Viber VoIP iPhone app: 3G calling, no registration, and totally free

 

You know those voice minutes you've been coaxed into buying for, like, ever? Now would be an awesome time to bid 'em adieu. Out of nowhere, Viber has swooped in to crush the dreams of Skype and every other VoIP provider out there, and if these guys can reach critical mass, avid iPhone users will certainly be able to buy a mobile plan with fewer minutes. It works as such: install the free app on your iPhone, provide just your phone number (no "registration" is necessary) and then fire it up. Viber uses your existing contact and favorites list, and you can make Viber or standard voice calls from within the app; naturally, a Viber logo pops up beside any contact who is also a user, making it easy to see who you can VoIP call for free. As our brethren over at TUAW point out, there's simply no catch to be found -- well, except for those of you counting your kilobytes on AT&T's newer, metered data plans. Call quality was said to be excellent over 3G and WiFi, and potentially best of all, gratis SMS and an Android version are both on the way. Head on past the break if you need any additional convincing, and tap that iTunes link to get your download on. So, AT&T, what's the value proposition on those "rollover minutes" again?

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The Pope desires a solar-powered Popemobile, might just get one

Remember how W said Americans were addicted to fossil fuels? Well, Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger (better known by his crew as '265-Cal') is addicted to renewable energy. First he had photovoltaic arrays installed on the roof of an auditorium in the Vatican. Then he had a solar cooling system built into the Vatican cafeteria. Now, the Pope wants his mobile bulletproof shell to be solar-powered. While we'd love to see some PV cells rocking out on the roof of the custom Benz, they probably wouldn't power a whole lot more than his DC Papal reading lights -- to that end, we're hoping he goes the practical route and installs a PV array on top of the Popegarage and simply juices the batteries between sessions of humbly waving to the teeming masses. Whatever he and his crack team of energy specialists figure out, we're sure you'll be able to read all about it in the next volume of The Energy of the Sun in the Vatican, a book that actually exists.

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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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