They released some new computers, but have also released a multi-touch mouse they are calling the "magic mouse"

http://www.apple.com/magicmouse/



It has a completely smooth top surface

Kind of reminds me of...



[Edited on October 20, 2009 at 12:27 PM. Reason : ]

10/20/2009 12:26:31 PM

Apple manages to one up themselves in the worst mouse ever competition.

[Edited on October 20, 2009 at 12:36 PM. Reason : a]

10/20/2009 12:36:00 PM

^ I know, stunning right? I thought Microsoft would push out a half-assed version of theirs first.

10/20/2009 12:37:48 PM

Quote :

"i still can't figure out when people put words like tomorrow in forum posts that will obviously be used tomorrow and it won't be tomorrow anymore - much less the days after tomorrow"

10/20/2009 12:38:20 PM

most forums have timestamps and most discussions like this generally only last the day of posting.

10/20/2009 12:39:46 PM

yeah i'm not gonna get all butthurt about it or anything, it just seems a little noobish

[Edited on October 20, 2009 at 12:42 PM. Reason : message_topic.aspx?topic=544336 went for 9 months]

10/20/2009 12:41:27 PM

much like anyone who would use an apple mouse!

10/20/2009 12:41:57 PM

i dunno. i kinda like it. i use the multitouch gestures on my MBP all the time, but miss out on them when i plug in my logitech vx revolution. fortunately i've got enough useless buttons on my mouse that i can map them to the appropriate multitouch features

10/20/2009 12:44:27 PM

It's not like posts have a time stamp or anything on them...

but I kind-of like it too.

They still have the "problem" of not being able to detect a right-click without the left finger being lifted, I bet, but there's not a lot of solutions to this.

I can see a lot of new consumers being greatly puzzled by the white plastic slab in the box of their new computer though.

10/20/2009 12:49:01 PM

GG Apple. Way to take mouse functionality away. Basically this mouse does less than the mouse its replacing? and that mouse wasn't anything to talk home about either lol

10/20/2009 12:54:02 PM

talk home

10/20/2009 12:59:45 PM

^^ huh?

This mouse does everything the previous mouse did, and more.

10/20/2009 1:01:21 PM

It doesn't seem to add any functionality to a mouse with a decent scroll wheel. I'm kinda disappointed there's not more you can do with the gestures. Maybe there are and they haven't been reported yet.

10/20/2009 1:07:08 PM

^ yeah, it's weird that the gestures don't do more. And scroll wheels still don't match the vertical scrolling ability of the old ball or the new touch area.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/10/magic-mouse-imacs-mac-minis-lead-tuesday-apple-update-bomb.ars has a rundown of all the new gear though

The perfect magic mouse would have pressure sensors though to be able to detect left and right clicks even if you don't lift the opposing finger.

[Edited on October 20, 2009 at 1:14 PM. Reason : ]

10/20/2009 1:13:11 PM

Quote :

"This mouse does everything the previous mouse did, and more."

really? I just watched the video and the two side buttons that could trigger events like expose no longer exist and I didn't see any gestures that replaced it.

also middle click is gone.

[Edited on October 20, 2009 at 1:15 PM. Reason : .]

10/20/2009 1:15:29 PM

^But, just ignore that ... this mouse is MAGIC!

10/20/2009 1:17:55 PM

It continues to amaze me how apple can do such a piss poor job at keyboards/mice but have such great design on their other offerings.

10/20/2009 1:31:22 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/new-imac-and-magic-mouse-unboxing-and-quick-hands-on/

Quote :

"We quickly spotted our first usability problem: coming from a trackpad heavy workflow, our fingers were expecting a capacitive tap-to-click action, instead of having to physically click the mouse. It's not a huge problem, but there's no 1:1 usability model between an Apple trackpad and this mouse. Scrolling is single finger, with a two finger left or right swipe doing back / forward in a browser or the finder. Right clicking requires a lifting of the left click finger, just like the Mighty Mouse, though all-in-all it feels much less frustrating to use than the Mighty Mouse, which almost seems to rage against the click at times. Like we said before: no pinch to zoom, but given the shape and texture of the surface, we're not sure we could pull it off even if the software allowed for it."

10/20/2009 1:57:26 PM

It seems like they'd have been better off just making a standalone USB trackpad.

10/20/2009 2:35:01 PM

Exactly, a large one. I use the gestures on the trackpad even when I'm plugged into a large monitor, it's so much more convenient/intuitive...

10/20/2009 3:46:25 PM

Wacom Bamboo. Multitouch pad, $69.

10/20/2009 3:49:34 PM

I don't know guys, this looks like a good idea to me. Its like combining a mouse and touchpad. Scrolling on a website could potentially be more fluid using a touch interface vs scroll wheel. That alone would be an improvement.

10/21/2009 10:13:19 PM

seems like a device with a lot of potential to me

10/21/2009 10:20:05 PM

too bad apple has such a bad reputation when it comes to human factors, particularly mice

10/21/2009 10:44:39 PM

Quote :

"It continues to amaze me how apple can do such a piss poor job at keyboards/mice but have such great design on their other offerings."

I'll take issue with the keyboard bit. Their keyboards these days are a pleasure to use, especially if you go back and forth between a desktop and a laptop. The consistency actually feels a bit more natural.

10/21/2009 10:54:49 PM

i love the chicklet keyboard, both on the laptops and standalone.

10/21/2009 10:59:29 PM

Quote :

"too bad apple has such a bad reputation when it comes to human factors, particularly mice"

umm...what?

10/21/2009 11:25:10 PM

^^

indeed.

10/21/2009 11:32:39 PM

Quote :

"I don't know guys, this looks like a good idea to me. Its like combining a mouse and touchpad. Scrolling on a website could potentially be more fluid using a touch interface vs scroll wheel. That alone would be an improvement."

Because in order to scroll down, you'd have to lift your hand, keep two fingers on the mouse, and pull down which essentially remove you from a clicking position. If you wanted to scroll down a page and then click a link, this mouse makes it a much more involved process when compared to the scroll wheel which requires a roughly 1cm range of motion.

10/22/2009 8:22:49 AM

^ where are you getting that from?
Like the Macbook trackpads, they said this mouse detects when your hand is resting on it, and accounts for that. I suspect to scroll you can leave your hand in a resting position on the mouse, and just flick one finger downwards

10/22/2009 9:54:04 AM

I thought it scrolled with 1 finger and the only 2 finger functionality is back and forwards?

10/22/2009 11:52:33 AM

The mouse, at first, seemed a bit crappy.

having thought about it, it may be one of those things that concept wise seems a bit 'wtf' but when you actually get used to it and use it for a significant amount of time you cant imagine going back to the 'old' way.

I will probably give it a shot.

10/22/2009 12:42:30 PM

^thats what i thought about the new trackpads...and at first I didn't like it at all...but now I can't use anything but lol.

10/22/2009 12:53:20 PM

I'm definitely gonna have to play with one in a store before I really decide.

but i definitely hate the mighty mouse. So, it's a situation where i'm skeptical until proven otherwise.

10/22/2009 12:53:57 PM

yeah sounds about right. the mighty mouse is an abomination

10/22/2009 12:55:25 PM

Played with one in the store at lunch...still unsure. I think to give it a fair assessment I'd have to use it for a week or so because its completely different. The touch scroll works really well even with two fingers resting in their usual spot and scrolling with your middle finger. the 360 works very well. it all feels very natural.

The same concept exists with the right click that you can't right click with your left click finger still resting on your mouse. As a new user i can see this being really annoying but I'm already used to this behavior with the might mouse. (not that i like it but whatever)

I couldn't get a good feel for the mouse because they have the stupid security dongle attached to the lower half of the mouse surface so its sort of in the way. Also because you are standing your arm and hand is at a different angle then when sitting down at a desk. But from i brief testing it felt comfortable in my hand.

I'll probably pick one up soon and play with it for a while but they don't have them in store yet. (for purchase)

10/22/2009 3:00:02 PM

Apple TV 3.0 update out.

Added some cool stuff including internet radio and youtube hd

also the UI is completely different and I think for the better (so far...haven't fully explored it yet)

10/29/2009 8:31:17 PM

i tried the magic mouse out the other day and didnt like it. you have to really exaggerate the left/right motion. i can see a lot of carpel tunnel coming form this thing. it took too much effort imo. the little ball mouse did everything this did with less movement.

10/29/2009 10:08:57 PM

i'm waiting for a mouse to beat the trackman optical



still hasn't happened

10/30/2009 9:05:41 AM

This is terrible.

I absentmindedly move my fingers around the buttons of my mouse all the time. I'd be doing all sorts of random crap if I used this mouse.

10/30/2009 9:20:32 AM

No you wouldn't.


Just like any other new interface paradigm, it would take a learning period, but after it was done your previous faults wouldn't apply.

10/30/2009 9:34:14 AM

But there is a learning curve.

For the sake of aesthetics.

10/30/2009 9:40:23 AM

^^^ I totally agree. I used to pwn dudes playing original HL and TF using that thing.

10/30/2009 9:40:38 AM

the problem with every apple mouse is the paradigm doesn't need to fucking change. The new movements you have to learn are completely unnatural.

10/30/2009 9:40:43 AM

^ how apropos.... you sound a bit like another "computer expert" 25 years ago when the original Mac was released

Quote :

"San Francisco Examiner, John C. Dvorak, 19 Feb. 1984 The nature of the personal computer is simply not fully understood by companies like Apple (or anyone else for that matter). Apple makes the arrogant assumption of thinking that it knows what you want and need. It, unfortunately, leaves the “why” out of the equation — as in “why would I want this?” The Macintosh uses an experimental pointing device called a ‘mouse’. There is no evidence that people want to use these things. I dont want one of these new fangled devices."

http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/01/12/jan-1984-how-critics-reviewed-the-mac/

10/30/2009 9:48:42 AM

Someone actually put the words "new fangled devices" into print? I just assumed that was one of those mythical phrases that never occurred in real life.

[Edited on October 30, 2009 at 9:50 AM. Reason : plural]

10/30/2009 9:50:32 AM

^completely different. and dvorak is a fucking retard.

I also agree, the magic mouse is fucking stupid. It doesn't do anything NEW, it does LESS than most other mice on the market with more movement and strain required. Just like the mighty mouse before it, they aren't geared toward productivity usage at all.

10/30/2009 9:52:33 AM

^^ yeah, I had the same thought. I saw that quote printed somewhere else, and I thought for sure it was satire, mostly because he actually used "new fangled".

Of course, that didn't prevent Dvorak from becoming the PC world's go-to guy for the next 15 years for punditry, reviews and "wisdom"

^ so.... when MS reveals multi-touch mouse prototypes, you espouse the virtues of multi-touch

Quote :

"Have you guys ever used the new track pad on a MacBook? Or created anything in a 3d app, Photoshop or drawing program? Ever played a video game? All have real, tangible, proven benefits with multitouch. "

but, when Apple actually sells one a couple weeks later, it's "fucking stupid"? Even if all the multi-touch capabilities aren't present yet, you don't believe they will start unlocking more features with software?

[Edited on October 30, 2009 at 9:58 AM. Reason : .]

10/30/2009 9:54:02 AM

Quote :

"Apple makes the arrogant assumption of thinking that it knows what you want and need."

25 years and nothing has changed.

10/30/2009 9:55:45 AM

Quote :

" dvorak is a fucking retard"

10/30/2009 9:57:29 AM