Trendspotting: Messengers of Cool

Bill Tikos is another independent digital cool hunter. His website, thecoolhunter.net evolved from his Australian syndicated column on cultural trends. Tikos, 33, is currently in the U.S. trying to develop a television show featuring a quintet of globetrotting cool hunters—just call them the Fab Five. "I'm looking for the wow factor," he says. "I often spend eight hours searching for one interesting thing. A couple of years ago, I didn't even know what cool hunting was. Now it's my life."

Tikos' site has been buzzing recently about the intersection of technology and style. A recent post pointed out a slick new South Korean cell phone with fingerprint recognition; it can speed-dial 10 people by reading each of a user's fingerprints. The site keeps tabs on the latest hip iPod accessories, from colorful stickers from Germany's Shufflesome for the iPod Shuffle to a stylish new clip from PKOH NYC that keeps earphone cords from dangling.

What's next for those who want to be ahead of the curve? For Spear, one goal is to cut through the clutter of blogorrhea to create an all encompassing digital destination for people with discerning taste. "We're sick of mediocrity," he says, speaking for his cool-loving friends and colleagues. To sort through the growing mass of trendy tidbits, he's working with an international team of experts on a shopping, travel and socializing site called charlesandmarie.com, billed as the Web's first "lifestyle navigator" for lovers of all things cool. "Cities around the world are starting to look the same," he says. "We want to highlight what's unique."