In 2007, a tiny Brazilian sneakers blog started tapping into the kicks obsessions of its citizens, but as we are with most things, we were on their potential from the get-go. Two years later, it’s built up a veritable reader base, who head directly to it to hear first word on the country’s newest arrivals and to read the daily musings from some movers and skaters in the industry. Nike Brazil, one of its most ardent fans, has given it a flattering gift for all that dedication on its anniversary: to let it design its own Air Max 1 called the Lanceiro, making it the first model of this type to be designed by Brazilians. Pulling colorful cultural inspiration from the blog’s home state of Pernambuco, especially mangue beat, the state’s musical invention in the ’90s that mixes traditional maracatu and ciranda sounds with hip-hop and rock music, the Lanceiro is a real eye-catcher. Designer Fabricio Machado looked to the vibrant beads on the costumes of Pernambuco’s rural spearmen Caboclo da Lanca for the dots on the upper of the shoes and added in a speckled midsole to imitate mud from the state’s famous swamps. To switch things up a bit, the laces and inside soles are swappable for a version with the beadwork pattern. The site has full information in English on the development of the shoe including some amazing photos of Caboclo da Lanca, and promises to have information on where to buy the Lanceiro shortly. An inspiration picture after the jump.

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If you’re positively giddy about the new iTunes pricing, then you’ll probably also be excited to hear that Speck has unveiled a four new cases to hold and protect that pricey notebook of yours from the elements – including your klutzy roommate. Need to carry your computer like a turtle? Opt for the AftPack. Need to present yourself with as streamlined and ready for business? Then the PortPack or CorePack is what you want. Merely need to put your notebook to sleep in a soft, comfy blanket? Snag the Tuckpack (pictured above). Already have a laptop sleeve? Well, good on ya.

Blackberry Storm: Buy It ($199)
We love the touchscreen functionality of the iPhone, but we’re still not floored by its usability when it comes to email or texting. Blackberry’s newest phone gives us that ability to get tactile with our phone but also features a haptic keyboard that makes sending coherent texts that much easier.

T-Mobile G1: Buy It ($179)
Google’s first phone is geared for those who are pathologically undecided. The phone – which comes in bronze, black, and white and runs on Google’s open-source Android system – features both a touchscreen and a full QWERTY keyboard (a touchscreen keyboard is coming early next year) that slides out. As a result, it’s just a glorified Sidekick that’s still kind of glorious.

Foof Cases: Read JS Review | Buy It ($13)
These cases come in a variety of gorgeous fabrics and protect your phone by holding it snug and wrapping it in satin. We’re totally jealous of our phone. They’re also available for your other portable Mac items.

Speck Cases: Read JS Review | Buy It ($30)
They offer a wide range of designs, but their newest are so preppy they make us want to rename ourselves Muffy and go play some croquet — in a totally non-judgmental way.

Jawbone Bluetooth Accessory: Read JS Review | Buy It ($130)
You may be a Bluetool, but you don’t have to look like one all the time — at least not with the sleek device that’s also incredible at eliminating background noise. Ok, so you still look like a tool, but if it’s between sounding good and looking good…

Incase x Parra iPhone Case: Read JS Review | Buy It ($60)
Stay protected, stay sexy, and grab a colorful — but expensive — hardshell case produced by Dutch artist Parra for reliable manufacturer Incase. Our phone gets to stay safe and we get to enjoy the acid flashbacks.

Hulger Handsets: Read JS Review | Buy It ($40 – $190)
Sometimes we long for those good old days of ginormous handsets. Hulger captures our nostalgia by wirelessly connecting or plugging a nice chunky receiver into our cellphone or our PC to chat via Skype.

Brian Eno x Bloom iPhone App: Read JS Review | Buy It ($4)
Coutesy of Brian Eno, Bloom lets you create sounds and images just by touching your screen. It also features nine mood settings — though we don’t think holiday stress is one of them.

Are you taking your naked iPhone out in public? If so, it’s about time you dress up your little buddy. Speck has just released their new line of stylish fitted cases for the iPhone 3G. Each case consists of a soft form-fitting lining protected by a polycarbonate hard-shell, and wrapped in your choice of three fabric patterns. At this point you can choose from houndstooth check, black-and-white plaid, and black herringbone with pinstripes, with new styles coming soon. There’s no more need to cover your iPhone with an ugly, bulky cover in order to keep it safe.

It’s amazing how advanced, yet accessible, high quality models and illustration have become. If you’re a sneakerhead, or just plain appreciate artistic talent, check out Jim Kim’s portfolio, titled “Sneaker Fiend: A Tribute To Classic Nike Design,” on Behance. This talented artist showcases a series of completely rendered Nike designs with a clear nod to fan favorites such as the Air Max 90’s and a couple of Jordans, complete with the signature Jumpman. At first glance, one might mistake them for real sneakers in an elaborately staged for a photo shoot. The textures, right down to the speckled leather and the reflective elements really bring this series home. Some of our favorites after the jump.

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If a springtime rainbow were to collide in a dark alley with Dan Funderburgh’s latest print, “Gravity’s Rainbow,” it’s a pretty safe bet springtime rainbow would die. His take on the fantastical spectrum of light is a three-color letterpress print comprised of layers of sharp objects such as scissors and cleavers. Funderburgh’s creation is available in two editions at I Am Still Alive, a Brooklyn-based site for socially-minded design. The first edition is a signed and dated open edition on Speckletone Madero recycled archival paper and the second is a numbered limited edition of 26 prints on Rives BFK archival paper. Hurry up and get your hands on one, but watch out for paper cuts.

In August 2006, Burton photographers Dean “Blotto” Gray, Jeff Curtes and Adam Moran (also Burton Snowboard’s team manager) hit the road with six major international snowboarders, from Norway’s Terje Haakonsen to America’s Shaun White, to such far-flung destinations as New Zealand and Chile. 28 Day Winter: A Snowboarding Narrative is a culmination of that trip, a coffee table book that puts readers there in the flesh with the photographers as they witnessed these stars doing spectacular 720’s, grabbing air on their boards, soaring over objects like gasoline barrels. The photographs are stunning, showing magnificent backdrops of terrain, sometimes with a brightly colored speck in the distance that is the rider cruising across a blanket of white. Other photos depict riders bonding in their down time, an experience that snowboarders know are very much a part of the whole picture. When you reach the end of the book, you almost have to hold yourself back from hopping on a plane with all your gear and heading to snow country immediately.

The book comes out in December, but you can pre-order it at Amazon for a discounted price.

JB Classics is at it again, this time with Mdot’s Malta model entitled Ashes to Ashes. This is the start to their newly developed “cross gender range”, all designed by Miss Mdot (great interview with her here). Details include tumble full-grain nubuck, genuine leather quarteres, quilted leather lining, speckle sidewall and of course, the tantalizing 10 color swirls on the outsole. Also, JB Classics will be at Bread and Butter in Barcelona July 4th to 7th — the first trade show they’ve been in in over 6 years.

I’m loving the aesthetics of the new retro-inspired Tabletop Stereo iPod dock by California based Speck Products. While most products like this would seem fairly gimmicky, this one actually boasts analog circuitry inside– helping to add a little bit more credibility to its old-school design. It’s available in 3 colors, black, green, and iPod white, and retails for $150– no verdict out on how it sounds yet, but it boasts a pretty cool form-factor and in a weird way reminds me of the Bose SoundDock. Via Engadget