DailyTech - Apple to Introduce Bluetooth Mighty Mouse

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Gadgets Apple to Introduce Bluetooth Mighty Mouse
Tuan Nguyen (Blog) - July 24, 2006 2:53 PM

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31 comment(s) - last by lukasbradley.. on Jul 25 at 10:01 AM

Bluetooth Mighty Mouse

A look on the inside

More product releases from Apple

Apple has submitted a filing with the FCC for the Bluetooth version of its single-button right-clickable mouse, the Mighty Mouse. The new mouse will be exactly the same as the current Mighty Mouse except for its wireless feature. The mouse comes with a single button that does both left-click and right-click duties. One omni-directional pointing ball in the middle allows you to scroll in any direction.

The new Mighty Mouse uses two standard AA batteries and will be compatible with OS X 10.4.6 and later. Some users reported that the Mighty Mouse had some issues with right clicking, and often times the single fat button would click both sides of the mouse. It is unclear whether or not this has been addressed.

No release date is set for the new Bluetooth Mighty Mouse -- currently codenamed M6, but judging from the FCC filing, the new mouse is expected to be announced during Apple's WWDC conference during August 7th to 11th. Apple is also expected to make an announcement about its upcoming pro-level desktops -- speculated to be called the Mac Pro -- as well as server platforms based on Intel's Woodcrest Xeon processors during WWDC.

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Hmm

By exdeath on 7/24/2006 3:38:08 PM , Rating: 4

Is it just me or do all of Apples peripherals look more like plastic sex toys than PC components?

RE: Hmm

By retrospooty on 7/24/2006 4:05:06 PM , Rating: 2

LOL, its true... What they lack is force feedback ;)

They should really take a page from Logitech. Mine has 10 buttons each assignable to whatever I like.

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RE: Hmm

By psychobriggsy on 7/25/2006 5:54:33 AM , Rating: 2

*looks at >100 'button' keyboard right next to mouse, that hands are on most of the time.

Hmm.

Actually, I've used the mighty mouse. It might not look like much, but it's quite usable - 4 buttons and a trackball style scroller. Buttons 3 and 4 default to exposé and dashboard, but all buttons are assignable in the OS.

However Apple's bluetooth mice suck.

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RE: Hmm

By psychobriggsy on 7/25/2006 9:51:42 AM , Rating: 2

And at $69 it's at wonderful bargain Apple pricing.

I guess they've updated the tracking to be laser tracking instead of standard optical tracking however.

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RE: Hmm

By stmok on 7/24/2006 4:15:20 PM , Rating: 2

Bluetooth powered pleasure system!

Problem is...
Apple charges extra for lubricant. :-)

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RE: Hmm

By AmbroseAthan on 7/24/2006 4:57:00 PM , Rating: 2

I thought the same exact thing... it looks like the wireless egg I got my Ex-GF while we were dating.

Does Apple's vibrate also? :-D

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RE: Hmm

By littlebitstrouds on 7/24/2006 5:26:16 PM , Rating: 3

I bet she wouldn't be an ex, if you worried more about your performance and less about getting her an "egg" ;-)

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Apple rocks!

By AppaYipYip on 7/24/06, Rating: 0

RE: Apple rocks!

By Fenixgoon on 7/24/2006 10:59:14 PM , Rating: 3

marvel of technology? please tell us how a two-button mouse is a marvel. Seriously, I'd like to know exactly what is so revolution about such a mouse. "Look, you can left click here. Then, ZOMG! you can right click too!!!"

:rofl; ^ infinity

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RE: Apple rocks!

By kelmon on 7/25/2006 3:33:11 AM , Rating: 2

I think the marvel is the scroll ball which, as far as I am aware, was unique at the time and, for all I know, still is. Using a scroll wheel to scroll up/down and pan left/right is one thing but being able to move in full 360 degree directions is another. Not much of an innovation for browsing the web, writing documents or playing games, but is pretty fab for image editing.

I really wanted to like the Mighty Mouse, especially for the scroll ball. Unfortunately, I didn't like the size of the scroll ball (too small), the scroll ball click function (bad feel) and the squeeze buttons on the side were not a suitable replacement for "traditional" back/forwards buttons found on a lot of mice.

I think the Mighty Mouse shows promise but it does need some aspects of the design to be addressed. However, I can't say that I had any problems left/right clicking when I tested it and it really isn't as bad as a lot of people make out. I like that the mouse doesn't work like other mice since it's nice to see someone trying to be different in what is already a pretty crowded market. Unfortunately, different does not necessarily mean better and while some of the ideas show promise, a re-design is necessary to address some of the problems that I see before I'll actually buy one.

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RE: Apple rocks!

By Hare on 7/25/2006 4:18:43 AM , Rating: 2

Could you please explain how this is a two button mouse. I don't like this mouse but at least I've tried it and visited apples site. It has more than two buttons, you can squeeze it, roll it and scroll left/right/up/down.

http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/

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Bad idea....

By Goty on 7/24/2006 3:39:06 PM , Rating: 4

You would have thought that Apple would have caught on to the fact that the first Mighty Mouse sucked and that it sold very poorly. They could just come out with a true two-button mouse, but no, that would be too much of a concession to the "other" platform, I guess.

RE: Bad idea....

By phaxmohdem on 7/25/2006 3:46:48 AM , Rating: 2

Amen Reverend.

It is funny... Once you plug a REAL mouse into a Mac that actually fits your hand and clicks on YOUR terms, the Mac experience is infinately more pleasant & productive. I'd actually rather use the old angular ADB ball mice that shipped with the Mac LC's than the clear POS's they cram down their poor customers throats nowdays...

May the Apple Pro Mouse & derivitaves (and the designers thereof) all die slow torturous deaths.

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Wrong

By Tegeril on 7/24/2006 6:28:37 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Some users reported that the Mighty Mouse had some issues with right clicking, and often times the single fat button would click both sides of the mouse. It is unclear whether or not this has been addressed.

This was not an issue of right clicking and having the single button click both sides of the mouse. It is an issue of the mouse working differently than people expect, which is why it is so terrible. To properly right click, you actually have to raise your left click finger off of the surface of the mouse.

That was the issue.

RE: Wrong (Source)

By Tegeril on 7/24/2006 6:37:23 PM , Rating: 3

From: http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/hardware/di...

quote:
Even the lightest touches on the left side of the mouse registers a "button 1" event in Xev and keeping your finger millimeters off the surface during a click generates a "button 3" (right) click event. I personally believe that the logic chip checks the value of the left sensor when the mini switch is depressed (remember, this same switch is depressed regardless of which side you click on). If the left sensor registers any contact, a left-click event is dispatched and if the left sensor is not depressed, you can infer that the user is pushing on the right side.

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Ugliest mouse ever

By archcommus on 7/24/2006 3:02:35 PM , Rating: 2

Bluetooth! Oh boy.

RE: Ugliest mouse ever

By TheShniz on 7/24/2006 3:03:50 PM , Rating: 2

2nd ... apple has always had sh*tty mice tho.

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hmm

By Randum on 7/24/2006 3:41:39 PM , Rating: 2

and why is this news? WHy am I reading this?
Has apple visited Logitech.com lately...

RE: hmm

By lukasbradley on 7/25/2006 10:01:23 AM , Rating: 2

Exactly! Why is this news?!

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First glance

By Nocturnal on 7/24/2006 5:03:33 PM , Rating: 2

At first glance the first picture looks like some type of futuristic urinal.

RE: First glance

By soupmoose on 7/24/2006 6:16:14 PM , Rating: 2

Yeah, with the tile-ish stuff behind it...

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H*R

By protosv on 7/24/2006 6:10:45 PM , Rating: 3

I think Strong Bad summed it up best when he said (http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail153.html) to The Cheat "quit moving that plastic bar of soap around on the table!"

By rqle on 7/24/2006 4:07:03 PM , Rating: 2

cant afford, rather buy logitech option.

Logitech and Kensington a great...

By scottintheoc on 7/24/2006 4:13:31 PM , Rating: 2

but I have gotten used to the ability to vertically scroll. I know it's a minor thing, but I like the ability to scroll up/down/left/right. I haven't had the problems that many say they ahve had with dirty scroll balls. I'm sure the price point will make me scream or I just live with a wired mighty mouse...

Logitech and Kensington are great...

By scottintheoc on 7/24/2006 4:14:09 PM , Rating: 2

Hmm..

By Trisped on 7/24/2006 4:19:39 PM , Rating: 2

The big face for both right and left click seems rather gimicy, but I guess it would work with a little practice.

The scroll ball won't though. It is too small, there isn't anything to grip on. Double or triple the hole radius so you can actually scroll with it before you finger slides off and onto the button.