Prior to Macworld New York, which took place in July of this year, rumors of a new multi-buttoned mouse at Apple were widespread. At the time, Apple was seeding various different models of new Apple mice. Two were wireless and were rumored to contain multiple buttons in the form of tilt clicks and pressure points. One featured the current gel-tab look while the other sported a graphite footprint look. The third version, which contained a usb cord and only one mouse button eventually became the shipping product.
However, Apple's forthcoming high-end operating system, Mac OS X, is rumored to contain built-in support for a multi-button Apple mouse. API (Application Programming Interface) documents for recent versions of Mac OS X beta reveal at least two mouse actions: 'TipSwitch' and 'BarrelSwitch. 'The former is rumored to correspond to the tip or rocking action need to produce a mouse click on Apple's new mouse, while the latter is said to be treated as the right (secondary) button.
According to sources, Apple has not scrapped development of their multi-button mouse. The computer maker has apparently been refining the design for a release alongside the long awaited Mac OS X. Apparently, the company feels there is no need to release such a product without an operating system which supports the technology at its core.
The forthcoming multi-buttoned Apple optical mouse is rumored to still retain a cord, and look similar to the current design, with the only modifications being made to its clicking functionality. According to Apple sources, the mouse will be sold to customers as Apple's Built-to-Order option over the Apple Online Store and as a separate Apple peripheral in retail. Shipping systems will continue to sport the current one button design, sources said.
