Monday, August 6, 2007

New mouse works on or above desktop

Mouse-maker Logitech has just announced their MX Air™ Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse, a versatile laser mouse that works on the desk and in the air.

Similar to the way people use a remote control for television, when holding the MX Air mouse, you can lean back and relax while navigating the computer and enjoying media content.

For many, the computer is now much more than a productivity tool. It serves as a hub for digital media, demanding a new way for people to control, consume and enjoy music, photos and videos on the PC. To enable effortless in-air navigation, the new mouse combines three important technologies – Freespace™ motion-control, gesture command and wireless – so you can point, select and play media files with just a flick of the wrist.

Freespace motion control technology is designed to provide accurate, responsive navigation without the limitations encountered by previous in-air pointing devices. This patented technology is based on a combination of MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) sensors, DSP (digital signal processing) technology and RF (radio frequency) wireless technology. These combined technologies allow a user to hold the mouse in any orientation, point in any direction, and enjoy effortless, intuitive cursor control. Additionally, sophisticated algorithms distinguish between intentional and unintentional hand movements – effectively canceling the slight involuntary tremors everyone experiences when holding a device in the air.

Gesture-based commands add a new level of sophistication to the MX Air mouse. To change the volume, just press and hold the volume button and simply gesture to the right to increase volume, or to the left to decrease it. For music applications, a small circular motion to the right activates the skip track command, while a circle to the left repeats the song.

In place of a traditional scroll wheel, the MX Air mouse features a touch-sensitive scroll panel. A swipe of the finger across the surface enables the inertial scrolling mechanism, which adjusts its speed according to the speed of the finger swipe. Media functions such as Play/Pause, Volume/Mute, Back and Select can be easily accessed in the air by pressing the large, orange illuminated buttons with the thumb.

The MX Air mouse design lets you use it as a desktop mouse – with your hand over the top – or as an air mouse – with your fingers under the base and your thumb on top for button selection. It uses 2.4GHz transmission, with a range of up to 30 feet.

The Logitech MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse is expected to be available in the US and Europe this month. Suggested retail price in the US is $149.99. CLICK for more info.
This is a preview, not a review.

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