mouse
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The LG FINGER mouse
The LG FINGER mouse is a rather self-explanatory product: it's a tiny mouse shaped like a severed human finger. You push the top part of the button to left-click and the bottom portion to right-click -- pretty simple. About the only thing this mouse has going for it -- besides its disregard for handedness -- is the fact that you could stuff it in a pocket for use with your PDA or UMPC; other than that, it looks fairly uncomfortable to maneuver, and sporting a wired mouse is like totally passé. We don't know what it costs and we're not sure where it's available -- our guess is Korea only -- but we doubt folks will be lining up to get their, um, fingers on these things anyway.[Via Engadget Japanese]
Microsoft teases with wireless backlit keyboard
It's not often that you see a teaser campaign for the utilitarian keyboard, so it's safe to assume that a wireless backlit model Microsoft has in the pipeline must be something pretty special. Although not many details are revealed in the flash demo for what is only known as the "ultimate keyboard," it looks to be a Bluetooth-based system that includes a pointing device on the 'board along with a mouse for desk work, with both components seemingly getting their juice through induction from a SplashPad-like mat. Even the illumination system sounds pretty high-tech, as it not only contains a sensor to detect ambient lighting conditions, but actually shuts itself down when it realizes you've stepped away from the keyboard. Like we said, Microsoft is pretty light on the deets here, so you'll have to wait on specs, pricing, and availability until Redmond is good and ready to give them up.
Logitech intros V450 Laser Cordless Mouse
Logitech introduced yet another member of its growing mouse army today, the V450 Laser Cordless Mouse, intended primarily for laptop users -- or people with really small hands, we suppose. Available in silver or black, the V450 looks to be a fairly run-of-the-mill laptop mouse, although it does promise an impressive one year of battery life on two AA batteries (we'll need to see that to believe it -- see you in 2007!). Logitech also says the mouse should be immune to delays and dropouts in even the busiest wireless environment thanks to its 2.4GHz micro receiver (see above skepticism, as certainly no one else uses the 2.4GHz band). Look for this one early next month for $49.99 and, yes, it's both Mac and Windows compatible.
World's most poorly-designed mouse?
There's at least one manufacturer at Computex this year who's never heard about the concept of not fixing something that ain't broken, as evidenced by the atrociously-designed mouse you see pictured above, which actually repositions the left- and right-click buttons to an almost unreachable spot in order to make room for the same media controls already accessible on-screen, on your keyboard, or from your remote. We're not gonna harsh on this ridiculous product too much, though, for fear of sounding stupid on the off-chance that its initially-questionable design takes off just like the Wii-mote's did.[Via Gadgets Weblog]
The EEM-GTMS-300BK finger mouse
Being that we're not precisely masters of the Japanese language -- written or spoken (that's why we have Engadget Japan after all) -- we're not even sure who the makes this thing, but it looks like the cleverly named EEM-GTMS-300BK finger mouse is now available (at least across the Pacific). The mouse straps onto your finger, and it should work on any surface thanks to the 800 dpi optical sensor, not unlike your run of the mill optical mouse. The device itself weighs 35 grams and, as you can see, isn't wireless, although you can convientently (and we use the word loosely here, people) wrap up the cable with the finger strap. It also appears to be Windows only, but doesn't require a specialized driver and is shown plugged into a Mac, so who knows. List price looks to be 4,980 Yen ($45US), but at least one Japanese online retailer is selling it for as little as 3,140 Yen ($28US), a real deal if this is actually something you've been looking for (and happen to live overseas).[Via Akihabara News]
Omni Group introduces OmniDazzle - "mesmerizing mouse movements"
After weeks of ambiguous hints and torturous teasing, The Omni Group has unveiled their newest product, and it definitely isn't a Sweedish meatball maker. Introducing: OmniDazzle, a "set of fun and useful enhancements that help you track the location of your mouse pointer and provide options for highlighting certain areas of your screen". Basically, it's like one of those mouse-trailing toys tools with some actually useful goodness baked in. For example, OmniDazzle can place a spotlight on your mouse, dimming the background and helping you or your audience focus on what's important. It offers other interesting tools for pinpointing your mouse and even drawing on screen for those times when crayons just won't do. In fact, there's a lot of quirky (and handy) stuff OmniDazzle is capable of, so why not check it out while it's in beta?
Microsoft's Wireless Laser Desktop for Mac
Proving that it still has (some) love for the fiercely-loyal army of Mac enthusiasts (especially the dual-booters), Microsoft has released its first Wireless Laser Desktop for Cupertino-created computers. This new keyboard and mouse set, which features a Comfort Curve ergonomic 'board and high-definition laser mouse, sounds almost identical to the company's Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 (pictured above) which was released last year for Windows machines, except for the addition of Mac-specific modifier and hot keys. Available immediately, this package will set you back $100.
Dear Apple: stop leaving your early adopters out in the cold
Dan Lurie from The Apple Blog pointed me towards an early MacBook review at Macworld in which Jason Snell points out the new MacBook's ability to right-click when you have two fingers on the trackpad. It's a setting you can toggle in the MacBook's System Preferences, and it apparently also exists on the 17" MacBook Pro (and possibly on the revamped 15" models; reports pending).But not on the 15" MacBook Pro that I bought three weeks ago.Dear Apple: please stop leaving your early adopters out in the cold. I realize you're a company whose purpose is to make money. That's fine, in fact: I can't think of many other companies I'm happier to give my money to. That said, tiny new features like this which you aren't even bragging about on your product sites obviously aren't crucial selling points designed to sell X many more MacBooks and 17" MacBook Pros. They're small but important innovations that all MacBooks to date should have, especially when you consider the fact that right-clicking on a Mac has been a topic of geek controversy since someone first took a side on the Mac vs. PC debate.Apple, if you're listening (of course, you aren't), please give your early-adopting MacBook Pro buyers (what I'm hoping is) a simple software update so they can right-click with the rest of their MacBook brethren.
Capture audio and anything on screen as a movie with iShowU
iShowU is a versatile utility from shinywhitebox for recording video captures of your display (including any audio). Users have quite a bit of control over what exactly is recorded and how, including specifying a capture size and format, as well as 'mouse capture' and 'follow mouse' modes of recording. Check out iShowU's features page for the full rundown.While iShowU is in its 1.x beta mode, it's free, as the dev has "no intention of releasing a half baked product that works only on Thursdays, and then, only if you are holding the mouse juuust right." Once it goes commercial, shinywhitebox is aiming for a $40-$80 price point, so why not grab a demo before they hit the big leagues?
Sandio's Game O' 3D gaming mouse
Serious gamers are always looking for an edge, so any product that promises to transfer to a mouse the movement commands that were formerly restricted to the keyboard is bound to draw some interest. Sandio Technology is showing off one such mouse, the Game O', at E3 this year, calling it "the first and the only six degrees-of-freedom 3D mouse in the IT industry." From what we can tell, the 2000 dpi laser mouse seems to allow players to move in around in 3D space by translating mouse motions into 3D in-game movement, as opposed to just aiming a weapon's crosshair's, when the button above the scroll wheel is depressed. Sandio will be releasing the Game O' "soon," for the not-unreasonable price of $80.Update: Although all the details are still unclear, Ars Technica got a brief hands-on with the Game O', and states that 3D movement is actually accomplished by a joypad on the left side of the mouse that's controlled with your thumb (they say that the top button, or perhaps second joypad, didn't even work in the demo). Oh, and AT doesn't seem all that thrilled with the whole concept, either.[Via MobileWhack, picture courtesy of 4Gamer]
The Combimouse
We were about to write this off as a harmless gimmick, and a great gift to slow down a couple FPS rivals of ours, but after staring mesmerized at the sheer craziness of it all, we're starting to think these Combimouse peeps are on to something. Their concept is quite simple: reduce the repetitive and arduous task of moving your hand from keyboard to mouse and back again a few thousand times a day. They accomplish that by splitting the keyboard and making the right half into a full fledged mouse. Your merely switch up your grip and the mouse function automatically springs into action. You might look a bit dorky in the act, and it surely won't work for everybody, but it seems to us that a spreadsheet pusher could quickly get used to the setup and learn to rock it. The creators of the Combimouse have recently completed their final prototype and are on the lookout for a manufacturer. We'll keep you posted.
Bluetake's BT500+ Bluetooth mouse
Well, speaking of Bluetooth mice, it looks like Bluetake's got a new wireless mouse of their own kicking around, the 700mAh rechargeable Bluetooth 1.2 compliant BT500+. We all know what these things do and how they work, so we'll leave the white plastic aesthetic and ergonomic judgement to the court of public opinion. No word so far as we can tell on price or release, but it shan't cost you all that much.[Via GeekZone]
Ask Engadget: who likes their Bluetooth mouse?
You've got questions, and well, the rest of you have answers. That's right, it's time for Ask Engadget. You hit us up at ask at engadget dawt com with the questions you'd like your Engadget-reading peers to take on, and we'll let them sort it out in our comments. Last time Serge wanted a good home NAS solution, but this time Drew's got an easy one:Here is a good one for all of the Boot Camp converts. What is the best 2 button Bluetooth mouse!Well, what do you say? We're sure there's more than a few of you out there who stopped waiting for that god forsaken Bluetooth Mighty Mouse and broke down and bought something else. You like what you got? Let us know!
Apple Keyboard Update 1.0
An odd headline, I know, but it's true: last night Apple released Keyboard Update 1.0 for their Intel-based Macs including the MacBook Pro, iMac (Early 2006) and Mac mini (Early 2006). From Apple's site: "The Apple Keyboard Update 1.0 addresses reliability of keyboard and mouse functionality."You can grab the update either through Software Update or from Apple's Support Downloads.
Microsoft goes "HD" with Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000
Microsoft has upgraded its Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse with "High Definition Optical Technology" tracking technology, which the company boasts puts its mice "two generations ahead" of other pointing devices. According to Microsoft, the Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse works at 1,000 dpi, captures 6,000 frames per second, uses a low-powered chip to conserve battery power, and offers smoother tracking on any surface. Not bad for a $30 mouse that doesn't even use a laser. A desktop version, the Wireless Optical Mouse 2000 will also be available for $30, while the Laser Mouse 5000 will be priced at $50. As for Microsoft's appropriation of the term "High Definition," we'll have to cut them a break, given that Logitech and other rodent-makers also use the term for their high-DPI pointers.
Your mighty mice!
Yesterday, we linked to an image that showed up on Flickr that seemed to be the red, glowing visage of a mouse as generated by the light on the underside of an Apple Mighty Mouse. Whether or not Apple intended for their mice to put on this little display is really irrelevant, as it's just fun to show people ("Hey, want to see my mouse's mouse?"). A number of you sent in pictures of your own mice generating the little guy (apparently it works with the older Apple Pro Mice, too). Thanks to Zach, Jason, Jonathan and Gary. We're happy to receive more, so feel free to link to an image of your own mouse's...um...inner mouse.**Kids, do not say "mouse" this many times at home. I am a professional.
The Sony mouse phone
It's a Sony mouse with MPD that thinks it's a phone. It's not completely delusional, because it does function as both mouse and as a phone for VoIP appplications, say -- but we're getting it some psychotherapy anyway.
MoGo MouseBT hides in PC card slot
Re-defining the term "portability," Engadget picked up on the MoGo MouseBT, to be unvelied at the January '06 CES they'll be covering. Ergonomics aside, this looks like a slick little Bluetooth mouse that can stow away in a PC card slot - which means 12" PowerBook and iBook owners will still have to resort to a good ol' fashioned bag (or pants) pocket for storage. But how cool would a mouse like this be? Hopefully it'll have better accuracy than other BT mice I've used. Aside from Apple's, I've tried one from Logitech and another from MacMice and neither of them held a candle to the accuracy and response of Apple's Bluetooth mouse, which still didn't match a true blue chorded mouse.Who knows, maybe '06 will be "The Year of the Bluetooth Mouse."
Optical mouse, 4GB iPod mini gone for good?
It's almost time for Mac Expo Paris, and you know what that means: The rumors are flying. To add to the fray, Apple Insider reports today that the Paris Expo may mean the end of the 4GB iPod mini and the optical Apple Pro Mouse. According to the article, Apple has canceled individual backorders for the Pro Mouse, and removed it from the online Apple Store. Additionally, some resellers seem to be having difficulty in restocking the 4GB iPod mini (making way for flash-based iPod minis?).What bold predictions! No more low-end mouse and no more low-end iPod. Is it just me, or do the rumor sites seem to be much quieter than they were, say, before the Think Secret incident? I don't know if they're just more timid lately or if former sources have actually run dry. Either way, I like the silence. That way, Steve's "one more thing" is still a surprise.[Via Apple Insider]
