Microsoft invents touch-sensitive mouse
Steve Jobs sprays tea in shock?
CES 2011 Microsoft says it's Touch Mouse - a input rodent with a touch-sensitive top surface - came out of a programme to research how "mouse 2.0" might appear. We're certain it did, but we'd also suggest the company could have saved itself an R&D buck or two by buying an Apple Magic Mouse and copying it.
Bottom line: it's a mouse that drops the scroll wheel for a muti-touch surface, allowing you to flip through pages with a swipe of your finger.

Says MS: "Touch Mouse lets people do everything they are used to doing with a mouse, such as point and click, but also adds gestures with one, two or three fingers to amplify the Windows 7 operating system by creating simple shortcuts to the tasks people want to do most.
"One finger lets people manage individual documents or pages by flicking to quickly scroll, pan and tilt, and one thumb lets people move back or forward through a Web browser. Two fingers manage windows, letting people maximise, minimise, snap and restore them. Three fingers let people navigate their whole desktop, showing instant viewer or clearing their desktop."
Sound familiar?
The wireless gadget comes with an ultra-compact USB adaptor - no Bluetooth here - and, MS claimed, can track on "virtually any surface" - not glass or mirrors, though.
Touch Mouse will be available in the UK in June 2011 for £70. ®
COMMENTS
Oh please...
Stopping copying Apple mice... As with most things fruit themed, Apple mice are renowned for being a triumph of form over function. Being completely horrible to use before they fall apart.
Best thing I ever did to a Mac was put a Logitech onto it.
Gestures
Most of the gestures I use with my PC are more suited to a Kinnect-like sensor than a touch plate.
Ahh.. Prior Art
I remember those days when it actually had any bearing on a patent validity...
MS do make decent mice
but for touch gestures, having a flattish surface like the Apple mouse probably gives a much easier platform to make fingerswipes, even if it is less comfortable. The MS mouse being taller and having a more curved touch surface (with a split in) will interfere with finger movement more, I think.
Shall have to try one and see. £13 for an extra button seems a bit stiff though!
Re: Touchpad
So this mouse was your idea?
I'll get my coat.
