Microsoft has had its share hits and misses as far as product design goes, but this Arc Mouse due this winter looks to be a slick little input device. Wireless and collapsible, the Arc Mouse promises to combine both portability and style for those of you on the "fashion edge" (their words, not ours). Hyperboles aside, this $59.95 optical jobby seems to be the real thing, and comes in both red and black. Look for it for the holiday season littering holiday gift guides.

Okay, raise your hands if the first thing you thought when you heard about IOGEAR's Germ Free Wireless Laser Mouse was "That probably uses an unregistered pesticide that warrants government involvement." Yeah, that's what we thought -- but it appears some freak concerned citizen had your best interests in mind, because the EPA just fined IOGEAR $208,000 based on a tip that the company's Germ Free keyboard and mice peripherals were violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Apparently no one ever verified that the titanium dioxide and silver nanoparticle compound on the mice is actually effective at killing nasties, and even if it is, it's illegal to sell pesticides without Uncle Sam's blessing. IOGEAR's stopped claiming that the products kill germs and forked over the cash, but it's not clear if the products still have the coating on them. Either way, you should probably start washing your hands more, Mr. Filthy.

[Via Nanotech Project]

Targus just launched three new travel mice and an interesting laptop cooling pad here at CES. The three new Stow-N-Go mice (updating the older model pictured here) all feature a tilting scroll wheel and switchable 1600/1200/800 DPI settings, and you've got your choice between (retractable) wired optical and laser models or a $40 wireless laser version, all of which should hit in March. The new $30 HeatDefense cooling pad, available in April, is made of a "crystalline compound" that "melts into a gel-like substance" to absorb heat as your machine heats up. We're not sure if that's a particularly wonderful idea, but we're definitely intrigued enough to go and check it out on the show floor later on today.

As far as "world's firsts" go this is a pretty minor one, yet we'd be neglect in our duties were we not to present you with the Silver Seal Antibacterial, Washable Keyboard and Mouse, which manufacturer Seal Shield claims to be the only set combining both of these hygienic features. Designed for use in hospitals and other germ-laden environments, the Silver Seal desktop features those same silver ion nanoparticles that have become all the rage among hypochondriacs these days, and is totally submersible (dishwashers, too!) to expedite regular cleanings. Hospital IT procurement specialists should start looking for the set next month, and although no MSRP is available yet, we'll wager that you're looking at diNovo-level pricing.

We've seen a couple interesting gaming mice come out of Leipzig this year, and the SteelSeries Ikari Professional Gaming mouse is right up there with Microsoft's new Sidewinders and Razer's Lachesis. The outer shell is built to accommodate the "three major gaming grips" of "Swipe, Claw, and Palm," and gamers can select their choice of models: a high-res optical version for FPS gamers, or a laser system for RPS and MMO addicts. Both feature switchable DPI settings and five programmable buttons, with a proprietary 500MHz transmitter to reduce any lag or interference. No word on price, but SteelSeries says these'll be out in Q4, so you gamers had better start saving your pennies.

[Via IGN]

Just in case Kensington's recent onslaught of mice didn't float your boat, Sony is hoping that one of its colorful SMU-C3 or SMU-M10s will garner a bit more of your attention. The two-color USB C3 is available in white, green, pink, and black color schemes, sports an 800dpi optical sensor, "wide scrollwheel," integrated wire storage, and plays nice with OS X, Windows XP, and Vista. The less vivid SMU-M10 features a "slimmer, more compact design with a built-in groove allowing the user to wrap the USB cable around the device for transport," and does manage to come in subtle black, white, and blue motifs. Both lineups should be available on European shelves as we speak, but we've no idea what kind of pricetag you should go in expecting.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Just months after Philips went nuts and introduced a plethora of new input peripherals, Kensington is pulling a similar move by launching its colorful Ci Lifestyle Collection of wireless mice and keyboards. Each device was designed to be as thin as comfortably possible, sport advanced power saving abilities, and easily fit into the road warrior's bag of choice. Kicking things off is the $34.99 Ci70 wireless mouse, which comes in around 35-percent slimmer than common competitors and touts an automatic sleep mode to save those batteries. The $39.99 Ci70LE simply adds a dash of colorful (and bubbly) design, while the $34.99 Ci75m gets even smaller for the mobile crowd. The $39.99 Ci85m sports a QuickStart feature that powers the mouse up as soon as the PC turns on, and opts for an ExpressCard receiver instead of the USB dongle that its less expensive siblings rely on. For those looking for a keyboard / mouse combination, the Ci70 Wireless Desktop Set throws a Ci70 and a low-profile keyboard together in a convenient $79.99 package, and those who've already warmed to the cutesy allure will be delighted to know that all of the aforementioned devices are currently available for pre-ordering.

In typical Philips fashion, the firm has yet again chosen to unleash a barrage of new gear simultaneously, and this time around its the mice and keyboard lineups getting a few new siblings. Starting us off is the SPM8713 1,600 DPI laser mouse, which was designed on the small side to cater to laptop users, and the "soft silicon cushions" purportedly keep that cramped hand a bit more comfortable. The SPM7711 borrows most of the same features as the aforementioned critter, but markets itself to the desktop user while maintaining the "one-year battery life." The SPM4701 boasts a sleek, black design and internal LED optics, while the unfortunate SPM4700 gets a tail and sports "just" 1,000 DPI. Closing up the rear is the SPT5701, which matches the SPM4701 with a dashing keyboard that touts "drainage holes that can resist some accidental spillage." Unfortunately, we've no idea how much these new input peripherals will run you, but be on the lookout for a May launch in the US and Asia.

[Via EverythingUSB]

C'mon, even you know it's time to give the ole hamster a break from his wheel-spinning duties, and the latest typing-powered time waster to come our way is a very suitable replacement. The USB Speed Typing Mouse plugs directly into your USB port to get warmed up, and as you bang out dissertations, IMs, e-mail, and erroneous office rumors, the oh-so-toned mouse gets his stationary bike a-movin'. Interestingly, the front-mounted LCD is also good for keeping track of just how many keystrokes you can crank out, and of course, the faster you type, the faster the poor critter's legs will go. This must-have office mainstay checks in at a somewhat steep £19.99 ($39.40), but unfortunately for those anxious to get one shipped over, you'll have to wait about a fortnight while the little buggers complete basic training and return to stock.

[Via EverythingUSB]

It looks like ExtremeTech is still wading through the bevy of Microsoft peripherals released of late, and while the firm's Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 isn't going for the gaming-centric set as was the Habu, it is aimed squarely at folks who spend more time mousing around than actually getting outside. Obviously, we took interest in such a device, and while it didn't pan out to be the perfect ergonomic answer, it was regarded fairly highly overall. Sporting a 1,000 DPI laser eye, seamless scroll wheel, Instant Viewer / Magnifier tools, and a "nearly baseball-like" shape, the 6000 provides quite a "round" approach to compete with mouse of today's gently sloping / flat alternatives. Aside from feeling like a major league pitcher when going for the left-click, reviewers tending to find the unique shape "oddly appealing," but did question the actual ergonomics of the design. Additionally, they found the notchless scroll wheel to be an issue of love / hate, were a tad let down by the AA battery requirement, and were slightly baffled by the excessive button layout, but through all the scorn, the crew still managed to score the mouse a 7 out of 10. Helping the score was the accurate mousing abilities, comfortable design, and its decent ability to handle the not-so-hardcore gamers needs all the while. Still, it was stated that $80 for a non-gaming mouse is a tad on the high end for the average buyer, and while it sounds like you wouldn't be too disappointed, we highly doubt making this your next mouse would incite any fits of celebration.

While it likely won't replace your gamepad anytime soon, Buffalo's latest optical mouse here should at least bring some of that familiar video game flavor to your more mundane, scrolling-related computing tasks -- although you'll have to decide for yourself if that's an improvement or not. Apart from its newfound four-way action, however, the mouse is about as garden variety as they come, with an 800 dpi resolution and, well, two buttons and a cord. On the upside, it does come in your choice of silver or black, and it won't put much of a hurt on your wallet, demanding just 3,320 Yen (about $28) when it streets in Japan next month.

[Via Impress]

While we've seen more than a few folks get a little mod-happy when it comes to crafting their own mousing devices, Cylo Technology is offering up an apparently well thought-out device that should have audio / video editors going wild. If you feel more comfortable spinning a jog wheel than you ever have manually moving a cursor, the "three-dimensional" 3style mouse is right down your alley, as the hybrid input peripheral handles the typical X and Y axes as well as giving users the ability to scroll in any direction with a simple spin. Utilizing a ball bearing pad, the knob can spin freely with just a nudge, and can interpret Z-axis data as well as offering up right-click functionality by squeezing the edges. While some may envision faint similarities to the iMac's hockey puck mouse of days past, this rendition could probably last a bit more than 30 seconds before becoming destined for the trash bin. Nevertheless, the 3style mouse can be used wirelessly as well as in a wired form, and can purportedly work seamlessly with any application that supports a scroll wheel or jog dial, but we'll have to wait until this thing actually hits store shelves before testing out these bold claims ourselves. Click on through for a live demonstration.

[Via HackedGadgets]

Man, what a racket they've got going over there at Microsoft. Not only does the company get to unilaterally decide exactly when we all "need" a new operating system, it gets to siphon money off of hardware manufacturers for the privilege of advertising their products as "Vista-certified." Now we can see why said certification might be useful for entire systems or even select components such as video cards, but how is our computing experience going to be any different if we use a mouse adorned with this supposedly-coveted seal of approval? Nevertheless, Sigma APO of Japan has decided to shell out some cash to Redmond to get the ol' "Made for Vista" badge slapped on its oddly-titled "Zoffy" laser mouse, but predictably, there's no indication as to how this model differs from the Logitech you're clutching at the moment (except for its bargain basement price). On the specs front, you're getting a 1,600dpi laser (adjustable to 800dpi), four-way scroll wheel, rubberized grip, and not much else. Still, if you can deal with the dearth of buttons and absolutely gotta have "Vista-certified" bragging rights for all your gear, Zoffy will be available at the end of the month for about $27.

OCZ may currently be best known for its high-end memory and other internal components, but the company's apparently gotten tired of treading the same territory over and over again, now hopping into the ever-crowded peripheral biz with its Equalizer Laser Mouse. While the mouse's specs appear to be decent enough, with a maximum 2500 DPI resolution and six selectable levels, OCZ doesn't seem to be taking any chances with its introductory offering, decking the mouse out in a garish color scheme that's sure to stand out from the other, subtler mice lining store shelves. Taking a cure from NES controllers of yore, the mouse also packs a so-called "Triple Threat" button, which will let you get off three shots with a single click, or cut those exhausting double-clicking tasks in half. Those that prefer their gaming on a slightly smaller scale also aren't out of luck, with OCZ releasing the mouse in both desktop and laptop versions, each setting you back about fifty bucks when they're released next week.

[Via TG Daily]