Apple has gone mighty with the computer mouse. The innovative computer and iPod maker today announced their next generation Mighty Mouse, which is available now for $49.
The Mighty Mouse, Apple said, offers up to four independently programmable buttons without impacting those who prefer just a single-button mouse. This is done via a seamless enclosure with programmable touch sensors that act as primary or secondary buttons. For example, with a single click on the upper right or left side of the mouse, users can access features such as contextual menus. The two other buttons are activated by pressing the scroll ball, which also lets users scroll in any direction including diagonal, and squeezing the sides of the mouse.
Other features of the Mighty Mouse include an optical tracking engine and left or right hand use through an ergonomic design. It can be used on either Mac or Windows based systems running Mac OS X, Windows XP or Windows 2000. It also requires a USB port.
“With Mighty Mouse, we’ve simply built a better mouse,” said David Moody, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Mac Product Marketing. “With its innovative Scroll Ball and unique integration of multiple buttons, Mighty Mouse adds functionality while retaining the elegant, easy-to-use Apple design.”