Apple applies for multi-touch mouse patent
[Via PC Joint]
Filed under: Peripherals
[Via PC Joint]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
widgetware @ Jul 5th 2007 6:34AM
This is Awesome! Not as good as a multi touch display but it gives you the ability of soo cool stuff, like pinching or actually making a gesture for magic in games^^
Have a nice Day
fontendet24 @ Jul 5th 2007 8:03AM
WOW!
"Use the mouse as identification device (by scanning the fingerprints and other characteristics of the palm)"
Very interesting!
jilie @ Jul 5th 2007 6:34AM
it will be called..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Imouse!
daftmoo.org @ Jul 5th 2007 6:58AM
Or perhaps "Mighty Mouse"? That'd be a shocker.
Prasand J. @ Jul 5th 2007 8:42AM
The Mightier Mouse. =P
JC @ Jul 6th 2007 7:49AM
Maybe iRat?
Lars @ Jul 5th 2007 6:41AM
Amazing the lengths some people go to avoid making a two-button mouse.
Michael @ Jul 5th 2007 7:40AM
Damn, you stole my fire.
Yago Bal @ Jul 5th 2007 7:41AM
Apple has multi-button mouses for a long time: you must update your cliches.
Paul @ Jul 5th 2007 8:44AM
@Yago I suppose, but they are a pain to use. They have those technically two button monstrosities up at school. They look like they are one button, but it is supposed to detect which side of the mouse you push down on. It works.... sometimes.
Prasand J. @ Jul 5th 2007 9:00AM
Well considering that almost any USB two button mouse will work on a Mac, I don't think the desire is to avoid using one. If they wanted to avoid using two fingers, it wouldn't be "multi"-touch.
Apple provides visually simplified methods to appeal to the other crowd. If someone doesn't want the visually simple mouse that came with their computer, they can always use another. However, while this may be another move towards their "out of sight, out of mind" approach, to simplify things ... it does indeed complicate matters (since people like visual cues, and the gestures are elaborate).
I think from a manufacturing perspective it might be more cost effective long-term. Sensors replace click registers on typical mouses. The lack of separate plastics means less assembly, and less molds (though the plastic itself may be more expensive). The lack of crevaces means less dirt and damage ... also @ less damage ... less movable parts == less wear and tear.
Though in the end they may merely be attempting trying to stretch their "revolutionize input" hats. I dunno, just wanted to provide possible alternate perspectives.
Danny @ Jul 5th 2007 6:43AM
This doesn't necessarily mean that a multitouch mouse is in the works. Remember, Apple like to patent everything.
jilie @ Jul 5th 2007 6:43AM
btw the images looks soo 1400ac
Nova @ Jul 5th 2007 6:44AM
Another extremely confortless apple mouse.
ajmiarka @ Jul 5th 2007 6:49AM
How can you say that when you have never even used it?
Miles @ Jul 5th 2007 12:10PM
Because they are the same basic shape as the Mighty Mouse.
Also, comfortless?
HAHAHAHAHA, go back to your logishitec and Microsuck mice then.
Nova @ Jul 5th 2007 6:03PM
Cause working in photoshop or any big applications are something like impossible with an apple mouse. And anyway, the shape of this mouse is more basic than the most microsoft basic mouse. This is my opinion.
rudebo @ Jul 5th 2007 6:53AM
lol the only way this could be usefull is in some erotic Apple OS touching game
L. Cyphre @ Jul 5th 2007 7:18AM
A mouse without tactile feedback? I don't like the idea at all to be honest.
luke @ Jul 5th 2007 7:39AM
uh..."multi-touch touchpad'?
itunes. coverflow. two fingers. already there.
Grahame @ Jul 5th 2007 10:25AM
would be cool using a mouse as a numeric keypad, or for gaming
simon @ Jul 5th 2007 7:57AM
Those Moixa folks who launched those USBCELLs Batteries (http://www.usbcell.com ) are so way ahead of this - with earlier better examples of 2D and 3D multi-point mice.....
http://v3.espacenet.com/textdraw?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2006176277&F=0&QPN=US2006176277
http://v3.espacenet.com/textdraw?DB=EPODOC&IDX=EP1751733&F=0&RPN=WO2005114624
Darren @ Jul 5th 2007 8:03AM
Apple users have more than one finger???
mustharshid @ Jul 5th 2007 8:35AM
PC users have only 1 finger?
mustharshid @ Jul 5th 2007 8:32AM
PC users have only 1 finger?
riggs @ Jul 5th 2007 3:40PM
yall have fingers?
Snitty @ Jul 5th 2007 8:47AM
The mouse uses frustrated total internal reflection, just like the wicked multi-touch screen demo we saw floating around the internet a year ago. Pretty cool.
Natedog @ Jul 5th 2007 8:53AM
Think of all the possibilities for things like photo editing, all the little gestures you could do. Even simple, cross-app things like scrolling, although I'm not sure it would necessarily be better than a wheel. Certain gestures could go forward or backward in your browser. Heck, why not use the top surface of the mouse to guide the cursor to a general area of the screen, then use the mouse set at a very low resolution to pinpoint the cursor. It would have a learning curve, but it would be pretty cool for high-res displays.
Unfortunately, it also makes me kinda sad that it may or may not ever be made, yet it's patented anyway. It's just once again killing competition and innovation.
Cnostgek @ Jul 5th 2007 8:53AM
Might be cool. However, if you have to lift your finger from your mouse to tap, it might not.
Prasand J. @ Jul 5th 2007 9:15AM
lol@me trying to raise my finger to click and test. Yeah, that did feel uncomfortable. I can't imagine clicking like that through numerous items for an extended period of time.
brian Pope @ Jul 5th 2007 9:48AM
I'm not sure this patent will fly--Apple may have another patent infringement suit on their hands:
The Asgard have been using this technology for thousands of years.
DracheMitch @ Jul 5th 2007 9:48AM
Apple never uses these patents the way they appear in their filings. My bet is that the tech is to be used in a trackpad for MacBooks.
Stephen Levinson @ Jul 5th 2007 11:44AM
Damn you apple! Just come out with a touch screen computer already!!
Larry @ Jul 5th 2007 3:42PM
Flash on iPhone within a few months?!
http://www.ministryoftech.com/2007/07/05/flash-on-iphone-in-a-couple-of-months/
Nate @ Jul 5th 2007 4:37PM
Apple has multi-button mouses for a while, and even on their touchpads, there is a very easy way to right-click. As for me, I just plug in a nice Logitech wireless laptop mouse and it works really well.
Also, I have a multi-touch touchpad right in front of me. I scroll with two fingers. Granted, this is not full blown multi touch (it would be cool if you could pinch-zoom with the pad) but it's pretty useful anyways.
roach @ Jul 5th 2007 5:34PM
Apple first concentration on making their mouse comfortable.
Apple Mouse = 80 design 10 function 10 junk technology
mike @ Jul 9th 2007 7:53AM
For everyone talking about the revolutionary new gesture mice that could be produced, see http://www.fingerworks.com, the people Apple bought the technology from (I think)