Apple introduces Magic Mouse - The world's first Multi-Touch mouse

Written by Philip Roy | 21 October 2009
Posted in Apple

Apple today introduced the new wireless Magic Mouse, 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 the Magic Mouse is a seamless Multi-Touch surface. Magic Mouse comes standard with the new iMac and will be available as a Mac accessory at just recommended retail price NZ$119 inc GST.

"Apple is the Multi-Touch leader, pioneering the use of this innovative technology in iPhone, iPod touch and Mac notebook trackpads," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "Apple's Multi-Touch technology allows us to offer an easy to use mouse in a simple and elegant design."

Magic Mouse features a seamless touch-sensitive enclosure that allows it to be a single or multi-button mouse with advanced gesture support. Using intuitive gestures, users can easily scroll through long documents, pan across large images or swipe to move forward or backward through a collection of web pages or photos. Magic Mouse works for left or right handed users and multi-button or gesture commands can be easily configured from within System Preferences.

The Magic Mouse laser tracking engine provides a smooth, consistent experience across more surfaces than a traditional optical tracking system. Magic Mouse uses Bluetooth wireless capabilities to create a clean, cable-free desktop and its secure wireless connection works from up to 10 metres away. To extend battery performance, Magic Mouse includes an advanced power management system that works with Mac OS X to automatically switch to low power modes during periods of inactivity. The wireless Magic Mouse is powered by two AA batteries which are included.

Pricing & Availability
Magic Mouse comes standard with the new iMac and is available at the end of October through the Apple Store NZ  and Apple Authorised Resellers for a recommended retail price of NZ$119 inc GST. Magic Mouse requires Mac OS X Leopard version 10.5.8 or later.

Comments (10)

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Darryn Lowe said: October 21, 2009  

Oh man, that thing looks so nice. I love the Mighty Mouse but the scrollball which is a nice idea is really a failed execution. This mouse using multitouch just makes sense so I'll be keen on playing with one of these with the intent of purchase.

malcam said: October 24, 2009  

This new design looks interesting :-) The only problem with the' Mighty Mouse' is cleaning that infernal ball! Anything has to be an improvement on that. I'm intrigued by the new design of the new mouse although it does seem to be getting some decidedly mixed commentary? I would be interested in hearing from anybody who has had firsthand experience with it

Jamie said: October 25, 2009  

The deal breaker for me is the lack of middle click which I use probably hundreds of times a day to open webpage links in new tabs

Darryn Lowe said: October 25, 2009  

That's not that much of an issue. Just hold down Command and then click and it will do the same thing.

Jamie said: October 25, 2009  

Fair point, but it is still a feature that has been removed from the device and is also a usability issue as it is now a 2 handed action rather than a single handed meaning. Hopefully a software update will bring it back then I may consider a new mouse.

Darryn Lowe said: October 25, 2009  

I have to admit that the scrolling is infinitely more important than middle mouse but I also make quite a bit of use from the middle mouse. I'm not sure if a software fix would be easy to do. It would be too reliant on placement and would confuse the software expecting another action. What would work would be double clicking on a link to open it in a new tab. What would work even better is having HTML code that allowed you to force the page to open in a new tab link _blank or _parent forces a new page or the same window respectively. I wonder why this isn't being implemented in HTML5.

Philip Roy said: October 25, 2009  

Well I just touched a Magic Mouse !! I just bought a new stereo at Noel Leemings and the chap that took the system out to the car for me spotted my website address and let slip they had a model in the back room....so he went and got the mouse. We didn't connect it up but it was enough to look at it and touch it....very very nice. I actually don't use my Mighty Mouse, but a standard M$ mouse, so I'd likely do the same if I ever got a Magic one....the whole scroll actions things are just a bit too clever for me. But yet again, Apple does as only Apple can do....it looked stunning.

Jamie said: November 07, 2009  

I tried one out at Dick Smith today. Unfortunately I won't even consider purchasing one after using it as it is, without doubt, the most uncomfortable mouse I have ever used. It is far too small and far too flat.

Darryn Lowe said: November 20, 2009  

I tried one at Magnum Mac the other day and it's a perfect fit for me. I'm not a large guy so it fit really well into my hand, more so than the current Mighty Mouse that I love. I will definitely get me one once I get some money.

Jamie said: November 20, 2009  

A third party piece of software to give more functionality to the Magic Mouse - http://www.maclife.com/article...2244440726 - allows middle click, drag resize and other options. I must also admit that after trying a Magic Mouse again (in a different store) I found it much easier to use. I think the issie at DSE as they had a big sticker on the bottom of the mouse that made it hard to drag around on the desk and this lead to the belief that the whole thing was uncomfortable.

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