New mice: Bluetooth?

[McFreggle]

Spymac (http://www.spymac.com/) claims that Apple planned to release new mice (as said before in the threads about the two buttons aso), but has delayed it for an unknown reason.

They say the special thing about it, is that it would be a Bluetooth mouse... Now this could make sense... Support for Bluetooth, and then wireless mousing...

What do you guys think?

[MacManiac1224]

I think it i very possible. but If there were a two button bluetooth mouse, it would have to have a scroll-wheel for me to buy it.

[AmbitiousLemon]

well if this is true then it is a long ways off. since apple doesnt make any macs that have bluetooth its pretty funny to think they would make a bluetooth mouse.

until bluetooth becomes part of the machine instead of a weird third party hack we arent going to see a bluetooth mouse/keyboard. however apple may be hard at work at incorporating bluetooth into all of its machines for each machine's next revision. only after all the pins are lined up will apple release a new mouse.

[rainman::|:|]

Originally posted by AmbitiousLemon
only after all the pins are lined up will apple release a new mouse.

Agreed. It's not Apple's style to do something like that. I've been opposed to the idea that Apple's interested in wireless mice/keyboards, but this brings things much closer to reality. They might go as far as to announce the wireless mouse, pending bluetooth implimentation.

My question is, could it still be optic? I'd think that light uses quite a bit of battery power...

pnw

[BeerDrinker29]

Why would Apple have to wait until bluetooth is part of computer? Think about it: it's just a USB adapter. So you would plug in your adapter (I'm assuming it would ship with the mouse) and use the mouse. It would take the same amount of USB ports as current mice, but you would be wireless. Would be cooooooool. (Maybe they could sell the kit for $99) But why not go all the way and make a wireless mouse and kb? :)

[Mr. Anderson]

But the nice thing if they went blue tooth with wireless mice and kb, then there might be a hardware upgrade. Think about wireless mice and kb with a Ti! Oh the freedom, oh the jealous stares....

I'd buy it.

[kainjow]

I was just thinking about a wireless mouse the other day. "Everything is easier on a mac" would make more sense now because you wouldn't have to mess with those annoying cords.

Also, why would they use Bluetooth when they have Airport? How are these different? I though Bluetooth hasn't been doing so good recently. Somebody please help me with these 2 terms...

[Kid Red]

Originally posted by AmbitiousLemon
well if this is true then it is a long ways off. since apple doesnt make any macs that have bluetooth its pretty funny to think they would make a bluetooth mouse.

until bluetooth becomes part of the machine instead of a weird third party hack we arent going to see a bluetooth mouse/keyboard. however apple may be hard at work at incorporating bluetooth into all of its machines for each machine's next revision. only after all the pins are lined up will apple release a new mouse.

Yea, long ways off. We will have to wait for 10.2 which will have bluettooth support and Apple with ship a $49 converter. Long ways off :rolleyes:

Did you even read any of the show info before commenting?

[lordsinforge]

Also, why would they use Bluetooth when they have Airport? How are these different? I though Bluetooth hasn't been doing so good recently. Somebody please help me with these 2 terms... [/B][/QUOTE]

Airport is a medium distance wireless system, while bluetooth is a short distance system.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by kainjow
Also, why would they use Bluetooth when they have Airport?

Airport is Apple's wireless networking system, with a data rate about 11Mbps and a range of ~50m

Bluetooth is a wireless data transfer system, think of it as wireless USB, with a data rate about 1Mbps and a range of ~10m.

Bluetooth is currently in the works for Palm and you'll probably see it in almost every eDevice imaginable from printers, scanners, digital cameras, etc.

[sprescott1974]

What is interesting is that someone said that Steve synched a Sony Clie through bluetooth. Does this mean we are finally going to see: 1. OSX PDA compatibility (Iknow palm desktop for OSX is inthe works but I haven't heard anythign good about it yet) and 2. Clie OSX compatibility (since up until now syncing a MAC with a Sony PDA has required a hack)?

Who needs an Apple branded PDA when you can use a Sony Clie as your organizer? Don't say Handspring either because Clie is a far superior piece of hardware.

[Pelorus]

Originally posted by dukestreet
But the nice thing if they went blue tooth with wireless mice and kb, then there might be a hardware upgrade. Think about wireless mice and kb with a Ti! Oh the freedom, oh the jealous stares....

On the other hand:

1. Wireless RF meeces and keyboards already exist
2. Bluetooth is relatively power hungry compared to these RF devices
3. Neither RF nor Bluetooth are in any way secure.
4. Bluetooth broadcasts before checking the signal unlike 802.11b.

Bluetooth is a nice step but ... bleh

[sprescott1974]

Originally posted by Pelorus


1. Wireless RF meeces and keyboards already exist



you were being funny when you said meeces right?

[Pelorus]

Originally posted by sprescott1974


you were being funny when you said meeces right?

No, in the UK it's the plural of mouse (the electronic kind).

Honest.

[nathany]

Wireless optical mice exist - but the Logitech one uses a special power conservative sensor - and the mouse costs more. But it is certainly in the realm of possible.

How much more power does Bluetooth use than RF?

- n8

[Timothy]

Personally...I'm a trackball kind of guy, so I don't get too excited about the possibility of a wireless mouse.

Additionally, as I understand it, you need to have battery power in the mouse when it is wireless, no? This provides a level of maintenance that I just don't want to have to deal with when it comes to a mouse. A mouse should be set it and forget it. If I've got to start worrying whether or not my mouse is charged it would drive me crazy.

And, speaking of charging a mouse...how would this work? Would you need a cable? Hence nullifying the entire idea of a wireless mouse?

I see this as one of those areas where people speculate about it, and thus get excited by the idea...but in reality, it provides little to no real benefit to the user, and in actuality might complicate the user-experience.

Do we really need this? Can someone convince me of the utility (other than aesthetic) of this future device?

[Beej]

It makes sense to me that if Apple is planning to release a wireless mouse (and/or keyboard) they would wait until 10.2 was released.

They don't want people getting upset with their hardware because their beta software has bugs in it...

[rekras]

I dont know if im the only one but i dont really want a wireless mouse, sure it's convient with no wire but ive heard many stories of how the cursor takes up to 2 seconds to respond to mouse movement. Also I woulnt want to be constantly buying batteries for the thing to run.

On the topic of an apple two button mouse, i really doubt it will happen. It's become a symbol of apple to only have one button, and it would be descerning for them to take that away. It's like if they made an imac that wasnt all in one. I think, especially with apple stubborness, that apple will innovate a telopathic mouse before they give in and make make a two button one.

-besides who trusts spymac anymore?

[nathany]

Wireless mice and keyboards use batteries. You have to replace the battery about every 6 months or so, and you receive an early warning in software. It would be a pain if you ignore the warning and don't have any batteries - and it is a bit of maintenance vs. wired mice.

I agree, that new mice would likely come with 10.2 and new systems. Would have to have wireless keyboards too, or it wouldn't make that much sense. Hopefully it would be BTO for those that don't want it.

On the plus side, Bluetooth doesn't add too much to the price, so it would seem resonable to build it into all Macs whether they come with wireless mice or not. Nifty.

- n8

[Rank Xerox]

Maybe Apple is working on a wireless two button mouse, or maybe not. Personally don't I think there will be a two button mouse from Apple in a long long while. But that's not my point here.

But one thing is sure. Spymac has no inside information, and they will never have. Spymac has never been right about their so-called inside knowledge, EVER.

You guys that goes to Spymac must really be desperat for mac-rumors. Just leave them allone and let Spymac vanish in the cyberspace.

[me hate windows]

I hate wireless mice because they have to have batteries in them, and also, sometimes you can lose them becuase they want to run off and explore.:D

[Choppaface]

110 for a mouse is *way* too much

[BeerDrinker29]

Originally posted by Choppaface
110 for a mouse is *way* too much

Perhaps, but I paid about 100$ for the MS intellimouse explorer when it came out. No regrets.. and it's not even wireless.

[Timothy]

Besides...I've always just considered the mouse as Apple's nod to third-party developers.

Sort of like most car stereos. The manufacturer provides the bare-minimum, and thus provides access to an entire industry to provide something better.

I haven't used an Apple mouse as my full-time mouse for more than 8 years now. I've been extremely happy with my Kensington Turbo Mouse trackballs, and always feel awkward when I go back to having to scoot a mouse around the desk.

[dualburn001]

Originally posted by Rank Xerox
Maybe Apple is working on a wireless two button mouse, or maybe not. Personally don't I think there will be a two button mouse from Apple in a long long while. But that's not my point here.

But one thing is sure. Spymac has no inside information, and they will never have. Spymac has never been right about their so-called inside knowledge, EVER.

You guys that goes to Spymac must really be desperat for mac-rumors. Just leave them allone and let Spymac vanish in the cyberspace.

actually Spymac had some pretty accurate predictions for the Tokyo Expo. you gotta trust them every once in a while:p

[Choppaface]

i got a keyboard *and* mouse, both wireless, and the mouse is optical, for 100, and they look pretty ok...if you don't mind all those stupid internet buttons :D

I don't know how people can stand trackballs. I always got my fingertips caught in the corners and it would pull my skin. not to mention it was really hard to do gfx work

[BeerDrinker29]

Originally posted by Choppaface
i got a keyboard *and* mouse, both wireless, and the mouse is optical, for 100, and they look pretty ok...if you don't mind all those stupid internet buttons :D

I don't know how people can stand trackballs. I always got my fingertips caught in the corners and it would pull my skin. not to mention it was really hard to do gfx work

Yeah I can't stand TBs either. But they take up less space and can be used more accurately..

[sjs]

I like the pads myself. Mouse gives me carpal type pain no matter how softly I hold it. I'd like a wireless keyboard with pad or ball built in. That would eliminate two cords and one device and free up one USB.

[Beej]

Apple should make a wireless, battery-free mouse. They could make it use kinetic energy like those watches That would be cool.

[agp]

Apples bluetooth page lists some possible bluetooth enabled devices, notably a mouse and keyboard.

http://www.apple.com/uk/bluetooth/

Look under the heading Bluetooth Devices, and you will see keyboard and mouse are mentioned.

My betting is that they are moving towards wireless devices such as these.

[BeerDrinker29]

http://www.macrumors.com/viewstory.php3/sid/20020222015709/

It's funny to read the comments

[elgruga]

Originally posted by Pelorus


No, in the UK it's the plural of mouse (the electronic kind).

Honest.

If mice pluralises to meeces, does that mean that the plural of face is faeces?

Is that what they mean when they say of someone who is drunk:"he's sh*tfaced!"

As for Bluetooth - its the wow equivalent of turning off houselights using your computer, or making your hairdryer operate your doorbell.
Who needs it?

Wireless mice? I laready have one built in on my Pismo - its called a trackpad.

Bluetooth = Louis 14th phone cover.

[AmbitiousLemon]

Originally posted by elgruga
As for Bluetooth - its the wow equivalent of turning off houselights using your computer, or making your hairdryer operate your doorbell.
Who needs it?

Wireless mice? I laready have one built in on my Pismo - its called a trackpad.

Bluetooth = Louis 14th phone cover.

ok that first stuff was pretty funny. i always thought the plural of mouse was mouses. its only the rodents tht get the weird mice thing.

but as for bluetooth. just like airport you could say bluetooth is not necessary. i can get a 50 foot long ethernet cord and go anywhere in my apartment. and there are always longer cords. why do i need airport.

wires are a pain.

bluetooth = simplicity.

apple loves simplicity. if bluetooth will allow apple to sell a mac that you take out of the box set on the desktop and plug in and go then id say it is worth it. dont make the people plug in mice or keyboards. dont make people fumble around behind their machine everytime they need to plug in a pda or other device. they just go. thats a lot simpler.

and if you want to forget about desktop systems and talk about your laptop. bluetooth has purpose there too. you can have your laptop tucked away in your luggage beneath your seat or in the overhead compartment and still use your headphone to listen to music while on the plane. and if you are the type of laptop user who is always using printers at different places imagine if they were all bluetooth and you didnt have to carry a usb cable with you anywhere.

and i have to mention it because i know it will make so many people groan. the best place for bluetooth is in a pda. synching it with you laptop, cellphone, headphones, etc. it becomes wirelessly your remote control and remote terminal to meet all your demands. with a pda cellphone team you could make cellphones incredibly small by eliminating the lcd screen and dial pad, allowing the pda to take these functions by wirelessly snyching with the pda via bluetooth.

bluetooth is simplicity. cant do anything new, but you can do a lot of things with less hassle. no cables to carry around or be constantly swapping around. less ports taken up. its just a quick little convienence that is typical apple style. apple needs to incorporate it into the mac soon, and maybe this third party adapter is a sign of things to come.

[mmoore00]

I know the idea of wireless mouses (meeses or whatever) is tempting, but let's think about this one a little bit more.

1) BATTERIES! Let's think now... Wireless mice will have NO power supply. SO, they'll likely use AA or AAA batteries, both of which are things one must buy over and over again. I do recognize the idea of rechargeable batteries, but who is going to pop out the AA or AAA from your mouse and throw it into a charger every day? (oh, and for those of you out there about to mention the rechargeability of the Lithium Polymer battery in the iPod, in order for that to recharge, you'd need a power source. This could be a simple cord, or a docking station. BUT, hmmm... does this not sound like defeating the point of wireless?)

2) Wireless Mouses via Bluetooth use the 2.6ghz range of frequencies. Many Cordless phones (at least in the US) now sport this frequency as well.

I'll wait until I can buy a wireless mouse with wireless power transmition as well... :)

[Xapplimatic]

A mouse is a mouse.. Oxford doesn't distinguish between computer and animal *mice*.. lol

Now a more pointed question.. since this whole wireless mouse and battery changing thing is making me itch.. do computer mice have digital fleas???
:eek:

[alex_ant]

Everyone is saying that cordless mice will be a pain because they need their batteries changed every so often. Well, why couldn't Apple just follow the lead of the cordless phone and run the mouse off a rechargable battery, and then ship a charger unit with every mouse (or mount a charger somewhere on the keyboard/monitor/computer)? Then you'd never have to worry about batteries; just stick the mouse on the charger when you're done with it. I'd imagine with the right battery even optical mice could get dozens of hours between charges.

Alex

[Quark]

The new systems that have the wireless keyboard and mouse have a neat docking station that you just slide the mouse into when you are done and it will recharge.

The keyboard docks onto the sort of post that extends out of the bottom of the case, when docked it semi-locks into place with a simple, but solid, click.

A new button on the keyboard makes the docking post appear from the bottom of the case - there is also an alternate dock on a cable for systems too far away from the case. You only need to connect it once a week at most.

These new devices are going to be for both the PowerMacs and the iMacs.

When, mid-next year for the cases end of the year for the mouse.

Quark

[AmbitiousLemon]

Quark nice dream but it seems a little complicated for apple.

all of the wireles mice ive used use a battery like a watch battery. the mouse uses so little energy these will typically last about a year before going dead. and since the mouse glows you know when its dead. also most of the mice come with a backup battery so you really get like 2 years of battery life. i think that is simple enough. but i suppose apple could come up with a better battery than a watch battery that would last the life of the machine.

a lot simpler than rechargers and silly ports and what not. i mean with all that id rather have a simple cord.

[blakespot]

Originally posted by sprescott1974
What is interesting is that someone said that Steve synched a Sony Clie through bluetooth. Does this mean we are finally going to see: 1. OSX PDA compatibility (Iknow palm desktop for OSX is inthe works but I haven't heard anythign good about it yet) and 2. Clie OSX compatibility (since up until now syncing a MAC with a Sony PDA has required a hack)?

Who needs an Apple branded PDA when you can use a Sony Clie as your organizer? Don't say Handspring either because Clie is a far superior piece of hardware.
That would be a pleasant thought. Still, now that OS X Palm Desktop is officially out, it should only be 3-4 weeks 'til The Missing Sync for OS X comes out allowing (tho it's a hack) Clie compatibility w/ OS X.

blakespot

[jefhatfield]

remember that troll who came on as different people and rumored a two key apple keyboard?

in microsoft school, there was this "joke" poster which showed the three button windows keyboard with the keys, "control-alt-delete" on them which are so useful for windows after a typical windows crash

windows 3.1, 95a, ME, and 2000 should have all shipped with an extra three button windows keyboard

windows 98 is somewhat ok and it is the only windows version i still use

[mischief]

I hate to say it but it does have some credibility:

(hear me out on this one)

If Apple (Big "If" coming up) does do a 3D Finder reminiscent of the "3D OS X" demo than a touchscreen w/ handwriting recognition and an iPod-like control surface could replace the whole Keyboard/mouse setup. A true GUI.

Flame away.........;) :D :p

[Spock]

How about an internet device with all bluetooth except power.