Microsoft Touch Mouse due midyear

Stephen Withers
Monday, 10 January 2011 07:28

Business IT - Technology

Microsoft has announced the Touch Mouse, the company's answer to Apple's Magic Mouse. Designed for use with Windows 7, it uses capacitative multitouch technology.

Although Microsoft announced its Touch Mouse at CES, the device isn't due to ship until June.



The wireless mouse features an upper surface using capacitative multitouch technology to detect one, two and three-finger gestures. One-finger gestures include horizontal or vertical flicks to scroll in the corresponding direction with inertia, and thumb slide for page forward (right) and back (left).

A two-finger slip up or down maximises or restores a window, while a three finger slip down shows the desktop.

The Touch Mouse uses Microsoft's BlueTrack technology to work on most surfaces, and the accompanying 'Nano' USB transceiver can be stored in the base of the mouse.

"The new Touch Mouse is a great way for customers to interact naturally with their Windows 7-based PC," said Mark Relph, senior director of the Windows developer and ecosystem team at Microsoft. "We worked closely with the Microsoft Hardware team to help develop the multitouch gestures that make Windows 7 easier, simpler and more fun to use."

The expected price is $US79.95.