Apple Plans Mighty Mouse Makeover….

25 years ago Apple introduced the world to mouse-based computing, something that would change the way every single person in the world would use a computer.

Since then Apple have gone through several mouses that each time expanded what a mouse could do. In recent years they have looked into multi-touch technologies, and this is what is expected to come into the new mouse when it is released.

Apple have had a busy year, and it’s not going to get any easier with the imminent release of the new iMac’s. It is expected then that we will see the new mouse technology as early as next year in conjunction with the release of the new iMac. Let’s have a look at the history of the Apple “mouse” and where it could/ should go from here.

The Timeline

Apple’s mouse’s haven’t been great, in fact the last few have been a big disappointment which largely contrasts to the successes of the iMac and MacBook.

As you can see in the picture below, the original iMac’s “hockey puck” mouse was introduced in 1998 and was considered a flop. It wasn’t until 2000 when it got dropped for the Pro Mouse, which used clear plastics in solid white or black with optical LED tracking, which got rid of the troublesome track-ball. Then came 2005 where we saw the first “Mighty Mouse”, a flat white product that featured four independently configurable buttons the roller ball, the thumb and finger pinch button and two sensitive area for right and left clicks. In 2006 a Bluetooth version started shipping.

A new Mighty Mouse

To keep Apple at the forefront of consumer buying, it is expected that Apple will have to address their problematic rollerball that we see on the Mighty Mouse today as this is often what stirs up the argument between Windows and Mac users about which is best. Touch sensitive housing and multi-point touch detection is expected to be the main features of the new mouse.

Another interesting point here is that should Apple decide to launch their new mouse alongside their new iMac’s, then it wouldn’t be too far off scale to think that they will have an aluminum appearance to replace the white plastic we currently see, as this would match the already upgraded line of laptops and possibly the new desktops.

I personally like the Mighty Mouse, but I’m not one to say that it didn’t have it’s flaws, hopefully the new mouse will be good!

What do you think the Apple’s new mouse will feature? Or what do you think it should feature to eliminate it’s common flaws of the past?

Via AppleInsider [image source: AppleInsider]