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Apple Mighty Mouse
For over 20 years, Apple’s flagship computer line, the Macintosh, shipped with something that started off as unheard of in the personal computer industry: A mouse. The reason it was unheard of is because Apple also brought the Graphical User Interface into full swing — before, most computers were driven via command-line terminal operating systems. Apple wanted to simplify things by making computer commands happen just by clicking and dragging using a mouse. These mice only had one button, and over the span of 21 years, the mice stayed that way.
Which is why Apple’s newest foray into the market of computer accessories is a very odd one.
Apple last week introduced a product called the Mighty Mouse. A first for the quickly growing company, the new mouse has four functional buttons and a scroll ball.
You read right, a ball. It lets you scroll up and down, but also to the left and right. The ball feels spot-on, and you can feel and hear when it’s sending a command to the computer to scroll. It’s tiny, too, meaning you can cover a large amount of scroll quickly. It’s very well designed and very usable.
What’s odd about this new mouse is, at first glance, you would guess that it still only had one button, maybe two max. Cleverly hidden is a touch-sensitive shell that detects whether your fingers are on the left or right side of the mouse. The mouse does not click when you touch it; instead, when you…
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Thinking Different?
Welcome to Hell. Here's your overcoat; the weather is rather chilly.
Well I was going to write a big long spiel on how the Intel-based developer Macs rely on TCM (Trusted Computing Module; basically Palladium) to tie OS X to Apple hardware, but that’s on hold because of some Earth-shattering news: Apple now makes a two-button mouse.
Welcome to Hell. Here’s your overcoat; the weather is rather chilly.
Apple has been undergoing a metamorphosis of sorts this year. A lot of what we once thought to be conventional wisdom about Apple is turning out to be no more. Apple wasn’t going to introduce a Mac below the eMac. Apple wasn’t going to get into the flash MP3 player market. Apple would never switch to Intel. Apple was going to go out of business before they would offer a multiple-button mouse. Lo and behold, the Mac mini made its debut alongside the iPod Shuffle, Apple decided to switch to Intel chips, and are now selling a multi-button mouse.
Intel? Multi-button mice?
Some may wonder if Apple is slowly losing what made Apple what it is. At first glance, this would seem to be the case. However, when looking beyond the surface, one will see that Apple is still Apple. Let me explain. There are certain qualities that are distinctly Apple. Among these include tight hardware-OS integration, attention to detail, and elegant products (elegant in looks and function) with unique features. Let’s quickly invstigate how Apple’s changes--as embodied by the Mighty Mouse--tie into these attributes.
Mighty Mouse isn’t your ordinary, run-of-the-mill three-button scrollwheel mouse.…
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| Nick | comments | views |
Apple Launches iTMS Japan
Apple has officially opened the iTunes Music Store in Japan. From the Apple press release:
Apple® today launched its revolutionary iTunes® Music Store in Japan, giving music fans the same innovative features, breakthrough pricing, seamless integration with iPod® and groundbreaking personal use rights that have made iTunes the number one online music service in the world. With one million songs priced at just ¥150 and ¥200 per song, plus Apple’s legendary ease of use and pioneering features such as built-in support for Podcasting, the iTunes Music Store in Japan is the best way for Mac® and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music online. The iTunes Music Store is the number one online music store with over 500 million songs purchased and downloaded worldwide, and works seamlessly with iPod, the world’s most popular digital music player with over 21 million sold.
¥150 and ¥ 200 equate to $1.35 and $1.80 US, respectively.
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Mighty Mouse
For those of you worried that hell might have been heading for an early thaw so soon after the WWDC Intel announcement, have no fear. This morning, Apple announced the Mighty Mouse; the first-ever multi-button Apple mouse. Apparently, the “Year of HD” has become the year of improbable firsts for the company. Between the Mac mini, the Intel switch, and now the Mighty Mouse Steve Jobs is making a habit of contradicting himself. Fortunately, these decisions seem to be working in Apple’s favor thus far.
Among the many surprising innovations found in the Mighty Mouse, the 360* scroll ball immediately stands out. It allows you to scroll in any direction you choose and serves as a programmable button for those running Tiger. The touch-sensitive left and right “buttons” are seamlessly integrated into the body of the mouse. “Squeezable” buttons on the right and left side of the body are programmable as well. The Mighty Mouse even features audio feedback based on certain actions to compensate for the lack of moving parts.
Though not available at the time of this writing, one can safely assume that a Bluetooth version of the Mighty Mouse is set to debut in the near future.
Submitted by James Prescott
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Finally.
Apple’s Mighty Mouse has arrived, and not a moment too soon. Now how about shipping it with all Macs?
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| UnnDunn | comments | views |
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- Apple Mighty Mouse
- Thinking Different?
- Apple Launches iTMS Japan
- Mighty Mouse
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