Apple's Mighty Mouse Now Bluetooth-Enabled

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has introduced a Bluetooth-powered version of its popular Mighty Mouse product, a multi-button mouse it introduced last year.

The wireless Mighty Mouse includes up to four independently programmable buttons and a Scroll Ball that lets users scroll in any direction. Like its popular wired predecessor, the wireless version has programmable touch sensors that act as primary or secondary buttons, depending on the user's preference, that can access menus in Mac OS X and other applications.

Cutting the Cord

Mighty Mouse's two other buttons are activated by pressing its Scroll Ball and squeezing its sides, and can be programmed to give users one-click access such features as Spotlight, Dashboard and Expose, or to launch Safari or iChat.

The wireless Mighty Mouse's power management system automatically switches to low power modes during inactivity, and then off completely to maintain battery life while not in use. It works with either one or two AA batteries and is available for US$69.

"We cut the cord on our popular Mighty Mouse to give consumers even more flexibility when using a Mac," said David Moody, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Mac Product Marketing. "A Bluetooth-enabled Mac desktop with an Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mighty Mouse is the ideal cable-free setup at home or in the office , and the wireless Mighty Mouse is the perfect travel companion for the MacBook user on the go."

Strong Seller

Demand will be high for Apple's latest gizmo among travelers especially, concluded Edward Shephard, marketing vice president of Small Dog Electronics, an Apple specialists and distributor of Mac products.

There are several Bluetooth-enabled Mac products on the market now, Shephard told MacNewsWorld, with which the wireless Mighty Mouse can work. "Also, the fact that it only uses one battery instead of two, is helpful when you are on the road," he added.

Another feature travelers will like is the flap that covers the tracking engine so the batteries don't go dead prematurely.

In general, the Mighty Mouse has been a strong seller, Shephard noted. Also, previous Bluetooth mouse products were all single button, he said.

"Couple these factors together and I think we will see very strong demand for a Bluetooth Mighty Mouse especially around the holiday season -- as a stocking stuffer present -- and for the back-to-school rush," Shephard predicted.

The wireless Mighty Mouse connects to the latest Macs with built-in Bluetooth wireless technology, and requires Mac OS X "Tiger" version 10.4.6 or later to customize buttons for one-click access to Spotlight, Dashboard and Expose or to launch applications.