Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse rumor resurfaces, expected in September for $69.95 (updated)
By Vlad Savov 
posted August 5th 2010 3:29AM
posted August 5th 2010 3:29AM
It was almost exactly a month ago that we reported on swirling rumors of Microsoft pulling together a multitouch-capable mouse to call its own, while earlier this week we saw the company's Twitter feed enlivened with teasers of a mysterious new touch-input device. Coincidence? No chance, says Neowin, whose insider source confirms the Arc Touch Mouse moniker and also adds that launch is expected in September. It's said this peripheral will come with just basic touch functionality initially, with multitouch presumably being thrown in via a later update. Sounds like Microsoft's version of the Magic Trackpad, though the Mouse part of its name suggests it'll also be able to track around your desktop like a more conventional rodent as well. That'd certainly offer more versatility than the stationary Apple option, but we have our doubts about the ergonomics of using a flat mouse over long periods of time. More should be known soon, provided @msfthardware keeps feeling loquacious.Update: Never mind waiting for MSFT to tell us, the Arc Touch Mouse has appeared in a reseller's price list with an MSRP a few cents south of $70 -- right in line with Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse pricing.
That looks nothing like the Arc mouse...
Hmmm...
I actually like the Arc mouse... Quite nice looking.
@APV
A multitouch mouse was a stupid idea from Apple. It is also a stupid idea from MS (should this rumor be confirmed).
@APV My Dell basic mouse and keyword are just sufficient for me.
@APV
microsoft has been research multitouch mice for a while. this is obviously to cover all bases
@bjsguess its not a mouse its a touch pad
so mac user can use their mac full features and ms to add more gestures to windows
Multitouch mouse = stupid
Think it through: It takes at least your thumb and pinky to hold the mouse in position. That leaves three fingers, which are already accommodated by three-button mice.
Apple's asinine gesture of swiping sideways across the surface of the mouse with multiple fingers while keeping it from pivoting simply attests to their detachment from real-world usage.
@APV doesn't look ergonomic too...
@bjsguess You have no idea of what you are talking about! I have one and it's an amazing mouse... with a third part app you can personalize every move of your fingers! close windows and app's, open pages, switch apps... The best mouse ever, but not so good to the hand as the mighty mouse.
@Onil The mighty mouse has horrible ergonomics. It was hardware that was developed only for its style. Apple will go to such extreme lengths to integrate fashion into their hardware that they are willing to sometimes compromise performance (calm down fanbois, I said SOMETIMES. I realize that Apple had released some advanced products).
The Logitech MX revolution was a mouse that was designed to be held. Apple and Microsoft should make mice that are both fundamentally simple (2 buttons and a scroll wheel), but also allow the user to use the additional features of the device.
@Information Central: And this is based on what, your months of experience using a multitouch mouse? Oh wait, you've never actually touched one, have you? You just hate everything that Apple does.
@bjsguess
Monkey see, monkey do. Anything that Apple does, Microsoft is going to have to copy it whether it's good or bad. That's the only way Microsoft can keep up.
Not sure I'd want to be using a flat mouse, though. Even that MagicMouse is a little flat for comfortable with for my hand. I suppose the human hand can adapt to anything after a period of time.
@APV My bet is on an Arc Touchpad.
I have both Arc Mouse and Keyboard, and I love'em both.
@APV I am very interested in it. It looks sleek
@Wallyum Who are you to tell him the about the ergonomics of the mouse HE owns?
Darn It! I was hoping for something ZUNE related... Oh Well
@DaHarder
I know right
Zune HD with WP7 please
@DaHarder
Make that ZunePhone. But seriously let's come down to the reality, that design looks nothing like Zune HD at all.
@DaHarder
zune is dead moron. windows phone 7 does everything zune does. what makes you think they will ever make another zune, especially after deleting the zune group ?
@ok1 Google shitty programming Calling him a moron only betrays your false logic, considering such should have been the case when Apple rolled out the iPhone. And yet iPod touches still run rampant in these parts.
Not everyone needs or desires a phone with crazy music capabilities, nor does everyone want the All-in-one device, I call it the "Stranded mentality" where someone needs to use the phone but they can't cuz the battery died listening to music all day. I recently bought a 32GB Zune HD for this exact reason, KNOWING WP7 is coming in a few months, but my purposes for it include tethering it to my arm when I run. I do not wish to have a large-screened clunky object bouncing off my arm when I'm exercising nor to I wanna tighten it down to the point where I lose circulation.
@DaHarder
Turning the Zune into a wireless mouse might be its highest calling. They could have blessed us with a Surface mouse...
@DaHarder
Nah, instead its MS copying Apple...
ba doom CHING!
Never gets old
@ok1 Google shitty programming
I think what he was talking about is Zune HD as in hardware with Win Phone 7. Say what you want but dammit Zune HD is one sexy device.
@DaHarder Is Zune still around? I suppose "the rumors of its death are greatly exaggerated." I kid ... I kid.
Microsoft borrowing Apple's idea(s)? I thought Microsoft were the industry leaders!
@iKid
/s?
@iKid
Yes, I'm sure that they threw this thing together in a couple of weeks.
@AlienSix I think this thread as it stands now needs /s plastered all over it... :P
@iKid nooooo.... not at all....
@iKid
They've did that since the 80s, You could almost call them MicroKIRF.
@briguy266 What did I say wrong? It's my first down-ranked into oblivion :(
@iKid
I'm behind you on that one, one uprank from me.
@iKid
What did you say wrong? You accused MS of copying a device you hadn't even heard of until a couple of weeks ago. In other words, you think MS did research and development, built prototypes, developed software, tested, refined and manufactured this device on some whim because they heard about Apple releasing a similar product.
You got downvoted for being silly.
@iKid Now see my initial question was this. Why release a touch mouse without multi-touch, and then update it with multi-touch down the road? If they want a multi-touch mouse, why not just wait until it's finished before releasing it?
@iKid Actually microsoft have a mice laboratory with too many different idea's, some of them make it out
@Tes
Um.. Actually to me this is more of a rip off of Apple's Magic Mouse, which has been available since last October.
I'm not a fan of Apple but Microsoft truly hasn't innovated in years. It's sad considering the benefits the market would receive from a more innovative and creative competition to Google, Apple and etc.
@yyandrew yes because xbox live, wp7, win7, zunehd, azure, and silverlight werent innovative in the least bit, none of them brought any new to the table at all.
@yyandrew Oh, and I forgot one of the most important, Bing, yes Bing did do stuff that Google fallowed on, pictures for instance...
@yyandrew
look at the new google images? if bing never existed, you wouldnt have that. you'd be staring at the same bs ui. just like you still get the same list of 10 blue links in search for the past decade.
sorry times have changed, and im glad to use bing which offers the best UI in search
@yyandrew
I guess them pioneering touchscreen tech with surface also isn't worth mentioning
@briguy266 Xbox Live brought online gaming to the mainstream in a way nothing else has
@briguy266
After Bing borrowed much more from Google.
@briguy266
Bing, otra vez!
Los Liiiiinks!
@pattyice
Surface is definitely innovative -- if you live in the 1980s. My favorite example of Microsoft innovation is the SPOT watch. Back in 2001, Steve Jobs held up the first iPod, and Bill Gates held up the first SPOT watch. Whose shareholders benefitted most from those innovations?
QED
@briguy266 I'd say slightly innovative. None were original ideas, and in fact were just variations on existing products by others. The one thing I'll give them full marks for is Xbox Live. Everything else was a "me too" move.
@briguy266
Xbox Live and Azure are the only things on your list that are innovative. With everything else, they were just playing catch up. That's not a bad thing, though. They really needed to catch up and they did a good job.
It seems too flat to be a mouse
@AlienSix Come back to the white noise! ;)
@AlienSix
Maybe it's the back of a WP7 that can be used as a mouse?! *gasp*
@AlienSix
Perhaps it's a combined touchpad and gyro mouse for use with HTPCs?