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Apple Magic Mouse exploits multi-touch technology

updated 12:50 pm EDT, Tue October 20, 2009

New standard controller for iMacs

Apple has confirmed the existence of the Magic Mouse, a new Mac controller. The device is said to borrow the multi-touch technology used in iPhones and MacBooks, eliminating the need for a scrollwheel, as well as any mechanical buttons. Users instead perform various taps and swiping gestures, which execute configurable controls.

The device correspondingly uses a new, flatter design. It also connects to a computer wirelessly through Bluetooth, with a maximum range of 33 feet. Because it relies on two AA batteries, the mouse switches into a low-power mode whenever it detects inactivity.

The Magic Mouse requires Mac OS X 10.5.8, and is scheduled to ship in late October at a cost of $69. It is also the default controller for Apple's new 21.5- and 27-inch iMacs, replacing the Mighty Mouse.

by MacNN Staff

(19)

TAGS :

peripherals, mice, Magic Mouse

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testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

-16

10/20, 12:59pm | report spam | close Reply |
Wonder

How well it deals with minor movements and inadvertent taps. Unless I'm the only one who has hyperactive fingers when using a mouse.

nat
Junior Member

Joined: Mar 2002

+17

10/20, 01:11pm | report spam | close Reply |
wonder

why you care. just yesterday you were going on and on about the name. since it bothers you so much i'd assumed you wouldn't be caught dead using one.

hyperactive fingers eh? use something else then.

Comment buried. Show

deanmale2001
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2007

-15

10/20, 01:19pm | report spam | (2 replies) close Reply |
Same Basic Shape

Hint: Get one that fits in the palm of your hand. For a company so good at design how can they keep missing the boat on a simple mouse?

Comment buried. Show

Feathers
Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Oct 1999

-14

10/20, 01:29pm | report spam | close Reply |
voting down

I'm guessing that the people voting down negative mouse comments are unfamiliar with Apple's lonnnngg history of sucky mice! It seems that a lot of the current Apple fanbois have less hair where it matters than these mice!

danviento
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2005

+6

10/20, 01:42pm | report spam | close Reply |
Check it.

Rumor has it that they actually have a windows driver for this thing. That might be enough to shill out the $70 and use it at work as well. hmmm.

From what reviews sites are saying it seems to be a pretty nice mouse, with just a little getting used to. The one thing I can't figure out is whether or not the thing actually depresses when you push a button. My only gripe with the Mighty Mouse has been the resistance in that area and slower clicking speeds.

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

-6

10/20, 01:46pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: check it

From what Apple's site says, it has no physical buttons (because we all know the one bad thing about all mice is the physical buttons). So my guess is that it doesn't go up/down at all.

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testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

-12

10/20, 01:50pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: wonder

why you care. just yesterday you were going on and on about the name. since it bothers you so much i'd assumed you wouldn't be caught dead using one.

Yes, because a complaint on the name is the one thing that keeps everyone from using anything. (Well, I guess for the fanboys, it does. You know, the people who'll buy a Dell monitor but are so offended at seeing the logo they put black tape over it.).

But it is a question that many people would like to have an answer to, no? Or, as I say, am I the only one whose fingers are not perfectly still when using a mouse?

hyperactive fingers eh? use something else then.

Which I do now (since I don't have one of these) and would do if it were a problem.

But I love how a question on how it works is taken so nastily by some people.

MyRightEye
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2008

+15

10/20, 01:54pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
WTF?

"Apple has confirmed the existence"

You mean, "Apple has released..."

Is MacNN a spy network? Your choice of language is baffling.

MiMiC
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2007

+2

10/20, 02:05pm | report spam | close Reply |
Expose?

Does this Magic Mouse still have Expose functionality?

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

-8

10/20, 02:48pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Expose

No expose. And it doesn't look like the gestures are 'programmable' at all, either.

nat
Junior Member

Joined: Mar 2002

+8

10/20, 03:10pm | report spam | close Reply |
oh testudo

"But I love how a question on how it works is taken so nastily by some people."

you don't get the benefit of the doubt on these things. ever.

"Well, I guess for the fanboys, it does."

case in point.

Feathers
Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Oct 1999

+2

10/20, 03:48pm | report spam | close Reply |
inappropriate headline

Can wait to see some of the click-wh*re sites like c|net come up with sensationalist headlines. My guess will be "Apple promotes inappropriate touching!".

brainiac
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2003

0

10/20, 04:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
I apologize in advance

multi-touch hardware for 69... Giggity Giggity.

byRyan
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2007

0

10/20, 04:55pm | report spam | close Reply |
Pinch to zoom... rotate?

Awe come on... where are my other multi touch gestures. I would love zoom (not for the screen, just the content)

Maybe some 3 finger expose commands... or 4 finger app toggle... or what about to quit a program... 5 Finger Death Punch!!!!

hopefully this thing has upgradeable firmware and they are just getting the bugs worked out before updates allow for more a** kicking!!

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

10/21, 11:17am | report spam | close Reply |
more...

Requires 10.5.6 to use (I guess there's something special in Leopard that gets this to work).

No middle-button. I use the scroll-wheel click on my mouse for opening browser links in a new tab behind the current one. Guess they want you back to the "Hold down a key on the keyboard" for this?

Wonder how it's able to tell you want left or right click. When I tried the not-so-Mighty Mouse, I ended up having to lift my left finger to right-click. Maybe now it's all based on location, location, location.

JeffHarris
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 1999

0

10/24, 10:48pm | report spam | close Reply |
Tried It. Liked it.

Went to an Apple Store today to try the Magic Mouse.

It's a huge improvement over the Mighty Mouse, which may not be saying much, but it's quite comfortable. Surprisingly, I didn't notice the 90 degree sharp angle on the top at all. The scrolling is nice and it works with either one or two fingers. The right click works MUCH better than the MM. It feels more distinct from the typical Left click.

I checked the Systems Preferences and the multi-touch functions are disappointingly sparse! Only 5 or 6 separate things. I wish you could swipe between tabs in Safari, but can't. there's no pinch zoom, no rotate. There's plenty of extra space for potentially more functions in the Sys.Prefs, so hopefully Apple will be adding more touch functions as they go along. it feels like the driver was rushed out before they could "fill it up".

As far as mice go... and I am NOT a mouse fan... it's pretty nice. Visually, it's quite stunning, with a sort of pearly luminescent sort of color. It would actually be a GREAT portable mouse, since it has an extremely low-profile. And once Apple adds more multi-touch features, it could be a killer! Really!

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Apple Magic Mouse exploits multi-touch technology

updated 12:50 pm EDT, Tue October 20, 2009

New standard controller for iMacs

Wonder

wonder

Same Basic Shape

voting down

Check it.

Re: check it

Re: wonder

WTF?

Expose?

Re: Expose

oh testudo

inappropriate headline

I apologize in advance

Pinch to zoom... rotate?

more...

Tried It. Liked it.

Login Here

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Apple Magic Mouse exploits multi-touch technology

updated 12:50 pm EDT, Tue October 20, 2009

New standard controller for iMacs

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Wonder

wonder

Same Basic Shape

voting down

Check it.

Re: check it

Re: wonder

WTF?

Expose?

Re: Expose

oh testudo

inappropriate headline

I apologize in advance

Pinch to zoom... rotate?

more...

Tried It. Liked it.

Login Here

Register for our weekly email newsletter:

Connect tools:

Subscribe

to our RSS

Follow us

on Twitter

10 Most Read

10 Most Discussed

MacNN Marketplace