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Logitech unveils a wireless version of its G502 gaming mouse
At long last, Logitech is releasing a wireless version of its popular G502 gaming mouse. It redesigned the G502 from the ground up for the Lightspeed variant, which uses Logitech's PowerPlay charging system. You should get up to 48 hours of use on a single charge with default lighting, or up to 60 hours with the lights off.
SteelSeries’ latest wireless gaming mouse charges in 15 minutes
A wireless mouse might seem like an attractive option for gaming, but if you have a day of action lined up, waiting ages for it to charge doesn't seem like the most efficient option. SteelSeries might have solved that problem. It has released a wireless mouse that provides three hours of battery life after charging for just five minutes, or over 10 hours after a 15-minute top-up.
Logitech gives gamers a reason to like wireless mice
Ask dedicated gamers why they prefer wired mice over wireless and you'll hear two familiar refrains: Even a little wireless lag can be unacceptably high, and it's no fun to plug in or swap batteries mid-match. Logitech may have found a way to kill both birds with one stone. The company is introducing a pair of technologies, Lightspeed and Powerplay, that theoretically make wireless gaming mice practical even if you depend on pinpoint accuracy. Lightspeed uses "end-to-end signal optimization" to cut latency down to a single millisecond, while the Powerplay system (above) relies on magnetic resonance to continuously charge your mouse. In short, it should perform about as well as a wired mouse without that pesky cord getting in the way.
Razer claims its wireless mouse is good enough for eSports
For pro gamers, wired mice have always been the only option, but now it looks like Razer is trying to change that. Following in the footsteps of Roccat, the peripheral company is releasing Lancehead - a wireless mouse which it claims is the most reliable ever made. Powered by Razer's new Adaptive Frequency Technology, the mouse automatically switches between the strongest frequencies available within its 2.4 Ghz band - resulting in lag-free mouse movement. As well as boasting a resolution accuracy of 99.4 percent, the Lancehead also allows users to save mouse settings directly to the device while simultaneously uploading them to the cloud.
The best wireless mouse
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. We spent 100 hours researching nearly 200 mice, surveying more than 1,000 mouse users, testing 28 mice ourselves, and consulting with a panel of experts and laypeople to determine that the $35 Logitech Marathon M705 is the best wireless mouse for most people. Our panel of mouse users with varying hand sizes and mousing grips almost unanimously favored the size, shape, and glide of the Marathon over the competition, especially praising its button selection and placement.
Logitech outs two wireless mice and an external trackpad, all optimized for Windows 8
It'll be another two weeks before Windows 8 PCs go on sale, but if you like, you can pick out your gesture-enabled peripherals now. Logitech just announced two wireless mice and an external trackpad, all optimized to support gestures in Windows 8. Starting with the mice, the Touch Mouse T620 has the same design as the M600 announced earlier this year, except it supports Win 8 gestures out of the box. (The M600 will get a software update allowing it to work the same way.) Similar to its predecessor, the T620's entire top surface is touch-enabled, which means you can do things like swipe the right side for the Charm Bar, or swipe from the left to rotate through open programs. You can also double tap with one finger to return to the Start Screen, and double tap with two fingers to show the desktop. Moving on, the Zone Touch Mouse T400 has a touch strip that you can use to move up and down through pages, as well as scroll through the live tiles on the Start Screen. In a brilliant twist, though, the touch strip itself is comprised of two buttons, which you can use to toggle open apps or bring up the Start Screen, depending on which end you press. Finally, the Wireless Rechargeable Touchpad T650 is a Magic Trackpad-style touchpad with a spacious glass surface, which seemed impeccably responsive during our brief hands-on with it. Unlike the two mice, which run on AAs, the T650 has a rechargeable battery, which you can re-juice over USB. All of these accessories use proprietary 2.4GHz wireless technology instead of Bluetooth, which means you'll need a free USB port to accommodate the accompanying transceiver. The dongle can pair with up to six Logitech peripherals at once, but that's a bummer if you also happen to own gear made by a Microsoft or HP. As you might have guessed, these are compatible with Windows PCs only, though you could use them with Win 7 if you so chose. Look for all three this month, with the Touchpad T650 priced $80, the Touch Mouse at $70 and the T400 at $50.
Apple gets patent for universal batteries, edges closer to long-lasting wireless peripherals
These days, just about every Apple product is defined by a non-removable battery. It's with no small hint of irony, then, that Apple just received a US patent for a universal removable battery system. As proposed, the technique would let Apple cut batteries from lithium-polymer or similar materials into commonly sized packs that could then be swapped between devices, providing all the benefits of removable, rechargeable batteries with a longer lifespan than an old set of AAs. Batteries could have serviceable cores for when they finally give up the ghost, and computers could even alternate between charging the batteries (when plugged in) or using them to extend the runtime of MacBooks. We'd recommend against basing any purchasing strategy around Apple's filing, though. The Cupertino team originally applied for the patent in 2010, and in turn broke out the technology from a patent it had filed in 2007 -- there's no guarantees Apple is still interested in replacing those disposables, let alone any sealed-in batteries. That won't stop us from yearning for the day when a Magic Mouse lasts for more than a week of heavy use.
Slickdeals' best in tech for September 12th: Logitech Mice, SSDs and more
Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. If you're itching to take matters into your own hands, perhaps building a new work machine from the ground up can fill said desire. In today's list of links, you'll find a few of solid buys that will help you do just that. Just in case your current mouse just isn't cutting it or has just kicked the bucket, we've got a couple frugal options for replacements in that department as well. So, let's get right to it. Head on past the break for a fresh batch of links ready to meet your eager clicks, but be mindful of those pesky rebate forms and coupon codes.
Microsoft outs Artist Series wireless mice just in time for the fall semester with a $30 price tag
If a regular ol' mouse just won't match your back to school wardrobe, Microsoft is looking to help out. The folks in Redmond have unveiled the Artist Series of mice that will definitely spice up your physical desktop. Designs by five artists from around the globe will wrap the topside of the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 and will set you back $29.99. For a look at the whole lot, peek at the gallery below while more info about each of the participants awaits at the source. %Gallery-162450%
SteelSeries shows off new WoW wireless mouse, cache of corded rodents and a headset at E3
This time last year, SteelSeries showed us a headset and mouse meant for Diablo III, but at E3 2012, the company showed us a bunch of goodies. The highlight is the inaugural SteelSeries cordless offering, aptly named the World of Warcraft wireless mouse, which sports a themed skin and glowing white runes and logo on the palmrest (at least that's the plan, the prototype unit we saw didn't light up). Similarly, the charging base is studded in true Azeroth style and ringed in blue runes to let you know when it's powered up, plus it can be connected to your computer via microUSB if you want to play and charge simultaneously. It's PC and Mac compatible, comes with 11 programmable buttons, and once you've given it 60 minutes to fill its tank, you'll get up to 16 hours of continuous, intensive game play. It's set for a release in the latter half of this year and will cost $129. Along with the WoW model, we also got to see the gunmetal grey MLG edition Sensei and a pair of special-edition Kana mice -- for Dota 2 and CounterStrike: Global Offensive -- each uniquely skinned in the style of their namesake games. To go along with the CS:GO rodent, there's an accompanying headset (a Siberia v2 with a camo paint job) as well. Rounding things out is a GuildWars 2 branded headset and Sensei mouse. The stereo headset is the on-ear variety, and its flexible white frame can be folded down during travel. A 3.5mm input resides at the base of each earcup, and the open jack can be used to connect another set of headphones to share your audio with a friend. The headset's priced at $100, while the mouse will retail for $70 and will land on store shelves when Guildwars 2 is released.%Gallery-157403%
Genius Ring Air Mouse scrolls through the FCC, added buttons in tow
If the Ring Mouse caught your attention a while back, you're in luck. The Genius Ring Air Mouse has tiptoed through the FCC with a dapper new façade and sporting both air cursor and scroll modes. In addition to the left and right clickers we've seen before, this model adds a drag control for moving objects with ease and a back button for web surfing. As you might expect, the device is charged via USB connection and a LED indicator will keep you up to speed on the battery's status. We can't recommend you offer this as a gift to your significant other, though, at least not for any special occasion.
Genius DX-ECO wireless mouse has no battery, charges in three minutes anyway
Hip on recharging your wireless rodent every single day? How about if it only takes three minutes? A single day's juice per charge might be unacceptable for most peripherals, but we're ready to make an exception for Genius' DX-ECO wireless mouse. This adjustable 800 / 1600 DPI clicker swaps out a recharge battery for a "gold," or electric double-layer capacitor -- you may know it as a super, or ultracapacitor. A step towards a battery-free existence not enough for you? Fine, bask in the knowledge that the DX-ECO also features a carpet, marble and sofa friendly "BlueEye" sensor. Read on for the official PR. Us? We're off to fantasize about battery free electric vehicles.
Logitech Cube looks to reimagine the mouse, converts to a presenter should the need arise
If you've been mid-presentation and longed for a presenter over an optical mouse, you're about to get another option. Logitech has just announced the Cube, a wireless mouse / presenter hybrid in the same small package. As a mouse, the Cube scrolls via swipe gestures across the main panel via the company's Flow Scroll software with performance similar to scrolling on your touchscreen smartphone of choice. To engage presenter mode, all you'll have to do is pick the device up off your desk and the switch is made for you. The pocket-sized accessory connects to your PC using a diminutive Logitech Unifying receiver with 2.4GHz connectivity. Looking to take one for a spin? You'll be able to pick one up this month for $69.99. For now, hit the full PR after the break or scope out the two color options in the gallery below. Update: We grabbed a quick hands-on with the Cube. Check it out below. Note the size -- this thing is tiny.
Yo-Yo wireless mouse concept charges with the flick of a wrist, saves your back
We've seen plenty of round mice, including Apple's infamous puck, and many devices that derive power from a yo-yo-like pull string mechanism. So we're not quite sure why we've never seen those two concepts married before. In retrospect, a wireless mouse charged by the kinetic energy of using it as a yo-yo seems like a painfully obvious idea. As an added bonus, this tiny pointer with an LCD battery gauge makes you get up every so often and get your limbs moving -- thus saving you from chromic back pain. Huzzah! Of course, there's no guarantee you'll ever actually see one of these on shelves. Check out the source for a few more pics.
Logitech M525 wireless mouse lasts three years on a single pair of batteries
That is the Logitech M525 wireless mouse, a rather unassuming hunk of plastic and rubber with a scroll wheel that also tilts for navigating pages both horizontally and vertically. Sure, you get your choice of white or black, for what that's worth, but probably the most distinguishing feature is the battery life. This £35 ($40) pointer gets up to three years on a single pair of AAs. In the states you get a few more color options, including green and blue, and all versions use Logitech's proprietary wireless connection, which lets you connect up to six devices to a single tiny dongle. The M525 is available now in the US and should be available in the UK before the month is out. Check out the PR after the break.
NEC LaVie Touch hands-on (updated)
Originally scheduled for a September launch under the VersaPro type VT moniker, NEC's LaVie Touch Windows 7 tablet is finally hitting the Japanese market next week. Alas, there are still no plans on an international release for this 10.1-inch Atom Z670-powered device, but at CEATEC we were lucky enough to stumble upon it along with its DVD dock and wireless input peripherals -- all included for ¥99,960 ($1,300), which is a huge drop from the original ¥144,000 ($1,873) customizable bundle. Despite the slightly more sensible pricing, is the LaVie Touch still worth the money? Probably a stretch given the much cheaper offerings from the likes of Acer and Samsung, but regardless, kudos to NEC for keeping its tablet's weight just under 730g (1.6 pounds) while promising 10.6 hours of battery life. For comparison's sake, the Acer Iconia W500 weighs 970g (2.14 pounds) and only packs up to six hours worth of battery juice. The NEC tablet felt firm in our hands and its IPS LCD didn't disappoint, though Windows 7 on this particular unit was slightly laggy during our hands-on, so be sure to check it out in the stores first before you hand over your hard-earned yen. Update: We just found out that Yodobashi Camera has just started selling the LaVie Touch, so we went along to Akihabara to check out the final product. Alas, Windows 7 was still sluggish, whereas the AMD C-50-powered Iconia W500 in the next aisle handled pinch-to-zoom rather well, despite the less impressive LCD. %Gallery-135832%
Quantum Phantom program turns your smartphone into a wireless mouse (video)
The last time we saw Ben Wu, he was busy hammering away at Quantum Phantom -- a prototype program that allows users to manipulate their desktops with a simple webcam. Now, the engineer has expanded the concept to smartphones, as well, with a system that effectively turns any camera-equipped handset into a wireless mouse. To achieve this, Wu hooked up his Android phone to his PC via WiFi and used the IP Webcam app to create a video stream server. The results, by Wu's own admission, aren't exactly elegant (due to an unwieldy configuration process and low-res camera), though he still managed to use his creation to sketch an onscreen smiley face. Watch it for yourself in the demo video, after the break. [Thanks, Ben]
Microsoft Explorer Touch Mouse coming in September for $49.95
It's already been rather unceremoniously leaked, but now the Microsoft Explorer Touch Mouse is all sorts of official. Granted, it's kinda tough to get excited about a mouse, but Redmond's latest pointer is actually pretty neat. It sports BlueTrack Technology for getting your double click on while using your jeans or carpet as a mouse pad, and a haptic scroll strip that lets you feel the speed at which you're flicking through the web. Oh, and that strip lets you scroll both horizontally and vertically -- not bad for $49.95. Microsoft even claims it can last 18-months on a single set of batteries, just long enough to forget this wireless mouse even has a set of DC cells inside. Check out the extraordinarily brief PR after the break and keep those purchasing fingers holstered for now -- this bad boy wont be hitting shelves till September.
Rotobot mice: the best use of typewriter keys since the typewriter
These fully-functional wireless Rotobot mice from designer Aaron Ristau will make you look seriously cultivated when people drop by your apartment. In our eyes, that means they officially join the esteemed ranks of typewriter-themed Works of Art, but unfortunately it also means they cost $180 -- which might be hard to stomach when you realize that each one is just a non-ergonomically modded $25 Logitech M305. Hey-ho, everybody needs at least one peripheral to be their geeky equivalent to good cutlery. And no, that CSR Elite in the cupboard doesn't count.
Microsoft Wireless Desktop 2000 protects that sensitive area between your peripherals
Microsoft's new wireless keyboard-and-mouse duo aims to thwart keystroke spies with full AES 128-bit encryption on over-the-air data -- an improvement on older wireless models that have proven to be easy pickings for hacker-types. You can pick up the Wireless Desktop 2000 now for $40, but that won't buy you protection from more common threats like Shandong phishmongers, nor will it make up for security loopholes in your other peripherals. Speaking of which, are you still using that seemingly innocent USB coffee-cup warmer?
