mouse

A mouse that roars (or maybe squeaks)

The PC mouse has, perhaps appropriately, been the subject of myriad laboratory experiments that have grafted on various non-mousage functions that do things like keeping the desktop clean (in more ways than one). And the Frankensteinian ideas are getting weirder all the time.

So it was refreshing to see that this latest gadget--a USB mouse speaker--apparently doesn't do any computer navigation at all, because we think the desktop rodent has already suffered well beyond its fair share of abuse. Instead, it's just a novelty item that's shaped like a toy mouse and can work with an … Read more

EPA fines Iogear over 'germ-free' claims

Bad news for the germaphobe community: Iogear's Wireless Laser Mouse and other peripherals, touted as being "germ-free," have resulted in a $208,000 fine by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA fined the company for what it called "unsubstantiated public health claims regarding unregistered products, and their ability to control germs and pathogens"--an offense that the agency says violates the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Engadget says the company no longer makes the claims about the products' germ-nuking powers. Apparently the only sure-fire way to make your mouse squeaky-clean is old-fashioned soap and water.… Read more

Whatever happened to carpal tunnel syndrome?

Remember when carpal tunnel syndrome was looking to be the big bad wolf that would blow down the IT industry with a gust of wrist injuries?

While some people have certainly and unfortunately been afflicted with it, it has not become the epidemic that so many predicted.

An Associated Press article on Sunday looks into what happened with the repetitive stress injury washout:

With the personal-computing boom of the 1990s came thousands of repetitive stress injuries or repetitive strain injuries. RSI became the hip medical acronym of the keyboard era, with subset carpal tunnel syndrome the diagnosis of the day.… Read more

Razer's big tease is a big disappointment

Well that was a yawn. Here we got all excited over that teaser page for a new mouse from Razer, mostly because we've seen it come up with some pretty neat stuff in the past. This time, not so much.

First of all, its name--"Salmosa"--sounds like a cross between a cocktail and a pet amphibian, when Razer usually comes up with more menacing monikers appropriate for its game gear, like "Diamondback," "Mako," and our all-time favorite, "DeathAdder." Second, and most important, it's an entry-level gaming mouse. There's … Read more

Gadgettes 79: The Feel-Good Episode

EPISODE 79

Polaroid digital photoframe makes them weirdly desirable http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2008/02/polaroid_digita.html

Barf no more with ReliefBand http://www.popgadget.net/2008/02/barf_no_more_wi.php

Stink-free compost right in the kitchen http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9881204-1.html

USB Wireless Finger Mouse http://www.popgadget.net/2008/02/usb_wireless_fi.php

Tuck Your Cell Phone into The Tare Panda Holder at Night http://chipchick.com/2008/02/ tuck_your_cell_phone_into_the_tare_panda_holder_at_night.html http://www.dreamkitty.com/Merchant2/ merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=T-MK41901&Category_Code=NEW

SweetPea3 MP3 player for kids http://www.popgadget.net/2008/02/sweetpea3_mp3_p.php… Read more

Another mouse to help keep you employed

Even after seeing all the crazy functions that have been incorporated into the once-lowly mouse, we never anticipated that privacy would be one of them. Yet that was the stated goal of a combo Skype phone-mouse we saw recently, and now it's been cited for another one as well.

There are many different types of privacy, however, and the purpose of the "USB Smart Privacy Mouse" isn't to protect confidential conversations and such--instead, it's intended to keep prying eyes from snooping on your computer monitor. That makes it quite similar to the "Phantom Mouse&… Read more

New teaser ad: Is it the latest Razer mouse?

If the gadget pictured with this item is difficult to make out, that's exactly the point. The flash ad was so fast that we were barely able to grab this screenshot.

It had been awhile since we'd seen a mystery product campaign, the latest being Sony's OLED TV, B&O's "Serenata" phone, and IBM's "Reserve Edition" ThinkPad. But we knew another would come out before too long.

This latest teaser campaign reportedly comes from game gear maker Razer to tout a new mouse called the "Salmosa." The ad … Read more

Gadgettes 78: The Last Gadget on Earth Episode

If that one missile that was shot at that one satellite was to, oh I don't know, miss that satellite entirely and redirect itself at the earth and blow everything up except for one of us and a small handful of gadgets...Well, let's just say you'd NEVER see us using them. Not even if they were the last gadgets on earth. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 78 Why didn't I think of that? What the HELL?! This Week in Hello Kitty

Combo mouse is a compulsive cleaner

If you thought the irritatingly misspelled "Robo Vacum" was silly, you're in good company. What it needs, of course, is to be combined with another device--like a mouse.

And that's good news for a company like Thanko. It is, after all, the Japanese outfit that prides itself on creations ranging from USB aromatherapy devices to muscle-toning mice. So it came as little surprise that it's responsible for a "USB Vacuum Mouse" that's pretty much self-explanatory.

The combo gadget is an 800-dpi mouse that turns into a mini-vacuum cleaner with the flip of … Read more

More nuptials for the mouse and pen

For some reason, it seems that some Korean companies are convinced that there's a demand for mice that double as pens. First there was Wow-Pen, which continues to evolve its combos. And now there's a competitor with the inspired name of ISV PenandMouse. (With a moniker like that, we assume there's no need for a mission statement.)

ISV's latest offering is a wireless mouse that works with an accompanying 2.4GHz dongle and mousepad, according to Red Ferret. It has three programmable buttons and even a built-in scroll wheel somewhere.

If this trend continues, things could … Read more