There's something up Apple's sleeves . . . and here it is!
Those clever folks from Cupertino are ready to pull their next great product out of a hat for the world to enjoy. Please allow Apple to present: The Magic Mouse. Now before you conjure mental images of the Sorcerer's Apprentice struggling not to trip over his wizard's robes, give it a chance. The new Magic Mouse makes use of the Bluetooth functionality of Macs from the last several years by letting your mouse work wirelessly up to 33 feet away without adapters. But even better, it makes use of the Multi-Touch functionality of iPhones, iPod touch devices, and new MacBooks to bring you a navigation experience like never before. Considering how much you use your mouse every day, this is a big deal! So, as usual, Apple created an intuitive product to meet your mouse needs like no one else can. And, as usual with Apple products, it looks sweet. Oh, yeah, and to top it off, it's just as cheap as the wireless Mighty Mouse. No disrespect Mickey, but this is the best mouse ever.
More controls, less buttons
When the iPhone and iPod touch were introduced, they dazzled the world with their intuitive Multi-Touch interface (among many other things, of course). Apple then began building the Multi-Touch functionality into laptop trackpads for even better navigation. But why should people using the trackpad get all the fun? So, Apple took Multi-Touch technology a step further by adding it to a wireless mouse. This may seem a little pointless or counter-intuitive at first, but in reality, it's the best thing since, well, their last mouse. To add Multi-Touch, Apple made a more low-profile mouse, since using fingers to navigate feels more natural with your hand flatter. They also made the top of the mouse one smooth, seamless surface. But beneath that surface are touch sensors, recording every move of your fingers. Aiding those touch sensors is advanced programming that can tell exactly what you're trying to do, whether scrolling, clicking, or just resting your hand to read a page. Oh, and the things you can do! Unlike with a normal mouse, with the Magic Mouse you can easily flip through pages, scroll anywhere on a page, or even right-click without a single button! That's more features than you'll find on any other mouse, from fewer buttons. That's Apple innovation at work.
How does it work?
Here's how it works: like any mouse, you can move the mouse around to move the mouse on-screen. You can click or double-click anywhere on the Multi-Touch surface. But that's where things get interesting. You can configure the top right corner to be a right-click area, or top-left for left-handed users. Unlike many mice, which offer only an up-and-down scroll wheel, the Magic Mouse has full 360° scroll functionality by moving one finger around the trackpad, making navigating files easy. To zoom the screen in or out, just hold control on the keyboards while you move one finger forward or back on the mouse. Then, to easily flip through pages in Safari or photos in iPhoto, just use two fingers to slide between items. You can even click with one finger and scroll with another to select text. With Multi-Touch functionality on Apple's Magic Mouse, you get an easy-to-use interface with more controls than a standard mouse, and less hassle. What more could you want? A psychic mouse?
Tech talk
We already mentioned how the surface of the mouse has sensors and an intelligent chip so it always knows exactly what you're trying to do. But there are several other technical additions that make this mouse a modern marvel. First of all, the Magic Mouse uses a powerful laser for tracking. Its laser is much more sensitive than the traditional optical tracking found on most mice. This makes sure the Magic Mouse tracks precisely on virtually any surface without a mouse pad. The other major tech innovation that makes the Magic Mouse cool is its use of Bluetooth. Unlike most mice, which require a USB receiver to be plugged into the computer to work, the Magic Mouse stands on its own, connecting to Macs via Bluetooth. This allows it to work up to 33 feet away without the need for an adapter. And if you want to take it on the road, just flip the inconspicuous power button on the bottom to take it on the road with you. That's not the only time it's efficient though. It has a sensor to detect periods of inactivity so it will sleep until you get back.
We have to say it . . .
This should go without saying, but for those new to Apple products, design is nearly as important to Apple as engineering or convenience. That's why the Magic Mouse looks so great. The new low profile combined with the smooth, unified top surface makes this the sleekest mouse yet. And with the white-and-aluminum appearance, it's the perfect complement to virtually any Mac workplace. If all mice looked like this, traps would be a thing of the past.
Cat and mouse
Usually cats are supposed to chase mice, like Tom and Jerry. But when it comes to Apple, the OS X family of felines and Apple's innovative mice just choose to live in harmony instead, probably out of mutual admiration. With Snow Leopard now replacing Leopard and Tiger, and Magic Mouse set to pick up where Mighty Mouse left off, that's not likely to change any time soon. Despite their differences, they were designed for each other, although Magic Mouse will play with most Leopards too (see system requirements on Details tab). Now while a smarter mouse might seem tedious or pointless, remember that the mouse is something you use a lot every day, so an innovative mouse like this can shave plenty of time off your work. No wonder they call it Magic.
