Popgadget: At the annual gifting lounge extravaganza (this one sponsored by Live Loyal PR in celebration of the Golden Globes awards) we spotted the “MoFone,”a retro handset with an insert for an iPhone. (There’s no Bluetooth or even corded functionality here – it’s just a holder.)

Designed by LA artist Morrisa Maltz as a piece of art, a buyer for Urban Outfitters happened to see them and now they’re selling out.

Are they ridiculous? Yes, but that’s the idea. Many of the retro designs are over-sized and whimsical. All the phones are made by a community of artists which makes the $45 price tag a deal.

MoFone for iPhone [Popgadget]

If you’re one of those people that frequently misplaces their keys, wallet, or even remote, the BiKN iPhone app and attachment can help you keep track of all these items at all times. In fact, it will let you keep track of up to 8 items – including people.

To keep track of the items you are most prone to losing, all you have to do is attach one of the 8 tags to the items in question and download the app on your iPhone. The tags easily attach to key rings, which is incredibly convenient if you constantly lose yours or are wondering the whereabouts of your kids of driving age. When you lose one of the items that a tag is attached too, BiKN will help you find it in one of three ways:

1. Find Mode – Find mode allows the app to find your item using a visual display and an audio tone.
2. Leash Mode – Leash mode notifies you as soon as a certain item moves out of your specified range.
3. Page Mode – Page mode allows you to find your items simply by sound. All you have to do is hit the page button and all items with tags on them will sound.

So whether you leave your phone or wallet in Overland Park storage facilities after packing away those holiday decorations or in the local Wal-Mart while shopping for groceries, BiKN will notify you to their location – before you leave the area. This early notification is in particular a perk, because it prevents you from getting all the way home or whatever be your destination without your most necessary items.

The BiKN app and tags are definitely a cool idea, however, the only drawback is that you have to make sure that both your iPhone and all tags are charged in order for it to work properly – not something that everyone, particularly those who are prone to losing things, are good at. Otherwise, at $49.95, the BiKN is definitely worth the investment.

This post is a featured guest blog post.

SwissMiss: Wallee Headrest Mount for the car made me look. Our iPad usually saves long car rides but I oftentimes end up holding it awkwardly between me and my husband on the armrest. Well, Wallee might save the day. Has anyone of you tried it? Kiddo approved?

The Wallee Car Headrest [SwissMiss]

Shoebox Dwelling: This exciting bike storage idea belongs to Sacramento based design duo Steven Tiller and Stephanie Birch of Reclamation Art + Furniture studio. The project was born out of necessity - the couple lives in a small downtown apartment. ‘We bring our bikes inside, – says Steven. – Given our storage issues, this makes navigating the entry hall difficult. I personally have tripped over or snagged a pair of dress pants on an awkwardly placed bicycle more than once. The solution? The Bike Valet.’ The product is made from 1/8? cold steel, its elegant shape is cut using a laser cutter. You have your choice of either a leather or neoprene pad to rest your bike on. And with six colors available – you can think up many beautiful color/pad combinations.

Bike Valet [Shoebox Dwelling]

TrendCentral: Getting a waiter’s or bartender’s attention during a busy weekend rush can pose a real, and often irritating, challenge. The Draqie has arrived to potentially alleviate such frustration. Part dinner table and part waiter, it’s an interactive table that provides restaurant patrons with the ability to view and order from a touch-sensitive, digitized menu. The glass surface reacts only to finger touches, meaning an accidental swipe of cutlery or dishes won’t unintentionally beckon a server. Furthermore, participating establishments can include photos and descriptions of menu items so that customers can make their selections without any fear of mystery ingredients or allergic reactions.

Tabletop Touchdown [TrendCentral]

The Cool Hunter: FieldCandy tents do not give you camouflage protection in the natural setting, nor do they help you blend in with the rest of the crowd at the campsite. FieldCandy tents are designed to stand out.

It was one of those moments when you think: Why have all tents always looked pretty much the same? We customise everything else, why not tents? And even more remarkably: Why have we been satisfied with those boring, standard tent colours for so long?

FieldCandy Tents Designed To Stand Out [The Cool Hunter]

The recent outbreak of alternative financial transaction services hasn’t yet caused giants like PayPal and Ebay to need reputation protection, but they may be looking to revamp their business models soon. The new kid on the block, Dwolla, threatens to shake things up in an industry that seems to change by the year. Dwolla, the new U.S. only e-commerce company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, is the latest challenger to take on PayPal in the online payment industry. Founded in 2008, the Dwolla didn’t officially launch its service until 2010 but has been growing steadily since then, reaching 20,000 users as of June 2011.

Dwolla’s major notable features are the absence of credit cards and low transaction fees (25 cents per, plus every transaction under $10 is free), and no percentage of the transaction, which is how they aim to put up a fight against PayPal. Other features include free micro-transactions (which can help with things like splitting bar tabs), the ability for individual users to send money through social networks, and the ability for users to complete transactions with their phones. Users are also able to do all of the aforementioned with the assurance of stringent anti-fraud technologies. Also, Dwolla recently rolled out its FiSync integration, by which the company intends to offer instantaneous transactions.

Dwolla’s prize horse, so to speak, would have to be its social media integration, which is cutting edge and relevant to a new generation of consumers. In addition to being able to send money through social networks, you can also sync your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn connections and get automatic Foursquare check-in at any place you spend money. Dwolla also prizes itself on the transparency of its underlying infrastructure funding, meaning no anomalous charges. It also means that merchants won’t be inundated in fine print and mysterious legalese.

The insistence on no credit cards informs what it views as a service that works well for businesses and non-profits. Small, social media-friendly businesses especially can take advantage of the service’s Proxi-enabled system, Dwolla virtual Kiosk, the Dwolla Merchant app, and its free, real-time verification at locations. Dwolla is also aggressively developing integrated point-of-sale capabilities.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Dwolla seems to have found support people in the Bitcoin community. While Dwolla does not endorse the decentralized electronic currency system, they have made it possible for its users to sell Bitcoin and easily transfer amounts between the two. The interest taken in Dwolla among Bitcoin users underscores a general revolution taking place in the digital currency industry right now. Consumers want less intermediary action taken in financial actions. Dwolla stands to be a major beneficiary of this revolution, thanks to its clever media integrations.

This post is a guest blog post

Iconoculture: Non-league Bromley Football Club players had Betfair QR codes shaved into their hair for their FA Cup first-round appearance as an advertising stunt for the online betting company. Spectators and TV viewers watching the South East London club’s game against League One team Leyton Orient could scan their smartphone over the scalp of any Bromley player to be directed to Betfair’s mobile site. Betfair sponsored outside bet Bromley to show its support for clubs outside the lucrative Football League and because the British public always loves an underdog.

QR code haircuts bring betting fun to British football fans [Iconoculture]

TrendCentral: Instead of erecting another structure in crowded Beijing, the designers of the recently opened Liyuan Library opted to build near a village two hours outside of the metropolis. With a concept for a serenity-focused public space in mind, they used the mountain landscape as inspiration.

The resulting building is constructed from sticks gathered in the village and lets in only natural light, helping the modest structure blend into its surroundings while delivering a soft ambiance.

This unusual architectural work provides a meditative environment not only for residents of the village but also for the stressed creative pros of Beijing who need to escape the city to get their juices flowing.

Checking Out [TrendCentral]