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mouse

Hot colors for warm mouse

We think we've finally figured out the strategy behind this whole heated peripheral craze (we're a little slow on the uptake this time of year): The colder it gets outside, the more products are released inside.

That's the only explanation we can come up with for the proliferation of such products as the heated mouse by Brando--which, if you can believe it, has come with its second version in almost as many months. The "USB Warmer Mouse II" seems almost identical to its predecessor but is a bit more stylish, coming in colors like red … Read more

Logitech makes the anti-mouse

Just what we need, one more thing to confuse us on the desktop. We don't doubt Logitech's good intentions in developing the "NuLOOQ Navigation Tool," which Tech Digest says was apparently designed to lessen RSI by reducing "the repetitive use of shortcut keys and scrolling around trying to find the right button to click." There's just one thing we don't quite understand: Isn't the idea to use fewer devices, not more?

Don't shake this snow globe too hard

We took an unofficial vow of temperance (not the alcohol kind) in blogging holiday-related items, but not for politically correct reasons. It's just that many of them are useless.

There are always exceptions, however, especially to any rules we half-heartingly make here at Crave, and this one from I4U News is one of them: a snow-globe USB mouse. Our only regret is that it's made by Thanko, a Japanese company that we find increasingly annoying because of its inane products.

Just don't make any Wii-like sudden movements with it. You wouldn't want to spill its stagnant … Read more

Mouse phone does triple duty

We've never been huge fans of touchpads; call us old-fashioned, but we just like the feel of a mouse in our hand. But we also understand the aversion to carrying one more thing with your laptop.

Geniusnet has addressed at least part of that problem with the "Genius Navigator 380," a combination VoIP phone, instant-message device and optical mouse released in India.

While being used as a mouse, the closed clamshell handset can still ring or its LED will blink when someone is trying to reach you. It supports up to six instant messengers simultaneously in one … Read more

A mouse for household harmony

Competition and commoditization are driving hardware makers further into niche markets all the time, but this product is bordering on the absurd: a mouse for households with left- and right-handed people who share the same computer. It doesn't get much more esoteric than that.

With all due respect to ambidextrous families, is this really a burning necessity? We humbly suggest that R&D money might be better spent on other things, such as designing an injury-proof Wiimote. If you must have one of Elecom's "M-EKUR" dual-control mice, Electronista says it can be had for $22 … Read more

'iPod mouse' not thinking different

If imitation is really the sincerest form of flattery, than tech manufacturers are certainly a sycophantic lot. And the most popular object of their affection always seems to be something from Apple.

Take the "iPod mouse" from Buffalo, for instance. If it didn't have a retractable USB line hanging out awkwardly like an umbilical cord, it could have been separated at birth from the real thing. Not only that, but it also resembles similar products from Anyzen and Samsung. So make it a three-fer for Buffalo.

A mouse that tries too hard

The almost-comically named "La Feel" from E-blue combines two bad trends: overthinking the mouse and cramming too many functions into one device.

It's hard enough to find a mouse that's ergonomically correct; but this one would seem to beg unnatural contortions by building in "a four-way scroll wheel, Internet forward and back buttons, Play/Pause/Volume control keys, (and) forward and backwards music track keys," as described by Ubergizmo.

Our wrists are getting sore just thinking about it.

DeathAdder would make Black Adder proud

Perhaps the best thing about this mouse is its name: DeathAdder. Now that's marketing.

The serpentine theme is continued with the blue logo of gaming gear maker Razer on the black mouse, which Electronista says delivers high performance with its "third generation infrared sensor." Other features include five programmable buttons and a Teflon base for quicker action that's obviously invaluable when you're blasting through enemy lines.

And even if you're only mildly into gaming, we think it would be the perfect accoutrement for those of us who multitask while watching our favorite episodes of … Read more

Folding mouse does yoga

For years repetitive stress injuries have sent manufacturers scurrying to build a better mouse, often at significant expense. But Japan's Elecom has decided to take a zen-like approach and look inward for the answer. Which is why it came up with the "M-D13UR" (such a clever name), a wireless optical mouse that changes shapes to suit its owner's needs.

The folding design makes it easier to store, and it definitely looks good. We have just one minor issue: It doesn't look like anything that would fit comfortably in one's hand, either folded or supine. … Read more