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Logitech's new $50 ergonomic trackball mouse has Bluetooth LE support
Logitech has unveiled the Ergo M575, a wireless trackball with a design not unlike the iconic M570 model, but improved ergonomics and some nice features borrowed from the high-end MX Ergo trackball.
The best trackballs
By Thorin Klosowski This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to trackballs. After spending more than 120 hours testing eight trackballs during weeks of work, we found that the best trackballs are the finger-operated Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball and the thumb-operated Logitech MX Ergo Wireless Trackball. We also have budget picks—the Kensington Orbit Trackball with Scroll Ring and the Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball—if you don't mind sacrificing build quality and a couple of features for a more affordable trackball. Finger-operated trackballs with center-mounted balls work for both right- and left-handed people and encourage better wrist posture, while thumb-operated trackballs are more similar to traditional mice and therefore easier to get the hang of using. (For more information, see Should you switch to a trackball? below.)
Logitech is bringing back the trackball mouse
Logitech is going back to reinventing the trackball mouse. The MX ERGO apparently marks the company's first new trackball in almost ten years, pairing a more subtler color scheme with an adjustable hinge for better wrist posture and pronation. This means that unlike the MX ERGO's wide-bodied predecessors, you shouldn't get so much hand cramp -- or at least that's the sales pitch. Cursor speed and accuracy can be changed with a button-press, while the wireless mouse should work up to four months on a full charge, with a fast-charge option to ensure you make it through an entire day with as little as a minute of charging.
Ask Engadget: best wireless trackball mouse?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Andrew, who loves his trackball and needs to help find a wireless replacement. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I'm a huge fan of trackball mice, and I've been using a Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman since 2002. They can't be popular, because the company no longer makes them, and I haven't been able to source one except at ridiculous prices on eBay. I've even tried the Logitech M570, but I simply can't use it. I've looked at Kensington's offerings, but they are geared towards thumb-ballers rather than index-finger ballers, so what I want to know is: is any company making a wireless trackball mouse that offers the same experience as my beloved Optical Trackman? Thanks!" Now, if we're honest, we did some digging and we really do feel your pain. In our searches, it looks as if the wireless trackball world has collapsed down to the Kensington Orbit or the M570, which you've already discounted. So, do any of you, out there in the ether, use a suitable trackball from a niche manufacturer? Heck, are you a niche manufacturer looking for an audience? The comments section below is where you need to go.
Time Machines: The military sphere
Welcome to Time Machines, where we offer up a selection of mechanical oddities, milestone gadgets and unique inventions to test out your tech-history skills. If you've ever played the arcade version of Missile Command or used a mechanical mouse, then you've sampled technology that originated in a secret Canadian military research project back in the '50s. The device was a key component in a radar display interface that allowed operators to maneuver an on-screen cursor with speed and accuracy to identify targets. Roll on past the break for the full story behind this device.
Trackball controller rolls onto Kickstarter
Peter Von Buskirk has been trying to change the way gamers aim at stuff since 2005 with his trackball controller concept, the latest version of which is currently attempting to raise $125,000 on Kickstarter.The device's core concept of taking a PlayStation-esque controller and replacing the right analog stick with a trackball has remained unchanged over the years. In a previous life, the controller was a PlayStation 2 peripheral known as the Reflex Control, but despite a strong presence at several E3s a 2007 pre-order initiative was unable to secure enough orders for the controller to be put into production."I have always speculated that it was due to limited public awareness or a skeptical attitude toward a then-unusual pre-sale site," Von Buskirk told Joystiq. "Maybe if Kickstarter has existed then, it would have succeeded. You never know."Nowadays, the patent-pending prototype is a PC-only controller. Raised funds will be spent on engineering upgrades, creating a tool required for the controller's molded plastic bits, component acquisition and manufacturing, assembly and shipping costs. Check out the pitch above, as well as a video of the controller being used to play Diablo 3 after the break.[Thanks, T.J!]
HTC leaks suggest big, small, buttonless, and Brew MP-based phones are on the way
All things considered, HTC doesn't do the best job of protecting its roadmap; indeed, the slides that leaked a little over a year ago ended up doing a fabulous job of showing us what was in the pipe for 2010, so we wouldn't doubt the massive spread that PocketNow published today. Starting at the top, we've got a device that looks like a trackpad-less evolution of the original Desire (pictured above), another that looks like an Aria-sized Nexus One in black (complete with old-school trackball), and an additional version of a buttonless phone that's got generic HTC branding in place of the Verizon logo in a picture unearthed by Phandroid a few days ago (pictured after the break). That's not all, though: there also seems to be a lower-end Android device with physical Send / End buttons and an optical trackpad underneath a smallish display accompanied by the usual four capacitive buttons. A device with a China Telecom logo on it is also in the mix, looking like a big-screened model that'll probably be ready to do battle with that 1.2GHz Droid X by a different name that just launched over there. Finally, there's a small, entry-level model that might succeed the Smart as HTC's Brew MP-powered flagbearer, though Android is obviously the thrust here. Specs and names are still a mystery across the board at this point, but as PocketNow says, we wouldn't be surprised to get details at MWC next month.
Grippity 1 back-typing keyboard finally up for pre-order, asks for $60 and your patience
To say the Grippity has been a long time in coming would be an understatement. The quirky keypad that stashes the buttons around back seemed to have all but vaporized into thin air after showing some early promise, but hey, it's back now! Back with a vengeance, which in this case means pre-order availability on its eponymous site at $60 a pop. Mind you, the earliest deliveries are scheduled for February, so we do hope you have enough to distract you while waiting through this holiday season. January should be nice and fun, though, as we're sure the Grippity guys will find a way to hit up our CES 2011 trailer for another hands-on opportunity with this trackball-equipped peripheral -- which is now billing itself as the ideal media center controller. We'll let you know how well the Grippity plays that role as soon as we can.
Sharp announces Galapagos e-reading tablets: 5.5 and 10.8 inches, getting e-bookstore in December
Sharp has just taken the veils off its bold new e-reader devices, dubbing them both Galapagos in honor of the evolution the company believes they represent. The 5.5-inch Mobile version (pictured above) has a delightfully dense 1024 x 600 LCD screen, while its 10.8-inch Home sibling offers a very decent 1366 x 800. There's 802.11b/g WiFi on both, while the littler slate is also enriched with a navigational trackball. Sharp's emphasis here really seems to be on the cloud-based ecosystem it's creating for these "terminal" devices -- 30,000 newspapers, magazines and books have been lined up for its planned December launch and an "automatic scheduled delivery" facility will help you get at them as soon as the latest issue's ready for consumption. Sadly, we should note that this is specifically tailored to suit the Japanese market, which makes an international release seem somewhat unlikely. For a size comparison between the two tablets and the full press release, jump past the break.%Gallery-103366%
Logitech's Wireless Trackball M570 rolls out for $60, doesn't bow to fancy touch mice
Oh yes, that up there is Logitech's newest Wireless Trackball M570, which apparently caters to an "overwhelming demand of dedicated trackball users." Well, we'll be damned! At this point, we'd figured that trackballers would have switched over to an MX or something by now, but we do have to say the new sculpted shape is mighty comfortable, and if spinning a big blue ball to navigate the desktop is your thing it doesn't seem like a bad deal. The $59.99 peripheral will be available immediately, and packs 2.4GHz wireless and a small USB Unifying receiver that tucks into the bottom of the mouse for safe keeping. Logitech sent us one to play around with, and though we're not exactly the most nimble at using the trackball to jump from window to window, the scroll wheel felt calming enough and there are two back / forward buttons to get you from tab A to tab B. Guess we really have to hand it to 'em for sticking with what works. Hit the gallery below for some more eye candy, and hop on past the break for the full press release. %Gallery-102232%
T-Mobile USA offers free BlackBerry Pearl trackball replacement
If you're Pearl's pearl has lost some of its luster -- and indeed some of its control -- we've heard that T-Mobile USA is stepping in to help sort that out. As of the 15th February, BlackBerry Pearl 8100, 8120, and 8320 owners can apparently pop into a T-Mo shop and have it replaced for $free. The only catch is your device has to have been purchased from T-Mobile -- and, we assume, have troubles. Sadly other BB owners with problems can't get this in-store service -- as they require more than a simple pin for the same service -- but we'd imagine enough noise to customer support could help your cause if you're having trouble. We're liking the trend we've seen of late with carriers offering up these random acts of kindness and do hope we'll continue to see more.
Verizon says trackball issue is 'addressed' on Tour, no longer a problem
Sprint had told us in a statement that its BlackBerry Tours only had trackball issues on "early production" units, and now Verizon is telling us pretty much the same thing: Early on there was an issue with the trackball that affected a small percentage [of] the early production units -- far less than industry norms. The issue was detected early, addressed immediately and is no longer an issue. Returns on this device are some of the lowest among any of our smart phones. In other words, it sounds like new buyers (and anyone who's taken the plunge recently) should be fine, and Verizon's actually taking it to another level by boasting that the handset's now one of its most return-proof smartphones. That doesn't change the fact that the trackball's a little too recessed for our liking -- but at least it should stay functional.
BlackBerry Tour mired by trackball problems, Verizon losing patience?
You might remember our complaint that the Tour's trackball seemed a bit too recessed -- and while we're not ready to connect the dots just yet, this does seem rather convenient. Some research investment dude is reporting that the phone requires frequent trackball cleanings -- which users aren't taking to heart, assuming they know it needs to be done in the first place -- and a lack of maintenance quickly leads to stuck trackballs. From there, it doesn't take a wild imagination to believe that the phone is quickly sent back to the Sprint or Verizon shop from whence it came, and therein lies the problem: rumor has it that Sprint's seeing fully 50 percent of Tours brought back, and they're estimating that quality control measures totaling a 2 to 3 percent boost in production costs would bring that stat way down. A trackball that's too recessed seems like more of a design issue than a "quality control" one to us, but who knows -- maybe they can get it fixed without rearchitecting the whole phone. For what it's worth, we've gotten an official statement from Sprint: "We experienced a small percentage of early production BlackBerry Tour smartphones with trackball issues. As soon as the issue was identified, we worked closely with our partners at RIM to resolve the problem quickly. We recommend any customer experiencing issues with the trackball on their BlackBerry Tour smartphone visit a Sprint Service & Repair Center." The "early production" part of that leads us to believe this might already be fixed on the assembly line, in which case new buyers shouldn't feel bad about marching into the store -- Verizon's allegedly threatening to give more love for the Sholes if the problem doesn't go away, but considering that BlackBerrys and Android devices don't really play in the same space yet, that's a pretty meaningless threat as far as your average business user's concerned. [Via Electronista]
Weramouse V2 and V3 are a trackball / trackpad to have and to hold
Sometimes it's a bit refreshing to find a handheld mouse that doesn't track your motion, just in case you feel like waving your arms wildly and not having it screw up your apps. The Weramouse V2 handheld trackball mouse works wirelessly from up to about 26 feet away, using what we gather is a USB dongle to sync. Its Li-ion battery is claimed to be good for up to 28 hours and charges via USB. Cost is $99 NZD, which translates to $56 in US dollars. At one point the site listed a V3 model with a trackpad -- same specs otherwise, with a $199 NZD / $113 US price tag -- and while it's since been removed, the product page is still available via the great halls of the internet archives. [Via Technabob] Read - V2 with trackball Read - V3 with trackpad (cached)
Engadget's recession antidote: win a Kensington SlimBlade Trackball!
This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we've got a Kensington SlimBlade Trackball on offer. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Check after the break for some photos of the prize!Special thanks to Kensington for providing the gear!The rules: Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one Kensington SlimBlade Trackball. Approximate value is $129. If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Entries can be submitted until Tuesday, March 10th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck! Full rules can be found here.
Kensington SlimBlade Trackball hands-on
Kensington promised us that the SlimBlade Trackball would turn us into "smooth operators," and we certainly felt retro behind the ball -- we hadn't used a trackball since the original Kensington Turbo Mouse. Muscle memory issues and a loss of efficiency drove us back to our trusty MX Laser after just an hour or so, but overall the Slim Blade is a nice little peripheral with some slick drivers -- mode changes pop up in an HUD, and spinning the ball latitudinally works like a scroll wheel -- so if you're a trackball fan, the gallery below is probably worth a long look.%Gallery-45397%
Kensington SlimBlade trackball for the smooth operator
Yep, Kensington is still making desktop trackballs for all of you out there still rocking your original Macworld '92 T-shirts, and its latest model is actually quite attractive -- the SlimBlade trackball features a minimalist low-profile base with four buttons and a ruby red ball. The drivers are equally slick, displaying mode changes on screen in an HUD, letting you know when you've flipped from cursor to media control to view control profiles. Not a bad way to spend $129 if you're into trackballs, we suppose -- and we wholeheartedly support any product whose press release claims it'll turn us into "smooth operators." Video after the break.[Via Engadget Chinese]
Wiimote trackball mod probably won't improve your Golden Tee score
The folks at Acid Mods refuse to leave their Wiimotes alone. We thought the rapid fire switch was useful (if bloodthirsty) enough, but the trackball has a certain retro charm that all too often gets lost in these days of high body counts. This time they've modded in a trackball, which functions as D-pad and A button -- placing them both under your thumb at the same time -- for easier game play and convenient web browsing. Installation requires some soldering and sanding, and of course you'll have to crack the controller open (pretty typical for a mod of this type). An order page and instructions for adding the trackball to other various controllers (including PSP, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360 and PS3) should be available in the not too distant future -- in the meantime, we've provided a dynamic action video of the trackball after the break.[Thanks, Mark]
Is ASUS prepping a 5-megapixel Omnia challenger?
It looks like ASUS has more in store when it comes to touchscreen phones than that P552w we saw the other day. According to pictures leaked to the Mobile01 forums, the company is planning an Omnia-esque device that will feature a large (WQVGA or WVGA) touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera, a trackball for non-touch navigation, and the predictable 3G radios / WiFi. Not much is known about the device at this point, though speculation is running rampant on the forum as to CPU specs and on-board memory. It's likely this will be at least competitive in comparison to recent Window Mobile devices we've seen of this variety, though nothing's certain till we get word from ASUS... which we're waiting patiently for, fellas.[Via wmpoweruser]
Backball chair lets you mouse by the seat of your pants
While we can't quite picture it improving your Counterstrike game very much, the design-minded folks at Interaction Architecture seem to think that this so-called "Backball" chair of theirs can do its small part to improve human-computer interaction nonetheless. Basically a giant trackball that you sit on, the chair is apparently specifically intended for use in public spaces like airports, although we're sure there's a least a few folks out there that'd ditch their non-trackball ball chair for one of these if they were available to the general public -- which, as you might have guessed, they aren't.
