Back in December 2006, we shared with you Apple Corporation's patent for a "hybrid lower computer mouse" which is basically an upgrade of its wireless mouse. As development for the accessory continues, it's becoming imminent that the patent is not just to fix the short battery life of the said peripheral because as you will see, it's capable of a whole lot more.

According to Brian Huppi, the same brilliant designer behind iPhone's interface, the next-generation Apple mouse design can switch between operational modes based on the way a user holds the device's enclosures. Huppi further explained,

The method generally comprises first sensing in which hand position the mouse is being held, each hand position indicating a corresponding mode of operation of the mouse. If the mouse is being held in a first hand position, the mouse performs according to a first mode of operation, whereas if the mouse is being held in a second hand position, the mouse performs according to a second mode of operation.

Brian Huppi then shared that Apple is thinking that the first mode of operation is going to be cursor-based where cursor movements can be seen and used on the display screen. The second mode, on the other hand, could be a scrolling and/or panning movements on the display screen.

Now, if you're wondering how the heck the mouse is going to figure in all of those, Huppi mentioned that the new mouse is configured in such a way to provide command information. This will inform your Mac as to which mode of operation (GUI movements) will be implemented. The designer took note,

The command information is generally provided by a switch arrangement that is actuated by the user during manipulation of the mouse, i.e., the user may switch between cursor movements and scroll/pan movements," he wrote. "For example, the switch arrangement may activate the cursor movements when the hand is positioned proximate the modal areas and it may activate the scroll/pan movements when the hand is positioned away from the modal areas (or vice versa).

If you're like me, you already have a bunch of wires cluttering up your desk. I've switched over to a wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, wireless headset, I've got wireless phones, wireless Xbox 360 controller, wireless PS2 controller, Wi-Fi router, two computers connected by wi-fi, wireless Xbox controller, my PSP is wireless and my DS is wireless, not to mention my Palm, and I still have a bunch of wires splattered all Natural Born Killers style on the floor, dead.

Well, even though the interference from all those devices is about to drive me damn wild, and I think I picked up a signal from beyond the dead last night while I was chomping down on turkey, I still like not having wires connected to all my stuff. Wireless is the wave of the future, man. And I'd like my iPod to be, too.

The fine folks over at ZDNet feel the same way. With two MP3 devices being unveiled at the CES in Las Vegas, they wonder if Apple might be close to announcing wireless compatibility for its next generation of iPods. Though the article said it would be convenient to be able to purchase music on the fly, I would actually be more interested in being able to transfer songs by wi-fi.

"I like the idea. The fact of a mobile device requiring a user to be stationary - such as being at home to sync- is counterintuitive. I mean, consuming music through a portable player is something usually done when you are in motion, right?"

Here's hoping that Apple has more than one trick rolled up its sleeve come Macworld next week.

[Via, ZDNet]