Inventor Tries to Fix the Apple Magic Mouse’s Biggest ‘Design Flaw’
Founder of the YouTube Channel and brand Unnecessary Inventions, Matty Benedetto decided to try and create something that is a bit in contrast to his branding: a way to simultaneously charge and use the Apple Magic Mouse.
Unnecessary Inventions is described as the brainchild of inventor Matty Benedetto. According to his own accounts, he has designed and fully prototyped over 275 new inventions over the past two years that solve problems that don’t exist. He uses a combination of 3D printing, sewing, mold making, woodworking, laser cutting, and other methods to produce his inventions.
While his branding states unnecessary, sometimes his inventions skew more towards the opposite end of that spectrum. His latest is a device that would, in theory, allow him to simultaneously use and charge an Apple Magic Mouse, a product that has been regularly ridiculed for one major design decision.
The Problem
“I think it’s pretty safe to say that Apple has designed some of the most beautiful and iconic pieces of technology that have completely reshaped the way that everyone in society interacts with the world,” Benedetto says.
“And then there is whatever this is,” he adds, pointing to the Magic Mouse.
The Apple Magic Mouse features a seamless transparent top that gently arches over the mouse and, while small, fits neatly into the palm of the hand. It’s so seamless, however, that the process of charging it has proven to be one of the most regularly ridiculed design decisions that Apple has ever faced.
“On the surface, it’s a really well-designed product,” Benedetto says. “It works, actually, surprisingly well. However, the most unanimously hated feature is the way it charges.”
In order to charge the Magic Mouse, it has to be turned upside down and the Lightning cable has to be plugged into the bottom of the mouse, rendering it inoperable while it charges.
This one decision has led many to refuse to use the Magic Mouse despite its excellent omnidirectional touch controls and pleasant design aesthetic. But Benedetto came up with a method that would, in theory, “solve” the problem.
The “Solution”
He combined an L-shaped Lightning charging cable, a couple of ball bearings, and 3D-printed housing that would allow the mouse to sit on it while plugged in but still work thanks to the ball bearings.
“Luckily due to the angle of the device, it still does move around, so we can still use the mouse just as I normally would,” he says.
Unfortunately, after all the effort put into the design, Benedetto came to the terrible realization that the Apple Magic Mouse is rendered inoperable when charging. Despite his best efforts and the fact that the design does allow for full unimpeded use of the mouse, his efforts were in vain.
Alas, even though he spread slightly beyond and created what is arguably a necessary invention, he did in fact unintentionally still create an unnecessary one.
