TUAW reader Kim, who runs the Danish blog Kinablog,dk, sent us this piece he wrote about what he calls the world's biggest Apple USB mouse (a.k.a. the iMac mouse, a.k.a. the hockey puck). It's actually a building in China that houses the National Centre for the Performing Arts, with room for 6,500 people in three halls inside 2,000 square meters, designed by Paul Adreu. And he's right-- it bears a striking (though not quite exact) resemblance to the round little early iMac peripheral. Considering that construction started on the building in 2001, and the mouse was released before that, it's a little less of a stretch (though still a stretch) to think that one inspired the other.

But Kim is thinking even bigger-- not only does he dare us to imagine the sound of a click on a mouse that big, but he asks what an iMac that size would look like. Stop bending my mind like that, man! Apple is going thinner, not bigger.

We've mentioned the problems folks have had with the Leopard upgrade with unsanity's APE installed. As Gruber points out, however, the same problem can affect people who have installed the Logitech Control Center software that comes with Logitech mice and keyboards, because LCC apparently uses APE behind the scenes. While some finger wagging is due to Logitech for this, the question now comes up as to what to use instead of LCC to gain access to all the buttons. It turns out that there are at least three options: USB Overdrive ($20), SteerMouse ($20), and ControllerMate ($15), all of which are now Leopard compatible. Of the three, I've only used ControllerMate myself and would recommend it. However, any of the three should give you back control of your Logitech mouse -- it's just a shame you have to spend extra money to get this kind of functionality.

[via Daring Fireball]

Gus Mueller of Flying Meat software, maker of popular apps like VoodooPad and FlySketch, has decided to reduce FlyGesture's price to free. For those who haven't seen it: FlyGesture enables your Mac with the power to open files, run Automator apps/AppleScripts, type text and more - all with the gesture of your mouse over FlyGesture's guide layer that you can toggle like Exposé and Dashboard.

For anyone who made a FlyGesture purchase within the last 60 days, Mueller has issued a refund.

Sure you can use your scroll wheel mouse (or track pad) to scroll up and down your OS X windows but why limit yourself? Here's a quick list of TUAW's favorite scroll wheel tricks:

1. Zoom your screen. Hold down the Control key while scrolling up on your mouse (or performing a dual-finger up drag on your trackpad). Your entire screen zooms in. Control-scroll (or drag) down to zoom out.

2. Scroll through your Apps Press and hold the Command key then press and release Tab to display your active Applications. Scroll through your applications left (scrolling up) and right (scrolling down). When an Application is selected, you can move your hand from the scroll button on your mouse to the keyboard to press "H" to hide the application or "Q" to quit it. Release the Command key to switch to the selected application.

3. Scroll horizontally. In applications with both vertical and horizontal sliders such as, say, Preview, press Shift while scrolling to scroll horizontally instead of vertically.

4. Open pages in new tabs in Safari. Instead of right-clicking a link and selecting "Open in New Tab", just scroll-button-click a link instead. If you have enabled tabbed viewing in Safari (Preferences -> Tabs -> Enable Tabbed Browsing), your link opens in a new tab.

Thanks, Fritz Laurel.

John Ward's 'The Evolution of the Apple Mouse,' has been around for awhile, but today was the first day that I had come across it. John gives us all a guided tour into the history of Apple's mouse with pictures of almost every variant of mouse that Apple has produced.

What's your favorite mouse that Apple has produced? I must admit that I have a soft spot for the Apple Desktop Mouse II.

Attention Logitech mouse and keyboard users: the Logitech Control Center has been updated to version 2.1.2. This system preference pane enables you to program special features of various Logitech mouse and keyboard combinations. Above are the setting for my Logitech MX Revolution. Some have reported problems with this upgrade, but there has been nothing but smooth sailing on my MacBook.

The Logitech Control Center is free and supports OS X 10.2.8 through 10.4.8 on both Intel and PPC Macs.

I love my Iridio. It is, if I am remembering correctly, my third Irideo in a row. It's small enough to fit my hand. It's Mac friendly. It has two buttons and it has a scroll wheel. It is, in other words, nearly a perfect mouse. Other than the fact that after about a year its USB bits die.

And now it's discontinued. I called up Kensington for tech support because it started having some USB problems (as did the previous 2, which I replaced on my own penny) and the technician told me they'd permanently discontinued the line. They sent out a Si300 laser mouse to replace it, but it's a honking big old thing that's far too large for me to use.

I went over to CompUSA to see if they had any Irideos left, but they were all sold out. I ordered a couple on Amazon, but they (Ritz Camera, actually, through Amazon) cancelled my order because they were out of stock. I just don't want to say goodbye to what is otherwise the most perfect Mac mouse ever.

So do any of you TUAW readers have any recommendations for a replacement? I'm looking for a sealed USB laser mouse with approximately the same dimensions that can comfortably fit into a small woman's hand. Thanks in advance for any hints.

I've had keyboards and mice on my mind for the last few days so I thought I'd see what you all are using. To get the poll rolling I asked a few of my colleagues here at TUAW HQ to chime in, too.

David Chartier:
iMac - Apple Pro Keyboard with a Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 4.0. Most comfortable.mouse.ever. Sometimes I whip out the Mighty Mouse for multimedia/time-based work though.
MacBook - built in keyboard and usually the touchpad, though I bring along the Mighty Mouse from my iMac mainly because it packs in a bag easily.

Alex Wollenschlaeger:
I use the keyboard on my 12" PowerBook (one of the main reasons I got another PowerBook over a MacBook) and a Microsoft optical mouse. I've used other mice in the past and I've always come back to Microsoft ones. They just feel right. I carry it around with me everywhere because I don't like trackpads too much. Though the new scrolling feature goes a long way to rectifying that.

Scott McNulty:
I use the built-in in stuff on my MacBook. On my iMac I have Apple's included keyboard and a Logitech S 530 Laser mouse.

Dan Lurie:
When I'm not out and about with my PowerBook, it sits on an iCurve at my desk and I use the standard white Apple keyboard and Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer (which I love, but I need to get in a wireless
version). I'm actually in the market for a new keyboard due some wrist pain I've been having, so I've been looking at the GoldTouch Mac from KeyOvation.

As for me? On my home and office desktops I use the Matias OS X keyboard. The symbols are great for me since I always forget where they are. The extra control key and the caps-lock key being out of my way is a blessing and I really love the action on it. I'm a big fan of tactile keys - and this one is quieter than a typical tactile keyboard, which makes hubby happy, but it's still "clicky" enough to make me happy. My mouse is a 5-button, rockin' tilt-scroll Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse Explorer, which I would be lost without. When I'm on the PowerBook I generally stick with the built-in keyboard and trackpad since I'm typically on-the-go and it's just easier that way.

Hmmm... 4 out of 5 bloggers agree that what Microsoft lacks in the OS department they make up for with their mice, which rule. We don't agree on much around here so that's about as resounding of an endorsement as you're going to get from us.

Now it's your turn -- What mouse and keyboard are you using with your Mac(s) these days?

MondoMouse says it 'gives your mouse super powers.' That's quite a claim, and while I'm not sure if my mouse is super powered with this app, it certainly is more powerful. MondoMouse allows you to resize and move windows that are currently in the background. It also displays a text tip describing what the window you are hovering over is (much like Expose).

MondoMouse costs $14.95 and there is a 30 day demo.

Apple finally snipped the Mighty Mouse's tail this week, introducing a battery powered version boasting bluetooth and a more accurate laser tracking system. I, like countless others, have been itching for a bluetooth Mighty Mousy since the day they announced the original version, so in the name of a TUAW review (ok, fine: and my gadget habit), I ran out and picked one up to see just how well this tailless version of Apple's one two-button mouse performs.

First up, a bit of a disclaimer and a list of the equipment I'm used to working with: my personal favorite mouse of all time is the *gasp* Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer (version 3.0A is the latest I own, if you're interested). I also own the wired Mighty Mouse, and it's the only other Apple mouse I've used since the only Macs I've ever owned are portables. In terms of bluetooth mice however, I've used quite a few, including those from Microsoft, Apple, Logitech and even Radtech. I typically pack the wired (now wireless) Mighty Mouse for travel as it's nice and compact for on-the-go work, but I still prefer the Intellimouse, especially for any serious Photoshopping and Unreal fragging.

With that out of the way, let's get to the meat: the wireless Mighty Mouse. After playing with it for a couple days now, I can summarize my review if you're only here for the cliff notes: it's nice - for a bluetooth mouse. As I've mentioned, I've used quite a few bluetooth mice and, while this one is definitely more accurate, it isn't anything Earth-shattering. In my experience, all bluetooth mice suffer from reduced accuracy as (what I assume is) a result of bluetooth itself being not quite as reliable as USB for driving a mouse. Little things like clicking a tab's close button, or clicking the right icon in the dock can sometimes be a jittery process. The mouse can also occasionally be just the slightest bit sluggish, but again in my experience with bluetooth mice, that is to be expected.

But don't think this new mouse isn't as mighty as Apple claims. Fortunately, as the product site brags, desktop surfaces don't seem to affect this new laser tracking system, so the mouse in general is a bit more accurate on all kinds of table tops, including those at Starbucks and my desk at home. If you're looking for a direct comparison, this might help: Even with the general bluetooth mouse gripes I mentioned earlier, this mouse definitely feels more accurate and responsive than Apple's previous bluetooth mice, and any other bluetooth mouse I've used. However, if you're hoping that the wireless Mighty Mouse is the missing link between USB mouse accuracy and bluetooth portability, I hate to say: you'll have to continue on your quest.

For those looking for a good compromise between these two seemingly incompatible worlds though, this is definitely the most accurate bluetooth mouse I've used to date. The other bonuses also help sweeten the admittedly steep $70 price tag, such as that killer 360-degree scroll button, one-battery functionality, and Apple even includes a pair of those new Energizer Lithium batteries - not the cheap generic ones; "spared no expense", as they say. All things considered, the wireless Mighty Mouse is a strong offering for those jonsing for a two-button bluetooth Apple mouse.

After weeks of ambiguous hints and torturous teasing, The Omni Group has unveiled their newest product, and it definitely isn't a Sweedish meatball maker. Introducing: OmniDazzle, a "set of fun and useful enhancements that help you track the location of your mouse pointer and provide options for highlighting certain areas of your screen". Basically, it's like one of those mouse-trailing toys tools with some actually useful goodness baked in. For example, OmniDazzle can place a spotlight on your mouse, dimming the background and helping you or your audience focus on what's important. It offers other interesting tools for pinpointing your mouse and even drawing on screen for those times when crayons just won't do. In fact, there's a lot of quirky (and handy) stuff OmniDazzle is capable of, so why not check it out while it's in beta?

Dan Lurie from The Apple Blog pointed me towards an early MacBook review at Macworld in which Jason Snell points out the new MacBook's ability to right-click when you have two fingers on the trackpad. It's a setting you can toggle in the MacBook's System Preferences, and it apparently also exists on the 17" MacBook Pro (and possibly on the revamped 15" models; reports pending).

But not on the 15" MacBook Pro that I bought three weeks ago.

Dear Apple: please stop leaving your early adopters out in the cold. I realize you're a company whose purpose is to make money. That's fine, in fact: I can't think of many other companies I'm happier to give my money to. That said, tiny new features like this which you aren't even bragging about on your product sites obviously aren't crucial selling points designed to sell X many more MacBooks and 17" MacBook Pros. They're small but important innovations that all MacBooks to date should have, especially when you consider the fact that right-clicking on a Mac has been a topic of geek controversy since someone first took a side on the Mac vs. PC debate.

Apple, if you're listening (of course, you aren't), please give your early-adopting MacBook Pro buyers (what I'm hoping is) a simple software update so they can right-click with the rest of their MacBook brethren.

iShowU is a versatile utility from shinywhitebox for recording video captures of your display (including any audio). Users have quite a bit of control over what exactly is recorded and how, including specifying a capture size and format, as well as 'mouse capture' and 'follow mouse' modes of recording. Check out iShowU's features page for the full rundown.

While iShowU is in its 1.x beta mode, it's free, as the dev has "no intention of releasing a half baked product that works only on Thursdays, and then, only if you are holding the mouse juuust right." Once it goes commercial, shinywhitebox is aiming for a $40-$80 price point, so why not grab a demo before they hit the big leagues?

An odd headline, I know, but it's true: last night Apple released Keyboard Update 1.0 for their Intel-based Macs including the MacBook Pro, iMac (Early 2006) and Mac mini (Early 2006). From Apple's site: "The Apple Keyboard Update 1.0 addresses reliability of keyboard and mouse functionality."

You can grab the update either through Software Update or from Apple's Support Downloads.

Yesterday, we linked to an image that showed up on Flickr that seemed to be the red, glowing visage of a mouse as generated by the light on the underside of an Apple Mighty Mouse. Whether or not Apple intended for their mice to put on this little display is really irrelevant, as it's just fun to show people ("Hey, want to see my mouse's mouse?"). A number of you sent in pictures of your own mice generating the little guy (apparently it works with the older Apple Pro Mice, too). Thanks to Zach, Jason, Jonathan and Gary.

We're happy to receive more, so feel free to link to an image of your own mouse's...um...inner mouse.*

*Kids, do not say "mouse" this many times at home. I am a professional.