Moto keeps on rockin'

After a few years in the doldrums, Motorola is on a roll, churning out great phones ... and not all of them are based on the ultra-slim Razr. Take the new PEBL, designed to look (and feel) like a weathered stone. The soft outer shell invites caresses and it's a capable handset to boot. Read the full review in today's paper.

In games, Heroes of Might and Magic V (PC) marks a slick evolution of the turn-based fantasy combat series while Ape Escape P is a competent PSP port of the enjoyable monkey-catching franchise - marred, as is so often the case on the handheld, by a stupid camera.

Stand don't deliver

Sony Ericsson has done a fine job with its Walkman range of phones, the only handsets to even come close to emulating an iPod. But some surge of overconfidence must have convinced them they could do a good job with some audio accessories. The MDS-70 is the botched result of that thinking, an attempt to create a mini-speaker system but which is bulky and ugly. Read the full review of the Music Desktop Stand in today's paper.

In games, shooter Metroid Prime: Hunters lights up the DS with its blend of tight touch-screen controls, varied characters and compelling multiplayer. RSI is guaranteed from the strain of holding and controlling, though. Monster Hunter: Freedom (PSP) revisits the PS2 curio which is one part hack'n'slash to one part RPG and one part plain weird. A dodgy camera is the worst offence.

Heavy on the hardware

The annual E3 games extravaganza blew into LA last week to give us a sneak preview of the hottest games and hardware for the year to come. Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft all vied to make the biggest splash. Like last year, new hardware dominated. Read the details in today's paper.

In games, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (PC) is an old-school adventure game of the kind "they" don't make any more. Although gameplay is relegated to little more than spectator status, watching the story unfold is its own reward.

Exit (PSP) succeeds as much because it's not a tired retread of some PS2 pap as because it's a clever puzzler with class.

Sun turns Blue

The Razrwire combines a pair of Oakleys sunnies and a slim Bluetooth headset from Motorola. Result: A colour-coordinated arrangement which means you look less of a wally than usual making calls wirelessly. But it's a moot point how often you're going to need sunnies in Ireland and the headset can't be used with anything else. Read the full review in today's paper.

In games, Daxter successfully makes the leap to PSP, knowing the limitations of the console and exploiting them to produce a fine platformer. Condemned was an Xbox 360 launch title whose raw brutality was startling but the rest of the game wasn't as eye-opening - this new PC port is no different.

The cheesy, unchallenging gameplay of From Russia With Love feels more at home on the PSP than on the big consoles and Rampage: Total Destruction (PS2) is a lame update of the venerable arcade classic.

Brain transplant a success

Apple did the unthinkable late last year and announced it would begin to use the Intel chips it had so long derided. Already, Apple has transitioned half its line-up to Intel and the news is pretty good, unless you're a graphics professional who needs to do heavy-duty work with the likes of Photoshop. Read the full review of one of the new Mactels, the MacBook Pro, in today's paper.

In games, 2006 FIFA World Cup (360/PS2/PC) has a tweaked game engine for better shooting but tackling's a bit ropey and, being a World Cup version, has fewer modes than other FIFAs. Football Manager 2006 (360/PSP) is something of an anachronism in these graphics-driven times, consisting of reams of screens of dense information. Control on 360 is a bit screwed but if you like your football fantasy-style, this could be for you.

Shooter Battlefield 2: Modern Combat reaches 360 with nothing really new bar more polished graphics but if you're online, it's a keeper.