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Apple Investigating Mulittouch Mouse

Great

Now this would make a lot of sense to me. Instead of getting the screen filty with grease. You do not have to wait for a new computer of buy a new multitouch screen, keep the old add a multitouch mouse instead.

Now we are cooking with gas.
 
I can see there becoming more finger gestures on the touch pad and possibly the scroll ball will be replaced with a touch sensitive strip. I cannot see the mouse becoming so complicated though, it sounds cool but realistically its impractical.

There is no need for so many types of input on the mouse, its best keept simple until software reaches the stage that a more complex device is needed. Multitouch is great - works amazingly in the iPhone, and may be used for a new scroll ball replacement but these other creations you are dreaming of - probably not.
 
It would be so-oo easy to perform left and right clicks and even pinching gestures if only Apple would invent the multi-touch chair. And as a bonus, it would help users to improve the firmness of their buttock muscles.
 
shiunn said:
with this multitouch, all we need is 1 button.
Click to expand...

Ha! Spot on.


Is Apple being innovative? I guess so...
Is this mouse going to be confusing? yessir.

schoolforthegifted.jpg
 
whooleytoo said:
I can't see how this would work well.. most people rest their hands on the mouse, they'd have to lift them off to perform a pinch/flick, then back resting on the mouse again. Plus, unlike an iPhone screen, the potential for accidental gestures is fairly high.
Click to expand...

This is why Apple dumps so much into R&D--to motivate great minds and to give them the tools to explore solutions for these very problems. However, it doesn't take a lot of imagination to figure out how they would address it. Accidental gestures, for example, could be avoided with the use of a proximity sensor that watches for your hand--just like the one in the iPhone that watches for your head to be next to the phone. Likewise, I'm sure it's not too much of a leap to have the software watch for small, round, fingertip-like touches and ignore the blob-like touches from your hand. Also, a slight reshaping of the mouse to have a flatter, more defined touch area on top of the mouse could more easily accommodate that too.

I find this concept very exciting. And it would get multi-touch on the desktop faster than waiting for a complete hardware overhaul. I keep thinking multi-touch won't be on my desktop for many years, but this could be done fairly quickly. And if any company can do it right, it will be Apple.

You know what's kind of exciting about this approach? If it turns out that it really can't be done easily in a mouse, it can be spun off into another standard peripheral. Say, a small touchpad about the size of an iPod that plugs into the other USB port on your keyboard and sits off to the left of your keyboard. You move the mouse to the right spot, use your left hand to do multi-touch gestures, and then resume mousing. There are a lot of possibilities for this approach.
 
MrCrowbar said:
I want my Macbook's trackpad to do the pinch for zooming. Multitouch-Pad for laptops would be neat.
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Absolutely ... I was speaking more in terms of a desktop, since I sit in front of one all day.

Could easily see MBPs turned into some sort of Qausi-NintendoDS arrangement with a regular top screen and a multi-touch screen at the bottom.
 
if this mouse doesn't have two proper button, I'm not interested. it'll make good bait for my trap though. :D
 
the vj said:
Apple is in a situation here because they are trying to go around the touchscreen technology.

I have a custom 30" apple cinema screen with touch screen. It cost me almost $5.000 and it stoped working 3 months later.

The actual problem apple is facing is that not all the application works with touchscreen because their icons are so small. For example, to choose one of the Smilies of this web site would be a pain or all the options we have in the menues to create links and so. That is why touchscreen for apple wouldn't work for everyone.

Having a mouse with the capabilities... you have all your fingers over that surface all the time doing stuff by themselves, it will drive me crazy, with a touchscreen you just go and press on top of what you want.

Is going to be a complicated case and Apple have been working around that for years since the rumors of the tablet.

Good luck
Click to expand...

Why would anyone expect OS X to work flawlessly on touch screens? Besides the iPhone, OS X is not made for any Mac with touch screen capable hardware.

I don't think you can judge Apple's capabilities regarding touch-sensitive devices based on custom hardware that failed you.

I've read the rumors, but we'll never know if Apple cares to go that route yet. The iPhone, however, proves that Apple is indeed good at touch-screen technology. Apple was rumored to have a tablet in the works. Until I get a memo from Apple via Keynote, that's all pretty much fantasy. Has anyone tried the Modbook? How does it stand up?
 
Actually, now that I think about it, multitouch (and single touch, for that matter) only seem to be intuitive and natural, and wow-like, is when they are incorporated in the sceen you use to view what you are doing.
The greatest improvements in computing are made by how we interact with the devices, not the devices themselves. In that perspective, I don't see a multitouch mouse as a big improvement, it's still the paradigm of using your fingers and hands to manipulate something on a seperate monitor. Using the monitor itself as an input device (ala milan or iPhone) is the real revolution.
Of course, a multitouch mouse might be an improvement on the current mouse, but not as revolutionary as the iPhone or MS surface (yes, for once, MS has been innovative, but don't get used to it)
 
Hm...
So how do you do a middle-click with that?
Of course, they can invent all kinds of fancy three-finger gestures, but no matter what this mouse will suck badly.
Most programs that I use, even Apple ones, support at least 2 buttons - and are easier to use if you have two buttons. Safari uses 3 buttons.
When I am in a coffee shop with my MBP, it pisses me off immensely that there is only one button on the trackpad. Yes, I can do a two-finger tap, but why not put three fricking physical buttons on there? And tell me again, how do I do a middle click with the trackpad?
Apple does a lot of things right. Why have not they got the pointing devices right yet? After all they were the first to make real use of the mouse...
 
And now I, Steve Jobs, would like to introduce the MEGA MIGHTY Mouse.



and also the $99 Mega mighty mouse leather carrying sleeve
 
Macrumors said:
[ snip ]
Click to expand...
I think this is a very good idea, especially if multi-touch is extended to the current Mighty Mouse. Imagine a Mighty Mouse completely solid, just one big piece that is entirely touch-sensitive. No gaps to get clogged with dust and dirt, and no scroll ball notorious for breaking down due to the littlest amounts of debris. I'd be first in line for a truly touch-sensitive, multi-touch mouse. It works great on the MacBook trackpad, I can imagine it being equally as great on a mouse.
 
I use an ergonomic type gel pad for a mouse pad where the gel part supports the wrist and there's a regular pad for the mouse in front of that. I use an optical 5-button mouse on it with the side buttons turned off (use scroll button all the time, though in Firefox to open new links in new tabs and in some games like Jedi Academy). But looking at it with the mouse sitting on it and thinking of this multi-touch mouse, it seems to me the BEST thing to do with the setup I have here is eliminate the mouse on the gel pad and make the mouse pad part a 6x6 multitouch surface instead. In other words, it would be a giant track pad with multitouch. Why would I even need the mouse at that point? I could just use my fingers to track the pointer and do the motions. Trying to do that on the surface/back of a mouse seems like it would be incredibly awkward.

So why not just have multi-touch track pads with wrist rests and eliminate the mouse altogether? Or set it aside for use with various games or certain applications where you'd want to use a traditional mouse and in that case, it'd function on top of the track pad as any other modern optical mouse would function on a mouse pad.

I suppose I could envision my mouse with a clear top and scanning beams and in some situations just lift up my index and middle finger and do certain motions ABOVE the surface of the mouse in addition to regular mouse actions (say to zoom in). If done with a bit of restraint, it could be beneficial to have added motions, but I can't imagine using all the iPhone gestures with it nor would you need to if you have a mouse there as well.
 
Two thoughts on this:

1. Conceptual/Theoretical:

It is a very good thing to have continued attempts at innovation in a given product, because you never know when a better product might spring from an "out of left field" notion. Additionally, considering the various ergonomic lessons that have been learned since the mouse was invented in the 1960s, who knows what musculo-skeletal benefits this device might have.


2. Experential/Pragmatic:

Leave the damn mouse alone already! You folks (that is, Apple) haven't been able to innovate your way out of a paper bag when it comes to mice. The last good mouse you folks made was the original Pro Mouse, and the last good one before that was the original ADB mouse with a black ball that basically didn't require cleaning. Your so-called "Mighty" mouse was a piece of junk, with both a very poor tracking capability and terrible service history, and your wireless version is no better.


Final evaluation:

Apple should license an OEM laser mouse from Logitech, and have Mr. St. Ive design the casing / buttons / wheel for it.
 
MikeTheC said:
Leave the damn mouse alone already! You folks (that is, Apple) haven't been able to innovate your way out of a paper bag when it comes to mice. The last good mouse you folks made was the original Pro Mouse, and the last good one before that was the original ADB mouse with a black ball that basically didn't require cleaning. Your so-called "Mighty" mouse was a piece of junk, with both a very poor tracking capability and terrible service history, and your wireless version is no better.
Click to expand...

I agree that the Mighty Mouse was terrible, but that doesn't mean that Apple shouldn't keep trying. Even if Apple doesn't end up selling their own mouse, they could lease the technology to others for about 20 years and force more advancement in the industry of computer tactile interface.

MikeTheC said:
Final evaluation:

Apple should license an OEM laser mouse from Logitech, and have Mr. St. Ive design the casing / buttons / wheel for it.
Click to expand...

This might be the best thing. Apple does do one thing better than any other technology company, and that's design.
 
mooty said:
definately gonna come with the new iMac and iLife 08 :p :p
Click to expand...

i wish that was true..


when u guys think this can happen ??

:apple:

CalBoy said:
I agree that the Mighty Mouse was terrible, but that doesn't mean that Apple shouldn't keep trying. Even if Apple doesn't end up selling their own mouse, they could lease the technology to others for about 20 years and force more advancement in the industry of computer tactile interface.



This might be the best thing. Apple does do one thing better than any other technology company, and that's design.
Click to expand...

and software and harware. design is nothing without what apple puts inside the plastics cases.

apple need a REAL mouse .. they created this thing !
they should have at least 2 different models for sell other than mighty mouse..
a laser mouse would be cool.. different designs for different tastes and NEEDS!
they could fight against WACOW, launching new mouse and tablets.. uhuhhuhu

;) :apple:
 
MagnusVonMagnum said:
So why not just have multi-touch track pads with wrist rests and eliminate the mouse altogether? Or set it aside for use with various games or certain applications where you'd want to use a traditional mouse and in that case, it'd function on top of the track pad as any other modern optical mouse would function on a mouse pad.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. The trackpads on current Macbooks (and the Pros) are the best I've ever used. Nice and big, no searching for the right button (there's only one) and 2 finger 2D scrolling (instead of lame scroll areas).

A big Trackpad has some disadvantages though.
- It can only be as precise as you are with your fingers. So with a big screen you need a big trackpad to be able to have precision close to a mouse or have to swipe it a lot to go from one corner of the screen to another.
- You will rest your palm on it. ANd your fingers. Try it out on your desk: do you want to lift all your fingers except one for pointing actions? That will give you tendonitis in no time.

Big touch screens are ergonomically bad I think. Great for handheld devices, where you only move your fingers. I fear the mouse will stick around for a while. :-(

MikeTheC said:
Final evaluation:

Apple should license an OEM laser mouse from Logitech, and have Mr. St. Ive design the casing / buttons / wheel for it.
Click to expand...

Yep. Don't forget Apple people should make the driver for it. I returned my MX revolution because the Mac driver was absolutely horrible. And the thumb rest is in my way. Would have gotten the laptop version but the driver is the same. USB Overdrive didn't recognize the mouse and generally makes every mouse a 100 dpi mouse... Oh yea, having 1 mouse, one docking station for the mouse, one gib ass power brick for the docking station and a USB receiver is too annoying in my opinion.

I want a Bluetooth mouse with lots of configurable buttons, a pull out USB cord (like in vacuum cleaners) for charging and using it when your battery is dead or you don't have bluetooth. And why nit have an SD card reader on the bottom?

I'd like a Microsoft mouse, they're solid and have good Mac drivers. But the recent ones are ugly and all wireless. Right now, I'm using a Logitech G5. I love the weight and the teflon pads and the lots of buttons.
 
Apple should integrate multitouch into an electronic mousepad.
This way, any conventional mouse could be used without having to forego the purported benefits of multitouch.
 
Am I the only one that kind of feels that multi-touch is mostly hype at this moment?

Seriously, in the iPhone it almost seems like Apple had to go out of their way just to make gestures that would actually take advantage of the technology, that ultimatley just end up being confusing and would be better resolved with a button.

Everyone goes on about how great multi-touch is, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that how little I would use it, even on a big screen. Sure, there are some cool gimicky applications like sorting through photos, but for the most part I see very little use of the capability in my day to day tasks.

Now obviously I'm not suggesting that this technology shouldn't some day make its way into our homes, but at this point I see the term "multi-touch" as little more than a gimick... And that applies to not only Apple, but Microsoft too.
 
MrCrowbar said:
A big Trackpad has some disadvantages though.
- It can only be as precise as you are with your fingers. So with a big screen you need a big trackpad to be able to have precision close to a mouse or have to swipe it a lot to go from one corner of the screen to another.
Click to expand...

My ergonomic mouse pad here is around 6 inches by 6 inches. I think that would probably suffice.

- You will rest your palm on it. ANd your fingers. Try it out on your desk: do you want to lift all your fingers except one for pointing actions? That will give you tendonitis in no time.
Click to expand...

I already described my ergo pad (by Fellowes). It has a BIG THICK gell wrist rest on it with the mouse pad sitting in front of that inside one giant plastic shell. My wrist ALWAYS rests on the gel pad for comfort. It also puts my hand above the surface of the pad (i.e. at mouse level), so it there was no mouse, you could easily touch any point on the pad with your fingers with little difficulty or discomfort. Plus as I said, I wouldn't replace the mouse so much as supplement it (i.e. set mouse aside and pick it up for the apps where you need it; the pad could then just act as a regular mouse pad. In fact, I already have a LARGE drawing tablet with 1024 levels of touch/drawing pressure levels that can also support the use of a mouse across its surface as a supplement. In other words, use whatever tool does the job best for what you're doing.

Alternatively, have a mouse with sensors above the buttons that can track certain movements ABOVE the surface of the mouse (say move your index and middle finger together or apart to magnify, as one example) but when resting on the buttons, it acts as a regular mouse (thus it would be a regular mouse with expanded functionality, not a replacement for something that already works well).

I also prefer 2 button mice with track-button as the third button and scroll wheel to something like Mighty Mouse. It's perfectly comfortable and makes sense. I think Apple has been pushing the 1 (obvious) button concept for too long. They should just admit it's not with the times or the choice of the masses and start offering 3 to 5 button mice like all the best already do (even M$'s 5-button optical mouse is first rate, IMO; it's what I use despite my distaste for M$).

Big touch screens are ergonomically bad I think. Great for handheld devices, where you only move your fingers. I fear the mouse will stick around for a while. :-(
Click to expand...

I'd want a touch screen for things like flight simulators (to activate extra controls instead of the keyboard which are hard to memorize loads of obscure functions), not as a replacement for traditional controls on a desktop system.

I think what I'm saying is that not all innovations have to be REPLACEMENTS for existing technology. Maybe it's better if something like a touchscreen on a desktop SUPPLEMENTS instead of replaces. Surely, there are many times when such a thing would come in handy (replacing obscure keyboard combos and such with easy button pushes on screen for example).
 
Is the mouse really a bad input device?

What do you all think about the mouse as an input device?

Do you think there is a better way to interact with the computer? Does the mouse really need to be improved? Can the way we interact with a computer really be improved without effecting our productivity and the use of our body's energy?

It is interesting that we haven't advanced past the mouse and keyboard yet. Maybe because it really is just the best input combo. It is just odd that the best combo for interacting with a computer would have been discovered so early on.

A multi-touch screen seems like it would be faster to use than the mouse in small bursts like for some people at home who don't use the computer a lot or for people who use the computer inbetween doing other things. But for people who work on a computer all day, it just would get too tiering possibly.

I'll agree that Apple isn't very good at making a mouse. Mainly because they want to make a mouse that looks simple but is used by something very complicated (the hand). I'm not sure that those two concepts go together.
 
apple... rube goldberging the mouse (again)

whats wrong with just buttons, the mouse doesnt have to be complicated, i love the mighty mouse, but the same thing could been done easier and cheaper


sometimes a mouse, should just be a mouse
 
FX120 said:
Am I the only one that kind of feels that multi-touch is mostly hype at this moment?

Seriously, in the iPhone it almost seems like Apple had to go out of their way just to make gestures that would actually take advantage of the technology, that ultimatley just end up being confusing and would be better resolved with a button.

Everyone goes on about how great multi-touch is, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that how little I would use it, even on a big screen. Sure, there are some cool gimicky applications like sorting through photos, but for the most part I see very little use of the capability in my day to day tasks.

Now obviously I'm not suggesting that this technology shouldn't some day make its way into our homes, but at this point I see the term "multi-touch" as little more than a gimick... And that applies to not only Apple, but Microsoft too.
Click to expand...

That is possible, although another possibility is that this is as big as the command line to GUI shift.
 
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