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      Discontinued and unreleased Microsoft peripherals revived by licensing deal

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Friday, 5 January - 21:52

    Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard

    Enlarge / The Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard is making a comeback. (credit: Microsoft)

    In April, Microsoft announced that it would stop selling Microsoft-branded computer peripherals . Today, Onward Brands announced that it's giving those discarded Microsoft-stamped gadgets a second life under new branding. Products like the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard will become Incase products with "Designed by Microsoft" branding.

    Beyond the computer accessories saying "Designed by Microsoft," they should be the same keyboards, mice, webcams, headsets, and speakers, Onward, Incase's parent company, said, per The Verge . Onward said its Incase brand will bring back 23 Microsoft-designed products in 2024 and hopes for availability to start in Q2.

    Incase also plans to launch an ergonomic keyboard that Microsoft designed but never released. Onward CEO Charlie Tebele told The Verge that there's "potential" for Incase to release even more designs Microsoft never let us see.

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      Gears Technica: The keyboards and mice our editors swear by

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Friday, 7 July, 2023 - 13:50 · 1 minute

    Gears Technica: The keyboards and mice our editors swear by

    Enlarge

    We see a lot of gear at Ars Technica. Plenty of keyboards and mice have come across the desks of our reviewers and editors, from mechanical models to the slew of low-profile keys that are attached to the decks of laptops and notebooks. A few notable picks even get our stamp of approval. But do our editors put their money where their fingers are?

    In the spirit of Chairs Technica , we asked our staff members what they rely on to stay productive, game, and create content. Through the clickety-clacks of their typing, this is the gear our editors told us they swear by.

    Eric Bangeman: Apple Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad

    Believe it or not, I love the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad. And it’s not just because they match my Apple gear perfectly (they do) or because I care about aesthetics (I do).

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      Microsoft-branded mice and keyboards are going away after 40 years

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Friday, 28 April, 2023 - 16:42

    Microsoft's "green-eye" mouse, the first Microsoft-branded mouse the company sold.

    Enlarge / Microsoft's "green-eye" mouse, the first Microsoft-branded mouse the company sold. (credit: Microsoft )

    If I asked you to name Microsoft's best-known and longest-lived product, you'd almost certainly say "Windows." But another one of the company's products has been on the market for even longer: its mice.

    Microsoft started selling its first computer mice in 1983 , a year or two before the Macintosh and other computers made pointing devices standard-issue and two years before the first version of Windows was released. The Microsoft Natural Keyboard followed in 1994 . Since then, the company has offered a range of Microsoft-branded PC accessories, from successful ones like the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard to short-lived experiments like Microsoft SideWinder gamepads and joysticks .

    Microsoft-made mice and keyboards aren't going away, but the Microsoft brand name is. The company told The Verge that it will stop selling Microsoft-branded keyboards, mice, and other accessories following a series of layoffs that affected its hardware division. The company will refocus its efforts on higher-end Surface-branded keyboards and mice, which represent just a tiny fraction of all the accessories Microsoft currently sells .

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      Scientists grew mini human guts inside mice

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Saturday, 4 February, 2023 - 12:10

    Xray

    Enlarge (credit: Getty Images)

    Your gut has an obvious job: It processes the food you eat. But it has another important function: It protects you from the bacteria, viruses, or allergens you ingest along with that food. “The largest part of the immune system in humans is the GI tract, and our biggest exposure to the world is what we put in our mouth,” says Michael Helmrath, a pediatric surgeon at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center who treats patients with intestinal diseases.

    Sometimes this system malfunctions or doesn’t develop properly, which can lead to gastrointestinal conditions like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac—all of which are on the rise worldwide. Studying these conditions in animals can only tell us so much, since their diets and immune systems are very different from ours.

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      Razer’s $280 mouse is covered in gaping holes

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Thursday, 2 February, 2023 - 20:36 · 1 minute

    Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition mouse top-down view

    Enlarge (credit: Razer)

    There are a lot of cookie-cutter mice that, though made by different manufacturers, have the same shapes and features but rely on mild changes in color or sensor specs to differentiate themselves. So when Razer announced the Viper Mini Signature Edition (SE) today, a wireless mouse that looks like it forgot to get dressed, we took notice.

    The Viper Mini SE uses a magnesium alloy chassis "exoskeleton," as Razer describes it. Lines of dark gray stretch across the mouse's palm area, creating a web-like design and bold, gaping holes. Razer's using an extreme take on the honeycomb design, which has holes drilled into a mouse's chassis to reduce weight. However, the typical honeycomb mouse, like the Glorious Model I , has many more holes that are smaller, while the Viper Mini SE has holes that are so big, it looks like you could poke your finger through them.

    At first look, I was immediately concerned about the mouse's durability. Despite what Razer claims, I still think I'm more likely to break a mouse with 18 holes in it than one with none. Large openings can also attract dust and debris, but bigger holes should make the mouse easier to clean with an air blower than a honeycomb mouse topped with more, smaller openings.

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      PC peripheral makers are feeling tech’s pandemic boom hangover too

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Tuesday, 24 January, 2023 - 19:30

    logitech webcam on a PC monitor

    Enlarge (credit: Scharon Harding)

    What goes up must come down, the tech industry is feeling that law right now. From historically low PC sales to depressing waves of layoffs hitting big names like Google , Microsoft , Amazon , and HP , companies are having to readjust after getting used to business-fueling pandemic conditions like lockdowns and working from home. The latest is Logitech, one of the kings of the tech pandemic boom, which is painting us another picture of the downsides that come with those short-lived highs.

    On Monday, Logitech announced its Q3 fiscal year 2023 results, which covers the three-month period ending December 31, 2022. Sales fell 22 percent compared to Q3 of the prior fiscal year. This includes drops in PC webcams (49 percent decline), audio and wearables (34 percent), mobile speakers (32 percent), keyboard and keyboard combos (22 percent), and pointing devices (14 percent). In the nine-month period ending on December 31, Logitech saw a 16 percent decline in year-over-year net sales. (This includes streaming services revenue from its Streamlabs division.)

    That's quite the contrast from May, when Logitech announced record sales from April 2021 to March 31, 2022 (fiscal year 2022), and from April 2021, when the company announced a 76 percent increase in sales year-over-year from April 2020 to March 2021.

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      Modern trackball mouse wants to be a wireless solution to your ergonomic woes

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Wednesday, 30 November, 2022 - 18:45 · 1 minute

    Kensington SlimBlade Pro Trackball mouse on desk

    Enlarge (credit: Kensington)

    Trackballs aren't exactly a trendy PC accessory. Their heavy, clunky builds bring dated vibes to office setups . And despite 73 years of existence , trackballs have been usurped by modern mice and trackpads as the preferred forms of computing input. But despite their low mainstream popularity, trackball mice still hold a place in many people's hearts.

    If you have a physical issue such as carpal tunnel syndrome or a repetitive strain injury that makes repeated movements difficult and/or painful, you may be one of those people holding onto a trackball mouse. While generally larger and heavier than traditional mice, trackball mice make it easier to keep your hand and arm in a neutral position and avoid pronation.

    And because you don't push trackball mice around the top of your desk, they can be more accommodating of tight workspaces. Some trackball fanatics also praise the precision they can achieve with the gentle twisting of the right trackball. But there's definitely a learning curve to using them, and they aren't for everyone. And a good trackball mouse may not be as fast or precise as your best PC mouse with a traditional design.

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      Razer’s new wireless mouse has an exceptionally customizable scroll wheel

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Friday, 11 November, 2022 - 17:49

    Razer’s new wireless mouse has an exceptionally customizable scroll wheel

    Enlarge (credit: Razer)

    Mice for MMO games have a special appeal. These button-laden peripherals are intended to make laying down combos in games a breeze. But their high programmability gives them great potential for much more, including heavy-duty productivity. One of the most popular MMO mice, the Razer Naga series, received an update on Thursday. Offering up to 20 customizable buttons is still the Naga's main prize, but Razer has also made the scroll wheel much more interesting.

    The Razer Naga V2 Pro is similar to the wired Razer Naga X since it comes with three side plates, granting the bank of inputs by the thumb with two, six, or 12 programmable buttons.

    Combined with other buttons on the mouse, like the scroll wheel and button south of that, there are 22 programmable inputs total—you just have to download Razer's Synapse app to make the most of them.

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      Review: Dell’s MS700 wireless mouse has a twisted parlor trick but limited use

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Wednesday, 12 October, 2022 - 13:00

    Dell MS700 Bluetooth Travel Mouse

    Enlarge / Dell's MS700 Bluetooth Travel Mouse. (credit: Scharon Harding)

    Specs at a glance: Dell MS700 Bluetooth Travel Mouse
    Sensor Optical LED
    Connectivity options Bluetooth 5.0
    Programmable buttons 0
    Onboard profiles 0
    Lighting None
    Size 4.59×2.25×1.17 inches
    (116.49×57.17×29.79 mm)
    Weight 2.01 ounces
    (56.9 g)
    Warranty 3 years
    Price (MSRP) $65

    There's something to be said about a portable PC peripheral. With many people working in various locations and pairing PC accessories with various devices, portability has become a necessity for many. The Dell MS700 Bluetooth Travel Mouse released today prioritizes portability with Bluetooth connectivity and, more interestingly, the ability to twist into a flatter shape.

    The twisted mouse is similar to mice like Microsoft's bendable Surface Arc but stands out with its ability to easily toggle across multiple paired devices, plus a cozy texture. But these are about the only enjoyable things about using the MS700.

    Dell's MS700 felt scratchy when I moved it around or made extended swipes, and the touch-scroll strip is an inadequate replacement for a scroll wheel. And there are very few customization options with this $65 (MSRP) mouse.

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