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I Hacked the Magic Mouse

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Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#41

Post by al_borland »

raverbashing wrote: post #39

Yeah, I honestly don't get the hate about the magic mouse "Oh but you have to charge it upside down", yes. Every something like 3 months I have to stop for some 15min (if I don't remember to charge it first) to be able to use it for the rest of the day and then charge it when I'm not using It is really one complaint that's more internet meme than an actual grievance

For a company as obsessed with design as Apple, it's a bad design. A mouse sitting upside-down, or on its side, on a desk is not exactly elegant. Even if it's just for a short period of time every 3 months, it's still an ugly solution. It's on par with the Apple Pencil that charged in the bottom of the iPad.

A MagSafe connection to the front of the mouse seems like it would be much better.

I have an old AA version of the Magic Mouse, I'd much rather use that over the current Magic Mouse, though I currently use a Logitech. If they ever move the charging port off the bottom, I might give the Apple mouse another look.

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#42

Post by stephenr »

dkarras wrote: post #18
parker_mountain wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A more plausible explanation was that the cable strain of not using a specialty cable was also an issue. Look at where the cable attaches to the mouse on a conventional mouse - it's usually very reinforced internally or extenernally

it has become a meme, but really a non-issue in real life if you used the mouse yourself really. A minute or so of charging is enough to power it for a whole day of use. plug it again when you leave your desk for a bit and you'll have enough charge for days.

Who do you think you are dispelling memes and disenfranchising the chuds who need something to complain about. I mean really? Why do you have to bring actual use and reality into it?

Seriously though. This is absolutely correct. I get that some people don't like it, but I really don't get the obsession with the charging port.

I guess I should be glad that these people didn't complain the Apple Watch can't be worn while it's charging.

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#43

Post by djmips »

Retr0id wrote: post #29

I think there's already a solution: flat-flex QI charging pads, like this one: https://www.mobilefun.co.uk/iphone-lightning-qi-universal-wi... I don't endorse that particular listing, it was just the first one in my search results. It has a QI wireless power receiver, and a right-angled lightning connector. The intended usage is to plug it into an iPhone and put a case on top - but I think it'd work just fine on the…

A key problem is that charging via the lightning port on a Magic Mouse disables the mouse from working. This was only fully apparent for me from skimming the linked videos in the original post. That is why the person who 'hacked' the magic mouse went to all the trouble of creating a parallel charging circuit which directly charges the battery while in operation.

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#44

Post by djmips »

dkarras wrote: post #18
parker_mountain wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A more plausible explanation was that the cable strain of not using a specialty cable was also an issue. Look at where the cable attaches to the mouse on a conventional mouse - it's usually very reinforced internally or extenernally

it has become a meme, but really a non-issue in real life if you used the mouse yourself really. A minute or so of charging is enough to power it for a whole day of use. plug it again when you leave your desk for a bit and you'll have enough charge for days.

You could just spring for two mice. And if you do find yourself in a rush and your mouse dies then just go for the backup and charge the dead mouse and it becomes the backup.

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#45

Post by zozbot234 »

karmakaze wrote: post #25

The photos show why every magic mouse I've had always wore funny with the 'right button' getting mushy. There's only one microswitch and the right one is just a leaf spring.

> There's only one microswitch

Classic Apple mouse design. They never change, do they?

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#46

Post by eastbound »

jahewson wrote: post #38
ryandrake wrote: post #36

Good for this guy, wow. Nice project. I always thought that the Magic Mouse was really the ideal technology for interacting with a Mac--just too bad that it's so unergonomic. I can't prove it, but I blame a decade of Magic Mouse use for my very painful RSI, which I now have the pleasure of experiencing using any mouse at all. Apple's input devices are beautiful, but they totally blow comfort. It's as if their industr…

I suspect you’re right. I very much enjoyed the Magic Mouse but had similar issues with wrist discomfort. The neutral position of the human wrist is vertical - thumb pointing up as if shaking hands with someone. The Magic Mouse is so low-profile that it forces the wrist into an almost 90deg rotation. Ergonomically, it’s highly problematic. The solution for me was to switch to a vertical mouse (well, almost) that allo…

Why don’t you put the trackpad vertically?

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#47

Post by tempodox »

ryandrake wrote: post #36

Good for this guy, wow. Nice project. I always thought that the Magic Mouse was really the ideal technology for interacting with a Mac--just too bad that it's so unergonomic. I can't prove it, but I blame a decade of Magic Mouse use for my very painful RSI, which I now have the pleasure of experiencing using any mouse at all. Apple's input devices are beautiful, but they totally blow comfort. It's as if their industr…

With the exception of a few select programs where a mouse is indispensable, I'm a happy Magic Trackpad user for over 10 years now. No RSI ever.

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#48

Post by raverbashing »

al_borland wrote: post #41
raverbashing wrote: post #39

Yeah, I honestly don't get the hate about the magic mouse "Oh but you have to charge it upside down", yes. Every something like 3 months I have to stop for some 15min (if I don't remember to charge it first) to be able to use it for the rest of the day and then charge it when I'm not using It is really one complaint that's more internet meme than an actual grievance

For a company as obsessed with design as Apple, it's a bad design. A mouse sitting upside-down, or on its side, on a desk is not exactly elegant. Even if it's just for a short period of time every 3 months, it's still an ugly solution. It's on par with the Apple Pencil that charged in the bottom of the iPad. A MagSafe connection to the front of the mouse seems like it would be much better. I have an old AA version of…

> A MagSafe connection to the front of the mouse seems like it would be much better.

Yes, but even that would change the aesthetic of the mouse when right-side up. Though yes, I like your suggestion

> It's on par with the Apple Pencil that charged in the bottom of the iPad.

That's probably worse though. And yes I agree it is bad

Basically yes, while charging upside down is ugly I think they kinda accept it because it's not "while in use" (also there might have been some space or other design constraints, etc)

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#49

Post by ryandrake »

jahewson wrote: post #38
ryandrake wrote: post #36

Good for this guy, wow. Nice project. I always thought that the Magic Mouse was really the ideal technology for interacting with a Mac--just too bad that it's so unergonomic. I can't prove it, but I blame a decade of Magic Mouse use for my very painful RSI, which I now have the pleasure of experiencing using any mouse at all. Apple's input devices are beautiful, but they totally blow comfort. It's as if their industr…

I suspect you’re right. I very much enjoyed the Magic Mouse but had similar issues with wrist discomfort. The neutral position of the human wrist is vertical - thumb pointing up as if shaking hands with someone. The Magic Mouse is so low-profile that it forces the wrist into an almost 90deg rotation. Ergonomically, it’s highly problematic. The solution for me was to switch to a vertical mouse (well, almost) that allo…

Tried the vertical mouse, but no help. My wrist seems to be permanently fucked. I use a trackpad 100% now, no problems.

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#50

Post by firexcy »

My contrarian view is that the Magic Mouse _can_ be ergonomic as long as you use to be keyboard-centric and treat the Magic Mouse primarily as an extra-large scroll wheel. Then you'll find the scrolling experience with the Magic Mouse is even better than one with a traditional mouse or a trackpad because you can speed-scroll with any finger, at any angle, and with minimal frictions. I especially enjoy scrolling with the right tip of my ring finger.
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