The latest editions of some mice and keyboards from Microsoft Hardware feature scroll wheels that tilt left and right, allowing users to scroll horizontally without moving the mouse. With this and other improvements, Microsoft hopes to convince users to upgrade from the standard mice and keyboards that come with their PCs and to attract OEMs and system builders with a unique feature.

Tilt Wheel technology, which will probably be most useful for scrolling across large graphics files and spreadsheets, appears on the newest editions of the IntelliMouse (including the wireless version), Wireless Optical Mouse, and Wireless Optical Desktop Elite keyboard. The Elite keyboard adds "Back" and "Forward" buttons above the scroll wheel for navigating between pages in Internet Explorer or screens in Windows Explorer. The new navigational features are unrelated, however, to the Xeel navigation controls that Microsoft demonstrated earlier in 2003, which it eventually hopes to propagate to all Windows-based devices. (See the illustration "Xeel Navigation Interface" on page 20 of the June 2003 Update.)

Because some Microsoft wireless mice and keyboards use the 27MHz portion of the radio spectrum, which is often used by radio-controlled toys, Microsoft has added software that will inform users and suggest possible fixes when interference from other devices weakens their connection. (The company will also continue to ship its Bluetooth-enabled wireless keyboards and mice, which are not affected by this type of interference.) Other advances include improved battery life for wireless mice and keyboards—up to six months, says the company—and new textures and colors, such as "Black Leather" and "Blue Moon."

More details on Microsoft's complete line of mice and keyboards, including prices and information for OEMs and system builders, is available at www.microsoft.com/hardware.