When you were shopping for waterproof and chemical-resistant mice for your lab computers, you were confused when you wound up with Apple's Mighty Mouse, right? That's what Man & Machine, maker of the other Mighty Mouse, believes is happening, and they're suing Apple and CBS over use of the product name, since their hospital and lab-friendly mouse came out a year before Cupertino's model. Turns out that CBS -- who have owned the cartoon of the same name since 1955 -- sold the name rights to Apple, but Man & Machine are contending that the name in the context of computer peripherals belongs to them. Man & Machine want money damages and a court order blocking Apple's use of the name. They should have just called it Danger Mouse. Oh, wait.

[Via The Inquirer]

Now's your chance to cast your ballot for the 2006 Peripheral of the Year! Our Engadget Awards nominees are listed below, and you've got until 11.59PM EST on Sunday, April 15th to file your vote. You can only vote once, so make it count, and may the best tech win! The nominees: Apple wireless Mighty Mouse, Belkin Cable-Free USB Hub, Logitech MX Revolution, Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD drive, Nintendo Wii remote, Verizon V640 ExpressCard EV-DO.

If that Mighty Mouse of Apple's isn't fulfilling your need for classic cartoon references or laz0r-based accuracy, the new Danger Mouse from MacMice might do the trick -- plus it tosses in a nice, fresh pop cultural reference to boot. The Danger Mouse sticks close to Apple design cues, but splits its shell in the front to make concession to a traditional right click function. MacMice also tossed in a MicroScroll wheel to ape Apple's scroll ball (in 1 dimension at least), and a 1600 DPI laser sensor for tracking with the best of 'em. So yeah, MacMice isn't exactly breaking new ground here with their stylings, but with the homogeneous tastes of the general Mac populace, would that make them Crazy?

[Via The Gadget Weblog]

So we're sure there's a select few who have managed to resist the temptation to cut the cord and pick up Apple's newest Mighty Mouse, and unless you simply wouldn't feel whole without having it in your collection, you should probably stick with your current rodent. The Unofficial Apple Weblog tried their best to give an unbiased account on the long-overdue device, and while they appreciated the improved accuracy over typical Bluetooth mice (probably due to its laser), it was pretty much downhill from there. We can't say we're surprised that complaints stemmed from the (still) unergonomic design and the difficulty it presented in mousing to tiny targets. Although it performed well over a myriad of surfaces, TUAW thought it still couldn't provide the precision that USB critters can, and offers up no substantial features (aside from Bluetooth) to justify the hefty $70 price tag -- though they still liked it. Besides the fact that this is the same 'ole Mighty Mouse minus a tail, it would appear to these jaded eyes Apple just hasn't provided a compelling reason to ditch your current pet in favor of one with no strings attached.

While we're certainly not rushing out to snatch up Apple's new Wireless Mighty Mouse, the heavy response to this Bluetooth-equipped rodent makes us think that a lot of you Macheads out there are eager to learn more before laying down your $70. With that in mind, we figured a full gallery of unboxing photos would be just the cure for your Mighty Mouse jones. Keep on reading for a few more pics -- including a comparative shot with the wired version (spoiler: they look exactly alike, save for the "tail") -- and then hit up the Read link to check out the entire set...

Well now we know why Apple "forgot" to file for ye olde confidentiality agreement on the Bluetooth Mighty Mouse FCC filing: they were planning on releasing the wireless rodent into the wild just hours after the documents went live. That's right, if you're looking to cut the cord and add some sweet laser-guided precision to your first-gen Mighty Mouse, you can pick up one of these models immediately for $69 (compared to $49 for the wired version). About the only new bit of information revealed on the official product page is the fact that this mouse will operate with either two or just one AA batteries -- you know, for those times when you're looking to shave every conceivable gram off of your travel weight. As much as we love Apple products, the Mighty Mouse has just never been all that comfortable to use; Bluetooth and laser-tracking are certainly nice additions, but until they make these things more ergonomic, we're holding on to our Logitech gear.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Looks like Apple forgot to file for ye olde confidentiality agreement, but today an FCC filing showed off Apple's latest device: the Mighty Mouse with Bluetooth. If anyone's surprised, well, that'd be pretty silly of you being that a wireless / Bluetooth Mighty Mouse is what's been asked for of Apple since day one of the peripheral's release. So, who's got odds that they'll finally freaking fix those pitiful squeeze triggers on the side? By the way, for those not interested in poring over the manual, expect the "M6" (the device's listed codename) to be powered by AA cells -- not by an internal rechargeable battery (i.e. don't expect a little dock or USB plug, bucko).

P.S. -Yes, as pointed out, it would also appear this Mighty Mouse is a laser driven device, for increased optical precision. But c'mon, you know it's really the Bluetooth that's got you paying down your credit card.