For the past several years, Apple has been an esteemed creator of technology that blends gorgeous hardware with innovative software.  Recently, after the introduction of Leopard and a bevy of software releases and updates for its Mac OS X arsenal, Apple dramatically changed the hardware side with the introduction of the aluminum unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro.

It’s crucial that the MacBook Pro receives a “Design Review”, because this machine seems to embody that meaning.  So I got my (very, very, clean) hands all over a MacBook Pro (15.4″, 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo) and have been testing it, grinding it, and most importantly gazing at it for two solid weeks.  Read on, warriors!

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Sony Ericsson’s had its fair share of troubles lately, posting operating losses and restructuring efforts all over the place.  Even SEMC’s mothership, Sony is nearly drowning from its losses.  Their latest iteration, the Sony XPERIA X1, jointly built with HTC (but still under SEMC’s branding), seems to be the company’s greatest hope and shining beacon on a hill. 

The question is:  How bright does this device shine amongst such proven powerhouses like RIM, Apple, and Nokia?  The full design review — after the break.

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Being just excited as the next gadgeteer, I was able to take the newly launched gPhone HTC Dream T-Mobile G1 for a spin!  Touting its strong and ever-so-long list of functionality including 3G/WiFi/Bluetooth/GPS, HTC slaps on Google’s infamous Android OS offering in an attempt to combat this gosh-darned touchscreen market.  Of course, its glamour isn’t the touchscreen nor that Leno-chinned, QWERTY keyboard hardware; it’s the open-sourced software that allows designers and developers all over the world to contribute and create the most mind-blowing apps available.

In this design review, I put the G1 through it’s paces.  Don’t hesitate - you want to continue reading.

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I’ll let the pictures drop your jaws.  More after the break.

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Every so often, we run into modern devices fitted with a great interface.  They’re extremely useful, they’re extremely usable.  In this series, we explore the elements of user interface - what causes them to be great, what causes us to gripe.

In the first article of the series, we explore one of the hottest topics of modern gadget-users: user feedback.  Tactile feedback has been a staple for many QWERTY devices of today, however the touchscreen market has boomed?  What has happened from the mix of markets, and what innovations will emerge?  We discuss this topic after the break.

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User Interface Highlights is a column focusing on showcasing the latest user interface enhancements from any front.

Since I have been using WordPress for this blog, I thought it necessary to talk about its recent enhancements: WordPress 2.7.  It definitely puts a different flair to navigating the panels, which may or may not be good.  Read on for more.

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Motorola has lately been in a bit of shambles lately, with intentions to sell of their handset business, and no handsets in the market.  That sentence, would of course, be an awesome introduction to the dramatized sentense, “Well that has changed.”  Here I address the question.  Has it?

I’ve taken the Motorola Krave for a bit of a spin these past couple days, eager to see whether Motorola’s design team has stepped onto the treadmill for a bit of training, or slouched on a couch.  Hit the break for more.

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Trends Analysis is a column focusing on analyzing the current trends of today.  Keep in mind, trends change almost daily, but this post doesn’t (unless I want it to).

Colour is a crucial part of design.  Thought I’d start with a little Captain Obvious, so you’d hit the break for more. 

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I’ve been rockin’ the Nokia N78 for a good month, and I’m pleased to say that this phone is definitely a winner. Here in the States, the Nokia N78 is actually hard to come by, especially since it’s major retail chains lie in Chicaco and New York.  I’ve got my hands on one though and I’ve been giving it a good run through.  

The N78 runs beautifully although it definitely has its faults.  However, Nokia has definitely stepped it up from its previous N-Series iterations. However, on the quick outlook, the technology and innovation in the Swedish manufacturer’s N-series lineup seems to be bleek and maturing. But enough about Nokia, let’s see what they were able deliver with the N78.

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Various handset manufacturers were at this year’s CEATEC conference to show off their latest concepts.  Up top is DoComo’s Separated Phone which connects the screen and the keypad via Bluetooth.  Quite an awesome design I must admit.  Most of these concepts have zero plans of production, but they definitely give a good idea of what could potentially land in the marketplace in the future.

Engadget snapped these shots of the KDDI and DoCoMo’s concept phones.  Hit the link for more!

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