Kensington Announces New SlimBlade TrackBall – Now “The Ball Does It All”
To Turn Savvy Digital Lifestyle Users Into “Smooth Operators”
smart made simple Breakthrough Design Provides One-Touch User Interface
for Navigation, Media Controls and Document, Photos Browsing
Redwood Shores, Calif. – January 6, 2009 – Kensington Computer Products
Group, a worldwide leader in delivering smart made simple computing
accessories for the mobile consumer, today announced its SlimBlade
Trackball for the Mac and PC that brings a whole new level of control,
comfort and ease to today’s digital savvy users. Kensington’s breakthrough
design combines hardware and software into one integrated interface for
smooth operation allowing users, for the first time ever, to navigate and
manipulate digital content through the ball itself. With all functionality
now integrated into the ball, users can control all the many interface
functions that support navigation, media control adjustments, document and
photo browsing with the rotation of the ball. And the low profile
stationary design with its ruby red ball sitting atop a sleek gunmetal gray
base is visually striking, takes up minimal desk space, and enables a
relaxed and comfortable user experience, without the need of a wrist pad.
The SlimBlade Trackball is the latest offering in Kensington’s
award-winning SlimBlade collection of smart and sleek computer accessories.
The unique heads up display user interface shows users – right on the
computer screen itself – which mode or function is enabled. This
first-ever melding of hardware and software means that a user’s hand never
needs to leave the ball and their eyes never need to leave the computer
screen. This revolutionary design allows users to focus on enjoying their
digital content – not on the interface – and is especially valuable for
providing instant feedback for immersive experiences. Navigation mode
controls the cursor and scrolling; Media mode controls volume, play/pause,
stop and next, while View mode zooms in/out and pans for accurate and
efficient photo editing.
Recent CEA research shows that over 70% of the applications used in the
home are centered on entertainment, music and media. Trackballs have long
been used in the workplace, but as digitally-savvy families are taking
advantage of the broad range of Internet-based sharing and entertainment
capabilities and increasing the quantity of home computing activities,
early Kensington research shows that the trackball is about to become the
device of choice for personal use.
“Our Kensington SlimBlade Trackball is a true standout that should become a
‘must have’ for today’s digital lifestyle-savvy consumers,” said Juan
Rodriguez, Senior Global Product Manager, Kensington. “We have been known
for our trackball leadership for 25 years, so it is only natural that we
would be the ones to accomplish this breakthrough user interface, where
‘now, the ball does it all’. And it fits perfectly into our award-winning
smart made simple SlimBlade Collection. This product is going to set a new
standard for the computer/user relationship from the moment it comes to
market.”
The Kensington SlimBlade Trackball
SlimBlade Trackball (SKU K72327US) – Your computing experience just got
smoother. With the Kensington SlimBlade Trackball, you’ll surf web pages
faster, flow through your MP3 library more easily, and zoom in and out of
your photographs efficiently with complete and seamless control at your
fingertips. Suggested Retail Price: $129.99
Key Features Include:
* Expand your digital media experience – The multi-function ball lets you
easily navigate through your music, pictures, and documents with Media or
View mode while the heads-up display allows you to keep your eyes on the
screen by showing which function is being performed
* Do it all without taking your hand off the ball- Gain fingertip access to
image and media controls as well as control the cursor and scrolling;
volume, play/pause, stop, and next; zoom in/out, and pan, all with the ball
* Comfortable for hours – The low-profile shape and sleek stationary design
keeps users comfortable while eliminating the need for a wrist pad and
saving desktop space
* Mac & PC compatible – Including Mac OS 10.5X, Windows Vista and Windows XP
Designed for Use With:
* Web Browsers – Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari
* Graphics – Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, Apple iPhoto,
Apple Aperture
* Viewers – Adobe Reader, Apple Preview
* Productivity – Microsoft Excel, Word, Numbers, Pages
Product Availability
The Kensington SlimBlade Trackball is now available for pre-order at
Amazon.com and Kensington.com and will be available at major retailers at
the end of the month. For additional information on the new and existing
line of Kensington products, please visit www.kensington.com.
Kensington
smart made simple (www.kensington.com)
Wherever technology takes you, personalize it with Kensington, a worldwide
leader in smart made simple computing accessories. Kensington makes smart,
intuitive, and stylish computing accessories for notebook and desktop
computers, MP3 players, iPod and iPhone. Kensington Computer Products
Group, headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, is the technology
division of ACCO Brands (NYSE: ABD), a world leader in branded office
products, with annual revenues of nearly $2 billion and products marketed
in more than 100 countries across the globe. For more information, visit
the Kensington web site at kensington.com or call Kensington toll-free at
1-800-235-6708.