Mobile devices like the iPhone and the iPad have been a real springboard for designers and developers. Because we can now literally have our computers in our pockets, our favorite applications and websites and services can now come with us.

However, when designing for mobile devices, it’s important to focus on the size and resolution of the device’s screen, as well as how the user interacts with the device. You can make a really beautiful looking application that ultimately fails because it is difficult for the user to use and isn’t optimized for a touch screen.

Sometimes the best way to get started thinking about application design is to look at what others have already produced. For your inspiration, here are 10 iPhone and iPad apps that have both beautifuland usable user interfaces.

View As One Page »

1 of 10 Photos

Twitterrific for iPad

Twitterrific for iPad is not only a great looking Twitter client, it’s also extremely usable. In landscape mode, you can easily change accounts or choose between @replies, direct messages, Twitter lists and trending topics.

It’s easy to send a tweet and it’s also easy to find out more about a user and to view their past tweets. The interface is crisp and bright, but it isn’t too busy and everything works the way that it should.

Instead of just making their iPhone app bigger, Loopt has opted to go in a different direction and focus on providing real-time content related to nearby places and events that are popular among friends with Loopt Pulse for iPad [iTunes link].

If screenshots are any indication, Loopt’s approach to location-based content on the iPad is both stunning and relevant. It looks to be an interactive and visual cross between review sites like Yelp, event sites like Eventful and maps apps à la Google Maps.

The app integrates with Facebook so users can login via Facebook Connect and opt for a map or photo experience of popular nearby places and events. App content is seeded from Loopt partners like Zagat, Bing, events and City Search, and users are free to explore it all with their fingertips. The app also allows users to RSVP for Facebook events, share recommendations with friends and view friends’ favorites.

CEO Sam Altman explains that the application was designed with users’ lifestyle needs in mind. He says, “Our guess is that people will use the iPad sitting on the couch at home, and take it with them to coffeeshops and for use on train rides, but not use it while walking down the street. So we tried to focus on helping you plan what to do in a couple of hours, not a couple of minutes.”

On that front, the Photo View looks especially promising and offers foodies and entertainment seekers a unique way of browsing nearby restaurants and events. Altman believes this is the most interesting feature and hopes to expand upon the Photo View in future releases.