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"BlueTrack" Mouse More Advanced Than Laser, Optical
ThinSkin writes "Just when you thought laser and optical mice were enjoying their reign on mousepads worldwide, Microsoft has to come along and introduces their 'BlueTrack Technology,' a mouse tracking system that aims to work on virtually any terrain short of mirrored and reflective surfaces. ExtremeTech reviews the Explorer Mouse and Explorer Mini Mouse, both of which are powered by Microsoft's newest sensor, to see just how well this technology works. Testing on granite, carpet, marble, and other surfaces, the reviewers were impressed with the responsiveness of BlueTrack, but they also noted that laser mice were competitive on these surfaces as well. Even though the mice didn't get a recommendation from the reviewers (price being a major concern), they did admit that this BlueTrack is the best tracking system available today. MaximumPC has some pictures and a brief technical interview."
Because we all use carpet padded desktops.
...and be done with it.
Slashdot: Where people pretend to be twice as smart as they really are by behaving like children.
I expected at least a Seinfeld quote somewhere.
Great. So it's a fancy new technology to let us use a mouse in a carpeted aquarium at night, but they use a RF band full of cheap cordless phones and microwave ovens???
I'll stick with my MX Revolution. I've yet to find a mouse with the same number of buttons arranged in an equally usable manner. And yes, I DO use all of them.
From the article:
The Explorer Mouse uses a proprietary, Microsoft-designed complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) chip with advanced algorithms and pixel architecture for more precise tracking.
Get it through your heads, fellows: Proprietary is not an advantage. Patented is not an advantage. Don't go crowing about it! Proprietary is what brought us Windows. Are we supposed to be impressed and go "ooh, more of that"?
From the article:
We got some hands-on time with this handsome wireless mouse and were impressed by its tracking accuracy, stylish design, and mesmerizing blue glow.
Yeah, because we haven't got enough glowing gadgets. I'm not sure who considers "mesmerizing" as a positive aspect of consumer electronics. End the madness, people! Or are you too hypnotized by blue LEDs to move?
... and then they built the supercollider.
I thought any posting about Microsoft had to be hate-filled and fear-mongered at /.
Aren't you going to get in trouble for posting that Microsoft actually did something right?
I was very convinced that optical sensors was LESS picky than laser ones. Everyone I know have had issues with laser ones (ok, I may not have heard any complaints on the Logitech G5 but..)
Haven't read the article though, just woke up. (My mouse is an optical Razer DeathAdder and works good as long as there are no huge contrasts on the material or on my white melamine (?) desk or white paper. Brown table, piece of unbleached paper box, pants, all good.)
The linked review is one of those pages there the article uses at most 15% of the space but still had to be split amount 6 pages or so.
This is just another optical type of mouse. What we really need is an ACTUAL mouse that has been genetically modified with a USB cable for a tail that can transmit the information issued to its brain by the aggregate information provided by its belly hair as you push it across any surface. More advanced versions will do the same using mental telepathy to another mouse head that was severed and merged with a USB dongle.
Testing on granite, carpet, marble, and other surfaces, the reviewers were impressed with the responsiveness of BlueTrack, but they also noted that laser mice were competitive on these surfaces as well. Even though the mice didn't get a recommendation from the reviewers (price being a major concern), they did admit that this BlueTrack is the best tracking system available today.
I wonder if they realize that this is flat out saying "yeah its nice tech, but no one really noticed much of a difference and isnt worth the price". Slashvertisements are getting a little weird these days.
Ice Cream has no bones.
There's apparently a problem with the ever-increasing popularity of granite and marble computer desks, complete with optional shag carpet mousepads.
Mice are odd beasts. Seems you find one you get REALLY comfortable with, and stick with it forever. I've still got one of my favorites that the primary click button I have to find the sweet spot and mash down on it hard to get it to work, but the damn button arrangement and tracking is just so comfortable...Very few have really made THAT much of an impact to get me to switch long-term. Hate to say it, but Microsoft does manage to do some things right. Logitech has some nice hardware too.
I'd rather buy one cheap laser mouse a month for $10 than one $100 mouse for a year
Pass.
Actually three weeks sounds pretty amazing for a wireless mouse, unless that is three weeks with very little use. A three week charge would be nice. I can only go a few days between charging mine.
I love my sig.
I use a trackball, it works well on any surface at all - sand, carpet, wood, jello, etc.
appended to the end of comments you post, 120 chars
It is our honorbound duty as patriotic Americans to buy these innovative mouses. Microsoft is one of our great country's most productive companies. Through the genius and vision of Steve Ballmer, Microsoft has given us the finest quality of software available anywhere, but produced right here at home in America. Now it has outdone itself again, and shown how a vital new technology will transform the way we do business. I can see the entire world clamoring for these amazing American devices.
However, we live in difficult times. We encouraged those who, (as governor Palin would say), come from the less "pro-America" parts of the country, to get uppity and cause our magnificent economy to falter. Instead of spending their money on crack cocaine and fried chicken, these folks thought they could sully our land and soil with their fake mortgages. How disrespectful. We could have forced them to pay for their risks and foreclosed them, which would have saved the our country's greatest institution: its banking system. Then Lehman and AIG could have stood proud and bought Microsoft keyboards and mouses instead of cheap Chinese crap which probably poisons you. Instead the Dems punished the hardworking financial executives for their success by legislating away their compensation. This is a slap in the face of Ronald Reagan and all he stands for. It is surely now of greater import and imperative than ever before that we the people, the real America, stand straight, step up to the plate in our nation's time of need, and buy these BlueTracks.
As a proud Republican and supporter of the finest GOP ticket in decades, I am so hopeful for the future of our country. I was recently gobsmacked when I saw an electronic checkout system in our local WalMart! However, we must keep spending to save our economy. We need corporation tax cuts for Microsoft so they can continure their great work in showcasing the best of American values - then Steve Ballmer might be able to employ great, right-thinking folks like Joe the Plummer. We need to help Joe the Plummer buy a BlueTrack by giving him his choice of medical insurance, thereby saving money and not putting bureaucrats between him and his doctor. We need to stop wasting money on affirmative action and college scholarships so folks in real jobs like Joe the Plummer pay less tax and can benefit from tracking technology too.
We need to work to save the pre-borns so they too can know the joy of these mouses. We need to fight to bring liberty, security, democracy and Microsoft hardware to Iraq. We are one nation, under God, and we see here right here in this article the evidence of his favor of our country! USA! USA! USA!
Vote McCain/Palin 2008!
I use my trackball (Logitech TrackMan Wheel) almost exclusively for everything except playing FPS games.
It just fricking rocks. After fiddling around with sensitivity and getting used to in (one or two days) it's the best mouse I ever had.
Never again will I run out of space or need to lift my hand and reposition the mouse.
Of course people who use mice to draw stuff will be somewhat crippled by it, as I have a little more difficulty when using it in order to doodle something quick in paint, but what self-respecting artist uses a mouse as their main drawing interface?
Anyone actually read the review?
I'm curious on how much better it really is.
e.g. latency, maximum tracking speed (many optical mice lose track if you move them really quick - and that sucks for many games).
As for not being able to work on reflective surfaces, there are already cheaper "laser" mice that work on reflective surfaces.
Maybe I should read the review - but I hate reviews that are split across tons of pages and turn out to be useless (e.g. PR/Ad company crap).
While this new technology may be great for mouse users, I'm not up in arms with joy. Would there be a gain for trackballs? I'm using the Logitech Marble Mouse(*), and as far as I can tell, the optics goes on between the ball itself and a camera below the ball; as a producer, you control the surface completely. Would there be anything gained by tolerating more diverse surfaces if you're never going to use them?
(*) I can recommend everyone to go out and buy one, it's great. You can put more clutter near your 'puter since you don't need the surface to move the ball around, and it feels nice in your hands. It comes with scroll buttons instead of a wheel; if you use one as the EmulateWheel button (man ${xorg mouse driver}), you can use the ball as a vertical and horizontal scroll wheel. Horizontal scroll wheels is one of these things you don't know you want until you try it [so go out and try it].
Being a fan of blue LEDs since they were invented, I wonder what would happen if one switched out the red one in a typical mouse, and how much modification it would take for it to work.
For the record, I like my old Logitech wireless. I discovered the charger in the base was slowly destroying the NiMH cells, so I run it without the cover and charge them with a Maha smart charger on my desk. It's just as well: it was hard to make positive contact with the base.
"The only legitimate use of a computer is to play games." - Eugene Jarvis
Bring back the Trackball Explorer. Best pointing device that was ever made, by anyone. I have 2 and I wouldn't part with either of them even for the $200 asking price i see them going for on eBay.
Well blow me!
Actually three weeks sounds pretty amazing for a wireless mouse
I get much more than that with a wireless Intellimouse. ~70-90 days, maybe, before it yells. And the Logitech trackball is almost as good.
And then, just swap in another pair of rechargeable AA's.
Until my cat chewed the USB cable, I had a Microsoft wireless mouse that would go months between battery changes, and I used it at least a couple hours a day. Everyone else I know with wireless mice said that they were always replacing batteries. What gives? The one I had (actually I still have it and would like to fix it, just haven't gotten around to trying) was an optical LED-based mouse. I think I'd replace batteries in it two or three times a year.
I'm still waiting for the first GSM triangulation mouse, which will eventually be succeeded by the first GPS mouse.
Full Tilt
Oh I don't know. I haven't needed a nightlight since I got into consumer electronics.
Shai Schticks:"You don't make peace with friends, you make peace with enemies"
I can also say that I've always enjoyed Microsoft's mice, especially their Intellimouse Explorer, and will probably continue to do so.
And this sounds like a nice step forward. But $100? I could get a secondary monitor for that price. Or enough ram to max out my 32-bit system. Or a new hard drive so I can raid my system. The list goes on. Also, I'd prefer to be rid of my mouse at this point. Unfortunately, hitting those slashdot preview/submit buttons is a pain in the ass without a mouse.
Leave it to Microsoft to not consider the 7% of the population that is left handed.
"They're probably lefty commie Mac users anyway"
... before the touch screens become the default pointing device!
Also, is there much point in having a mouse that offers better precision than my hand can deliver? For those who need precision, wouldn't a stylus be a better choice?
They may as well put together a VCR that can record in High Def with Digital Surround Sound.
"The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away" -- "Step Right Up", Tom Waits
Short of mirrored and reflective surfaces? That's very interesting, considering I use a mirror as my 'mousepad' for my optical mouse and it's the best mousepad I've ever used.
"Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"
"they did admit that this BlueTrack is the best tracking system available today."
I take it the reviewers never used a Wacom Tablet. Granted it does not run on any surface... But it is wireless, never needs batteries, is more accurate than any mouse out there (Yes even gaming mice), And comes with a pet for graphic work as well.
I remember when optical mice first came out, they were actually worse in a sense than the old ball/roller based mice. For gaming if you would move the mouse quickly from side to side, your pointer would lose track sometimes and typically would go lower and lower instead of panning across the middle.
Long fixed with optical mice, but I've had for a few years a fairly nice logitech that needs replacing.
Is it still pretty much necessary for gaming to get a high end mouse? I believe when they made dual optical it solved the tracking issues, do not all mice by now have dual tracking?
I'm not so concerned about some insane dpi, I just don't want the pointer drifting if it's used quickly. When I look at reviews, it's usually for highend mice; it's hard to find out info on current run of the mill mice.
Well I am by no means a Microsoft fan, and vastly prefer a thumb trackball over a mouse. But for once, MS has actually come up with something new and innovative that truly is new and innovate. I at least have not seen any tracking system like this before. It's not a huge improvement over current laser mice, that is true, but it is a definite improvement. Better DPI will come with time I am sure, as will lefty/ambi mice.
So give credit where it is due.
There is no -1 Disagree mod. Slashdot.org/faq defines mod options. USE IT.
This is total BS. You can replace the red LED in a regular optical mouse with a blue one and it works just fine. So, what exactly is revolutionary about this? Nothing. Custom CMOS designed by Microsoft just for this mouse? BS. Super duper optics? Please.
Typical Microsoft marketing crap:
"Hey guys, we haven't done a new mouse lately."
"Well, I'm afraid there's not much more that we can do. Apple already scooped us on infrared lasers. What else is there?"
...
"Hey, I know! Make it blue!"
"But, sir, that's not exactly 'new'."
"You ever seen a mouse with a blue LED?"
"Well, no . . ."
"Great! Then we can patent it!"
"But it's just a different color. Don't you think that's just a little too 'obvious'?"
"You must be new here, kid. Nothing at Microsoft is ever too obvious. Don't you worry. I'll talk to the guys in hardware and convince them they just invented a new sensor. The boys on the patent team will eat it up. The public will go 'Ooooo! It's blue... So pretty...' And we can charge three times as much without spending a penny more!"
"Brilliant!"
"Brilliant!"
Really? I think the last time I changed my cheap Logitech wireless mouse's battery was 2 months ago.
This continual failure of mouse makers to address mousing on mirrors annoys me. Hey, mouse makers, here's how you can address this.
Originally, your mice were based on a rolling ball. The mouse felt the ball rolling, and figured out the movement. In human sense terms, your mice were based on touch.
The current mice are based on sight. They look at the surface under the mouse and see the relative movement.
The sense you should be looking at is smell.
In the center of the bottom of the mouse, there should be an emitter that leaves a chemical trail on the mousing surface. The rest of the bottom of the mouse should be covered with odor sensors that can sense when they are near the chemical. By laying a pattern of odors, and sensing them as they move under the mouse's "noses", the mouse can determine position.
Think ants and the chemical trails they leave to find their way around.
Not only would this address the mirror problem, you could also use this technology to address a serious workplace health issue. You could make it so the tracking chemical has antibacterial properties. This would help keep shared computers sanitary during cold season, reducing sick days and boosting overall productivity.
When I went from PC to Mac, I bought a decent USB wireless mouse and it worked fine for a long time. Then I tried to use their "Mac" Bluetooth mouse: doesn't work worth **** with Macs, Best Buy said they get lots of returns on those. So I tried an Apple BT Mega-Mouse, was not impressed with that. Finally found one that was BT, had a decent feel, and good right click support, so I'm content.
But I am definitely troubled by this right-handedness. I can mouse with my right hand, but it's uncomfortable and I'll only do it if I'm briefly using someone else's PC. I don't mind if they do a mouse for righties, but they're ticking off lefties by cutting back on their ambi mice.
When you sympathize with stupidity, you start thinking like an idiot.
Another excuse for more blue LEDs!
Sorry for being off topic, but all I want from the pointing device business is to put some innovation into trackballs.
I use a Logitech Trackman wheel (left thumb operated optically read (red dotted) ball.
The device is great when new, then degrades when the rollers and the ball surface loses its "shine".
As for the original topic: a laser mouse works fine for me when I use one on most surfaces except glass. Plastics are the best as they are low friction, while glass "sticks".... I have an older explorer mouse and a mighty mouse .... but then again I haven't used a mouse since I stopped playing on the PC ..... (that is also when I stopped using a PC, and even when I turn it on I use it over synergy with a trackball) ....
I do not even care about the degradation as the life span is comfortable 5+ years (I had button problems on one I got in 2002).
All the damn thing needs is :
1. Scroll ball (as in mighty mouse from apple). Maybe just a side scroller (tilting wheel would do it)
2. 4-5 extra buttons.
When that is done I start whining for a keyboard like the apple aluminium which is possible to "split" for ergonomic setting :)
It works on smooth and rough terrain, carpet, granite and even reflective surfaces. It uses a ball. Boo-ya.
Based on the pains taken in the write-up not to explain the underlying tech, I suspect this is just a laser mouse with some minor improvements. Blutrack makes me think they have just used the throw-aways from blue- laser productions for blu-ray drives. So the tracking might be a little better (improved aperture) and energy requirements a little less, but that is about it.
If I am wrong, what is the underlying tech here? Why so secretive?
I've preferred a wonderful pointing device that works on any surface, or even no surface at all, for a long time. It's called a trackball.
Unless they bring back their Trackball Explorer (hands down the BEST trackball ever produced) I'm uninterested. :P
My Logitech TrackMan works anywhere you can find a 4x6 inch patch of solid surface to set it on, including shiny ones.
How come the sensor is still smack in the middle of the mouse? It was necessary in ball-type mice, but the sensor on optical mice can be almost anywhere. It makes most sense to put it directly under your forefinger.
Buy a better mouse. The two alkaline AAs in this LX8 have lasted a couple of months of heavy use so far and, if Logitech are to be believed, can go for as long as 8 months. I've not turned it or the computer it's attached to off in that time. When the alkalines die they'll be replaced by low-self-discharge NiMH batteries (eg. Sanyo Eneloop) and I expect to go months between charging them.
Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
From TFA "The physics is similar to that of the âoeblue lightâ used in crime-scene TV shows to examine surfaces for police investigations."
While that's not what I am going to try, does it work over semen?
try it with Mojave!
I suspect this is a clever attempt to offload tens of millions of excess HD-DVD components by sticking them in a mouse and calling it new technology
I pass on two reasons. #1, I'm left handed, two, the receiver is the size of a normal flash drive! I use a Logitech nano, because you can leave the fricking receiver in the laptop all the time without having fear of snapping it off.
and it opens up your favorite porn web site.
We are one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively. Back to you with the weather, Bob!
Another +1 Buy a better mouse. I've got a Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0 optical and it last months without replacing the batteries. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure I replace the batteries in the "Wireless Desktop Elite" keyboard more often than I replace the batteries in the mouse. 3 weeks is appalling, assuming that's for normal usage (a few hours a day).
How is it more advanced, if laser mice are still competitive on the same surfaces?
Bluetooth. BluRay. BlueTrack. I think my brain just blue up :-(
my mouse has no lasers or wireless.. you insensitive clods!!
Occasionally I do tape a laser pointer to the mouse just so I can say "Mice! With Laaaaseeer beams!".
It amuses me and annoys the kid. Heh.
Have you read the moderator guidelines? Well, have you, PUNK? (and I want a Karma: Gnarly option)
Just when you thought laser and optical mice were enjoying their reign on mousepads worldwide...
Whatever I might have been thinking about, I assure you it wasn't that.
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
I found out that it didn't use Bluetooth. I don't want crap sticking out the side of my laptop. It's too easy to break off. Honestly, I'd buy one if it had Bluetooth in a hot second because when I use my laptop, I may be sitting in a comfy chair and want to use the armrest as a mousepad.
I have the MS Wireless Intellimouse Explorer 2.0 and use rechargeable Energizer 2500mAh NiMH and they last me 3-5 months of 8-12 hour a day usage.
loose: not fitting closely or tightly != lose: to suffer the deprivation of
This would be an ultimate mouse.
It's still not bad...
Truth isn't Truth - Guliani