Apple May Ditch the Mighty Mouse for Something Fancier

Apple may be planning to eventually turn the mouse-and-keyboard interface upside down, but for now the company could be settling for a redesign. There’s evidence, according to AppleInsider, that the company will soon overhaul the Mighty Mouse, replacing it with something that uses multi-touch technology. And this change could come sooner than you think, with iMacs reportedly in short supply and standalone Mighty Mice on a two week backorder.

To be clear, this is all rumor territory, but the word is that Apple will combine hardware and software in its next mouse to change the feel of scrolling around a screen. A patent from 2007 pointed to a mouse with multi-touch sensors, suitable for gestures and mapping to several virtual buttons. That patent also describes a force feedback mechanism so people know when they’re clicking.

AppleInsider’s sources don’t say to what extent those features will exist in the new mouse, but the sources are clear about a few things: Gone will be the annoying scroll button in the middle of the mouse, as it’ll likely be replaced with touch gestures. And instead of the current white plastic finish, Apple will use aluminum, matching its current line-up of desktops and notebooks. There’s no precise word on when we’ll see these mice, if we see them at all, but if earlier reports of new iMacs come to fruition, that’ll probably be the revamped Mighty Mouse’s ticket.