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!

For a bit of a background and context, previous to this MacBook Pro, I have never owned an Apple product in my life.  Not even an iPod.  Of course, I’ve played with these products quite a lot whenever I could get my hands on one, but owning a Mac is entirely different than playing with it.  I’m a heavy Windows user, and have been all my life, which also means that the hardware I’m used to using is also geared towards Windows.  This article is not meant to describe the differences between Macs and PCs, but that said, it is rather difficult for me to review without a bias.

Five Word Review
Stunning, sleek, simplistic, but nocturnal

Aesthetics and Action
The MacBook Pro is hands down the most gorgeous laptop I have seen to date.  It’s no secret that when the laptop was first announced, the PR shots of the laptop weren’t so glamorous looking.  The fact is, this laptop shines like the sun when presented before your very eyes.  Even better is the fact that this machine grows on you with every moment you spend using or gazing at it.  Two weeks later, I’m still becoming more and more impressed and satisfied with it.

First thing to note is its all aluminum unibody casing.  I’ll go into more detail later on, but in short, it’s breathtaking.  Ports are put on one side with the CD/DVD slot on the other.  The screen hinge is typical MacBook fare, and the front is as blank and gorgeous as ever.  My only complaint would be the front edges being a little sharp and not that great for resting your wrists on, but hey, it’ll help improve my ergonomics.

When you actually open up the device, things get very interesting.  The keys are now spaced, like previous MacBook and MacBook Air iterations.  Switching from a normal Windows keyboard, I adjusted in a snap (along with the corner Fn key).  Next up, comes the trackpad.  Apple ditched the traditional mouse buttons for the trackpad button, where the entire trackpad is the button (think, BlackBerry Storm, but trackpad style).  It works wonders.  I’ve gotten so used to it so quickly, that anytime I’m on my work laptop using a trackpad, the first instinct is to press the darn thing down.  The slight love/hate thing is the increase in pressure as you move up the trackpad.  It’s hinged on the top, so when you’re navigating around the top of the trackpad, it actually takes quite a bit of force.  Good for making sure you’re not clicking on something that’ll screw up, say, a blog post, but bad for randomly navigating and suddenly requiring quite a bit of force.

In terms of aesthetics, everything is done properly.  The anodized aluminum unibody really takes the trophy here though, as its solid body work really looks and feels premium.  The screen with the piano black edges add to the premium look — and matches both the iPhone 2G and 3G to boot.  The laptop is properly thin, and when compared to my previous Asus Z71v (standard size for an aged laptop), the Asus gets totally trumped.  The downside is that the stouter, wider stance of the MacBook Pro gives it an awkward fit to standard laptop cases/bags/sleeves.

Here is the one gigantic gripe about this laptop: the screen.  The glossy display makes it nigh unusable during the day.  It’s totally distracting and forces you to max out the brightness settings in order to compensate.  Its infuriating if you have any sort of sunlight in the room.  Somehow, through the insane reflection, it’ll make your way onto your screen and glare at you while you’re browsing a website (see below).  I really wish Apple provided one with a matte display.  Steve Jobs noted that they didn’t even bother with a glossy display due to their market research.  If the blogs on the net were of any indication, everyone hates it to death when used in the sunlight.  I nearly didn’t buy this, because everyone hated it that much.  The other unfortunate thing about the screen, is its limit to 1440×900 resolution.  I really wanted to run a 1680×1050 resolution that I was so used to on my Asus laptop, so not having the extra pixels is quite a bummer.

There is a redeeming factor about the screen.  At night, it’s absolutely gorgeous and stunning.  The screen is sharp, has some crazy brightness settings (due to its LED backlighting), and seems to have a rather decent contrast ratio.  The pleasure of using it at night is only further emphasized by the LED backlit keyboard, which makes the laptop stunning even when you don’t see it!

Fabrication and Flavour
The MacBook Pro’s unibody is a feat of engineering.  It’s important to recognize this, because on the outlook, it seems to be a very daunting manufacturing process — so daunting that a big portion of their “Spotlight turns to notebook” event was spent by SVP Jony Ive giving a very detailed view of the entire process.  What it results in, is a fantastic display of aluminum, a lighter weight casing, a very strong shell, and a growth in the minimalistic effort that Apple so proudly embodies.  

This minimalism is only further accentuated with the infamous “less button” effort of Steve Jobs.  And it works really well.  Clicks feel solid and have a good degree of resistance, although it tends to get tiring and rather loud when used extensively.  Of course, for those moments, using the traditional tap-to-select works just fine.

What Apple has really done, is give it the build quality a “Pro” machine really deserves.  Every mechanical movement is tuned so well, that it makes it a joy to use, even if its nonsensical repetitions of opening and closing the screen..  The hinge is built so well, that it doesn’t suffer from a millimeter of flex or give, when you’re opening it.  Furthermore, the sound of closing it — when the magnet captures just the right about of attraction — is superb.  I’d never though I’d give such a long paragraph to opening and closing a laptop, but if you think about it, you do this nearly everyday, which makes it a valid Engineering point.  

The little details that Apple is so famous for, is ever present, from the charging adapter with wire holders to the magnetized (and tiny) connector to the battery indicator, to the charging indicator to the flush power button.  Everything is silent, buttons are flush, openings are small, and if I were crazy, I’d say that everything was just done too well.  Fortunately, I’m not and I’m loving this machine.

Interface and Interaction
This is a rather hard section to write, as my lack of Mac experience has all to do with any gripes and issues I have.  In all seriousness, I have found that every issue I have with the Mac OS is the very reason why people love using it.  So in a decision of epic proportions, I’m going to skip out on this section.  However, please feel free to check out my personal blog for a series entitled: Mac OS X, from a PC Perspective.  Here I list all the love and hate issues I have with Mac OS X from the perspective of a power Windows user.  I’m sure every Mac transition goes through this, but in this series, I will attempt to qualify these factors. 

Performance and Pacing
Since this is a matter of how-much-money-are-you-willing-to-shell, I won’t go into too much detail.  Reviewing a laptop is really different from reviewing a phone, as the pricing is based on hardware; in a phone, you can’t even configure such settings, let alone buying a phone because it is outfitted with 192MB of RAM rather than 128MB.

Anyway, the configuration I have packs a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo (I believe Penryn-based) with 3MB L2 cache and 1024MHz FSB, 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM, integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256MB shared, discrete NVIDIA 9600M GT with 256MB GDDR3, 250GB HDD @ 7200rpm, 802.11a/b/g/draft-n and Gigabit LAN connectivity, Bluetooth v2.1+EDR, 8x slot-loading SuperDrive.

Suffice to say, this puppy chews up everything on the planet, lasts a very satisfying 5 hours on its integrated GPU (and it really does last 5 hours), and doesn’t overheat after 8 solid hours of gaming (yeah, I did).  On its discrete GPU, Crysis Warhead runs without a sweat at Mainstream settings — I don’t have a framerate count at the moment, but even with massive shooting, it doesn’t seem to drop much.  Also, draw distances seem to be limited with objects popping up everywhere.  Most other games run well on its highest settings.  Granted, the MacBook Pro does gets really hot, and without an external keyboard, you might feel the heat on the keyboard.  

Tracking the Trends
It’s no surprise that the MacBook Pro was so well received (and covered, by the media), but I really think it deserves this praise even if it was just for the hardware.  Whether you like Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows is a whole other elephant to swallow.  Apple has given so much thought and design elements that it definitely attracts anyone looking for a new laptop in the coming ages.

The MacBook Pro was due for a design change, and thankfully Apple has delivered with another stunning product.  It left the 17″ MacBook without the new casing, but I’m guessing this was more to do with restrictions on the aluminum unibody.

Collative Conclusions
So here we are at the end of the MacBook Pro design review.  And here I am, stuck trying to scramble words together to conjure a phrase worthy of the MacBook Pro.  And heck, I think what I just wrote is enough to spark emotions, so I’ll leave it at that.

Maybe its one of those “indescribable” phrases that everyone (especially me) uses.  A phrase that puts together the thought of how great a product is, without being able to describe how great the product is.  Oh English, how lovely art thou.

If you’re looking for a new laptop to replace an old, lovable machine (like the above Asus Z71v), if you are in any way interested in Mac OS X, and if you have a sizable wallet, the MacBook Pro is the machine to get.

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.

Sony Ericsson needs this device to do well, and they need this pretty badly.  In fact, they’ve even pulled muscle power from the Taiwanese manufacturer, HTC, to do so.  There are many cues taken from its other Windows Mobile powered siblings (Touch Pro, G1, Tilt, to name a few), and they’re very prevelant even in the Sony Ericsson branded device — and it’s definitely a good thing. 

Five Word Review
Brushed Aluminum, Beautiful Interface… Windows.

Aesthetics and Action
One glance at the X1 and you’ll know the crowd it’s accurately targetting, along with its price.  This phone is stunning, not so much in a sleek and silky way, but in a classy, self-confident, egotistical, exclusive, superior manner. 

Brushed aluminum in both black and silver tones, enclose most of what’s seen on the device.  Even the keys are metallic.  The back panel lifts off and clangs at every hard surface it touches - and it makes you feel damned important.  A black rubbery material help to protect the camera lens and act as feet when the device is lying flat on a table.  I almost wish they gave up the invaluable rubber padding to go full-blown metallic.

The sliding keyboard housed undernearth the device definitely helps to accent the classy look.  It’s backlit with a great subdued colour scheme, which helps to accent the metallic feel.  It’s definitely one of the most modern looking keyboards out there.  The most unique feature about the keyboard however, is the curve that ever-so-slightly tilts the screen up.  From any angle showing the top or the bottom of the device, the curve looks beautiful and provides a strong sense of elegance in the midst of the square/diamond theme.

One of the cool ideas implemented by this phone is the four indication lights on the very edges of the phone.  It looks very cool, although its placement seems to be an odd design choice, since its difficult to tell when they light up.

Lastly the highly-touted WVGA (800×480) screen.  This one’s a bit tricky to describe.  It’s a gorgeous screen; only its hampered by its other factors.  It’s definitely not as bright as the Bold, which makes viewing the phone less of a jaw-dropping experience than it could have been.  The lack of brightness is further accentuated by the glare from the resistive film.  The final gripes I had about the screen are its smaller size and the slight bezel on the edges.  The size of the screen (2.8″) coupled with Windows Mobile 6.1, causes for the unfortunate and abundant use of the stylus or accurate finger nails.  The slight bezel along the edges (although this is the case with all resistive touchscreens) makes clicking individual items on the top menu bar, very difficult.

Fortunately, the gripes end there as the pixel density is absolutely stunning.  Words on the screen are clearer than ever before and even miniscule websites can be traversed with the eye very easily.  The contrast ratio is superb allowing you to watch videos with clarity and sharpness, which is critical for watching that amazing Quantum of Solace trailer that’s included.

The screen is also one of the most responsive resistive touchscreens I have ever used.  Typically it’s a little bit difficult to traverse a menu properly, as dragging around on a layered film doesn’t feel very responsive (like on the Touch Diamond).  Thankfully, menus are responsive, navigating websites are a breeze, touches are quick to react, and even highlighting sections on a paragraph in Microsoft Word Mobile is simple to do.

At 16.7mm thick and weighing 158g, it’s definitely a hefty and thick device.  Most users of previous HTC devices and other handsets with slide-out keyboards would find themselves in very familiar territory, but anyone transitioning from a slim and sleek device might find themselves with a bit of size issue.  I hate to say it, because it sounds so unnecessarily demeaning… but it looks like a brick.  Okay fine, it’s a damned classy and fine-looking brick.

Aesthetics and Action: 8.5/10

Fabrication and Flavour
This is the section I wanted to get to.  In my opnion, this is single-handedly the best built device on the market today.  I say this with caution as there are several touchscreen-only devices that have no mechanical parts — which makes life easy for them.  Fortunately, I think the fluidity of the mechanical parts on this device make it the best built device.

The sliding mechanism is one of the best ones I’ve used.  Sure it doesn’t swoop like the G1, but it doesn’t awkwardly budge when closed or open.  It’s also the smoothest on any slider, by a landslide.  One hell of a bearing, I assume. 

If there are any complaints, it would be that the buttons on the keyboard are a little bit difficult to type on.  As I explained in my T-Mobile G1 design review, sliding-out keyboards require the keys to be as flat as possible so that the screen can be slid over with minimal space in between.  Like the G1, it’s difficult to find your way around the keyboard with your thumbs, meaning that it’s difficult to type while looking anywhere but the keyboard.

The optical joystick is also another gorgeous addition.  It feels good to navigate and click, and it’s definitely a handy alternative when you don’t feel like losing your stylus.  It’s a little bit recessed which makes it harder to scroll quickly, but I’m assuming that this was a design choice, so as not to interfere when pressing the actual arrow buttons down.

Finally, front facing buttons are easy and simple to use.  The dedicated panels button makes sure that when you need to show off the phone, you have one of its coolest features accessible within one button press.  Not only that, but the diamond shapes really add to its look, especially when the backlights shine through the cracks - it’s gorgeous to use at night.  Unfortunately, when it comes in silver, the keys are still black, which I think is a poor design choice.  Luckily, I got the black one and I have no complaints.

Fabrication and Flavour: 10/10

Interface and Interaction
Windows Mobile users are seeing this one coming from miles away.  Hate it or love it, the device is still Windows Mobile at its core.  Thankfully, Sony Ericsson has done a lot of work in making sure that consumers see its cooler touchscreen features.

Panels are Sony Ericsson’s attempt at hiding the robustness of Windows Mobile.  It does a great job and its a pleasure to use.  For those not in the know, Panels, which can be accessed by its dedicated button on the front, lets you switch “desktops”.  You can have a media focused panel, an RSS feed panel, a radio panel, and it even comes with a fish panel!  It’s actually pretty cool to use because it notifies you of missed calls, text messages, and a low battery by adding fish or changing their colours.  The fish even wiggle away when you touch it!  Realistically though, I don’t see anyone using this as their main panel due to, well, practicality issues.

My favourite panel, is the media panel.  Being an avid PS3/PSP user, its interface looks like a vertical XMB (XrossMediaBar).  It provides easy access to your pictures, music, videos, games, and contacts - everything I pretty much need!  I do wish that this panel would actually use gestures (left and right motions) to move back and forth between the menu levels.  It works on the optical joystick, but not on the touchscreen.  All in all, this panel is well put together and looks fantastic.

One last panel to note, is the dedicated Google panel which provides easy access to Maps, Gmail, Calendar, and Photos.  They’re all pleasant to use - especially Maps.  Never thought it’d be so smooth, but it works pretty much the way it does on the T-Mobile G1, but without all the bells and whistles like Streetview. 

The use of panels is definitely a very welcome addition by Sony Ericsson.  The best part is the ability to download panels that others have created.  I’m totally waiting for someone to import an actual XMB interface.

Once you get passed the fancy interface and applications though, its core Windows.  HTC, in other consumer-oriented WinMo phones, have done entire makeovers of all the menus for applications and settings and whatnot.  Sony Ericsson chose to leave that alone and to be honest, it’s a pain to use without a stylus.  And styluses suck, period.  To each his own, but its hard to sacrifice the oddity of using it with your fingernails or styluses versus the functionality it provides.

It’s a shame that Windows Mobile totally shows its age when used with this phone, because its functionality (and it has a stupendously long list) is still among the best in the smartphone market.  It just looks horrid and doesn’t stand a chance when compared to the usability of other OS’s.  And since this blog is totally dedicated to form, cheers to hoping Windows Mobile 6.5 comes ASAP.

Interface and Interaction: 7.0/10 + 1.0 for Panels

Performance and Pacing
When videos of the panels interface showed up on the blogosphere, people were loving the idea.  Then, when an actual hands-on demonstration video popped up, fellow blog-readers loathed and went up in rage at its choppiness.  Most have, since then, put it off as an issue of handling too many desktops and pre-production hardware.  So the question is… how does this device fare in retail?

It’s still slow.  It’s important to note that the device actually blazes through any tasks that individual applications throw at it.  The Qualcomm MSM7200A @ 524MHz processor definitely helps the cause.  This is all nonsense however, because the use of PANELS - its defining interface - is ridiculously slow. 

On a fresh stock device that’s not running any applications, when the Panels button is pressed, there’s close to two seconds of lag before the animation shows, and another two seconds of animations.  Of course, we haven’t hit the climax yet.  Accessing a panel is even worse.  The panel thumbnail pops up and expands quickly to show that you’ve accessed the specific panel - this takes about one to two seconds.  Unfortunately, its REALLY a pixelated and expanded thumbnail.  The actual desktop isn’t available for use until another 4-6 seconds, as it loads all the pertinent information on the panel.  That means a total of approximately 10 seconds is needed to switch to another desktop.  That’s just ridiculous.

In terms of networks, performance on HSDPA is blazing fast on Opera.  Browsing is beautiful and the processor chops up everything nice and quickly.  In fact, I couldn’t even notice a difference between HSDPA and Wi-Fi.  T-Mobile users will be happy to note that its 3G network is also supported by the XPERIA.  Browsing to the data and format-intensive Gametrailers.com on Opera took me 20 seconds before I could use the site fully.  Quite impressive in my books.

Update: So for a slightly more scientific method, I’ve benchmarked times to another data-intensive site: IGN.  With 1798kb (according to WinMo’s IE), Opera crunched it with a functional, formatted, and browsable site by 40 seconds.  Including all the pictures, it finished at 60 seconds.  That amounts to about 30KB/s with intense processing and formatting.  Pretty impressive.

One other thing to note is the inclusion of Microsoft ActiveSync for synchronizing everything from corporate email, to music, to documents and pictures.  The software included is quite explanatory and serves well for corporate users and generally anyone who likes to auto-sync music.  If you’re a music junkie though, you’ll probably want to switch to Mass Storage mode.  Quick benchmarks show that ActiveSync sideloading hits about 2MBps while Mass Storage mode hits about 4MBps.  Slower than the other HTC device, but it works.

Performance and Pacing: 8.0/10

Tracking the Trends:
The XPERIA X1 has a name to match its pretentiousness.  Its looks and its style definitely capture a wide audience.  However, (and I may be wrong) but Sony Ericsson totally failed in its attempt at viral marketing, using the Who is Johnny X campaign.  European ads tend to have its awkwardness in relation to North American ads, but this one was totally unexciting and not worth the time.

Sony Ericsson needs this phone to sell well.  Unfortunately, its high price point makes this phone a premium device - which is good for those who can afford it, but detrimental to sales.  Luckily, the attention that this phone gets with its curvature and its sexy panels attract many from wide and afar - which brings us to this episode’s X-Factor: Brushed Aluminum.

This phone is sexy mainly because of its looks - its a PR beauty.  Its brushed aluminum sparkles those ads like gel sparkles hair.  That ad up there sparks what we call, gadget lust.  It’s the indescribable jealousy and envy of wanting something for its looks.  Heck, that’s what luxury is.  Heck, that’s what this phone IS - luxury.

Collative Conclusions

Sony Ericsson did quite a good job implementing panels within its first attempt at a windows Mobile phone.  It’s great fun to use, but slightly annoying due to its lag.

The amazing thing about this phone is that its hardware aethetics totally live up to its hype when you pick it up.  Its the greatest-feeling device I think I’ve used.  Sure its thickness distracts, but its got the curves, and the casing to win y’all over.  Now… about Windows Mobile 6.1.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1: 9.0/10

Please feel free to comment, question, or anecdotally frame your words in the section below!

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.

This phone requires a bit of history and a bit of context in order to explain its significance.  It’s been rumoured ever since 2005 that Google has been working on infiltrating the handset space.  Recently, Google unveiled its Android platform - an open-sourced mobile operating system, created and developed by the OHA (Open Handset Alliance).  Quoting from Google itself, it’s the “first complete, open, and free mobile platform”.  By combating the closed nature of the current OS market including powerhouses like Symbian, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry OS, and Apple OS, it hopes to open up and truly deliver the best applications the developers can dream of - without the restrictions employed by closed OS’s.

Perhaps the significance of openly-developed apps is large enough to write an entire article on, but suffice to say, apps made Facebook the giant that it is, it’s what drove Sony PSP sales with its homebrew software, it’s what made Apple’s App Store in 2.0 the update that it was, it’s what will drive the BlackBerry Application Centre when it comes out, and heck, with LittleBigPlanet coming out for PS3, who knows what people might come up with.

But enough about Android itself.  This design review focuses on the current implementation of Android on an HTC device, marketed and sold through T-Mobile.

Five Word Review
Initial, inelegant, inviting, impressive… swoopy.

Aesthetics and Action
This phone isn’t great with first impressions.  Even the PR pictures look drab and uncool.  But to be honest, when you pick this thing up, things pick up!  One of the first things you notice before you even turn the phone on, is the whicked swoopy sliding mechanism that exposes the QWERTY keyboard.  It’s well built and although other reviewers downplay its importance, I think it was important that it kept the nigh-useless swoop for media reasons.  (And I believe important phones such as these deserve their moment in the spotlight).  When you do actually turn it on, Google starts to run the show - and it REALLY runs it for better or for worse.  More on that later.

Everything on the phone is designed for maximum matte black.  Oddly enough, those with the matte black Macbook would find themselves in very familiar territory.  The hardware designers have done well to titillate fans with a Google logo on the back, and a well-subdued ‘htc’ logo in its lowercase font, on the side.  In fact, everything about this phone is subdued.  The MicroSD slot on is located in an impossible-to-find slot located between the cracks of the screen and the chin. 

Speaking of the chin, the G1 sports a chin that many have labeled, the “Leno chin” with its obvious reference.  This chin houses five of your typical buttons as well as a very welcome addition - the BlackBerry-esque trackball.  Most interesting of all, the chin bends toward the user.  This design definitely has its haters, but I’m actually finding it very usable and very comfortable.  In terms of ergonomics, in landscape mode, the chin provides a good curved base to hold while you type ferociously.  It DOES cause your right thumb to stretch a little, but you get used to it.  Fortunately, it’s nowhere near as obstructive as the Krave.  In portrait mode, I also find it comfortable - you hold the phone as you would normally, but the trackball actually becomes more usable, because it’s flatter.  Again, this is subjective and vastly differs from person to person.

Perhaps the most annoying hardware characteristic of the phone is its pocket-averse nature.  The phone is a little bit thick and the sleeve that comes with it doesn’t exactly help (although its suede-like material feels very good!).  I didn’t find the chin too much of an annoyance in this case, but I’m sure plenty of fitted-jean wearers are screaming in agony.

Finally, the screen.  It’s bright, it’s beautiful, and best of all, it’s capacitive.  It responds very well (depending on the application), has good gesture actions, and it totally puts a different look to the phone when its on.  It looks gorgeous and I totally commend HTC for it.

All in all, I’m finding the phone much better looking in person than in its PR pictures.  It’s not looking to attract; rather its got a very subdued matte look - sort of like the pre-2003 Audi’s.  Subdued, not a poser, not cheap, but rather satisfying.

Aesthetics and Action: 7.5/10 + 0.5 for swoopness.

Fabrication and Flavour
HTC did a very well job in the fabrication of this phone.  It’s tried to minimize and close as many ports as possible, which was possibly the basis for its exclusion of the standard 3.5mm headphone jack.  In fact, it took me a while to even figure out how to open the battery door.  When open, even the BATTERY looks cool with its snarky “htc innovation” slogan.

Build quality is very good, although not exceptional.  With enough playing of the swooping screen - which, by the way, owners will be doing a TON of, for no particular reason - the screen starts to have a little play room when it’s not in the middle of its swooping action.  This causes the screen to move when gestures are used to move around in the desktop.

The main navigational tools are well-designed, with the trackball functioning on-par with its native land, the BlackBerrys.  In fact, it’s so useful, that when the screen has slid open, it’s less of a hassle to flick the trackball and depress it than to lift your hand to touch an icon (Yes, I’m THAT lazy).  Unfortunately, as is the case with BlackBerrys, it’s sometimes difficult to depress the trackball without jolting it in a direction and ultimately selecting a different icon.

Finally, the keyboard.  With a ginormous FIVE rows, the G1 has given itself so much room, that it’s hard not to screw up.  Fortunately, the keys work well enough to crank out long emails and text messages on the fly.  Five rows give it plenty of room for extra shortcut buttons as well.  I especially like the dedicated @ and search key.  The @ key is used so much, why not give it its own dedicated button?  I’m looking at you, RIM.  Unfortunately, RIM beats HTC in the actual design of buttons.  This is normally the case with any slider phone as the buttons have to be smooth and flat so as not to obstruct the sliding mechanism.  But nonetheless, the buttons are so smooth, that it’s a little bit difficult to feel your way around the large keyboard - much more so than with any of the BlackBerrys.  <shamless plug for Feedback from Surrounding Environment section of User Interface Analysis: User Feedback>  In any case, the keyboard generally works well, and is a rather satisfying phone for pounding your thumbs out.  Seriously, punch it with your thumbs… it feels great!

Fabrication and Flavour: 8.5/10

Interface and Interaction
Note: I’m not going to delve into the Android Market, as there are plenty of other online reviews of how well the Market and its apps hold up.  Instead, I’ll be focusing on the design aspects.

Essentially, this entire section is dependent on Google, save for one sentence in which I mention that HTC has used a very respondant capacitive screen and a great navigational trackball tool.  So here we go!  Google, your turn in the spotlight.

Google’s Android platform, as noted by many, is initial and “looks like version one” (and it is, literally).  But now you’re asking, “What does that really mean and how will it affect the my interaction with the device?”  Well, to be honest, you’ll definitely have your gripes, but I think what’s offered here is very satisfying. 

Android on the G1 deploys a notification bar that mimics a window shade.  You pull it down at anytime from the top, and it has your newest notifications - everything from your e-mail, to your SMS messages, and even application downloads/installs.  It’s… AWESOME.  It’s new, it’s innovative, and it totally gets the job done.  Along with the flicking of the swooping screen, I ended up dragging the window shade up and down just for the sake of it.  It’s fun and its satisfying.

The desktop is also a cool thing to note.  Not only does it have three desktops (similar to the iPhone’s main screen) in which you swipe left or right to access, the desktop wallpaper moves along with it.  The cool effect is that the wallpaper moves at a slower pace creating a sort of 3D illusion.  It’s really cool and really entertaining to look at.  I’m not sure the novelty of this really dies down either.

The menu system is accessed through another drag-out tool - the menu arrow.  You can drag the menu up and down, but it’ll only lock in a fully-open or fully-closed state.  It’s cool to use, but there’s nothing new.

Furthermore, the buttons and menu systems employed by the OS have an aesthetically-pleasing black-background theme to it.  The buttons are pleasant to touch/click/hit-enter-on, and overall, the themes work well (one of Google’s knacks, I would say).  It’s definitely one of the most elegant ones I’ve seen.

Google Maps is also another amazing app.  Streetview on a cellphone is literally the coolest map tool I’ve seen.  Using a built-in compass tool, Streetview senses the direction in which your phone is pointing and shifts the view towards that direction.  So essentially, what your phone is pointing at, is what shows!  CRAZY.  It’s a tad different than its stellar multi-touch implementation on the iPhone, but it still works like a charm.  If you love these quirks, this is the phone for you.

Unfortunately, here’s where the fun starts to head downhill.  Although there’s plenty to be pleased about, they have their kinks.  The screen generally responds well, but there have been many times where I distinctly pressed on the screen, and the actions did not follow through.  This happens quite often unfortunately.  Luckily its got a relatively speedy processor (Qualcomm MSM7201), so I know right away if an action hasn’t been followed through.  When I’m playing the games though (the ones out right now are a pretty damned good start, by the way), the mis-touches are a big annoyance and has caused me several hundreds of points in their Tower-Defense-meets-Bubble-Breaker game! 

Furthermore, since the edges of the screen doesn’t have a capacitive touch (for obvious reasons - it’s surrounded by plastic), the dragging of the notification bar doesn’t always pull down properly.  The dragged menu also doesn’t always pull up properly.  The mis-touches are definitely apparent and it’s annoying.

The other annoyance, as I mentioned earlier, is how Google totally runs the show.  In fact, when you turn on the phone, the phone forces you to enter in a Gmail account.  And when it does this, it synchronizes your life onto it.  Unfortunately, it only syncs well for one account.  In fact, both the Gmail app and the Calendar app (which I use heavily) surrounds around your one account. 

The big problem, is that power-Googlers like me, have several Gmail accounts.  I have a game-friendly account, I have a work-friendly account, I have a spam-friendly account - heck, I even have one dedicated for Google Alerts.  The G1 doesn’t like this fact however, and so none of your Gmail accounts will be properly sync’d except through the dumb-downed E-mail app.  This app is a simplified Gmail app that is able to sync with various webmail accounts.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t naturally support the cooler Gmail features that Google made me switch for - conversational/chained emails, labels, stars, etc. (all of which the Gmail app supports).

Luckily, for those with only one Gmail account, it syncs like no tomorrow.  In fact, tests from other reviewers have noted that in many cases, your emails arrive faster than on a regular computer browser.  Your calendars work fantastically and it even has support for IM.

So I left the worse for last, and I hope that’s alright.  Contacts… are an abysmal failure.  The damned phone syncs with EVERYONE you have come in contact with through e-mail.  Names I haven’t heard for years started to pop up in the contact list.  Apparently, Google thinks everyone is still your best friend.  Oddly, this feature if used properly, could be one of its cooler features.  If you manage your contacts well with phone numbers and addresses, it’s integration with the dialer and Google Maps is mind-boggling.  Unfortunately no one I know properly uses Contacts - feel free to prove me wrong.  This damned idea of importing the whole list was the most frustrating thing in the world.  I wag my finger at you, Product Managers of the Contacts unit.

Interface and Interaction: 8.0/10 + 0.5 for nifty notification bar

Performance and Pacing
The Qualcomm processor running in this thing works like a Dream (pun intended!).  It’s fast, it’s quick to load applications, and it handles them well.  The full HTML browser (Chrome-lite-but-not-really) has one of the quickest Javascript implementations on a handset, and it runs well on both T-Mobile’s newly launched 3G and WiFi.  I would do a comparison video, but there are already so many of them out there on the net.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to run specific calculational/graphical benchmarks, so the only benchmark I’ll be doing is the ever-present sideloading issue.  The G1 loads onto the MicroSD card (SanDisk 4GB Mobile Ultra, in this case) decently fast at an average rate of 7.2MBps, with slower speeds noticed when a simulaneous process is hogging up the processing bandwidth.

The phone does lag from time to time, mostly due to the OS’s inability to close applications.  With a bunch of apps/games running simultaneously, and e-mails being downloaded, the processor suffers quite a bit.  I’ve had one crash while using it.  Suffice to say: keep the phone clean, and it’ll work like a Dream (rhyme/pun intended!). 

Performance and Pacing: 8.5/10

Tracking the Trends
This phone has generated a massive amount of tech media buzz due to its open-sourced nature - and rightfully so.  I believe that phones like these should get the maximum amount of exposure to generate hype.  I believe that it gets the industry running and keeps companies striving for more.  With that said, this phone has three specific markets: a) the open-source-loving/gadget-thriving crews, b) the Sidekick/texting fiends, and most importantly c) Google-lovers (and there are plenty). 

This brings us to this phone’s X-Factor: Goo frickin’ oogle.  I really think that this phone will sink in well with people who use Gmail religiously.  As the dominant webmail tool, it’s definitely using itself to market towards any of its users.  And anyone who’s a proper Gmail-user will love its integration into this phone.  It’s well supported and the entire experience nearly defines Google.  Seriously - innovative, fun, sick to use, but always in beta.

One last thing to note:  throughout the article, I barely mentioned T-Mobile.  All in all, this is a Google interface on an HTC phone.  T-Mobile, who is only there to ride the wave, has made a smart decision grabbing exclusivity in the US.  Even smarter is their willingness to turn their back on the security of closed platforms and closed apps.  To the three biggies: we salute you.

Collative Conclusions
Phew!  Sorry for the obnoxiously long review.

I hope I’ve written enough for you Google lovers.  Conversely, I hope you’ve really got a chance to understand the ins and outs of this device.  The open-sourced nature of this device really brings in a LOT to talk about.  Add in the fact that it’s a touchscreen phone, with a QWERTY keyboard with a cool swoop mechanism, with a trackball, with a 3.0MP camera with autofocus (works well, btw - although a bit slow), and a comfortable Leno chin (imho), and you’ve got… pretty much what I wrote about.

All in all, if your used to Google, there’s a LOT to explore.  This device is new and it totally redefines the OS space with its openness.  It’s disruptive to the industry and it’s totally awesome that way.  I’m waiting in open arms for your non-version-one, Google.

T-Mobile G1: 8.5/10

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

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.

User Feedback
This single point, is arguably the most important element of user interfaces.  To reign champion, a device must involve strong implementations of the following three aspects:

1. Tactile Feedback
2. Feedback on surrounding environment
3. Feedback from Sound
4. Visual Feedback

 1. Tactile Feedback

On one hand, you have avid CEO’s attacking the use of buttons head-on (i.e. Steve Jobs).  On the other hand, you have CEO’s claiming that buttons will never go away (i.e. RIM’s Co-CEO’s).  Ironically enough, the former deployed a trackpad on a button in their latest product, Apple’s Macbook Pro; the latter deployed a button underneath their first-ever touchscreen in their latest product, the BlackBerry Storm.  Is that not a sign of convergence or what?

Awkwardly enough, tactile feedback has been a feature hungered for by many gadget-users.  We ogle at screens, but we need buttons for functionality.  With physical buttons taking on too much real-estate on a smartphone however, it was extremely difficult to find the best of both worlds.  Apple previously decided to ditch the haptics altogether and instead, delivered a strong contender for visual feedback.  Its QWERTY keyboard provides a small pop-up over where your finger presses, to let you know the right key has been pressed.  The QWERTY devices of today however, have remained a staple of texters, emailers and business-users.  With sales booming from RIM’s latest offerings, who can deny that physical buttons are still needed in today’s market?

So tactile feedback is needed, but more real estate is also needed for displays.  Admit it, there is a very strong correlation between screen size and the gorgeousness of a device.  So what innovations and solutions have emerged from this dilemma?  Samsung marketed their use of “haptic feedback” quite strongly, but the question of its usefulness is still up for debate.  Essentially, their products with haptic feedback vibrate for a brief moment when a button is pushed, letting you know that the action has been triggered; after all, that IS what buttons help you do. 

Sony's Haptic Feedback Patent

Samsung has two major flaws with this implementation.  A) Due to their algorithms, the vibrations only occur after the button has been triggered.  Unfortunately, this causes a “usage lag”, which is a lag caused by the nature of the algorithms, forcing you to wait until the vibration to continue triggering other functions -it’s like waiting for the end of a slow menu animation to finally click one of the items.  B) The use of haptic feedback, has been described by many, as a way of “shocking” you.  In effect, many have understood it as a punishment for pushing a button.  Sad and humourous, but ultimately true - in my humble opinion.

RIM has decided to take a direction which, unfortunately for me, is very similar to concepts I had drawn for stronger tactility in a touchscreen market.  Essentially, their new product and their first foray into the touchscreen market, the BlackBerry Storm, deploys a button underneath its touschreen.  When you push it down, its tactility very closely follows the tactility of a button… that is rather large.  It not only allows you to free up lots of real estate for more screen goodness, but it allows you to press and activate any item on the screen as if you were pressing down on a physical button.  It’s simple and by the reactions of many, it works! 

Now I’m totally not trying to aid in the advertisement of the device, I’m merely presenting innovations that are new to the tech/gadget world.  But honestly, how can you not be excited about such good innovation!  In truth, as I stated in a previous paragraph, Apple deployed a button underneath its trackpad of its newest iteration of the Macbook Pro.  And what can I say?  Competition (even though its in different markets) is awesome.

2. Feedback on surrounding environment

In their latest podcast, the Engadget crew noted something that perked my ears.  They talked about the keyboards on the new Macbook Pros and how they’ve converted to the “chiclet-styled” keyboards made famous by the Sony VAIOs and the previous Macbook line.  One of the complaints with this transistion is that, since the keys are spaced out much farther, it was difficult to “feel” your way around the keyboard.  In any traditional keyboard, when a finger is lying on a button, you can feel the position of the adjacent keys.  Not only does this help people form a subconscious image of the keyboard, it also follows the phrase stating, well, everything is relative! 

Mobile QWERTY devices were so useful and so strongly advocated by many, that in a sense, RIM arguably only exists because of this mentality.  QWERTY devices let you feel they keyboard underneath your thumbs, so that you can pre-position your thumb properly and subconsciously.  Granted, BlackBerry’s upcoming release with a touchscreen scraps the idea of “environmental” feedback for a touchscreen, and it’s already warming the hearts of many.  However, I truly believe that for the fastest and the quickest typing speeds, environmental feedback should be warranted.

Audio Feedback

Visual feedback and tactile/environmental feedback touch on two of human’s senses.  Unless someone deploys a smell & taste oriented feedback system, NOW THERE’S AN IDEA the last sense would be sound.  Buttons naturally have this element (except for the somewhat-hated silent keyboard) and most, if not all, touchscreen handsets emit a short-lived sound when an action is triggered.  So if all devices support this natively, why are we still discussing this topic?  The answer is of course, poor implementation.

Again, this goes back to what other manufacturers have done wrong, and what others have done right.  In fact, many harp on the iPhone’s accidental success, but it truly implements some of the finest details in the world of user-interface.  When typing and using the keyboard, it plays a clicking sound when you touch it.  Unfortunately, Samsung and Motorola have opted for an implementation stemming from their use of haptic feedback, where the sound is played when an action is triggered (i.e. after you release).  This gives an ultimate impression of lag, especially when using the keyboard.

Ultimately, the idea is this: if you implement sound feedback for a keyboard or anything else requiring the speed, play a noise when the user TOUCHES the screen.  Users outpace many devices now, since the sound and vibrations play when the user has already touched the next button - causing an immediate disconnect from human and machine.  For a menu choice, it comes down to preference.  Of course, Apple decided to forgo the entire idea and opted for silence when selecting menu items - smart.

4. Visual Feedback

This last category, like the previous, applies for the upcoming current touchscreen market and is again, satisfactorily implemented in most cases.  Unfortunately, some manufacturers don’t seem to have the development capabilities to make feedback a priority when designing devices (email me for my resume!).  Fortunately, many do, and they are well integrated for typical typing uses.  Of course, there isn’t one way of doing it, but there are optimal ways.  The typical problem for visual feedback is the issue that when your finger presses on an item, the item is obviously covered from your finger, therefore barring any visual feedback capabilities from that specific area.  The solution is to use other areas to inform, or as I’ve tried to note previously, implement other human senses.

Wrap-up

Whether or not smells and tastes are eventually implemented as feedback sources, there are definitely improvements to make for each and every single device manufacturer (well thank you, Captain Obvious!).  The point is: for an optimal user-interface, user feedback is to function, what interface & aesthetics are to form.  Which is more important to focus on?  Well that, my friends, is a largely debated subject.  <Insert shameless plug for: Column: Form over Function>

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.

Currently WordPress 2.6 utilizes a tabbed navigation system, with four main ones on the left and three slightly less used on the right.  A limit of seven main choices provides a very simplified blogging experience, with all the necessary tools for the primary blogger within a couple clicks away.  In fact, its arguable that some of these tabs can actually be mashed into one or more, but perhaps seven is quite a decent number.  Sub-tabs are also used in quite a logical order.  Many like this interface and are used to using it for their daily needs.  Given a preliminary look at the new interface, here are my initial impressions from these screenshots.

The Old Header

I like it!  Instead of using a top tabular-design, which is what many of the major applications in the software industry uses, they have chosen to employ a side-tabular system.  The major “tabs” or selections, expand to provide more choices and options giving you more functionality.  What is, perhaps, the most intriguing aspect of this design, is the improvement over loading new screens everytime another sub-menu is selected.  The page (I think) preloads the data of a specific main menu item so that anytime a sub-menu is accessed, it loads instantly on the right side without having to send and resend data back and forth - saving much time and, well, its rather elegant.  After all, writing is an art is it not? 

The NEW

The WordPress folks are still fixing the nooks and crannys within it, but I’ll be using it when its released.  I just hope that the security issues are even better now.

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.

The quick answer?  No.  The long answer?  No, nothing has changed.  In short, Motorola’s design department fancies the quick copy-paste-and-throw-in-something-cool combo.  That’s what happened to the ROKR (threw in iTunes), that’s what happened to the RAZR2 (threw in a bigger screen).  Here, they threw in a Verizon face with VCast splattered everywhere, all over a Ming-like handset.  It’s a sequel and it’s new for America, but slack, those folks did.  Granted, they DID drop the vowel dropping.  I guess KRV makes less sense than RIZR.

Five Word Review
Unworthy attempt at touch market

Aesthetics and Action
For what it’s worth, the Motorola Krave is not a bad looking handset.  It’s a tad thick and rounded around the edges and the ports sort of stick out, but the real meat comes when the phone is flipped open.  First, I’m a total fan of the dropped hinge style that’s being deployed on everything, and this is no exception.  It’s a great look.  Of course, one of the “cool features” of the phone is the seemingly wireless earpiece that is deployed on the cover.  This is implemented by a nigh-invisible (you can see it if you look closely enough) mesh coating that provides power and signals to the ear piece.  Great technology and it works fantastically, but a tad old for the educated crowd.  Nevertheless, it attracts and rightly so.

Motorola implements a capacitive screen here, and it generally responds quite well.  Note to Motorola engineers: the adhesive protective covers that come with it cause the screen to be a tad sticky at first - use STATICLY CHARGED ONES.  Admitedly, scrolling with gestures on the phone (similar to the Apple iPhone) doesn’t feel too satisfying, because there aren’t any long menus to scroll through.  In menus where it applies however, the screen responds decently well.  That is definitely an improvement and a thumbs up for the design crew.

The final, big feature of the phone is definitely innovative; however, I wouldn’t really call it pleasant to use.  The Motorola Krave has the ability to use the touchscreen while the phone is closed, which would have made it a great music player, if it were not for the horrendously integrated VCast Rhapsody synchronization.  Essentially, the capacitive touchscreen is able to sense your finger through the plastic material (minimal k factor! for you Elecs), which allows you to press on items through the cover.  The sliding lock mechanism on the side allows you to control when you want your touch-cover-screen to be used.  Unfortunately, not only is the music playback hindered by its forced Rhapsody integration, the limited use of the phone is also a pain.  With the cover closed, the menu limits you to use of Music, VCast TV, My Pics, and VZ Nav.  Furthermore, you can’t even change the icons.  VZ Nav stays on the screen even if you don’t have a subscription.

Aesthetics and Action: 7.5/10

Fabrication and Flavour
Build quality is fantastic.  The hinge on the flip portion of the phone feels solid, and flipping it is quite a pleasure.  The design of the phone feels very closed due to its near-buttonless nature, which bodes well for the build quality of the phone, since there doesn’t have to be many moving parts.  The touchscreen has a very slight give to it and the clear plastic cover is just a tad unresistant to torsional force, but the phone feels rock solid in general.  The back of the phone is composed of a texturized plastic material that gives it two advantages: structural strength and a great texture to the phone.  Honestly, the back feels great to hold, which is especially important, since all your phone calls will be held holding that portion of the phone.

On the other fronts of the phone, the touchscreen looks great, although its limited resolution and small real estate hinder its capabilities.  The screen is pretty much right on the surface and its bright enough to use in the sun.  Verizon really needs to change their red themes however, as it makes the interface seem all dull and gloomy, when it definitely has the ability to be bright and shiney.  (Side note: BlackBerry seems to have gotten it, with its new dark themed but sharp interface).  Unfortunately, the ports stick out of its rounded shell, but I’m willing to forgive that since it enables access some important innards.  A MicroUSB port, MicroSDHC port, dedicated camera button, and sliding lock mechanism reside on its side.

In terms of tactility, Motorola implements a haptic vibration everytime an item is selected, which takes heart after Samsung’s haptic feedback implementation.  It’s exactly the same, and some like it; I don’t.  I still feel like I’m being punished every time I press a button.  My biggest beef with haptic feedback however, is it causes the interface to feel laggy, since the vibrations have a lag time.

Fabrication and Flavour: 8.5/10

Interface and Interaction
Here is where Motorola totally blows it.  And I’m not going to beat around the bush: the phone sucks to use for anything other than a phone.  First, the interface isn’t a very pretty one - mostly due to Verizon’s blasted colours and forced features.  Although with its limited screen real estate (elongated 2.8″ screen with 240 x 400 resolution), the phone actually does a decent job handling icons and menus for most navigational purposes.  They’re fit for finger use and the highlights respond well.

Second, typing on the phone isn’t well thought through.  In order to type with its virtual QWERTY keyboard, the phone needs to be tilted in landscape mode.  However, with the cover open, your left hand is put in an awkward situation.  It’s not difficult to reach the characters, but it becomes VERY difficult to be accurate.  The right hand side is standard touchscreen fare, with haptic feedback.  I just found myself correcting my left thumb by over-extending my right thumb to reach those characters.  This totally contradicts my ergonomics lessons.

The typing annoyances are quite a shame, because this phone employs great communication uses like standard text messages, mobile IM, E-mail and even a chat utility.  They’re great to use and to read, but you definitely can’t crank up a long email without trying to twist off that dreaded plastic cover.  I’ve actually reverted to its T9-like numeric pad choice, which it calls iTap.  Works well, and good enough to use for short messages.

Third, the browser works alright for most uses.  It employs a funky cursor utility that highlights links and whatnot.  Generally, it works well, but in a cluttered website, it’s a bit difficult to get it to click the right link.  Formatting seems okay for most websites; better than the Instinct, worse than other typical smartphone browsers.

Interface and Interaction: 5.5/10

Performance and Pacing
Its processor (Qualcomm 6550 - unsure of its clock speeds) is able to handle most tasks, but really lags when something out of the ordinary occurs.  For example, media transfer from its MicroUSB port cause it to lag like crazy when its disconnected.  I wish I could get some processor benchmarks, but I don’t have this ability at the moment.  In any case, for a non-smartphone, the phone runs decently.

EVDO runs great over here in San Jose, CA, and I’m constantly getting full bars.  Actual throughput on its WAP browser, however, is worse than most phones I’ve played with.  If I can, I’ll get a side-by-side comparison video later on with an Instinct.  It could be the darned Qualcomm processors hindering browser performance, but I’m not entirely sure.

One separate annoyance with this phone is that its able to transfer files through a USB 2.0 interface, but the cable must be bought separately for $19.99.  I guess this economy just favours upselling way too much now.  In any case, drivers are not even included, which forces you to go to Motorola’s website to download and install a driver package.  This package then installs (yes, 2 installs) the drivers into your computer.  Syncing with Rhapsody works fine, and data transfer is actually surprisingly fast.  I’ve benchmarked this phone against the N78 I reviewed last time and the results are pretty surprising.  Motorola is able to blast its data at a very decent 5.2 MBps compared to the N78’s 3.0 MBps.

Performance and Pacing: 8.0/10

Tracking the Trends
With the launch of the Krave, with moderate amounts of buzz around the blogosphere, Motorola seems to be attempting its stab at the Western touchscreen market.  They definitely have experience in the touchscreen market (mostly in Asia where handwriting recognition is quite paramount), but its stab at the multimedia market and thumb/gesture-based motions leave us in a relatively frustrated mood.  Furthermore, I wag my finger at Verizon for imposing its themes and applications on its phones.  They don’t provide a very good experience, and I’m REALLY hoping this doesn’t occur on the soon-to-be-launched BlackBerry Storm.

See the mesh?

This brings us to this phone’s X-Factor: that gosh-darned slick earpiece.  It’s old, but its still cool here in the States, because the Ming isn’t sold here, so having clear plastic to put against your ear feels pretty good.  The earpiece sounds great, with minimal distortion.  Wireless is awesome, and this phone basically achieves the feeling of a wireless earpiece.  Great implementation and all around good X-Factor.  I’m just not sure there’s too great of a market for it.

Collative Conclusions
I will admit.  I have a bit more appreciation of the phone after writing this review.  This doesn’t discount the fact, however, that Motorola hasn’t really provided an enticing phone for everyday use.  At $150 on a two-year contract, it’s actually veering close to the hallowed iPhone territory.  In terms of hardware, Motorola has done fairly well.  It’s a tad bulky, but feels great.  The Verizon-imposed themes and the general OS and interface lack the same feeling however, and I definitely don’t feel the urge to continue using it.  The fact that software is most of what you see and tinker with during the day definitely hinders this device from what it seems to be capable of.

Motorola Krave Design Obsession: 6.5/10

Please feel free to comment, question, or anecdotally frame your words in the section below!

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

Colour has always been at the forefront of a trend.  You’ve all heard the common phrases, “Pink is the new black”.  You decide on your clothing many times based on colour matching.  Now, you can even match a colour choice to a specific gadget.  Seriously, try thinking of a device independent of a flagship colour.  Previously, what was exclusive to clothes is now blasting its way through the technological front.  Ever since Apple’s iPod revolution and the Motorola RAZR, it’s been cool to have the latest and greatest gadget even for the non-geeks.  So what does this matter to you?  It doesn’t – this is an analysis, not an editorial!

Consumers are defined by their colours.  For the modern gadget user, themes are everything.  All operating system of all sorts now have themes to customize their look and feel.  Gadgets are typically launched or re-launched with an assortment of colours to satisfy a variety of people.  The average consumer decides on the colour of their next gadget based on their colour palette at home, what they are wearing, or what generally looks cool. 

History

In the past, your typical computer operating system was fitted with its standard fare of greys, blues, and blacks.  Windows XP and Apple OS X kickstarted things by adding themes and motifs.  Generally, most users were happy with what they were able to customize.  However today, tell me you’re content with XP’s default theme, and I’ll tell you that you’re boring.  Microsoft realized this game during the planning stage for its next biggest product iterations: Windows Vista and Office 2007.  For the Office Suite, Microsoft blew us away with themes and motifs right from the get go.  Windows Vista also specifically implemented colours for the best eye-attraction, and cool factor.  The “Vista” black and grey shades are pretty much owned by them now, and in my opinion, it works very well for them.

In the world of web browsers, Google excitedly debuted their fiend into the world, labeled Chrome – again, related to a colour.  Although its colour scheme (thankfully) lacks chrome, its palette is starting to define the Google experience.  Gmail looks spectacular running inside Chrome, due to their “native” Google colour.  There’s not one shade of blue that’s really defining, but the entire palette of blues that they use work in tandem to provide you one heck of a good looking experience. 

More now than ever, colour is starting to define entire companies and firms - from the aforementioned dark greys employed by Vista, to the various blues used by Google.  Of course, Apple has already received worldwide recognition with its pearl white iPod product lines, although their new trends are gearing towards a piano black motif (after a brief chrome/silver look).  And as an adamant lover of piano black, I really hate that their using it.  Once these gigantic firms start to redesign their entire lineup after a specific colour, the colour starts to become commoditized, and in effect, doesn’t genuinely reflect uniqueness – which brings me to my actual trend analysis point.

The Now

The colour of the NOW is piano black.  Sony and Samsung started it all with their lineups of glossy piano black high definition TVs.  Once those started to pick up (along with the uprising in general HDTV sales), Samsung transitioned the colour over to their line of LCD monitors (previously matte black).  Sony’s BRAVIA line and Samsung’s entire flat-panel business boomed with piano black, while LG, Acer and their silver themes couldn’t compete.  Now, HP comes into a line introducing round-edged panels again, in piano black, and they produce a relative boom.  Even their new touch panel TouchSmart line boasts piano black exteriors.

Continuing, Sony brought into the world, the Playstation 3, a piano black sequel to the matte black Playstation 2.  Its piano black colour (and of course, its high price and high cost) caused it to be the “luxury” console, and its initial sales represented that fact, as it didn’t hit the mainstream market too strongly.  The PS3’s new mainstream cost and type of games are now reviving a boom (watch the gaming market for the boom of LittleBigPlanet).  Piano black is also seen in Sony’s portable gaming console, the PSP.  The PSP-1000 had a matte black exterior, but Sony soon opted for the piano black backing for its next iteration, the PSP-2000. 

Apple’s iPhone revolution also complemented the piano black market (hah, piano black market).  And with the launch of its full piano black backing on the iPhone 3G, it’s running full steam into it.  Apple’s new lineups of Macbooks and Macbook Pros are rumoured to be sporting piano black linings.

Where is this going to go?  Expect your laptops to have lined piano black exteriors, expect cellphones to sport piano black casings, and heck, expect your sunglasses to be piano black.  CRAP… they already are.  Well, there you have it, the colour of now, is piano black.  

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.

Five Word Review
Life ‘breathed’ through piano black

Aesthetics and Action
The Nokia N78 is one hawt beast. It sports a gorgeous piano black front, with relatively secluded buttons except for the Navi wheel, dedicated media, and numpad buttons. The subtle buttons are flush with the finish of the phone, with the small icons and labels lighting up when needed. They’re quick to press (with the exception of the C button for right handed users), and are generally well thought though. The only complaint lies in the fact that the select buttons and the dedicated talk/end buttons are slightly hard to differentiate. The numpad features a style akin to the N82 buttons, but stuck together to form a slick trio-of-buttons-in-one. The vagueness of the button separation is quite annoying however, and leads to a bit of a slowdown when texting.

The Navi wheel is an improvement over previous iterations and presents a nice way of navigation. In the end however, it ends up posing as more of a novelty and a toy rather than a regularly used form of navigation. The beautiful part about the Navi wheel is that it has a ‘breathing’ function which I thought scary at first (I discovered it while trying to sleep), but now looks increasingly awesome. It literally ‘breathes’ by fading in and out every couple seconds. Sick effect, Nokia.

Aesthetics and Action: 9.0/10 + 0.5 for its ability to breathe.

Fabrication and Flavour
The consistent piano black front is quite a fingerprint magnet, but for the looks this thing has, I’d definitely keep it. The phone is encased in a strong gun-metal sidelining and a dark chocolate brown battery backplate with a relatively interesting texture. With the exception of the backplate, the build quality is exceptional. The backplate is definitely an argument of customization and cost over beautiful finish, the former of which I believe won (and from my point of view, shouldn’t have). The cheap plastic causes the backplate to feel like its going to snap whenever you remove it, and it’s the only part on the phone that has any give to it, which makes it feel much cheaper than it should.

The memory card slot is a pain to open if you have short nails. You have to use enough force to actually pop it open, and the amount of space for the opening barely allows a fingernail through.

One final thing to note about the build quality is that the screen is very slightly recessed inside the clear acrylic overlay. However, it sports a high enough contrast and solid viewing angle to catch up to the exterior beauty of the phone.

Fabrication and Flavour: 8.5/10

Interface and Interaction
The Nokia N78 comes stock with a gorgeous Symbian theme coloured in black, and the typical stack of Symbian’s user interface. Its menus are organized in Symbian fashion, so any complaints here are pretty much geared towards Symbian itself. The icons are straight forward and the text is pleasant to read. The separate multimedia menu (accessible by the dedicated front button) encases a circlet of typical functions such as images, music, videos, contacts, maps, Internet and N-Gage games. There definitely is a lag, partly caused by the animation, and when used with the Navi wheel, poses quite an annoying navigational system. Visually, it looks nice, but the actual purpose of this menu remains a bit questioning, since the functions are accessible through the main menu which is much easier to traverse.

I wish there were more ways in which the home screen can be customized (possibly too used to newer BlackBerry themes as the OS evolves), and though the horizontal/vertical panel can be customized, the extra functions which dictate your connection statuses, cannot.

Finally, the software on the computer, N-Series PC Suite, is actually quite annoying to use. It uses a lot of system resources for something supposedly hidden in the background. Furthermore, the applications depend on the N-series phone you are using and the PC Suite pretty much upsells you on every additional function. I find that vastly disappointing in terms of what comes with the phone versus the additional features that you have to buy. Current BlackBerry’s geared towards the business have more stock functionality in entertainment than what comes with the N78.

Interface and Interaction: 7.5/10

Performance and Pacing
With all the strengths in design of the phone, the performance is definitely one of its most lukewarm/mediocre/mild characteristics. The actions aren’t particularly fast (quicker than other Symbian iterations I’ve seen), and switching from application to application cause quite a bit of lag.

I’m unable to test the HSDPA radio on this puppy due to my current American wireless plans, but the WiFi handles well and is intuitive to setup. Its browsing experience isn’t superior to any smartphone experience, but it definitely enables a good enough experience on its somewhat small screen.  The RSS feed integration and prioritization (right at the top of the browser functional list) is a welcome feature, and the phone devours these feeds quickly, letting you continue with the more important functions of your daily work hours.

The N78 is fitted with a great 3.2MP camera with Carl Zeiss lenses, and they’re great to use.  The N78 with its standard Symbian S60 camera interface, allows for a moderate amount of customization, quick switches to video mode, and a Xenon flash to boot.  Unfortunately, the processor is a bit slower than your traditional point and shoot cameras, but for a carry-on camera, it definitely does the job.  The pictures are a bit grainy in the dark, but it picks up surprisingly well on its high ISO setting. The phone supports geotagging, has a secondary camera, allows sending of your pictures etc. - your typical fleet of modern smartphone technologies.

One aspect I’m unable to stand is that with the amount of media attention this phone gets (along with the rest of the N-series) about the great multimedia playback functionality, why the USB connection is so ridiculously slow. It takes forever to load songs on, and for a regular music junkie (yes, it’s a valid oxymoron), switching songs every so often is annoying. Video files with its own conversion tool from the PC suite is outrageously slow, and defeats the purpose of mobile media. Of course, when given an appropriate preparation time, the phone makes watching media on-the-go a pleasure almost worth it.

Performance and Pacing: 7.0/10

Tracking the Trends
The Nokia N78 hits the consumer market on the spot – of course, this depends on where you can actually buy one, as the North American market doesn’t currently support such HSDPA bands. Its beautiful gloss finish on the front, its subdued buttons, and its well-designed functionalities cause this phone to definitely be in the list of considerations for anyone looking for a new phone.

This brings us to this review’s X-Factor. This phone has two X-Factors, both which are rare and well implemented among modern cellphones, but none of which are market disruptors. These X-Factors are the button engineering (yeah, lame title, but still) and the Navi wheel breathing. As you can tell from the unimportance of this list, this phone does everything well, but nothing that MAKES people hit the jump.

Collative Conclusions
In conclusion, the market this phone hits is the contract-buyer looking for a new phone, and not the phone that people would jump carriers for. There’s nothing wrong with that, but for such a gorgeous phone, I feel a little sympathy for what it could’ve achieved. People make jumps for touchscreen phones, for new Windows Mobile interface iterations, for rare technology, and for insane screen pixel resolutions. This phone represents the maturity of technologies of the previous next-gen technologies (oxymoron intended). So with a phone this well built, I want it to disrupt, and I want people to jump ship. I’m just doubtful it will.

This iteration of the N-Series is a quality build from Nokia, where various aspects align and some don’t. In the end, it’s a gorgeous phone – one engrained with a very cool (cold-type of cool – as opposed to teenager cool) style, and it breathes to let you know, you’ve picked a beautiful phone.

Nokia N78 Design Obsession: 8.5/10 + 0.5 for its ability to breathe

Please feel free to comment, question, or anecdotally frame your words in the section below!

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!

KDDI’s concepts: Funky thing, Solar Panel (looks like a Satellite), and concepts labelled “Soup Atomic”