Virgin officially announces Project magazine for iPad (and iPhone soon)

We're here at Virgin's press event for Project magazine, which Sir Richard Branson just called the "first all-digital magazine." It's launching on iPad first, then on the iPhone, but we also snuck a peek at the app last night and noticed a line about Android tablet support coming soon. Branson says the content will change constantly -- there'll even be comments, and sharing features are said to be "coming soon." Mapping features will be introduced in the iPhone version, which the Project editor-in-chief describes only as "all the coolest places in the world mapped by our users." Pricing for the iPad version is set at $2.99 per month, with the app updating throughout the period with new content and features. When asked about Rupert Murdoch's The Daily, Branson responded that "this is not a battle, not a war, but the future of publishing," while his chief editor had this to say: "We're not similar ... they're a daily newspaper, we're a monthly style magazine ... we wish them nothing but luck."

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Beautiful Contemporary Homes - Passive Solar House in Texas

Dick Clark Architecture designed this beautiful contemporary home, a sustainable passive solar design in Austin, Texas with a real minimalist appeal. In reflection of the owners’ simple lifestyle, the house stands out for its simple structure, minimalist material palette and barely-there glass walls. The natural treed and landscaped surroundings give the house an “urban oasis” aesthetic. The open-concept main floor houses the kitchen, which opens to a two-storey living and dining area. This glass-enclosed entertaining area features sliding glass walls that open to the pool deck with views of the Austin city skyline. Echoing the home’s natural exterior design, interiors feature lots of natural wood and windows naturally sun-soaked interiors. This eco-sustainable home also features a few other friendly features, namely a 3kw solar panel system, instant hot water heaters, bio foam insulation, rain water collection, efficient mechanical systems and of course, the expansive glass is low-e. Dick Clark Architecture
via Contemporist

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Concrete Walls Home Inspired by Ship Sails

Australian architects Tony Owen Partners is the creative force behind this amazing concrete house in Sydney, Australia. This contemporary concrete walls home was designed for a concrete contractor, who used his expertise to put a personal touch and built the house himself. The first thing you’ll notice are the contemporary curved concrete walls that characterize the home ’s exterior. Like windblown sails, these massive white walls give the house a light, airy, in-motion effect. Inspired by Mediterranean architecture, the concrete and glass house features patios and terraces that abut floor-to-ceiling windows, bringing the outdoors in. Designed as a series of blocks, the house is must grander than it appears from street level. A multi-level layout progressively steps up from the ground floor, each level connected by a central staircase that commands the attention of everyone in the room. Expansive glazing floods interiors with bright natural light, which reflects off the polished stone floors and contemporary finishes found throughout. Complementing these chic, urban finishes are rustic, natural elements like cobblestone walls and a central courtyard. For more Australia home designs check out Tony Owen Partners

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Modern German Architecture – Unusual Concrete House Plan

 A prime example of forward-thinking, modern German architecture, this concrete house plan by Architects Brauning is situated in a dense urban centre, but its unusual look and unique flow are totally out of this world. Concrete, steel, wood and an expansive glass wall make their way around this home’s irregular shape, offering awesome views of the outdoors. Inside, this modern house spreads living areas across four levels, which are open to one another but still provide a level of privacy. The architects stayed away from a traditional layout of walls and rooms, opting rather for an open-concept house plan that allows for a connection between these conventionally separate living spaces. The four-tiered design lets residents appreciate the modern yet cozy fireplace from any room. Below the living spaces are two lower levels, housing the bathroom with a gorgeous stone bathtub, and the master bedroom. Architects Brauning
via Architektourist

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Safretti's back with Double Vision hanging HDTV / fireplace combo

Nothing quite says "the holidays" like warming up to an artificial fire in a spacious, well-appointed apartment while watching a DVD of generic snow-filled landscapes. Unless you're in our family, in which case "the holidays" is more about drunken egg nog brawls and recrimination. Either way, it looks like the kids at Safretti have improved their hanging, portable fireplaces the only way, really, that it could be improved upon: by adding an HD LCD TV to the mix. We're not sure what the Netherlands-based company is charging for this, but seeing as how this purveyor of ultra-expensive home furnishings doesn't even have an office in the states (the closest is in Mexico, and the one in Liechtenstein refuses to answer our emails) we're pretty sure you can't afford it anyways. It comes in two sizes, featuring either a 37-inch or 47-inch TV. Get a closer look after the break.

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Microsoft in talks to start new TV service using the 360?

 

   Microsoft's been strangely quiet during the recent smart TV explosion even though it has arguably the most mature set of products in Windows Media Center and Mediaroom, and now we know why: Reuterssays MS has been meeting with media companies in an effort to create an entirely new TV service possibly delivered through the Xbox 360. Apparently there are multiple options on the table, ranging from a full-on "virtual cable operator" with monthly fees to using the 360 as an extension of existingcableco online TV initiatives to simply delivering certain channels like ESPN and HBO a la carte, andReuters' sources say the plan might take another 12 months to develop. That sounds like a bit too long, if you ask us: Apple and Google are waging a major living room assault, and we can't imagine Microsoft is willing to miss another technology cycle -- especially not one where it holds the significant advantage of the 360's installed base and proven history as an IPTV device on multiple operators worldwide,including Uverse. We'll see what happens -- it sounds like the battle might finally be joined.

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Richard Branson launching 'Project' magazine for iPad next week

Is there something in the air? Hot on the heels of Rupert Murdoch's impending The Daily newspaper for the iPad, we're getting word of a Richard Branson-funded, iPad-specific magazine dubbed Project. The magazine will cover entertainment, travel, business, design, and international culture. It's hard to tell if these two announcements are somehow related to each other, or if they imply some sort of shift in Apple's treatment of publications, but either way they do indeed seem to be happening. The full announcement of Project is due for Tuesday next week. 

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Movea turns your iPod touch or iPhone into an Air Mouse for just $2

Not so keen on plopping down a Benjamin for Movea's Air Mouse? A full two years after the introduction of that very product, there's now an acceptable, bargain-bin alternative: the Air Mouse. Er, the Air Mouse app for iPod touch / iPhone. This here nugget of code, which is selling for just $1.99 in the App Store, taps into your iDevice's inbuilt gyroscopes as well as the company's own MotionSense technology in order to convert your handheld into a mouse. No need to fish for a surface, though -- simply wave your iPhone around in order to take advantage of in-air cursor control and gesture recognition. It's a dream come true for HTPC owners (Macs and PCs are supported), though critics are suggesting that Mobile Mouse may actually be superior. If you've already parted ways with your buck-ninety-nine, let us know how things are panning out in comments below.

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AirVideoEnabler hack brings AirPlay video to the rest of your apps

Apple's new AirPlay video streaming functionality is great... unless you want to use it in a non-Apple app. For whatever reason, Apple is restricting AirPlay video to just its first party apps right now, and not even all of those (Safari is left out, for instance). Interestingly, Apple actually built the functionality in, it's just not enabled. Thanks to some "spelunking" work by TUAW's Erica Sadun, it was discovered that a single line of code is all that's necessary to spread the feature to any app that relies on Apple's MediaPlayer framework, including VLC, AirVideo, and even Safari. Now Zone-MR has built a hack called AirVideoEnabler and put it on Cydia, allowing you to bring this functionality to your own jailbroken iPad. For the hack-averse, let's hope Apple catches up in functionality soon. Check out a video of AirVideoEnabler and Erica's original hack in action after the break

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Hasselblad H4D-40 Stainless Steel medium format camera: limited to 100 units, priced at €13,990

Wondering just how large a premium that Ferrari badge was adding to Hasselblad's Ferrari-branded H4D? Oh, around €7,500 (if not more). Hot on the heels of the aforesaid announcement, Hasselblad has just revealed yet another variant of the famed H4D-40, with the Stainless Steel edition offering a classy, classic motif and another limited run item for collectors to snatch up. Only 100 of these will be produced, with each one selling for €13,990 ($18,497) sans lens or €14,990 ($19,809) with the HC 2.8/80 mm. If this guy's more "within reach" than the Italian-inspired alternative, hit up your local dealer as soon as humanly possible... or just before your 100 closest friends, anyway

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Flipboard - By Flipboard Inc

Flipboard is a fast, beautiful way to flip through the news, photos and updates your friends are sharing on Facebook and Twitter. See your social media in a magazine layout that is easy to scan and fun to read. Share articles and photos, comment on posts, and like or favorite anything. Customize your Flipboard with sections created from your favorite people, lists and blogs on Twitter.

Your Flipboard is everything you care about in one place. It's your magazine. It's your Flipboard.

Here's what others are saying:

Reviews:
- "Flipboard is a fantastic iPad app that makes everything you read on the Web better than it is by itself. I can't recommend it highly enough." Macworld
- "Flipboard offers iPad users an entirely original alternative to browsing the Web for news; its magazine-style layouts and breathtaking use of photos and white space show the way forward for digital media." PCMag.com
- "Flipping for Flipboard: The brilliant iPad app that has changed the way I read the news." SLATE
- "Flipboard begins to imagine an entirely new way of accessing the social Web." New York Times
- "Stop. Put down this computer, go pick up your iPad and come back here. Now go get this app: Flipboard. Why? It's pretty awesome." Wired.com
- "I am thoroughly impressed from our first run with Flipboard. It is simply gorgeous and a pleasure to browse." Mashable
- "Flipboard turns Facebook updates, tweets into digital magazine" USA Today

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F1- 2010 Timing App - Championship Pass

Description

** 2010 CHAMPIONSHIP ENDED. This App is for the 2010 season only, which has now finished. Purchasing this App will give you all race data from the 2010 season only. - ** For the 2011 season see our new app F1 2011 Timing Application.

F1 Timing Application 2010 - Championship Pass

* Follow service status on twitter - user f1timingapp *

This is the only official Formula One Live Timing and Track Positioning application for the iPhone and iPod touch.

This application gives access to live timing and track positioning for all sessions - PRACTICE 1, PRACTICE 2, PRACTICE 3, QUALIFYING and RACE for the 2010 Championship.

This is the only official F1 application with unique data and features.

* Live Positions - displayed on our dynamic 3D map. See gaps as never before!

* Pick your favourite driver and follow their progress. Watch as they battle for position!

* Unique replay feature – Replay any session at any time you choose. Perfect for tape delayed broadcast!

* Zoom in on the action or pull back to see the whole field

* Live Timing Data Screen - Watch the session like the F1 engineers.

* Full timing screen including sectors and gaps.

* Live Commentary - Lap by lap live commentary.

* Standings - Results and news for the 2010 Season.

* Detailed Information – Information and history on all drivers, teams, and race tracks.

* Complete Season Access.

Experience all sessions via the live timing feed from the track to the palm of your hand using iPhone or iPod touch.

This application is unlike any other, and a must-have for the F1 fan!

The Grand Prix will never be the same.

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