DecalGirl iPhone Skins

by Josh Rubin

With over 150 different designs to chose from, DecalGirl's iPhone skins are pretty much guaranteed to set your iPhone apart from the ever-growing masses of users. High-res images and graphics are printed on quality vinyl adhesive that's easily re-positionable and doesn't leave sticky residue. Styles ranging from camo and stealth all-black to colorful Lego blocks and tie dye mean there's something there to suit every personality. A mere $7 gets you the stickers for the font and back of the phone, as well as a code for a free wallpaper download to keep it uniform.

via TUAW

Jorg&Olif Scout Bike

by Ami Kealoha

The classic Dutch styling and quality construction of Jorg&Olif's Citybikes made us instant fans when they debuted in the North American market last year, but the price tag (starting at $800) was a little less easy to embrace. Their introduction of the more affordable Scout makes cruising around the neighborhood in style a little more realistic.

Equipped with a light, rear rack, chain guards, internal Shimano hubs and all the features that we liked about the original Citybike, the only difference is that Scout's only available in one- ($495) and three-speed ($595) versions—which is about all you need in most cities anyway. Available in special edition "Mushroom" (pictured) and "Steel Blue" colors as well as black, it's due out 10 August but you can preorder by emailing Jorg&Olif at info [dot] jorgandolif [dot] com or by calling +1 604 877 1850.

Three New Items from U+

by Roseanna Roberts

Umbra's latest from their more high-end U+ line has a few items notable for their use of materials and humor. At more reasonable price points than other design objects, these are the kind of pieces that will inject a dose of style if you're bored with your decor and make memorable gifts as well.

Dossier Photo Album
Developing photographs may be a lost art, but Anna Buechin's design gives reason to actually print out those memories and make an album worthy of showing off. Incorporating interior design's most modern material, this bent ply album adds a hint of contemporary good looks to your book shelf. Use conventionally to showcase photos amongst the 20 acid-free pages or file ticket stubs and pressed flowers for a summer scrap book that's less suburban-crafty and more you. It's $55 from Umbra.

Limited Edition Strass Stool
To create a continual in-the-process aesthetic in your space of leisure, the "wet paint" Strass stool is the perfect accessory. The limited edition uses polyurethane and silicone to give the appearance of drips and pooling puddles of paint to Michelle Ivankovic's original resulting in a decidedly unstuffy design object. You can safely (though maybe not so comfortably) sit on this little bench without the risk of walking away with a fresh coat on your backside. Available from Umbra in black or white this September for $300.

Louise Tripod Wine Glasses
These glasses by Dutch designer Maarten Baptist add a witty element to the dinner table while holding a glass of vino. Hand-blown in Holland, a set of four costs $100 and is available from Unica Home.

Shure Music Phone Adapter for iPhone

by Josh Rubin

So you have an iPhone and high-quality earphones but never the two shall meet. Belkin makes an adapter that at least fits the recessed headset jack on the iPhone, but what if you want to talk on the phone? The MPA-3C from Shure will do the trick. With a plug that fits and a built-in microphone, this adapter will work with your Shure earbuds or any others for that matter.

I have been testing it for a week now and it works really well. There's even a button on the mic that works just like the standard iPhone earbud button, letting you answer calls and control your music playback. The only tricky part of this solution is managing cord lengths—I find that even with my Shure SE 530s the mic doesn't quite rest close enough to my mouth, thus requiring it to be held in place during calls.

The MPA-3C also comes in two other models, compatible with other music phones and will start shipping later this month for $50. Preorder now from Apple or Amazon.

Scroogle Search Engine

by Jacob Resneck

Did you know that every Google search you make is recorded and archived by the company?

Privacy-minded folks point out that as Google has become part of our everyday lives, our tastes and preferences on the net give away a lot more than we'd normally share with a stranger, let alone a corporation with nearly 14,000 employees worldwide.

While Google keeps your search terms until 2038, the folks at Scroogle delete the logs after 48 hours and vow to keep no cookies. What's better is the search uses Google's own technology. In technospeak, it randomly generates an IP number (the thing that allows your computer to be ID'd) and sends your request off to Google. When Google responds, it shows you the search results. Hence the name, as it “scrapes” the search engine giant to get results.

It's a shoe-string operation put together by the folks at GoogleWatch (founded by an ex-Google employee) and only handles about 90,000 searches a day compared to Google's 200 million.

Still, Scroogle is one way to make a statement that you don't appreciate giving out your net habits to total strangers. Because the fact that you're obsessed with finding Lindsay Lohan's latest mugshot is your private affair, right?

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