Metro problem solved: Microsoft introduces new mice

We've been reporting about Microsoft's upcoming OS release a lot, Windows 8, due in October has been a popular subject of us and many other websites and industry insiders. The main criticism is about Metro, the new GUI that Microsoft introduced in Windows 8. Besides replacing our beloved Start Menu it also seems to be more targeted towards touchscreens than using it with a mouse and keyboard. It seems that last point means, a mouse as we know it. Microsoft has now introduced new myce (phun intended) that should solve the Metro problem.

With the release of the Microsoft Sculpt Touch mouse, Microsoft seems to address the problem most users currently have when using the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Release in conjunction with a mouse and keyboard as the mouse has support for Windows 8 gestures. Microsoft already had a touch mouse before and markets this mouse as an update for it.

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The following gestures are supported: one finger swipes to move  up and down,  Two finger movements to switch through open apps and show app commands. Three fingers let you zoom in and out and thumb gestures navigate backward and forward through apps.

The mouse also comes with BlueTrack technology, which allows you to use it on pretty much any surface, according to Microsoft. The mouse connects to your PC with BlueTooth and requires two AA bateries to run. The estimated retail price in the US will be about $79.95. The mouse can be accompanied with the Sculpt Mobile keyboard, which has Windows 8 hot keys that let you search, share or access your devices, settings and Windows Start screen.

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Besides the Sculpt Touch mouse, Microsoft also released the Wedge Mobile keyboard,  a new keyboard that also has Windows 8 hot keys and is specifically designed for tablet users. And with the Wedge keyboard also comes a Wedge mouse, a very specific shaped mouse, which also supports touch scrolling but more limited than the mouse described above. More information can be found on the Microsoft website.

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