14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is, ironically, the last company to unveil details of its own Arc Touch Mouse, after Microsoft Hardware started sharing a few teases leading to the product to be brought into the limelight ahead of plan, with a German online shop leaking the complete details and images.
The Arc Touch Mouse has now been launched with pre-orders already available from Amazon.com, Buy.com and BestBuy.com starting with September 1st, according to the Redmond company.
However, at the time of this article, neither of the online retailers mentioned above were actually offering the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse for purchase.
Microsoft is offering users the Arctouchmouse.com website, allowing them to get a closer look at the peripheral.
“You can see, Arc Touch is all about innovative design. The mouse is not dead as some articles have said recently, but needs are evolving,” revealed Microsoft’s Debbie Uttecht.
“Most of us now use our PCs and mice in new ways and new places. In talking to notebook PC users, we realized we needed to find a way for the mouse to transition easier from place to place.
“This mouse completely flattens for portability to easily fit in your pocket or laptop bag, and also bends for comfortable use. This mouse is perfect for the person on-the-go that doesn’t want to compromise on style.”
When it comes down to the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse it’s hard not to think that the software giant missed a great opportunity to do more.
I’m talking of course about the missing multi-touch capabilities. Yes, that’s right, the Touch in Arc Touch Mouse, stands only for the strip that replaces the traditional scroll wheel.
Users will be able to use the strip in order to scroll and flick, tap the top and bottom for page up and page down, double-tap it for middle-click functionality, and double-tap and hold, but this is about it.
“From fidgeting with the mouse and popping it up from lying flat to the new scroll, this mouse is truly in a category all its own. And it might be too early to think about for some, but we know there are a lot of you out there getting your holiday lists ready so put Arc Touch on it,” Uttecht added.
Here are the main features of the Arc Touch Mouse enumerated by Microsoft:
“Flexible Design - Curve for comfort, flatten to pack. A perfect fit for your hand—and your mobile lifestyle.
Power On and Off - Curve to turn on. Flatten to turn off. No button to switch. A green light flashes to show the battery is working, and then turns off to save battery life.
Touch to Scroll - Click. Tap. Flick. Control.
BlueTrack Technology - Works on difficult surfaces1—rough glossy, or soft.
Snap-in Transceiver - Nano Transceiver snaps into the bottom of the mouse.”