging Resource

July 16, 2014

An older video, but still pretty awesome: an Earthrise captured in HD by the Japanese lunar orbiter. Read more at Digital Trends

And in this video, you can learn how the photos of NASA’s lunar orbiter mission have been restored inside an abandoned McDonlad’s. Read more at Imaging Resource

July 17, 2014

Wowzers! Blackmagic significantly cuts the price of its Micro Four Thirds Pocket Cinema Camera. Read more at Digital Trends
Interested in the BMPCC? Buy it from B&H Photo and help support efix:photography!

July 18, 2014

Just what the world needed. A toaster that burns your ‘selfie’ on your breakfast toast. Read more at Digital Trends

An epic timelapse/stop motion video of Barcelona, Spain, and how it was made. Read more at Imaging Resource