Well, well, what's this? A new Apple Bluetooth keyboard and mouse have arrived at the FCC, and they've got new model numbers of A1314 and A1296 -- the current wireless keyboard is A1255 and the Mighty Mouse is A1197. That's pretty much all we know for now, but these keyboard dimensions are also
smaller than the current model, which rules out a return of the numeric keypad -- sorry to dash your hopes, Excel jockeys. Is this the
new keyboard rumored to accompany an
iMac refresh? We'll have to wait to find out -- but on a similar note,
AppleInsider says Steve Jobs himself is leading the development of this new mouse, featuring some kind of multitouch
and potentially housed in an aluminum shell. That would certainly explain those
multitouch mouse patents we've seen in the past, as well as bring the desktop mousing experience in line with the multitouch action found on the MacBooks -- AI says the new mice somehow enable iPhone-style kinetic scrolling, which would definitely be interesting. So... you want to maybe schedule an event to launch all this stuff, Steve?
Update: And... Apple's managed to yank the images out of the FCC filings, which is about as fast as we've ever seen that happen.
Update 2: Revised images have been posted, carefully cropped to show only the relevant FCC labeling -- although model numbers remain. This is absolutely the fastest we've ever seen the FCC database change, it's rather impressive.
Update 3: AppleInsider's revised their post to say an aluminum mouse is just speculation, so this thing could be plastic after all.
Read - Apple Bluetooth keyboard at FCC
Read - Apple Bluetooth mouse at FCC
Read - AppleInsider post on new mouse
posted Oct 2nd 2009 12:34PM
oh please let this be a good mouse. i'm waiting since 2 years for a fullsized bluetooth mouse that is also ergonomic ... my wired mouse annoys me.
Hey guys, I got a quick question for ya...
I am gonna buy an iMac soon for video editing and shiz but I dont know if I should wait for the refresh since it isnt set in stone. Do you guys think I should go ahead and get one today or wait? A new type of mouse would be good for editing maybe and a new design would be cool... but the iMac now is fast and good enough to do what I want to do, should I wait??
-Casey
@rippinhonda
I'd say wait if you can. If the new model doesn't do it for you when it's released, at least you can get the present model from the online refurb section for a better price.
The issue with Macs is that, since they don't do regular price drops, the longer it's been since a product refresh, the less value you are getting for your money.
@ rippinhonda
I'd wait it out... probably not too far away. And if you don't need it ASAP, another good reason.
2 ways to look at it.
You'll either get an entirely new iMac line with awesome features and specs at the same price or lower.
OR You can score the iMac you were going to get anyway for a couple hundred less now that it's on Apple clearance.
Wait it out and win!
YAWN!!!!..... anything new?....
I really doubt they will make an ergonomic mouse:
A) They never have before
B) It doesn't fit their style
C) Being unfriendly to lefties probably isn't part of their 'user experience'
D) Remember the puck mouse? Yeah, not a reason to be optimistic.
What's funny is they will introduce a 'multi-touch' mouse and call themselves innovators in the mouse field. Despite only having a single button for years and years and years...
@rippin
I would seriously try and save up for a Mac Pro, or build a Hackintosh....iMacs use laptop CPUs and motherboard chipsets, which are generally 20-30% less powerful than desktop equivalents...you'll be a LOT better off for video editing.
@Kamokazi c) They'll probably an option to buy a right-handed mouse and then have a left-handed mouse as a $15 extra.
(Obligatory sarcasm warning)
Ever try a trackball?
Thanks guys! I think I'll wait.
glad to see some people on engadget are available for dialog!
Sure took them long enough. I had this idea almost a year and a half ago! http://www.russellheimlich.com/blog/steve-jobs-cannot-design-a-mouse/
Mice aren't ergonomic.
Your hand is in a constant state of tension gripping the thing and they waste desk space.
Trackballs and tablets are ergonomic.
Check out the new Wacom Pen & Touch Tablet. Pressure sensitive pen and multi-touch input. Cool!
http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_pen_touch.php
@Kamokazi You do know that the Might Mouse for YEARS has had 4 buttons? Left click, right click, middle click and squeez at the bottom. You should do some research.
IS THIS REALLY BREAKING NEWS, ENGADGET? A picture of a rectangle with an Apple in the center?
And yet, Microsoft releasing a FREE full blown AV and antispyware isn't breaking news. Even though people have been waiting for a free solution for YEARS and it will help millions.
OMG CAPSLOCK CONSPIRACY!!!! WUT ARE WE GUNNDO?!!?!?!?!
.....shut up.
@Tsing Tao
Actually the Mighty Mouse has only one click button for left and right clicks. It uses touch sensitive material under the plstic to determine if your finger is on the right or left size of the mouse. Try it yourself. Put your index finger and middle finger on the mouse and click for a normal left click now try, with both fingers on the mouse still, for a right click. You will notice that it recognizes it as a left click. Now take your index finger off the mouse and only leave your middle finger on the right side of the mouse and click. You will no it will recognize the right click.
@Jeff Harris:
No, I've tried trackballs, and while they do have better accuracy, they're really slow.
I've found with mice, the bigger they are, the more comfortable. So you don't need to grip it all the time, just rest your hand on it and move it.
@Kamokazi -- You do know the "original" XEROX mouse had three buttons, right? So slimming that down to one button was an innovation of sorts. In any case, even if you don't consider that an innovation, it doesn't mean that actual innovations (like a multi-touch mouse) should be shunned just because the company came late to the party.
@kingcool68 -- Why didn't you patent it and make a working product in those 18 months? Whenever Apple had the idea to create a multitouch mouse, it wasn't just last weekend. These things take time to develop, design and perfect. It wouldn't surprise me to know that development started alongside the iPhone 4+ years ago. Thinking of an idea -- even years before someone else introduces means nothing. Thoughts are cheap ... execution is where the money is.
@Moose aye this is the case, but thats not what i was replying to. He speaks as if there is only 1 button with no right click, which is not the case.
@rippa
go with a 64bit pc since adobe doesnt support 64bit on macs
adobe premiere/after effects on a 64 bit version of windows is the only way to go
If you want an iMac for video editing you should wait. i'd say it is very likely we will see quad core imacs within a few weeks and OS X is great for taking full advantage of multiple cores. Pretty much all video editing or video related apps are also written for multiple procs or cores. I also would not be surprised to see a quad core Mac Book Pro soon.
@ Kamokazi
"I really doubt they will make an ergonomic mouse:
A) They never have before
B) It doesn't fit their style
C) Being unfriendly to lefties probably isn't part of their 'user experience'
D) Remember the puck mouse? Yeah, not a reason to be optimistic.
What's funny is they will introduce a 'multi-touch' mouse and call themselves innovators in the mouse field. Despite only having a single button for years and years and years..."
Your post clearly shines your severe ignorance when it comes to Mac equipment.
1) To start, the current Mac mouse is very ergonomic and employs symmetric design.
2) Any left or right-handed user can pick it up and very easily adapt it to his/her use. The Preferences panel allows you to configure left-button/right-button functionality any which way you need.
3) Remember when PCs didn't come with mice and Macs did? Yeah, thanks to Apple's implementation of Xerox tech, computers now come with Mice.
What's funny is people like you who have zero clue about what they're talking about. Macs have had 2 button mice compatibility for more than 10 years and the current mice are actually 4-button mice with far, above and beyond advanced functionality than your run off the mill mouse you get with your Dell or generic PC:
- left/right-click dynamic configuration for lefties, righties
- replaces scroll wheel (up/down) with 360 degree functionality
- twin side-buttons for further user customization
- Preference pannel that allows you to configure all 4 buttons any which way you need and enable/disable functions.
Crawl back to your cave, troll.
@JMR:
Free antivirus? Those have been on the market for years. Look up "clamwin" on google, and there's your solution to viruses. There's no reason to trust the antivirus of the company that made such a virus-susceptible OS in the first place.
Troll somewhere else.
yipee
except it wont have two mouse buttons
err yeah no.. the mighty mouse had 4 soo this will if its multi touch could be almost limitless
IS THIS REALLY BREAKING NEWS, ENGADGET? A picture of a rectangle with an Apple in the center?
And yet, Microsoft releasing a FREE full blown AV and antispyware isn't breaking news. Even though people have been waiting for a free solution for YEARS and it will help millions.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/microsoft-security-essentials-anti-virus-software-is-now-live-an/
Three days ago. Breathe.
Hopefully they go for something a little more ergonomic in both accessories. An oval mouse and a flat keyboard may get their points in design, but not in comfort.
I actually really like the current aluminum keyboards, bought one to replace the lousy squishy pro keyboard that game with the G5 power mac. The squishy one was terrible. The short key travel on the aluminum slab one is making me consider replacing my Matias TactilePro on my home machine.
But yeah, the mice suck, I have an MX revolution and MX 1000. Too bad they don't make the MX1000 anymore, the revo sucks.
My partner tossed her wireless aluminum keyboard and mighty mouse ... it's too small, too flat ... no ergonomics. She exchanged it for the wireless ms 7000 and never looked back. Having said this ... I don't think it would be out of Apple's power to make a stylish ergonomic keyboard and mouse-it's just not a probable scenario.
I like the current keyboards a lot even though i didn't expect to. I have never liked the mighty mouse. I have big hands and palm my mice which the mighty mouse is not good for. But neither are a lot of other mice.
For the kids who don't know the history of Apple mice take a look here;
http://www.vectronicsappleworld.com/macintosh/mouse.html
I have used all of them including the original Apple mouse on the 128k Mac. The only ones I didn't like were the hockey puck and the mighty mouse. But I have never liked the mice that come with most PC's either so big deal.
I LOVE the flat keyboard!
it feels great and the only problem I have with it is Apple seems to be trying to do away with the number pad on the right :(
although yeah, the current mouse could use an update. My main gripe isn't the ergonomics, which admittedly aren't perfect, but with the piece of **** scroll button.
Unlike Apple's mouse, which I louth with a passion, I love Apple's keyboards and won't use any others.
But the Apple mouse is a bag of hurt. Logitech FTW!
I've been trying to convert my dad to use a Logitech mouse, he's the only person I know who loves the Apple mouse.
Louth? Isn't that a country?
No, it's a Village in Lincolnshire
It's also a county in Ireland, one which has produced such horrors as The Corrs and should be encased in resin for that reason.
There's nothing wrong with the Corrs... visually... well 3/4 of them
The numeric keypad is essential to me - whatever this is, hopefully there are two versions.
Yeah, boo to no numeric keypad.
there is no iTablet...the iTablet is, in fact, the new multitouch mouse surface tool.
aluminum mouse? doesn't sound too comfortable...
This is apple were talking about here. Form over function remember.
how would aluminum be less 'comfortable' than plastic?
agreed with the guy above me... whats the difference?
apple hate is a joke, i swear u guys hate for no reason
@Soulsaber
Well, I think it would be comfortable, sturdier, more compact and less prone to fingerprint dirt. It would perfectly fit the MacBook Pros, iMacs, Mac Minis and Mac Pros with the new "aluminum enclosure". I like it.
because aluminum is cold to the touch! I had some logitech keyboard with an aluminum palm rest... not comfortable.
Metal is just a bad grip, period...it's a hard substance, cold to the touch, etc...think about everything else you hold for any extended period of time that is made of metal...virtually all of it has a grip made of a different material.
Now, they could put some sort of rubberized clearcoat over it...but I seriously doubt it.
@ nick. I didn't say I hate them, but an aluminum mouse is just a bad idea. I used to work around aluminum, and sweat discolors aluminum. Even a clear coating would only help for so long until that starts to show wear. Not to mention (like it already was above) that they're surely not to add a rubberized coating. If an aluminum mouse would be practical, I'm sure Logitech, the undisputed king of peripherals, would have been the first to do it already.
hopefully they add lithium batteries charged via USB,