Enter to Win Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4

Win Lightroom 4!I just happen to have an extra Lightroom 4 license, so why not give it a way! There are several ways you can enter to win this free copy of the full version of Lightroom 4 (a $149 value)  – do all three for more chances! Contest expires 7/31/12. Contest details at the bottom of this post.

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Contest Details: the winner of this contest will be chosen at random on 8/1/12, and will receive a legitimate serial number for the full version of Lightroom 4 ($149 value). If you are the winner, you will download the free 30 day trial version of Lightroom 4 from Adobe.com. Then, to convert it to a permanent version, you will enter this serial number. If you choose to, you may then register your software with Adobe. This then entitles you to receive free updates to Lightroom 4 as offered by Adobe  (4.1, etc.) This offer does not include the boxed DVD software. Contest expires 7/31/12 at 11:59 PM PDT.

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Laura is a very good teacher of Lightroom. I have her video tutorial downloads for v3 and v4, plus her teaching on creativeLIVE.com

Apple overhaul of iTunes to focus on iCloud, music sharing? Extends iTunes Store to 12 Asian nations

Apple is planning one of the biggest overhauls of its iTunes music store since its launch nearly a decade ago, people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg.

The revamp will increased integration with the company's iCloud storage service, allowing for greater access to stored content such as music, videos, and apps on mobile devices, these sources said. Apple is also planning to launch new features for music sharing with the new store, which is expected to be unveiled before the end of the year.

CNET has contacted Apple for comment and will update this report when we learn more.

Social sharing appears to be a major goal of the iTunes Store overhaul. Earlier this month, after years of being at odds, Apple announced it would more closely tie Facebook into iOS 6, the company's mobile operating system. Apple has also reportedly been in negotiations with major record labels to establish a system in which users could share songs with friends, while the labels have been pushing for a music subscription service similar to Spotify.

Apple has tried its hand at a social music networking before with Ping, with mixed results. The feature lets users post music tracks and albums to a feed to which other users can subscribe, viewing them from within iTunes on the desktop and on iOS devices But, the music-centric social network within iTunes 10 is largely considered one of Apple's recent missteps and is expected to get the ax in the next version of iOS.

iTunes is also key to Apple's expansion plans in Asia, where the company extended access to 12 new countries on Tuesday. The company also quietly released a standalone app that breaks out the podcast listening and downloading feature from the iOS version of iTunes into its own app.

Since Apple launched the iTunes Store with 200,000 music tracks in 2003, the store has expanded to include video content and audio books, as well as off-shoots like the iBookstore, and App Store, which use the same architecture. The store, which offers more than 28 million songs, 45,000 movies, and 650,000 apps, has been a contributing factor in Apple's success, generating nearly $1.9 billion in revenue last quarter -- a 30 percent increase over the previous year-ago period.

Eating Dessert with Breakfast Helps Low-Calorie Dieters

doughnut
JoyHey / Getty Images

Turns out, that morning chocolate-chip scone may not wreck your diet after all. In fact, it might help you stick to your weight-loss goals.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University report that eating dessert with breakfast — cookies or cake, for instance — can help dieters lose more weight. The study was originally published in March in the journal Steroids and is being presented Monday at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Houston.

Bear in mind, the results don’t suggest that everybody should simply add a glazed doughnut to their morning meal. The study looked specifically at people eating strict low-calorie diets — 1,600 calories a day for men; 1,400 calories a day for women. The research included nearly 200 nondiabetic obese adults, who were randomly assigned to one of two low-calorie-diet groups; both were identical except for breakfast: one group (the lucky ones) ate a 600-calorie high-carb breakfast that came with a choice of a cookie, chocolate, cake or a doughnut for dessert. The other group ate a 300-calorie low-carb breakfast. Both breakfasts were rich in proteins, as they included tuna, egg whites, cheese and low-fat milk.

(MORE: What’s The Healthiest Breakfast? Here’s What the Experts Say)

Women in the dessert-with-breakfast group were allowed 500 calories for lunch and about 300 calories for dinner; men in that group had a 600-calorie limit for lunch and up to 464 calories for dinner.

After 16 weeks on the diet, both groups had lost weight — about 33 lb. on average — suggesting that both diets worked about the same. But in the final 16 weeks of the study, the follow-up period, those in the low-carb group had regained an average of 22 lb., while those indulging in dessert in the morning went on to lose another 15 lb. on average.

The dessert group reported feeling less hunger and fewer cravings than the other participants; their food diaries showed they were also better at sticking to their calorie limits. What’s more, dessert eaters showed greater drops of the “hunger hormone” ghrelin after breakfast — 45%, vs. a 30% drop for the low-carb dieters.

“The goal of a weight-loss diet should be not only weight reduction but also reduction of hunger and cravings, thus helping prevent weight regain,” lead study author Dr. Daniela Jakubowicz said in a statement.

(MORE: Eating a Big Breakfast Doesn’t Cut Daily Calories)

The authors say weight-loss success lies in the timing and composition of dieters’ meals. Their high-protein breakfasts reduced hunger, while the addition of carbs increased satiety and the sweet dessert cut down on cravings. Allowing yourself little treats is a key strategy, says Jakubowicz, because they keep you satisfied; if you restrict yourself to a totally sweet-free meal plan, you’re more likely to break down at some point and binge on diet-busting foods.

Upon the study’s initial release, Jakubowicz told the New York Times, “Most people simply regain weight, no matter what diet they are on … But if you eat what you like, you decrease cravings. The cake — a small piece — is important.”

MORE: 5 Ways to Get Oatmeal in Your Diet, Deliciously