Microsoft Hardware Blog

Today, we are excited to announce the latest and greatest designs in our popular line of Limited Edition Artist Series mice! Developed in conjunction with some of the most unique designers around the globe, the Artist Series transforms your Microsoft mouse into a personal form of artistic expression.

Hailing from Sao Paolo, Hong Kong, Brooklyn, London, and Sarajevo, the new artists used the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 as their canvas to bring their unique global influences to life. With backgrounds in printmaking, textile design, engraving, silkscreen, digital design and folk art, the newest artists are excited for you to experience their passions and try out their Microsoft-exclusive designs.

Meet the Artists!
Yellena James – Preferring pens, inks, and acrylics, Yellena combines complex abstract forms into dazzling images full of life. Her colorful arrangements of organic shapes and tangled lines are at once floral and alien. Each world she creates possesses its own ethos and ability to radiate emotion.

Calvin Ho – Calvin is a multi-disciplinary artist and founder of the award-winning design studio, AtomicAttack. Since its inception in 1996, AtomicAttack has created many unique works for international clients, fusing art direction in fashion photography, branding, design and illustration.

Zansky – Zansky works with all types of graphic arts including silkscreen, letterpress, engraving and digital printing, seeking to push the limits of each process and medium. He is also a member of the artistic group Base-V, which paints murals and designs silkscreen posters for independent publications.

Dana McClure – Dana is a Brooklyn-based visual artist whose work spans a variety of mediums including printmaking, collage, and textile design. Her self-initiated work ranges from limited edition prints and mixed-media collages to hand-printed textiles and objects for the home.

Matt Lyon – Inspired by folk art, fine art and illustration, Matt’s work explores reoccurring motifs and themes using shape and pattern. His designs have been widely published in books and magazines, and selected works have been exhibited in his hometown of London, as well as throughout the U.S., Europe and Far East.

New Colors
In addition to the new artist designs, we’re also offering new colors for our Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 in Cyan Blue and Magenta Pink, and for the Wireless Mobile Mouse 1000 in Cyan Blue, Magenta Pink, and Flame Red.

For more information about the latest Artist Series mice and the stories behind each artist, please visit the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 Limited Edition Artist Series page.

- Hardware Team

Just a reminder that five lucky winners of the Windows Style Makeover Sweepstakes will be revealed via Twitter during the BlogHer’12 conference in New York City, Aug. 2-4, so keep your eyes peeled! Plus you can enter our Pin It to Win It contest during BlogHer’12 for a chance to win a Microsoft Hardware mouse.

BlogHer is an annual gathering of female bloggers from a variety of backgrounds, ages, and skill levels. For the Style Makeover Sweepstakes, conference attendees have been given the opportunity to nominate themselves or another attendee to win an amazing prize package that includes a makeover with well-known celebrity stylist Jeannie Mai, a brand-new Samsung Series 7 tablet, and a new Microsoft Hardware mouse and keyboard.

Style Makeover Sweepstakes nominations consist of a written blog or video blog post, or a Pinterest board that explains why they deserve a makeover and what their ideal makeover would look like. Check out these fun examples: The Crunchy Wife (blog) and Bus Stop Style (Pinterest).

Meanwhile, our Pin It to Win It sweepstakes begins on Aug. 2 and runs until Aug. 4. To enter, simply log into your Pinterest account and “pin” the sweepstakes announcement image plus one image of a Microsoft Hardware mouse. 10 winners will be randomly chosen to receive a Microsoft Artist Edition or Limited Edition Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500. Winners will be notified on August 15. See details and official rules here.

We can’t wait to find out who the lucky winners are for both contests! We’ll be at the BlogHer conference this year with the Windows team at booth #132, so for those of you attending, stop by and say hi!

- Hardware Team

Lights, Camera, Brew
The first webcam, introduced in 1991, was aimed at the coffee pot in the Trojan Room of the Cambridge University Computer Science Department, alerting its viewers to avoid dangerous caffeine shortages. It served the department faithfully for 10 years before it was finally turned off in 2001*.

The History of the Microsoft LifeCam Family
In 2006, Microsoft took Internet communications to the next level with the launch of the LifeCam line of webcams and LifeChat headsets optimized for Windows Live Messenger. Then, in 2009, we unveiled the LifeCam Cinema as the first consumer webcam to offer widescreen video with a native 720p sensor. And in 2010, we introduced the LifeCam Studio with a 1080p HD sensor, featuring TrueColor Technology, which delivers bright and colorful video, in virtually all lighting conditions.

An Option for Every Budget
Whether you’re a college student keeping in touch with friends over the summer on a budget, a professional who frequently meets with people by video conference, or a YouTube celebrity, Microsoft has a webcam for you. The LifeCam VX-800 is a great starter webcam, at only $19.95. If you’re looking to upgrade to HD, the LifeCam HD-5001 is a great choice. It comes with a 720p HD sensor, Auto Focus, and TrueColor. And for the highest quality experience, the LifeCam Studio offers the same Auto Focus and TrueColor Technology, but adds a 1080p HD sensor and ClearFrame Technology for smooth and detailed footage.

Tips, Troubleshooting, and How-To
Once you’re set up with the camera that fits your needs, check out our webcam how-to guide for help getting everything set up and running smoothly. If you run into any issues with your webcam, refer to our troubleshooting guide for help.

Then, when you’re up and running, read through our webcam video tips to learn how to avoid common mistakes and get the best picture you can.

Need a few creative ideas for what to do with your webcam now that you’re an expert? Here are 21 to get you started. And if you have any ideas to add to our list, leave them in the comments.

*Source: Cambridge University Computer Lab

- Hardware Team

Summer’s just about to make its way to Seattle (we hope), and our heads are buzzing with ideas for road trips and getaways—and ideas for travel-friendly tech. And we’re not the only ones who plan to stay wired (well… wireless) when we travel. In a recent survey, 75% of respondents said they travel with a laptop, and 70% said they’ll be taking a smartphone*. But what about the other accessories that help you get the most out of your trip?

Take photos and videos, for example. It’s been said that the best camera is the one that’s with you. Nothing makes it easier to have a camera with you at all times than a great smartphone, and we recommend the Nokia Lumia 900. It comes with an 8-megapixel camera with a Zeiss lens—among the best optics made—along with full 30 fps 720p video. This means you can capture amazing photos and videos, and share them with the folks at home right away. And the Lumia 900 is super slim, which makes it easy to slip into your pocket and carry around.

If you’ll be traveling with your laptop in tow, we know a mouse you should meet. The Arc Touch Mouse is our most portable to date. To turn it on, pop it up into a comfortable curve. Then, when you’re ready to pack it away, fold it flat. It’s built to stand repeated use, so you can take it on as many trips as you like. It’s also wireless and equipped with BlueTrack Technology, so you can use it almost anywhere* without getting wrapped up in a cord.

*BlueTrack Technology does not work on clear glass or mirrored surfaces.

For those of you planning to pack a bit lighter and leave your laptop at home, the Fujitsu STYLISTIC Q550 Slate is a perfect lightweight alternative. The battery lasts up to 8 hours, which means you can watch a movie or two during your flight and still have some juice left to check your email when you land. It also comes with a built-in webcam, so you can stay connected while you’re away.

Which gadgets go with you everywhere? We’d love to hear it in the comments.

*Source: Windows Team Blog

- Hardware Team

You’ve heard us talk quite a bit about our history here at Microsoft Hardware in the past month, but now we’d like to take a moment to reflect on where we are today.

Throughout our 30 year history, we have been specifically focused on creating hardware that lights up the Windows experience—a fact that was true in 1982 and still rings true today. As we celebrate this pivotal milestone, we find ourselves in an era where touch technology is all around us—and staying true to our founding principles, Microsoft Hardware remains committed to delivering products that enhance the PC experience in all its forms.

With this in mind, Microsoft has introduced several peripherals throughout the past few years—our Touch Portfolio of products— that embrace the touch experience within a peripheral form factor.

Microsoft Touch Mouse—The Microsoft Touch Mouse delivers a complete multi-touch experience for users who desire total control over their PC experience. Its 360-degree scrolling makes it an ideal tool for quickly navigating all Windows interfaces using one-, two-, and three-fingered gestures. And, its sleek design and ergonomic shape combines the classic functionality of a traditional mouse with advanced gestures that make everyday tasks more fluid and intuitive.

Microsoft Explorer Touch Mouse—With the Explorer Touch Mouse, we took touch strip technology to the next level by delivering a strip with four-way scrolling, allowing users to navigate both horizontally and vertically with the swipe of a finger. The mouse also features three scroll speeds detectable through haptic feedback, speeding up everyday tasks with a modern scrolling experience in familiar form.

Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse—Designed with mobility in mind, the Arc Touch Mouse was the first addition to our Touch Portfolio. With a sleek collapsible design, it was our first mouse to feature touch scrolling—where the flick of a finger starts hyper-fast scrolling, and a simple tap brings it to a stop.

For more information on Microsoft Hardware’s Touch Portfolio of products—and to learn how they will integrate with the new Windows 8 operating system—click here.

As many of you are aware, we are commemorating our special 30^th Anniversary milestone with a limited quantity of 30^th Anniversary Arc Touch Mice—and we’ll be giving one away! There’s still a chance for you to win. Just tweet what you love about the 80s and include the hashtag #MSHWturns30. We’ll pick 1 winner from the top 100 tweets that will be eligible to win one of these commemorative hand-painted 30^th Anniversary Arc Touch mice.

It’s that time of year again to give the dad in your life something he’ll really love and use every day. A laptop, with some Microsoft Hardware accessories, makes a great gift. Not only can he play with both right away, the rest of the family can enjoy them too—at home or on the go.

The portable nature of laptops—such as the Asus Zenbook and Lenovo ThinkPad (pictured above) paired with a Microsoft mouse—makes them perfect for every-moment use. Whether you’re in the playroom or the kitchen, on vacation or at sea, you’re only a few clicks away from your favorite movies, family photos, or even a video chat with friends or family.

Microsoft mice come in a wide variety of colors and styles to suit every taste. If he’s artistically inclined, maybe he’ll appreciate the unique designs of our Limited Edition Artist Series mice. Or for everyday computing tasks such as web surfing or using spreadsheets, he’ll love the 4-way touch scrolling elegance of Explorer Touch Mouse.

If your family is spread out, a webcam can help you stay connected.  There are a variety of models such as the LifeCam Studio, which gives you superior HD video quality.

With all these gadgets and more, there’s no reason to be stumped for gift ideas. Microsoft Hardware has just the stuff to make dad—and the rest of the family—happy.

- Hardware Team

Imagine settling in at your favorite coffee shop, opening your laptop, and then plunking a giant, bowling-ball controlled mouse on the table. Doesn’t exactly scream portability, does it? Thankfully, mouse design has evolved in astounding ways since the early models.

The Early Years: Mice in the Mad Men Era
Back in 1952, while Madison Avenue was still clacking away on typewriters, the Royal Canadian Navy was secretly developing the world’s first trackball—a huge and heavy device that centered on a standard Canadian five-pin bowling ball.

The first trackball, invented by Tom Cranston, Fred Longstaff, and Kenyon Taylor

Independently, Douglas Engelbart invented the first mouse prototype nine years later, with help from his colleague Bill English. This 1963 version, while still a bit clunky, was much smaller than its predecessor and relied on wheels instead of bowling balls for input. Engelbart and English were also the ones to coin the term “mouse,” based on the device’s design.

The first computer mouse, invented by Douglas Engelbart

Over the next two decades, more and more mice would be developed and refined, leading to the basic shape we’ve come to know today.

The Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000

Microsoft Mice: 30 Years of Innovation
The first Microsoft mouse, nicknamed “the green-eyed mouse,” was introduced in 1983. It might look like a simple, two-button device, but it was a big deal in microcomputing. An ad for it boasted, “The Mouse lets you move the cursor freely and naturally, then execute commands at the push of a button.”

The first Microsoft mouse, nicknamed “the green-eyed mouse

Microsoft also continued to develop trackball mice, adjusting for ergonomic comfort and other considerations. They even developed an easy-to-handle trackball for kids!

Over the years, Microsoft continued to innovate and improve mouse design. In 1993, after researching the human hand for almost two years, they unveiled the first ergonomic mouse: Microsoft Mouse 2.0. (Finally, a mouse that feels natural and comfortable!) In 1999, they changed the game by introducing the first optical mice. (No more fishing lint out of the trackball well!) In 2005, the Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000 hit the market. (Better precision and control!)

Then, in 2008, Microsoft rolled out an advanced breakthrough in tracking technology, called  BlueTrack Technology.

BlueTrack: No Mouse Pad Required
Recognizing that people were using their mice on a variety of surfaces, away from their desks, Microsoft started developing a more accurate and reliable way for these mice to track movement. What resulted was BlueTrack Technology, which outperforms laser and optical mice and makes for a perfect travel companion.

The large blue beam is over four times larger than the average laser beam used in other mice. Combined with an image sensor and pixel geometry designed by Microsoft, it generates a high-contrast picture of the surface that allows exceptional tracking accuracy. What this means is that you can use your mouse on almost any surface*, including an airport floor, a coffee shop table, and a sofa cushion.

Don’t forget, we’re celebrating Microsoft Hardware’s 30^th Anniversary with a Twitter contest! Just send us your favorite memory from the 1980s by June 14^th and tag it with #MSHWturns30. We’ll pick one winner from the top 100 tweets that are eligible to win. You could take home a commemorative 30^th Anniversary Arc Touch mouse. Because after all … you’re the reason we’ve come so far in these past three decades.

Learn more about BlueTrack Technology >

Check out our Pinterest homage to the ‘80s >

* BlueTrack Technology does not work on clear glass or mirrored surfaces.

- Hardware Team

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Industrial Design Manager for the Microsoft Hardware Group, Young Kim, to reflect on how Microsoft Hardware has evolved over its 30 year history, look forward to what the future of Hardware will bring, and get some advice from Young to young designers out there today.

What is your title at Microsoft and when did you start with the company?
I am the Industrial Design Manager for Microsoft Hardware.  I originally started as an intern with Microsoft Research 7.5 years ago.  After that, I joined the Microsoft Hardware Group where I started designing keyboards, mice and communication devices and most recently, the Arc Touch Mouse.

What are the steps in developing a product? How do you go from conception to prototype?
This process is about a 12-month long journey.  We first determine what problem we are trying to solve for – what are the needs, how can we address them in a way that’s meaningful to consumer’s lives and complement what they already have.  We aren’t sitting in a design studio making assumptions about customer needs – we spend time with our customers, observe them using PCs, interact with them, speak with them about what they feel they aren’t getting with their computer peripherals.  Once we have that understanding, we come up with a solution.  There are a lot of iterations and prototypes ranging from foam core to a machined working prototype.  This process helps us make mistakes early on so our final product is flawless and executed perfectly.  Once we feel good about the engineering and design solutions we have made, we take the prototype to our manufacturing partners.  This is the most fascinating part for me – working with the rest of the team of nearly 40 individuals across a range of functions that are all working together to bring this to life.

What is the Arc Touch Mouse and what were your influences in regards to its design?
Arc Touch Mouse is designed for quick use, mobility and easy storage.  It curves for comfort and flattens to pack for people who still want the comfort and productivity of a mouse while on the go. When you’re done you can flatten Arc Touch Mouse to turn it off, and slip it into your pocket or bag as easily as a cell phone. The design principles we had in mind when designing Arc Touch Mouse were very much grounded in customer needs.   The customers wanted to have a mouse with them, but it was an inconvenience to have another object in their bag.  We wanted to create a mouse that was easy to carry, but also comfortable when you wanted to use it as a mouse. The design aspects that we spent a lot of time thinking over were pride in craftsmanship, authenticity and attention to detail.  These principles are not only relevant in software design, but hardware design too.

What do you think differentiates Microsoft Hardware from other companies?
We have the ability to impact such a broad range of customers and offer products that work seamlessly across all the different products and services Microsoft offers.  That is something not a lot of brands can do – having that range and scope as designers is something we take very seriously within the Microsoft Hardware Design Group.  There are only 12 of us in the whole world that have the opportunity to put a Microsoft logo on a product and we don’t take that for granted. We want to make it count on every product we design.

This is the 30 year anniversary for the Microsoft Hardware Group. How have products evolved over the years and what does the future hold?
For the past 30 years our organization has been focused on developing input devices for Windows PCs and we need to continue to focus on that as this will always be the goal of the Microsoft Hardware group.   People ask me if I think the mouse will be in our future and my answer is always yes. When you need to select that one pixel on your screen, there is no other tool better than a tangible object in your hand to do so.  We need to remain focused on developing input devices that define that best way to interact with PCs for the future and pave the road for peripherals as interaction models shift and evolve into different platforms and operating systems.

How has Microsoft’s reputation changed over the last few years within the design community?
What’s amazing is that Microsoft as a brand has a tremendous amount of respect in design. It’s not often that we get to interact with designers across the country let alone from overseas. At a recent event hosted by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) for their International Design Excellence Award Ceremony (IDEA), we had a chance to not only interact with designers from all around the world in different industries, but we were also recognized by this community as the best in category for Industrial Design. We don’t strive to win awards. That’s not our end goal… But to be recognized by this community is something we don’t take for granted. It’s very gratifying to be recognized for design as a Microsoft brand. In fact, Windows Phone Design Team was also recognized as People’s Choice Award and Best in Category. It really came to life for me when we were being recognized by multiple organizations… We received the Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaeum/Europe and also received the prestigious Red Dot Design Award. And then the Smithsonian, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum added the Arc Touch Mouse as part of their permanent collection! It’s very cool to see all design groups across the company being recognized for their hard work. I think it’s a result of us hiring the right people and fostering creativity while demanding perfection from everyone in the team.

What advice do you have for young designers?
Overall, young talent should learn just enough to get motivated and don’t try to understand the entire process, it can be daunting for someone with a creative mind — ignorance is bliss in this instance and is the key to get going.

What are some of your other hobbies outside of work?
I enjoy house renovation and have been renovating my home for the past three years.  It’s hard for me to zoom out and do things quickly, but I enjoy it – it’s just like designing a product but on bigger scale.  I enjoy traveling and have recently been to Hong Kong and Tokyo.  I also enjoy cooking – my wife is a pastry chef and I’m trying to learn the savory, culinary part of the meal and my wife takes care of the desserts.

- Hardware Team

2012 is an exciting year for the Microsoft Hardware group, as it marks the 30^th year that Microsoft has been in the hardware business. As we look to the future and what it will bring to our business, we’d like to pause for a moment and reminisce about the year that started it all—1982.

A few years into its iconic decade, 1982 truly epitomized all that was glorious about the 80s. The mullet gained steam, Yale offered a 14-week course aimed at solving the Rubik’s Cube and Prince William entered the world. From the release of “Thriller” to the birth of Emoticons, 1982 brought us a plethora of significant milestones worth celebrating as Microsoft Hardware looks back on its first 30 years.

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album sells 20 million copies to become the largest selling record ever—Whether you were jamming on your Walkman or cranking up the tape deck on your car stereo, it’s likely you were rocking out to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in 1982. Selling one million copies per week at its peak, the album still reigns as the best-selling record of all-time.

E.T. Phones Home—When Steven Spielberg brought E.T. to life in 1982, he warmed our hearts and minds through the portrayal of a deep friendship between a little boy from the suburbs and a lost creature from outer space. The blockbuster was ushered into theaters with critical acclaim, and Roger Ebert heralds the film as one of the greatest films ever made, calling it an enchanting “reminder of what movies are for.”

Emoticons are introduced—Though these simple expressions of emotion now sprinkle our everyday text message and email conversations, typographical emoticons were not popularized until Scott Fahlman officially proposed the concept in 1982. Now widely recognized, Fahlman originally aimed to use :- ) and :- ( to distinguish between humorous and serious online conversations.

The Microsoft Hardware Group is born—Amid other tech, culture and pop milestones, 1982 marked the introduction of the Microsoft Hardware business. Our history truly began thirty years ago, when we committed ourselves to improving the PC experience through products that offer comfort, design, control and a better interactive experience for you, our customers. Starting with our very first mouse—fondly known as The Green-Eyed Monster—The Microsoft Hardware group has worked to stay at the cutting edge of peripheral design, and we plan to do so for years to come.

- Hardware Team

Joy Deangdeelert Cho, who also goes by “Oh Joy!” in the art world, is one of several global contributors to our new Limited Edition Artist Series mouse collection. Joy is a graphic designer and author who creates everything from textiles and stationary to wallpaper and books about running creative-based businesses. We recently caught up with her to ask about her unique mouse design and what inspires her as an artist.

What city do you currently live in?
Los Angeles

What about this city makes you feel most creative?
I love the mix of environments and scenery here. You can go from the beach to the mountains to the hills to a super busy city street all within one place. It never gets boring!

How long have you been a designer/ making art?
Since 2001.

How would you describe your style?
Feminine and whimsical. I love to mix patterns, color, and texture in all the work I do and the pieces I design.

What is your favorite tool or medium?
My computer is like my right hand! So much happens virtually these days that I couldn’t imagine my day-to-day life without it.

What or who is the biggest inspiration for your work?
The mix of color, patterns and texture found in nature, on buildings, in fabric, on anything…really inspires what I do.

Who is your favorite artist or art movement/era and why?
I love the mid-century modern era for interiors, and the abstract/Picasso era for art.

What was your inspiration for this work?
I love florals and nature, so I’m always inspired by them. This pattern mixes playful florals with rich metallics for a mix of sophisticated whimsy that I always try and bring into my work.

What three words best describe your design?
Spring-like and sunny—as if you’re working in a field of flowers.

How do you want people to feel when using the mouse with your design?
Happy. If I can make someone’s work day just a little bit better by using my mouse, then I’m content!

What advice would you give to young designers?
Work hard, practice your craft and trust your instincts.

Joy’s mouse is now available for purchase at Microsoft Store for a limited time, so pick up yours now and download the free wallpaper for your PC!

- Hardware Team