On October 20, 2009, Apple introduced the wireless Magic Mouse (US$69), the first mouse to use Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ technology. Pioneered on iPhone, iPod touch and Mac notebook trackpads, Multi-Touch allows customers to navigate using intuitive finger gestures. Instead of mechanical buttons, scroll wheels or scroll balls, the entire top of Apple’s revolutionary Magic Mouse is a seamless Multi-Touch surface.
Yesterday Microsoft announced their new Touch Mouse which will be available – not immediately, of course, – in June 2011 for the estimated retail price of $79.95. Congratulations Windows sufferers: This time you’re just 20 months late and only out an extra $10.95.
The best part is how Microsoft’s press release highlight all of the intensive research that went into the project. Only the devil knows how much time and cash they wasted when they could have simply toddled on over to their local Apple Store and picked up a Magic Mouse.
One issue that immediate springs to our minds concerns Apple’s Magic Mouse patents.
Microsoft’s press release, verbatim:
At the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft Corp. unveiled the Touch Mouse, a new multitouch device designed for Windows 7 that lets people click, flick, scroll and swipe, making it easy and fun to interact with their PCs. Born from the Mouse 2.0 project conducted by Microsoft Research and the Applied Sciences Group, the Touch Mouse combines the virtues of a mouse with the rich natural language of gesture that lets people interact with Windows 7 in a more intuitive way.
“The new Touch Mouse is a great way for customers to interact naturally with their Windows 7-based PC,” said Mark Relph, senior director of the Windows Developer and Ecosystem Team at Microsoft. “We worked closely with the Microsoft Hardware team to help develop the multitouch gestures that make Windows 7 easier, simpler and more fun to use. After just a few minutes with this mouse you’ll see why.”
As Easy as One, Two, Three
Touch Mouse lets people do everything they are used to doing with a mouse, such as point and click, but also adds gestures with one, two or three fingers to amplify the Windows 7 operating system by creating simple shortcuts to the tasks people want to do most.
• One finger lets people manage individual documents or pages by flicking to quickly scroll, pan and tilt, and one thumb lets people move back or forward through a Web browser.
• Two fingers manage windows, letting people maximize, minimize, snap and restore them.
• Three fingers let people navigate their whole desktop, showing instant viewer or clearing their desktop.
From Research to Reality
The Touch Mouse evolved from the Mouse 2.0 project, a Microsoft study that combined the standard capabilities of a mouse with multitouch sensing and resulted in five prototypes. Although all the Mouse 2.0 prototypes explored different touch-sensing strategies and form factors, the currently code-named “Cap Mouse” was ultimately selected to become the Touch Mouse and help move the PC experience forward.
“When we set out to develop a multitouch input device for Windows 7, we explored a lot of options but determined this form factor and technology is best because it lets people grip their mouse and point and click, while also allowing for rich gestures,” said Hrvoje Benko, researcher in the Microsoft Research Group. “Touch Mouse is our stake in the ground with multitouch PC input devices and is really just the beginning of things to come.”
Additional Features
The Touch Mouse is equipped with BlueTrack Technology, letting consumers track on virtually any surface,(1) and the tiny Nano transceiver is so small it never needs to come out of the USB port — just plug it in and forget it.
Pricing and Availability
Touch Mouse will be available in June 2011 for the estimated retail price of $79.95 (U.S.)(2). It will be available for presale starting this week at the online Microsoft Store, Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. Microsoft backs this mouse with a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty. More information about these and other Microsoft Hardware products can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.
About Microsoft Hardware
For more than 28 years, the Hardware Group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC. Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier, more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. More information about Microsoft Hardware is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware and http://www.microsofthardwareblog.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Some information in this press release relates to prereleased products, which may be substantially modified before it is commercially released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.
1 BlueTrack Technology does not work on clear glass or mirrored surfaces.
2 Estimated retail price. Actual retail prices may vary.
Source: Microsoft Corp.
MacDailyNews Take: At this rate, the Microsoft Touch Trackpad will be here – let’s see, Apple’s Magic Trackpad appeared in July 2010, so – Microsoft should be announcing theirs in September 2011, to ship in March 2012. Depending on how their “research” goes, of course.
You gotta be f-ing kidding me. Research? It consisted of taking apart an Apple Magic Mouse.
Multitouch? I thought multitouch was a trademark of Apple. Why do these idiots continue to use the term, and why doesn’t Apple sue them for it?
It’s obvious MSFT has no shame. You would think they would be embarrassed having to copy Apple all the time.
copy,copy,copy that.
Hey Ballmer-the-loser, you are truely a God damn mother f$&ker; and have no shame. Please do mankind a big favour, why don’t you jump off a tall building and make a final splash!!
MS has always made a better mouse than Apple. Logitech too. Apple’s mouse products have always been glitchy and ergonomically challenged.
I suspect Apple has, or has filed for, patents on technology that went into the Magic Mouse. I’d be surprised if the Touch Mouse didn’t infringe on one or more of those patents.
Steve, you’re an idiot… Go away.
Man…..this is just sad…….what happened to the Wow? Oh, I see where it went….when Microsoft shows a new product there is a pregnant pause and then people are “wow…that’s already been done by Apple”
Goddammit! There goes that flea farting on yet another thread.
How many employee MSFT has? & How many employee AAPL has? If MSFT can not even innovates on a mouse, what on earth MSFT can do it right, huh?
Steve Ballmer the LOSER, I wish you chock to death when you masturbate. Please do mankind a high favour, stop coping everything from Apple, jump off a tall building, and make a final big splash!!
Okay guys, cool down. This is not a rip-off of the Magic Mouse. There are very substantial differences:
1. It is black.
2. The sides are bowed.
3. It uses up a USB port.
4. There is no Apple logo.
So you see? It’s not the same! (Ouch! Bit my tongue. And I’m only typing tongue-in-cheeck!)
Not only is it overpriced and a virtual copy, but it also – permanently – takes up one of your USB ports by using a (presumably Microsoft proprietary) separate receiver instead of the industry-standard Bluetooth interface, thus introducing the probability of RF interference between the MS device and other industry-standard devices.
Typical Micros**t.
You would think by now half the population on the planet realizes how much MS copyvate than innovate.
“Born from the Mouse 2.0 project conducted by Microsoft Research and the Applied Sciences Group”
Is that the same research group that put the close box on the other side?
MS is so pathetic…
Don’t you think that they would be the least little bit embarrassed?
I mean, couldn’t they say, well, it’s like Magic Mouse but here is how it’s better?
When Apple came out with the iPod, they didn’t claim to have invented the mp3 player. They said, here is why ours is outstanding.
I don’t think that I could work at M$ without being severely depressed.
Appropriate colour for something from the dark side.
@iCupertino
Rethink your statement to Ballmer. If Ballmer goes, Microsoft might accidentally hire someone who is actually competent.
Pity the poor guy: Steve Ballmer cannot name his son Colin Michael, because then he’d be Colin M. Ballmer.
I start to wonder if indeed Steve Jobs and Apple really have all these ‘multitouch’ patents that he mentioned sewn up. It seems like everyone and their dog are infringing on them and we only see, in my opinion, a weak response from Apple.
Does Apple have patents on the magic mouse?
OMG, it’s not even wireless?? I didn’t notice that!
That’s just too damn funny.
That is a great cutting edge and intuitive mouse! No not the Microsoft turd that they copied and may make. I am talking about Apple’s Magic Trackpad.
So, the Windows idiots loose a USB port to a Nano transceiver. How elegant. NOT! Microsoft, having issues with Bluetooth? Clueless again.
“Touch Mouse will be available in June 2011 for the estimated retail price of $79.95 (U.S.)(2). It will be available for presale starting this week at the online Microsoft Store, Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. “
Probably hoping they don’t get too many orders – then they might actually have to build the damn thing.
@Mac Daddy
The press release says it has a nano transceiver that is so small you don’t have to remove it from the USB port. So it is wireless. Presumably this also means that the USB dongle is stubby, so you don’t have to take it out of a laptop to fit the laptop into a laptop case.
What happens with four fingers?