mouse

For Father's Day, don't get him a tacky mouse

It's nearly two weeks after Mother's Day, and that can mean only one thing: The marketing floodgates are about to swing wide open for Father's Day. And the worst example is a good product that would be fine on its own but instead stoops to some cheap gimmick that lowers its image.

Take, for example, this special edition of the MoGo mouse. This anorexic peripheral, which can be stored in a PC card slot, has gotten some high marks from people who praise its innovative design. But then they had to go and slap on a sticker … Read more

A mouse that Lilliputians would appreciate

Even in the world of ever-shrinking gadgets, small doesn't always mean better. Especially where ergonomics are concerned.

Brando's wireless mini-mouse measures less than 2.7 inches long and would be absolutely tiny to the average person as indicated by this photo, unless Andre the Giant was moonlighting as the hand model. It's definitely portable, as GeekAlerts says, weighing barely an ounce and easily carried in a pocket.

In fact, it might be too portable--we'd be afraid of losing it among the loose change. The real problem, however, is one of functionality: There's no way we … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 729: Wacky wireless Wednesday

It's all cell phones all the time: The FCC might make early-termination fees less of a problem, rural carriers want less exclusivity (and so do we), and no one wants cell phones on a plane except, strangely, Molly. Also, the second-generation $100 laptop will double as an e-book reader and cost $75, assuming it ever exits the realm of elaborate fiction. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 729

Microsoft offers cash back search http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7413099.stm http://news.cnet.com/8301-10787_3-9949286-60.html

Microsoft demos Zune advertising service http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/146109/ microsoft_demos_zune_advertising_service.html… Read more

Apple, CBS sued over 'Mighty Mouse' device

A computer peripheral maker filed suit against Apple and CBS on Tuesday, claiming the companies are infringing on its trademark for the "Mighty Mouse" device.

Maryland-based Man & Machine says it was selling its chemical-resistant and waterproof mouse to hospitals a year before Apple sold its single-button mouse of the same name.

CBS owns the rights to the Mighty Mouse cartoon and licensed the use of the name to Apple. The network was named in the lawsuit because Man & Machine says it doesn't have the right to license the name. Both Man & Machine and CBS … Read more

'Ring Mouse' is fit for a contortionist

At first glance this looked like a few keys that had broken off a board or the last bite of a Hershey's dark chocolate bar. And we undoubtedly would have had more use for the latter than its actual purpose.

The "Ring Mouse" is an odd peripheral that's designed to be worn on a finger, with a tiny trackball controlled by your thumb. We really wish a video had been included with the product literature, because it sounds as if only a contortionist could operate it as described. And it's corded, as Boing Boing notes, … Read more

Cut the cord with a wireless rechargeable USB mouse, $11.95 shipped (today only)

If you're still using a corded mouse, it's time to get with the 21st century. One-deal-a-day site Yugster has a Targus wireless rodent for just $6.95, plus five bucks for shipping. It's a refurb with a 90-day warranty.

This three-button optical scroll mouse relies on RF technology (meaning no line of sight required) to communicate with its USB dongle. When the rechargeable battery gets low, you simply connect the mouse to the dongle using the included cable. You can, of course, continue using it while it's charging. There's also a USB extension cable so … Read more

Google sells tree-hugging mice

Google may not be interested in manufacturing handsets for the Android, but that doesn't mean it's not into hardware of any kind. Among the lava lamps and beach towels in its online tchotchke store, the company is selling a Recycled Mini Wireless Mouse.

This 800 dpi model has a standard Wi-Fi dongle that plugs into a USB port and, when not in use, is stowed inside, according to Shiny Shiny. Nothing new there, but the selling point is obviously the green credentials of this "earth friendly" mouse, which is built out of recycled plastic and comes … Read more

Microsoft makes multicolor mobile mouse

Despite trends toward extreme customization (think HP's Artist Edition Pavilion and Sony's Graphic Splash Edition FE series), most people aren't interested in making a fashion statement with their $2,000 laptops. A less-expensive accessory, however, is a different matter. Thus the only surprise about the new "special edition" version of Microsoft's Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 is that it didn't come sooner.

The mouse itself has changed little since we reviewed it in 2006; it's still a basic, ambidextrous travel mouse with a receiver that snaps onto the bottom when not in … Read more

A skinny mouse for your favorite monument

There's a "super-slim" USB mouse that's making its way around the gadget blogs, but Crave humbly submits that we wrote about this product in its original form more than a year ago, from a different distributor. But there's actually a reason to post this item, other than to note the pervasive recycling of product announcements that befalls all of us. The "Slimouse," still in need of a second M, now comes in scores of designs including historical vertical monuments--the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the Transamerica … Read more

A combo USB storage mouse for pack rats

If you're working on those hoarding issues but still can't quite bear to go cold turkey without a USB storage key at all times, then maybe this is a compromise on the way to recovery.

Asus has created a mouse that doubles as a flash drive so you can maintain your pack-rat tendencies with no one being the wiser. The MS71 is a wireless mouse that has a detachable dongle that acts as a USB transmitter when it's not being used for the storage half of the equation, according to Everything USB.

As a mouse, it certainly … Read more