Microsoft has announced a more advanced iteration on its touch-aware mice in the Explorer Touch Mouse. Its design revolves around a new touch strip that supports full four-way scrolling. Although minimalist on the surface, it has five programmable buttons and works readily with both Macs (including Lion) and Windows PCs.
The mouse works on an RF-based, miniature USB wireless receiver and tracks on the increasingly common blue laser that lets it work on most surfaces. Moving to RF gives it an 18-month battery life in regular conditions.
Explorer Touch mice are arriving in September and will cost $50 for black, gray, and two shades of red
