Magic Mouse

Usually when you’re looking for a mouse peripheral it’ a classic hand mouse variety, well Apple has opened up the mouse market with its introduction of the magic trackpad.

The magic trackpad is a trackpad, like those found on all apple laptops that connects to a desktop computer over Bluetooth.  I’ve never heard of anyone loving their trackpad so much they’d take it home with them, but apparently there are people out there and now they too can customize their computer control.

Lighter than Air

Now you can look like a ninja and work at the computer at the same time.  That’s not really the point, but it’s kind of a ninja meets Star Trek look they seem to be going for with the AirMouse.

Deanmark’s concept is a “mouse” that wraps around your wrists and fingers and allows you to scroll and click without any extra peripherals, just your hand.  Now you can be more than the computer.  No idea how well the thing works or what it’s price range is but at the very least it could make a good costume accessory.

Write and Click

There’s something especially comforting about old school styles. It’s great that the mac comes with a sticky note widget built in, but I can’t shove a widget in my pocket and sometimes I don’t remember to check it. That’s why it’s always good to have a little note stay right where it belongs, on my desk.

Thus the scratch-n-scroll mouse pad. It’s a mouse pad but its surface also works like a dry erase board. It’s simple and fantastic (if you still use a peripheral mouse anyway). That’s something I’ll remember to look at.

Computer Handwriting

Typing is easy and convenient but it’s hard to get the style of handwriting in a word document.

Now there’s a little application that wants to help. Autograph (a mere $7) lets you use your own signature over the computer. The best part is, other than the application, you don’t need any extra equipment (if you have a trackpad for a mouse anyway). Trace your finger on the mac trackpad and your writing appears in the application. The name (or other writing) can be copied and pasted into any other document you wish. Sign emails, contracts, and cards the digital way. Excellent.

Everything Transformed

The newest style taking over the gadget market is actually a resurrected retro style of some popularity. Yes, the transformer is back, and more useful than ever.

To start with there’s the transforming Ravage flash drive. How cool is that? It’s not a mini car but a real gadget that is “more than meets the eye”. The flash drive begins in a semi normal flash drive rectangle shape and becomes a wild cat. It’s expensive ($43) for a mere 2 GB but hey it’s a transformer. The drive will be released in September.

Also on the market is the transforming mouse. That’s right, if you still use a mouse rather than a track pad your can choose from two different dinosaur designs and bring even more fun to your desk. $59.99 for either one, again they ship in September.

Finally the transforming USB hub (this one transforms twice) cannot only hold up to four transforming USB flash drives but can transform itself. Whether you want it to look like a real transformer robot or sit in disguise as a laptop this hub takes you back to the actual toys. It doesn’t fold up into its own working gadget but to a fake gadget, just like the toys do, and attempts to disguise the working hub. It also looks like it can play mini cassette tapes, weird. Comes out in September.

Microsoft Arc Mouse is Pur-ty

Microsoft’s  Arc Mouse is just a beauty.  The crescent-shaped mouse is set to be released in new “fashion colors” like eggplant, frost, deep olive, and marine. When it was launched last September, it was only available in red and black.

People love color. Apple figured this out a long time ago.  You can even get air conditioning units in fashion colors if you want them.

The new mouse will retail for about $50.

Write for the Future

So you’ve already bought a lap top but that whole touch screen craze still tickles your fancy, well here’s at least one option to upgrade your current notebook.

The Duo Pen mouse can turn any Vista running PC into a tablet if you so choose.  The set basically includes a stylus type pen and sensor you attach to the top of your screen.  It’s pretty simple and pretty reasonably priced at $44.

I’m a Mac person so the Duo won’t really work for me, but I still think it’s cool.  The questions is how well it performs, and what sort of mark it’s gonna leave on your screen or monitor …